AU2017202642A1

AU2017202642A1 - Contamination preventive glove donning device

Info

Publication number: AU2017202642A1
Application number: AU2017202642A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Erik-Philip Chang; Philip-Ling Chang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-05-05
Filing date: 2017-04-20
Publication date: 2017-11-23
Also published as: TWI587835B; TW201739428A; NZ731208A

Abstract

A contamination preventive glove donning device includes a support member set (1), two barrels (2) held in parallel by the support member set (1), each barrel (2) including a barrel body (21), a coupling neck (22) axially extended from the barrel body (21) for holding the wrist (61) of one of a pair of rubber gloves (6), a chamber (23) defined in the coupling neck (22) and the barrel body (21) that is enclosed when the user attach the wrists (61) of a pair of rubber gloves (6) onto the coupling necks (22) of the barrels (2) and a guide groove (223) located on the coupling neck (22) and extended in direction away from the barrel body (21), and a vacuum generator (3) adapted for creating a negative pressure in the chamber (23) in each barrel (2) for enabling the attached rubber gloves (6) to be expanded for donning, preve while protecting the chambers (23) of the barrels (2) against outside air pollutions. Ct cl-4

Description

CONTAMINATION PREVENTIVE GLOVE DONNING DEVICE

Field of the Invention [001] The present invention relates to glove donning device technology and more particularly, to a contamination preventive glove donning device, which is capable of creating a negative pressure in each of two barrels so that the wrists and palms of the pair of rubber gloves that are attached onto the two barrels can be sucked into the inside of the barrels and evenly expanded to facilitate donning, reducing the risk of contamination during donning.

Background of the invention [002] Rubber gloves can be worn during working to protect the hands from detergent, bacteria and dirt and other contaminants. Sterile rubber gloves are widely used in hospitals or laboratories to prevent contamination and decrease the risk of infection. Since a large friction force can be produced when putting a pair of rubber gloves onto the hands, it is inconvenient to don a pair of rubber gloves. Further, when donning a pair of sterile rubber gloves, the surfaces of the sterile rubber gloves can easily be contaminated by the user's hands. In order to facilitate donning and avoid contamination, many glove donning apparatuses have been created. Taiwan Patent M445955 discloses a glove donning apparatus, which uses two suction devices to suck up the opposing top and bottom sides of the rubber gloves to be worn, holding the rubber gloves in an expanded condition so that the user can insert the hands into the expanded rubber gloves to don the rubber gloves. However, this design of glove donning apparatus is still not satisfactory in function and has drawbacks as follows: [003] (1) The suction devices apply a suction force through suction holes thereof to suck up the surfaces of the rubber gloves. This arrangement will cause the surfaces of the rubber gloves to receive a suction force in an uneven manner, making the user not easy to don the rubber gloves. Further, after donning, some portions of the rubber gloves will be tightly wrapped about the user’s hands and some other portions of the rubber gloves will be loosely suspended from the user’s hands. Further, the suction holes are easy to breed bacteria, causing glove contamination.

[004] (2) This design of glove donning apparatus provides a housing to accommodate the two suction devices; however, the housing must provide an opening for the insertion of the user’s hands, making the loaded gloves more vulnerable to outside air pollution.

Summary of the invention [005] The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a contamination preventive glove donning device, which enables the chambers thereof to be enclosed when the user attach a pair of rubber gloves of any of various sizes to the contamination preventive glove donning device for donning so that a negative pressure can be created in each chamber to prevent contamination and to let the user don the rubber gloves conveniently.

[006] It is another object of the present invention to provide a contamination preventive glove donning device, which has an antimicrobial layer coated on the inner smooth surface of each chamber, facilitating cleaning and reduccing the risk of glove contamination.

[007] It is another object of the present invention to provide a contamination preventive glove donning device, which is equipped with release units to assist quick release of the loaded rubber gloves after donning.

