Protective Glove with Conductive Stitching

Abstract

A glove with an electrically non-conductive base and an electrically conductive layer stitched to the base with electrically conductive thread. The base has a body and a plurality of finger receptacles each having an end that is joined to the body. The electrically conductive layer is stitched to an end of one of the finger receptacles opposite the end that is joined to the body. Preferably, the base includes a number of panels stitched together with electrically conductive thread that is electrically coupled to the thread joining the conductive layer to the base.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a glove, and more particularly to a glove with conductive stitching.

2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Gloves have been developed with conductive material for use with capacitive sensing devices, such as mobile phone touchscreens, and for electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection. One type of capacitive sensing device glove is made entirely from threads that are coated with a conductive material. While this type of glove works with capacitive sensing devices, it does not provide significant thermal protection to the wearer's hand due to the fact that the glove's threads are coated with a conductive material. Another type of capacitive sensing device glove includes a liner with an electrically conductive portion in a fingertip region of the glove that is electrically coupled with an electrically conductive portion of an outer shell of the glove. This glove does not provide significant thermal protection to the wearer's fingertips due to the conductive material in that region of the glove.

Gloves adapted for ESD protection are typically constructed from a conductive material such that every plane of the glove is conductive. Accordingly, conventional ESD gloves do not provide significant thermal protection. ESD gloves also cannot typically be worn when working near electrically charged matter due to the risk that the gloves will conduct electric current and shock the wearer. Conventional capacitive sensing device and ESD gloves also do not provide cut, puncture, or RF radiation protection.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A glove in accordance with the present invention includes an electrically non-conductive base and at least one electrically conductive layer stitched to the base with electrically conductive thread. The base includes a body and a plurality of finger receptacles joined to the body. The body includes a first end with an opening for receiving a hand and a second end. Each finger receptacle includes a first end joined to the second end of the body and a second end. The conductive layer is stitched to the second end of one of the finger receptacles. The non-conductive base of the glove preferably protects a hand wearing the glove from hot or cold temperatures, abrasion, and/or sharp instruments. The conductive layer and conductive stitching allow a wearer of the glove to use a capacitive sensing device and use the glove for electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection and radio frequency (RF) radiation protection.

Preferably, the base includes a plurality of panels that are stitched together with conductive thread that is electrically coupled with the conductive thread joining the conductive layer to the base. Preferably, the conductive thread joining the base panels and the conductive thread joining the conductive layer to the base are positioned to contact a hand wearing the glove. Preferably, an electrically conductive tab is stitched to the first end of the body with electrically conductive stitching. The tab is operable to be electrically coupled with a grounding wire when the glove is used for ESD protection. Preferably, there are index, middle, ring, and thumb conductive layers that are stitched with electrically conductive thread to the second end of index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and thumb receptacles. The conductive thread joining all of the panels and layers of the glove preferably ensures that the electric potential is the same throughout the glove.

Additional aspects of the invention, together with the advantages and novel features appurtenant thereto, will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned from the practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a palmar side of a glove in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a dorsal side of the glove shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows an inner surface of the palmar side of the glove shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows an inner surface of the dorsal side of the glove shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken through the line 5-5 shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A glove in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is generally identified as 10 in FIG. 1. Glove 10 includes an electrically non-conductive base 12 and electrically conductive layers 14, 16, 18, and 20 that are stitched to finger tips and a thumb tip of the base 12 with electrically conductive thread 22. The base 12 includes an inner surface 12a, shown in FIG. 3, that is adjacent a hand wearing the glove 10, and an outer surface 12b, shown in FIG. 1. Electrically conductive layers 14, 16, 18, and 20 cover a portion of the outer surface 12b. As shown in FIG. 3, thread 22 penetrates the inner surface 12a of the base 12 so that the thread 22 is positioned to contact the hand of a person wearing the glove 10 and electrically couple layers 14, 16, 18, and 20 to the hand. The electrically conductive layers 14, 16, 18, and 20 and electrically conductive thread 22 allow a person wearing glove 10 to utilize a capacitive sensing device and use the glove 10 for electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection and radio frequency (RF) radiation protection. The non-conductive base 12 can be made from materials that are thermally insulating, wear resistant, cut resistant, and/or fire resistant. Further, the non-conductive base 12 reduces the likelihood that the glove will conduct electric current and shock a wearer working near electrically charged matter.

