GLOVE WITH SEALING FEATURES

Abstract

A glove is provided that includes a hand portion (HP) and a sleeve portion (SP). The hand portion (HP) includes an HP exterior surface, an HP interior surface, an interior cavity, an interior cavity opening, and an elastic collar disposed adjacent the interior cavity opening. The sleeve portion extends axially between an attachment end and an opposite distal end. The attachment end is in communication with the hand portion. The sleeve portion has an SP exterior surface and an SP interior surface. The SP interior surface defines an interior region of the sleeve portion and a circumference of the sleeve portion. The sleeve portion includes an adhesive disposed on the SP interior surface. The adhesive extends an axial distance and circumferentially around the circumference of the sleeve portion.

Claims

1. A glove comprising: a hand portion (HP) comprising an HP exterior surface, an HP interior surface, an interior cavity, an interior cavity opening, and an elastic collar disposed adjacent the interior cavity opening; and a sleeve portion (SP) extending axially between an attachment end and an opposite distal end, the attachment end in communication with the hand portion, the sleeve portion having an SP exterior surface and an SP interior surface, the SP interior surface defining an interior region of the sleeve portion and a circumference of the sleeve portion, the sleeve portion including an adhesive disposed on the SP interior surface, the adhesive extending an axial distance and circumferentially around the circumference of the sleeve portion.

2. The glove of claim 1, wherein the sleeve portion includes an axial length between the attachment end and the distal end, and the axial distance of the adhesive disposed on the SP interior surface is less than the axial length of the sleeve portion.

3. The glove of claim 2, wherein the adhesive is disposed on the SP interior surface proximate the distal end.

4. The glove of claim 3, wherein the adhesive has an exterior surface and the glove further comprises a release liner disposed on the exterior surface of the adhesive.

5. The glove of claim 1, wherein the sleeve portion includes an axial length between the attachment end and the distal end, and the axial distance of the adhesive disposed on the SP interior surface is substantially equal to the axial length of the sleeve portion.

6. The glove of claim 1, wherein the sleeve portion includes a first section, a second section, and a fold point, wherein the first section extends between the hand portion and the fold point and the second section extends between the distal end and the fold point; and wherein the sleeve portion is configurable in a folded configuration wherein the second section is folded back over the first section and in the folded configuration the SP exterior surface of the first section faces the SP exterior surface of the second section, and the adhesive disposed on the SP interior surface is exposed.

7. The glove of claim 6, wherein the adhesive is disposed only on the second section of the SP interior surface.

8. The glove of claim 7, wherein the adhesive has an exterior surface and the glove further comprises a release liner disposed on the exterior surface of the adhesive.

9. The glove of claim 1, wherein the elastic collar is disposed with the hand portion.

10. The glove of claim 1, wherein the elastic collar is disposed with the sleeve portion.

11. The glove of claim 1, further comprising at least one absorbent member attached to the HP interior surface or the SP interior surface.

12. The glove of claim 1, wherein the adhesive is liquid impermeable.

13. The glove of claim 12, wherein the adhesive is hydrophobic.

14. The glove of claim 1, wherein the sleeve portion is attached to the hand portion.

15. The glove of claim 1, wherein the sleeve portion is integrally formed with the hand portion.

16. A personal protection equipment (PPE) system, comprising: a pair of gloves, each glove including: a hand portion (HP) having an HP exterior surface, an HP interior surface, an interior cavity, an interior cavity opening, and at least one elastic collar disposed adjacent the interior cavity opening; and a sleeve portion (SP) extending axially between an attachment end and an opposite distal end, the attachment end is in communication with the hand portion, the sleeve portion having an SP exterior surface and an SP interior surface, the SP interior surface defining an interior region of the sleeve portion and a circumference of the sleeve portion, the sleeve portion including an adhesive disposed on the SP interior surface, the adhesive extending an axial distance and circumferentially around the circumference of the sleeve portion; and a PPE garment having a right forearm portion and a left forearm portion; wherein each glove of the pair of gloves is configured to be donned in a folded configuration and is disposable in an extended configuration, and in the extended configuration the adhesive disposed on the SP interior surface is configured to attach to the respective forearm portion of the PPE garment in a manner that produces a fluid seal therebetween.