[008] To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, a contamination preventive glove donning device comprises a support member set, two barrels and a vacuum generator. The barrels are mounted in the support member set, each comprising a barrel body, a coupling neck axially extended from one end of the barrel body in integrity for holding the wrist of one of a pair of rubber gloves, a chamber defined in the coupling neck and the barrel body, and a guide groove located on the coupling neck and extended in direction away from the barrel body. The vacuum generator is fixedly mounted at the support member set. When the user attaches the wrists of a pair of rubber gloves onto the coupling necks of the barrels, the chambers of the barrels are enclosed so that the vacuum generator can be operated to create a negative pressure in each chamber, enabling the wrists and palms of the rubber gloves to be sucked into the chambers in an inside out manner and evenly expanded.

[009] Preferably, the barrel bodies of the barrels of the contamination preventive glove donning device are transparent or translucent for allowing the user to see therethrough and to visually check the positioning of the palms and fingers of the attached rubber gloves in the respective chambers of the respective barrels. Further, the chamber of each barrel has a smooth inner surface coated with an antimicrobial layer, facilitating cleaning and reduccing the risk of glove contamination.

[010] Preferably, each barrel of the contamination preventive glove donning device further comprises a guide groove located on the coupling neck thereof and extended in direction away from the barrel body. Further, each release unit comprises a driver, a drive rod and a push block. The driver and the push block are respectively connected to two opposite ends of the drive rod. The driver is mounted in the barrel body of the respctive barrel. The push block is disposed in the guide groove of the respective barrel. When the drivers of the release units are initiated, the drive rods deive the respective push blocks to move in the respective guide grooves, pushing the attached rubber gloves away from the coupling necks of the respective barrels.

Brief description of the drawings [011] An embodiment or embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [012] FIG. 1 is an oblique top elevational view of a contamination preventive glove donning device in accordance with the present invention.

[013] FIG. 2 corresponds to FIG. 1 when viewed from another angle.

[014] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the contamination preventive glove donning device in accordance with the present invention.

[015] FIG. 4 is an oblique elevational view of one barrel of the contamination preventive glove donning device in accordance with the present invention.

[016] FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of one barrel of the contamination preventive glove donning device in accordance with the present invention.

[017] FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing illustrating the structural arrangement of the vacuum generator of the contamination preventive glove donning device in accordance with the present invention.

[018] FIG. 7 is a system block diagram of the present invention.

[019] FIG. 8 is a schematic applied view of the present invention (I).

[020] FIG. 9 is a schematic applied view of the present invention (II).

[021] FIG. 10 is an elevational view of a part of an alternate form of the barrel of the contamination preventive glove donning device in accordance with the present invention.

[022] FIG. 11 illustrates an alternate form of the release unit of the contamination preventive glove donning device in accordance with the present invention.

[023] FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the alternate form of the release unit shown in FIG. 11.

[024] FIG. 13 is a schematic applied view of the alternate form of the release unit shown in FIG. 11.

Detailed description of the embodiment or embodiments [025] Referring to FIGS. 1-7, a contamination preventive glove donning device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The contamination preventive glove donning device of this first embodiment comprises a support member set 1, two barrels 2, a vacuum generator 3, two release units 4 and a control unit 5.

[026] The support member set 1 comprises two opposing support plates 11, a plurality of connection rods 12 and a cover plate 13.

[027] The support plates 11 are symmetrical, each comprising two position-limiting holes 111 and a plurality of position-limiting ribs 112 spaced around an inner perimeter of each position-limiting hole 111. One support plate 11 further comprises a plurlaiyt of through holes 113 spaced between the two position-limiting holes 111. The connection rods 12 have respective two opposite ends thereof respectively conneccted with the support plates 11 to hold the support plates 11 in parallel. The cover plate 13 comprises a cover plate body 131, and a plurality of positioning rods 132 downwardly extended from a bottom wall of the cover plate body 131.

