Glove

Details Glove Glove

2002-02-19

2004-06-15

Lindsey, Rodney M. (Department: 3765)

Apparel

Hand or arm coverings

Gloves

C002S159000, C002S167000, C002S169000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06748605

ABSTRACT:

This invention relates to gloves, especially single-use or disposable gloves,
with at least two essentially congruent plastic sheets, one forming the outer face for the back of the hand and one forming the inner face for the palm of the hand and
with at least one absorbent outer layer applied to the outer face and/or top side of the inner face, which outer layer is provided with at least one fluid, especially sprayed and/or soaked and/or impregnated.
The term “glove” here is intended to encompass both gloves and mitts. Such single-use or disposable gloves are composed essentially of plastic and are employed, for example, for cleaning purposes of all types, for example, personal hygiene and washing infirm or bedridden persons.
To facilitate the work of the person performing the cleaning or washing, the absorbent outer layer, usually the top layer applied to the inner face, is already provided with at least one fluid—for example, either a cleaning or washing fluid—that is, for example, sprayed and/or soaked and/or impregnated.
Since these gloves are—especially by reason of their consistency—in the form of single-use or disposable items, they are often provided in multi-packs, for example, ten-packs; to save space, packaging material and storage space, a lesser or greater number of these gloves are proved in a folded, rolled and/or stacked state.
There exists a risk here that the fluid with which the outer layer of the gloves is provided will over time penetrate the opening of the glove—an undesirable result, particularly for health reasons.
In view of the above disadvantages and inadequacies, the object of the present invention is to further develop such gloves, especially such single-use or disposable gloves, in a simple and inexpensively producible manner so as to always prevent any penetration of the fluid with which the outer layer is provided into the interior of the glove.
This objective is achieved by a glove of the type referred to at the outset in which, according to the teaching of the present invention, the plastic sheets are essentially permanently joined to one another, at least along the lateral border regions, while providing a glove opening which, opposite the finger section, is essentially sealed against the penetration of fluid, and may be exposed and/or opened when the glove is to be used.
A glove is thus created according to the invention which is provided on its outer face, preferably however only on the top of its inner face, with a suitably “superabsorbent” outer layer of paper or (paper) nonwoven material. This paper layer or nonwoven layer may be kept very thin, thereby saving a considerable amount of material.
Since the absorbent outer layer usually applied to the top of the inner face is provided with at least one fluid—for example, a cleaning or washing fluid—which has been sprayed and/or soaked and/or impregnated, the opening of the glove is essentially sealed against the penetration of fluid and may be exposed and/or opened when the glove is to be used.
As a result, a glove, especially a single-use or disposable glove, is created in a manner surprising to an individual skilled in the art, which glove may be produced both simply and inexpensively, and the design of which reliably prevents any fluid contained in the outer layer of the gloves from penetrating the interior of the glove over time.
In a preferred further embodiment of the present invention, at least one strip is located along the opening of the glove or arranged in the area of the glove opening extending essentially perpendicularly to the direction in which the hand is inserted, specifically one attached along the edge of the inner face opposite the finger section (the term “finger section” being understood to comprise the area including the thumb and four remaining fingers—index finger, middle finger, ring finger, little finger).
This strip which advantageously extends across essentially the entire width of the glove and which, for example, may be essentially either opaque or transparent, serves, among other functions, to affix the plastic sheet containing the outer face—either along the opening of the glove or to the plastic sheet containing the inner face in the area of the glove opening so as to ensure a durable, and especially a fluid-tight seal for the opening of the glove.
In an especially innovative further embodiment of the present glove, the plastic sheets are permanently attached to one another as well in the border regions of the opening of the glove, for example, by adhesion and/or by welding or sealing.
In one preferred embodiment, to permit access to the interior of the glove when the glove is to be used, along the glove opening or in the area of the glove opening there is provided at least one score line or tear line in the plastic sheet containing the outer face, which line extends essentially in a direction perpendicular to the hand-insertion direction and is appropriately created before the adhesive-based and/or welded and/or sealed joining of: the plastic sheet containing the outer face, the plastic sheet containing the inner face and the outer layer, which line is closer to the finger section than is the permanent and essentially fluid-impermeable joint of the plastic sheets located in the border regions of the glove opening, and along which line the glove opening is designed to be opened. Thus by opening this score line or tear line, the hand may be inserted in the direction of insertion into the interior of the glove.
In another particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention, along the glove opening or in the area of the glove opening, there may be provided at least one score line or tear line, extending essentially perpendicularly to the hand-insertion direction, in the plastic sheet containing the outer face, in the plastic sheet containing the inner face and in the outer layer, which line is closer to the finger section than the essentially fluid-impermeable joint of the plastic sheets located permanently in the border regions of the glove opening, and which line is designed to be opened along the opening of the glove.
Because of this essentially “penetrating” score line or tear line, that is one comprising all layers (=both plastic sheets and outer layer) of the glove, when the glove is to be used, access to the glove opening may be readily accomplished by detaching the section of the glove adjacent to the glove opening along the score line or tear line.
The score lines or tear lines presented above may extend practically across the entire width of the glove so as to facilitate complete access to the interior of the glove. To simplify the manipulation of the score lines or tear lines, it is recommended these be essentially linear in shape.
If there is a need to further develop the present invention in an especially innovative way, it is advisable to design the score line or tear line as a sealed region or sealed line. As an alternative or supplemental approach, the score line or tear line may also be designed as a specially hard-pressed region or specially hard-pressed line. The score line or tear line may also be achieved using knurling equipment (→knurled region or knurled line); and finally, another conceivable approach is to create the score line or tear line by at least one perforation process.
According to another especially innovative further embodiment of this glove, the edge of the outer face opposite the finger section may be offset from edge of the inner face opposite the finger section. This approach facilitates the especially comfortable insertion of the hand into the glove since the user of the glove may as necessary compensate for the fact that the two plastic sheets may adhere to one another by simply grasping the overlapping edge and easily pulling the two plastic sheets apart.
Unrelated to the above, or in conjunction with the above, one advantageous embodiment of the present invention locates at least one optionally reclosable closure along the glove opening or in the region of the glove opening, which closure speci

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