DISPOSABLE HAND COVER

Abstract

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for a disposable fabric hand cover. The disposable fabric hand cover includes a first layer, a second layer, an opening and a sealed perimeter. The opening is adapted to accommodate insertion of a user's hand into the opening and into a cavity between, and formed by, the first layer and the second layer. The first layer, the second layer, or both may comprise a disposable fabric moistened with a cleaning solution and/or skin moisturizer. The disposable fabric may include a flushable fabric that is safe for disposal in a toilet emptying into conventional septic systems and/or sewage treatment facilities. Embodiments of the disposable fabric hand cover may resemble a rectangle, a thumbed-mitten, and/or a five-fingered glove. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/375,786 (“the '786 application”), titled “DISPOSABLE HAND COVER,” and filed 20 Aug. 2010, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to systems, methods and apparatus of a Disposable Hand Cover. Proposed uses include domestic, medical, health care, and sanitation applications, such as for changing a diaper, wiping fecal matter from an individual's rear and, generally, for cleaning an unsanitary surface.

2. Description of Related Art

This invention relates to hygienic supplies and medical devices used to clean surfaces and/or handle unclean items. Surfaces in need of regular cleaning may include those found, for instance, in bathrooms, kitchens, nursing homes, emergency rooms, and hospital patient rooms. In addition to needing to clean the surfaces of inanimate objects, users may need to clean skin, bodily orifices, feathers, and/or fur of people and/or animals, respectively. Unclean items that may need to be handled may include, for example, feces, raw food, soiled clothing, bloody items, used sanitary napkins, used tampons, used diapers, etc.

Conventionally, a user needing to clean surfaces or handle unclean items may wear a disposable glove or hold a flat disposable barrier to contain the surface contaminants. As used herein, “disposable” refers to items and/or materials intended for a single use (e.g., not intended to be re-used, or to be worn, removed, and then worn again, etc.). In contrast, “non-disposable” items and/or materials might be used or worn multiple times, and in some cases, for example, they might be washed between uses or wears.

A person using conventional cleaning products, for instance, may wear form-fitting gloves made of rubber or latex and use a paper towel, a length of toilet paper, a baby wipe, a moist towelette, a hand towel, or a sponge, to wipe the unclean surface or handle the unclean item. An example of a conventional disposable flat barrier includes a biodegradable moist wipe that may kill germs and also moisturize with vitamin E. In many circumstances, such as at home, not involving particularly dangerous substances or diseases, users may just forego using a latex or rubber glove. For instance, a user changing a baby's diaper may choose to only use baby wipes to wipe away feces on the baby's skin and anus, and not don latex gloves. Instead of wearing gloves, a user may rely on hand-washing after changing a baby's diaper.

In addition to hand-washing, a person changing a baby's diaper still may attempt to avoid getting fecal matter on the person's hands, while attempting to contain the fecal matter on the baby wipe. Given that a baby wipe typically comprises a flat, rectangular sheet of disposable fabric, a user may attempt to hold an edge of the wipe with a thumb, apply pressure with fingers on a backside of wipe, and use a front side of the wipe to scrape away fecal matter. This attempt may be awkward at best, and inefficient or ineffective at worst, at getting much of the fecal matter in a single wipe and/or keeping the fecal matter off the user's hand. In some cases, just a center portion of the wipe actually is used, while a user grips a perimeter of the wipe. Consequently, multiple wipes may be used to effectively remove all visible fecal matter from a baby's bottom.

A disadvantage of many baby wipes and paper towels is that they should not be flushed down a toilet. If toilet paper is used instead of baby wipes, the toilet paper may rip if it gets wet or moist. Because toilet paper usually is found near a toilet and may be flushed, toilet paper may be appear to be a convenient choice of caregivers when wiping a backside of an adult patient who is sitting on a toilet, but the convenience factor decreases greatly if the toilet paper falls apart. Likewise, a caregiver of an adult patient may not be in a position to see an area being wiped if the patient is sitting on a toilet. As such, a caregiver may opt for a non-flushable towelette or wipe, to avoid a rip while wiping, but the consequence is that a feces-laden wipe is placed in garbage container, where it may emit foul odors and potentially leave a trail of fecal matter.

In the adult patient scenario, a moist wipe may not be big enough to cover the area for quick and thorough cleaning. Likewise, a conventional moist wipe may not provide the protection to a caregiver's hand that the caregiver might desire. Some more capable adult patients might be able to handle the task of sanitary wiping themselves, given the proper equipment.

