GLOVE WITH SECURING FEATURE

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/726,043, filed on November 27, 2024, and further claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/743,562, filed on January 9, 2025, the contents of each application being incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is directed to gloves, including medical gloves and contamination control gloves.

BACKGROUND

Proper glove fit is of crucial importance to allow for better tactile sensitivity and dexterity. However, medical and contamination control gloves have the tendency to stretch when worn for a long period of time or after extensive hand movement. The stretching can cause the gloves to slip from original position especially to their fingers and fingertips, which eventually lead to reduced tactile sensitivity and finger dexterity over time. Also, for certain wearers with relatively shorter one or multiple fingers, they may face the circumstance of excessive glove space at certain fingertip(s), resulting in a poorer tactile sensitivity and dexterity. Thus, wearers often pull up the glove finger(s) to eliminate the excessive space at fingertip, although glove slippage during hand movement will cause excessive space recurrence. Additionally, some wearers, especially in medical settings, often practice double gloving to enhance protection. The gloves, especially the outer glove, often need to be pulled up due to glove slippage during surgery, which often decreases comfort, tactile sensitivity, and dexterity.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to a glove having a finger portion with at least one securing feature, the at least one securing feature being an area of the finger portion having an inner circumference that is smaller than an inner circumference of one or more proximal areas of the finger portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows an example glove according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1B shows an example glove according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1C shows an example glove according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows an example glove according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3A shows an example former according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3B shows an example former according to aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure is directed to a glove with one or more finger portions having at least one securing feature. The securing features of the present disclosure may include an area of the finger portion with a smaller inner circumference than the inner circumference of one or more proximal areas of the finger portion. According to some aspects, the securing features are configured to provide a closer fit between the finger portion and a wearer’s finger as compared with other areas of the finger portion. In this way, slippage of the finger portion and/or the glove may be reduced when compared with slippage of the same glove without the one or more securing features. The present disclosure is also directed to methods of making the gloves disclosed herein.

As used herein, a glove is an article worn on a hand, the article having at least a palm portion and one or more fingers portions. In some non-limiting examples, the glove may be a medical glove, such as an examination glove or a surgical glove, and/or a non-medical contamination control glove, such as a cleanroom glove or a food handling glove.

According to some aspects, the glove may be formed from a glove material that may include one or more elastomeric materials, such as a latex. In some non-limiting examples, the elastomeric material may include a natural latex, a synthetic latex, or a combination thereof. Example elastomeric materials according to aspects of the present disclosure include those described in U.S. Patent No. 10,759,913, the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

FIG. 1A shows one example of a glove according to aspects of the present disclosure. In particular, glove 100 includes a palm portion 101 and finger portions 102. FIG. 1A further shows that each of the finger portions 102 includes a securing feature 103. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 1A. For example, only one, two, three, or four of finger portions 102 may include a securing feature. Additionally or alternatively, each of the finger portions may independently include two, three, four, or more securing features, with each of the securing features independently having the same size and/or shape as another securing feature, and/or having a different size and/or shape from another securing feature. In addition, each of the one or more securing features may independently be provided at any point along the length of the finger portion, such as at the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint region, at the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint region, at the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint region, between DIP and PIP joint regions, and/or between PIP and MCP joint regions. In the case wherein the finger portion is a thumb portion, each of the one or more securing features may independently be provided at any point along the length of the thumb portion, such as at the interphalangeal (IP) joint region, at the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint region, and/or between IP and MCP joint regions. It should be understood that a “joint region” as used herein refers to the region of a glove that will cover a joint of a hand when worn. Thus, the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint region, the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint region, the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint region, and the interphalangeal (IP) joint region will cover the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint, the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint, the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint, and the interphalangeal (IP) joint respectively, of a hand when the glove is worn.

In another example, FIG. 1B shows a glove similar to that of FIG. 1A with securing features 203 closer to the DIP joint region than securing features 103 as shown in FIG. 1A. As noted herein, various embodiments may have multiple securing features 103 per finger portion 102. By way of non-limiting example, a single embodiment have securing features 103 at or near the DIP, MCP, and PIP regions of the finger portion 102.

As shown in FIG. 1A, securing features 103 may include an indentation visible on an outer surface of finger portions 102, corresponding with a protrusion on an inner surface (not shown). In this way, an inner “ring” or “band” may be provided on the inner surface of finger portions 102. Additionally or alternatively, one or more of the securing features may be provided by providing additional material on an inner surface of the finger portion (not shown). The additional material may be the same material as the glove material or it may be a different material.