The base 12 includes a body 24 and index finger, middle finger, ring finger, pinkie finger, and thumb receptacles 26, 28, 30, 32, and 34, respectively, that are each joined to the body 24. When the glove 10 is worn on a person's hand, body 24 generally covers the portion of the hand containing the carpal and metacarpal bones, while index finger, middle finger, ring finger, pinkie finger, and thumb receptacles 26, 28, 30, 32, and 34 generally cover the index finger, middle finger, ring finger, pinkie finger, and thumb of the hand, respectively.

Body 24 has a first end 36 with an opening 38 for receiving a hand and a second end 40. Each of the finger receptacles 26, 28, 30, and 32 has a first end 42 that is joined to the second end 40 of the body 24 and a second end 44. Thumb receptacle 34 also has a first end 46 that is joined to the body 24 and a second end 48. Electrically conductive layers 14, 16, and 18 are joined to the second end 44 of finger receptacles 26, 28, and 30, respectively, and electrically conductive layer 20 is joined to the second end 48 of thumb receptacle 34.

The non-conductive base 12 of the glove is formed from a plurality of panels that are stitched together along seams with electrically conductive thread as described in detail below. Base 12 includes a palmar panel 50, dorsal panel 52 (FIG. 2), first and second thumb panels 54 and 56, and first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth finger panels 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, and 68 (FIG. 4). Palmar panel 50 and dorsal panel 52 are stitched together with electrically conductive thread 70 along two seams 72 and 74 that run the entire length of the glove 10. Finger panels 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, and 68 are stitched to palmar and dorsal panels 50 and 52 with electrically conductive thread 70 to create finger receptacles 26, 28, 30, and 32. First and second thumb panels 54 and 56 are stitched to each other and to palmar panel 50 around an opening 76 (FIG. 3) in the panel 50 with electrically conductive thread 70 to create thumb receptacle 34. Palmar and dorsal panels 50 and 52 are rolled and hemmed adjacent opening 38 with electrically conductive thread 78.

Palmar panel 50 has outer and inner surfaces 80 and 82 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, respectively, and dorsal panel 52 has outer and inner surfaces 84 and 86 shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, respectively. The inner surfaces 82 and 86 are adjacent to and make contact with a hand wearing the glove 10. Referring to FIG. 5, seam 74, at which palmar and dorsal panels 50 and 52 are stitched together, is a rolled seam such that the outer surfaces 80 and 84 of the palmar and dorsal panels 50 and 52, respectively, abut at the seam 74. Electrically conductive thread 70 penetrates the panels 50 and 52 at the location where the outer surfaces 80 and 84 abut so that the thread 70 is positioned to contact a hand wearing the glove 10. Seam 72 has a similar rolled construction as seam 74 and thus is not described in detail herein. The rolled construction of seams 72 and 74 positions the conductive thread 70 adjacent the inner surfaces 82 and 86 of the panels 50 and 52 in order to reduce the amount of conductive material adjacent outer surfaces 80 and 84 and increase the amount of conductive material that is positioned to contact a hand wearing the glove 10. Reducing the amount of conductive material adjacent outer surfaces 80 and 84 reduces the likelihood that the glove 10 will conduct electric current and shock a person wearing the glove 10 when working near electrically charged matter. Increasing the amount of conductive material that is positioned to contact a hand wearing the glove 10 increases the effectiveness of the glove 10 when it is used with a capacitive sensing device, for ESD protection, or for RF radiation protection.

