HAND COVER SYSTEM

Abstract

A hand cover system with two functional modes. A first one for touching objects, and a second one for isolating potentially contaminated surfaces of a hand cover. The first mode is realized by a hand cover worn by a hand with a part for touching or gripping objects. The hand cover has an outer side and an inner side. The inner side has an opening for the hand to enter the inner side of the hand cover. The inner side is divided into at least two compartments for the fingers of the hand. The outer side of the hand cover has outer palm side surfaces for contacting an object to be touched, and outer back hand side surfaces on the other side of each part. For realizing the second mode, the hand cover isolates the outer palm side surfaces from the environment when the hand cover is not in use.

Claims

1. A hand cover system having two functional modes, the first one of the functional modes being intended for touching objects, and the second one of the functional modes being intended for isolating potentially contaminated surfaces of the hand cover, whereby for realizing the first functional mode, the hand cover system comprises one hand cover intended to be worn by a hand and having at least one part for touching or gripping objects, the hand cover further having an outer side and an inner side, whereby the inner side of the hand cover consists of an opening for the hand to enter the inner side of the hand cover, the inner side being divided into at least two compartments for the fingers of the hand to fit inside said parts, respectively, and whereby the outer side of the hand cover comprises outer palm side surfaces of each of said parts of the hand cover for contacting an object to be touched, and outer back hand side surfaces of each of said parts of the hand cover on the other side of each part, and whereby for realizing the second functional mode, the hand cover system wherein the hand cover system further comprises means for isolating said outer palm side surfaces from the environment when the hand cover is not in use, said isolating means being removable from the hand cover and consisting of an enclosure, wherein the hand cover is placed, the enclosure being designed to cover a part of the hand cover.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein there are two compartments for the fingers, whereby the parts for touching or gripping objects are in the form of jaws.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein there are five compartments for the fingers, whereby the hand cover has the form of a glove.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said isolating means consist of means for pressing said outer palm side surfaces of the hand cover against each other, when the hand cover is not in use.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said isolating means consist of one or more bands, clamps, clips or the like.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said band is wrapped around the hand cover.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said clamp or clip presses the outer palm side surfaces of the hand cover against each other from the outside of the hand cover.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein said clamp or clip presses outer palm side surfaces of the hand cover against each other from the inside of the hand.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the hand cover is designed to have the outer palm side surfaces of the hand cover pressed against each other automatically in its resting position when the hand cover is not in use.

10. The system of any of claim 1, wherein the hand cover is designed to have the outer palm side surfaces of the hand cover pressed against each other in its resting position and, optionally, having a piece between the outer palm side surfaces of the hand cover when the hand cover is not in use.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure has a divider separating said outer palm side surfaces parts from each other, when the hand cover is placed therein.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein there is a belt holder fastened to the enclosure.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein there is a pen enclosure for a tactile pen fastened to the enclosure.

Description

FIGURES

[0041] FIGS. 1-3 present the hand cover part of the system of the present disclosure from different directions.

[0042] FIG. 4 presents the enclosure part of the system of the present disclosure.

[0043] FIG. 5 presents the enclosure part of the system of the present disclosure with the hand cover therein.

[0044] FIG. 6 presents a further embodiment of the enclosure part of the system of the present disclosure with the tactile pen and hand cover therein.

[0045] FIGS. 7-11b present different embodiments of the hand cover of the present disclosure with means for pressing the palm side outer surface parts of the jaws of the hand cover against each other, when the hand cover is not in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] FIGS. 1-3 present the hand cover part of the system of the present disclosure from different directions.

[0047] FIG. 1 presents the hand cover 1 when worn by a hand 2. The hand cover 1 of the embodiment of FIG. 1 has parts 3a, 3b, for example so called jaws, for touching or gripping objects, and with inside compartments 7a, 7b (shown in FIG. 2) where the hand 2 and the fingers of the hand 2 fit. At touching, the outer palm side surface parts 4a (not seen) and 4b on the palm side of each jaw 3a and 3b, respectively are moved against each other for interaction with an object to be touched or gripped. Reference numbers 5a and 5b illustrate second outer surfaces of the jaws 3a, 3b on the other side, i.e. back side, of the hand when worn.

