Ball glove thumb guard device

Abstract

In some embodiments, a ball glove thumb guard device is provided which may be coupled to a ball glove having a thumb slot for receiving the thumb of a user and the device may include a body having a distal end and a proximal end. A thumb depression may extend between the distal end towards the proximal end such as from the distal end towards the proximal end. The body may be positioned within the thumb slot of the ball glove between the palm side of the thumb of the user and the thumb slot of the ball glove. The body may also comprise a securement aperture, and the body may be coupled to the ball glove by inserting lacing through the securement aperture in which the lacing is coupled or configured to be coupled to the ball glove.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ball glove thumb guard device, the device comprising:
 a body having a distal end and a proximal end;   a thumb depression extending from the distal end towards the proximal end;   a securement aperture; and   a cushion coupled to the body along the thumb depression.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises an extension region that extends past the tip of the thumb of the user. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the body is angled 10 to 25 degrees relative to the proximal end of the body. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein an encasement surrounds a portion of the body and the cushion. 
     
     
         5 . A ball glove thumb guard device to be coupled to a ball glove having a thumb slot for receiving the thumb of a user, the device comprising:
 a body having a distal end and a proximal end;   a thumb depression extending from the distal end towards the proximal end;   a securement aperture, wherein body is coupled to the ball glove by inserting lacing through the securement aperture in which the lacing is coupled to the ball glove; and   wherein the body is positioned within the thumb slot of the ball glove between the palm side of the thumb of the user and the thumb slot of the ball glove.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the body is configured and dimensioned to extend within the thumb slot past the tip of the thumb of a user that is positioned in the respective thumb slot. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the body comprises an extension region that extends past the tip of the thumb of the user. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the distal end of the body is angled 10 to 25 degrees relative to the proximal end of the body. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein a cushion is coupled to the body. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein an encasement surrounds a portion of the body and the cushion. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the body is substantially planar in shape having a width, a length, and a height, and wherein the height is less than the width and the length. 
     
     
         12 . A ball glove thumb guard device, the device comprising:
 A ball glove having a thumb slot for receiving the thumb of a user;   a body having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the body is coupled to the ball glove;   a thumb depression extending from the distal end towards the proximal end;   a securement aperture, wherein body is coupled to the ball glove by inserting lacing through the securement aperture in which the lacing is coupled to the ball glove; and   wherein the body is positioned within the thumb slot of the ball glove between the palm side of the thumb of the user and the thumb slot of the ball glove.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the body is configured and dimensioned to extend within the thumb slot past the tip of the thumb of a user that is positioned in the respective thumb slot. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the body comprises an extension region that extends past the tip of the thumb of the user. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the distal end of the body is angled 10 to 25 degrees relative to the proximal end of the body. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein a cushion is coupled to the body. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the cushion comprises a resilient material selected from the group consisting of silicone foams, rubber foams, urethane foams, plastic foams, neoprene foam, latex foam rubber, polyurethane foam rubber, or elastomer materials such as elastic plastics, elastic silicone, elastic rubbers, and silicone rubbers. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein an encasement surrounds a portion of the body and the cushion. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the body comprises a rigid material selected from the group consisting of plastic, metal, hard rubber, wood, carbon fiber, and fiber glass. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the body is substantially planar in shape having a width, a length, and a height, and wherein the height is less than the width and the length.