[028] The barrels 2 each comprise a barrel body 21 that can be transparent or translucent, a coupling neck 22 axially extended from one end of the barrel body 21 in integrity and having an outer diameter gradually reduced in direction away from the barrel body 21, a support base 25 located at a noytyom side of the barrel body 21, a chamber 23 with a smooth inner surface defined in the coupling neck 22 and the barrel body 21, an antimicrobial layer 24 coated on the smooth inner surface of the chamber 23, an annular flange 221 extended around a distal end of the coupling neck 22, an air valve 26 located on the barrel body 21 in communication with the chamber 23, a guide groove 223 located on the coupling neck 22 and extended across the annular flange 221, a shield 224 mounted on the surface of the coupling neck 22 to shield the guide groove 223, and a plurality of locating notches 211 spaced around each of two opposite ends of the barrel body 21. The support plates 11 of the support member set 1 are respectively mounted on the opposite ends of the barrel bodies 21 of the two barrels 2 by attaching the respective position-limiting holes 111 onto the opposite ends of the barrel bodies 21 of the two barrels 2 and forcing the respective position-limiting ribs 112 into engagement with the respective locating notches 211 of the barrels 2. The cover plate 13 of the support member set 1 is attached to the barrels 2 at a top side with two opposite lateral sides of the cover plate body 131 respectively abutted against the outer surfaces of the barrel bodies 21 of the barrels 2.

[029] The vacuum generator 3 is fixedly mounted at the support member set 1, comprising a vacuum pump 31 and two suction tubes 32 connected to the vacuum pump 31. The vacuum pump 31 comprises a pump housing 311, and a rotating vacuum motor 312 and an air filter 313 mounted in the pump housing 311. The suction tubes 32 each have one end thereof connected to the pump housing 311 and an opposite end thereof connected to the air valve 26 of one respective barrel 2 for drawing air out of the chamber 23 of the respective barrel 2.

[030] The release units 4 each comprise a driver 41, a drive rod 42 and a push block 43. The drive rod 42 hs two opposite ends thereof respectively connected to the driver 41 and the push block 43. The driver 41 is disposed adjacent to the barrel body 21 of one respective barrel 2. The push block 43 is slidably mounted in the guide groove 223 of the respective barrel 2.

[031] The control unit 5 comprises a holder shell 51 mounted at the support member set 1, a plurality of start-up buttons 52 mounted at the holder shell 51 and adapted for starting up the rotating vacuum motor 312 of the vacuum generator 3, a stop device 53 mounted at the holder shell 51 and operable to stop the operation of the vacuum generator 3 and to start up the drivers 41 of the release units 4 and a microprocessor 54 mounted inside the holder shell 51. Further, the stop device 53 can be a foot switch or voice switch. The microprocessor 54 has stored therein a plurality of executive control programs 541. Each start-up button 52 corresponds to one respective executive control program 541. The start-up buttons 52 and stop device 53 of the control unit 5 are electrically coupled to the microprocessor 54. The vacuum pump 31 of the vacuum generator 3 and the driver 41 of the release unit 4 are respectively electrically coupled to the microprocessor 54.

[032] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIGS. 6-9, when using the contamination preventive glove donning device, attach the wrist 61 of the rubber gloves 6 onto the coupling necks 22 of the barrels 2 to enclose the chambers 23. Due to the arrangement of the annular flanges 221 at the distal ends of the respective coupling necks 22, the wrist 61 of the rubber gloves 6 will not fall from the respective coupling necks 22. At this time, the user can press one mating start-up button 52 of the control unit 5 according to the size of the rubber gloves 6, causing the pressed start-up button 52 to provide a signal to the microprocessor 54. Upon receipt of the signal from the pressed start-up button 52, the microprocessor 54 starts up the vacuum pump 31 of the vacuum generator 3 subject to the corresponding executive control program 541, causing the rotating vacuum motor 312 of the vacuum pump 31 to pump air out of the chambers 23 through the respective suction tubes 32, and thus, a negative pressure is created in each chamber 23. After creation of a negative pressure in each chamber 23, a pressure difference is created between the inside of the palms 62 and fingers 63 of the rubber gloves 6 and the atmosphere, thus, the palms 62 and fingers 63 of the rubber gloves 6 are sucked into the inside of the reespective chambers 23 and turned outside in. At this time, the user can see the position of the palms 62 and fingers 63 of the rubber gloves 6 in the respective chambers 23 through the respective trapsarent or translucent barrel bodies 21.

