Apparel – Hand or arm coverings – Gloves
Patent
1993-10-01
1996-01-16
Crowder, C. D.
Apparel
Hand or arm coverings
Gloves
2168, 2 21, 128844, A41D 1310, A61F 604
Patent
active
054836972
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to protective coverings (e.g., gloves, condoms, and finger cots) for human body members, and methods for making such protective coverings. More particularly, this invention relates to coverings such as protective gloves which may be used for various purposes, including, for example, surgery or other medical procedures, or protection from hazardous chemical substances.
The design of protective gloves represents a struggle of competing interests. To increase the protective nature of the glove intuitively requires increasing the thickness of the glove material. However, by increasing the thickness of the glove material, the sense of feel for the wearer of the gloves is increasingly hampered. Thus, the glove designer must find a suitable compromise between safety and sense of feel.
This problem is particularly acute in the area of surgical gloves. The sense of feel in the hands of a surgeon is important for the proper handling of delicate instruments and the proper execution of precise surgical procedures. However, it is also desirable that the surgeon be protected from biohazardous agents which the surgeon may be exposed to from the patient. For example, the surgical patient may carry viruses such as HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) or hepatitis. During surgery, the surgeon's gloves are frequently cut or punctured, exposing the surgeon to infection.
Also, it is desirable to protect the patient from germs on the surgeon's or technician's hands. Although medical personnel, of course, typically scrub their hands before performing surgical procedures, some germs may remain and be exposed to the patient upon puncturing or tearing the surgical gloves.
Surgical gloves known to the Applicant are generally made of latex, vinyl, or neoprene, i.e. thin elastic materials which provide reasonable tear resistance and allow for satisfactory sense of feel. However, the gloves may be easily torn or punctured with sharp surgical instruments. Furthermore, it is difficult for the surgeon to detect a small tear or puncture in the glove material during surgery since such a puncture is difficult to see, especially if the gloves are covered with a patient's body fluids. Thus, the surgeon has little warning of exposure.
In the chemical or hazardous material preparation and handling area, disadvantages in present gloves also exist. Although the sense of feel for these areas may not be as important as that for the surgeon, there is also often a risk or danger even with thicker protective gloves. The glove material may be degraded or penetrated after a period of time by various chemicals which the chemist handles.
Protective coverings for other parts of the body also exist. For example, finger cots (i.e. glove-like coverings which cover only one finger) are used in medical procedures, particularly in rectal and vaginal examinations. Condoms are used to cover the male reproductive organ during intercourse. In addition to the obvious purpose of a condom to trap semen and thereby minimize the possibility of pregnancy resulting from intercourse, condoms are also used to protect the partners from infections by sexually transmitted diseases. This has become increasingly important over recent years in preventing the spread of HIV.
In these and other protective coverings, similar problems and concerns exist, i.e. danger of tearing or ripping the covering balanced against the desire for sensitivity.
Thus it is a general object of this invention to provide protective coverings which address the disadvantages experienced by the above-described coverings.
In one broad aspect, the present invention provides a protective covering for a human body member, the protective covering having an inner and outer layer. A layer of solution is disposed between the inner and outer layers, and an impermeable seal is provided between the layers to contain the solution substance therebetween. The solution may comprise an antimicrobial solution, a sealing solution, an evaporation inhibitor, a neutralizing solution, or any mixture thereof. Th
REFERENCES:
patent: 1954262 (1934-04-01), Potter
patent: 2120406 (1938-06-01), Hansen
patent: 2148832 (1939-02-01), Raynolds
patent: 2281436 (1942-04-01), Hershberger
patent: 2410460 (1946-11-01), Robinson
patent: 2586674 (1952-02-01), Lonne
patent: 2792835 (1957-05-01), Ferguson
patent: 2983705 (1961-05-01), Baldwin et al.
patent: 2983707 (1961-05-01), Baldwin et al.
patent: 3110035 (1963-11-01), LaHue
patent: 3121877 (1964-02-01), Gintner
patent: 3342182 (1967-09-01), Charos
patent: 3536576 (1970-10-01), Schwartz
patent: 3633216 (1972-01-01), Schonholtz
patent: 3672351 (1972-06-01), Ubersax et al.
patent: 3813695 (1974-06-01), Podell, Jr. et al.
patent: 3854228 (1974-12-01), Conroy
patent: 3874000 (1975-04-01), Altman
patent: 3883899 (1975-05-01), Ganz
patent: 3898253 (1975-08-01), Buckler et al.
