Method and Apparatus for Disposable Glove Dispensing

20190200793 ยท 2019-07-04

    Inventors

    Cpc classification

    International classification

    Abstract

    A glove dispenser is disclosed that permits sanitary donning of gloves by a user without the user touching the exterior of the glove during the donning process. The disclosed apparatus includes a plurality of glove attachment areas configured on a platform that allows disposable and non-disposable gloves to be releaseably attached to it by their cuffs, and present the inside of the glove cuffs to a user for easy sanitary donning. As such, a user may open the glove by pulling on the inner portion of the cuff with one hand, inserting the other hand into the opened glove, releasing the pulled cuff, and simply detaching the donned glove from the dispenser. Furthermore, the invention provides a new method for holding and donning gloves of various sizes, materials, construction, etc. while preventing a user from touching the exterior of the gloves, thus preventing contamination of the gloves.

    Claims

    1. A glove dispensing apparatus for retaining and donning gloves, the apparatus comprising: a glove attachment area configured on a platform, said platform having a left side and a right side, wherein the glove attachment area comprises lips and indents for attaching and holding the cuff of one or more gloves thereto, respectively; and wherein the one or more gloves have their cuffs folded to expose an inside portion of the cuff; and wherein the one or more gloves have a bead, said bead of the one or more gloves rests proximate to indents on the glove attachment area; and wherein the cuff of the glove is releasably attached over the lips of the glove attachment area.

    2. The glove dispensing apparatus of claim 1, comprising a glove attachment area further comprising a plurality of lips and indents.

    3. The glove attachment area of claim 2, wherein the plurality of lips are curvilinear in shape.

    4. The glove attachment area of claim 2, wherein the plurality of lips are angled in shape.

    5. The glove attachment area of claim 2, wherein the plurality of indents are curvilinear in shape.

    6. The glove attachment area of claim 2, wherein the plurality of indents are angled in shape.

    7. The platform of claim 1 comprising a plurality of glove attachment areas configured thereon.

    8. The glove dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more glove attachment areas are configured stand-off from a platform face.

    9. The platform of claim 1 comprising one or more glove attachment areas stemming vertically from said platform.

    10. The one or more glove attachment areas of claim 9 wherein the glove attachment area from the left side to the right side of a platform is solid filled.

    11. The glove dispensing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the platform comprises a left side panel and a right side panel comprising one or more glove attachment areas configured thereupon.

    12. A method of retaining a glove and donning a glove to a hand comprising: providing a glove attachment area configured on a platform having a left side and the right, wherein the glove attachment area comprises lips and indents for attaching the cuff of the one or more gloves and for holding the one or more gloves, respectively; and stretching the cuff of the one or more gloves onto the glove attachment area, wherein the one or more gloves having their cuffs folded to expose an inside portion of the cuff of the one or more gloves; and wherein the inside portion of the cuff of the glove is releasably attached over the lips of the glove attachment area.

    13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: a user pulling on the inside portion of the cuff of a glove attached to the glove attachment area with a first hand so that the glove is opened, said user inserting another hand into the opened glove while releasing the cuff with the first hand, causing the glove to become donned to the another hand; and said user, releasing the donned another hand from the glove attachment area as the another hand is pulled upward and away from the glove attachment area.

    14. A glove dispensing system, comprising: a glove attachment area configured on a platform having a left side and a right side, wherein the glove attachment area comprises lips and indents for attaching the cuff of one or more gloves and for holding the cuff of the one or more gloves, respectively; and wherein the platform is attached to a mounting support, said mounting support configured for receiving attachment means; and wherein the platform, having gloves assembled thereon, is configured for encasement in protective packaging.

    15. The glove dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the platform is comprised of one or more glove attachment areas.

    16. The glove dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the platform includes holes for mounting said platform to the mounting support.

    17. The glove dispensing apparatus of claim 14, wherein the platform comprises a left side panel and a right side panel comprising one or more glove attachment areas configured thereupon.