[033] When the palms 62 and fingers 63 of the rubber gloves 6 are properly positioned in the respective chambers 23, the user can then insert the hands into the chambers 23 of the respective barrels 2 to don the rubber gloves 6. After donning the rubber gloves 6, operate the stop device 53 to give a signal to the microprocessor 54, causing the microprocessor 54 to turn off the rotating vacuum motor 312 of the vacuum pump 31 and to simultaneously turn on the drivers 41 of the release units 4. When the drivers 41 of the release units 4 are turned on, the drivers 41 drive the respective drive rods 42 to move the respective push blocks 43 along the respective guide grooves 223 in direction away from the respective barrel bodies 21, pushing the wrists 61 of the rubber gloves 6 away from the coupling necks 22 of the respective barrels 2 and thus, the glove donning operation is done and the negative pressure in each chamber 23 is released. The stop device 53 is preferably a foot switch or voice switch so that the user can conveniently control the operation of the stop device 53 after donning the rubber gloves 6.

[034] Referring to FIGS. 8-10, the annular flange 221 of each barrel 2 can be configured to provide anti-slip grains 222 or install an anti-slip band (silicon or other materials) on the outer surface thereof, preventing slipping of the wrists 61 of the rubber gloves 6 on the respective coupling necks 22.

[035] Referring to FIGS. 11-13, a contamination preventive glove donning device in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. This second embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid first embodiment with the exceptions as outlined hereinafter. As illustrated, each barrel 2’ comprises an annular flange 221’ extended around the priphery of the distal end of the coupling neck 22’ thereof, a locating notch 222’ located on the coupling neck 22’, and a through hole 223’ and an air vent 224’ cut through the coupling neck 22’ and disposed in the locating notch 222’; each release unit 7 comprises a push bar 71, a push block 72 and a pivot pin 73.

[036] The push bar 71 comprises a push plate 711 suspending inside the coupling neck 22’ of the respective barrel 2’, and a shank 712 angled extended from the push plate 711 and inserted through the through hole 223’ toward the outside of the locating notch 222’. The push block 72 is pivotally connected to the distal end of the shank 712 by the pivot pin 73 and accommodated in the locating notch 222’. Thus, when the wrists 61 of the rubber gloves 6 are respectively attached onto the coupling necks 22’ of the respective barrels 2’, the wrist 61 of each rubber glove 6 will hold down the push block 72 of the respective release unit 7; after donning the rubber gloves 6, the user simply needs to lift the hands so as to lift the push plates 711 of the respective release units 7 and to further push the respective push blocks 72 out of the respective locating notches 222’, and thus, the wrists 61 of the gloves 6 are forced away from the coupling necks 22’ of the respective barrels 2’.

[037] Referring to FIGS. 7-13, in an alterante form of the present invention, the stop device 53 comprises heat effect sensor or photoelectric switches respectively mounted in the locating notches 222’ of the barrels 2’ and adapted for detecting the positioning of the push blockes 72 of the respective release units 7 in the locating notches 222’ of the respectrive barrels 2’. When the push block 72 of each release unit 7 is moved out of the respective locating notch 222’, the stop device 53 immediately gives a signal to the microprocessor 54, causing the microprocessor 54 to stop the operation of the rotating vacuum motor 312.

