Swimming gloves
United States Patent 1191 Davey Apr. 1,1975  
 [76] Inventor:  
 i 1 SWIMMING GLOVES Joseph A. Davey, 250 Beach 134th St., Rockaway Park, NY. 11694 [22] Filed: Feb. 6. 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 439,915  
 [52] U.S. Cl. 9/308 [51] Int. Cl A63b 31/02 [58] Field of Search 9/308, 307. 30]  
 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2.004.684 6/l935 Bell 9/308 3,122.760 3/1964 Glass, Jr. 9/308 3.174.167 3/1965 Pauley 9/308 3.261.040 7/1966 015611... 3,286,287 11/1966 Martin Primary ExaminerTrygve M. Blix Assistant E.\an11&#39;/1e/-Sherman D. Basinger Attorney, Agent, or FirmWilliam P. Keegan ABSTRACT A swimming mitt of two substantially identical pieces of water impervious material joined together along the edges only, and provided with a thumb stall so that identical mitts can be worn on the right and the left hands.  
 1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures SWIMMING GLOVES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to swimming gloves, and more particularly to a webbed mitt which enables the user thereof, by spreading his fingers outwardly, to increase the effective area of his hand and thereby attain a greater stroking force to propel him through the water.  
  Many swimming aids to be worn on the hand have been provided in the past. However, they have been characterized by a complexity that goes far beyond the requirements of the task to be performed. Others have been so cumbersome as to be totally unsatisfactory for the purpose intended SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide an improved swimming mitt.  
  Another object of the invention is to provide a swimming mitt of a configuration that enables it to be worn on either hand ofa swimmer so that two identical mitts may be used rather than a right hand mitt and a left hand mitt.  
  Still another object of the invention is to provide a swimming mitt that is of simple construction, is economical, and easy to manufacture.  
  Yet another object of the invention is to provide a swimming mitt that permits water to flow freely through the mitt when it is in use.  
  In carrying out the invention, there is provided a swimming mitt having a palm segment that is flared in a longitudinal direction to conform generally to the outline of a persons hand with the fingers outspread, and a back segment of similar shape. The two segments are joined together along the longitudinal edges only while the ends are left open to permit water to enter and exit freely from the mitt.  
  Features and advantages of the invention may be gained from the foregoing and from the description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which follows.  
 In the drawing:  
  FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the swimming mitt according to the present invention; and  
  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the mitt on a persons hand.  
 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawing, swimming mitt is seen to comprise a first segment or piece 11 having a relatively narrow end 12 and flaring sides 13 and 14 joined by an arcuate forward end 15. A second segment or piece 16. similar to segment 1], is also provided. In the preferred embodiment, the two segments, 11 and 16, are identical so that they may be cut with the same die. Segment 16 has a narrow end 17, flared sides 18 and 19, and an arcuate remote end 20. It will be noted that there are no apertures or openings in either of the two segments and that they are identical in every respect.  
  The material from which segments 11 and 16 are formed is preferably a plastic, water impervious material such as. for example, polyethylene or vinyl, although any suitable material may be used. Thus, a rubberized fabric can also be used. However, a polyethylcne is preferred because of its low cost. and because of the ease with which it can be joined. Moreover, polyethylene can be textured, printed, or otherwise decorated to enhance the attractiveness of mitt 10.  
  The two segments, 11 and 16, are joined along their longitudinal sides, side 13 being joined to side 18 and side 14 to side 19, as by heat sealing. The heat sealed or joined seams of the mitt are indicated in the drawing by slant dotted lines. Of course, means other than heat sealing could be used for joining the segments of the mitt. A thumb stall 21 may be provided if desired by heat sealing the two segments together along an arcuate line 22. This will leave a web 23 between thumb stall 21 and the remainder of the mitt. To insure that water does not enter the pocket formed by the two segments of the mitt in web 23, the forward edge of web 23 may be heat sealed at 24.  
  It will be clear that mitt 10 may be worn on either the right hand or the left hand simply by turning the mitt over as may be required.  
  To manufacture the mitt all that is required is for two webs or sheets of polyethylene to be superimposed and die cut to conform to the outline of the segments 11 and 16. The longitudinal edges of the segments could be joined together by heat sealing simultaneously with the die cutting so that the completed swimming mitt can be made in one operation. And, since mitt 10, as described, can be worn on either the right hand or the left hand, manufacture is simplified to the extent that a mitt of only one configuration need be made.  
  In use, a swimmer would be provided with a pair of identical mitts, one for the right hand and one for the left hand. A band would be inserted through the narrow end of the mitt with the thumb placed in stall 21. With the hand thus in place and the fingers outspread, a very effective swimming aid is provided. and because the forward ends 15 and 20 of the two segments making up the mitt are not joined, water can pass freely through the mitt. Thus, when the hand is removed from the water, the mitt will be completely drained without the need for special drainage openings.  
  Having thus described my invention, it is clear that embodiments other than the one described could be provided without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the thumb stall could be formed by a straight radial line of heat sealing at the remote end of the mitt. Apertures could be provided in one or both mitt segments, although there is no drainage requirement that they be provided. For ornamental purposes, a fringe 25 may be provided on either or both of segments 11 and 16. Therefore, it is intended that the description and drawing be interpreted as illustrative rather than in a limiting sense.  
 What is claimed is:  
  1. A swimming glove of the character described suitable for placement on either the right hand or the left hand of a swimmer, said glove comprising, a first sheet of thin flexible plastic material having a narrow end and a wider arcuate end joined by diverging sides so as to conform generally to the outline of a hand with outspread fingers and thumb, a second sheet of thin flexible plastic material substantially identical in shape and size to said first sheet, said sheets being aligned, one on top of the other, and joined together by heat sealed seams extending along the sides of said sheets and a seam forming a thumb stall to form a mitten-like glove with the arcuate ends of said sheets adjacent the finger portion of the glove being substantially open and not joined together, the arrangement being such that, when placed on a swimmers hand with the thumb inserted in the thumb stall, the narrow ends of said sheets loosely encircle the swimmets wrist so that water can enter and drain freely from the glove at both essentially open ends of the glove.