Referring to FIG. 4, glove 10 has an electrically conductive tab 88 that is stitched to the dorsal panel 52 adjacent opening 38 with electrically conductive thread 90. The tab 88 is rectangular and includes a portion 88a overlying the inner surface 86 of dorsal panel 52 and a portion 88b that extends beyond the first end 36 of the body 24. Thread 90 contacts and is electrically coupled with the thread 78 at the hem of palmar and dorsal panels 50 and 52 surrounding opening 38. The thread 90 and tab 88 are also positioned to be adjacent the inner surface 86 of panel 52 so that they contact a hand wearing the glove 10 and are electrically coupled to the hand. The portion 88b of tab 88 extending beyond the first end 36 of body 24 may be grasped and pulled to aid in donning the glove on a wearer's hand. Further, a grounding wire (not shown) may be clipped or otherwise electrically coupled to the tab portion 88b in order to utilize the glove 10 for ESD protection or RF radiation protection.

Referring to FIG. 3, conductive thread 22 contacts and is electrically coupled with the conductive thread 70 that joins the palmar and dorsal panels 50 and 52 and finger panels 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, and 68 (FIG. 4). Conductive thread 70 contacts and is electrically coupled with conductive thread 78 that hems the palmar and dorsal panels 50 and 52 adjacent opening 38. As shown in FIG. 4, conductive thread 78 contacts and is electrically coupled with conductive thread 90 that joins tab 88 to dorsal panel 52. Thus, conductive layers 14, 16, 18, and 20, shown in FIG. 1, are electrically coupled with thread 22, 70, 78, and 90 due to the contact between layers 14, 16, 18, and 20 and thread 22, the contact between thread 22 and thread 70, the contact between thread 70 and thread 78, and the contact between thread 78 and thread 90. Conductive layers 14, 16, 18, and 20 are also electrically coupled with conductive tab 88 due to the contact between layers 14, 16, 18, and 20 and thread 22, the contact between thread 22, 70, 78, and 90, and the contact between tab 88 and thread 90. Further, conductive layers 14, 16, 18, and 20, conductive tab 88, and conductive thread 22, 70, 78, and 90 are all electrically coupled with a hand wearing the glove 10 due to the contact between the hand, tab 88 and thread 22, 70, 78, and 90. The electrical connections between layers 14, 16, 18, and 20, thread 22, 70, 78, and 90, tab 88, and a hand wearing the glove 10 lower the overall electrical resistivity of layers 14, 16, 18, and 20 which enhances their effectiveness for use with capacitive sensing devices. Further, the electrical connections between layers 14, 16, 18, and 20, thread 22, 70, 78, and 90, tab 88, and a hand wearing the glove 10 provides a continuous conductive pathway that allows the glove 10 to be effectively used for ESD protection and RF radiation protection. Because the threads 22, 70, 78, and 90 are electrically coupled, they penetrate all of the panels making up base 12 and layers 14, 16, 18, and 20, and they contact the wearer's hand, the threads 22, 70, 78, and 90 ensure that the electric potential throughout the glove 10 and the hand is the same. Equalizing the electric potential throughout the layers and panels of glove 10 and the hand prevents the generation of static electricity which may be caused by the different panels and layers of the glove 10 rubbing against each other and the hand.

The panels 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, and 68 making up the non-conductive base 12 of the glove 10 are preferably made from leather, neoprene, aramid, a blend of cotton and polyester, or a combination of any of the foregoing materials. It is within the scope of the invention for different panels of base 12 to be made from different non-conductive materials. For example, the dorsal panel 52, or a portion of the dorsal panel 52, may be made from one material, while the palmar panel 50 and/or remainder of the dorsal panel 52 is made from a different material. The electrically conductive layers 14, 16, 18, and 20 and tab 88 are preferably made from conductive polyurethane or from a knit or woven combination of threads including aramid, rayon, and stainless steel. The electrically conductive threads 22, 70, 78, and 90 are preferably made from a blend of aramid, rayon, and stainless steel. Most preferably, the threads 22, 70, 78, and 90 include at least 33% stainless steel by weight and 40% aramid with the remainder being fire resistant rayon.

