BASEBALL MITT

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS

[0001]Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the present application are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD

[0002]The present disclosure relates to a baseball mitt that includes a palm-side outer skin constituting a ball catching surface, a palm-side inner skin constituting a contact surface with which a palm of a user comes into contact when fingers of the user are inserted in the baseball mitt, and a pad assembly disposed between the palm-side outer skin and the palm-side inner skin.

BACKGROUND

[0003]Such a baseball mitt is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1 below. The pad assembly is used as a cushion at ball catching, and a typical configuration example of the pad assembly is shown in FIG. 1A. As shown in FIG. 1A, a pad assembly includes a first pad portion 100 having a size and a shape that suit a palm, a thumb pad portion 200 corresponding to a thumb position, and a little finger pad portion 300 corresponding to a little finger position.

[0004]The first pad portion 100 includes one piece of a padded member. The thumb pad portion 200 corresponding to the thumb position and the little finger pad portion 300 corresponding to the little finger position are each joined to the pad portion 100 by sewing.

[0005]FIG. 1B is an elevation view of the pad assembly shown in FIG. 1A. The thumb pad portion 200 is composed of three padded members that are superposed on and joined to one another by sewing 202. The three padded members are identical or substantially identical in size to one another in plan view. The three superposed padded members are joined to the first pad portion 100 by sewing 201, 203, and 204.

[0006]Similarly, the little finger pad portion 300 is composed of three padded members that are superposed on and joined to one another by sewing 302. The three padded members are identical or substantially identical in size to one another in plan view. The three superposed padded members are joined to the first pad portion 100 by sewing 301, 303, and 304.

Patent Document

[0007]Patent Document 1: JP-A-2002-200211

SUMMARY

[0008]In the pad assembly according to the conventional technique, the first pad portion 100 corresponding to a ball catching surface includes only one piece of a padded member. This does not make it possible to provide a baseball mitt that suits a user preference such as a sense or a feel at ball catching. For instance, the conventional technique does not make it possible to suit a preference such as improving tone quality at ball catching by allowing the pad assembly to have different degrees of hardness in different areas.

[0009]In view of the above background, a challenge for the present disclosure is to provide a baseball mitt designed to suit a user preference.

[0019]According to the baseball mitt having such a configuration, at least one of the first and the second pad portions is divided into and includes a plurality of padded members. This makes it possible to provide a baseball mitt designed to suit a user preference.

[0020]Preferably, the first pad portion according to the present disclosure is divided into and includes a thumb-side padded member disposed on a thumb side, a little finger-side padded member disposed on a little finger side, and a central padded member disposed between the thumb-side padded member and the little finger-side padded member.

[0024]Preferably, in the present disclosure, a degree of hardness of the central padded member is larger than a degree of hardness of any of the thumb-side padded member and the little finger-side padded member.

[0025]Preferably, in the present disclosure, a longitudinal slit is formed in either of the first and the second coupling members.

[0026]Preferably, the second pad portion according to the present disclosure is divided into and includes a thumb-side padded member disposed on a thumb side, a little finger-side padded member disposed on a little finger side, and a central padded member disposed between the thumb-side padded member and the little finger-side padded member.

[0027]Preferably, in the present disclosure, a degree of hardness of the central padded member is larger than a degree of hardness of any of the thumb-side padded member and the little finger-side padded member.

[0028]Preferably, in the present disclosure, a degree of hardness of the central padded member is smaller than a degree of hardness of any of the thumb-side padded member and the little finger-side padded member.

[0029]Preferably, in the present disclosure, a degree of hardness of the second pad portion is larger than the degree of hardness of the central padded member.

[0030]Preferably, in the present disclosure, a plurality of longitudinal slits are formed in either of the thumb-side padded member and the little finger-side padded member in such a way as to follow a shape of the central padded member.

[0031]Preferably, the first pad portion according to the present disclosure is divided into and includes a thumb-side padded member disposed on a thumb side, a little finger-side padded member disposed on a little finger side, and a central padded member disposed between the thumb-side padded member and the little finger-side padded member, the baseball mitt including a coupling member to couple the thumb-side padded member and the central padded member together.

