GB2089197A

GB2089197A - Protective gloves

Info

Publication number: GB2089197A
Application number: GB8137547A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: UK Secretary of State for Defence
Current assignee: UK Secretary of State for Defence
Priority date: 1980-12-16
Filing date: 1981-12-11
Publication date: 1982-06-23
Also published as: GB2089197B

Abstract

A glove, in particular an impermeable glove for use in a toxic environment, has extendable carpal members 2 for enabling the glove to accommodate a range of hand sizes and a constriction in the carpal members for constraining the tips of a wearer's carpals within the tips of the carpal members. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Protective gloves This invention relates to gloves and in particular to gloves for protecting a wearer against a toxic environment.

In toxic chemical environments gloves must be worn which cannot be permeated by chemical materials and consequently have to be made of heavy duty impermeable material. Such gloves, unlike surgical gloves, are substantially inelastic and, since it is practical to make the gloves oversize rather than undersize in most cases the ends of the wearer's fingers do not reach the ends of the glove fingers. Neither do the wearer's fingers tips remains in constant contact with the internal surface of the gloves. These disadvantages effectively reduce the wearer's tactile sensitivity and thereby limit his ability to perform tasks, particularly when handling and fitting small components.

The problem can be overcome by tailoring gloves to the wearer, but such a solution is impractical because it is expensive and prevents interchangeability of apparel.

The present invention provides a glove for protection against a toxic environment, adapted to fit any hand in a range of hand sizes, but arranged so that in use the ends and tips of the wearer's fingers are in contact with the ends and tips of the glove carpal members respectively.

According to the present invention an impermeable glove for protection in a toxic environment and for accomodating any hand in a range of hand sizes, has at least a thumb member and afinger member each of which are fore shortened by freely extendable portions thereon, such that in user the wearer's forefinger and thumb reach the ends of the glove forefinger and thumb members and extend them until the glove is fully fitted. Preferably the glove has four finger members and a thumb member all of which are fore shortened with freely extendable portions.

According to a feature of the present invention the extendable portion may include at least one annular convolution between the tip and the root of the glove fingers and thumb. Preferabl7 the extendable portion is constituted by a series of such convolutions.

According to a further feature of the present invention the glove carpal members may each include a resilient constriction approximate their tips which freely permits the full insertion of the wearer's fingers but depresses the wearer's finger and thumb ends against the internal surface of the glove when fully fitted, in order to maximise the wearer's tactile sensitivity. In one form the resilient constriction may be a foam pad affixed to the inner surface of the glove on the knuckle side of the glove. Advantageously each foam pad is of wedge-like form in thickness and is mounted so that it is divergent towards the tip of each carpal member.

The glove may be made of a plastics material such as a butyl rubber, and is perhaps a dipping of an impermeable plastic on a fabric glove. Layers of different plastics may be employed.

A glove according to the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the following Figures of which: Figure 1 shows an elevation of the glove, and Figure 2 shows a vertical section through a finger of the glove.

Referring to Figure 1 an impermeable glove 1, made of plastics material on a fabric substrate and adapted to suit any hand in a range of hand sizes, has carpal members 2, which have extendable portions 3 thereon over two thirds their length. The flexible portions 3 comprise a series of annular convolutions 4 which in their unextended and unloaded state foreshorten the length of the glove carpal members.

As indicated in Figure 2 each carpal member 2 has a wedge-shaped foam pad 5 adherent to its inner surface on the knuckle side of the glove. The foam pad 5 is formed and positioned so that it is divergent in thickness towards the tips of the carpal members 2.

When the wearer's hand is inserted within the glove 1 the wearer's fingers which are at least as long as the unextended carpal members 2, will reach to the tips of the carpal members and then extend them, by means of the extendable portions 3, on further insertion of the hand. when the glove 1 is fully fitted the wearer's finger ends are held against the ends of the carpal members 2 by the slight resilience provided by the convolutions 4.

The foam pads 5 act to depress the wearer's finger tips against the inner surface of the carpal members 2. In this way the sensitivity of the wearer's finger tips to external objects is effectively maximised.

In alternative forms of the present invention the extandable portion of the glove is constituted by a rolling reverse loop, or other telescopic arrangements. The resilient constriction may be formed by a moulded depression at the end of the glove finger on the knuckle side of the glove. The knuckle side of the glove may be ribbed so that it is expandable lengthwise around the metacarpus thereby improving the overall fit with respect to a range of hand sizes. Moreover the glove may be a mitten having a thumbs portion, a fingers portion and a metacarpal portion, or having also a forefinger portion.

1. An impermeable glove for accomodating a range of hand sizes, the glove having at least a finger member and thumb member each of which are foreshortened by freely extendable portions thereof, such that in use at least the wearer's forefinger and thumb reach the tips of the glove finger and thumb member and extend them until the glove is fully fitted.

2. A glove as claimed in claim 1 and having a thumb member and four finger members.

3. A glove as claimed in claim 2 and wherein all the glove finger members are foreshortened with freely extendable portions.

