Athletic glove with hand-exercising features

Abstract

A glove includes a plurality of finger enclosures. Each of the finger enclosures is for accommodating a respective finger of the wearer's hand. The glove also includes a plurality of resistance elements. Each of the resistance elements is attached to a respective one of the finger enclosures. The resistance elements provide a force for resisting a closing motion of the wearer's hand. The glove further includes a glove body that joins together the finger enclosures. Each of the finger enclosures includes a respective exterior anterior surface for gripping a ball. At least one of the exterior anterior surfaces has a tacky property for aiding in securing the wearer's grip on the ball.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A glove comprising:
 a plurality of finger enclosures, each for accommodating a respective finger of a wearer's hand;   a plurality of resistance elements, each attached to a respective one of the finger enclosures, the resistance elements providing a force for resisting a closing motion of the wearer's hand; and   a glove body joining together the finger enclosures, each of the finger enclosures and the glove body including a respective exterior anterior surface for gripping a ball;   wherein at least one of said exterior anterior surfaces has a tacky property for aiding in securing the wearer's grip on the ball.   
     
     
         2 . The glove according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the resistance elements includes an elastic strap that runs along a length dimension of a respective one of the finger enclosures. 
     
     
         3 . The glove according to  claim 2 , wherein each elastic strap is attached to the respective one of the finger enclosures by at least one hook-and-loop fastener. 
     
     
         4 . The glove according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the resistance elements includes at least one spring. 
     
     
         5 . The glove according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of finger enclosures includes a total of five finger enclosures for accommodating all four fingers and a thumb of the wearer's hand. 
     
     
         6 . The glove according to  claim 5 , wherein all of the exterior anterior surfaces of the finger enclosures have the tacky property. 
     
     
         7 . The glove according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one exterior anterior surface is embedded with a resin to provide the tacky property. 
     
     
         8 . The glove according to  claim 1 , wherein the finger enclosures and the glove body are formed of cloth. 
     
     
         9 . The glove according to  claim 1 , further comprising a closure attached to a proximal portion of the glove body for securing the glove at the wearer's wrist.