Protective Detachable Hand Covering

Abstract

A protective detachable hand covering, particularly useful for pumping fuel into a fuel tank, and being store on a surface of a vehicle. The hand covering has a flexible base and a bridging member to secure the hand covering to an individual's hand. The flexible base has a bottom adhering surface, which may be magnetized or use a hook and loop fastening mechanism. A bridging member is secured to the top surface so a user can slide his or her hand within the hand cover and detach it from the surface by pulling away from the surface. The flexible base has a palmar region, an elongated thumb region, and an elongated index finger region, particularly useful for gripping a fuel pump handle, and allow a user to pump fuel without directly contacting the fuel pump handle. A method of pumping fuel using a protective detachable hand covering.

Claims

1. A protective detachable hand covering, comprising: a) a flexible base having: i) a bottom adhering surface adapted to be repeatedly removable from a surface of an object; ii) a top surface adapted for contact against a hand; and, b) a first bridging member positioned across the top surface of the flexible base, the first bridging member adapted to secure the hand between the first bridging member and the top surface of the flexible base; wherein the flexible base is sized to be approximately a size of a human hand, and the flexible base has: i) a palmar region, ii) an elongated thumb region extending from the palmar region, and iii) an elongated index finger region extending from the palmar region, the elongated thumb region and elongated index finger region being at least partially separated from each other.

2. The protective detachable hand covering of claim 1, wherein the bottom adhering surface includes a magnetic material, thereby allowing the flexible base to be capable of magnetically attracted to metallic portions of an object.

3. The protective detachable hand covering of claim 1, wherein the bottom adhering surface includes a bottom adhering surface hook and loop fastening mechanism, thereby allowing the flexible base to be capable of being removed and attached to an object having a complementary hook and loop fastening mechanism.

4. The protective detachable hand covering of claim 1, further comprising an outer finger region extending from the palmar region, the outer finger region at least partially separated from the elongated index finger region.

5. The protective detachable hand covering of claim 2, wherein the magnetic material is a plurality of flexible magnetic strips.

6. The protective detachable hand covering of claim 2, wherein the magnetic material is a magnetic coating on the bottom adhering surface or infused within the flexible base.

7. The protective detachable hand covering of claim 1, wherein the flexible base further comprises a second bridging member positioned across the elongated thumb region, and a third bridging member positioned across the elongated index finger region, the second bridging member and the third bridging member adapted to secure a thumb and an index finger, respectively.

8. The protective detachable hand covering of claim 1, wherein the elongated index finger region further comprises a sheath sized and shaped to cover a top of an index finger, thereby allowing a user to touch surfaces with the index finger without direct contact of the index finger.

9. The protective detachable hand covering of claim 1, wherein the top surface of the flexible base is comprised of a printable surface material.

10. The protective detachable hand covering of claim 1, wherein the first bridging member is an elastic bridging member.

11. The protective detachable hand covering of claim 1, wherein the first bridging member bridges across a width of the flexible base and comprises beads, the beads adapted to rotate when a user slides the hand between the first bridging member and the top surface of the flexible base, thereby aiding in sliding the hand over the top surface of the flexible base.

12. The protective detachable hand covering of claim 1, wherein the flexible base is made of a material of sufficient elasticity whereby the elongated index finger region is capable of conforming to the index finger of a user in both straightened and articulated positions.

13. The protective detachable hand covering of claim 1, further comprising an index finger shield connected to a the elongated index finger region positioned at one end of the index finger region.

14. The protective detachable hand covering of claim 1, further comprising an outer finger region extending from the palmar region, the outer finger region at least partially separated from the index finger region; wherein the bottom adhering surface includes a magnetic material; wherein the magnetic material is a magnetic coating on the bottom adhering surface or infused within the flexible base; wherein the flexible base further comprises a second bridging member positioned across the elongated thumb region, and a third bridging member positioned across the elongated index finger region, the second bridging member and the third bridging member adapted to secure a thumb and an index finger, respectively; wherein the elongated index finger region further comprises a sheath sized and shaped to cover a top of an index finger, thereby allowing a user to touch surfaces with the index finger without direct contact of the index finger; wherein the first bridging member is an elastic bridging member; wherein the first bridging member bridges across a width of the flexible base and comprises beads, the beads adapted to rotate when a user slides the hand between the first bridging member and the top surface of the flexible base; and, wherein the flexible base is made of a material of sufficient elasticity whereby the elongated index finger region is capable of conforming to the index finger of a user in both straightened and articulated positions.

