Disposable Finger Glove with Zig-Zag Slots

Abstract

A finger glove to cover a finger of a user includes a closed distal end and an open proximate end, a first row of longitudinal slots and a second row of longitudinal slots, the second row of longitudinal slots being offset with respect to the first row of longitudinal slots. The slots play roles in making the finger glove fit onto various sizes of human fingers and allowing the skin beneath the finger glove to breathe.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a finger glove, and more particularly to a finger glove that is made from a non-elastic material that can fit into various sizes of human fingers and will not slip off the fingers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 6,647,549 discloses a finger glove that can fit onto a human finger. The finger glove can be used as a substitute for cotton balls, swabs, and/or gauzes, or as an oral cleaning device. The finger glove is at least partially made from an elastomeric material such that the glove can more aptly fit onto a finger. Moreover, the glove can also be partially made from a texturized material having an abrasive surface useful for cleaning surfaces. Furthermore, the glove, in some instances, can possess a barrier that is liquid-impermeable, but vapor-permeable so that the finger of a user is more comfortable during use. Various additives can be applied to the glove.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,819,765 discloses an appliance for hygiene and care of an oral cavity having a thin rubber glove for one finger of a hand, the glove having at least one operative surface area extending to an end of said glove so as to correspond to a position of a finger tip, and a sealed hollow member provided in the at least one operative surface area and accommodating an active product, the sealed hollow member being formed so that during rubbing of said at least one operative surface area against teeth or gums the active product emerges from the sealed hollow member and is spread over the teeth and gums.

In today's society, many people eat food such as doughnuts, sandwiches hamburgers and french fries with their bare hands. Such activity not only appears unsanitary but in a great many cases is unsanitary. Furthermore, eating such food with bare hands is messy. Even though, the hands can be cleaned with tissues, the hands generally feel unpleasant until they are thoroughly washed.

Furthermore, the size of human fingers varies from very large to very small. Consequently, there is a need for a finger glove that can fit the large fingers as well as the small fingers.

SUMMARY

The finger gloves of the present invention can be formed from flexible but non-elastic material.

The finger gloves of the present invention include slots formed in rows. One row of the slots is offset from an adjacent row so that a zig-zag pattern is formed. When pressure or force is applied in a traverse direction to the rows of slots, the slots open into apertures so that the apertures play a role in enlarging the width of the finger glove. This means that the finger glove can be even made from non-elastic material that can be used for various sizes of human fingers. The apertures can also allow the skin beneath the finger glove to breathe.

The water vapor emitted from the skin of the user is allowed to escape through the apertures.

The finger glove of the present invention includes embossing in the form of inwardly extending projections.

Additionally, the finger glove of the present invention includes an attachment apparatus for attachment to the finger to prevent the finger glove from slipping off the finger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

FIGS. 1a and b illustrate the expandable slots of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a plan view of the finger glove of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a continuous strip of detachably connected finger gloves of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of a box type apparatus to package the finger glove of the present invention in a container;

FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the box type apparatus to package the finger glove of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the finger glove of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a roll type apparatus to package the finger glove of the present invention in a container;

FIG. 8 illustrates a top view of a press plate of the roll type apparatus;

FIG. 9 illustrates a side view of the press plate of the roll type apparatus;

FIG. 10 illustrates another roll type apparatus to package the finger glove of the present invention in a container;

FIG. 11 illustrates a top view of a press plate of the roll type apparatus;

FIG. 12 illustrates a side view of the press plate of the roll type apparatus;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The finger glove 108 of the present invention shown in FIG. 2 could be formed from latex which is elastic and consequently could be used for different sized fingers. However, latex is un-permeable with respect to water and consequently, this material could leave the user with an unpleasant feeling. Other materials could be polyethylene or paper. However, these other materials are not elastic. Other materials could include a thermoplastic material such as polypropylene.

FIG. 1a illustrates a section of the finger glove 108 of the present invention. In order to overcome the limitations of non-elastic materials, when the materials are used for finger gloves, the finger glove 108 includes a first row 102 of slots 100 which is offset from a second row 104 of slots 100. The first row 102 and the second row 104 form a zigzag pattern. The slots 100 are formed substantially in a longitudinal direction of the finger glove 108. As illustrated in FIG. 1b, after the user has placed a finger into the finger glove 108, the finger glove 108 expands and the slots 100 expand forming substantially diamond shaped apertures 106. These apertures 106 can play a role in enlarging the width of the finger glove 108 even when non-elastic materials are used for the finger glove 108.

These apertures 106 also allow the moisture to escape from the finger of the user. Since the first row 102 and a second row 104 are offset, the apertures 106 are tightly packed and result in a large surface area being exposed to the atmosphere.

