US 12,285,672 B2
Shape retainer for baseball or softball glove and shape retention method for baseball or softball glove
Akihiro Kanda, Osaka (JP); Yuki Yamada, Osaka (JP); and Yuya Motegi, Osaka (JP)
Assigned to MIZUNO CORPORATION, Osaka (JP)
Filed by MIZUNO CORPORATION, Osaka (JP)
Filed on Jun. 2, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/205,006.
Claims priority of application No. 2022-091075 (JP), filed on Jun. 3, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0390623 A1, Dec. 7, 2023
Int. Cl. A63B 71/14 (2006.01); A63B 71/00 (2006.01)
CPC A63B 71/0045 (2013.01) [A63B 71/143 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A shape retainer for a baseball or softball glove, the shape retainer comprising a main body having a main surface depressed in a concave shape, wherein:
the baseball or softball glove includes:
an inner part having a first finger stall, a second finger stall, a third finger stall, a fourth finger stall, and a fifth finger stall to receive a thumb, an index finger, a middle finger, a ring finger, and a little finger, respectively, and; an interior space of the inner part includes:
a first space contiguous to the first finger stall; and
a second space contiguous to the fifth finger stall; and
the main body includes:
a first portion to be inserted in the first space;
a second portion to be inserted in the second space; and
a third portion to be placed between the first portion and the second portion, the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion each being separable from each other, and
wherein the third portion includes:
two first coupling surfaces facing the first portion and the second portion respectively; and
coupling portions formed to protrude from the two first coupling surfaces respectively, the coupling portions each comprising:
a first region extending outwardly from the first coupling surface a first distance and having a first thickness extending in a direction from a front of the third portion to a back of the third portion, the front of the third portion configured to face a palmar side of the baseball or softball glove and the back of the third portion configured to face a dorsal side of the baseball or softball glove; and
a second region extending outwardly from the first region to a second distance from the first coupling surface and having a second thickness extending in the direction from the front of the third portion to the back of the third portion, the second distance being greater than the first distance and the second thickness being greater than the first thickness;
wherein the first portion and the second portion each include:
second coupling surfaces facing the first coupling surfaces respectively; and
a groove configured to receive the first region and the second region of the coupling portions.