GLOVE STORAGE UNIT

Abstract

An apparatus for storing gloves includes a storage arm that has a first surface and a second surface that extends substantially parallel to the first surface. At least one notch is formed in the storage arm and extends from the first surface towards the second surface for defining a plurality of projections. At least one of the notch and the projection being capable of receiving a mouth of a glove.

Description

PRIORITY

The present invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/186,020, filed Jun. 11, 2009, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to storage and, in particular, relates to a storage unit for drying gloves.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Gloves are used in all manner of personal, commercial, and industrial settings. In industrial settings, gloves are frequently exposed to a plethora of fluids, such as chemicals, foodstuffs, etc. In particular, in food processing plants and also in kitchen environments, cut resistant gloves are used to handle and process food, e.g., vegetables, fish, meat, chicken, fruit etc., and/or animal carcasses. Due to the plant environment and nature of the work, the gloves become wet or require washing. Gloves that remain wet for extended periods of time can deteriorate when not properly stored in a proper environment. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a device which facilitates glove drying in order to increase the gloves' useful life.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention an apparatus for storing gloves that includes a storage arm that has a first surface and a second surface that extends substantially parallel to the first surface. At least one notch is formed in the storage arm and extends from the first surface towards the second surface for defining a plurality of projections. At least one of the notch and the projection being capable of receiving a mouth of a glove.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention an apparatus for storing gloves that includes a base, a connecting arm that extends from the base, and a storage arm that extends from the connecting arm to define a substantially U-shaped apparatus. The storage arm has a first surface and a second surface that extends substantially parallel to the first surface. A plurality of notches is formed in the storage arm and extends from the first surface towards the second surface for defining a plurality of projections. Each projection is capable of receiving a mouth of a glove. The base, the connecting arm, and the storage arm define an interior space capable of receiving fingers of the gloves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a glove storage unit in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the glove storage unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the glove storage unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of the glove storage unit in use;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the glove storage unit of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of the glove storage unit of FIG. 1 in an alternative use;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the glove storage unit of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of a glove storage unit in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to storage and, in particular, relates to a storage unit for drying gloves. FIGS. 1-2 illustrate a glove storage unit 10 in accordance with the present invention. The storage unit 10 includes a base 12, a support arm 30 that extends from the base, and a storage arm 50 that extends from the support arm. Together, the base 12, the support arm 30, and the storage arm 50 form a generally L-shaped or U-shaped glove storage unit 10. The base 12, the support arm 30, and the storage arm 50 may be constructed as a single piece, e.g., injection molded, or may be separate pieces fastened together via fasteners, Velcro®, adhesive, solvent, welding or the like. The base 12, the support arm 30, and the storage arm 50 may be made of any suitable material such as metals, plastics or combinations thereof.

The base 12 includes a front surface 14 and a rear surface 16 that extends substantially parallel to the front surface. A first side wall 18 and a second side wall 20 that extends substantially parallel to the first side wall interconnect the front surface 14 and the rear surface 16. The base 12 further includes at least one mounting hole 22 for helping to secure the base to a wall or post (not shown) via fasteners or the like. Each mounting hole 22 extends from the front surface 14 of the base 12 to the rear surface 16. Although the base 12 is illustrated as being rectangular, those having ordinary skill will appreciate that the base may have another shape, such as square, triangular, circular, elliptical, etc.

The support arm 30 extends from the base 12 and includes a top surface 32 and a bottom surface 34 that extends substantially parallel to the top surface. A first side wall 36 and a second side wall 38 that extends substantially parallel to the first side wall interconnects the top surface 32 and the bottom surface 34. Although the support arm 30 is illustrated as extending substantially perpendicular to the base 12, those having ordinary skill will appreciate that the support arm could likewise extend at an acute angle or an obtuse angle relative to the base.

The storage arm 50 extends from the support arm 30 and stores gloves in order to help dry the gloves. As clearly seen in FIGS. 1-2, the support arm 50 may have a smaller profile than the base 12 such that a portion of the front surface 14 of the base is visible when the glove storage unit 10 is viewed in a direction facing the front surface of the base. The visible portion of the front surface 14 of the base 12 may bear indicia, e.g., company logo or name, instructions, indicators, etc., that are visible by the users of the glove storage unit 10.

