Slip-resistant medical grip glove

Abstract

Disclosed is an improved medical or surgical glove. The glove may be constructed from any of a selection of resiliently flexible materials. The glove is of the type having four finger enclosures and four fingertips, a thumb enclosure and thumbtip, a hand portion with a palm surface and a backhand surface, and a wrist portion having an opening through which a user's hand is inserted. The disclosed glove features a variety of patterns of raised and/or textured sections on the exterior surface of the glove to provide enhanced gripping capability to a wearer. The medical or surgical glove may also be sterilized and may be color-coded to identify the specific material of which a glove is fabricated.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/273,828 filed on Aug. 10, 2009, and said provisional application is incorporated herein by reference.

FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

There is no federally sponsored research or development in connection with this inventive concept.

NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

There is no joint research agreement applicable to this inventive concept.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The present invention, among other uses and applications, primarily relates to an improved medical or surgical glove of the type utilized by medical professionals.

(2) Description of the Prior Art

A wide and all-encompassing variety of gloves with enhanced exterior gripping surfaces have been designed and used over the past century. The following information describes patents and/or publications which are related to the Applicant's inventive concept.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,038,787 (1977) discloses a glove having a flexible body with a plurality of discrete abrading units disposed on the glove to permit free flexing of the finger stalls, the thumb and palm. The abrading units comprise a plurality of hard and sharp particles such as silicon carbide dispersed in an adhesive. The abrading units are fixedly connected to the glove surface by a waterproof adhesive.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,218,778 (1980) designed a highly stretchable surgical glove which discloses an oval structure from front-to-back at the mid joint area of the wearer's fingers, and a side-to-side ovaling of the glove portion near the mid point of the wearer's fingernail. Thereby it is claimed that the glove has added flexibility and tactile sensitivity at the tip section of the glove's fingers.

The inventor of U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,444 shows an improved surgical glove that contains a smooth latex skin coated onto the front surface of the glove so that surgical tape will not stick thereto. A textured contoured flap is pivotably secured to tips of the finger portions of the glove while another textured contoured flap is pivotably secured to the tip of the thumb portion of the glove so that the wearer can increase their grip to hold various items.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,640,341 discloses single and two-sided hand and finger thimbles constructed to mount over the fingertips to provide non-slip gripping surfaces and improved protection at the fingertips and palm. Several thimbles include surfaces that contain impenetrable shields, elastomer pads, or raised patterns of a coated elastomer.

US patent application publication 2008/0235850 features a “hand covering” comprising a gripping region of mesh material having a first permeability and a first coefficient of friction. Regions of the hand covered by other than the gripping region are covered by a different material having a second coefficient of friction lower than the first and a second permeability lower than the first permeability.

US publication 2010/0011484 discloses knit fabric gloves having grip/protective members, and also describes a process of manufacturing same. One embodiment comprises depositing an adhesive onto a backside of a sheet of grip/protective material, and fusing the adhesive to the backside of the sheet of grip/protective material using a heat/pressure procedure.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, among other uses and applications, relates to an improved medical or surgical glove which features a variety of means of placing enhanced gripping textures and surfaces on the exterior of the glove. These textures and surfaces may be placed in a variety of locations upon the exterior surface of the glove. The reader is advised that, for the sake of convenience and clarity, the descriptions and operation of the inventive concept is frequently referred to in terms of a “glove” for medical and/or dental purposes. However, the inventive concept is also suitable for non-medical purposes, particularly where it is necessary to securely grip objects common to a specific trade or occupation. Therefore, the descriptions rendered herein are not considered to be restrictive or limiting of the operation of the glove as described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A more thorough understanding of the present inventive concept and its design features system may be had by reference to the drawings herein, of which a brief summation of each drawing follows:

FIG. 1 is a view of the glove with a wave pattern on the glove inner fingertips and thumbtip.

FIG. 2 shows a glove with a pattern of raised bubble tips on the inner fingertips and the thumbtip.

FIG. 3 illustrates a glove with a cross-sectional stripe pattern covering the inner finger enclosures, the thumb and the palm.

FIG. 4 shows a medical glove with a grip pattern consisting of a bulls-eye palm pattern, with textured lines extending outwardly onto the finger and thumb enclosures.