17. The PPE system of claim 16, wherein the sleeve portion of each glove of the pair of gloves includes a first section, a second section, and a fold point, wherein the first section extends between the hand portion and the fold point and the second section extends between the distal end and the fold point; and wherein in the folded configuration the second section is folded back over the first section and in the folded configuration the SP exterior surface of the first section faces the SP exterior surface of the second section, and the adhesive disposed on the SP interior surface is exposed.

18. The PPE system of claim 17, wherein the adhesive is disposed only on the second section of the SP interior surface.

19. The PPE system of claim 17, wherein the at least one elastic collar of each glove of the pair of gloves is integrally formed with the hand portion and configured to produce a fluid seal with a wrist or forearm of a user.

20. The PPE system of claim 17, wherein the at least one elastic collar includes a first elastic collar attached to the HP interior surface or a second elastic collar attached to the HP exterior surface, or both, and the at least one elastic collar is configured to produce a fluid seal with a wrist or forearm of a user.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] FIG. 1 is diagrammatic side view of a present disclosure glove embodiment illustrating a sleeve portion in a folded configuration.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic sectional partial view of a glove embodiment showing a sleeve portion in a folded configuration.

[0026] FIG. 2A is a diagrammatic sectional partial view of a glove embodiment showing a sleeve portion in a folded configuration.

[0027] FIG. 3 is diagrammatic side view of a present disclosure glove embodiment illustrating a sleeve portion in an extended configuration, with a sectioned portion.

[0028] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic side view of a present disclosure glove embodiment, partially sectioned.

[0029] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic side view of a present disclosure glove embodiment, partially sectioned.

[0030] FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic side view of a present disclosure glove embodiment, partially sectioned.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The present disclosure is directed to protective hand gloves, such as but not limited to PPE type gloves that may be configured for use in medical and laboratory applications. Present disclosure gloves may be configured in various different sizes, non-ambidextrous gloves, ambidextrous gloves, sterile gloves, and the like and combinations thereof. As will be described herein, some present disclosure glove embodiments may be configured for attachment to and/or sealing with protective or “PPE” clothing (e.g., surgical gowns, clean room coveralls, biohazard suits, etc.) to mitigate or prevent the glove wearer from being contaminated by exterior environment and/or to mitigate or prevent the glove wearer from contaminating the exterior environment.

[0032] Referring to FIGS. 1-6, present disclosure glove 10 embodiments may include a hand portion 12 and a sleeve portion 14. The hand portion 12 has an exterior surface 16, an interior surface 18, an interior cavity 20, and an opening 22 to the interior cavity 20. The hand portion 12 and opening 22 may be disposed in a collapsed configuration (e.g., the glove 10 is not in use) and in a plurality of open configurations wherein the interior cavity 20 of the hand portion 12 is accessible; e.g., when a user's hand is disposed within the interior cavity 20 of the glove 10 the opening is in an open configuration. The opening 22 may be described as having a circumference that extends around the entirety of the opening 22. The hand portion 12 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3-5 is configured with five digit portions (e.g., four fingers and a thumb) extending out from a palm portion. The present disclosure is not limited to a hand portion 12 having five digit portions. The interior surface 18 of the hand portion 12 defines the interior cavity 20 of the hand portion 12. The interior cavity opening 22 is configured to permit a user to insert his or her hand into the interior cavity 20. The hand portion 12 may be configured to be fixed in size (e.g., non-elastic) with a fixed interior cavity 20 volume, or may be configured as at least partially elastic to conform to the geometry of a user's hand.

[0033] The hand portion 12 comprises a material that does not limit movement of the user's hand or digits. In some applications, the hand portion 12 material may be effectively fluid impermeable for a period of time acceptable for certain applications. In some applications, the hand portion 12 material may be gas permeable to allow the user's hand to breathe and effectively liquid impermeable for a period of time. The hand portion 12 is not limited to any particular material type, and may comprise a single material type or a combination of material types. The hand portion 12 may have a uniform material type throughout or different regions of the hand portion 12 may include different material types. Non-limiting examples of hand portion 12 materials that may be used include polymeric materials such as latex, nitrile rubber, vinyl, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), neoprene, to name a few.

