Ball Glove for Beginners

Abstract

A training glove for catching baseball, softball, or the like comprises a cushioned pad attached to the heel of the glove. The pad can prevent a ball bouncing out of the glove and can decelerate a ball hitting the pad. The training glove is useful for preventing injuries to beginning players, especially children. The pad may be permanently or reversibly attached to the glove and may contain a pocket for storing a mouth guard or other small objects and may be a part of a kit for modifying a glove or mitt to comprise the pad.

1 . A ball glove comprising a cushioned pad attached to at least one of: a heel of the glove and lateral sides of the glove extending from the heel,
 wherein the cushioned pad and the glove form a ball pocket sized to receive a ball.   
     
     
         2 . The ball glove of  claim 1 , wherein the glove has a length L measured from a base of the glove to a tip of the glove and the cushioned pad extends from the heel of the glove toward the tip of the glove a distance that is between 0.4 L and 0.6 L. 
     
     
         3 . The ball glove of  claim 1 , wherein the cushioned pad comprises a cavity and an opening into the cavity and wherein the cavity and opening are configured to allow the storage of an article inside the cavity. 
     
     
         4 . The ball glove of  claim 1 , wherein the cushioned pad resists closing of the ball glove with a force sufficient to keep the glove open when not in use. 
     
     
         5 . The ball glove of  claim 4 , wherein the force is at least 1 N but less than 4 N. 
     
     
         6 . The ball glove of  claim 1 , wherein the cushioned pad comprises lateral sides that conform to lateral sides of the glove to which the lateral sides of the cushioned pad are attached. 
     
     
         7 . The ball glove of  claim 1 , wherein the cushioned pad has a wedged shaped so that a thickness of the cushioned pad is greatest on a bottom side of the cushioned pad attached to the heel of the glove and tapers down toward an opposite, top side of the cushioned pad. 
     
     
         8 . The ball glove of  claim 1 , wherein the cushioned pad has a thickness of from 0.5 cm to 4 cm. 
     
     
         9 . The ball glove of  claim 1 , wherein the cushioned pad is removably attached to the glove. 
     
     
         10 . A kit for modifying a ball glove to comprise a cushioned pad ( 15 ) attached to one or more of a heel and lateral sides of the glove extending from the heel, said kit comprising:
 a cushioned pad that conforms to, or is conformable to, the heel of the glove and lateral sides of the glove extending form the heel, and means for attachment to one or more of a heel and lateral sides of the glove extending from the heel.   
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 10 , wherein the glove has a length L measured from a base of the glove to a tip of the glove and the cushioned pad extends from the heel of the glove toward the tip of the glove a distance that is between 0.4 L and 0.6 L. 
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the cushioned pad comprises an interior cavity and an opening into the cavity. 
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the cushioned pad resists compression from lateral sides of the cushioned pad with a the resistance force of at least 1 N but less than 4 N. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the cushioned pad has a wedged shaped so that a thickness of the cushioned pad is greatest on a side of the cushioned pad to be attached to the heel of the glove and tapers down toward an opposite, top side of the cushioned pad. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the cushioned pad has a thickness of from 0.5 cm to 4 cm. 
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment means is a reversible attachment means. 
     
     
         17 . The kit of  claim 16 , wherein reversible attachment means comprises a strip of velcro with adhesive backing or a strip of velcro and an adhesive. 
     
     
         18 . The kit of  claim 16 , wherein reversible attachment means comprises polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate (PHEMA) or a heat labile dimethacrylate polymer adhesive.