It should thus be understood that securing features 103 are configured such that the lumen provided by each finger portion 102 has a smaller diameter and/or circumference at the securing feature than in one or more areas proximal the securing feature. Put another way, each of securing features 103 may have at least a portion extending toward the center of the lumen provided by each finger portion 102 thereby reducing the inner diameter and/or circumference of the finger portion. It should be understood that the inner diameter and/or circumference of the finger portion may be at a minimum at one or more of the securing features, although the disclosure is not necessarily limited in this way. It should further be understood that as used herein, the term “diameter” refers a straight line passing from side to side of a body, through its center. In this context, the shape of the body (e.g., the finger portion) is not necessarily limited to one with a circular cross-sectional shape. Similarly, a “circumference” as used herein refers to the external boundary of a shape or object, which may or may not be a circular shape or object. For example, each finger portion may independently have a circular or ovular cross-sectional shape.

It should also be understood that the diameter of the lumen provided by each finger portion 102 may depend on, for example, the point along the side of the lumen at which the diameter is measured and/or on the arrangement of the glove (e.g., worn or not worn by a wearer). Nonetheless, securing features 103 are configured such that the lumen provided by each finger portion 102 has a smaller diameter at the securing feature than in one or more areas proximal the securing feature when the diameters are measured at corresponding points along the side of the lumen and when the diameters are measured in the same glove arrangement. In that regard, the inner circumference of the lumen is the circumference as measured around the inner surface of the finger portion regardless of the finger portion’s cross-sectional shape.

In some non-limiting examples, when measured from an inner surface of finger portion 102 proximal a securing features 103, all or a portion of each of securing features 103 may independently extend a distance of about between about 0.5 and 6.0 mm toward the center of the lumen, optionally between about 0.5 and 5.5 mm, optionally between about 0.5 and 5.0 mm, optionally between about 0.5 and 4.5 mm, optionally between about 0.5 and 4.0 mm, optionally between about 0.5 and 3.5 mm, optionally between about 1 and 3 mm, optionally between about 1.5 and 2.5 mm, and optionally about 2 mm.

In some non-limiting examples, the securing features 103 may be configured such that the lumen provided by each finger portion 102 has an inner circumference that is between about 2 to 30% less than the inner circumference of the finger portion in one or more areas proximal to the securing feature, optionally between about 2 to 25% less, optionally between about 2 to 20% less, optionally between about 5 to 20% less, optionally between about 10 to 20% less, optionally between about 13 and 19% less, and optionally between about 15 and 17% less. In some non-limiting examples, the securing features 103 may be configured such that the lumen provided by each finger portion 102 has an inner circumference that is between about 3 and 20% less than the inner circumference of the finger portion in one or more areas proximal to the securing feature, optionally between about 3 and 16% less, and optionally between about 4 and 15% less. As used herein, “one or more areas proximal to the securing feature” refers to the one or more areas of the finger portion that, when considering the securing feature as a “valley” of the finger portion, is the “plateau” adjacent to the valley. It should be understood, however, that between the valley and the plateau may exist an abrupt or a gradual transition which may be linear and/or curved. In that regard, an abrupt transition (such as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 2) provides a shorter distance between the valley and the plateau than a gradual transition.

Additionally or alternatively, the securing features 103 may be configured such that the lumen provided by each finger portion 102 has an inner circumference that is between about 10 to 20% less than the inner circumference that would be observed without the securing feature, optionally between about 13 and 19% less, and optionally between about 15 and 17% less. In this context, the inner circumference that would be observed without the securing feature may be determined using the shape of the finger portion and/or the inner circumference of the finger portion in areas proximal to the securing feature(s). Taking one non-limiting example, by using the shape of the finger portion, it may be determined that the inner circumference of a certain area of the finger portion would be about 64.4 mm. In this example, the securing feature at that certain area may be configured such that the inner circumference thereof is about 54.1 mm, which is about a 16% reduction in inner circumference. It should be understood, however, that the disclosure is not limited to this one example, and that the inner circumference of each finger portion at any area may independently be between about 30 and 100 mm, optionally between about 35 and 95 mm, optionally between about 40 and 90 mm, optionally between about 45 and 85 mm, optionally between about 50 and 80 mm, optionally between about 55 and 75 mm, optionally between about 60 and 70 mm, optionally between about 61 and 68 mm, optionally between about 62 and 67 mm, optionally between about 63 and 66 mm, and optionally between about 64 and 65 mm. In some examples, the inner circumference of each finger portion may independently vary along the length of the finger portion.

It should be understood that while the example of FIG. 1A shows each securing feature 103 extending the entire circumference of the corresponding finger portion 102, the disclosure is not necessarily limited in this way. For example, each of the one or more of the securing features 103 may independently extend only partially around the circumference of the finger portion sufficient to cover about 10% of the circumference, optionally about 20%, optionally about 30%, optionally about 40%, optionally about 50%, optionally about 60%, optionally about 70%, optionally about 80%, and optionally about 90%. Additionally or alternatively, each of the one or more of the securing features 103 independently may extend discontinuously around the circumference of the finger portion, for example as inward-facing semi-spherical shapes. That is, each securing feature may independently include two or more discrete portions, such as front, back, and/or side portions.