In operation, glove 10 is donned on a wearer's hand. The non-conductive base 12 protects the wearer's hand. The base 12 may be thermally insulating to protect the hand from heat or cold, and wear and cut resistant to protect the hand from abrasion and sharp instruments. The electrically conductive layers 14, 16, 18, and 20, due to the electrical connections described above, allow the user to wear the glove and use a capacitive sensing device such as a mobile phone touchscreen by touching the capacitive sensing device with the layers 14, 16, 18, and 20. Further, the electrically conductive layers 14, 16, 18, and 20, conductive thread 22, 70, 78, and 90, and conductive tab 88 allow the glove to be worn for ESD protection when working on sensitive electronics and RF radiation protection. Preferably, a grounding wire is electrically coupled with tab 88 when the glove 10 is used for ESD protection. Because the majority of the electrically conductive layers and threads are not exposed on the exterior of the glove 10, the likelihood that the glove will conduct electric current and shock a person wearing the glove 10 when working near electrically charged matter is reduced.

While the preferred glove 10 is described above and shown in FIGS. 1-5, many alternative embodiments of gloves are within the scope of the present invention. For example, glove 10 may be made from a different number of panels and layers that are stitched together in a different manner then described above and shown in the drawings. For example, the dorsal panel 52 may comprise two discrete panels that are joined together. Further, it is within the scope of the invention for the glove 10 to have an adjustable strap allowing the glove to fit on hands of different sizes. Tab 88 may be stitched to palmar panel 50 instead of dorsal panel 52. Further, it is within the scope of the invention for the glove 10 to not include a tab 88. The glove 10 may also have more or less electrically conductive layers 14, 16, 18, and 20 then described above. Additionally, the particular configuration of the stitching of layers 14, 16, 18, and 20 to base 12 with conductive thread 22 shown in the drawings is exemplary only. In particular, it is within the scope of the invention for the X-shaped stitching shown in FIG. 1 on the layers 14, 16, 18, and 20 to be omitted and for each of layers 14, 16, 18, and 20 to be stitched to base 12 only around its peripheral edge. Further, it is within the scope of the invention for the base 12 of the glove 10 to have more layers than described above and shown in the drawings. For example, the base 12 could have an inner liner that is joined to and positioned inside of panels 50 and 52 for added comfort or warmth. If the base 12 of the glove 10 has additional layers, preferably those layers are stitched to the remainder of the base 12 with conductive thread that is electrically coupled with the conductive thread 22, 70, 78, and 90 in order to ensure that the electric potential remains the same throughout all layers and panels of the glove 10 so that static electricity is not generated if the glove's panels rub against each other or the hand wearing the glove.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all ends and objectives herein-above set forth, together with the other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the invention.

Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

While specific embodiments have been shown and discussed, various modifications may of course be made, and the invention is not limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts and steps described herein, except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims. Further, it will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A glove that is operable to be worn on a hand, comprising:

an electrically non-conductive base comprising a body and a plurality of finger receptacles joined to said body, wherein said body comprises a first end with an opening for receiving a hand and a second end, and wherein each of said finger receptacles comprises a first end joined to said second end of said body and a second end; and

at least one electrically conductive layer stitched to said second end of one of said finger receptacles with electrically conductive thread.

2. The glove of claim 1, wherein said base comprises palmar and dorsal panels that are stitched together at a seam with electrically conductive thread that is electrically coupled with said electrically conductive thread that joins said electrically conductive layer to said finger receptacle.

3. The glove of claim 2, further comprising an electrically conductive tab stitched to said first end of said body with electrically conductive thread that is electrically coupled with said electrically conductive thread that joins said palmar and dorsal panels and said conductive layer.