[0034] Some embodiments of the present disclosure glove 10 include an elastic collar 24 that may be disposed in the hand portion 12 of the glove 10, or in the sleeve portion of the glove 14, or both. The glove embodiments shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3-5 include an elastic collar 24 disposed in the hand portion 12 of the glove 10 adjacent or at the opening 22 of the hand portion 12. The glove embodiments shown in FIGS. 2A and 6 include an elastic collar 24 disposed in the sleeve portion 14 of the glove 10. The elastic collar 24 may be integrally formed with the material of the respective portion 12,14 (e.g., by molding the respective portion 12 with an increased thickness structure, etc.). In some embodiments, the at least one elastic collar 24 may be an independent structure that is attached to the exterior or interior surface of the respective portion 12,14 or a first elastic collar 24 may be attached to the exterior surface of the respective portion 12,14 and a second elastic collar 24 may be attached to the interior surface of the respective portion, etc. An elastic collar 24 may comprise the same material as the respective glove portion 12, 14 or may comprise a material different from that used in the respective portion 12,14. The elastic collar(s) 24 may be configured to elastically expand to permit the user to insert his or her hand into the glove 10, and to elastically contract to engage with the user's hand, wrist, or forearm once inserted to form a seal therebetween that inhibits or prevents the passage of liquid (e.g., sweat from the user or fluids present in the environment, etc.) across the elastic collar 24. The elastic collar 24 may assume a variety of different configurations. For example, an elastic collar 24 may have a thickness that is greater than the thickness of the respective portion 12 material. The at least one elastic collar 24 is not limited to any particular cross-sectional geometry. In FIG. 1, an elastic collar 24 is shown having a semi-circular cross-sectional geometry. Alternative cross-sectional geometries include rectangular, or oval, or others. The at least one elastic collar 24 may provide several advantages. For example, the mechanical strength of the elastic collar 24 may be greater than that of the hand and/or sleeve portion 12,14 and may inhibit tearing of the respective portion 12,14 during donning of the glove 10. As another example, the collar 24 may provide a convenient structure that can be grasped when a user is donning the glove 10, or removing the glove 10, thereby facilitating the process.

[0035] The sleeve portion 14 includes an attachment end 26, an opposite distal end 28, an interior surface 30, and an exterior surface 32. The sleeve portion 14 may be described as having a cylindrical-like configuration (e.g., to receive a portion of the user's forearm), with an interior region 34 defined by the sleeve portion 14 material extending around the entire circumference of the sleeve portion 14. The interior and exterior surfaces 30, 32 extend axially between the attachment and distal ends 26, 28. The interior surface 30 defines the interior region 34. In some embodiments, the attachment end 26 of the sleeve portion 14 may be attached to the hand portion 12 continuously around the circumference of the sleeve portion 14 and thereby encircles the opening 22 of the hand portion 12. In some embodiments, the attachment end 26 of the sleeve portion 14 may be integrally formed with the hand portion 12 continuously around the circumference of the sleeve portion 14. The sleeve portion 14 extends axially outward from the hand portion 12. The sleeve portion 14 is configured to be foldable at some axial point between the attachment end 26 and the distal end 28. The foldable configuration may be described as having a first portion 14A that extends from the attachment end 26 at the hand portion 12 of the glove 10 to the fold point 36, and a second section 14B that extends from the distal end 28 to the fold point 36; i.e., the first and second sections 14A, 14B of the sleeve portion 14 are contiguous at the fold point 36. The folding configuration allows the second section 14B of (including the distal end 28) to be folded back over the first section 14A; i.e., in the folded configuration the second section 14B is disposed radially outside of the first section 14A of the sleeve portion 14, such that the exterior surfaces 32 of the first and second sections 14A, 14B face one another, and the distal end 28 of the sleeve portion 14 is disposed closer to the attachment end 26 than if the sleeve portion 14 was not folded over.