    Description

    BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

    [0014] While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming particular embodiments of the instant invention, various embodiments of the invention can be more readily understood and appreciated from the following descriptions of various embodiments of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

    [0015] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a glove dispenser showing gloves stacked onto the glove attachment area, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure;

    [0016] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a user opening a glove by pulling on the inner cuff of the glove secured to glove attachment area of a dispenser with one hand, and placing the other hand into the opened glove, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure;

    [0017] FIG. 1C is a perspective view illustrating a user with hand in a glove that is secured onto the glove attachment area of a dispenser, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure;

    [0018] FIG. 1D is a perspective view illustrating the cuff of a glove released onto a user's hand that has been placed in a glove secured onto the glove attachment area of a dispenser, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure;

    [0019] FIG. 1E is a perspective view illustrating a glove, donned on a user's hand, being detached from the dispenser by the user pulling up and away from the glove attachment area of a dispenser, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure;

    [0020] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a glove dispenser with a glove attachment area, comprised of lips and indents configured thereon, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure;

    [0021] FIG. 2B is a perspective view of a glove dispenser having glove attachment areas configured thereon, horizontally opposed on a platform, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

    [0022] FIG. 2C is a perspective view of a glove dispenser having glove attachment areas configured thereon vertically opposed on a platform, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

    [0023] FIG. 2D is a perspective view of a glove dispenser having glove attachment areas configured thereon, horizontally opposed on a top side of a platform, and glove attachment areas configured thereon, horizontally opposed on a bottom side of a platform, respectively, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

    [0024] FIG. 3A is a front sectional view of the right side of a glove attachment area showing exemplary lips and indents configured thereon, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure;

    [0025] FIG. 3B is a front view of a glove dispenser illustrating an exemplary alternative configuration for a platform beam, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure;

    [0026] FIG. 3C is close-up perspective view of the left side and the right side of an exemplary glove attachment area;

    [0027] FIG. 3D is a front view of a glove dispenser illustrating the left side and the right side of an exemplary glove attachment area;

    [0028] FIGS. 4A-4E are front sectional views of the right side of a glove attachment area illustrating exemplary alternative lip and indent configurations, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention; and

    [0029] FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a glove dispenser, illustrating an exemplary glove attachment area stand-off from the platform face, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

    [0030] FIG. 5B is a perspective view of a glove dispenser, illustrating an exemplary glove attachment area stand-off from the platform face with glove attached thereon, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

    [0031] FIG. 6A is a perspective view of an alternative configuration of a glove dispenser, illustrating an exemplary alternative glove attachment area, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure;

    [0032] FIG. 6B is a perspective view of an alternative configuration of a glove dispenser, illustrating an exemplary alternative glove attachment area with glove attached thereon, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure;

    [0033] FIG. 6C is a perspective view of an alternative configuration of the glove dispenser of FIG. 6A, illustrating solid fill between lips and indents from the left side to the right side of the glove attachment area, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure;

    [0034] FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a dispenser configured with a left-side panel and a right-side panel, each angled from a platform face and each configured with lips and indents forming a glove attachment area, respectively;

    [0035] FIG. 7B is a perspective view of a dispenser configured with a left-side panel and a right-side panel, each angled from a platform face and each configured with lips and indents forming a glove attachment area, respectively, showing a glove attached thereon in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention;

    [0036] FIG. 7C is a perspective view of a dispenser configured with a left-side panel and a right-side panel, each angled from a platform face and each configured with a plurality of lips and indents forming multiple glove attachment areas, and exemplifying various configurations of lips and indents, respectively;

    [0037] FIG. 7D is a perspective view of a dispenser configured with a left-side panel and a right-side panel, each angled from a platform face, where the glove attachment areas are stand-off from each side panel, respectively; and

    [0038] FIG. 7E is a perspective view of a dispenser configured with a left-side panel and a right-side panel, each angled from a platform face, wherein the glove attachment areas are stand-off from each side panel, showing a glove attached thereon in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, respectively; and

    [0039] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a glove dispenser system having platform, packaged gloves, and mounting apparatus, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.

    DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

    [0040] This detailed description discusses various exemplary embodiments to support disclosure of the present invention. While these exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that modifications of structures, arrangements, or components used in the practice of the instant invention, in addition to those not specifically recited, can be varied or otherwise adapted to specific environments, manufacturing specifications, design parameters or other operating requirements without departing from the scope of the present invention and are intended to be included in this disclosure. As such, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and do not constrain the invention to specific limitations.

    [0041] It is contemplated that many alternatives may become apparent as presented in disclosed arrangement of elements. For instance, examples describing a left side and a right side of a structure may be described alternatively as a right side and a left side of the same structure. In addition, a glove may refer to an outermost presented to a user wishing to don the glove. Disclosed herein are one or more configurations of apparatuses, an exemplary sanitary method for inserting hands into disposable gloves and donning gloves without touching their outside surface.

    [0042] The disposable gloves as discussed herein may be made of latex, nitrile, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl, and other suitable materials. The disposable gloves may also have different thicknesses and can come in separate or combined packs of different sizes, such as small, medium, or large, and the like. Use of terms in this disclosure like disposable, sanitary, sterile, and the like to describe gloves, are not to be construed as limiting the type of gloves in any of the embodiments presented herein as being one or another, but either or all types.

    [0043] Reference will now be made in detail to specific embodiments or features, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, corresponding or similar reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or corresponding parts. Moreover, references to various elements described herein, are made individually or collectively when there may be more than one element of the same type. However, such references are merely exemplary in nature. It may be noted that any reference to elements in the singular may also be construed to relate to the plural and vice-versa without limiting the scope of the disclosure to the exact number or type of such elements unless set forth explicitly in the appended claims.

    [0044] According to various embodiments and with reference to FIGS. 1A and 2A, a disposable glove dispensing system comprises a glove dispenser 100, comprised of a glove attachment area 104 (See FIG. 3C), itself comprised of lips 102 and indents 103, where lips 102 and indents 103 of a glove attachment area 104 are generally horizontally opposed on a left side and a right side of the glove attachment area 104. Generally, a glove attachment area 104 rests on a platform face 106.

    [0045] Again, by reference to FIGS. 1A and 2A, a disposable glove 110 is attached onto the glove attachment area 104 by stretching the cuff 111 of glove 110 and inverting the cuff 111 over the lips 102 thus exposing the inner cuff 111 of the glove 110, whereby the inside of the glove cuff 111 is exposed and presented to a user. Glove 110 is thereby positioned so that the cuff 111 is held elastically in the glove attachment area 104, and the glove bead 112 comes to rest at or proximal to indents 103 on each side of the glove attachment area 104. Multiple gloves 110 may be assembled onto the glove attachment area 104 by placing a glove 110 over the previous glove (i.e., stretching inverted cuff 111 over lips 102). Lips 102 and indents 103 are configured, generally horizontally opposed, at the left side and right side of the glove attachment area 104, of sufficient width between them so that one or more gloves 110 are held in place on the glove attachment area 104 by elastic tension. It is contemplated that a plurality of gloves 110 may be assembled onto a top set of indents 103T of a glove attachment area 104; likewise, another plurality of gloves 110 may be assembled onto a next lower set of indents 103L of a glove attachment area 104.

    [0046] The process of donning a glove 110 may be understood by reference to FIGS. 1B-1E. By reference to FIG. 1B, an outermost glove 110 on glove attachment area 104 is first opened by a user pulling on the exposed inner cuff 111 of a glove 110 with one hand 108 and then inserting the other hand 109 into the opened glove. A user's hand 109 sits in the glove 110, and then the cuff 111 is released by user hand 108 onto the other hand 109 as illustrated in FIGS. 1C-1D. As shown in FIG. 1E, to complete the donning process, having not touched the outside surface of glove 110, a user pulls up and away from the dispenser 200 thereby releasing the elastic hold of the glove 110 on the glove attachment area 104 and detaching the glove 110 fully donned to user hand 109, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Other methods of detaching a glove 110 may be intuitively identified by a user, such as when the user's hand 109 sits in the glove 110 and the cuff 111 is released, the user may move the gloved hand 109 in a leftward or rightward direction, generally horizontally, to release glove 110 from lip 102 of the corresponding side of the glove attachment area 104, and similarly move hand 109 in the opposite direction to release glove 110 from the opposing lip 102 on its corresponding side of the glove attachment area 104.

