Goalkeeper catching glove

Abstract

A goalkeeper catching glove has a front portion defining a cuff region, a thumb region, a finger region, and a palm region. The palm region is concave. The palm region extends between the thumb region and the finger region, and between the cuff region and the finger region. The front portion has a unitary impact resistant member. The unitary impact resistant member spans at least a majority of the thumb region, at least a majority of the finger region, and at least a majority of the palm region. The goalkeeper catching glove also has a rear portion connected to the front portion, the front portion and the rear portion defining therebetween a space for receiving a hand of a goalkeeper; and a trap connected to at least one of the front portion or the rear portion, the trap extending between the thumb region and the finger region.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A goalkeeper catching glove comprising:
 a front portion defining a cuff region, a thumb region, a finger region, and a palm region,   the palm region being concave,   the palm region extending between the thumb region and the finger region, and between the cuff region and the finger region, and   the front portion comprising a unitary impact resistant member, the unitary impact resistant member spanning at least a majority of the thumb region, at least a majority of the finger region, and at least a majority of the palm region;   a rear portion connected to the front portion, the front portion and the rear portion defining therebetween a space for receiving a hand of a goalkeeper; and   a trap connected to at least one of the front portion or the rear portion, the trap extending between the thumb region and the finger region.   
     
     
         2 . The goalkeeper catching glove of  claim 1 , wherein the unitary impact resistant member spans at least 95 percent of the thumb region, the finger region, and the palm region. 
     
     
         3 . The goalkeeper catching glove of  claim 2 , wherein the unitary impact resistant member spans the cuff region, the thumb region, the finger region, and the palm region. 
     
     
         4 . The goalkeeper catching glove of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the unitary impact resistant member is foldable between a rest position and a plurality of folded positions; and   the unitary impact resistant member is normally biased toward the rest position.   
     
     
         5 . The goalkeeper catching glove of  claim 1 , wherein the unitary impact resistant member is made from plastic. 
     
     
         6 . The goalkeeper catching glove of  claim 5 , wherein the unitary impact resistant member is made from one of: polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), PC-ABS blend, polyketone (PK), PC siloxane copolymer, PC blend, thermoplastic, thermoplastic composite, and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). 
     
     
         7 . The goalkeeper catching glove of  claim 6 , wherein the unitary impact resistant member is made from PC. 
     
     
         8 . The goalkeeper catching glove of  claim 1 , wherein the unitary impact resistant member is a molded unitary impact resistant member. 
     
     
         9 . The goalkeeper catching glove of  claim 1 , wherein the front portion further comprises a facing connected to a front of the unitary impact resistant member. 
     
     
         10 . The goalkeeper catching glove of  claim 9 , wherein the facing is laminated on the front of the unitary impact resistant member. 
     
     
         11 . The goalkeeper catching glove of  claim 10 , wherein the facing is made from synthetic polyurethane. 
     
     
         12 . The goalkeeper catching glove of  claim 1 , wherein the front portion further comprises a foam backing connected to a back of the unitary impact resistant member. 
     
     
         13 . The goalkeeper catching glove of  claim 12 , wherein the foam backing is laminated on the back of the unitary impact resistant member. 
     
     
         14 . The goalkeeper catching glove of  claim 1 , wherein the front portion further comprises an inner member connected to the unitary impact resistant member, the inner member being disposed between the unitary impact resistant member and the rear portion. 
     
     
         15 . The goalkeeper catching glove of  claim 14 , wherein the inner member is made from foam.