FIG. 5 presents a glove with a grip pattern of raised cross-stitching on each fingertip and the thumbtip, further continuing along an inseam of the thumb enclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates a glove with a concentrically-expanding swirl pattern, emanating from the palm of the glove having with rings covering portions of the finger and thumb enclosures.

FIG. 7 presents a glove with a pattern of parallel, symmetrically-spaced lateral line raised segments placed on the palm, finger enclosures, and thumb enclosure.

FIG. 8 depicts a zig-zag stitch pattern of grip surfaces oriented along the length of the finger and thumb enclosures, including one zigzag stitch pattern on the palm of the glove.

NUMERICAL INDEX TO NOMENCLATURE OF THE INVENTION

• 1. Glove
• 2. Finger enclosure (4)
• 3. Thumb enclosure
• 4. Palm
• 5. Fingertip (4)
• 6. Thumbtip
• 7. Inner fingertip
• 8. Wrist portion
• 9. Removal tab
• 10. Wave pattern
• 11. Bubble tips pattern
• 12. Cross-sectional stripe pattern
• 13. Bulls-eye palm pattern
• 14. Cross-stitches pattern
• 15. Swirl pattern
• 16. Lateral line pattern
• 17. Zigzag stitch pattern

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For the sake of convenience and quick reference, the medical or surgical glove 1 disclosed in the inventive concept herein will be referred to as the “glove.” The purpose of the glove 1 is to provide a variety of gloves with a plurality of raised and/or textured sections on the exterior surface of the glove 1. The raised and/or textured sections are intended to enhance the grip of medical and dental professionals or other persons needing such sure-handedness when wearing the glove 1. In the process of fabricating the gloves 1 disclosed herein, the enhanced gripping sections may be manufactured by either placing and additional thickness of the material in the enhanced gripping sections, or by raising the gripping sections minimally above the generally smooth surface of the surrounding area of the glove 1 material. For illustrative purposes, the embodiments in this document are all shown as right-handed gloves, however the gloves are fabricated in pairs in order to provide the same grip enhancements for either a user's right hand or left hand.

In the medical or dental professions, most surgical gloves are made of latex, nitrile, or vinyl in order to assist in maintaining a barrier of protection between the patient and the professional. Nitrile and vinyl gloves are used by persons or, in situations where the patient may have an allergy to latex. All gloves disclosed in this document are made of materials which meet health protection and OSHA (United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration) guidelines for suitable materials used in a sterile environment.

The gloves 1 disclosed herein are for one-time use, and are fabricated so as to provide resistance to tears and punctures. Latex gloves are made of natural rubber, and are normally the preferred embodiment for this inventive concept. Nitrile gloves are made of synthetic latex and contain no latex proteins, of which some persons are allergic to. Vinyl is a leather substitute, primarily formulated with chlorine and ethylene, a type of plastic. Vinyl gloves are used as a latex-free substitute and are better suited to withstand chemicals and other matter encountered in industrial environments.

As we first refer to FIG. 1, there is shown a view of the medical glove 1 with a wave pattern 10 on the glove 1 inner fingertips 7 and the thumbtip 6. The enhanced grip pattern and locations on this glove 1 are intended to provide the greatest effectiveness for those persons who require a sure grip at their fingertips, particularly surgeons and dental professionals.

FIG. 2 presents a glove 1 with a pattern of raised bubble tips on the inner fingertips 7 and the thumbtip 6. The enhanced grip pattern and locations on this glove 1 are intended to provide a reliable and sturdy grip at the user's fingertips, particularly where the working environment involves contact with body fluids or other liquids.

The illustration of the glove 1 in FIG. 3 shows a glove 1 with a cross-sectional stripe 12 pattern encompassing the entirety of the inner surface of the glove 1, including the fingertips 5, the finger enclosures 2, thumb enclosure 3, the palm 4, and the wrist 8 portion. This glove 1 is especially designed for those users who frequently require whole-handed gripping maneuvers in their profession. The illustrated glove 1 also includes a removal tab 9 to facilitate peeling the glove 1 off the user's hand when finished with their task.

In FIG. 4 is observed a glove 1 with a grip pattern consisting of a bulls-eye palm pattern 13, with five spokes of raised, textured material extending from the outermost circles of the bulls-eye 13 along the lengths of the finger enclosures 2, and the thumb enclosure 3.