[0036] The sleeve portion 14 may comprise a single material type or a plurality of material types. The sleeve portion 14 material may be the same as the material of the hand portion 12 or it may be different from the material of the hand portion 12. The sleeve portion 14 material may be elastic or non-elastic and may be fluid impermeable or liquid impermeable.

[0037] The sleeve portion 14 includes an adhesive 38 disposed on the interior surface 30 of the sleeve portion 14 extending around the entire circumference of sleeve portion interior region 34. In some embodiments, the adhesive 38 may be disposed on less than the entire axial length of the sleeve portion 14; e.g., a stripe of adhesive 38 having an axial length “AL1” wherein the axial length of the sleeve portion 14 is “AL”, where AL>AL1 (see FIG. 3). For example as described above, embodiments of the sleeve portion 14 may have a foldable configuration defining first and second sections 14A, 14B of the sleeve portion 14, and in the folded configuration at least a portion of the second section 14B is folded back over the first section 14A. In these type embodiments (and others), the adhesive 38 may be disposed as a stripe disposed on the interior surface 30 of the second section of the sleeve portion 14. When the sleeve portion 14 is disposed in a folded configuration with the portion of the second section 14B folded back over the first section 14A, the stripe of adhesive 38 is exposed. In other embodiments, adhesive 38 may be disposed on all or substantially all of the interior surface 30 of the sleeve portion 14; i.e., around the entire interior surface 30 circumference and all or substantially all of the interior surface 30 axial length. The adhesive 38 may assume a variety of different configurations and the present disclosure is not limited to any particular adhesive 38 configuration. For example, the adhesive 38 may be disposed directly onto the interior surface 30 of the sleeve portion 14, or it may be a film or a tape that is adhered to the interior surface 30 of the sleeve portion 14. In all of these embodiments, the adhesive 38 has an exposed exterior surface that has adhesive properties that will permit the sleeve portion 14 to adhere to a surface such as the exterior surface of a PPE upper body garment sleeve or the like. In some embodiments, the adhesive 38 may be liquid impermeable and/or hydrophobic.

[0038] In some embodiments, a release liner 40 may be disposed on the exposed exterior surface of the adhesive 38 to cover that exterior surface to prevent adhesive 38 when the glove 10 is initially donned by a user and/or during handling, storage, etc. The release liner 40 is configured to be retained in contact with the exposed exterior surface of the adhesive 38 but is readily removable to expose the adhesive exterior surface. The release liner 40 is not limited to any particular material and is chosen to be compatible with the type of adhesive 38 being used. Non-limiting examples include paper or polymeric sheets.

[0039] In some embodiments a present disclosure glove 10 may include one or more absorbent members 44 attached to an interior surface 18,30 of the glove 10. The distal member 44 may extend around the entire circumference of the interior surface 18,30. The absorbent members 44 are configured to absorb and retain some amount of liquid (e.g., sweat produced proximate the user's hand during use, or an external fluid that may travel along the PPE and into the sleeve portion 14, etc.) and thereby function as a fluid barrier. FIG. 6 illustrates a first absorbent member 44A disposed on the hand portion side of an elastic collar 24 and a second absorbent member 44B disposed between the distal end 28 of the sleeve portion 14 and the adhesive stripe 38. In some embodiments, an adhesive member 44 may be disposed with the adhesive 38; e.g., the absorbent member 44 adhered to the interior surface 30 of the sleeve portion and adhesive 38 attached to the opposite surface of the absorbent member 44. As stated above, the present disclosure glove 10 may include one or more absorbent members 44. FIG. 6 illustrates multiple absorbent members 44 to illustrate various embodiments; e.g., a glove 10 embodiment may include an absorbent member 44A disposed on the hand portion side of an elastic collar 24, or an absorbent member 44B disposed between the distal end 28 of the sleeve portion 14 and the adhesive stripe 38, or an absorbent member 44 adhered to the interior surface 30 of the sleeve portion and adhesive 38 attached to the opposite surface of the absorbent member 44, or any combination thereof.

[0040] A present disclosure glove 10 may be used in a variety of different applications. To illustrate, an example of a present disclosure glove 10 utilized in combination with an article of PPE clothing (e.g., a surgical gown, clean room coverall, biohazard suit, etc.) is provided below. As indicated herein, present disclosures glove 10 may be used with a variety of different clothing types (e.g., PPE, non-PPE, etc.) and may also be used in applications wherein a user's wrists and forearms are uncovered.