[0032]Preferably, in the present disclosure, a degree of hardness of the central padded member is larger than a degree of hardness of the thumb-side padded member.

[0041]According to the baseball mitt having such a configuration, the first pad portion is divided into and includes a plurality of padded members. This makes it possible to provide a baseball mitt designed to suit a user preference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042]FIG. 1A is a plan view showing a configuration of a pad assembly according to a conventional technique;

[0043]FIG. 1B is an elevation view showing the configuration of the pad assembly according to the conventional technique;

[0044]FIG. 2A is a plan view showing components of a pad assembly;

[0045]FIG. 2B is a plan view showing a state before a thumb-side padded member, a central padded member, and a little finger-side padded member are joined together;

[0046]FIG. 2C is a plan view showing a state in which a first coupling member and a second coupling member are put on top of a first pad portion in the state of FIG. 2B;

[0047]FIG. 2D is a drawing of the first pad portion viewed from a reverse side;

[0048]FIG. 2E is a perspective view showing a state in which the first pad portion and a second pad portion are joined together;

[0049]FIG. 2F is a drawing showing a state before a thumb pad portion and a little finger pad portion are each joined to the first and the second pad portions;

[0050]FIG. 2G is a drawing of a state in which the thumb pad portion and the little finger pad portion are each joined to the first and the second pad portions, viewed from a ball catching surface side;

[0051]FIG. 2H is a drawing of a state in which the thumb pad portion and the little finger pad portion are each joined to the first and the second pad portions, viewed from the reverse side;

[0052]FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of a baseball mitt for a right-handed user, viewed from the ball catching surface side;

[0053]FIG. 4A is an external perspective view showing a shape of the pad assembly built inside the baseball mitt by a phantom line;

[0054]FIG. 4B is an external view of the mitt viewed from a back side;

[0055]FIG. 5A is a drawing showing a configuration of a pad assembly according to a second embodiment;

[0056]FIG. 5B is a perspective view showing a state in which a first pad portion and a second pad portion are superposed on each other, viewed from a ball catching surface side;

[0057]FIG. 5C is a plan view showing a state in which the first and the second pad portions are joined together;

[0058]FIG. 5D is a plan view showing a state before a thumb pad portion and a little finger pad portion are each joined to the first and the second pad portions;

[0059]FIG. 5E is a drawing of a state in which the thumb pad portion and the little finger pad portion are each joined to the first and the second pad portions, viewed from the ball catching surface side;

[0060]FIG. 5F is a drawing of a state in which the thumb pad portion and the little finger pad portion are each joined to the first and the second pad portions, viewed from a reverse side;

[0061]FIG. 6A is a plan view showing a configuration of members of a third embodiment;

[0062]FIG. 6B is a plan view showing a state in which members of a first pad portion are joined together;

[0063]FIG. 6C is a bottom plan view showing a state in which the members of the first pad portion are joined together;

[0064]FIG. 6D is a plan view showing a state in which a thumb pad portion and a little finger pad portion are joined to the first pad portion;

[0065]FIG. 6E is a bottom plan view showing a state in which the thumb pad portion and the little finger pad portion are joined to the first pad portion;

[0066]FIG. 7A is a plan view showing a configuration of members of a fourth embodiment;

[0067]FIG. 7B is a plan view showing a state in which a first pad portion and a second pad portion are joined together;

[0068]FIG. 7C is a plan view showing a state in which a thumb pad portion 7C and a little finger pad portion 8C are each joined to the first and the second pad portions;

[0069]FIG. 7D is a bottom plan view showing a state in which the thumb pad portion 7C and the little finger pad portion 8C are each joined to the first and the second pad portions;

[0070]FIG. 8A is a plan view showing a configuration of members of a fifth embodiment;

[0071]FIG. 8B is a plan view showing a state in which members of a first pad portion are joined together;

[0072]FIG. 8C is a plan view showing a state in which a thumb pad portion 7D and a little finger pad portion 8D are each joined to the first pad portion and a second pad portion; and