15. The protective detachable hand covering of claim 8, further comprising a latch connected to both the sheath and the top surface of the flexible base by a spring-loaded connecting member, whereby the latch allows entry of an index finger within the sheath but remains in a closed position to prevent air, dirt and water from entering the sheath when an index finger is not disposed within the sheath.

16. A method of pumping fuel into a fuel tank comprising: a) providing the protective detachable hand covering of claim 1; b) inserting a hand into the protective detachable hand covering; c) removing the protective detachable hand covering from a surface; d) interposing the protective detachable hand covering within a handle of a fuel pump nozzle; e) detaching the fuel pump nozzle from a fuel pump; and, f) activating an operating lever on the fuel pump nozzle to release fuel from the fuel pump.

17. The method of pumping fuel into a fuel tank of claim 16, wherein the protective detachable hand covering further comprises an outer finger region, and wherein activating the operating lever on the fuel pump involves lifting the operating lever with the outer finger region of the protective detachable hand covering.

18. The method of pumping fuel into a fuel tank of claim 16 further comprising pressing a key on a keypad with the elongated index finger region of the protective detachable hand covering.

19. The method of pumping fuel into a fuel tank of claim 16, wherein the elongated index finger region comprises a sheath sized and shaped to cover a top of an index finger, thereby allowing a user to depress a key on a keypad without direct skin contact.

20. The method of pumping fuel into a fuel tank of claim 16, further comprising pressing a gas handle lock using the index finger region of the protective detachable hand covering to lock the operating lever in place while fuel is being dispensed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a top view of an embodiment of a protective detachable hand covering;

[0020] FIG. 2 is an illustration of bottom view of an embodiment of a protective detachable hand covering;

[0021] FIG. 3 is an illustration of a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with a hand inserted into a protective detachable hand covering;

[0022] FIG. 4 is an illustration of a side view of a portion of a protective detachable hand covering showing a first bridging member and hook and loop mechanism to attached the protective detachable hand covering to a surface;

[0023] FIG. 5 is an illustration of a perspective view of the top side of an embodiment of a protective detachable hand covering that uses spring loaded finger;

[0024] FIG. 6 is an environmental view of an embodiment of a protective detachable hand covering adhered to the outside of a vehicle;

[0025] FIG. 7 is an environmental view of an inside of a card door having a hook and loop mechanism for adhering a protective detachable hand covering;

[0026] FIG. 8 is an illustration of an environmental view using an embodiment of a protective detachable hand covering being used to operate a fuel pump;

[0027] FIG. 9 is an illustration of an environmental of an embodiment of a protective detachable hand covering being used to lock a fuel pump handle into place;

[0028] FIG. 10 is an illustration of an environmental view of using an embodiment of a protective detachable hand covering to press keys on a keypad, such as in a keypad on a fuel pump;

[0029] FIG. 11 is an illustration of top view another embodiment of a detachable hand covering having an index finger shield.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0030] The invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may however be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

[0031] It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may be present therebetween. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0032] It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers, and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers, and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, and/or section from another element, component, region, layer, and/or section.

[0033] It will be understood that the elements, components, regions, layers and sections depicted in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0034] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” or “includes” and/or “including” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0035] Furthermore, relative terms, such as “lower” or “bottom,” “upper” or “top,” “left” or “right,” “above” or “below,” “front” or “rear,” may be used herein to describe one element's relationship to another element as illustrated in the Figures. It will be understood that relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the Figures.

[0036] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[0037] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described herein with reference to idealized embodiments of the present invention. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, embodiments of the present invention should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. The invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any elements that are not specifically disclosed herein.