The storage arm 50 includes a front surface 52 and a rear surface 54 that extends substantially parallel to the front surface. A first side wall 56 and a second side wall 58 that extends substantially parallel to the first side wall interconnects the front surface 52 and the rear surface 54. The storage arm 50 further includes a discontinuous top surface 58, i.e., a plurality of discrete top surface portions, and a bottom surface 60 that extends substantially parallel to the top surface. The top surface 58 may be flat, rounded, beveled, knurled, stepped, etc. Although the storage arm 50 is illustrated as extending substantially perpendicular to the support arm 30, those having ordinary skill will appreciate that the storage arm may likewise extend at an acute angle or an obtuse angle relative to the support arm. Together, the base 12, the support arm 30, and the storage arm 50 define an interior space 65 having a width indicated at W (FIG. 2). The width W may be constant along the length of the support arm 50 or the width may vary along the length of the support arm. The width W may be sized to accommodate gloves having various sizes.

At least one notch 70 is formed in the support arm 50. Although five notches 70 are shown in FIG. 1, more or fewer notches may be provided in the support arm 50 in accordance with the present invention. The notches 70 extend from the top surface 58 of the support arm 50 towards the bottom surface 60 and terminate prior to the bottom surface. The notches 70 may exhibit a shape that is wider nearer the top surface 58 of the support arm 50 and narrower nearer the bottom surface 60, e.g., triangular or trapezoidal. Alternatively, the notches 70 may have a uniform width, e.g., square or rectangular. The notches 70 may have the same shape or may have different shapes.

As shown in FIG. 3, the notches 70 all have a triangular configuration. Each notch 70 extends from the top surface 58 of the support arm 50 towards the bottom surface 60 and terminates prior to the bottom surface at a point 72 having a depth, indicated at D, relative to the top surface. The depth D may be configured to place the termination point 72 of the notches 70 equidistant from the top surface 58 and the bottom surface 60, closer to the top surface or closer to the bottom surface. The depth D of each notch 70 may be uniform or the depth may vary between notches. Each triangular notch 70 is also defined by an angulation, indicated by Φ, which may be uniform or may vary between notches. The angulation Φ may constitute an acute angle, although orthogonal and obtuse angles may also be used.

Together, the notches 70 define a plurality of projections 80 on the support arm 50 that have a triangular, truncated triangular or trapezoidal configuration. Each of the projections 80 has a thickness, indicated by t, defined as the distance between the front surface 52 of the support arm 50 and the rear surface 54. The thickness t of the projection 80 may be greater than, less than or the same size as the thickness t of the remainder of the support arm 50. For example, the thickness of each projection 80 may decrease, i.e., taper, from the termination point 72 to the top surface 58 of the support arm 50. Each projection 80 further has a length, indicated by L, defined as the distance between the termination points 72 of consecutive notches 70. For projections that have a truncated triangular or trapezoidal shape, the length L of the projection will decrease from the termination points 72 of the notches 70 towards the top surface 58 of the support arm 50. The thickness t and/or the length L of each projection 80 may be uniform between projections or the thickness and/or length may vary between projections.

As shown in FIGS. 4-7, the notches 70, the projections 80, and the interior space 65 are sized to accommodate at least one glove, illustrated by phantom line 100. In one manner of use, a mouth 102 of each glove 100 is placed over one of the projections 80 and between adjacent notches 70 and moved in the manner indicated by arrow A in a direction towards the termination points 72 of the notches. In the case of a glove 100 placed over the projection 80 nearest the first side wall 56 or the second side wall 58 of the support arm 50, the mouth 102 of the glove will only enter a single notch 70. When the mouth 102 of each glove 100 is placed over the projections 80, the fingers 104 of each glove are accommodated in the interior space 65 between the base 12 and the support arm 50.

By sliding the mouth 102 of the glove 100 over the projection 80, the projection maintains the mouth of the glove in an open condition. In particular, the projection 80 holds the mouth 102 of the glove 100 open to allow air—ambient or forced—to circulate through the mouth and the interior (not shown) of the glove in order to facilitate drying of the glove. The angulation Φ and depth D of the notches 70, as well as the length L of the projections 80, may be configured to provide desired opening parameters of the glove 100 and, thus, provide desired glove drying characteristics.

