GB2065450A

GB2065450A - Dipped rubber or the like products

Info

Publication number: GB2065450A
Application number: GB8039262A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: PNEUMATIC SYSTEMS ENGS Ltd
Current assignee: PNEUMATIC SYSTEMS ENGS Ltd
Priority date: 1979-12-20
Filing date: 1980-12-08
Publication date: 1981-07-01
Also published as: GB2065450B

Abstract

The object of the invention is to provide a rubber or the like glove that has an integral cuff and comprises a hand portion (2) formed from rubber or plastics material with a separate resilient cuff portion (3) secured to the hand portion (2) by the material of the hand portion. Thus, a cuff can be placed on a former (4) and the former dipped into a bath of rubber or the like member (5) to a depth such that part of the cuff lies below the level of the bath and when the material of the bath penetrates that part of the cuff as a coating is applied to the former. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Dipped rubber or the like products This invention relates to rubber or the like products and is particularly concerned with the production of rubber or the like gloves.

For some considerable time it has been common practice to provide in many industrial spheres, protective gloves for use by operatives in any location where the hand requires protection. Forthe most part such so-cal led rubber gloves for industrial use have been formed by providing an inner fabric liner complete with a cuff portion, the liner being applied to a former in the shape of a hand, and the liner then being coated in an appropriate rubber or plastics material such as by relatively conventional dip coating means. Apart from constituting an additional expense, the use of an inner fabric liner introduces the difficulty of applying the inner fabric liner to the former before coating can take place.

In an attempt to dispense with a conventional liner, so-called rubber gloves have been produced by simply coating a former with an appropriate plastics material, and either whilst the plastics material is still tacky, or after the application of an appropriate adhesive material, flock spraying takes place to completely coat the plastics material. After stripping the glove from the former, it is turned inside out so that the flock coating constitutes a liner to the glove.

This has an advantage over the conventionally lined glove in terms of being a somewhat cheaper product to produce without impairing the quality of the glove from the wrist portion to the finger ends, but the absence of a cuff can be detrimental in that the glove is less comfortable at the wrist portion and inevitably, by virtue of its loose fit, could allow unwanted material to enterthe glove whilst being worn.

The object of the present invention is to provide a glove which retains the advantages of a fully lined glove with its integral cuff and yet has the advantage of an unlined glove in terms of cost.

According to the present invention, a glove comprises a hand portion formed from an appropriate rubber or plastics material with a separate, resilient cuff portion secured to the hand portion by the material of the hand portion.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a method of producing a glove comprises applying a resilient cuff portion to a former, dipping or otherwise coating the former with a suitable rubber or plastics material in such a manner that the rubber or plastics coating overlaps the end of the cuff portion and subsequently stripping the glove portion with its cuff from the former.

For the convenience of the user it would be possible during the production of the glove, to apply a flock coating. Thus, after dipping or otherwise coating the former, either whilst the plastics material is still tacky, or foilowing the application of a suitable adhesive, the glove portion of the former may be flock sprayed.

The resilient cuff portion may be any suitable stretchable fabric and may be used either in single or double thickness. Thus, the cuff portion when of double thickness can be applied to a former in such a manner that both layers are covered by the plastics material or in such a manner that one layer being folded back on the other layer, only one layer is coated with plastics material to hold the cuff in place and when the folded back portion can be returned to its original position to overlap that part of the cuff bonded to the glove. This has the advantage of being more comfortable to wear in that the overlapping portion of the cuff covers the bonded portion. In the latter construction it is convenient to sew the two layers of cuff together at a short distance from their inward edges.

The invention therefore obviates the need for a separate conventional fabric liner with an integral cuff, with the effect of that on the cost of the glove and the removal of the difficulty of applying the liner to the former, and yet provides a glove that has all the advantages of the prior art construction by having a cuff portion.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a former to which has been applied a knitted cuff portion; Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the dipping operation; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of a glove formed in accordance with the invention.

In the drawings, a glove 1 has a hand portion 2 formed from an appropriate rubber or plastics material, there being a sparate resilient cuff portion 3 secured to the hand portion 2.

As is schematically shown in Figures 1 and 2, the resilient cuff portion 3 is first applied to a former 4 and positioned at the position of the wrist. The former4 is then dipped into a tank containing liquid rubber or plastics material to a depth such that the liquid 5 overlaps part of the cuff 3. During the dipping step, the rubber or plastics material coats the hand portion 6 of the former and penetrates into the cuff portion over the depth to which the cuff portion lies below the surface of the liquid, thereby securing the cuff portion 3 to the hand portion 2 by the material of the hand portion 2.

After the removal of the former from the dipping tank, and whilst the rubber or plastics material of the hand portion is still tacky (or alternatively after the curing of the rubber or plastics material following the application of a suitable adhesive), the glove on the former may be flock sprayed to provide what is the inner face ofthe glove, in use, with a coating for the comfort of the wearer.

After curing or drying, the glove can be simply and efficiently stripped from the former utilising the cuff portion 3.

Although not illustrated, it will readily be appreciated that the resilient cuff portion can be formed from any suitable stretchable fabric and can be used either in single or double thickness. When of double thickness, the dipping step can be such that both layers are overlapped by the rubber or plastics material, or only one layer can be so coated and the second layer subsequently folded overthe junction between the material of the cuff and the material of the hand portion. When a folded cuff is used it is convenient to sew the two layers of cuff together at a short distance from their inward edges.

Claims

1. A glove comprising a hand portion formed from an appropriate rubber or plastics material with a separate, resilient cuff portion secured to the hand portion by the material of the hand portion.

2. A method of producing a glove comprising applying a resilient cuff portion to a former, dipping or otherwise coating the former with a suitable rubber or plastics material in such a mannerthatthe rubber or plastics coating overlaps the end of the cuff portion and subsequently stripping the glove portion with its cuff from the former.

3. A method of producing a glove as in Claim 2, wherein a flock coating is applied during the production of the glove.

4. A glove as in Claim 1, wherein the resilient cuff portion is formed from a stretchable fabric.

5. A glove as in Claim 1 or Claim 4, wherein the cuff portion is of single thickness.

6. A glove as in Claim 1 or Claim 4, wherein the cuff portion is of double thickness.

7. Aglove as in Claim 6, wherein both layers are covered by the material of the hand portion.

8. A glove as in Claim 6, wherein one layer of the cuff portion is folded back on the other layer and only one layer coated with plastics material to hold the cuff in place, the folded back portion being returned to its original position to overlap that part of the cuff portion bonded to the hand portion.

9. A glove substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A method of producing a glove substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.