4. The glove of claim 2, wherein said electrically conductive thread that joins said electrically conductive layer to said finger receptacle and said electrically conductive thread that joins said palmar and dorsal panels are positioned to contact a hand received by said opening in said body.

5. The glove of claim 2, wherein said electrically conductive thread that joins said electrically conductive layer to said finger receptacle and said electrically conductive thread that joins said palmar and dorsal panels ensure that the electric potential throughout said base and said layer are the same.

6. The glove of claim 2, wherein each of said palmar and dorsal panels comprises an outer surface and an inner surface that is adjacent a hand received by said opening in said body, and wherein said seam is rolled such that said outer surfaces of said palmar and dorsal panels abut at said seam and said electrically conductive thread that joins said palmar and dorsal panels is positioned to contact the hand.

7. The glove of claim 1, wherein said base comprises an inner surface that is adjacent a hand received by said opening in said body and an outer surface, wherein said electrically conductive layer covers a portion of said outer surface, and wherein said electrically conductive thread penetrates said inner surface so that it is positioned to contact the hand.

8. The glove of claim 1, wherein said plurality of finger receptacles comprises index, middle, ring, and pinkie finger receptacles operable to receive index, middle, ring, and pinkie fingers of the hand, respectively, wherein said base further comprises a thumb receptacle with a first end joined to said body and a second end, and further comprising index, middle, ring, and thumb electrically conductive layers stitched to said second end of said index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and thumb receptacles, respectively, with electrically conductive thread.

9. The glove of claim 1, wherein said base comprises leather, neoprene, aramid, or a blend of cotton and polyester.

10. The glove of claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive layer comprises polyurethane.

11. The glove of claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive layer comprises aramid, rayon and stainless steel.

12. The glove of claim 1, wherein said electrically conductive thread comprises aramid, rayon, and stainless steel.

13. The glove of claim 12, wherein said electrically conductive thread comprises at least 33% stainless steel by weight.

14. A glove operable to be worn on a hand, comprising:

an electrically non-conductive base comprising a plurality of panels that are stitched together along at least one seam with a first electrically conductive thread, wherein said panels define a body and a plurality of finger receptacles joined to said body, wherein said body comprises a first end with an opening for receiving a hand and a second end, and wherein each of said finger receptacles comprises a first end joined to said second end of said body and a second end; and

at least one electrically conductive layer stitched to said second end of one of said finger receptacles with a second electrically conductive thread, wherein said first and second electrically conductive threads are electrically coupled and at least one of said first and second electrically conductive threads is positioned to contact a hand received by said opening in said body.

15. The glove of claim 14, further comprising an electrically conductive tab stitched to said first end of said body with a third electrically conductive thread that is electrically coupled with said first and second electrically conductive threads and said conductive layer.

16. The glove of claim 14, wherein said first and second electrically conductive threads ensure that the electric potential throughout said base and said layer are the same.

17. The glove of claim 14, wherein each of said panels comprises an outer surface and an inner surface that is adjacent a hand received by said opening in said body, and wherein said seam is rolled such that said outer surfaces of said panels stitched together along said seam abut at said seam and said first electrically conductive thread is positioned to contact the hand.

18. The glove of claim 14, wherein said base comprises an inner surface that is adjacent a hand received by said opening in said body and an outer surface, wherein said electrically conductive layer covers a portion of said outer surface, and wherein said second electrically conductive thread penetrates said inner surface so that it is positioned to contact the hand.

19. The glove of claim 14, wherein said base comprises leather, neoprene, aramid, or a blend of cotton and polyester.

20. The glove of claim 14, wherein said electrically conductive layer comprises polyurethane or a blend of aramid, rayon, and stainless steel.

21. The glove of claim 14, wherein said electrically conductive thread comprises aramid, rayon, and stainless steel.