Apparel – Hand or arm coverings – Gloves
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-10
2001-03-20
Calvert, John J. (Department: 3741)
Apparel
Hand or arm coverings
Gloves
C002S016000, C002S163000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202217
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a device for the protection of objects or body parts against vibrations, in particular a vibration-damping glove or antivibration glove, including at least one vibration-damping layer.
2. Prior Art
Devices for the protection of the human body are known, for instance, as protectors for motorcyclists, which reduce the action of forces exerted on the body in the event of an accident involving crashing of the motorcyclist. DE 196 47 724 A1 describes protectors for protective motorcycle clothings, which are made of elastomers and include a base provided with elevations in the direction of the motorcyclist's body, which are aimed at providing an enhanced adaptability. Such protectors serve as protections against shocks or impacts. In order to reduce vibrations, gloves have been known, which, for instance, according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,045 A contain at least two layers of a damping material, one layer consisting of a viscoelastic material and one layer consisting of a foamed material. Another glove construction according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,537,688 A includes a plurality of interconnected liquid-containing blisters. Moreover, there are gloves for the protection against heat and mechanical influences, such as, for instance, the configuration according to WO 93/05670 A1, or gloves exhibiting an enhanced grip and adherence. Such a glove, in particular a goaltender's glove, is described, for instance, in WO 95/34228 A1.
The field of the present invention relates to both the protection of objects against vibrations and the protection of at least parts of the human or animal body. Whatever the cause of vibrations may be, in most cases it is moved systems which bring about undesired vibrations as side effects. By appropriately constructing the moved systems, it is sought to keep such vibrations low or shift the frequencies of vibrations to ranges in which they involve fewer drawbacks. It is, however, not possible to exlude vibrations completely. Therefore, various attempts have been made to prevent the transmission of vibrations to other objects or on man, or admit only a reduced portion of the same.
In particular, the operation of vibrating tools such as, e.g., grinding machines or the like, frequently leads to temporary or chronical injuries of the persons operating those machines. Such injuries are known as hand arm vibration syndrome. The consequences of such injuries are high sickness figures, low outputs and claims for damages, which constitute high economic losses.
The field, however, is not limited to vibrating machines. The devices, for instance, may serve also for protecting against vibrations in vehicles or the like.
In terms of frequency, vibrations may be subdivided into those occurring in the medium frequency range of approximately 31.5 to 200 Hz and those occurring in the high frequency range of above 200 Hz. Currently available protective devices such as, e.g., antivibration gloves are designed such that medium frequency range vibrations will not be increased and high frequency range vibrations will be lowered to a certain percentage. There have been known a number of antivibration gloves which cause the damping of vibrations by means of different materials in different material thicknesses. Thus, it is, for instance, possible to insert shaped parts of polyurethane, elastomers, silicon gel or polyolefine in a glove. In order to achieve sufficient vibration damping, those shaped parts in most cases are very thick, thus extremely restricting maneuverability. This cannot be tolerated in the application as a glove. If, on the other hand, the shaped parts are made so thin as to involve no substantial restriction of the freedom of motion, vibration damping will be insufficient. There are also known cases in which the device for the protection against vibrations will even increase the latter in certain frequency ranges.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, the object of the present invention to provide a device for the protection against vibrations, by which noticeable damping of vibrations can be achieved even in the low-frequency range of vibrations. Moreover, the device for the protection against vibrations is to be configured so as to allow for as large a freedom of motion as possible when applied to the human body, yet also no mechanical blocking will occur when applied directly on machines or the like.
The object of the invention is achieved in that at least one vibration-damping layer, on its surface facing away from the object or body part to be protected, comprises indents for decoupling movements in at least one direction in the plane of the said surface. The use of a vibration-damping layer comprising the indents according to the invention ensures that vibrations will be sufficiently damped even in the low-frequency range, i.e., from approximately 31.5 to 200 Hz while additionally providing as large a freedom of motion as possible. The surface of the vibration-damping layer, which is interrupted by the indents, is in direct or indirect contact with the source of vibration such that the vibrations can be effectively damped. When applying the device according to the invention as a protection against vibrations in the form of a vibration-damping glove, vibration-dependent injuries can, thus, be avoided and working can be continued over extented periods without frequent breaks and without the workers being jeopardized. Advantageously, the indents are arranged as a function of the geometry and the desired movability of the object or body part to be protected.
According to another characteristic feature of the invention, the depth of an indent amounts to at least 60%, preferably at least 80% and, in a particularly preferred manner, at least 95% of the thickness of the vibration-damping layer. Thereby, enhanced decoupling of the movements on the surface of the vibration-damping layer and hence enhanced vibration damping as well as an increased freedom of motion are achieved.
The width of the indents is at least so large that, at the maximum vibration-damping layer deformation possible, the layer formations located between the indents are at least partially decoupled from one another. Thereby, an optimum vibration-damping effect is obtained even at a deformation of the layer.
If the width of the indents increases in the direction of the surface of the vibration-damping layer, decoupling of the formations will be reached even at a deformation of the layer.
According to a further characteristic feature of the invention, at least one vibration-damping layer is comprised of a three-dimensional elastomer matrix, preferably based on polynorbonene, having vibration-damping plasticizers incorporated therein. Unlike gelatinous material groups, which exhibit a limited recovering behavior, an enhanced dimensional stability is achieved by means of a cross-linked elastomer matrix. By applying such a cross-linked structure, it is feasible to ensure optimum vibration damping even in the lower frequency ranges. This is achieved by the vibration-damping medium, in the instant case the vibration-damping plasticizer, being incorporated in the three-dimensional cross-linked elastomer matrix.
Good results are obtained if at least one vibration-damping layer has a hardness of 18 Shore A at most, preferably 5 Shore A, and a rebound elasticity of 10% at most, preferably 3% .
According to a further characteristic feature of the invention, the surface of the vibration-damping layer amounts to 20% to 80%, preferably 30%, of the base of the vibration-damping layer. The smaller the surface of the vibration-damping layer, the better the movability of the protective device. Yet, on the other hand, the surface must have a certain minimum measure in order maintain its functionality and the transmission of a retention force via the protective device, in particular when used as a glove. This will be assisted by the use of a harder material when choosing a smaller surface of the vibration-damping layer and a softer ma
Astron Elastomerprodukte Gesellschaft m.b.H.
Calvert John J.
Moran Katherine
Samuels Gauthier & Stevens
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