patent: 3911501 (1975-10-01), Seltzer
patent: 3975775 (1976-08-01), Alsop
patent: 4070713 (1978-01-01), Stockum
patent: 4143423 (1979-03-01), Sternlieb
patent: 4185330 (1980-01-01), Stager
patent: 4190040 (1980-02-01), Schulte
patent: 4214321 (1980-07-01), Nuwayser
patent: 4218779 (1980-08-01), Hart et al.
patent: 4332243 (1982-06-01), Gutnick
patent: 4432357 (1984-02-01), Pomeranz
patent: 4442147 (1984-04-01), Schirmer
patent: 4446860 (1984-05-01), Gutnick
patent: 4471538 (1984-09-01), Pomeranz et al.
patent: 4482577 (1984-11-01), Goldstein et al.
patent: 4486562 (1984-12-01), Fischer
patent: 4499154 (1985-02-01), James et al.
patent: 4548844 (1985-10-01), Podell et al.
patent: 4575476 (1986-03-01), Podell et al.
patent: 4588646 (1986-05-01), Athey, Jr.
patent: 4597108 (1986-07-01), Momose
patent: 4657021 (1987-04-01), Perry et al.
patent: 4668224 (1987-05-01), Lentz et al.
patent: 4696065 (1987-09-01), Elenteny
patent: 4742578 (1988-05-01), Seid
patent: 4771482 (1988-09-01), Shlenker
patent: 4795425 (1989-01-01), Pugh
patent: 4843014 (1989-07-01), Cukier
patent: 4864661 (1989-09-01), Gimbel
patent: 4881277 (1989-11-01), Hogle
patent: 4892779 (1990-01-01), Leatherman et al.
patent: 4919966 (1990-04-01), Shylenker
patent: 4930522 (1990-06-01), Busnel et al.
patent: 4977903 (1990-12-01), Haines
patent: 5024852 (1991-06-01), Busnel et al.
patent: 5045341 (1991-09-01), Shlenker
Plastics Fabrication and Uses, vol. 74, No. 13928m (1971).
Chemical Abstracts, vol. 78, No. 31154t (1973).
Webster's Third New International Dictionary, at pp. 706-710 (1986).
"Standard Specification for Rubber Surgical Gloves," D3577-78, pp. 477-485, American Society for Testing and Materials (Jul. 1978).
"Standard Specification for Rubber Finger Cots," D3772-86, pp. 523-525, American Society for Testing and Materials (May 1986).
Hickes et al., "Inactivation of HTLV-III/LAV-Infected Cultures of Normal Human Lymphocytes by Moonoxynol-9 In Vitro," The Lancet, pp. 1422-1423 (Dec 21/28, 1985).
Grossgebauer, "Virus Disinfection," Disinfection, pp. 103-148 (1970).
Rabinovich, et al., "Direct Measurements of Long-Range Surface Forces in Gas and Liquid Media," Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, vol. 16, pp. 63-78 (1982).
Rigel et al., "Modification of Surgical Gloves Prevent Exposure to Hepatitis During Hair Transplantation Surgery," J. Dermaol. Surg. Oncol., 9:2, pp. 114-115 (Feb. 1983).
Spire et al., "Inactivation of Lymphadenopathy Associated Virus by Chemical Disinfectants," The Lancet, pp. 899-901 (Oct. 20, 1984).
Wright et al., "Mechanisms of Glove Tears and Sharp Injuries Among Surgical Personnel," JAMA, vol. 266, No. 12, pp. 1668-1671 (Sep. 25, 1991).
International Search Report for PCT/US90/02903 Application (Apr. 10, 1990).
International Search Report for PCT/US91/08623 Application (May 21, 1992).
International Search Report for PCT/US91/08961 Application (Jun. 12, 1992).
International Search Report for PCT/US91/08954 Application (May 19, 1992).
World Patents Index Latest, Derwent Ltd., London, GB; AN 81-90479D & SU,A,761 513, Abstract (Sep. 7, 1980).
Nuclear Technology, vol. 80, No. 127274z (1974).
Annex to the International Search Report of the International Patent Application N
Board of Regents The University of Texas
Crowder C. D.
Vanatta Amy B.
LandOfFree
Multilayer protective coverings with a sealing solution does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Multilayer protective coverings with a sealing solution, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Multilayer protective coverings with a sealing solution will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-300974