Apparel – Hand or arm coverings – Gloves
Patent
1991-04-22
1993-07-06
Nerbun, Peter
Apparel
Hand or arm coverings
Gloves
2167, A41D 1900
Patent
active
052242218
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention is concerned with tamper- or damage-indicating members.
There are many types of product for which it is desirable to provide a visual indication that it has been breached, which may in some circumstances be indicative of accidental damage to the article, and in other circumstances indicative of tampering with the article.
An example of a product where it is desired to provide a visual indication of accidental damage is a protective glove. Protective gloves are worn by surgeons in the course of surgical operations and are increasingly worn by other medical personnel (such as nurses, dentists and ambulance operatives), as well as other emergency workers, in view of concern over cross-infection in connection with diseases such as hepatitis B and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
The basic rationale behind the use of such gloves is that they should provide a complete barrier between the medical or emergency worker and the patient. Unfortunately, there is a risk of damage to the gloves by the use of sharp instruments such as scalpels, needles and the like; such damage is not always immediately detectable.
Examples of products where it is desired to provide a visual indication of accidental damage or tampering include containers (particularly containers which are intended to provide security for the contents), coin-meters, seals on lorries and other vehicles, and the like. For such products it is often desirable to provide a visual indication of when a seal has been broken.
It is an object of the present invention to provide tamper- or damage-indicating members in which damage (either accidental or as a result of unauthorised tampering) is readily detectable.
According to the present invention, therefore, there is provided a tamper- or damage-indicating member, which comprises an inner layer and an outer layer, at least a portion of said outer layer being sealed to said inner layer so as to surround a zone of the inner layer which is not sealed to the outer layer, both the outer and inner layers being of substantially liquid- and air-impermeable material and the space between said layers in said zone being substantially free of air (for example substantially evacuated), said outer layer being translucent or transparent at least in the area thereof overlying said zone and having a contrasting colour relative to the colour of said inner layer.
It is preferred that in the abovementioned zone, both the outer layer and the inner layer should be of substantially uniform coloration throughout. The outer layer is typically of yellow and the inner layer is typically of a darker colour, such as green, black or the like. Because of the optical properties of the outer layer, the perceived colour when a complete vacuum remains in the above-mentioned zone (when the member is undamaged or not tampered with) is that of the inner layer; when the vacuum has been broken however, the perceived color is that of the outer layer. When, however, the zone is free of air but not fully evacuated (for example, when the outer layer is secured to the inner layer only by the resilience of the outer layer, as will be described in more detail below), the optical effect is reversed (that is, the perceived colour when the member is undamaged or not tampered with is that of the outer layer, but when damage has taken place, and in the presence of an aqueous liquid, a capillary action takes place between the two layers such that the perceived colour is that of the inner layer).
In some embodiments of the invention, the outer layer is conveniently thinner than, or of substantially the same thickness as, the inner layer; the contacting surfaces of the inner and outer layers may both be smooth or, in some embodiments (such as when the outer layer and the inner layer are both flexible), the outer surface of the inner layer, or the inner surface of the outer layer, may have a fine textured finish. In other embodiments (such as when the outer layer and the inner layer are both rigid), it is preferred that both the outer sur
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Richardson Margaret P.
Richardson Philip
Current Sara M.
Nerbun Peter
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