Glove for Bathing or Showering a Baby

Abstract

The present invention is a wash glove consisting of an elongated cylindrical tube of elastic terry cloth material, with opposite first and second openings formed on the tube. A thumb aperture is formed on the tube between the first and second openings, said thumb aperture dimensioned to permit the user's thumb to pass there through when the glove is worn. The tube has a diameter which is dimensioned to permit the wearer's hand to be inserted into the tube from the first opening and through the second opening. The terry cloth material is sufficiently elastic and the diameter of the tube is sufficiently narrow that the tube resiliently clings and conforms to the user's hand when the hand is inserted into the tube. The length of the tube between the first and second openings is selected such that when the glove is worn on the user's hand, the second opening of the tube is positioned adjacent the user's fingers and the first opening of the tube is positioned adjacent the user's wrist. The length of the tube is further selected to ensure that a portion of the fingers distal to the proximal interphalangeal joints remain substantially uncovered by the tube.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/007,429 filed Dec. 13, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to wash gloves for washing a baby.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Washing a baby can be a difficult task. When being bathed, some babies have a tendency to squirm and wiggle due to anxiety or as they play in the tub. Due to the fact that the baby is wet and soapy, it can become difficult to maintain a secure hold on the baby while bathing. The task is all the more difficult because the parent bathing the child usually has to maintain a hold on the child with one hand while using a wash cloth with the other.

Some attempts at providing a wash mitten have been attempted, but these mittens tend to be large and bulky and actually decrease the dexterity of the wearer's hand, which is disadvantageous when attempting to bath a baby. What is required is a glove like apparatus which permits the user to maintain a firm but gentle grip on the baby while facilitating the application of lather, soap and water to the baby.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a glove which is designed to facilitate the task of bathing a baby by improving the care-giver's grip on the baby while providing a means for applying soapy lather to the baby's body. The design of the glove allows the user to easily and quickly apply and remove the glove from the hand and also permits the care-giver's fingers and thumb to remain unobstructed and free. In particular, the glove includes an elongated cylindrical tube of elastic terry cloth material, with opposite first and second openings formed on the tube. A thumb aperture is formed on the tube between the first and second openings, said thumb aperture dimensioned to permit the user's thumb to pass there through when the glove is worn. The tube has a diameter which is dimensioned to permit the wearer's hand to be inserted into the tube from the first opening and through the second opening. The terry cloth material is sufficiently elastic and the diameter of the tube is sufficiently narrow that the tube resiliently clings and conforms to the user's hand when the hand is inserted into the tube. The length of the tube between the first and second openings is selected such that when the glove is worn on the user's hand, the second opening of the tube is positioned adjacent the user's fingers and the first opening of the tube is positioned adjacent the user's wrist. The length of the tube is further selected to ensure that a portion of the fingers distal to the proximal interphalangeal joints remain substantially uncovered.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a wash glove for wearing on a user's hand which permits freedom of the user's thumb, fingers and wrist. The glove consists of an elongated hose of elastic terry cloth material having opposite first and second ends which has been turned partially inside out with the first and second ends being sewn together to form a double layered elastic terry cloth tube. The elastic terry cloth tube has opposite first and second openings and a thumb aperture between the first and second openings, the thumb aperture dimensioned to permit the user's thumb to pass there through when the glove is worn. The double layered elastic terry cloth tube has a diameter selected to permit the glove to be worn by inserting the hand into the tube from the first opening and through the second opening. The elasticity of the terry cloth material and the diameter of the double layered elastic terry cloth tube are selected to permit the double layered elastic terry cloth tube to resiliently cling and conform to the user's hand when the glove is worn. The double layered elastic terry cloth tube having a length between the first and second openings dimensioned such that when the glove is worn the second opening is positioned adjacent the user's fingers and the first opening is positioned adjacent the user's wrist, the length of the double layered elastic terry cloth tube being further dimensioned to ensure that the second opening extends to a point on the fingers between about the metacarpophalangeal joints to about the proximal interphalangeal joints.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a wash glove as described in the above paragraph wherein the thumb aperture is positioned towards the second opening at a point on the tube approximately 40% of the length of the tube.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a wash glove as described in the above paragraph wherein the elongated cylindrical tube of elastic terry cloth material is formed as a symmetrically cylindrical tube.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a wash glove as described in the above paragraph wherein the thumb aperture has a lip and wherein the entirety of said lip is reinforced with nylon whip stitching.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a wash glove as described in the above paragraph wherein the elastic terry cloth tube has an inside and outside surface and wherein both of said surfaces are covered with terry cloth loops.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a wash glove as described in the above paragraph wherein the two ends of the elongated hose of elastic terry cloth material are stitched together by a seam, the seam being positioned between the first and second openings of the double layered elastic terry cloth tube.