[0073]FIG. 8D is a bottom plan view showing a state in which the thumb pad portion 7D and the little finger pad portion 8D are each joined to the first and the second pad portions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0074]Preferred embodiments of a baseball mitt according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment

[0075]FIGS. 2A to 2H each show a configuration of a pad assembly for a baseball mitt according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2A is a plan view showing components of a pad assembly, viewed from a ball catching surface side. A first pad portion P1 disposed on a side adjacent to a ball catching surface includes a thumb-side padded member 2, a little finger-side padded member 3, and a central padded member 4 disposed between the thumb-side padded member 2 and the little finger-side padded member 3. A second pad portion P2 that is superposed on and joined to a reverse side of the first pad portion P1 includes one piece of a main padded member 1.

[0076]The main padded member 1 has a number of holes 10 through which a strap (not shown) is passed. The number and a disposition of the holes are set appropriately. The thumb-side padded member 2, the little finger-side padded member 3, and the central padded member 4 also have holes 20, 30, and 40, respectively, through which a strap is passed. The holes are formed in the first and the second pad portions P1 and P2 such that the holes are positioned at places shared by both pad portions when both are superposed on each other.

[0077]A first coupling member 5 is a member used to couple the thumb-side padded member 2 and the central padded member 4 together. The first coupling member 5 is shaped so as to follow a boundary between the thumb-side padded member 2 and the central padded member 4. The first coupling member 5 has the shape of a long, narrow and curved band. Longitudinal slits 50 are formed in the first coupling member 5. The slits 50 may be formed as holes or simply as cuts. A shape, a length, a width as well as a number of the slits 50 can be set appropriately.

[0078]A second coupling member 6 is a member used to couple the little finger-side padded member 3 and the central padded member 4 together. The second coupling member 6 is shaped so as to follow a boundary between the little finger-side padded member 3 and the central padded member 4. The second coupling member 6 has the shape of a long, narrow and curved band. Longitudinal slits 60 are formed in the second coupling member 6. The slits 60 may be formed as holes or simply as cuts. A shape, a length, a width as well as a number of the slits 60 can be set appropriately.

[0079]The slits 50 and 60 formed in the first and the second coupling members 5 and 6 are provided to maintain flexibility of the mitt at ball catching.

[0080]FIG. 2B shows a state before the thumb-side padded member 2, the central padded member 4, and the little finger-side padded member 3 are joined together. The thumb-side padded member 2, the central padded member 4, and the little finger-side padded member 3 are joined together in such a way that edges of the padded members fit together exactly.

[0081]The central padded member 4 is shaped in such a way as to have a broad upper part and a narrow lower part. A position of the upper part corresponds to that of the ball catching surface. An overall shape of the first pad portion that combines the three members is identical to an overall shape of the second pad portion, i.e., a shape of the main padded member 1. The shapes, sizes, and other properties of the thumb-side padded member 2, the central padded member 4, and the little finger-side padded member 3 shown herein are examples. For the shapes, sizes, and other properties, various choices can be made. The same applies to other embodiments.

[0082]FIG. 2C shows a state in which the first and the second coupling members 5 and 6 are joined to the first pad portion in such a way as to be put on top of the first pad portion in the state of FIG. 2B. The members are joined to the pad portion by sewing. The holes 20, 30, and 40 are configured so as not to be closed even when the first and the second coupling members 5 and 6 are joined to the first pad portion.

[0083]FIG. 2D is a drawing showing the first pad portion P1 viewed from the reverse side. The main padded member 1 is joined to the first pad portion in such a way as to be put on top of the reverse side of this pad portion. These are also joined together by sewing.

[0084]FIG. 2E is a perspective view showing a state in which the first and the second pad portions P1 and P2 are joined together. FIG. 2F shows a state before a thumb pad portion 7 and a little finger pad portion 8 are each joined to the first and the second pad portions joined as in FIG. 2E. The thumb pad portion 7 and the little finger pad portion 8 can be composed of members identical to those made by the conventional technique described in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The thumb pad portion 7 and the little finger pad portion 8 are each composed of three padded members that are layered and joined to one another by sewing 70 or 80.