FIG. 5 presents minimally-sized cross-stitch patterns 14 forming enhanced grip areas on the each fingertips 5 and the thumbtip 6 of a glove 1, further continuing along an inseam of the thumb enclosure 3 and continuing on the intersection of the thumb enclosure 3 and the wrist 8 portion of the glove 1.

Viewing the glove 1 shown in FIG. 6, there is illustrated a glove 1 with a raised gripping surface in the form of a concentrically-expanding swirl pattern 15, emanating from the palm 4 of the glove 1 and further, having arcs of the raised, textured material covering portions of the finger enclosures 2 and the thumb enclosure 3. The glove 1 shown is useful for all-around grip security, giving extensive enhanced gripping capability throughout a substantial of the useful surface of the glove 1.

FIG. 7 shows a glove 1 with a grouping of parallel, symmetrically-spaced lateral line patterns 16 of raised and/or textured segments placed on the palm 4, finger enclosures 2, and thumb enclosure. The glove 1 in FIG. 7 further includes a removal tab 9 to facilitate peeling the glove 1 off the user's hand when finished with their task.

FIG. 8 depicts a zigzag stitch pattern 17 of raised grip surfaces oriented along the length of each finger enclosure 2 and the thumb enclosure 3, and further including one raised zigzag stitch pattern 17 placed onto the palm 4 of the glove 1.

It is recognized that one knowledgeable in this field of endeavor, and skilled in the art, has the capability to design or produce similar, or other embodiments of this inventive concept. However all such variations, alterations, or modifications are entirely conceivable as being within the intent and scope of the present inventive concept.

Claims

1. An improved medical or surgical glove being fabricated from any of a selection of resiliently flexible materials of varying thicknesses, and said glove of the type having four finger enclosures including four fingertip portions, a thumb enclosure including a thumbtip portion, a hand portion having a palm surface and a backhand surface, and a wrist portion having a proximal end joining the hand portion and having a distal end comprising an expandable opening through which the hand of a person may be inserted, wherein the improvement comprises:

(a) a pattern of raised, textured material of the same type material as the glove, fabricated at particular locations on the exterior surface of said glove; and

(b) a removal tab affixed to the wrist portion of said glove.

2. A medical or surgical glove according to claim 1, wherein said pattern of raised, textured material comprises a wave pattern, said wave pattern located at each of the four fingertip portions and at the thumbtip portion of said glove.

3. A medical or surgical glove according to claim 1, wherein said pattern of raised, textured material comprises a bubble tips pattern, said bubble tips pattern located at each of the four fingertip portions and at the thumbtip portion of said glove.

4. A medical or surgical glove according to claim 1, wherein said pattern of raised, textured material comprises a cross-sectional stripe pattern wherein said cross-sectional stripe pattern further comprises parallel lines of raised glove material running approximately diagonally to the finger enclosures, the thumb enclosure, and the palm portion, and further, encompassing the entirety of the inner surface of said glove.

5. A medical or surgical glove according to claim 1, wherein said pattern of raised, textured material comprises a bulls-eye palm pattern, wherein said bulls-eye palm pattern comprises a plurality of concentric circles centered on the palm surface of said glove and further, having five emanating radials of raised, textured material extending from the outermost of said concentric circles to (a) each of the four fingertips and (b) the thumbtip of said glove, respectively.

6. A medical or surgical glove according to claim 1, wherein said pattern of raised, textured material comprises a pattern of raised cross-stitches on each fingertip and on the thumbtip of said glove, said raised cross-stitches further being placed along a continual inseam of the thumb enclosure, said inseam extending to the wrist portion of said glove.

7. A medical or surgical glove according to claim 1, wherein said pattern of raised, textured material comprises a pattern consisting of an expanding swirl pattern, emanating from the palm of the glove and further, having arcs covering portions of the finger enclosures and the thumb enclosure of said glove.

8. A medical or surgical glove according to claim 1, wherein said pattern of raised, textured material comprises a pattern consisting of parallel, symmetrically-spaced lateral line raised segments fabricated on the palm, finger enclosures, and thumb enclosure.

9. A medical or surgical glove according to claim 1, wherein said pattern of raised, textured material comprises a zigzag stitch pattern of raised, textured material oriented along the length of each finger enclosure, along the length of the thumb enclosure, and further, including one raised zigzag stitch pattern on the palm of the glove.