With the foregoing in view, and other advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, the invention is herein described by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, which includes a description of the preferred typical embodiment of the principles of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. is a perspective view of a wash glove made in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the wash glove shown in FIG. 1 above being worn on a user's hand.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the wash glove shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the elastic terry cloth hose used to make the wash glove of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the elastic terry cloth hose shown in FIG. 4 transformed into an elastic terry cloth tube used in constructing the wash glove made in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the elastic terry cloth tube shown in FIG. 5 being formed with a thumb aperture.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the elastic terry cloth tube shown in FIG. 6 being finished by nylon whip stitching along the thumb aperture.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring firstly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a wash glove made in accordance with the present invention is shown generally as item 10 and includes a tube 12 made of a double layer of elastic terry cloth material. The elastic terry cloth material from which glove 10 is formed must be highly stretchy in all directions and sufficiently strong that it can be stretched without ripping or tearing. The elastic terry cloth material must also be highly resilient such that when stretched it is biased to return to its original dimensions. Preferably, the elastic terry cloth material is made from a nylon fabric base (or Lycra™) over which cotton terry cloth is woven. Suitable blends of nylon, Lycra and cotton terry cloth suitable for use in manufacturing glove 10 are readily available in the marketplace.

Tube 12 has opposite ends 14 and 16 having openings 15 and 17, respectively. Thumb aperture 18 is formed on tube 12 between openings 15 and 17. Thumb aperture 18 is dimensioned to receive thumb 32 of wearer's hand 28. Terry cloth tube 12 has outside surface 25 and inside surface 27 covered with terry cloth loops, permitting the glove to be reversible.

The diameter of tube 12 is selected to ensure that the user can insert hand 28 into the tube by passing the hand through opening 17 then through opening 15 sufficiently to then insert thumb 32 through thumb aperture 18. The diameter of tube 12 is sufficiently wide that the hand can be inserted into the tube without too much difficulty, yet it should also be sufficiently narrow that the tube stretches around the hand as it is inserted. The resilience and “stretchiness” (i.e the ability of the material to stretch resiliently without breaking) of the elastic terry cloth material is selected to ensure that the tube resiliently clings to the user's hand when the glove is worn as illustrated in FIG. 2.

For the purposes of this application, a distinction is made between the thumb 32 and fingers 1, 2, 3 and 4 which are collectively referred to as fingers and illustrated collectively as item 34. The length of tube 12 between opening 15 and 17, and the position of aperture 18, are selected such that when the glove is worn as illustrated in FIG. 2, end 14 is adjacent fingers 34 and end 16 is adjacent wrist 30, but portion 35 of the fingers distal to the proximal interphalangeal joints (illustrated by dotted line 37) remain substantially un-covered by the terry cloth tube. This permits the fingers and thumb to be free and unencumbered while the palm of the hand (item 36) remains covered by the terry cloth tube. Preferably, the length of tube 12 between openings 15 and 17 are selected such that end 14 is positioned between just proximal to the metacarpophalangeal joints (illustrated by dotted line 39) of the fingers to the proximal interphalangeal joints. This permits a portion of the glove to cover the portion of the fingers adjacent the metacarpophalangeal joints to aid in gripping the child and washing while at the same time permitting the fingers freedom of movement.

Thumb aperture 18 has lip 24. To ensure that lip 24 does not unravel, and to ensure that lip 24 remains resiliently stretchable, the lip is reinforced with nylon whip stitching 26. It has been discovered that nylon whip stitching is the most practical and cost effective method of preventing lip 24 from unraveling while maintaining the resilient stretch characteristics of the lip.

Referring now to FIG. 3, tube 12 has a length 42 and has two portions, namely portion 22 adjacent end 16 and portion 20 adjacent end 14. Aperture 18 is positioned on tube 12 such that it is closer to end 14 than end 16. Preferably, aperture 18 is positioned at a point 19 approximately 40% of length 42 from end 14 such that distance 38 is 40% of length 42. Preferably, length 42 is approximately 5 inches or so (unstretched). With aperture 18 positioned at point 19, glove 10 can be worn by people having either large or small hands. If the wearer has larger hands, then the hand can be inserted through end 16 to ensure that the wearer's fingers are not covered (see FIG. 2). If the wearer has smaller hands, then the hand can be worn by inserting the hand through end 14. Also, tube 12 is preferably symmetrically cylindrical enabling the glove to be worn on either the left or right hand.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 through 7, the glove is made from a length of stretchy terry cloth hose 2 having opposite ends 3 and 4. Hose 2 is partly turned inside out as indicated by arrows A so that ends 4 and 3 are brought together and sewn together to form a seam 5. The resulting double layered terry cloth tube 12 is then moved so that seam 5 is positioned between openings 15 and 17. Aperture 18 is then formed and lip 24 of the aperture is reinforced with nylon whip stitching 26. Elastic terry cloth hose 2 is made of a stretchy and resilient terry cloth material. Suitable materials are readily available in the marketplace, but they are generally provided with only one side with terry cloth loops. To create the present invention, the hose must be partly inverted such that the terry cloth surfaces are exposed before the ends are sewn together. This enables the inexpensive manufacture of glove 10 using available material and manufacturing equipment.