[0085]Sewing 51 by which the thumb-side padded member 2 and the central padded member 4 are joined together through the first coupling member 5 is shown. Sewing is done along a periphery of the first coupling member 5. Sewing 61 by which the little finger-side padded member 3 and the central padded member 4 are joined together through the second coupling member 6 is shown. Sewing is done along a periphery of the second coupling member 6.

[0086]FIG. 2G shows a state in which the thumb pad portion 7 and the little finger pad portion 8 are each joined to the first and the second pad portions P1 and P2, viewed from the ball catching surface side. FIG. 2H shows a state in which the thumb pad portion 7 and the little finger pad portion 8 are each joined to the first and the second pad portions P1 and P2, viewed from the reverse side. The thumb pad portion 7 is joined to the first and the second pad portions P1 and P2 by sewing 71. A bottom of the thumb pad portion 7 is joined by sewing 73. A top of the thumb pad portion 7 is joined by sewing 72. The holes 20 formed in the thumb-side padded member 2 are formed in such a way as to follow a shape of the thumb pad portion 7.

[0087]The little finger pad portion 8 is joined to the first and the second pad portions P1 and P2 by sewing 81. A bottom of the little finger pad portion 8 is joined by sewing 83. A top of the little finger pad portion 8 is joined by sewing 82. The holes 30 formed in the little finger-side padded member 3 are formed in such a way as to follow a shape of the little finger pad portion 8.

[0088]As described above, the thumb pad portion 7 is joined to the first and the second pad portions P1 and P2 by sewing 71. Simultaneously, the first and the second pad portions P1 and P2 are joined together. The same applies to the little finger pad portion 8. The same applies to other embodiments in this respect.

[0089]In the first embodiment, degrees of hardness of the main padded member 1, the thumb-side padded member 2, the little finger-side padded member 3, and the central padded member 4 can be set variously in response to user requests. The same applies to other embodiments in this respect.

Hardness Setting Example 1

[0090]The thumb-side padded member 2, the central padded member 4, the little finger-side padded member 3, and the main padded member 1 can be made of a soft material, a hard material, an extremely soft material, and a soft material, respectively. The degrees of hardness of these members are in the order of central padded member 4>thumb-side padded member 2=main padded member 1>little finger-side padded member 3. In this case, a central ball-catching pocket is hard, and flexible movement of a thumb section and a little finger section is enabled. An increase in degree of hardness of the central padded member 4 makes a ball catch sound louder.

Hardness Setting Example 2

[0091]The thumb-side padded member 2, the central padded member 4, the little finger-side padded member 3, and the main padded member 1 can be made of cowhide, an extremely soft material, cowhide, and a hard material, respectively. This case makes it possible to form a strong central pocket. Flexible movement of the thumb section and the little finger section is enabled.

Hardness Setting Example 3

[0092]The thumb-side padded member 2, the central padded member 4, the little finger-side padded member 3, and the main padded member 1 can be made of a soft material, a soft material, an extremely soft material, and a soft material, respectively. This case makes it possible to form a soft, clear central pocket.

Hardness Setting Example 4

[0093]The thumb-side padded member 2, the central padded member 4, the little finger-side padded member 3, and the main padded member 1 can be made of a soft material, a hard material, cowhide, and a soft material, respectively. This case makes it possible to form a hard central pocket.

[0094]There are a large number of combinations of the members and degrees of hardness. The setting examples above are merely examples and are not intended to limit the subject matter. The members may be made of felt or other materials. The first and the second coupling members 5 and 6 can be made of cowhide or a similar material, but this is not intended to limit the subject matter. A material other than the example may be used. Regarding modifications of the combinations of the member types and degrees of hardness described above, the same applies to other embodiments.