[0038] Turning to the Figures, FIGS. 1-3 illustrate two sides of a first preferred exemplary embodiment which is shown generally as protective detachable hand covering 100. FIG. 1 shows the top side, FIG. 2 shows the bottom side, and FIG. 3 shows a hand 400 within the hand covering 100. The hand covering 100 may be referred to as a glove, but while a glove may be considered to have circumferential opening leading to a tubular portion, the present embodiment does not require such an opening or tubular portion, which makes putting on the hand covering 100 much simpler than a traditional glove. The hand covering 100 has a flexible base 114. The flexible base 114 has a bottom adhering surface 202 adapted to be repeatedly removable from a surface. The shape of the flexible base 114 may be a variety of shapes, but in preferred embodiments approximates the size of the human hand. There may be several regions, and as shown, there is a palmar region 118, an outer finger region 108 extending from the palmar region 118, an elongated index finger region 106 extending from the palmar region 118, and an elongated thumb region 104 extending from the palmar region 118. The elongated thumb region 104 and the elongated index finger region 106 are at least partially separated from each other, as is the outer finger region 108 from the index finger region 106. This allows a user to bend one or more of the thumb 406, index finger 404, and outer fingers 408, independently of each other. When having at least a partial separation, the different regions of the flexible base 114 can independently flex with the fingers. The hand covering should be made of a material of sufficient elasticity whereby the elongated index finger region 106 conforms to the index finger 404 of a user in both straightened and articulated positions.

[0039] To insert a hand 400 within the hand covering 100, a user slides his or her hand 400 underneath one or more bridging members. As depicted, there is a first bridging member 116 along the outer finger region 108 (but it may be on the palmar region 118 as well), the thumb may be inserted in a second bridging member 210, and the index finger can be inserted into a third bridging member 212. The inserted hand within the hand covering 100 is shown most clearly in FIG. 3. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the hand covering may be formed with sections for all individual digits or a combination of combining multiple digits into sections. It is also noted that those skilled in the art will recognize that the adhering mechanism need not be on the bottom surface of the hand covering 100, but may be anywhere on the hand covering 100. Those skilled in the art will also recognize that the hand covering 100 may be constructed similar to a standard glove with the addition of an adhering mechanism.

[0040] In some embodiments, the index finger region 106 may include a sheath 112. The sheath 112 is for extra protection of the index finger such that a user may use his or her index finger to press keys on a keypad, discussed in further detail in subsequent sections. To wear the hand covering 100, the index finger 404 slides under the third bridging member and into sheath 112. The sheath 112 may be designed in a way to have the opening open enough for the index finger to slide into. It should be noted that the sheath 112 may be used to protect any or all of the digits. Bridging members 210, 212, 116 may be made of any number of materials, including, but not limited to natural rubber, synthetic rubber, nylon, nitrile rubber, silicone, or leather. The bridging members are designed to be tight enough to allow the bridging members to hold digits on top of the protective hand covering 100.

[0041] In one embodiment, such as that shown in FIG. 6, the hand covering 100 is particularly useful to be placed on the outside of a vehicle, such as near a fuel door 302, so that the user can put the hand covering 100 on the hand before pumping fuel. The hand covering 100 can be magnetically attached to the vehicle 300 and remain on the vehicle when the vehicle is driven. In this embodiment, the bottom adhering surface 202 of the flexible base has a magnetic material. The flexible base may be made of a flexible magnetic sheet, infused with a magnetic material, coated with a magnetic material, or have flexible magnetic strips 208, as shown in FIG. 2. The flexible magnetic strips 208 may be placed at one or more than one position on the bottom surface of the flexible base. Magnetic strips 208, coatings, and infusions are well known by those in the trade. Ferrous and rare earth magnets are typical types of magnetic materials that could be used in the present embodiments. The strength of the magnet or other adhering material should be strong enough to remain on the surface of the vehicle regardless of driving speed, but should not be so strong as to make it difficult for a user to detach the hand covering 100 by intentionally pulling the protective hand covering 100 from the vehicle's surface.

[0042] In other embodiments, instead of using a magnetic material, other types of adhesives surfaces may be used, such as hook and loop mechanisms 204, 205 (e.g. Velcro®). In particular, there may be a bottom adhering surface hook and loop fastening mechanism 204 (on the protective hand covering 100) that attaches to a complementary hook and loop fastening mechanism 205 (on a surface of a vehicle).

[0043] When using embodiments that use hook and loop mechanisms 204, 205, the hand covering 100 will generally not self-adhere to the vehicle unless a surface is placed on the car, or within an inner surface of a car. The inner surface of a car may have a preinstalled material that self-adheres to hooks or loops 204, 205, or a separate patch of a complementary hook and loop material can be added to a vehicle. FIG. 7 illustrates a version where a complementary hook and loop mechanism 205 has been placed on a surface within a vehicle 300, such as on the vehicle door 910. Other adhering materials could be used, such as glues designed for repeated attachment and detachment, snaps, or suction cups.

