WO2015054438A1

WO2015054438A1 - Glove with sensitivity-enhancing finger tip inserts

Info

Publication number: WO2015054438A1
Application number: PCT/US2014/059784
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vincent T. SMITH
Original assignee: Smith Vincent T
Priority date: 2013-10-08
Filing date: 2014-10-08
Publication date: 2015-04-16

Abstract

A glove for facilitating accurate tactility and dexterity on the distal palmer finger pad tips. The glove has finger tip inserts facilitating tactile sensitivity. The inserts are located between the finger tips and first joint on at least on the thumb, middle and index finger. Optionally, the glover is turned inside out. A hole is cut in the finger tip. The insert is adhered to the finger tip to cover the hole. If the glove was turned inside out, it is turned outside out.

Description

GLOVE WITH SENSITIVITY-ENHANCING FINGER TIP INSERTS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to medical gloves, which nurses, allied health professionals, and the like use during the performance of their duties, such as feeling for a patient's arteries and veins, as well as entering data into touch screen devices.

The Prior Art

Nurses and other health professionals rely heavily on their distal superior phalangeal pads (palmer side

fingertips) when performing medical procedures such as drawing blood, using intravenous therapy, determining pulse, and entering data for diagnostic tests via touch screen medical devices, all while being exposed to dangerous diseases. They need a high level of tactile sensitivity and dexterity on their palmer side fingertips to perform these procedures .

Consequently, a medical glove is necessary to nurses and other health professionals. Unfortunately, the material of the palmer side fingertips of a conventional medical glove has a uniform thickness, thereby failing to provide the necessary level of tactile sensitivity and dexterity. As a result, nurses and other health professionals have difficulty in performing necessary duties.

Hence, a medical glove capable of providing a high level of tactile sensitivity and dexterity on their distal palmer finger pad tips to a degree sufficient to allow nurses and other health professionals to carry out medical procedures without uncertainty is desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention satisfies a necessity and remedies the shortcomings of the prior art through the provision of a glove for facilitating accurate tactility and dexterity on the distal palmer finger pad tips. It includes palmer side thin distal superior phalangeal insert pads facilitating tactile sensitivity where it is most needed by the clinician. The thin pad section may be constructed to constitute a portion of each finger pad of the glove between its tip end and the first joint.

The insert pads are located between the finger tips and first joint, which is on the palmer finger pad tip section of all phalangeal digits or at least on the thumb, middle and index finger section of the glove.

The invention consisting of a glove having an inner surface, outer surface or middle layer. The surface

surrounding the open holes on the glove finger tips and or thin pad is adapted for attachment for the thin pads from underneath, above, middle, or interwoven. The thin pads being fabricated from a material that facilitates tactile sensitivity, and dexterity.

Objects of the present invention will become apparent in light of the following drawings and detailed description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature and object of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a palmer view of the assembled left hand glove unit with inserts on three digits;

FIG. 2 is a palmer view of the assembled right hand glove unit with inserts on all five digits;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of an insert;

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the palmer-side distal phalangeal tip with hole and surrounding phalangeal surface; FIG. 5 is a detailed, exploded view of the insert

attached to the outside of the digit tip;

FIG. 6 is a detailed, assembled view of the insert attached to the outside of the digit tip;

FIG. 7 is a detailed, exploded view of the insert

attached to the inside of the digit tip;

FIG. 8 is a detailed, assembled view of the insert attached to the inside of the digit tip;

FIG. 9 is a detailed view of the first step, hole cut, of the lateral incision method of attaching the insert;

FIG. 10 is a detailed view of the second step, lateral incision, of the lateral incision method of attaching the insert ;

FIG. 11 is a detailed view of the third step, insert placement, of the lateral incision method of attaching the insert ;

FIG. 12 is a detailed view of the fourth step, insert attachment, of the lateral incision method of attaching the insert ;

FIG. 13 is a detailed, assembled view of the insert attached via the lateral incision method;

FIG. 14 is a detailed view of the first step, hole cut, of the triangular flap method of attaching the insert;

