Faculty Member and Entrepreneur Receives United States Patent

Juan C. Ramirez, an adjunct economics associate faculty member at Moreno Valley College and a longtime supporter of hands-on learning, has been awarded a United States patent for a new sports innovation designed to enhance athletic performance. The patent was issued on Nov. 4.

Ramirez, who teaches in MVC’s entrepreneurship program, regularly draws from his experience as founder of the sports gear company Alpha Athletics. In his courses, he shares practical insight on developing minimum viable products, launching businesses with limited resources, and protecting innovations through intellectual property rights, including patents.

Ramirez invented a specialized sports finger cot designed for baseball players. His design covers only the forefinger and middle finger, which he tested with pitchers during the prototype phase.

"I tested my prototypes with baseball pitchers where the finger cots only cover the forefinger and middle finger, and they seemed to have significantly more control of their pitches," Ramirez said.

The patented finger cots are still a few years from mass production, though Ramirez continues refining the product.

Ramirez has built Alpha Athletics into a respected small business offering high-quality sports gear, including the Alpha One Golf Glove, which has received positive media attention for its craftsmanship and performance.

His entrepreneurial experience plays a valuable role in his teaching, providing students with real-world examples of how economic and business concepts apply beyond the classroom.

For more information about Moreno Valley College and its entrepreneurship programs, visit the Entrepreneurship program, Business Administration program, and School of Business, Health and Human Services pages.