[0048] The hand cover 1 has an outer side and an inner side, whereby there is an opening 6 for the hand 2 to enter the inner side of the hand cover 1, i.e. to enter the inner space of the hand cover 1. The inner side (or inner space) is divided into at least two compartments 7a, 7b inside each jaw 3a and 3b of the hand cover 1, respectively.

[0049] FIG. 2 shows the hand cover 1 from a perspective view from below.

[0050] FIG. 3 shows the hand cover 1 from the side.

[0051] FIG. 4 presents the enclosure part of the system of the present disclosure. The enclosure 8 is used for storing the hand cover 1 when it is not in use and it works together with the hand cover to realize the intention of the present disclosure. The hand cover 1 and the enclosure 8 realize together the second functional mode of isolating the potentially cross-contaminating surfaces.

[0052] The enclosure 8 is designed to cover at least a part of the hand cover 1 in such a way that at least a part of the outside surfaces of the hand cover 1 are isolated from the environment. For clarity, it is emphasized that said outside surfaces include the outer surfaces 4a, 4b of both the palm side of the hand 2 and the outer surfaces 5a, 5b of the back of the hand 2.

[0053] FIG. 5 presents the enclosure part 8 of the system of the present disclosure seen from above with the hand cover 1 therein. The two compartments 7a, 7b for the fingers of the hand cover 1 can also be seen, the hand cover 1 being inside the enclosure 8. There can be more compartments for more fingers.

[0054] FIG. 6 presents a further embodiment of the enclosure 8 part of the system of the present disclosure. The hand cover 1 is placed inside the enclosure 8. A belt holder 9 is fastened to the edge of the enclosure 8. A pen enclosure 10 with a tactile pen 11 inside is fastened e.g. to the other side of the enclosure 8.

[0055] FIGS. 7-9 present different embodiments of the hand cover 1 of the present disclosure with means for pressing the outer palm side surface parts 4a, 4b of the jaws 3a, 3b of the hand cover 1 against each other, when the hand cover 1 is not in use.

[0056] The system can comprise means for pressing the outer palm side surface parts 4a, 4b of the jaws 3a, 3b of the hand cover 1 (or other type of touching or gripping parts of the hand cover) against each other, when the hand cover 1 is not in use when realizing the second functional mode of isolating the potentially cross contaminating surfaces of the hand cover.

[0057] In FIG. 7, said means consist of a clamp 12 and it presses the outer palm side surface parts 4a, 4b of the jaws 3a, 3b of the hand cover 1 against each other from the inside of the hand cover 1.

[0058] In FIG. 8, said means consist of a clip 13 and it presses the outer palm side surface parts 4a, 4b of the jaws 3a, 3b of the hand cover 1 against each other from the outside of the hand cover 1. A clamp could in a similar way press the said surfaces from outside in a separate implementation.

[0059] In FIG. 9, said means consist of a band 14 and it presses the outer palm side surface parts 4a, 4b of the jaws 3a, 3b of the hand cover 1 against each other from the outside of the hand cover 1.

[0060] FIG. 10 shows the enclosure 8 with a divider 15 so that the hand cover 1 can be placed within it with one jaw on each side of the divider 15. The divider 15 can be integrated with the enclosure or be detachable.

[0061] FIGS. 11a and 11b illustrate an embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the material of the hand cover 1 is made of or the hand cover is designed to have the jaws 3a, 3b of the hand cover pressed against each other automatically in its resting position of FIG. 11b from its shape in use of FIG. 11a with the hand 2 therein, wherein the jaws can be kept separate from each other, e.g. during the gripping of objects. There can optionally be a piece (not shown) between the jaws 3a, 3b when the hand cover 1 is not in use in said resting position with the jaws 3a, 3b pressed against each other. This can be performed by manufacturing the hand cover 1 of a material that can remember its shape.