Cabinet glove

Abstract

A cabinet glove. The cabinet glove includes a sleeve portion having an open end portion and a hand covering portion. A clamp is constrained to the end of the sleeve portion. The clamp holds the end portion of the cabinet glove open to ease assembly of the cabinet glove to an annular mounting flange of a cabinet.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to cabinet gloves. In particular, the present invention relates to a cabinet glove with a clamp constrained to an end portion of the glove that holds the end of the glove open.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Cabinet gloves are used in glass bead cabinets and dry blast cabinets. These cabinets typically include a flange that extends from the cabinet that an open end of the glove is secured around. Similar gloves are also used in clean rooms, baby incubators and biological containment units.

[0003] Prior art cabinet gloves are constructed such that the clamp which holds the glove to the cabinet flange is separate from the glove itself. Existing cabinet gloves with separate clamps are difficult to assemble to the cabinet flange. To install an existing cabinet glove, the end of the glove is held open by an installer so that it can be placed over the cabinet flange. The end of the cabinet glove is held on the flange by an installer while a clamp is placed over the end of the cabinet glove and cabinet flange. While holding the end of the glove and the clamp on the flange, the clamp is tightened to the flange. As is apparent, installation of existing cabinet gloves by a single installer is difficult.

[0004] There is a need for a cabinet glove with a clamp secured to the end of the glove that holds the end of the glove open during installation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention concerns a cabinet glove. The cabinet glove includes a sleeve portion and a hand covering portion. The end of the sleeve portion defines an opening of the glove. A clamp is constrained to the end portion of the glove. The clamp holds the end portion of the cabinet glove open.

[0006] The clamp may be constrained to the open end of the glove in a variety of different ways. For example, the clamp may be constrained in a pocket on the open end of the glove. Such a pocket may be defined by a piece of material stitched to the end of the glove adjacent to first and second sides of the clamp or may be defined by a folded over portion of the glove end that is stitched to the sleeve portion adjacent to one side of the clamp. In one embodiment, the clamp is constrained to the end portion by a rigid member, such as a piece of plastic, connected to the end portion. In one embodiment, the clamp is glued to the open end of the glove. In one embodiment, the clamp maintains the opening in a circular shape.

[0007] In one embodiment, the cabinet glove is assembled to an annular mounting flange that extends from a cabinet. The clamp constrained to the end of the glove holds the end of the glove open and secures the glove to the flange.

[0008] In one embodiment, the disclosed cabinet glove is used in a method of attaching a cabinet glove to the mounting flange of a cabinet. In the method, the clamp is secured to the end portion of the glove to hold the end of the glove open. The end portion of the cabinet glove is placed over the mounting flange of the cabinet. The clamp is tightened to secure the end portion to the mounting flange.

[0009] Additional features of the invention will become apparent and a fuller understanding will be obtained by reading the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a cabinet glove embodying the present invention attached to a flange inside a cabinet;

[0011] FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a cabinet glove embodying the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a partial elevational view of a cabinet glove showing an open end portion of the cabinet glove;

[0013] FIG. 4 is a partial elevational view of a cabinet glove showing an open end portion of the cabinet glove;

[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a cabinet glove showing an open end portion of the cabinet glove;

[0015] FIG. 6A is a view illustrating a portion of the open end of the cabinet glove as indicated in FIG. 4;

[0016] FIG. 6B is a partial view similar to FIG. 6A illustrating a portion of the open end of a cabinet glove of an alternate embodiment;

[0017] FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of a cabinet glove of one embodiment being assembled to an annular glove mounting flange of a cabinet;

[0018] FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of a cabinet glove of one embodiment being assembled to an annular glove mounting flange of a cabinet; and

[0019] FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of a cabinet glove of one embodiment being assembled to an annular glove mounting flange of a cabinet;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The present disclosure concerns a cabinet glove 10 including a sleeve portion 12 and a hand covering portion 14. An end portion 16 of the sleeve portion 12 defines an opening 18 of the glove 10. A clamp 20 is attached to or constrained with respect to the end portion 16 of the sleeve 12. The clamp 20 holds the end of the cabinet glove open. In the illustrated embodiment, the clamp 20 maintains the opening 18 in a circular shape.

[0021] In the illustrated embodiment, sleeve portion 12 is made from a nylon material, such as readily available nylon backpack material. In the illustrated embodiment, the hand covering portion 14 is made from neoprene. It should be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that any combination of materials could be used to construct the sleeve portion 12 and hand covering portion 14. For example, the sleeve portion 12 and the hand covering portion 14 could both be made from neoprene.

[0022] The illustrated clamp 20 is a readily available adjustable hose clamp. It should be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that any type of clamp that maintains the end portion 16 in an open condition for installation can be used.

[0023] The clamp can be attached to or constrained with respect to the end portion 16 in many different ways. For example, FIGS. 1-7 illustrate the clamp 20 constrained in a pocket 22 formed on the end portion 16 that constrains said clamp to the end portion. In the embodiment illustrated by FIG. 6A, the pocket 22 is defined by a piece of material 24. A first row 26 of stitches secure the piece of material to the end portion 16 adjacent to a first side 28 of the clamp. A second row 30 of stitches secure the piece of material 24 to the end portion 16 adjacent to a second side 32 of the clamp 20. In the illustrated embodiment, a single pocket is included that extends around a large portion of the open end of the glove 10.

[0024] In an alternate embodiment (not shown), a plurality of discrete pockets 22 or loops are included about the periphery of the open end of the glove for constraining the clamp 20 to the end portion. The discrete pockets 22 or loops are similar to belt loops on conventional pants.