This structure reduces manufacturing costs and the cost for the user. The finger glove 108 of the present invention provides sanitation and saves the use of tissue which may be used to clean up the fingers of the user.

The fingers of the user generally taper outwards approaching the distal end of the finger which results in the finger glove having difficulty remaining on the finger of the user. This aspect is especially pronounced for users with small fingers such as children. In order to overcome this aspect, FIG. 2 illustrates a attachment apparatus which is shown as a extending member 212 which extends along the longitudinal direction of the finger glove 108 and which includes adhesive layer 214 formed on the inside surface of the extending member 212 to adhere to the finger of the user, preventing the finger glove 108 from slipping off.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the finger glove 108 which includes the slots 100 and the extending member 212. The finger glove 108 includes a closed distal end and an open proximate end. FIG. 6 additionally illustrates inward extending projections 620 which are positioned in the interior surface of the finger glove 108 to provide for friction for the finger of the user.

FIG. 3 illustrates a continuous strip 330 of detachably connected finger gloves 108. The continuous strip 330 includes a weakened area 332 formed around the periphery of the finger glove 108. The weakened area 332 may be formed from perforations and allow the finger glove 108 to be detached from the continuous strip 330. The user of the finger glove 108 can pull and detach the finger glove 108 from the continuous strip 330.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a box type apparatus 440 to package the finger glove 108 of the present invention. The box type apparatus 440 includes a spring 442 and a press plate 444 which prevents the continuous strip 330 from returning into the box container and is pressed by the user to detach the finger glove 108 from the continuous strip 330 pressing beneath the press plate 444.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the finger glove 108 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of packaging the finger glove 108 and the container. FIG. 7 illustrates the roll type apparatus 770 of packaging the finger glove 108 and illustrates a press plate 774 where the user presses to detach the finger glove 108 from the continuous strip 330. This plate 774 also prevents the reverse rolling of the continuous strip 330. A section 772 of the roll type apparatus 770 is detailed in FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a top view and a side view of the roll type apparatus 770, respectively.

FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment of the roll type apparatus 1000. A section 1002 of the roll type apparatus 1000 is detailed in FIGS. 11 and 12.

FIG. 11 illustrates a top view of the roll type apparatus 1000 and shows the continuous strip 330 passing beneath the press plate 1004 and a hinge 1006.

FIG. 12 illustrates a side view of the roll type apparatus 1000 and shows the press plate 1004 and hinge 1006.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.

Claims

1. A finger glove to cover a finger of a user, comprising:

said finger glove including a closed distal end and an open proximate end;

said finger glove including a first row of longitudinal slots and a second row of longitudinal slots, said second row of longitudinal slots being offset with respect to said first row of longitudinal slots.

2. A finger glove to cover a finger of a user as in claim 1, wherein said first and second longitudinal slots expand to form approximate diamond shaped apertures when pressure or force is applied in a traversed direction to the rows of slots.

3. A finger glove to cover a finger of a user as in claim 1, wherein said finger glove includes inwardly extending projections

4. A finger glove to cover a finger of a user as in claim 1, wherein said finger glove includes an attachment apparatus including an extending member to be attached to a finger of a user.

5. A finger glove to cover a finger of a user as in claim 1, wherein said extending member includes a layer of adhesive.

6. A continuous strip of finger gloves to cover a finger of a user, comprising:

said finger gloves including a closed distal end and an open proximate end;

said finger gloves including a first row of longitudinal slots and a second row of longitudinal slots, said second row of longitudinal slots being offset with respect to said first row of longitudinal slots;

wherein said continuous strip includes a weakened area around the periphery of said finger gloves.

7. A method for forming a finger glove to cover a finger of a user, comprising, comprising the steps of:

forming said finger glove to have a closed distal end and an open proximate end;

forming a first row of longitudinal slots in said finger glove and forming a second row of longitudinal slots in said finger glove, said second row of longitudinal slots being offset with respect to said first row of longitudinal slots.

8. A method for forming a finger glove to cover a finger of a user as in claim 7, wherein the method includes the step of expanding said first and second longitudinal slots to approximate diamond shaped apertures.

9. A method for forming a finger glove to cover a finger of a user as in claim 7, wherein the method includes the step of forming inwardly extending projections on an interior surface of said finger glove.

10. A method for forming a finger glove to cover a finger of a user as in claim 7, wherein said method includes the step of forming an attachment apparatus including an extending member on the finger glove to be attached to a finger of a user.

11. A method for forming a finger glove to cover a finger of a user as in claim 9, wherein the method includes the step of forming a layer of adhesive on said extending member.