FIG. 15 is a detailed view of the second step, insert cut and attach, of the triangular flap method of attaching the insert ;

FIG. 16 is a detailed view of the third step, flap flatten, of the triangular flap method of attaching the insert ;

FIG. 17 is a detailed view of the fourth step, flap attach, of the triangular flap method of attaching the insert ; FIG. 18 is a detailed, assembled view of the insert attached the triangular flap method;

FIG. 19 is a detailed alternative rolled attachment for the triangular flap method; and

FIG. 20 is a detailed view of the cut parameters for the triangular flap method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a glove 10 with thumb and/or finger tip inserts 20, or attachments on the palmer side of the hand, so that the wearer has increased sensitivity over gloves of the prior art. The inserts 20 may consist of a thin sensitive material such as latex, rubber, synthetic rubber, special rubber, lambskin, nitrile, poly-isoprene, polyurethane and the like which has the ability to be thin, close contact with the finger tips pads, thus facilitating increased sensitivity and dexterity.

It will be obvious that the current invention is depicted and exhibited in reference to the finished product in FIGS. 1 and 2. Moreover, it is suggested that the remainder of the figures refer to the components of the finished product, which consists of the palmer view of the right and left glove 10, respectively. Furthermore, this finished product is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, but rather illustrate a representation of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention.

In reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the drawings are shown in accordance with the principles of the finished invention, which is a palmer side embodiment of the medical gloves 10 of the left and right hand, respectively. The protective medical glove 10 has two components, a main unit 12, which includes the digits (fingers and thumb) 14, and the inserts 20, which are attached to or otherwise integrated onto the surrounding phalangeal surface (SPS) 18 around a hole 22 in the tip 16 of the digit 14, where the tip 16 is defined as the end portion of the digit 14 from approximately the last finger joint. The SPS 18 can be on either the outside of the tip 16 or the inside of the tip 16, depending on whether or not the insert 20 is attached to the outside or inside of the tip 16.

The main glove unit 12 is typically comprised of a single layer of elastic material such, as but not limited to, latex, vinyl, nitrile, isoprene, and neoprene.

The thickness of the material of the main glove 12 is measured in millimeters (mm) or mils (1 mil = 0.001 inch) . The thickness may vary depending on the material used, but is not typically more than 0.50 mm. Example thicknesses for various materials are shown in TABLE A.

Material Average finger tip Average cuff

thickness thickness

Neoprene 0.18 mm = 7.1 mils 0.14 mm = 5.5 mils

Poly-isoprene 0.18 mm = 7.1 mils 0.14 mm = 5.5 mils

Latex 0.13 mm = 5.1 mils 0.08 mm = 3.1 mils

Latex 0.14 mm = 5.5 mils 0.09 mm = 3.5 mils

Latex 0.16 mm = 6.2 mils 0.10 mm = 4.0 mils

Latex 0.23 mm = 9.5 mils 0.20 mm = 7.8 mils

Latex 0.23 mm = 9.5 mils 0.20 mm = 6.5 mils

Latex 0.31 mm = 12.5 mils 0.24 mm = 9.4 mils

Latex 0.23 mm = 9.1 mils 0.17 mm = 6.5 mils

Bismuth Oxide 0.35 mm = 13.7 mils 0.24 mm = 9.3 mils Latex

Nitrile 0.30 mm = 11.8 mils 0.30 mm = 11.8 mils

TABLE A

For a given material, one may assume that thinner gloves allow better dexterity and flexibility, whereas thicker gloves provide better protection but less flexibility. With the highly-sensitive material attached to or integrated with the main glove unit 12 onto the surrounding phalangeal surface 18, which makes up the gloves palmer side distal phalangeal tips 16, a degree of integrity is maintained and the level of sensitivity and dexterity is enhanced.

The highly-sensitive material that is connected or integrated at the surrounding phalangeal surface 18, which makes up distal phalangeal tips 16 of the glove digits 14 is comprised of a single thin layer of material, which is composed of but is not limited to latex, polyurethane, poly- isoprene, and/or TEGADERM polyurethane film.

