Disposable moisture absorbent glove that function as a glove and/or a glove insert

Abstract

A disposable moisture absorbent glove that function as a glove itself and/or as a glove insert made to be worn directly on a wearers hand and/or between the hand and any other type of glove to remove from the surface of the skin, collect, and retain sweat and the like produced by human hands. Each disposable moisture absorbent glove comprises of any individual or combination of therewith elements: an outer shell that is made of flexible material, an inner shell that is made of a fluid pervious cover-stock, and an absorbent core interposed therebetween. The intermediate section may optionally include a fluid transfer layer interposed between the cover-stock shell and the core. The cuff or hem portion of the article may optionally include fastener means to secure the article on the wearers hand. The disposable moisture absorbent glove can be formed as traditional, conventional fingerless, and conventional palm gloves. This disposable moisture absorbent glove even if used for a prolonged period of time and especially when it used as an insert inside of any other type of glove provides skin protection by virtue of liquid absorption, so that hand skin ailments and bacteria groves or the like can be prevented.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the working gloves, medical gloves, disposable gloves, therapeutic gloves, cosmetic gloves, moisture absorbent gloves, and disposable glove.

It is long been customary for working, medical, therapeutic, cosmetic, and moisture-retentive gloves to have an outer shell made out of rubber or a synthetic resin. The gloves made of such material preclude not only penetration of outer liquid inside of the gloves, but removal of sweat and the like produced by human hands out of the gloves. Prolonged wear of such gloves resulted in accumulation of significant amount of sweat and the like liquids inside of the gloves. Lengthened exposure of human skin to the liquids inside of the gloves caused, occupational skin diseases, loses of fingers sensitivity, chapped skin, and provides for an environment for harmful bacteria and mold to grow on the inside surfaces of the gloves.

The prior art models of the moisture retentive gloves provide for the inside surfaces of the gloves to be made of moisture retentive and antibacterial material that attached permanently to the glove. The gloves made with permanently attached inner layer have very limited liquid retaining capacities, and addition of the inner material notably reduces fingers sensitivity. There are requirements for additional processes for removing moisture from as well as killing bacteria or mold on the inner layer. The processes of manufacturing, initial sterilization, if needed, and maintenance of such gloves are very cumbersome and complicated.

It is the object of this invention, therefore, to provide a novel type of disposable moisture absorbent glove that function as glove itself and/or as a glove insert and function of which and the process by which they are manufactured will obviates the problems imposed by the existing models.

The more specific object of this invention is to provide a novel disposable moisture absorbent glove which function as glove itself and/or as a glove insert that to be manufactured using existing processes utilized in manufacturing of conventional absorbent disposable articles and the functionality of which will measurably improve absorption of significant amount of sweat and the like liquids as well as controllable distraction of bacteria and mold formed inside of the gloves. Furthermore, continue absorption of sweat and the like will improve sensitivity of hands and prevent skin ailments and bacterial contamination.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel design that enables the disposable moisture absorbent glove that function as a glove insert to be manufactured separately from the glove itself using existing processes utilized in manufacturing of conventional absorbent disposable articles.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel disposable moisture absorbent glove that function as a glove itself and/or as a glove inserts that is still simple and convenient in use.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent hereinafter from the specification and from the recital of the appended claims, particularly when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A disposable moisture absorbent glove arranged to be worn directly on a wearers hand and/or between the hand and any other type of glove to remove from the surface of the skin, collect, and retain sweat and the like produced by human hands.

The article basically comprises of any individual or combination of therewith elements: an outer shell, inner shell, and intermediate section. The outer shell is made of flexible material of the customary form of the glove. The inner shell is made of a fluid pervious cover stock of the customary form of the glove. The intermediate section is made of a fluid absorbent core of a form that is specific for the particular design of the glove. The intermediate section may optionally include a fluid transfer layer interposed between the cover-stock shell and the core. The cuff or hem portion of the article may optionally include fastener means to secure the article on the wearers hand.

After use, the article that contained sweat and the like is to be disposed-off to prevent skin ailments and bacterial contamination.

THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a disposable moisture absorbent conventional glove according to one embodiment of the present invention viewed from the top thereof;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section view, not to scale, of the glove.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a disposable moisture absorbent fingerless glove according to the other embodiment of the present invention

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a disposable moisture absorbent palm glove according to the yet other embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates the glove of FIG. 4 shown placed on a hand

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments herein described are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. They are chosen and described to explain the principles of the invention and its application and practical use.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows disposable moisture absorbent conventional glove article 1 constructed in accordance with one embodiment of this invention as viewed from the top. The article 1 of FIG. 1 is in the form of a conventional glove comprising a fingers portion 2, a middle portion 3, and a wrist portion 4. The wrist portion includes an optional fastening means 5 by which the article is held in place on the hand of a wearer.