[0025] In the embodiment illustrated by FIG. 6B, the pocket 22 is defined by a folded over portion 34 of the end portion 16. A row of stitches 36 secure the folded over portion 34 to the end portion 16 adjacent to the side 32 of the clamp 20.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 8, in one embodiment the clamp 20 is constrained to the end portion 16 by a rigid member 38 connected to the end portion 16. In the embodiment illustrated by FIG. 8, the rigid member 38 is sewn on around the open end 16 of the cabinet glove 10 by a row of stitches 40. The edge 42 of the rigid member nearest to the hand covering portion 14 is free to move. In this embodiment, the rigid member maintains the end portion 16 in an open condition for installation. In the exemplary embodiment, the rigid member 38 is made from plastic. In this embodiment, the clamp 20 is pulled over the hand covering portion 14 of the cabinet glove 10 and into engagement with the rigid member 38 sewn to the open end 16 of the cabinet glove. The rigid member 38 constrains the clamp 20 against movement past the end portion 16 while the cabinet glove is assembled to an annular flange 44 extending from an opening 46 of the cabinet 48.

[0027] In one embodiment, illustrated by FIG. 9, a deposit of glue 50 secures the clamp 20 to the end portion 16 of the glove 10. The clamp maintains the end portion 16 in an open condition for installation.

[0028] In the embodiments illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 7-9, the cabinet glove 10 is assembled to a cabinet 48. The illustrated cabinet 48 includes an annular mounting flange 44 extending from an opening 46 of the cabinet 48. The clamp 20 constrained to the end portion 16 of the glove 10 holds the end portion 16 open to ease assembly onto the mounting flange 44. The end portion 16 is disposed around the mounting flange 44 and secured to the mounting flange by the clamp.

[0029] Assembly of the disclosed cabinet glove 10 with an attached or constrained clamp 10 is much easier than assembly of existing cabinet gloves to a cabinet using separate unconstrained clamps. In the embodiments illustrated by FIGS. 1-7 and 9, the clamp 20 is secured against substantial longitudinal movement relative to the end portion 16 of the sleeve portion 12 to hold the end portion 16 of the cabinet glove open. In the embodiment illustrated by FIG. 8, the rigid member 38 holds the end portion open and constrains the clamp against longitudinal movement past the end portion 16. In each embodiment, the end portion 16 of the cabinet glove 10 can easily be placed over the mounting flange 44 of the cabinet 10 since the end portion 16 is held open. By holding the clamp 10 on the mounting flange 44, the open end 16 is held on the mounting flange 44. The clamp is simply tightened to secure the end portion 16 to the mounting flange 44.

[0030] Although the present invention has been described with a degree of particularity, it is the intent that the invention include all modifications and alterations falling within the spirit or scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. In a cabinet glove including a sleeve portion having an end portion that defines an opening of the glove and a hand covering portion, wherein the improvement comprises a clamp constrained to the end portion of the sleeve portion such that movement of said clamp past said end portion is prevented and said clamp holds the end portion of the cabinet glove open.

2. The cabinet glove of claim 1 wherein said clamp maintains said opening in a circular shape.

3. The cabinet glove of claim 1 further comprising a pocket on said end portion that constrains said clamp to said end portion.

4. The cabinet glove of claim 3 wherein said pocket is defined by a piece of material stitched to said end portion adjacent to first and second sides of said clamp.

5. The cabinet clove of claim 3 wherein said pocket is defined by a folded over portion of said end portion that is stitched to said sleeve portion adjacent to a side of said clamp.

6. The cabinet glove of claim 1 wherein said clamp is constrained to said end portion by a rigid member connected to said end portion.

7. The cabinet glove of claim 1 wherein said clamp is glued to said end portion.

8. A method of attaching a cabinet glove including a sleeve portion having an end portion that defines an opening to a glove mounting flange of a cabinet, comprising:

a) securing a clamp to the end portion of the sleeve portion to hold the end portion of the cabinet glove open;

b) placing the end portion of the cabinet glove over the mounting flange of the cabinet; and

c) tightening said clamp to secure said end portion to said mounting flange.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising maintaining said opening in a circular shape with said clamp.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said clamp is secured to said end portion by forming a pocket on said end portion and inserting said clamp into said pocket.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein said clamp is secured to said end portion by a rigid member connected to said end portion.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein said clamp is glued to said end portion.

13. A cabinet and cabinet glove assembly, comprising:

a) a cabinet;

b) an annular mounting flange extending from said cabinet;

c) a cabinet glove including a sleeve portion having an end portion that defines an opening of the glove and a hand covering portion;

d) a clamp constrained to the end portion of the sleeve portion that holds the end portion of the cabinet glove open, said end portion disposed around said mounting flange and secured to said mounting flange by said clamp.

14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein said clamp maintains said opening in a circular shape.

15. The assembly of claim 13 further comprising a pocket on said end portion that constrains said clamp to said end portion.

16. The assembly of claim 13 wherein said pocket is defined by a piece of material stitched to said end portion adjacent to first and second sides of said clamp.

17. The assembly of claim 13 wherein said pocket is defined by a folded over portion of said end portion that is stitched to said sleeve portion adjacent to a side of said clamp.

18. The assembly of claim 13 wherein said clamp is constrained to said end portion by a rigid member connected to said end portion.

19. The cabinet glove of claim 13 wherein said clamp is glued to said end portion.