Examples of thicknesses of various compositions of highly-sensitive material are shown in TABLE B, with a contemplated maximum thickness of 0.20 mm.

Material Thickness in mm

Latex 0.044 to 0.121

Polyisoprene 0.045 to 0.06

Polyurethane 0.0011 to 0.0027

TEGADERM (polyurethane film) 0.025

TABLE B

Polyurethane can be made thinner than latex and it also has the ability to transmit body heat better than latex. The advantages of polyurethane include its ability to transfer body heat, odorless, clear, no latex allergens, strength, and compatibility with water-based and oil-based lubricants. The disadvantages are that it is not as elastic as latex and the selection is very limited.

Polyisoprene has all the characteristics of latex plus other advantages: soft, a non-latex material, good

elasticity, strength, and compatibility with water-based lubricants. The disadvantage is that it is not compatible with oil-based lubricants.

The advantages of TEGADERM polyurethane film are as follows: retains moisture, impermeable to bacteria,

facilitates autolytic debridement, allows wound observation, and does not require a secondary dressing. The disadvantages are as follows: may not be required for infected wounds, not required for wounds with heavy drainage, requires a border of intact skin adhesive edge dressing, may be difficult to apply and handle, may dislodge in high friction areas.

In reference to the drawings, characteristics have been explicitly described which correspond to designated parts throughout the several depictions. Moreover, any one of the materials in TABLE A can be a component of the main glove unit hand coverings 10 as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 or the main glove unit 10 with phalangeal tip holes 22 as depicted in FIG. 4. For instance, the main glove unit hand coverings 10 in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 can be composed of 8-mm-thick

nitrile .

In addition, any one of the materials in TABLE B can be a component of the inserts 20. For instance, in FIGS. 1 and 2, the inserts 20 of digits 1-5 or digits 1, 2, and 3,

respectively, can be composed of 0.0027-mm-thick

polyurethane . Moreover, the insert 20 of FIG. 3 can be composed of 0.0027-mm-thick polyurethane.

The insert 20 can be attached to or integrated with the main unit glove's distal surrounding phalangeal surface (SPS) 18 in order to cover holes 22 in the tips of main glove unit's five palmer side distal phalangeal tips 16. The acronym, SPS, is in reference to the surface 18 surrounding the hole 22 in FIG. 4, as well as the surfaces 18 surrounding the holes 22 of digits 1 (thumb), 2, and 3 of FIG. 1 and digits 1-5 of FIG. 2.

Attachment to or integration between the inserts 20 and the SPS 18 on the tips 16 can be achieved by any one or more of various methods. Such methods include, but not limited to, adhesive, compression, heating, melting, and other manipulations through physical or chemical means. Therefore, the present invention contemplates the use of any method that would bring both components 16, 20 together.

The various materials used for the main glove unit 10 may have a greater thickness than the various thin materials used for the inserts 20. As a result, the combined thickness of the two components maybe different than the two parts

separated, but not necessarily, since some methods of

combination may result in the two components' thicknesses being uniform.

When the inserts 20 are attached to the tips 16, both the main glove unit 10 and inserts 20 act as a barrier for protection of the user.

The present invention contemplates a number of different methods for attaching the insert 20 onto the SPS 18 of the tip 16. These different methods are shown in FIGS. 5-20.

In the attachment of FIGS. 5 and 6, a hole 22 is made in the digit tip 16 that is smaller than the size of the insert 20. The digit 14 is left in the outside out position and the insert 20 is attached, as at 26, onto the SPS 18 around the hole 22 by whatever means is appropriate, for example, by adhesive or heat. For the typical thumb, the length Y of the insert 20 is approximately 2.5 cm and the width X of the insert 20 is approximately 2.0 cm. For the typical finger, the length Y of the insert 20 is approximately 2.5 cm and the width X of the insert 20 is approximately 2.0 cm.