The present invention has several advantages over traditional wash mitts or wash cloths. Firstly, since the fingers of the user are exposed by the glove, the bather is able to test the bath water to ensure it is at the correct temperature simply by dipping an exposed finger into the bath. The lack of digit covers and mounting straps makes the glove easy to put on and take off. Also, the resilient nature of the material the glove is made of makes it possible to manufacture a single glove which is able to stretch to accommodate a variety of different hand sizes thereby perming one sized glove to fit all wearers.

A specific embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed; however, several variations of the disclosed embodiment could be envisioned as within the scope of this invention. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A wash glove for wearing on a user's hand which permits freedom of the user's thumb, wrist and fingers, said glove comprising:

an elongated cylindrical tube of elastic terry cloth material, said tube having opposite first and second openings;

a thumb aperture formed on the tube between the first and second openings, said thumb aperture dimensioned to permit the user's thumb to pass there through when the glove is worn;

said tube having a diameter dimensioned to permit the hand to be inserted into the tube from the first opening and through the second opening, the elasticity of the terry cloth material and the diameter of the tube being selected to permit the tube to resiliently cling and conform to the user's hand when the hand is inserted into the tube;

the tube having a length between the first and second openings dimensioned such that when the glove is worn the second opening of the tube is positioned adjacent the user's fingers and the first opening of the tube is positioned adjacent the user's wrist, the length of the tube being further dimensioned to ensure that a portion of the fingers distal to the proximal interphalangeal joints remain substantially uncovered.

2. The wash glove of claim 1 wherein the thumb aperture is positioned towards one of the openings at a point approximately 40% of the length of the tube.

3. The wash glove of claim 1 wherein the thumb aperture has a lip, the entirety of said lip being reinforced with a nylon whip stitch.

4. The wash glove of claim 1 wherein the tube has inside and outside surfaces and wherein the tube is made of two layers of elastic terry cloth such that both the inside and outside surfaces are covered with terry cloth loops.

5. The wash glove of claim 4 wherein the two layers of terry cloth are secured together by a seam, said seam being positioned transversely across the tube between the first and second openings.

6. The wash glove of claim 5 wherein the thumb aperture has a lip, the entirety of said lip being reinforced with a nylon whip stitch.

7. The wash glove of claim 6 wherein the thumb aperture is positioned towards one of the openings at a point approximately 40% of the length of the tube.

8. A wash glove for wearing on a user's hand which permits freedom of the user's thumb, fingers and wrist, said glove comprising:

an elongated hose of elastic terry cloth material having opposite first and second ends which has been turned partially inside out with the first and second ends being sewn together to form a double layered elastic terry cloth tube having opposite first and second openings;

a thumb aperture formed on the double layered elastic terry cloth tube between the first and second openings, said thumb aperture dimensioned to permit the user's thumb to pass there through when the glove is worn;

said double layered elastic terry cloth tube having a diameter dimensioned to permit the glove to be worn by inserting the hand into the double layered elastic terry cloth tube from the first opening and through the second opening, the elasticity of the elastic terry cloth material and the diameter of the double layered elastic terry cloth tube being selected to permit the double layered elastic terry cloth tube to resiliently cling and conform to the user's hand when the glove is worn;

the double layered elastic terry cloth tube having a length between the first and second openings dimensioned such that when the glove is worn the second opening is positioned adjacent the user's fingers and the first opening is positioned adjacent the user's wrist, the length of the double layered elastic terry cloth tube being further dimensioned to ensure that the second opening extends to a point on the fingers between about the metacarpophalangeal joints to about the proximal interphalangeal joints.

9. The wash glove of claim 8 wherein the two ends of the elastic terry cloth hose are sewn together to form a seam, said seam being positioned transversely across the double layered elastic terry cloth tube between the first and second openings.

10. The wash glove of claim 8 wherein the thumb aperture has a lip, the entirety of said lip being reinforced with a nylon whip stitch.

11. The wash glove of claim 8 wherein the thumb aperture is positioned towards one of the openings at a point approximately 40% of the length of the tube.

12. The wash glove of claim 9 wherein the thumb aperture has a lip, the entirety of said lip being reinforced with a nylon whip stitch.

13. The wash glove of claim 12 wherein the thumb aperture is positioned towards the second opening at a point approximately 40% of the length of the tube.

14. The wash glove of claim 1 wherein the elongated cylindrical tube of elastic terry cloth material is formed as a symmetrically cylindrical tube.

15. The wash glove of claim 8 wherein the elongated cylindrical tube of elastic terry cloth material is formed as a symmetrically cylindrical tube.

16. The glove of claim 1 wherein the length of the double layered elastic terry cloth tube is further dimensioned to ensure that the first opening extends to a point on the fingers between about the metacarpophalangeal joints to about the proximal interphalangeal joints