In FIG. 2 there is shown an enlarged sectional view, not to scale, taken through the intermediate portion along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1. As can be seen therein the outer shell 6 in this illustrative embodiment is formed of a flexible material for instance such as single layer of a conventional non-woven spunbond-meltblown-spunbond (SMS) material sold under the trade designation polypropylene. The inner shell in this view is formed of moisture-pervious cover-stock layer 7. A conventional fluid absorbent core 8 is interposed between the cover-stock inner shell 7 and the outer flexible shell 6. The size of the core is less than that of the cover-stock shell and the flexible outer shell so that the longitudinally extending marginal sides 9 and 10 of the article 1 are extremely flexible and comfortable to the anatomy of the wearer. The core is of any suitable construction such as cellulosic fiber. Enhanced absorbency for the core can be accomplished by use of an air-laid super absorbent material, or by inclusion of absorbency enhancers.

Accordingly, in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2 an optional fluid acquisition or surge layer 11 (also sometime called a “transfer” layer) is placed between inner moisture-pervious shell 7 and the core. The acquisition layer can be of any suitable material such as woven, non-woven or carded fibrous material. The acquisition layer 11 serves to quickly absorb the liquid through the cover stock 7 for temporary retention (e.g. to act as a temporary reservoir), and to transfer that liquid into underlying core 8 at a rate at which the core can absorb for final or permanent retention. The fluid acquisition layer 11 is in forms and shapes that provide maximum absorbency and the same time placement of this layer shall provide maximum comfort and working ability to the wearer.

The FIG. 3 shows disposable moisture absorbent fingerless glove article 12 constructed in accordance with another embodiment of this invention as viewed from the top. The article 12 of FIG. 3 is in the form of a conventional fingerless glove comprising a middle portion 13, and a wrist portion 14. The wrist portion includes an optional fastening means 15 by which the article is held in place on the hand of a wearer. The fingerless glove has identical to the article 1 FIG. 1 cross section as shown on FIG. 2. The fingerless glove of the present invention is most suitable to use in work or games environments where fingers sensitivity played a critical role (e.g. medical filed, bio-field, arts, precision work environment, sports, etc . . . ).

The FIGS. 4 and 5 show disposable moisture absorbent palm glove article 16 constructed in accordance with yet another embodiment of this invention. The FIG. 4 shows article 16 as viewed from the top and FIG. 5 illustrates the use of the glove 16. The article 16 of FIG. 4 is in the form of a conventional palm glove comprising an elongated palm covering section 17, and a thumbhole 18 near one end and a pinkie-hole 19 near the other end. The both ends of the article 16 include fastening means 20 by which the article is held in place on the hand of a wearer. The palm glove has the cross section as shown on FIG. 2. In use, the wearer places thumb 21 through the thumbhole 18 and pinkie 22 through the pinkie-hole 19 with the both ends are firmly folded around hand 23. The palm glove of the present invention are most suitable to use in work or games where sensitivity of a large portion of the hand and fingers played a critical role and cushion of the palm along with partial removal of sweat and the like produced by the palm of the human hand inside of the working glove are required.

As should be appreciated by those skilled in the art from the foregoing the absorbent articles of this invention are simple in construction, effective and are comfortable to wear. Moreover, they can be manufactured economically, due to their simple construction and cohesion to the existing manufacturing processes currently used by manufacturers of absorbent disposable articles.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17-24. (canceled)

25. A disposable moisture absorbent glove insert is made of moisture pervious material in the form of a fingers glove arranged to be worn directly on a wearer's hand between the hand and any other type of glove to remove from the surface of the skin sweat and the like produced by human hands and be disposed off thereafter.

26. A disposable absorbent glove insert as defined of claim 25, wherein said glove is made in the form of a fingerless glove.

27. A disposable absorbent glove insert as defined of claim 25, wherein said glove is made in the form of a palm glove.

28. A disposable absorbent glove insert as defined of claim 25 wherein said glove insert comprises of any individual or combination of therewith elements: an outer shell that is made of non-woven flexible material, an inner shell that is made of fluid pervious cover-stock, and an absorbent core interposed therebetween.

29. A disposable absorbent glove as defined of claim 28 additionally comprising a fluid-acquisition layer interposed between said core and cover-stock inner layer.

30. A disposable absorbent glove as defined of claim 25 additionally comprising fastening means for securing said disposable absorbent glove on a wearer's hand.