Claims

Claims

1. A contamination preventive glove donning device, comprising: a support member set; two barrels supported on said support member set, each said barrel comprising a barrel body, a coupling neck axially extended from one end of said barrel body in integrity, a chamber defined in said coupling neck and said barrel body, and a guide groove located on said coupling neck and extended in direction away from said barrel body; a vacuum generator fixedly mounted at said support member set and adapted for creating a negative pressure in the said chamber of each said barrel; and two release units each comprising a driver, a drive rod and a push block, said driver and said push block being respectively connected to two opposite ends of said drive rod, said driver being mounted in said barrel body of one respctive said barrel, said push block being disposed in said guide groove of one respective said barrel; wherein when a user is going to use the contamination preventive glove donning device to don a pair of rubber gloves, attach the wrists of said rubber gloves onto said coupling necks of said barrels to enclose said chambers of said barrels, and then start up said vacuum generator to create a negative pressure in the said chambers of said barrels for enabling the palms and fingers of said rubber gloves to be sucked into said chambers of said barrels and expanded subject to a pressure difference between the inside of said rubber gloves and the outside of said rubber gloves; after the user don said rubber gloves, turn off said vacuum generator, enabling said drivers of said release units to force the respective said drive rods to move the respective push blocks in the respective said guide grooves in direction away from the respective barrel bodies of the respective said barrels so that the wrists of said rubber gloves are pushed away from the respective said coupling necks of the respective said barrels to release the negative pressure from said chambers of said barrels.
2. The contamination preventive glove donning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said barrel further comprises a shield mounted on the said coupling neck thereof to shield the associating said guide groove.
3. The contamination preventive glove donning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said barrel bodies of said barrels are transparent or translucent for allowing the user to see therethrough and to visually check the positioning of the palms and fingers of said rubber gloves in the respective said chambers of the respective said barrels.
4. The contamination preventive glove donning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said chamber of each said barrel has a smooth inner surface coated with an antimicrobial layer.
5. The contamination preventive glove donning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coupling neck of each said barrel has an outer diameter gradually reduced in direction away from the associating said barrel body and terminating in an annular flange.
6. The contamination preventive glove donning device as claimed in claim 5, wherein each said barrel further comprises a plurality of anti-slip grains or bands located on an outer surface of the annular flange thereof.
7. The contamination preventive glove donning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said barrel further comprises a support base located at a bottom side of the barrel body thereof.
8. The contamination preventive glove donning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said barrel further comprises an air valve located on the said barrel body thereof in communication with the associating said chamber; said vacuum generator comprises a vacuum pump, and asuction tube connected between said vacuum pump and said air valve.
9. The contamination preventive glove donning device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said vacuum pump of said vacuum generator comprises a pump housing, a rotating vacuum motor mounted in said pump housing, and an air filter mounted in said pump housing for removing solid matters from air passing therethrough; said suction tube is connected to said pump housing of said vacuum pump.
10. The contamination preventive glove donning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support member set comprises two opposing support plates, each said support plate defining therein two position-limiting holes; the said barrel bodies of said two barrels have respective two opposite ends thereof respectively positioned in the saidposition-limiting holes of said two support plates.
11. The contamination preventive glove donning device as claimed in claim 10, wherein each said barrel further comprises a plurality of locating notches spaced around each of two opposite ends of the said barrel body thereof; said support plates of said support member set each comprise a plurality of position-limiting ribs spaced around an inner perimeter of each said position-limiting hole and respectively engaged into said locating notches of said barrels; said support member set further comprises a plurality of connection rods respectively conneccted between said two support plates to hold said two support plates in parallel.
12. A contamination preventive glove donning device, comprising: a support member set; two barrels supported on said support member set, each said barrel comprising a barrel body, a coupling neck axially extended from one end of said barrel body in integrity, a chamber defined in said coupling neck and said barrel body, and a guide groove located on said coupling neck and extended in direction away from said barrel body; a vacuum generator fixedly mounted at said support member set and adapted for creating a negative pressure in the said chamber of each said barrel; two release units each comprising a driver, a drive rod and a push block, said driver and said push block being respectively connected to two opposite ends of said drive rod, said driver being mounted in said barrel body of one respctive said barrel, said push block being disposed in said guide groove of one respective said barrel; and control unit comprising a holder shell mounted at said support member set, at least one start-up button mounted at said holder shell and adapted for starting up said vacuum generator, and a stop device mounted at said holder shell and operable to stop the operation of said vacuum generator and to start up said