Puncture Resistant Animal Handling Glove
A puncture resistant animal handling glove includes a gauntlet and a dorsal hand portion made of a puncture resistant material; a palm portion and a thumb portion made of a flexible gripping material; and a plurality of finger portions made of the puncture resistant material and the flexible gripping material. The gauntlet, dorsal hand portion, palm portion, thumb portion, and the plurality of finger portions are secured together to form a unitary construction. Selected areas of the palm portion, the thumb portion and the plurality of finger portions made of the flexible gripping material are further made of a reinforcement material disposed on an inside of the flexible gripping material. The puncture resistant material provides a high degree of protection against animal bites and scratches and the flexible gripping material provides flexibility and dexterity while gripping an animal.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a protective glove for handling animals in a variety of settings and, more particularly, to a puncture resistant glove that incorporates flexible gripping material on the inside of the hand to facilitate control of the animal
2. Description of Related Art
Animal bites and scratches are a daily risk for veterinarians and their staff as well as anyone otherwise involved in animal handling. Animal bites and scratches transmit disease and carry increased risk of infection. Bites and scratches to fingers, thumbs, hands, and the lower arms account for approximately 70% of injuries among veterinary workers.
Typical prior art gloves for handling animals are heavily padded and incorporate inflexible Kevlar or similar fabric throughout the glove. As a result, the gloves are heavy and bulky and highly inflexible, which makes it easy for a struggling animal to get free of a handler wearing such a glove, because the wearer is unable to grip the animal As such, many workers are reluctant to wear the gloves that are available because they are ineffective, thus increasing the risk of injury.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly, there is a general need in the art for a protective glove for veterinary workers to wear while handling animals that offers protection to the wearer while facilitating restraint of the animal by having sufficient flexibility and dexterity. Such a glove can be used not only by veterinary workers and veterinarians, but by anyone that handles or works with animals on a regular basis, such as kennel workers, breeders, pet store employees, animal shelter workers, animal trainers, groomers, and pet owners. The glove is useful to veterinarians and clinic workers in handling a fractious or ill tempered animal, for inspecting an animal's mouth or teeth, for administering vaccination and medication to the animal, or any other situation where maintaining control of the animal's head is necessary to caring for the animal.
According to a preferred, non-limiting, embodiment, the present invention provides for a puncture resistant animal handling glove that is flexible in certain locations in order to restrain an animal properly, but also provides protection against animal bites and scratches. The glove includes a “grip” surface and material on the palm of the hand. The outside surface of the glove is made from a material that is puncture and cut resistant, as is used in typical protective gloves of this type. The glove may or may not be washable but the material on the palm of the glove is wipable such that the glove may be cleaned. The glove extends not only to protect the hand but also the lower arm and may come in generic sizes.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a puncture resistant animal handling glove is provided. The glove comprises a gauntlet comprised of a puncture resistant material; a dorsal hand portion comprised of the puncture resistant material; a palm portion comprised of a flexible gripping material different from the puncture resistant material; a thumb portion comprised of the flexible gripping material; and a plurality of finger portions comprised of the puncture resistant material and the flexible gripping material. The gauntlet, dorsal hand portion, palm portion, the thumb portion, and the plurality of finger portions are secured together to form a unitary construction. Areas of the palm portion, the thumb portion, and the plurality of finger portions comprised of the flexible gripping material are further comprised of a reinforcement material disposed on an inside of the flexible gripping material. The puncture resistant material provides a high degree of protection against animal bites and scratches and the flexible gripping material provides flexibility and dexterity while gripping an animal.
Further details and advantages of the invention will become clear upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures, wherein like parts are designated with like reference numerals throughout.
For purposes of the description hereinafter, the terms “end”, “upper”, “lower”, “right”, “left”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, “lateral”, “longitudinal” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as it is oriented in the drawing figures. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative variations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the-specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the invention. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics related to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting. Further, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative variations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary.
With reference to
The glove 10 is made up of several different portions of fabric or protective material that may be secured together by any method known to be suitable to those having ordinary skill in the art, such as stitching or gluing, to form a unitary construction. In particular, the areas A in
The areas B in
The selected areas C in
According to one embodiment of the invention, the glove 10 is machine washable. However, it is sufficient if the glove 10 can be cleaned and wiped by hand to remove stains and maintain sanitary conditions.
As shown in
While embodiments of a Puncture Resistant Animal Handling Glove were provided in the foregoing description, those skilled in the art may make modifications and alterations to these embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is intended to be illustrative rather than restrictive. The invention described hereinabove is defined by the appended claims and all changes to the invention that fall within the meaning and the range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. It is to be understood that the present invention contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any embodiment can be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment.
Claims
1. A puncture resistant animal handling glove, comprising:
- a gauntlet comprised of a puncture resistant material;
- a dorsal hand portion comprised of the puncture resistant material;
- a palm portion comprised of a flexible gripping material different from the puncture resistant material;
- a thumb portion comprised of the flexible gripping material; and
- a plurality of finger portions comprised of the puncture resistant material and the flexible gripping material,
- wherein the gauntlet, dorsal hand portion, palm portion, the thumb portion, and the plurality of finger portions are secured together to form a unitary construction,
- wherein selected areas of the palm portion, the thumb portion and the plurality of finger portions comprised of the flexible gripping material are further comprised of a reinforcement material disposed on an inside of the flexible gripping material, and
- wherein the puncture resistant material provides a high degree of protection against animal bites and scratches and the flexible gripping material provides flexibility and dexterity while gripping an animal.
2. The puncture resistant animal handling glove according to claim 1, wherein the puncture resistant material is selected from the group consisting of: para-aramid material, leather, HPPE, fiber and steel blend, and combinations thereof.
3. The puncture resistant animal handling glove according to claim 1, wherein the flexible gripping material is selected from the group consisting of: neoprene, rubber, latex, nitrile, silicon, vinyl, polytetrafluoroethylene and copolymers, and combinations thereof.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 4, 2013
Publication Date: Jul 11, 2013
Inventor: Laura Catena (Pittsburgh, PA)
Application Number: 13/734,043
International Classification: A41D 19/015 (20060101);