Furthermore, the surfaces of the support arm 50 that contact the gloves 100, e.g., the side walls 56 and 58, the front and rear surfaces 52 and 54, the top surface 58, and the surfaces therebetween that define the notches 70, may be configured to ensure that the gloves are maintained on the projections 80 and/or that the gloves are not damaged while being inserted over the projections. For example, the aforementioned surfaces of the support arm 50 may be mechanically or chemically treated to enhance adhesion between the projections 80 and the gloves 100. Furthermore, the surfaces of the support arm 50 may be rounded or chamfered to help prevent the gloves 100 from tearing on the projections 80.

FIGS. 6-7 illustrate the glove storage unit 10 in which the gloves 100 are stored in an alternative manner. In contrast to FIG. 5, the mouth 102 of each glove in FIGS. 6-7 is wedged or otherwise placed within a single notch 70 to store the gloves between adjacent projections 80. When the mouth 102 of each glove 100 is placed within the notch 70, the fingers 104 of each glove extend away from the interior space 65. Alternatively, the fingers 104 of each glove may be accommodated in the interior space 65 (not shown). The notches 70 may be sized such that the mouths 102 of more than one glove 100 can be accommodated within a single notch between adjacent projections 80. In this configuration, the surfaces of the support arm 50 that define the notches 70 may be mechanically or chemically treated to enhance adhesion between the gloves 100 and those surfaces.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 8, the base 12 and the support arm 30 may be omitted such that the glove storage unit 10′ includes only the storage arm 50. In this configuration, the storage arm 50 including one or more notches 70 may rest upon or be secured to a table top, work bench, etc. instead of being fastened to a wall via a base. In such a configuration, the mouths 102 of the gloves 100 may extend over the projections 80 or may be wedged within the notches 70 similar to the configurations shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, respectively. The thickness t of the projections 80 may be tapered or increased closer to the bottom surface 60 of the support arm 50 to provide a more stable footprint for the support arm on the table top. The support arm 50 may, for example, exhibit a T-shaped construction (not shown) to provide an increased surface area for the projections 80 on the table top.

From the above description of the invention, those skilled in the art will perceive improvements, changes and modifications. Such improvements, changes and modifications within the skill of the art are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for storing gloves comprising:

a storage arm having a first surface and a second surface extending substantially parallel to the first surface, at least one notch being formed in the storage arm and extending from the first surface towards the second surface for defining a plurality of projections, at least one of the notch and the projection being capable of receiving a mouth of a glove.

2. The glove storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one notch has a uniform width.

3. The glove storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one notch has a tapered width.

4. The glove storage apparatus of claim 1 further including a base and a support arm connecting the base and the storage arm.

5. The glove storage apparatus of claim 4, wherein the base, the support arm, and the storage arm define an interior space capable of receiving fingers of the gloves.

6. The glove storage apparatus of claim 5, wherein the width of the interior space varies to accommodate gloves of different sizes.

7. The glove storage apparatus of claim 4, wherein the base includes a plurality of mounting holes for mounting the glove station.

8. The glove storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one notch has an angulation.

9. The glove storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one notch defines trapezoidal projections.

10. The glove storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one notch comprises a plurality of notches having the same depth.

11. The glove storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one notch comprises a plurality of notches having different depths.

12. The glove storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one notch comprises a plurality of notches having different shapes.

13. The glove storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the projections have a thickness that decreases in a direction extending from the second surface towards the first surface.

14. The glove storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support arm is mechanically or chemically treated to enhance adhesion between the projections and the gloves.

15. An apparatus for storing gloves comprising:

a base;

a connecting arm extending from the base; and

a storage arm extending from the connecting arm to define a substantially U-shaped apparatus, the storage arm having a first surface and a second surface extending substantially parallel to the first surface, a plurality of notches being formed in the storage arm and extending from the first surface towards the second surface for defining a plurality of projections, each projection being capable of receiving a mouth of a glove, wherein the base, the connecting arm, and the storage arm define an interior space capable of receiving fingers of the gloves.

16. The glove storage apparatus of claim 14, wherein the plurality of notches have a uniform width.

17. The glove storage apparatus of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of notches has a tapered width.

18. The glove storage apparatus of claim 14, wherein the plurality of notches have different depths.

19. The glove storage apparatus of claim 14, wherein the plurality of notches have different shapes.

20. The glove storage apparatus of claim 14, wherein the projections have a thickness that decreases in a direction extending from the second surface towards the first surface.