In other circumstances, a user may need to handle an unclean item and possibly clean its surface, or dispose of it. If an item has curvy contours (e.g., door knobs, toilet knobs, faucet handles), and/or rough, uneven, or bumpy surfaces (e.g., cutting boards, toys, keyboards), the item may be difficult to handle and/or clean with a flat wipe, towel or sheet, because the wipe, towel or sheet may roll up and/or not follow the contour of the surface. Rolling potentially may cause the user's hand to come into unwanted contact with the surface, and the user repeatedly may unroll the sheet.

In light of the disadvantages of conventional disposable barriers, e.g., wipes, sheets, towelettes, paper towels, and toilet paper lengths, a new type of disposal barrier is desirable that allows for more efficient and/or effective use of the disposable barrier and protection of the user's hand.

SUMMARY

In a first aspect of the invention, a disposable fabric hand cover is provided. The disposable fabric hand cover includes a first layer, a second layer, an opening and a sealed perimeter. The opening is adapted to accommodate insertion of a user's hand into the opening and into a cavity between, and formed by, the first layer and the second layer. The first layer has a first perimeter edge, the second layer has a second perimeter edge, and the first perimeter edge and the second perimeter edge are joined at the sealed perimeter and are not joined at the opening. The sealed perimeter and the opening form a total perimeter of the disposable hand cover.

The first layer, the second layer, or both may comprise a disposable fabric moistened with a cleaning solution. The disposable fabric may include a flushable fabric that is safe for disposal in a toilet emptying into conventional septic systems and/or sewage treatment facilities. The first and/or second layer may comprise a plastic layer, such as cellophane, instead of, or in addition to, the disposable fabric. In exemplary embodiments, the disposable fabric hand cover may resemble a rectangle, a thumbed-mitten, a five-fingered glove, or a combination of these. For example, a rectangular first layer and a rectangular second layer may be sealed and perforated to form a rectangular thumbed-mitten or a rectangular five-fingered glove.

In a second aspect of the invention, a device is provided that includes a hand cover dispenser and a plurality of disposable hand covers. The plurality of disposable hand covers are removably contained in the hand cover dispenser. The plurality of disposable hand covers may comprise exemplary embodiments of the first aspect of the invention. The plurality of disposable hand covers may comprise a stack within the dispenser. In one embodiment, the plurality of disposable hand covers form overlapping folds in the stack. In another embodiment, the plurality of disposable hand covers are not folded in the stack, but instead are stacked flat on each other. When the plurality of disposable hand covers are stacked flat upon each other in the hand cover dispenser, the opening of each disposable hand cover may face a dispenser opening, allowing a user to insert a hand through the opening and into the cavity to grasp and remove a disposable hand cover from the hand cover dispenser.

In a third aspect of the invention, a system is provided that includes a first disposable fabric hand cover and a second disposable fabric hand cover. Each of the first disposable hand cover and the second disposable hand cover comprises a disposable fabric hand cover that includes a first layer, a second layer, an opening-forming perforation and a sealed perimeter. The opening-forming perforation is adapted to create an opening adapted to accommodate insertion of a user's hand into the opening and into a cavity between, and formed by, the first layer and the second layer.

The first layer has a first perimeter edge, the second layer has a second perimeter edge, and the first perimeter edge and the second perimeter edge are joined at the sealed perimeter and are not joined inward of the opening-forming perforation. The sealed perimeter and the opening-forming perforation form a total perimeter of the disposable hand cover.

The first layer, the second layer, or both may comprise a disposable fabric moistened with a cleaning solution. The disposable fabric may include a flushable fabric that is safe for disposal in a toilet emptying into conventional septic systems and/or sewage treatment facilities. The first and/or second layer may comprise a plastic layer, such as cellophane, instead of, or in addition to, the disposable fabric.

In exemplary embodiments, the disposable fabric hand cover may resemble a rectangle, a thumbed-mitten, a five-fingered glove, or a combination of these. For example, a rectangular first layer and a rectangular second layer may be sealed and perforated to form a rectangular thumbed-mitten or a rectangular five-fingered glove.

In exemplary embodiments of the second aspect, the first disposable fabric hand cover and the second disposable fabric hand cover are joined at the opening-forming perforation. In a first direction inward from the opening-forming perforation, the first layer and the second layer stacked but not sealed, and form the cavity of the second disposable hand cover. In a second direction outward from the opening-forming perforation, the first layer and the second layer are sealed and form the sealed perimeter of the first disposable hand cover. The opening-forming perforation may be ripped to separate the first disposable hand cover from the second disposable hand cover and to create the opening of the second disposable hand cover. The first and second disposable hand covers may be rolled onto a cylinder for storage and dispensed by unrolling them from around the cylinder.