release units; wherein when a user is going to use the contamination preventive glove donning device to don a pair of rubber gloves, attach the wrists of said rubber gloves onto said coupling necks of said barrels to enclose said chambers of said barrels, and then operate said at least one start-up button of said control unit to start up said vacuum generator and to further create a negative pressure in the said chambers of said barrels for enabling the palms and fingers of said rubber gloves to be sucked into said chambers of said barrels and expanded suject to a pressure difference between the inside of said rubber gloves and the outside of said rubber gloves; after the user dons said rubber gloves, operate said stop device of said control unit to stop said vacuum generator and to start up said release units, enabling said drivers of said release units to force the respective said drive rods to move the respective push blocks in the respective said guide grooves in direction away from the respective barrel bodies of the respective said barrels so that the wrists of said rubber gloves are pushed away from the respective said coupling necks of the respective said barrels to release the negative pressure from said chambers of said barrels.
13. The contamination preventive glove donning device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said control unit comprises a plurality of said start-up buttons selectively operable to start up said vacuum pump; control unit further comprises a microprocessor mounted inside said holder shell and electrically coupled with said stop device and said start-up buttons, said microprocessor having stored therein a plurality of executive control programs; said vacuum pump and said drivers of said release units of said vacuum generator are respectively electrically connected to said microprocessor; when said microprocessor receives a signal from one said start-up button, said microprocessor initiates one respective said executive control program to start up said vacuum generator; when said microprocessor receives a signal from said stop device, said microprocessor stops the operation of said vacuum pump of said vacuum generator and starts up said drivers of said release units.
14. The contamination preventive glove donning device as claimed in claim 12, wherein each said barrel further comprises a shield mounted on the said coupling neck thereof to shield the associating said guide groove.
15. The contamination preventive glove donning device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the said barrel bodies of said barrels are transparent or translucent for allowing the user to see therethrough and to visually check the positioning of the palms and fingers of said rubber gloves in the respective said chambers of the respective said barrels.
16. The contamination preventive glove donning device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the said chamber of each said barrel has a smooth inner surface coated with an antimicrobial layer.
17. The contamination preventive glove donning device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said coupling neck of each said barrel has an outer diameter gradually reduced in direction away from the associating said barrel body and terminating in an annular flange.
18. The contamination preventive glove donning device as claimed in claim 17, wherein each said barrel further comprises a plurality of anti-slip grains or bands located on an outer surface of the annular flange thereof.
19. The contamination preventive glove donning device as claimed in claim 12, wherein each said barrel further comprises a support base located at a bottom side of the barrel body thereof.
20. The contamination preventive glove donning device as claimed in claim 12, wherein each said barrel further comprises an air valve located on the said barrel body thereof in communication with the associating said chamber; said vacuum generator comprises a vacuum pump, and a suction tube connected between said vacuum pump and said air valve.
21. The contamination preventive glove donning device as claimed in claim 20, wherein said vacuum pump of said vacuum generator comprises a pump housing, a rotating vacuum motor reciprocatably mounted in said pump housing, and an air filter mounted in said pump housing for removing solid matters from air passing therethrough; said suction tube is connected to said pump housing of said vacuum pump.
22. The contamination preventive glove donning device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said support member set comprises two opposing support plates, each said support plate defining therein two position-limiting holes; the said barrel bodies of said two barrels have respective two opposite ends thereof respectively positioned in the said position-limiting holes of said two support plates.
23. The contamination preventive glove donning device as claimed in claim 22, wherein each said barrel further comprises a plurality of locating notches spaced around each of two opposite ends of the said barrel body thereof; said support plates of said support member set each comprise a plurality of position-limiting ribs spaced around an inner perimeter of each said position-limiting hole and respectively engaged into said locating notches of said barrels; said support member set further comprises a plurality of connection rods respectively connected between said two support plates to hold said two support plates in parallel.
24. The contamination preventive glove donning device as claimed in claim 12, wherein each said barrel comprises an annular flange extended around the priphery of a distal end of the said coupling neck thereof, a locating notch located on the said coupling neck thereof, and a through hole cut through the said coupling neck thereof and disposed in a bottom side of said locating notch; each said release unit comprises a push bar, a push block and a pivot pin, said push bar comprising a push plate suspending inside the said coupling neck of one respective said barrel and a shank angled extended from said push plate and inserted through said through hole toward the outside of said locating notch, said push block being pivotally connected to a distal end of said shank by said pivot pin and accommodated in said locating notch.
25. A contamination preventive glove donning device, said structure being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.