Knit Gloves

Abstract

The disposable knit gloves are made from a combination yarn, preferably a core spun yarn with a latex core and natural or synthetic yarn sheaths. A drawstring bag may be used as a dispensing container for the gloves.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/824,085 filed on Aug. 31, 2006, pending.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a hand covering for the human hand which is in the shape of a glove or mitten, and more specifically to a disposable knit glove.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Workers, such as electricians, frequently need to wear rubber gloves for protection during potentially hazardous work. However, rubber gloves are uncomfortable and may irritate the workers' hands when worn. To prevent some of the discomfort associated with rubber gloves, workers may wear cotton gloves under the rubber gloves.

Current knit gloves used as underliners to work gloves have various disadvantages. Such gloves are not meant to be disposable, are normally sold in pairs, are heavy-weight, and typically come only in limited size selections. These disadvantages impact not only the economics of using underlying gloves but also can hinder the fit of the gloves and the touch sensitivity of the user's fingers and hands. An objective of this invention is a disposable glove that overcomes at least some of the disadvantages of the prior art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, this invention is a disposable knit glove of unitary, single-piece construction and comprising a combination yarn.

In another embodiment, the invention is a method of making a knit glove, the method comprising of programming a knitting machine to knit a glove comprising of at least seven glove components; a plurality of finger components, one or more palm portions and a wrist cuff.

In another embodiment, the invention is a method of making a knit glove that comprises a combination yarn in eight components.

In another embodiment, the invention is a packaging unit for disposable gloves intended for one time use only, where said articles are placed in one or more layers, said packaging unit comprising of a clear drawstring bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the following accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only. Throughout the following views, reference numerals will be used in the drawings, and the same reference numerals will be used throughout the several views and in the description to indicate same or like parts or steps.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a glove of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the glove of FIG. 1 having an adhesive applied thereto.

FIG. 3 is a front side view of a glove container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, references made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

As used herein, a combination yarn is a yarn in which there are dissimilar component yarns especially when these are of fibre and filaments. Composite yarn a yarn composed of both staple and continuous-filament components, e.g., core spun or wrap spun. The combination yarn of this invention does not refer to knitting from two separate yarns, such as an elastic yarn and a standard yarn.

The gloves of the current invention comprise any combination yarn that provides the necessary stretch and comfort features. The combination may be a core spun yarn in which the core is an elastic fiber and the sheath may be either a natural or synthetic yarn. A suitable elastic fiber for the core is spandex, which is commercially available. Natural yarns for the sheath may be made from cotton, wool, or blends thereof. Synthetic yarns for the sheath may be polyester, rayon, or cellulose based fibers (such as those sold commercially under the trademarks TENCEL, TENCEL A100, VILOFT, MODEL, etc.). Core spun yarns combining these materials are commercially available.

Preferably, the combination yarn comprises substantially all, more preferably comprises all, of the yarn of the gloves of this invention, with the possible exception of threads used for stitching seams and/or the material used for the ravel preventing edge portion.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a disposable knit glove 10 in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a disposable knit glove 10 with a ravel preventing edge portion 11, a ribbed cuff 12, a palm portion 13, a plurality of fingers 14 and a thumb 15. The plurality of fingers 14, the palm portion 13, the thumb 15 and the ribbed cuff 12 are knit comprising core spun yarn. The edge portion 11 may comprise a sewn over lock stitch designed to hold any loose ends of material in place. In one embodiment, the ravel preventing edge portion 11 comprises at least one heat fusible yarn. As shown, the glove is a full-finger design, although open-finger designs can be used if desired.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the palm side of a disposable knit glove with a non-durable adhesive applied in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a disposable knit glove 10 with a layer of a non-durable adhesive applied 16 to the surface area of palm 13, the inner surface of the thumb 15, the inner surfaces of fingers 14, giving the disposable knit glove enhanced gripping capability. The edge portion 11 may comprise a sewn over lock stitch designed to hold any loose ends of material in place. The non-durable adhesive 16 is easily applied to the palm side of the disposable knit glove 10, has a tacky feel and remains tacky for a limited time; that time limit influenced by the cleanliness of the surfaces the non-durable adhesive comes in contact with and the overall time of exposure. In one embodiment, the non-durable adhesive 16 comprises a repositionable adhesive. As shown, the glove is a full-finger design, although open-finger designs can be used if desired.