In a fourth aspect of the invention, a method is provided for forming a plurality of disposable hand covers conjoined at perforated lines. The plurality of disposable hand covers may comprise exemplary embodiments of the third aspect of the invention. The method includes the actions of forming a layer stack from a first layer and a second layer; sealing a top edge of the layer stack; sealing a bottom edge of the layer stack; sealing a first sealed line between the top and bottom edges; perforating a first perforated line between the top and bottom edges; sealing a second sealed line between the top and bottom edges, wherein the first perforated line occurs between the first sealed line and the second sealed line; and perforating a second perforated line between the top and bottom edges, wherein the second sealed line occurs between the first perforated line and the second perforated line.

Other features and aspects of this invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features of the invention can be more clearly understood from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the following drawings, in which the same reference numerals denote the same elements throughout, and in which:

FIGS. 1A-1D show perspective views of exemplary embodiments of a disposable hand cover according to a first aspect of the invention.

FIGS. 2A-2B show perspective views of exemplary embodiments of a dispenser device and contents according to a second aspect of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of a plurality of disposable hand covers and its dispensing cylinder roll according to a third aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1A-1D, the invention relates to a disposable hand cover, such as for cleaning, personal sanitation and/or hygiene purposes. As shown in FIG. 1B, an exemplary embodiment of the invention may include a wet wipe fashioned in the shape of a mitten. Exemplary embodiments of the invention may include a disposable hand cover having, for instance, an opening width of between five and nine inches, and a cover depth of between six and ten inches, and a mitten thickness per layer of one to four millimeters. Other dimensions are conceivable also. The opening width refers to how wide the opening is into which a user inserts a hand into a cavity formed by the first layer and the second layer. The cover depth refers to how deep the hand cover is from the opening to an opposing sealed edge potentially contacting a user's fingers after insertion of the hand.

Each mitten may be moistened with germicides and moisturizers similar to those found in conventional wet wipes. The germicide is optional, though. In some embodiments, the moistening agent may contain germ-killing properties as well as a soothing agent, like vitamin E for example. The mitten may be made of a product including natural fibers, synthetic materials and a combination thereof. The mitten may be wet or moist prior to use, or it may become wet or moist while being dispensed or during use. These wet wipes mittens may be dispersible when in prolonged contact with water, or they may be non-dispersible. An exemplary mode of use may involve pulling a single mitten from container, placing a hand in the mitten, and applying the sheathed hand to clean and/or handle an area and/or item.

The fact that the wet wipe is now fashioned as a mitten gives it more cleaning power. It will cover a larger, potentially problematic surface area than conventional wet wipes or toilet tissues used for similar purposes, thus providing a more efficient method of cleaning. Embodiments of the invention also protect the hand from coming into direct contact with contaminants being handled or cleaned by a user. After use, the mitten may be disposed of in a plastic bag, or, if made of flushable materials, flushed in toilet.

As shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D, the disposable hand cover may have finger inserts, and these finger inserts may be conjoined with a single seam between two fingers, as in FIG. 1C, or the finger inserts may be separated, as in FIG. 1D. Conjoined finger inserts may provide more control to a user of the disposable hand cover while preventing waste from passing between the fingers. Separated finger inserts may provide more dexterity to a user's hand to grip and handle unclean items, while also allowing sheathed fingers to clean inside narrower passageways than otherwise possible with conjoined finger inserts.

Such a wet wipe mitten may enable an adult patient, for example, to reach all the areas needed to clean after a bowel movement, or it may make a caregiver's task of doing so more efficient, while providing more protection to the caregiver's hand. Moreover, such a wet wipe mitten could be used with or without toilet paper, and such a disposable wet wipe mitten could be used many of instances in which a user might otherwise use traditional toilet paper, wet wipes and handy wipes. This embodiment of the invention represents an improvement over conventional, flat wet wipes. As it sheathes a hand, the disposable hand cover may protect with germicides while soothing with skin moisturizing agents, in a single use disposable mitten that can be flushable or just plain disposable.

Referring to FIGS. 2A-2B, disposable hand covers may be dispensed from a tub-like container. FIG. 2A, for instance, depicts a tub-like container with a hinged lid on top, similar to tub-like containers conventionally used to dispense wet wipes. When the lid is opened, a slit is revealed on an inner lid that is attached to the bottom part of the tub, which contains a stack of wet wipe mittens that may be pulled through the slit in the container for single use. FIG. 2B, on the other hand, depicts a tub-like container having a bottom that hinges downward, revealing a bottom-most hand cover in the stack. The container of FIG. 2B may be mounted under a cabinet, for instance, and may facilitate a user's insertion of a hand directly into the bottom-most hand cover to dispense the bottom-most hand cover. The stack in the dispenser of FIG. 2B may be gravity-fed, such that a new hand cover is revealed as the bottom-most hand cover when a previous hand cover is dispensed.