[0041] Initially, prior to donning the glove 10, the glove 10 may be configured as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the sleeve portion 14 disposed in a folded configuration with the second section 14B folded back over the first section 14A. As indicated above, in the folded configuration the exterior surfaces 32 of the first and second sections 14A,14B of the sleeve portion 14 face one another, the distal end 28 of the sleeve portion 14 is disposed closer to the attachment end 26 than if the sleeve portion 14 was not folded over, and the stripe of adhesive 38 is exposed. In those embodiments that include a release liner 40 attached to the adhesive 38, the release liner 40 prevents the adhesive 38 from engaging with other surfaces and thereby facilitates handling.

[0042] To insert a hand into the glove 10, the user may maintain the sleeve portion 14 in the folded configuration and grasp the elastic collar 24 to draw the hand through the opening 22 and into the interior cavity 20 of the glove 10. As indicated above, the mechanical strength of the collar 24 may facilitate the donning process and mitigate the potential for hand portion 12 material tears. Once the user's hand is within the glove 10, the elastic collar 24 contracts and is biased against the user's hand or wrist (or the outer surface of PPE if present) to form a seal therebetween that inhibits or prevents liquid passage into or out of the interior cavity 20 of the glove 10. If the glove 10 embodiment includes a release liner 40 attached to the adhesive 38, the release liner 40 can be removed to expose the adhesive 38.

[0043] Once the adhesive 38 is exposed, the folded section of the sleeve portion 14 can be rolled out to change from the folded configuration to an extended configuration. As the sleeve portion 14 is rolled out to the extended configuration, the adhesive 38 disposed on the interior surface 30 of the sleeve portion 14 will come into contact with the exterior surface of the PPE garment 42 (or other garment, or user's skin, etc.) and will attach to the same. In some instances, it may be desirable to press the sleeve portion 14 and the PPE garment 42 together to ensure adhesion therebetween around the circumference of the sleeve portion 14. The adhesive 38 attaching and extending between the sleeve portion 14 surface and the PPE garment 42 surface forms a seal therebetween that inhibits or prevents the passage of liquid further into or out of the sleeve portion 14. In this manner, embodiments of the present disclosure glove 10 provide redundant seals (e.g., at the elastic collar 24 and at the adhesive 38) to inhibit or prevent the passage of liquid into or out of the glove 10. FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the glove 10 with a stripe of adhesive 38. FIG. 4 illustrates an example of the glove 10 with adhesive 38 applied to the interior surface 30 of the sleeve portion 14 for a substantial amount of the axial length of the sleeve portion 14.

[0044] While the principles of the disclosure have been described above in connection with specific apparatuses and methods, it is to be clearly understood that this description is made only by way of example and not as limitation on the scope of the disclosure. Specific details are given in the above description to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it is understood that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. While various inventive aspects and features of the present disclosure may be described and illustrated herein as embodied in combination in the exemplary embodiments, these various aspects and features may be used in many alternative embodiments, either individually or in various combinations and sub-combinations thereof. Unless expressly excluded herein all such combinations and sub-combinations are intended to be within the scope of the present application. Still further, while various alternative embodiments as to the various aspects and features of the present disclosure may be described herein, such descriptions are not intended to be a complete or exhaustive list of available alternative embodiments, whether presently known or later developed.

[0045] It is noted that various connections are set forth between elements in the following description and in the drawings (the contents of which are included in this disclosure by way of reference). It is noted that these connections are general and, unless specified otherwise, may be direct or indirect and that this specification is not intended to be limiting in this respect. A coupling between two or more entities may refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection. An indirect connection may incorporate one or more intervening entities or a space/gap between the entities that are being coupled to one another.

[0046] The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” refer to one or more than one, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the term “comprising a specimen” includes single or plural specimens and is considered equivalent to the phrase “comprising at least one specimen.” The term “or” refers to a single element of stated alternative elements or a combination of two or more elements unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, “comprises” means “includes.”

[0047] Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.” As used herein, the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.