FIG. 3 shows a front perspective view of the glove unit package according to the invention. FIG. 3 shows a glove packaging unit 20 for disposable gloves 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The glove packaging unit comprises a pouch body 21 having a drawstring tie 22. The pouch body 21 is preferably composed of a resilient plastic but may be otherwise. Preferably, the glove packaging unit comprises a resilient, clear plastic that enables the user to monitor the number of disposable gloves still available for use without the surprise of “running out.” More preferably, in one embodiment, the plastic is polypropylene and the pouch wall is between about 1 to at least about 8 mil thick. The drawstring tie 22 is preferably composed of a natural fiber yarn but may be otherwise. The gloves 10 are preferably knit gloves but may be otherwise. The gloves are placed in one or more layers within the pouch. Further, the glove packaging unit 20 is of a convenient size for easy storing and transportation. The drawstring construction of the container of the present invention provides a glove packaging unit 20 for easily and reliably storing one or more pairs of disposable gloves without the destruction of the packaging unit itself at the time one or more disposable gloves are withdrawn for use.

The disposable glove of the invention can be made by conventional methods that are well-known in the art. Examples and descriptions of such methods can be found in multiple references, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,047,768; 6,981,392; 6,962,064; and 6,945,080, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. Generally, glove-making methods typically comprise programming a knitting machine to continuously knit a glove comprising of at least seven glove sections: a plurality of finger sections, one or more palm sections and a wrist cuff. The gloves are knit over a hand-shaped form. Various methods will knit the glove in different numbers of sections, and may alter the order that the sections are knit. In one method, the disposable glove is knitted starting from a fifth finger and then is knitted in the order of fourth finger, third finger, second finger, a four finger body, followed by a thumb and the knitting of a five-finger body to comprise a glove with seven glove components. In another method, the disposable glove is knitted starting from a fifth finger and then is knitted in the order of fourth finger, third finger, second finger, then a three-finger body, followed by a four-finger body, a thumb and the knitting of a five-finger body to comprise a glove with eight sections.

In one embodiment, the glove can be prepared by means of a flat-knitting technique. Such techniques are well known in the art and are described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,216,494 and 6,981,392, both of which are incorporated herein by reference. U.S. Pat. No. 6,216,494 describes a method for producing a knitted article with a spatial main knitted element and at least one spatial partial knitted element on a flat knitting machine with at least two opposite needle beds, a needle displacement device and a loop transfer device, the method has the steps of producing the main knitted element and the at least one partial knitted element parallel on the machine until at least the partial knitted element is finished and the main knitted element reaches a point of coupling with the at least one partial knitted element, connecting loops of the main knitted element and the at least one partial knitted element by a transfer technique with one another, and then arranging loops of the at least one partial knitted element by the needle bed displacement device on one needle bed opposite to the loops of the main knitted element on the other needle bed, with which they must be connected.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,981,392 describes a method for knitting a glove is provided in which the glove is knitted by using a flat-knitting device including at least a pair of front and back needle beds which extend in a horizontal direction while facing each other from front and back directions, at least one of the front and back needle beds being movable horizontally in a racking motion, the flat-knitting device capable of transferring stitches between the front and back needle beds. The method includes the steps of knitting a four-finger body through which a little finger, a ring finger, a middle finger, and an index finger are to be inserted; performing a rotational operation before joining the four-finger body with a thumb sheath, the rotational operation being performed by transferring stitches of the four-finger body held by knitting needles to free needles and moving at least one of the front and back needles beds in a racking motion so as to rotate the four-finger body towards knitting needles holding stitches of the thumb sheath; and joining the four-finger body with the thumb sheath.

