Ball glove with adjustable and customizable strap

Abstract

A ball glove includes a rear strap or back strap that is adjustable to accommodate different hand configurations and sizes. The back strap includes multiple spaced apart openings, or sets of openings, through which one or more laces or other connecting elements may be threaded. A user may adjust the length of the back strap by threading the laces through the openings that yield the best strap-length for his or her hand or wrist. The back strap optionally includes a top portion and a bottom portion that are detachably connected to each other, such that the top portion may be replaced with a different top portion embroidered with—or otherwise displaying—a wearer's jersey number, team logo, or other desired feature.

1 . A ball glove, comprising:
 a pocket;   a finger-receiving portion extending from the pocket;   a thumb-receiving portion extending from the pocket;   a web between the finger-receiving portion and the thumb-receiving portion;   a first rear portion extending from the finger-receiving portion, the first rear portion including at least one first rear opening;   a second rear portion extending from the thumb portion or from the web, the second rear portion including at least one second rear opening;   a back strap including:
 a first end region having at least a first loose-fit opening and a first tight-fit opening; and 
 a second end region having at least a second loose-fit opening and a second tight-fit opening; 
   wherein the first end region of the back strap is connected to the first rear portion via a first connecting element passing through the first rear opening and through one of the first loose-fit opening and the first tight-fit opening, and wherein the second end region of the back strap is connected to the second rear portion via a second connecting element passing through the second rear opening and through one of the second loose-fit opening and the second tight-fit opening.   
     
     
         2 . The ball glove of  claim 1  wherein the first end region and the second end region of the back strap each include at least two loose-fit openings and at least two tight-fit openings. 
     
     
         3 . The ball glove of  claim 2  wherein the first rear portion includes at least two first rear openings alternatively alignable with the at least two loose-fit openings and the at least two tight-fit openings in the first end region, and the second rear portion includes at least two second rear openings alternatively alignable with the at least two loose-fit openings and the at least two tight-fit openings in the second end region. 
     
     
         4 . The ball glove of  claim 2  wherein, in the first end region and in the second end region, the loose-fit openings are spaced from the tight-fit openings by approximately 0.5 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The ball glove of  claim 1  wherein the back strap comprises a top portion detachably connected to a bottom portion. 
     
     
         6 . The ball glove of  claim 5  wherein the top portion of the back strap includes the first and second loose-fit openings and the first and second tight-fit openings. 
     
     
         7 . The ball glove of  claim 5  wherein the top portion is detachably connected to the bottom portion via a hook-and-loop fastener. 
     
     
         8 . The ball glove of  claim 1  wherein the first and second connecting elements comprise one or more laces. 
     
     
         9 . A ball glove, comprising:
 a pocket;   a finger-receiving portion extending from the pocket;   a thumb-receiving portion extending from the pocket;   a web between the finger-receiving portion and the thumb-receiving portion;   a first rear portion extending from the finger-receiving portion, the first rear portion including at least one opening;   a second rear portion extending from the thumb portion or from the web, the second rear portion including at least one opening;   a back strap extending laterally between and connected to the first rear portion and the second rear portion via at least one lace, with the back strap including a first end region having at least one opening configured to receive a lace, and a second end region having at least one opening configured to receive a lace;   wherein at least one of the first rear portion, the second rear portion, the first end region, and the second end region includes at least two laterally spaced openings configured to alternatively receive a lace, with one of the at least two openings positioned to provide a first fit when a lace passes through it, and another of the at least two openings positioned to provide a tighter fit than the first fit when a lace passes through it.   
     
     
         10 . The ball glove of  claim 9  wherein the first end region and the second end region of the back strap each include at least two laterally spaced openings. 
     
     
         11 . The ball glove of  claim 10  wherein the first end region and the second end region of the back strap each include at least two sets of laterally spaced openings. 
     
     
         12 . The ball glove of  claim 9  wherein the first rear portion and the second rear portion each include at least two laterally spaced openings. 
     
     
         13 . The ball glove of  claim 12  wherein the first rear portion and the second rear portion each include at least two sets of laterally spaced openings. 
     
     
         14 . The ball glove of  claim 9  wherein only one of the first end region and the second end region of the back strap includes at least two laterally spaced openings. 
     
     
         15 . The ball glove of  claim 9  wherein only one of the first rear portion and the second rear portion includes at least two laterally spaced openings. 
     
     
         16 . The ball glove of  claim 9  wherein the back strap comprises a top portion detachably connected to a bottom portion. 
     
     
         17 . The ball glove of  claim 16  wherein the top portion of the back strap includes the openings in the back strap. 
     
     
         18 . A ball glove, comprising:
 a main body including at least one finger-receiving portion, a thumb-receiving portion, and a web;   a first rear portion extending from the main body;   a second rear portion extending from the main body;   a back strap extending laterally between and connected to the first rear portion and the second rear portion via at least one connecting element passing through openings in the back strap, the first rear portion, and the second rear portion;   wherein at least one of the first rear portion, the second rear portion, and the back strap includes at least two laterally spaced openings configured to alternatively receive the at least one connecting element such that a lateral distance between the first rear portion and the second rear portion is adjustable.   
     
     
         19 . The ball glove of  claim 18  wherein the back strap comprises a top portion detachably connected to a bottom portion. 
     
     
         20 . The ball glove of  claim 19  wherein the top portion of the back strap includes the openings in the back strap.