Athletic grip enhancing finger gloves

Abstract

Apparatus worn on the fingers similarly to gloves, to enhance grip, particularly suitable as an aid in catching sports balls. The apparatus comprises a sheath for each finger, which may bear a friction enhancing material on an external surface. Each sheath may be internally reinforced by members which are more resistant to bending than the constituent material of the sheath. Reinforcement members may comprise bands which extend circumferentially about sheaths or may extend axially along sheaths. Sheaths may be provided with internal elastic bands which may overlie other bands at acute angles thereto or which do not overlie other bands.

I claim: 
     
         1 . Grip enhancing apparatus for the fingers of a wearer, comprising a set of sleeves wherein each sleeve is dimensioned and configured to be worn on one finger or thumb of one hand of the wearer, each sleeve comprises a constricting tubular sheath having an open proximal end and an opposed distal end and an external surface comprising a grip zone bearing a friction increasing material, wherein the grip zone covers less than the full extent of the external surface. 
     
     
         2 . The grip enhancing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the grip zone fully encircles the tubular sheath and extends along less than half of the axial length of the tubular sheath. 
     
     
         3 . The grip enhancing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the grip zone does not encircle the tubular sheath and extends along most of the axial length of the tubular sheath. 
     
     
         4 . The grip enhancing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular sheath is fabricated from an air permeable fabric material. 
     
     
         5 . The grip enhancing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular sheath is fabricated from a sweat resistant material. 
     
     
         6 . The grip enhancing apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a reinforcing member which is less pliable than the tubular sheath and is coupled to the tubular sheath. 
     
     
         7 . The grip enhancing apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the reinforcing member encircles the tubular sheath and extends along the axial length of the tubular sheath for a distance less than the axial length of the tubular sheath. 
     
     
         8 . The grip enhancing apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the reinforcing member extends along the axial length of the tubular sheath for a distance of at least most of the axial length of the tubular sheath, and does not encircle the tubular sheath. 
     
     
         9 . The grip enhancing apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the reinforcing member comprises a bendable splint which in width does not exceed half the diameter of the tubular sheath, in thickness is no greater than half of the width, and which extends along the tubular sheath at least half of the length of the finger of the wearer. 
     
     
         10 . The grip enhancing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each tubular sheath extends the full length of its associated finger. 
     
     
         11 . The grip enhancing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of each tubular sheath is closed and covers the tip of its associated finger.