Glove with structural finger reinforcements

Abstract

An assembly is provided for use in a sports glove for use in baseball or softball. The assembly includes finger extension members that align with a wearer's thumb and fingers when worn. The finger extension members are made of a lightweight material such as a polymer and include at least one lattice portion. By including the more lightweight finger extension members, a glove including the assembly may have a lower moment of inertia about the heel to allow a fielder to more easily and quickly move his or her glove during play.

1 .- 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method of making a baseball or softball glove, the glove comprising a glove back, finger stalls, and a palm region, the method comprising:
 forming one or more lattice portions with a polymer material, wherein forming each lattice portion of the one or more lattice portions comprises forming a geometric arrangement of the polymer material with additive manufacturing; and   forming each of the glove back, the finger stalls, and the palm region with the one or more lattice portions.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein forming the palm region comprises forming the one or more lattice portions of the palm region to be more flexible than the one or more lattice portions of the finger stalls. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the finger stalls include a first finger stall and a second finger stall, and the method comprises forming the first finger stall with a geometric arrangement of the polymer material to have a first density and forming a second finger stall with a geometric arrangement of the polymer material to have a second density that is different from the first density. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein forming each lattice portion comprises forming a plurality of triangular-shaped apertures with the polymer material. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein forming each lattice portion comprises forming a plurality of layers of geometric arrangements of the polymer material. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the method comprises forming an entire glove shell with additive manufacturing, wherein the glove shell comprises the glove back, the finger stalls, and the palm region. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising positioning a liner in the glove shell. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the glove comprises a wrist strap, and wherein the method comprises forming the wrist strap with the one or more lattice portions. 
     
     
         19 . A method of making a baseball or softball glove, the method comprising:
 forming a glove back with a first polymer lattice portion, wherein forming the glove back comprises 3-D printing the first polymer lattice portion; and   forming a plurality of finger stalls with second polymer lattice portions, wherein forming the plurality of finger stalls comprises 3-D printing the second polymer lattice portions.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising forming a palm region opposite the glove back, wherein forming the palm region comprises 3-D printing a third polymer lattice portion. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising forming a wrist strap of the glove, wherein forming the wrist strap of the glove comprise forming a third polymer lattice portion with 3-D printing. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the glove comprises a glove shell, wherein the glove shell includes the glove back and the plurality of finger stalls, and wherein the method comprises forming the entirety of the glove shell with 3-D printing. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein forming at least one of the first polymer lattice portion or the second polymer lattice portions comprises forming a plurality of triangular-shaped apertures. 
     
     
         24 . A sports glove comprising:
 a glove back, wherein a lower edge of the glove back defines at least part of an opening for receiving a wearer's hand;   a plurality of fingers;   a glove palm; and   a wrist strap extending across the opening;   wherein:
 the glove palm includes a polymer lattice structure formed with additive manufacturing; and 
 each of the plurality of fingers, the glove back, and the wrist strap comprises an additional polymer lattice structure formed with additive manufacturing, wherein the additional polymer lattice structure extends continuously from the plurality of fingers, toward the opening, and through at least part of the wrist strap. 
   
     
     
         25 . The sports glove of  claim 24 , wherein a density of the lattice portion of one finger of the plurality of fingers is different from a density of the lattice portion of another finger of the plurality of fingers. 
     
     
         26 . The sports glove of  claim 24 , wherein at least one of the polymer lattice structures comprises a plurality of layers. 
     
     
         27 . The sports glove of  claim 24 , further comprising a liner between the glove palm and the glove back. 
     
     
         28 . The sports glove of  claim 24 , further comprising a third polymer lattice structure positioned between two fingers of the plurality of fingers, wherein the third polymer lattice structure is formed with additive manufacturing. 
     
     
         29 . The sports glove of  claim 24 , wherein at least one of the polymer lattice structures comprises a plurality of triangular-shaped apertures. 
     
     
         30 . The sports glove of  claim 24 , wherein at least one of the polymer lattice structures has a different density than at least one other of the polymer lattice structures.