In the attachment of FIGS. 7 and 8, a hole 22 is cut in the digit tip 16 that is smaller than the size of the insert 20. The glove 10 is turned inside out and the insert 20 is attached onto the SPS 18 around the hole 22 by whatever means is appropriate, for example, by adhesive or heat. After the insert 20 is attached, the glove 10 is turned outside out.

In the attachment of FIGS. 9-13, a hole 22 is cut in the digit tip 16 that is smaller than the size of the insert 20. The glove 10 can be in either outside out or inside out. In either case, a thin lateral incision 28 is made below the hole 22, either approximately 1/8", 1/16", or 1/32" below the hole 22, whatever is appropriate. The lateral incision 28 extends away from the digit tip 16 creating a flap 30 with a connected rear attachment 32 of 1/4" to 1/8". The flap has an upper hole 36 and the digit 14 has a lower hole 38. There is a gap 40 between the digit 14 and the flap 30. The SPS 18 is in two parts, one surrounding the upper hole 36 and one surrounding the lower hole 38.

The insert 20 is inserted into the rear most part of the gap 40, where the upper peripheral surface of the insert is attached to the under surrounding surface of the upper hole 36 in the flap 30 and the lower peripheral surface of the insert is attached to the upper surrounding surface of lower hole 38 by whatever means is appropriate, for example, by adhesive or heat. Either after attaching the insert 20 or at the same time, the flap 30 is reattached to the digit 14 (the incision 28 is closed) by whatever means is appropriate, for example, by adhesive or heat.

In the attachment method of FIGS. 14-18 the glove 10 is turned inside out. With reference to precut FIG. 20, the corresponding cuts for the hole 20 are made so that

triangular flaps 44 are produced. FIG. 20 shows example cut parameters. TABLE C lists the parameters for fingers and thumb for the typically glove 10.

TABLE C After the cuts, the flaps 44 are folded over to overlap the digit 14, as in FIG. 15. The SPS 18 is the area

surrounding the hole 22 and includes the flaps 44.

The insert 20 is formed with wings 46 in the same size and shape as the flaps 44, as in FIG. 15, and the insert wings 46 are attached to the flaps 44, as at 48, by whatever means is appropriate, for example, by adhesive or heat. The overlapped wings 46 and flaps 44 are attached to the digit 14 so they are flat, as in FIG. 17, by whatever means is

appropriate, for example, by adhesive or heat. After all of the inserts 20 are attached, the glove 10 is turned outside out, as in FIG. 18. Note that, if appropriate, the flaps 44 can be attached to the digit 14 before the wings 46 are attached to the flaps 44.

FIG. 19 shows an alternate attachment of the insert 20 to the digit 14. Adhesive is placed on the surface of flaps 44 and attached to wings 46. The flaps 44 and wings 46 are then rolled, as at 52, and both are bonded such that the adhesive is placed at the base of rolled flap/wing combination so it is secured. After all of the inserts 20 are attached, the glove 10 is turned outside out, as in FIG. 18.

Thus it has been shown and described a glove with

sensitivity-enhanced finger tip inserts. Since certain changes may be made in the present disclosure without

departing from the scope of the present invention, it is intended that all matter described in the foregoing

specification and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A glove comprising:

(a) a main portion and five digits, all composed of an elastic material not more than 0.50 mm thick;

(b) at least three of the digits having inserts at the finger tips, the inserts being composed of a thin sensitive material; and

(c) each of the finger tips having a hole with a surrounding phalangeal surface, the insert placed to cover the hole and attached to the surrounding phalangeal surface.

2. The glove of claim 1 wherein the elastic material is selected from the group consisting of latex, vinyl, nitrile, isoprene, and neoprene.

3. The glove of claim 1 wherein the sensitive material is no more than 0.20 mm thick and is selected from the group consisting of latex, rubber, synthetic rubber, lambskin, nitrile, poly-isoprene, and polyurethane .

4. The glove of claim 1 wherein three of the digits have the inserts.

5. The glove of claim 1 wherein five of the digits have the inserts.