Direct Molded Accents For Protective Gloves

Abstract

A protective sports glove having decorative accents coupled to the outer visible surface of back portions of the gloves. These accents are applied directly to the outer material layer of the protective sports gloves on one or more of the finger portions, the protective back, the wrist guard, the subcuff and/or the cuff portion. The decorative accents allow the visible outer portion of the back portion of the glove to include intricate features such as logos, numbers, shapes, or other contrasting features that customize the gloves in an infinite number of potential variations. The accents are durable and also add abrasion resistance to the gloves during usage, therein increasing their usable lives. The decorative accents could also be introduced to any other area of the glove, such as the palm, to improve durability, grip or abrasion resistance.

1 . A protective sports glove, comprising:
 a hand portion comprising an inner palm portion, an opposing backside portion, a first side portion extending between said inner palm portion and said opposing backside portion, and a second side portion extending between said inner palm portion and said opposing backside portion;   a plurality of finger portions secured to and extending from said hand portion for receipt of a wearer's fingers therein, each of said plurality of finger portions including a finger palm portion and an opposing padded finger portion, each of said plurality of finger portions having a pair of opposing side portions that extend between said respective finger palm portions and said opposing padded finger portions;   a thumb portion secured to and extending from said hand portion for receipt of a wearer's thumb therein, said thumb portions including a thumb palm portion and an opposing padded thumb portion;   said backside portion having a plurality of protective padded portions disposed thereon and a plurality of flex lines between said plurality of protective padded portions to allow a wearer's hand to flex during play; and   a decorative accent formed on at least one of said opposing backside portion, said opposing padded finger portion, and said opposing padded thumb portion;   wherein said decorative accent is raised with respect to said surface to which it is applied to provide abrasion resistance.   
   
   
       2 . The protective sports glove of  claim 1 , wherein said decorative accent is coupled to at least two of said opposing backside portion, said opposing padded finger portion, and said opposing padded thumb portion. 
   
   
       3 . The protective sports glove of  claim 1 , wherein said decorative accent is applied to an outer material layer of one of said opposing backside portion, said opposing padded finger portion, and said opposing padded thumb portion. 
   
   
       4 . The protective sports glove of  claim 1 , wherein said decorative accent is comprised of a thermoplastic material. 
   
   
       5 . The protective sports glove of  claim 4 , wherein said thermoplastic material is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, ethyl vinyl acetate and polyurethane. 
   
   
       6 . The protective sports glove of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a cuff portion coupled to said hand portion, said cuff portion including an outer material portion having a decorative accent formed thereon.   
   
   
       7 . The protective sports glove of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a subcuff coupled to and within said cuff portion, said subcuff including an outer material portion having a decorative accent formed thereon.   
   
   
       8 . The protective sports glove of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a cuff portion coupled to said hand portion; and   a wrist guard coupled to said hand portion and said cuff portion, said wrist guard including an outer portion having a decorative accent formed thereon.   
   
   
       9 . The protective sports glove of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a cuff portion coupled to said hand portion, said cuff portion including an outer material portion having a decorative accent formed thereon; and   a wrist guard coupled to said hand portion and said cuff portion, said wrist guard including an outer portion having a decorative accent formed thereon.   
   
   
       10 . The protective sports glove of  claim 1 , wherein said decorative accent is coupled to each of said opposing backside portion, said opposing padded finger portion, and said opposing padded thumb portion. 
   
   
       11 . A method for forming a protective sports glove having a customized outer visible surface, the method comprising;
 providing an outer material layer;   providing a thermoplastic material;   coupling said thermoplastic material to said outer material layer to form a decorative accent;   coupling said outer material layer having said decorative accent with a padding material to form a portion of the protective sports glove, wherein said decorative accent is displayed on the outer visible surface of the protective sports glove.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said portion is selected from the group consisting of a backside portion of a hand portion, a backside portion of at least one of a plurality of finger portions, a cuff portion, a wrist guard, a subcuff, and a backside portion of a thumb portion. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein coupling a thermoplastic material to said outer material layer to form a decorative accent comprises:
 high frequency welding a thermoplastic material to said outer material layer.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein coupling a thermoplastic material to said outer material layer to form a decorative accent comprises:
 radio frequency welding a thermoplastic material to said outer material layer.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein coupling a thermoplastic material to said outer material layer to form a decorative accent comprises:
 dielectric welding a thermoplastic material to said outer material layer.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein providing a thermoplastic material comprises:
 providing a thermoplastic material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, ethyl vinyl acetate and polyurethane.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein coupling said thermoplastic material to said outer material layer to form a decorative accent comprises
 coupling said thermoplastic material to said outer material layer to form a decorative accent having a thickness of about 0.2 mm above said outer material layer.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein coupling a thermoplastic material to said outer material layer to form a decorative accent comprises:
 coupling a thermoplastic material to said outer material layer by injection molding, gluing or silk screening.   
   
   
       19 . A method for forming a protective sports glove having a customized outer visible surface, the method comprising;
 providing an outer material layer;   coupling said outer material layer with a padding material to form a portion of the protective sports glove, wherein said outer material layer is displayed on the outer visible surface of the protective sports glove.   providing a thermoplastic material; and   coupling said thermoplastic material to said outer material layer to form a decorative accent.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said portion is selected from the group consisting of a backside portion of a hand portion, a backside portion of at least one of a plurality of finger portions, a cuff portion, a subcuff, a wrist guard and a backside portion of a thumb portion. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein coupling a thermoplastic material to said outer material layer to form a decorative accent comprises:
 high frequency welding a thermoplastic material to said outer material layer.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein coupling a thermoplastic material to said outer material layer to form a decorative accent comprises:
 radio frequency welding a thermoplastic material to said outer material layer.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein coupling a thermoplastic material to said outer material layer to form a decorative accent comprises:
 dielectric welding a thermoplastic material to said outer material layer.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein providing a thermoplastic material comprises:
 providing a thermoplastic material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, ethyl vinyl acetate and polyurethane.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein coupling said thermoplastic material to said outer material layer to form a decorative accent comprises:
 coupling said thermoplastic material to said outer material layer to form a decorative accent having a thickness of about 0.2 mm above said outer material layer.   
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein coupling a thermoplastic material to said outer material layer to form a decorative accent comprises:
 coupling a thermoplastic material to said outer material layer by injection molding, gluing or silk screening.