Glove with structural finger reinforcements

Abstract

An assembly is provided for use in a sports glove for use in baseball or softball. The assembly includes finger extension members that align with a wearer's thumb and fingers when worn. The finger extension members are made of a lightweight material such as a polymer and include at least one lattice portion. By including the more lightweight finger extension members, a glove including the assembly may have a lower moment of inertia about the heel to allow a fielder to more easily and quickly move his or her glove during play.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A finger extension member for use in a sports glove, the finger extension member comprising:
 an upper end and a lower end;   a front face and a rear face; and   wherein at least one of the front face and the rear face includes a lattice portion.   
     
     
         2 . The finger extension member of  claim 1 , wherein the finger extension member is made from a polymer. 
     
     
         3 . The finger extension member of  claim 1 , wherein the lattice portion is comprised of two or more layers of lattice structure. 
     
     
         4 . The finger extension member of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness defined between the front face and the rear face tapers in the direction of the lower end. 
     
     
         5 . The finger extension member of  claim 1 , wherein each of the front face and the rear face include a lattice portion. 
     
     
         6 . The finger extension member of  claim 5 , wherein the finger extension member includes at least one margin portion adjacent to the at least one of the lattice portion of the front face and the lattice portion of the rear face. 
     
     
         7 . The finger extension member of  claim 1 , wherein the finger extension member is integrated into the sports glove. 
     
     
         8 . The finger extension member of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the front face and the rear face includes a protrusion that projects outwardly from the upper end of the finger extension member. 
     
     
         9 . A thumb assembly for use in a sports glove, the thumb assembly comprising:
 a thumb pad member;   a thumb extension member attached to the thumb pad member, the thumb extension member being stiffer than the thumb pad member; and   wherein at least one of the thumb pad member and the thumb extension member includes a lattice portion.   
     
     
         10 . The thumb assembly of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the thumb pad member and the thumb extension member is made from a polymer. 
     
     
         11 . The thumb assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the lattice portion of at least one of the thumb pad member and the thumb extension member is comprised of two or more layers of lattice structure. 
     
     
         12 . The thumb assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the thumb pad member includes one or more slots on at least one of its sides that facilitate flexing of the thumb pad member. 
     
     
         13 . The thumb assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the thumb pad member includes a proximal end having a step down portion with a protrusion projecting outwardly therefrom. 
     
     
         14 . The thumb assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the thumb extension member includes a proximal end having a tab portion extending therefrom with an aperture extending through the tab portion. 
     
     
         15 . The thumb assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the thumb assembly is integrated into the sports glove. 
     
     
         16 . The thumb assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the thumb pad member aligns with a palm portion of the sports glove when the sports glove is assembled. 
     
     
         17 . A glove for use in batted ball sports, the glove comprising:
 at least one finger extension member integrated into the glove, wherein the at least one finger extension member is comprised of a polymer.   
     
     
         18 . The glove of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one finger extension member includes at least one lattice portion. 
     
     
         19 . The glove of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one lattice portion includes at least two layers of lattice structure. 
     
     
         20 . The glove of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one finger extension member is integrated into one of a thumb portion, index finger portion, middle finger portion, ring finger portion, or pinky finger portion of the glove. 
     
     
         21 . The glove of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one finer extension member is attached to a palm liner. 
     
     
         22 . The glove of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one finger extension member is sewn to the palm liner. 
     
     
         23 . A glove for use in batted ball sports, the glove comprising:
 a thumb assembly integrated into a thumb portion of the glove;   three finger extension members integrated into each of an index finger portion, middle finger portion, and ring finger portion of the glove;   a pinky finger extension member integrated into a pinky finger portion of the glove; and   wherein each of the thumb assembly, three finger extension members, and the pinky finger extension member are made of a polymer.   
     
     
         24 . The glove of  claim 23 , wherein at least one of the thumb assembly, three finger extension members, and the pinky finger extension member includes at least one lattice portion. 
     
     
         25 . The glove of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one lattice portion includes at least two layers of lattice structure. 
     
     
         26 . The glove of  claim 23 , wherein the thumb assembly, three finger extension members, and the pinky finger extension member are attached to a palm liner. 
     
     
         27 . The glove of  claim 26 , wherein the thumb assembly, three finger extension members, and the pinky finger extension member are sewn to the palm liner. 
     
     
         28 . The glove of  claim 23 , wherein the three finger extension members have a lower stiffness than the pinky finger extension member.