External Appearance and Configuration of Mitt

[0095]FIG. 3 is an external perspective view showing a baseball mitt M for a right-handed user, viewed from the ball catching surface side. FIG. 4A shows a shape of the pad assembly built inside the baseball mitt M by a phantom line. The central padded member 4 is positioned in a center of the ball catching surface. FIG. 3 shows a palm-side outer skin M1 constituting the ball catching surface. FIG. 4B is an external view of the mitt viewed from a back side, and a palm-side inner skin M2 is shown. The palm-side inner skin M2 constitutes a surface with which a palm and fingers of the user come into contact when the fingers are inserted in the mitt. Besides the palm-side outer and inner skins, a back-side outer skin and a back-side inner skin constitute an external part of the baseball mitt. The pad assembly according to the present disclosure is a unit disposed between the palm-side outer and inner skins M1 and M2 (inside the mitt).

Second Embodiment

[0096]FIGS. 5A to 5F each show a configuration of a pad assembly for a baseball mitt according to a second embodiment. FIG. 5A is a plan view showing a configuration of members of the second embodiment.

[0097]The second embodiment is similar with the first embodiment in that they each include a first pad portion P1 and a second pad portion P2. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the first pad portion P1 includes one piece of a main padded member 1A, and the second pad portion P2 includes a thumb-side padded member 2A, a little finger-side padded member 3A, and a central padded member 4A. In other words, the pad portion on the side adjacent to the ball catching surface includes one piece of the main padded member 1. Members equivalent to the first and the second coupling members 5 and 6 in the first embodiment are not included in the second embodiment.

[0098]FIG. 5B is a perspective view showing a state in which the first and the second pad portions P1 and P2 are superposed on each other, viewed from the ball catching surface side. In the same way as the first embodiment, external shapes of the first and the second pad portions P1 and P2 are identical to each other.

[0099]FIG. 5C is a drawing showing a state in which the first and the second pad portions P1 and P2 are joined together. The first and the second pad portions P1 and P2 are joined together by sewing 12A and 13A. Longitudinal slits 11A are formed in the main padded member 1A. The slits 11A function in the same way as in the first embodiment. The slits 11A are formed in areas surrounded by seams of the sewing 12A and 13A.

[0100]FIG. 5D is a plan view showing a state before a thumb pad portion 7A and a little finger pad portion 8A are each joined to the first and the second pad portions P1 and P2. The thumb pad portion 7A is composed of three padded members that are joined to one another by sewing 70A. The little finger pad portion 8A is composed of three padded members that are joined to one another by sewing 80A.

[0101]FIG. 5E is a drawing of a state in which the thumb pad portion 7A and the little finger pad portion 8A are each joined to the first and the second pad portions P1 and P2, viewed from the ball catching surface side. FIG. 5F is a drawing of a state in which the thumb pad portion 7A and the little finger pad portion 8A are each joined to the first and the second pad portions P1 and P2, viewed from the reverse side. Sewing 71A, 72A, and 73A is done to join the thumb pad portion 7A to the pad portions, and sewing 81A, 82A, and 83A is done to join the little finger pad portion 8A to the pad portions. In this respect, the second embodiment is similar with the first embodiment.

[0102]As in FIG. 5F, the slits 11A are formed along edges of the thumb-side padded member 2A and the little finger-side padded member 3A. However, the holes may be formed in the central padded member 4A. Next, hardness setting examples will be shown.

Hardness Setting Example 1

[0103]The main padded member 1A, the thumb-side padded member 2A, the central padded member 4A, and the little finger-side padded member 3A can be made of a soft material, a soft material, a hard material, and an extremely soft material, respectively. In this case, a center pocket is hard, and flexible movement of a thumb section and a little finger section is enabled.

Hardness Setting Example 2

[0104]The main padded member 1A, the thumb-side padded member 2A, the central padded member 4A, and the little finger-side padded member 3A can be made of a hard material, an extremely soft material, a soft material, and an extremely soft material, respectively. This case makes it possible to form a large, deep central pocket and constitute a ball catching surface that is strong.

Hardness Setting Example 3

[0105]The main padded member 1A, the thumb-side padded member 2A, the central padded member 4A, and the little finger-side padded member 3A can be made of a soft material, a hard material, a soft material, and an extremely soft material, respectively. Besides the above examples, various modifications are possible.