    [0047] FIG. 2B depicts an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Glove dispenser 201 is fashioned with two horizontally opposed glove attachment areas 104, for increasing the amount of gloves 110 available on a glove dispenser. Glove dispenser 201 provides a means of donning a user's left hand and right hand from a left side glove attachment area 104 and a right side glove attachment area 104, respectively, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. It is contemplated that the gloves 110 may be oriented onto any glove attachment area 104 to accommodate either a left-hand glove or a right-hand glove, respectively. The width W of trough 107 is sufficient to accommodate placement and dispensing of gloves 110 on and from opposing glove attachment areas 104 of dispenser 201, respectively.

    [0048] As illustrated in FIG. 2C, exemplary glove dispenser 202, having glove attachment areas 104A and 104B of different widths, allows for packaging of different sized gloves 110 by orienting glove attachment area 104A or glove attachment area 104B vertically upward, respectively. Furthermore, and similarly to dispensers 201 and 202, an exemplary dispenser 203 as shown in FIG. 2D, may be comprised of a plurality of glove attachment areas 104 constructed on platform face 106 horizontally-opposed, vertically-opposed, or other directional permutations for dispensing gloves. Glove attachment areas 104 may be of different shapes, widths and sizes on a single glove dispenser in order to accommodate different types and sizes of gloves. In addition, the exemplary embodiment 203 provides a means for orienting stacked gloves for donning a user's left hand and right hand from a single glove dispenser, respectively.

    [0049] For the sake of clarity, FIG. 3A shows the front view of the right side of a glove attachment area 104 configured with two lips 102 and two indents 103, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Lips 102 and indents 103 may be formed by machining, 3-D printing, molding, or other construction methods as known in the art. Referring to FIG. 3B, in an embodiment of the present invention, it is not necessary that the surface between the left side and the right side of the glove attachment area 104 extend on a straight line. It is contemplated that the surface between the left side and the right side of the glove attachment area 104 may be formed along any straight, angled or curvilinear surface, i.e., beam 101. Furthermore, the surface between the left side and the right side of the glove attachment area 104 may be discontinuous as illustrated in FIGS. 5A, 6A, and 7A for example. FIG. 3C shows a close-up perspective view of a glove attachment area 104.

    [0050] FIGS. 4A-4E illustrate exemplary alternative configurations for lips 102 and indents 103 configured on a side (e.g., on the right-hand side) of a glove attachment area 104, according to various embodiments of the present invention. FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate how the bottom of an indent 103 may be angled or curved toward a subsequent lip 102 on platform face 106. FIGS. 4C-4D, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention, wherein the right side of the glove attachment area 104 may be comprised of a single lip 102 and indent 103 or multiple lips 102 and indents 103, respectively, wherein the indents 103 may be sharply angled (not curved). In an exemplary embodiment, and by reference to FIG. 4E, a side of a glove attachment area 104 (in this case the right-hand side) may be configured with multiple lips 102 and indents 103 curved or angled upward. Such variances in the shapes and sizes of lips 102 and indents 103 may be used, for example, to accommodate gloves 110 of different sizes, materials or construction, present gloves 110 at different orientations to a user, and/or to provide a greater number of gloves 110 on a glove attachment area 104. It should be understood that such variances in shapes, sizes and configurations of lips 102 and indents 103 may be present on the left-hand side of the glove attachment area 104, likewise. For the sake of clarity, the dimensions, shapes, number of lips 102, and number of indents 103 of exemplary glove attachment area 104, are generally guided by the number, sizes, types, etc. of gloves 110 to be placed on a glove dispenser 100. It is contemplated that any number of lips 102 and indents 103, may be used to form a glove attachment area 104. Exemplary embodiments of lips 102, indents 103, and glove attachment areas 104, as discussed above, illustrate various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and collectively are not to be construed as limiting or exhaustive of shapes, configurations, sizes, etc. of lips 102, indents 103, and glove attachment areas 104 that fall within the scope of the invention.