10. An improved medical or surgical glove being fabricated from any of a selection of materials selected from the group consisting of latex, vinyl, and nitrile, said materials of varying thicknesses, and said glove of the type having four finger enclosures including four fingertip portions, a thumb enclosure including a thumbtip portion, a hand portion having a palm surface and a backhand surface, and a wrist portion having a proximal end joining the hand portion and having a distal end comprising an expandable opening through which the hand of a person may be inserted, wherein the improvement comprises:

(a) a pattern of raised, textured material of the same type material as the glove, said pattern fabricated at particular locations on the exterior surface of said glove;

(b) a removal tab affixed to the wrist portion of said glove; and

(c) said material having been treated with gamma ray radiation, thereby rendering said material of said glove sterilized.

11. A medical or surgical glove according to claim 10, wherein said pattern of raised, textured material comprises a wave pattern, said wave pattern located at each of the four fingertip portions and at the thumbtip portion of said glove.

12. A medical or surgical glove according to claim 10, wherein said pattern of raised, textured material comprises a bubble tips pattern, said bubble tips pattern located at each of the four fingertip portions and at the thumbtip portion of said glove.

13. A medical or surgical glove according to claim 10, wherein said pattern of raised, textured material comprises a cross-sectional stripe pattern wherein said cross-sectional stripe pattern further comprises parallel lines of raised glove material running approximately diagonally to the finger enclosures, the thumb enclosure, and the palm portion, and further, encompassing the entirety of the inner surface of said glove.

14. A medical or surgical glove according to claim 10, wherein said pattern of raised, textured material comprises a bulls-eye palm pattern, wherein said bulls-eye palm pattern comprises a plurality of concentric circles centered on the palm surface of said glove and further, having five emanating radials of raised, textured material extending from the outermost of said concentric circles to (a) each of the four fingertips and (b) the thumbtip of said glove, respectively.

15. A medical or surgical glove according to claim 10, wherein said pattern of raised, textured material comprises a pattern of raised cross-stitches on each fingertip and on the thumbtip of said glove, said raised cross-stitches further being placed along a continual inseam of the thumb enclosure, said inseam extending to the wrist portion of said glove.

16. A medical or surgical glove according to claim 10, wherein said pattern of raised, textured material comprises a pattern consisting of an expanding swirl pattern, emanating from the palm of the glove and further, having arcs covering portions of the finger enclosures and the thumb enclosure of said glove.

17. A medical or surgical glove according to claim 10, wherein said pattern of raised, textured material comprises a pattern consisting of parallel, symmetrically-spaced lateral line raised segments fabricated on the palm, finger enclosures, and thumb enclosure.

18. A medical or surgical glove according to claim 10, wherein said pattern of raised, textured material comprises a zigzag stitch pattern of raised, textured material oriented along the length of each finger enclosure, along the length of the thumb enclosure, and further, including one raised zigzag stitch pattern on the palm of the glove.

19. An improved medical or surgical glove being fabricated from any of a selection of materials selected from the group consisting of latex, vinyl, and nitrile, said materials of varying thicknesses, and said glove of the type having four finger enclosures including four fingertip portions, a thumb enclosure including a thumbtip portion, a hand portion having a palm surface and a backhand surface, and a wrist portion having a proximal end joining the hand portion and having a distal end comprising an expandable opening through which the hand of a person may be inserted, wherein the improvement comprises:

(a) a pattern of raised, textured material of the same type material as the glove, fabricated at particular locations on the exterior surface of said glove;

(b) a removal tab affixed to the wrist portion of said glove;

(c) said material having been treated with gamma ray radiation, thereby rendering said material of said glove sterilized; and

(d) an amount of absorbable dusting powder applied to the internal surfaces of said glove.

20. A medical or surgical glove according to claim 19, wherein said pattern of raised, textured material comprises a pattern selected from the group of patterns consisting of wave pattern, bubble tips pattern, cross-sectional stripe pattern, bulls-eye pattern, swirl pattern, lateral line pattern, and zigzag pattern.

21. A medical or surgical glove as in any one of claims 2 through 9, or any one of claims 11 through 20, wherein said gloves fabricated from latex are colored from any of a first range of color hues, said gloves fabricated from vinyl are colored from any of a second range of color hues, and said gloves fabricated from nitrile are colored from any of a third range of color hues.