Referring to FIG. 3, a plurality of disposable hand covers may be detachably conjoined when formed from two long strips of material to form the first and second layers. The conjoined hand covers may have perforations at boundaries between the hand covers, such that the hand covers may be separated by ripping the material along a perforation, exposing the opening of the next-in-line-to-be-dispensed hand cover.

In accordance with aspects of the invention, a method is provided for forming a plurality of disposable hand covers conjoined at perforated lines, such as those depicted in FIG. 3. The plurality of disposable hand covers may comprise exemplary embodiments of the invention. The method may include the actions of forming a layer stack from a first layer and a second layer, wherein the layer stack has a width corresponding to an opening width of the disposable hand covers, and a length corresponding to a multiple of a cover depth. The method further may include sealing the sides along the length of the layer stack; sealing a top edge spanning the width of the layer stack; perforating a first perforated line spanning the width of the layer stack and displaced from the top edge by a distance corresponding to the cover depth; sealing a second sealed line spanning the width of the layer stack adjacent the first perforated line, the second sealed line being father than the first perforated line from the top edge; and perforating a second perforated line spanning the width of the layer stack and displaced from the second sealed line by the distance corresponding to the cover depth.

In accordance with further aspects of the invention, another method is provided for forming a plurality of disposable hand covers conjoined at perforated lines. The plurality of disposable hand covers may comprise exemplary embodiments of the invention. The method may include the actions of forming a layer stack from a first layer and a second layer; sealing a top edge of the layer stack; sealing a bottom edge of the layer stack; sealing a first sealed line between the top and bottom edges; perforating a first perforated line between the top and bottom edges; sealing a second sealed line between the top and bottom edges, wherein the first perforated line occurs between the first sealed line and the second sealed line; and perforating a second perforated line between the top and bottom edges, wherein the second sealed line occurs between the first perforated line and the second perforated line.

The foregoing description discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention, which has been described with the reference to the exemplary embodiments. The specification and drawings, accordingly, should be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense. Various modifications and changes may be made to the embodiments without departing from the broadest spirit and scope of the invention. Modifications of the above disclosed apparatus and methods that fall within the scope of the invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, additional embodiments may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A disposable hand cover comprising a first layer, a second layer, an opening and a sealed perimeter, wherein the first layer comprises a disposable fabric.

2. The disposable hand cover of claim 1, further comprising a cleaning solution.

3. The disposable hand cover of claim 1, further comprising a flushable disposable hand cover that is safe for disposal in a toilet emptying into conventional septic systems and/or sewage treatment facilities.

4. The disposable hand cover of claim 1, further comprising a plastic layer.

5. The disposable hand cover of claim 1, further comprising a disposable hand cover shape resembling a rectangle, a thumbed-mitten, a five-fingered glove, or a combination of these.

6. The disposable hand cover of claim 5, further comprising a rectangular first layer and a rectangular second layer sealed and perforated to form a rectangular thumbed-mitten or a rectangular five-fingered glove.

7. The disposable hand cover of claim 1, further comprising perforation at the opening.

8. The disposable hand cover of claim 1, wherein the second layer comprises the disposable fabric.

9. A device comprising a hand cover dispenser and a plurality of disposable hand covers, wherein the plurality of disposable hand covers forms a stack within the hand cover dispenser.

10. The device of claim 9, further comprising a cleaning solution.

11. The device of claim 9, further comprising a flushable disposable hand cover that is safe for disposal in a toilet emptying into conventional septic systems and/or sewage treatment facilities.

12. The device of claim 9, further comprising a disposable hand cover shape resembling a rectangle, a thumbed-mitten, a five-fingered glove, or a combination of these.

13. The device of claim 9, further comprising perforation at an opening of each disposable hand cover.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein the disposable hand covers comprise disposable fabric.

15. A system comprising a plurality of disposable hand covers, wherein a first disposable hand cover is detachably conjoined to a second disposable hand cover along a perforation line, and the first disposable hand cover is adapted to be detached from the second disposable hand along the perforation line.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a cleaning solution.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising a flushable disposable hand cover that is safe for disposal in a toilet emptying into conventional septic systems and/or sewage treatment facilities.

18. The system of claim 15, further comprising a disposable hand cover shape resembling a rectangle, a thumbed-mitten, a five-fingered glove, or a combination of these.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising a plastic layer in each disposable hand cover.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the disposable hand covers comprise disposable fabric.