FIG. 1C shows one non-limiting example of securing features 103 that extend only partially around the circumference of each respective finger portion 102. It should be understood, however, that the disclosure is not necessarily limited to the number, location, and/or shape of securing features 103 as shown in FIG. 1C. For example, whereas FIG. 1C shows a securing feature 103 on two finger portions 102, one, three, four, or five fingers portions may have one, two, three, or more securing features as described herein. Additionally, each securing feature may independently have the same shape as or a different shape from securing features 103 as shown in FIG. 1C.

As shown in FIG. 1A, each securing feature 103 may have a certain width 104 as measured along the length of each finger portion 102. It should be understood that the “width” of a securing feature may be considered the “valley floor” of a valley, if the securing feature is considered a valley (for example, when viewing the securing feature from the outside of a glove, wherein the securing feature is an indentation visible on an outer surface of the glove). Thus, in some examples, the width may exclude an area between the valley and the plateau adjacent to the valley, although the present disclosure is not necessarily limited in this way.

In some non-limiting examples, the width of each securing feature may independently be between about 0 and 5 mm, optionally between about 0.01 and 5 mm, optionally between about 0.1 and 5 mm, optionally between about 0.1 and 4 mm, optionally between about 1 and 3 mm, optionally between about 1.5 and 2.5 mm, and optionally about 2 mm. It should bet understood that a width of 0 mm may be provided when the securing feature has, for example, a shape wherein its “valley floor” is a point or an edge. In some non-limiting examples, the width of each securing feature may independently be between about 1 and 30 mm, optionally between about 1 and 25 mm, optionally between about 1 and 20 mm, optionally between about 5 and 15 mm, optionally between about 6 and 14 mm, optionally between about 7 and 13 mm, optionally between about 8 and 12 mm, optionally between about 9 and 11 mm, and optionally about 10 mm.

FIG. 2 shows another example of a glove 200 according to aspects of the present disclosure. Similar to the example shown in FIG. 1A, glove 200 of FIG. 2 includes a palm portion 201 and finger portions 202 each having a securing feature 203. As shown in FIG. 2, each securing feature 203 may have a width 204 as shown, which is larger than width 104 as shown in FIG. 1A.

It should be understood that the securing features of the present disclosure are configured to provide a closer fit, i.e. higher pressure, between the finger portion and a wearer’s finger as compared with other areas of the finger portion. This closer fit may include direct contact between the one or more securing features and the wearer’s finger, or it may include indirect contact between the one or more securing features and the wearer’s finger (e.g., when the securing feature is provided on an outer glove of a double-gloved wearer).

The present disclosure is also directed to methods of making a glove as described herein. In some non-limiting examples, the method may include at least contacting a glove former with a glove composition and curing the glove composition to provide a glove. Non-limiting examples of glove compositions include the vulcanization compositions and/or latex dispersions described in U.S. Patent No. 10,759,913, the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.

According to some aspects, the glove former may have a shape corresponding with the securing features as described herein. For example, the glove former may have one or more indentations corresponding with the securing features as disclosed herein and/or as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and/or 2. FIGS. 3A and 3B show examples of formers useful according to the present disclosure. In particular, formers 300 of FIGS. 3A and 3B each include a plurality of indentations 301 corresponding with the securing features as disclosed herein.

The present disclosure is thus also directed to glove formers as described herein.

It will be appreciated that various implementations of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives or varieties thereof, can be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein can be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

While the aspects described herein have been described in conjunction with the example aspects outlined above, various alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/or substantial equivalents, whether known or that are or may be presently unforeseen, may become apparent to those having at least ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the example aspects, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Therefore, the disclosure is intended to embrace all known or later-developed alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/or substantial equivalents.

Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be construed as a means plus function unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.”

Further, the word “example” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any aspect described herein as “example” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects. Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more. Combinations such as “at least one of A, B, or C,” “at least one of A, B, and C,” and “A, B, C, or any combination thereof” include any combination of A, B, and/or C, and may include multiples of A, multiples of B, or multiples of C. Specifically, combinations such as “at least one of A, B, or C,” “at least one of A, B, and C,” and “A, B, C, or any combination thereof” may be A only, B only, C only, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C, where any such combinations may contain one or more member or members of A, B, or C. Nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims.

The examples are put forth so as to provide those of ordinary skill in the art with a complete disclosure and description of how to make and use the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of what the inventors regard as their invention nor are they intended to represent that the experiments below are all or the only experiments performed. Efforts have been made to ensure accuracy with respect to numbers used (e.g. amounts, dimensions, etc.) but some experimental errors and deviations should be accounted for.

Moreover, all references throughout this application, for example patent documents including issued or granted patents or equivalents; patent application publications; and non-patent literature documents or other source material; are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties, as though individually incorporated by reference.