    [0051] By reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B, an exemplary glove dispenser 500, embodying the scope of the present invention, provides an alternative glove attachment area 104, which is configured stand-off from platform face 106. In this embodiment, gloves 110 hang freely from glove attachment area 104, and generally, do not rest on the platform face 106, thereby allowing more gloves to be placed on a glove dispenser 500. In addition, gap G provides additional space for a user to don gloves without interference from the platform face 106. Furthermore, the left side and the right side of a glove attachment area 104 may be configured onto a platform face 106 by screws, glue, molded with the platform face 106 as one piece, or other attachment means as known in the art. Though generally horizontally opposed to each other, the lips 102 and indents 103 on the left side and the right side of the glove attachment area 104, respectively, may be oriented in any direction with respect to the platform face 106.

    [0052] FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate yet other embodiments of the present invention. As shown in exemplary embodiment 600, the platform face 106 of FIG. 6A includes a glove attachment area 104 stemming vertically therefrom. The glove attachment area 104 has lips 102 and indents 103 formed on the front and the back of the left side and the right side of the glove attachment area 104, respectively.

    [0053] FIG. 6C is a perspective view of an alternative configuration of the glove dispenser of FIG. 6A, illustrating solid fill between the lips 102 and indents 103 from the left side to the right side of the glove attachment area 104. Such a design may be more advantageous for gloves with higher elastic tensioning in general, and in the cuff particularly, thus requiring a glove attachment area 104 with greater rigidity and stability.

    [0054] In another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7A-7B illustrates a glove dispenser 700 configured as a box, comprising a left-side panel 701 and a right-side panel 702, and a platform face 106. Left-side panel 701 and right-side panel 702 are oriented angled to the platform face 106, respectively. Lips 102 and indents 103 on the left-side panel 701 and right-side panel 702, respectively, form a glove attachment area 104 thereby providing means for attaching gloves 110 thereto. Exemplary glove dispenser 700 provides a user easier access to gloves 110 from the glove attachment area 104. Similarly, to conventional boxed disposable gloves, a glove dispenser 700 configured as a box may, but not necessarily, comprise a bottom panel and/or a front panel to enclose gloves 110 as a means for providing additional protection to gloves 110 from the environment. (Note: It is not necessary that dispenser 700 include a bottom panel and/or a front panel.)

    [0055] By reference to FIG. 7C, exemplary dispenser box 700 may be configured with a plurality of glove attachment areas 104 to, for example, provide additional gloves 110 to a user. In addition, FIG. 7C illustrates various exemplary embodiments of lip 102 and indent 103 configurations on glove attachment areas 104. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the exemplary embodiments as shown in FIG. 7C may have a plurality of glove attachment areas 104 and various permutations of lips 102 and indents 103. It is contemplated that on any side of a glove attachment area 104, lips 102 and indents 103 may be configured as various geometrical shapes (e.g., angular, spherical, conical, ellipsoid, etc.). For example, and according to various embodiments of the present invention, exemplary glove attachment element 710 illustrates that the position of lips 102 and indents 103 forming part of a glove attachment area 104 may be ordered such that indents 103TS are on the topmost surface of the glove attachment element 710 followed by lips 102TS in the direction toward platform panel 702. In addition, FIG. 7C illustrates that a glove attachment element 711 may be constructed with one or more spherical lips 102SH and one or more conical indents 103CN. Alternatively, a glove attachment element 712 may be constructed similarly to glove attachment element 711; however, surface volumes may be irregular where, for example, the exemplary glove attachment element 712 includes a flat face 712F. Furthermore, an exemplary glove attachment element 713 illustrates that lips 102 and indents 103 may be constructed on one side of a glove attachment element 713 while an opposing side 713OS may not have lips or indents constructed thereupon.

    [0056] FIG. 7D-7E is a perspective view of another embodiment of exemplary dispenser 720 configured with a left-side panel 701 and a right-side panel 702, each angled from a platform face 106, where the left side and the right side of a glove attachment area 104 are stand-off from each side panel, respectively. A glove dispenser 700 configured with glove attachment area 104 may provide additional protection of attached gloves 110 from damage during shipping and/or handling.