Third embodiment

[0106]FIGS. 6A to 6E each show a configuration of a pad assembly for a baseball mitt according to a third embodiment. FIG. 6A is a plan view showing a configuration of members of the third embodiment. Whereas, in the first and the second embodiments, the pad assembly includes two pieces of the first and the second pad portions superposed on each other, a pad assembly in the third embodiment includes a single layer of a first pad portion.

[0107]As shown in FIG. 6A, the pad assembly includes a thumb-side padded member 2B, a little finger-side padded member 3B, a central padded member 4B, a first coupling member 5B, and a second coupling member 6B. The configuration of members in the second embodiment is identical to that in the first embodiment. The same applies to the formation of holes 20B, 30B, and 40B and slits 50B and 60B.

[0108]FIG. 6B is a plan view showing a state in which the members of a first pad portion P1 are joined together. FIG. 6C is a bottom plan view showing a state in which the members of the first pad portion P1 are joined together. In any of the drawings, sewing is not shown.

[0109]FIG. 6D is a plan view showing a state in which a thumb pad portion 7B and a little finger pad portion 8B are joined to the first pad portion P1. FIG. 6E is a bottom plan view showing a state in which the thumb pad portion 7B and the little finger pad portion 8B are joined to the first pad portion P1. The thumb pad portion 7B and the little finger pad portion 8B each include members identical to those in the other embodiments. Holes are formed in the same way as those in the other embodiments. The thumb pad portion 7B and the little finger pad portion 8B are joined to the first pad portion P1 in the same way as in the other embodiments.

[0110]The first coupling member 5B is joined to the thumb-side padded member 2B and the central padded member 4B by sewing 51B. The second coupling member 6B is joined to the little finger-side padded member 3B and the central padded member 4B by sewing 61B.

[0111]In the third embodiment, degrees of hardness of the members can be set as in the first embodiment. However, this is not intended to limit the subject matter, and various modifications are possible.

Fourth Embodiment

[0112]FIGS. 7A to 7D each show a configuration of a pad assembly for a baseball mitt according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 7A is a plan view showing components of the pad assembly. A first pad portion P1 includes a thumb-side padded member 2C, a little finger-side padded member 3C, and a central padded member 4C. A second pad portion P2 includes only one piece of a main padded member 1C. The fourth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that no coupling members are used.

[0113]FIG. 7B is a plan view showing a state in which the first and the second pad portions P1 and P2 are joined together. FIG. 7C is a plan view showing a state in which a thumb pad portion 7C and a little finger pad portion 8C are each joined to the first and the second pad portions. Sewing is not shown. FIG. 7C is a plan view showing a state in which a thumb pad portion 7C and a little finger pad portion 8C are each joined to the first and the second pad portions P1 and P2. The pad portions are joined together in the same way as in the other embodiments. FIG. 7D is a bottom plan view showing a state in which the thumb pad portion 7C and the little finger pad portion 8C are each joined to the first and the second pad portions P1 and P2.

[0114]Longitudinal slits 20C are formed along an edge of the thumb-side padded member 2C. Longitudinal slits 30C are formed along an edge of the little finger-side padded member 3C. Slits 10 are formed at places corresponding to those for the slits 20 and 30.

[0115]In FIGS. 7C and 7D, seams of sewing 21C and 31C by which the first and the second pad portions P1 and P2 are joined together are shown. In this embodiment, the thumb-side padded member 2C and the central padded member 4C are joined together in such a way that edge areas of the padded members overlap partly rather than edges of the members being put into exact contact with each other. Similarly, the little finger-side padded member 3C and the central padded member 4C are joined together in such a way that edge areas of the padded members overlap partly. Which member is placed on top of the other when the members overlap can be determined appropriately. Sewing can be done in an area where the members overlap. A configuration may be adopted so that the edges of the members are put into exact contact with each other rather than overlapping. The same applies to other embodiments in this respect.

[0116]In the fourth embodiment, the thumb-side padded member 2C, the central padded member 4C, the little finger-side padded member 3C, and the main padded member 1C can be made of cowhide, an extremely soft material, cowhide, and a hard material, respectively. However, this is not intended to limit the scope of the setting and selection of degrees of hardness of the members and materials, and various modifications are possible.