In one preferred embodiment, the gloves are produced by continuous knitting techniques. The ravel preventing edge portion 11 can be made by any convenient known technique. More preferably, the ravel preventing edge 11 is made of a heat fusing yarn, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,239,846; 6,212,914; and, 6,367,290, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. In one embodiment, the ravel preventing edge 11 is formed using a sewn over lock stitch adapted to hold any loose ends of material in place.

Preferably, the gloves are pre-washed and shrunk prior to use. Such shrinkage provides a glove that is small prior to wearing. As such, the glove will fit small sized hands comfortably and tightly, e.g., without sag or loose fabric. The stretchability of the yarn allows the same sized glove to also fit users with large hands. As such, this invention provides a disposable knit glove in which one size fits all users. The pre-wash and shrinkage is done with methods well-known in the textile arts. For example, the gloves can be washed in cold water and air dried with warm, forced air.

The glove of this invention is useful for wearing under work and medical gloves. The gloves are capable of absorbing moisture and protecting the hands during use. Preferably, the gloves are designed to be disposable so that when soiled, wet or no longer needed, the glove may be discarded. Advantageously, the disposable knit glove may be of sufficient thinness and light weight to minimize any in effects on a wearer's manual dexterity.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the means herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.

Claims

1. A disposable glove which comprises a combination yarn wherein the glove has a unitary, single-piece construction.

2. The glove of claim 1 wherein the combination yarn is a core spun yarn.

3. The glove of claim 2 wherein the core spun yarn comprises a spandex core and spun sheaths of natural and synthetic yarns.

4. The glove of claim 3 wherein the spun sheaths comprise yarns comprising materials selected from the group consisting of cotton, wool and blends thereof.

5. The glove of claim 3 wherein the spun sheaths comprise yarns comprising materials selected from the group consisting of polyester, rayon, cellulose-based fibers and blends thereof.

6. The glove of claim 1 further comprising a ravel preventing edge portion.

7. The glove of claim 6 wherein the edge portion comprises at least one heat fusible yarn.

8. The glove of claim 6 wherein the edge portion comprises of a sewn over lock stitch adapted to hold any loose ends of material in place.

9. The method of making a disposable glove, the method comprising knitting a fifth finger; knitting in the order of fourth finger, third finger, second finger, a four finger body; knitting a thumb; and, knitting of a five-finger body to comprise a glove with seven glove components wherein the glove is knitted with yarn comprising at least one combination yarn.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the disposable glove is knitted from core spun yarns.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the core spun yarns are selected from the group comprising of spandex core and spun sheaths of natural and synthetic yarns.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the spun sheaths of natural yarn are selected from the group comprising of cotton, wool and blends thereof.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the spun sheaths of synthetic yarns are selected from the group comprising of polyester, rayon, cellulose-based fibers and blends thereof.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising forming a ravel preventing edge portion.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the ravel preventing edge portion comprises of at least one heat fusible yarn.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the ravel preventing edge portion comprises a sewn over lock stitch designed to hold any loose ends of material in place.

17. A disposable glove which comprises a combination yarn, the glove comprising a palm side that comprises of a non-durable adhesive wherein the glove has a unitary, single-piece construction.

18. The disposable glove of claim 17 wherein the non-durable adhesive is applied as a layer covering the palm side of a five-finger body not including a glove cuff.

19. The glove of claim 18 wherein the non-durable adhesive is a repositionable adhesive.

20. The method of claim 9 wherein a non-durable adhesive is applied as a layer covering the palm side of the five-finger body not including the glove cuff.

21. A method of making a disposable glove, the method comprising knitting a fifth finger; knitting in the order of fourth finger, third finger, second finger, then a three-finger body; knitting a four-finger body; knitting a thumb; and, knitting of a five-finger body to comprise a glove with eight components where the glove is knitted from yarn comprising at least one combination yarn.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the combination yarn is a core spun yarn.

23. A packaging unit for disposable gloves intended for one time use only, where said articles are placed in one or more layers, said packaging unit comprising of a clear drawstring bag.

24-36. (canceled)

37. A method for producing a glove, the method comprising flat knitting the glove from yarn comprising at least one combination yarn.