    [0057] FIG. 8 illustrates a typical arrangement of a glove dispensing system 800 comprising an exemplary glove dispenser 200, dispenser mounting holes 120, gloves 110, mounting support 801 (e.g., a wall surface), glove packaging 802, and fasteners 803 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The mounting holes 120 may be holes through which fasteners 803 (e.g., screws, fish-eye hooks, or other attachment means) are used to mount the dispenser 200 to a mounting support 801. It is contemplated that the exemplary dispenser 200 may also be attached to the mounting support 801 by other attachment means such as Velcro. Furthermore, dispenser 200 may be attached to or inserted into a prefabricated dispenser holder such as the Stainless Steel Glove Box Holder manufactured Medline. Mounting the dispenser 200 so that it is detachable from the mounting support 801 allows an empty dispenser 200 to be easily removed for replacement with a new glove-filled dispenser 200. Any dispenser may be configured with appropriate mounting holes 120 to be placed on the mounting support 801. It is contemplated that any platform face 106, such as those configured in accordance with FIG. 7A and the like, may be configured to accommodate additional space around its perimeter for providing dispenser mounting holes 120, or other means for attaching to mounting support 801. In addition, any of above dispensers, such as dispensers 100, 200, 201 and the like, may include a bottom panel (not shown) to provide means for standing or attaching the dispenser in an upright position.

    [0058] In the exemplary embodiment 800 of a glove dispensing system, it is contemplated that glove dispenser 200 may be of any other type of glove dispenser such as glove dispenser 201, 202, 203, 500, 600, 700, etc.

    [0059] Glove packaging 802 may be clear or opaque plastic material, or any other structure that protects gloves 110 from the environment. Materials and structures used for packaging 802 are selected and configured to enable a user to insert and maneuver hands in the packaging 802 while donning gloves.

    [0060] Thus, it is seen, in accordance with the disclosure herein and the accompanying drawings, that the at least one embodiment of the glove dispenser and system provides a sanitary means of dispensing and donning disposable and non-disposable gloves by eliminating a user's contact with the outside surface of a glove. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a glove dispensing system may be made sterile by using sterile materials, enclosures, and manufacturing practices which falls within the scope of the present invention. Those skilled in the art would also appreciate that features of the present invention (e.g., lips, indents, and glove attachment areas) may be adapted and modified in various permutations as exemplified herein. In the exemplary embodiments, it is contemplated that elements of the present invention (e.g., lips, indents, and glove attachment areas) may be of varying sizes, shapes, and orientations without departure from the scope and spirit of the invention.

    [0061] Lips and indents forming the glove attachment area may be oriented as planar, angular, curvilinear, or any permutation thereof, with respect to the plane of a platform face. In addition, lips and indents may face in any suitable direction as needed for attaching gloves. It is contemplated that relocation of such features could be done to accommodate gloves of varying quantities, sizes, construction, and material types, and to provide user convenience for the glove donning process. Any lip or indent may be turned on its axis to be configured as any volume-filled shape such as a sphere or a cone.

    [0062] In addition, gloves have been described as having beads. For the sake of clarity, the scope of the invention includes gloves that are non-beaded as well. The term bead, as used herein, is intended to describe the end of the glove, above the cuff, terminating near the wrists and/or arms. Also, as used herein, elastic or elastically refers to any material which can be stretched, and has the property of tending to return to its original shape once released. Furthermore, the at least one embodiment of the glove dispenser also reduces the cost of such dispensing systems by using conventionally designed sanitary gloves, while providing reprocessing of the empty glove dispenser.

    [0063] While the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope, but rather as an exemplification of one or more embodiments thereof. It should be understood that the broadest scope of this invention includes modifications such as diverse shapes, sizes, and materials. Furthermore, the exemplary glove dispensing apparatus is useful in consumer and commercial markets such as hospitals, homes, hospices, medical offices, industrial and scientific environments where gloves are similarly used. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be determined, not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.