Ball glove having impact detection and visible annunciation

• US 7,458,699 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2006
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rawlings Sporting Goods Company (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Rawlings Sporting Goods Company (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Whiteside, Dennis Karl, McCartney, Jason Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Alavi; Ali
• Application Number:
  US11/368,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20070206373A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 362/103, 362/276, 362/802, 362/570, 216/0, 216/11, 340/540, 340/568.6, 446/26, 446/485, 273/460
• US Class Current: 362/103
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/143 Baseball or hockey gloves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch

Abstract

A ball glove includes impact detection and annunciation circuitry for detecting an impact event, such as contact of a caught ball with the glove. Upon detection of an impact, annunciation circuitry provides a visible light signal, such as flashing a sequence of lights located in the web portion of the glove. An associated method of use is also provided.

Claims

1. A lighted ball glove, comprising:

a glove configured to receive a wearer'"'"'s hand, said glove comprising a front portion and a rear portion configured to conform to a palm side and a rear side of a wearer'"'"'s hand, respectively, said rear portion affixed to said front portion to define a thumb stall and a finger stall therebetween with a web portion affixed between said thumb and finger stalls;

a translucent lens positioned along a perimeter of said web portion;

impact detection circuitry affixed to said glove, operable to detect an impact to said glove portion; and

light-emitting circuitry in communication with said impact detection circuitry and operable to provide a visual indication of detection of said impact, said light-emitting circuitry comprising at least one light-emitting diode positioned behind said translucent lens.

2. The lighted ball glove of claim 1, wherein said translucent lens comprises a flexible tube, and wherein said at least one light-emitting diode is positioned within said tube such that light emanating from said light-emitting diode is visible from both a front and a rear of said web portion.

3. The lighted ball glove of claim 1, wherein said impact detection circuitry is affixed between said front portion and said rear portion of said glove.

4. The lighted ball glove of claim 3, wherein said impact detection circuitry is located in an area of said glove corresponding to a palm of said wearer.

5. The lighted ball glove of claim 1, wherein said light-emitting circuitry comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes configured to activate in a predetermined sequence.

6. The lighted ball glove of claim 5, wherein said light-emitting circuitry is configured to sequentially activate said light emitting diodes in a predetermined sequence for a predetermined amount of time after detection of said impact.

7. A lighted ball glove comprising:

a glove configured to receive a wearer'"'"'s hand, said glove comprising a front portion, a rear portion, and a web portion, said web portion comprising a translucent member;

impact detection circuitry affixed to said glove and operable to detect an impact to said glove; and

light-emitting circuitry in communication with said impact detection circuitry and operable to provide a visual indication of detection of said impact, said light-emitting circuitry comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes affixed to said translucent member wherein said translucent member is configured such that light emanating from said light-emitting diodes is visible from both a front and a rear of said glove.

8. The lighted ball glove of claim 7, wherein said light-emitting circuitry is configured to activate said light-emitting diodes in a predetermined sequence.

9. The lighted ball glove of claim 7, wherein said impact detection circuitry comprises an acceleration sensor.

10. The lighted ball glove of claim 9, wherein said acceleration sensor is configured to detect an acceleration rate exceeding a predetermined threshold.

11. The ball glove of claim 9, wherein said acceleration-sensor is a momentary switch.

12. The ball glove of claim 11, wherein said momentary switch is a reed switch operable to complete an electrical circuit to said light-emitting circuitry.