# US 7,607,178 B2 · Goalkeeper's glove with protective fingertip extension

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- Number: US 7,607,178 B2
- Document ID: US7607178B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/555,208
- Filed: 2006-10-31
- Published: 2008-05-15
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2006-10-31
- Assignees: NIKE, Inc.
- Inventors: Thomas DeBlasis
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607178B2

## CPC

- A63B 71/148: {Gloves for bowling and other ball games}
- A63B 2243/0025: Football
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)

## Abstract

A goalkeeper's glove with a glove body portion and glove fingers attached to and in communication with the body portion for enveloping a wearer's hand includes an open arch extension with attachment legs on at least one glove finger to protect the finger from jamming injuries and to extend the reach of the wearer. The arch of the extension creates an air gap between the extension tip and the tip of the finger that acts as a crumple zone in absorbing and dissipating the energy of the impact away from the fingertip to prevent a jamming injury. The arch construction ensures that the energy from the impact will be directed along the attachment legs along the length of the finger instead of the fingertip.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A goalkeeper's glove defining a palmar surface, a dorsal surface, a lateral side and a medial side for enveloping the hand of a wearer, said glove comprising:
a glove body for containing the wearer's palm;
a glove finger for receiving a finger of a wearer, said glove finger being attached to and in communication with said glove body at one end and having a closed tip at the other end; and
an extension attached proximate said closed tip of said glove finger, said extension having an open arch with attachment legs extending therefrom, one said attachment leg extending integrally and contiguously from one side of said open arch and attached to said glove finger, and another said attachment leg extending integrally and contiguously from another side of said open arch and attached to said glove finger, said extension thus attached to said glove finger providing an air gap between said closed tip and said arch.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The glove of claim 1, wherein said attachment legs are attached along the lateral and medial sides of said glove finger.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The glove of claim 2, wherein said extension is covered by an outer layer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The glove of claim 1, wherein said attachment legs are attached along the palmar and dorsal surfaces of said glove finger.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The glove of claim 4, wherein said extension is covered by an outer layer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The glove of claim 1, wherein said extension comprises a secondary arch spaced from said open arch and spanning said attachment legs so as to define said air gap therebetween.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The glove of claim 6, wherein said attachment legs are attached along the lateral and medial sides of said glove finger and said secondary arch is attached to said closed tip.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The glove of claim 7, wherein said extension is covered by an outer layer.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The glove of claim 6, wherein said attachment legs are attached along the palmar and dorsal surfaces of said glove finger and said secondary arch is attached to said closed tip.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The glove of claim 9, wherein said extension is covered by an outer layer.

### Claim 11

A goalkeeper's glove defining a palmar surface, a dorsal surface, a lateral side and a medial side for enveloping the hand of a wearer, said glove comprising:
a glove body for containing the wearer's palm;
a plurality of glove fingers each for receiving a finger of a wearer, said glove fingers being attached to and in communication with said glove body at one end and having a closed tip at the other end; and
a double arch extension attached to at least one of said glove fingers proximate said closed tip, said extension having a top arch with attachment legs extending therefrom, one said attachment leg extending integrally and contiguously from one side of said top arch and attached to said glove finger, and another said attachment leg extending integrally and contiguously from another side of said to arch and attached to said glove finger, and a secondary arch spanning said attachment legs to form an air gap between said top arch and said secondary arch, concave side of the secondary arch abutting against said closed tip of the glove finger.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The glove of claim 11, wherein said attachment legs are attached along the lateral and medial sides of said glove finger.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The glove of claim 12, wherein said extension is covered by an outer layer.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The glove of claim 11, wherein said attachment legs are attached along the palmar and dorsal surfaces of said glove finger.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The glove of claim 14, wherein said extension is covered by an outer layer.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The glove of claim 11, wherein said extension is provided on each of said glove fingers.

### Claim 17

A glove comprising:
A glove body portion defining a palmar surface and a dorsal surface;
a finger portion extending from the glove body portion, the finger portion also defining a dorsal surface and a palmar surface connected to one another and defining a thickness therebetween; and
an extension provided proximate a closed tip portion of the finger portion, the extension comprising attachment legs attached to the finger portion, one said attachment leg extending integrally and contiguously from one side of said extension, and another said attachment leg extending integrally and contiguously from another side of said extension, and an arch having palmar edge and a dorsal edge and defining a width therebetween, the width being less than the thickness between the palmar surface and dorsal surface of the finger portion.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The glove of claim 17, wherein the extension comprises a secondary arch spaced from the arch and spanning the attachment legs so as to define an air gap therebetween.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The glove of claim 18, wherein the attachment legs are attached along the lateral and medial sides of the finger portion and the secondary arch is attached to the closed tip.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The glove of claim 19, wherein the extension is covered by an outer layer.