[0044] The bridging members 210, 212, 116 are designed to be substantially flat and have little air resistance. This prevents the hand covering 100 from blowing off of a car when the car is being driven, and air passes over the hand covering 100 and through the bridging members.

[0045] The bridging members 210, 212, 116 may be adjustable in order to allow the hand covering 100 to fit many different sized hands. In one embodiment, to aid with sliding a hand within the hand covering 100, beads 214 are placed along the length of at least one of the bridging members 116, as depicted in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 depicts the beads 214 on an embodiment having hook and loop mechanisms, but the protective glove shown in this embodiment can use any type of adhering mechanism, such as magnetic surfaces, as previously described. The beads 214 will roll as the user places his or her hand between the top surface 110 of the hand covering 100 and the bridging member 116, thereby providing a smooth entry for the hand. Beads 214 may be placed on one or more of the bridging members. The beads may be decorated in any number of ways, including letters, numbers, the spelling out of names, or sports teams. In addition, the top surface 110 of the hand covering may be made of a printable surface material, such that the hand covering can be decorative, and logos or team names may be placed on the flexible base.

[0046] Turning to FIG. 5, FIG. 5 illustrates the sheath 112 connected to a latch 938. When in closed position, the latch is connected to the opening of the sheath 112 such that when the latch is closed, the opening of the sheath 112 is pressed against the flexible base 114. The advantage of having the opening of the 112 pressed against the flexible base 114 is that when a vehicle is moving, air, dirt or water may enter the sheath 112, but when the latch 938 is in closed position, air or dirt cannot enter the sheath 112 because the base of the latch 938 is pressed down against the opening of the sheath 112.

[0047] In addition, having a latch close the opening of the sheath 112 aids in lowering wind resistance of the hand covering 100, which prevents the hand covering 100 from being separated from the vehicle while driving. To also aid in lowering wind resistance, the latch 938 may have latch holes 942 that let air pass through the latch 938. Other means may be used to lower wind resistance, such as the use of a latch 938 having strings connecting the top part of the latch to the bottom part of the latch. In one embodiment the latch 938 has a curvature, such as a hollowed out curved wedge shape. A curvature allows a user to easily slide an index finger 404 into the sheath 112. The force of the index finger 404, when inserted into the sheath 112, raises the latch 938 to allow the index finger to slide into the opening of the sheath 112. When the user withdraws the index finger, the latch 938 closes. The latch 938 may open and close with minimum force by using a spring-loaded connecting member 940 on either side of the latch 938. The latch 938 that uses a spring loaded connecting member 940 has the advantage of gently pressing the latch against the user's index finger 404, thereby firmly keeping the hand covering 100 on the user's hand 400. It should be noted that this mechanism may be used on other fingers or multiple fingers.

[0048] Other means of closing the opening of the sheath 112 may be accomplished without an arced latch, but some other type of lever that keeps the opening of the sheath 112 in close position when a finger is not within the sheath 112 and open when the finger is in the sheath 112.

[0049] The protective hand covering 100 can be manufactured using a variety of methods. The general shape may be made of a cutout of a magnetic sheet in the shape of a hand. The bridging members 116, 212, 210 can be adhered to the flexible base 114 by crimping. The sheath can be adhered to the glove by being sewn onto the bridging members. The sheath may be manufactured with holes to allow for less air resistance. The sheath may be manufactured with a sufficiently rigid material that will allow the sheath 112 to remain open for the digit to enter. The sheath may be designed to be thick enough to not allow skin to penetrate any holes in the sheath and come into contact with potentially contaminated objects. The protective hand covering 100 may be manufactured with hook and loop fasteners glued to the bottom of the flexible base.

[0050] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the above embodiments need not only be used for dispensing fuel, but there may be many other alternate applications that may use this hand covering. For example, this hand covering may be used in a bio lab, interfacing an ATM, pushing shopping carts, as well as many other uses. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that there may also be multiple gloves being used in this manner.

[0051] FIG. 6, as previously discussed, depicts the hand covering 100 adhered to a side of a vehicle 300 near the fuel door 302. It should be noted that the hand covering could be adhered to any part of a vehicle.