Fifth Embodiment

[0117]FIGS. 8A to 8D each show a configuration of a pad assembly for a baseball mitt according to a fifth embodiment. FIG. 8A is a plan view showing components of the pad assembly. In the fifth embodiment, a first pad portion P1 includes a thumb-side padded member 2D, a little finger-side padded member 3D, and a central padded member 4D. A second pad portion P2 includes only one piece of a main padded member 1D. The fifth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that only one coupling member 5D is used. FIG. 8B is a plan view showing a state in which the members of the first pad portion are joined together. Sewing is not shown.

[0118]FIG. 8C is a plan view showing a state in which a thumb pad portion 7D and a little finger pad portion 8D are each joined to the first and the second pad portions P1 and P2. FIG. 8D is a bottom plan view showing a state in which the thumb pad portion 7D and the little finger pad portion 8D are each joined to the first and the second pad portions P1 and P2. The coupling member 5D is used to join the thumb-side padded member 2D and the central padded member 4D together. Sewing 51D for that is shown. The sewing 51D is done along a periphery of the coupling member 5D.

[0119]Although no coupling member is provided to join the little finger-side padded member 3D and the central padded member 4D together, sewing 31D is done with edge areas of the little finger-side padded member 3D and the central padded member 4D overlapping. In the present embodiment, the little finger-side padded member 3D is superposed on top of the central padded member 4D. However, the order of superposed members may be reversed.

[0120]Longitudinal slits 50D are formed in the coupling member 5D. Slits 30D are formed along the edge area of the little finger-side padded member 3D. As shown in FIG. 8D, slits 10D are formed at places corresponding to those for the slits 30D and 50D. However, the slits 30D may be formed in the central padded member 4D.

[0121]In the fifth embodiment, the thumb-side padded member 2D, the central padded member 4D, the little finger-side padded member 3D, and the main padded member 1D can be made of a soft material, a hard material, cowhide, and a soft material, respectively. However, this is not intended to limit the scope of the setting and selection of degrees of hardness of the members and materials, and various modifications are possible.

[0122]In the fifth embodiment, the coupling member 5D is provided to join the thumb-side padded member 2D and the central padded member 4D together. However, a configuration may be adopted so that a coupling member is provided to join the little finger-side padded member 3D and the central padded member 4D together without a coupling member provided to join the thumb-side padded member 2D and the central padded member 4D together. The coupling member 5D is made of cowhide, but this is not intended to limit the subject matter.

Other Embodiments

[0123]A known configuration may be adopted for the thumb pad portion and the little finger pad portion. The thumb pad portion and the little finger pad portion are each composed of a plurality of padded members that are superposed on and joined to each other. How many padded members are superposed can be determined appropriately. A shape and a size of the superposed padded members can be set appropriately. All the padded members do not necessarily need to have a common size or a common shape. This makes it possible to change the pocket size or alter the degree of hardness or flexibility. The thumb pad portion and the little finger pad portion may each be composed of a single member. A thickness or other properties can be selected appropriately.

[0124]The scope of the present disclosure should not be limited to the embodiments shown above, and various modifications are possible. The number of divided members for division of the first pad portion or the second pad portion is illustrated as three, for example. However, the pad portion may be divided into two or four or more. Both the first and the second pad portions may each be divided into members. The shapes of divided members can be changed as appropriate in response to a user request or such demand.

[0125]When the first pad portion or the second pad portion is divided into a plurality of members, degrees of hardness or flexibility of the members, material choices, and others can be determined appropriately. If the degree of hardness is to be changed, an appropriate method, such as a method of changing by a type of the material, a method of changing by a thickness of the member, and a method of changing by compressibility of the material, can be selected.

[0126]In the first embodiment, the coupling members are used. However, a configuration may be adopted so that no coupling members are used. In all the embodiments, whether or not to use a coupling member can be determined in consideration of conditions such as required quality and convenience in manufacturing. The same applies to other embodiments.