[0052] FIG. 7, as previously discussed, depicts the inner surface of a vehicle 206, such as the inner surface of a vehicle door 910, where hook and loop patch 205 can be placed to adhere a protective hand covering 100.

[0053] FIG. 8 depicts the protective hand covering 100 being used to hold the fuel pump handle 604. The hand covering 100 protects the hand 400 from contact with the fuel pump handle 604. The user removes the fuel pump nozzle 600 from the fuel pump 608 by gripping the fuel pump handle 604 and lifting the operating lever 606 to dispense fuel from the fuel pump 608.

[0054] FIG. 9 depicts an added benefit of having the index finger region 106 and sheath 112, in particular, to move a fuel pump handle lock 700 into at least one of the lock stops 702 of the of the fuel pump nozzle 600.

[0055] FIG. 10 depicts how present embodiments may be useful for other aspects of pumping fuel. For example, not only may the surface of a fuel pump handle 604 be contaminated with bacteria and viruses, but the keypad 500 used to enter in pin numbers, or zip codes on a fuel pump is often touched by the index finger of users. The hand covering 100 allows a user to not only handle a fuel pump handle 604 indirectly, but to also press keys on a keypad indirectly. While the flexible base can be used to press keys 502, in embodiments where a sheath is included on the elongated index finger region, a user's index finger can be protected from directly contacting keys 502. Instead of direct finger contact, the sheath around the index finger depresses the keys 502, once again protecting the user from direct contact of contaminated surfaces.

[0056] FIG. 11 discloses another embodiment of a protective hand covering that has an added feature of an index finger shield 218. In this embodiment, a shield, which may be made of a variety of materials, can be semi-rigid, and add another layer of protection to a user's index finger 404, such that the user's index finger will press against the index finger shield 218, which then pressed against keys 502. The index finger shield 218 in the embodiment shown is on the distal end of the index finger region 106 and may be secured to the flexible base 114. It should be noted that a shield 218 can be used with any and all of the digits.

[0057] Embodiments also include a method of pumping fuel. In one embodiment the steps for pumping fuel include providing a protective detachable hand covering in any of the embodiments, inserting a hand into the protective detachable hand covering, removing the protective detachable hand covering from a surface, interposing the protective detachable hand covering within a handle of a fuel pump nozzle, detaching the fuel pump nozzle from a fuel pump and activating an operating lever on the fuel pump nozzle to release fuel from the fuel pump, wherein the protective detachable hand covering makes direct contact with the operating lever.

[0058] Optional steps include activating the operating lever on the fuel pump involves lifting the operating lever with the outer finger region of the protective detachable hand covering. The user may also press a gas handle lock using the index finger region of the protective detachable hand covering to lock the operating lever in place while fuel is being dispensed.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0059] 100 Protective detachable hand covering

[0060] 104 Elongated thumb region

[0061] 106 Elongated index finger region

[0062] 108 Outer finger region

[0063] 110 Top surface of the flexible base

[0064] 112 Sheath

[0065] 114 Flexible base

[0066] 116 First bridging member

[0067] 118 Palmar region

[0068] 202 Bottom adhering surface of the flexible base

[0069] 204 Bottom adhering surface hook and loop fastening mechanism

[0070] 205 Complementary hook and loop fastening mechanism

[0071] 206 Inner surface of a vehicle

[0072] 208 Flexible magnetic strips

[0073] 210 Second bridging member (for thumb)

[0074] 212 Third bridging member (for index finger)

[0075] 214 Beads

[0076] 216 Sheath opening

[0077] 218 Index finger shield

[0078] 300 Vehicle

[0079] 302 Fuel door

[0080] 400 Hand

[0081] 404 Index finger

[0082] 406 Thumb

[0083] 408 Outer fingers

[0084] 500 Keypad

[0085] 502 Keys

[0086] 600 Fuel pump nozzle

[0087] 602 Fuel tank

[0088] 604 Fuel pump handle

[0089] 606 Operating lever

[0090] 608 Fuel pump

[0091] 700 Gas handle lock

[0092] 702 Lock stops

[0093] 910 Vehicle door

[0094] 938 Latch

[0095] 940 Latch connection member

[0096] 942 Latch hole

[0097] While the invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the words that have been used are words of description and not of limitation. As is understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art, a variety of modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the following claims, which should be given their fullest, fair scope.