4. A glove as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 and wherein the or each extendable portion includes at least one annular convolution between the tip and

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Protective gloves This invention relates to gloves and in particular to gloves for protecting a wearer against a toxic environment. In toxic chemical environments gloves must be worn which cannot be permeated by chemical materials and consequently have to be made of heavy duty impermeable material. Such gloves, unlike surgical gloves, are substantially inelastic and, since it is practical to make the gloves oversize rather than undersize in most cases the ends of the wearer's fingers do not reach the ends of the glove fingers. Neither do the wearer's fingers tips remains in constant contact with the internal surface of the gloves. These disadvantages effectively reduce the wearer's tactile sensitivity and thereby limit his ability to perform tasks, particularly when handling and fitting small components. The problem can be overcome by tailoring gloves to the wearer, but such a solution is impractical because it is expensive and prevents interchangeability of apparel. The present invention provides a glove for protection against a toxic environment, adapted to fit any hand in a range of hand sizes, but arranged so that in use the ends and tips of the wearer's fingers are in contact with the ends and tips of the glove carpal members respectively. According to the present invention an impermeable glove for protection in a toxic environment and for accomodating any hand in a range of hand sizes, has at least a thumb member and afinger member each of which are fore shortened by freely extendable portions thereon, such that in user the wearer's forefinger and thumb reach the ends of the glove forefinger and thumb members and extend them until the glove is fully fitted. Preferably the glove has four finger members and a thumb member all of which are fore shortened with freely extendable portions. According to a feature of the present invention the extendable portion may include at least one annular convolution between the tip and the root of the glove fingers and thumb. Preferabl7 the extendable portion is constituted by a series of such convolutions. According to a further feature of the present invention the glove carpal members may each include a resilient constriction approximate their tips which freely permits the full insertion of the wearer's fingers but depresses the wearer's finger and thumb ends against the internal surface of the glove when fully fitted, in order to maximise the wearer's tactile sensitivity. In one form the resilient constriction may be a foam pad affixed to the inner surface of the glove on the knuckle side of the glove. Advantageously each foam pad is of wedge-like form in thickness and is mounted so that it is divergent towards the tip of each carpal member. The glove may be made of a plastics material such as a butyl rubber, and is perhaps a dipping of an impermeable plastic on a fabric glove. Layers of different plastics may be employed. A glove according to the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the following Figures of which: Figure 1 shows an elevation of the glove, and Figure 2 shows a vertical section through a finger of the glove. Referring to Figure 1 an impermeable glove 1, made of plastics material on a fabric substrate and adapted to suit any hand in a range of hand sizes, has carpal members 2, which have extendable portions 3 thereon over two thirds their length. The flexible portions 3 comprise a series of annular convolutions 4 which in their unextended and unloaded state foreshorten the length of the glove carpal members. As indicated in Figure 2 each carpal member 2 has a wedge-shaped foam pad 5 adherent to its inner surface on the knuckle side of the glove. The foam pad 5 is formed and positioned so that it is divergent in thickness towards the tips of the carpal members 2. When the wearer's hand is inserted within the glove 1 the wearer's fingers which are at least as long as the unextended carpal members 2, will reach to the tips of the carpal members and then extend them, by means of the extendable portions 3, on further insertion of the hand. when the glove 1 is fully fitted the wearer's finger ends are held against the ends of the carpal members 2 by the slight resilience provided by the convolutions 4. The foam pads 5 act to depress the wearer's finger tips against the inner surface of the carpal members 2. In this way the sensitivity of the wearer's finger tips to external objects is effectively maximised. In alternative forms of the present invention the extandable portion of the glove is constituted by a rolling reverse loop, or other telescopic arrangements. The resilient constriction may be formed by a moulded depression at the end of the glove finger on the knuckle side of the glove. The knuckle side of the glove may be ribbed so that it is expandable lengthwise around the metacarpus thereby improving the overall fit with respect to a range of hand sizes. Moreover the glove may be a mitten having a thumbs portion, a fingers portion and a metacarpal portion, or having also a forefinger portion. CLAIMS

4. A glove as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 and wherein the or each extendable portion includes at least one annular convolution between the tip and the root of the or each glove finger member and of the thumb member.

5. A glove as claimed in claim 4 and wherein the or each extendable portion comprises a series of such convolutions.

6. A glove as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 and wherein the or each freely extendable portion is constituted by a telescopic arrangement.

7. A glove as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and wherein the or each finger member and the thumb member have a resilient constriction approximate the tip thereof, the constrictuion serving in use to permit the full insertion of the wearer's digit but to urge the wearer's digit end against the internal surface of the glove when fully fitted in order to increase the wearer's tactile sensitivity.

8. A glove as claimed in claim 7 and wherein the constriction is a foam pad affixed to the inner surface of the member on the knuckle side thereof.

9. A glove as claimed in claim 8 and wherein the foam pad is of wedge-like form and mounted so that it is divergent in thickness toward the tip of the member.

10. A glove as claimed in claim 7 and wherein the resilient constriction comprises a moulded depression at the tip of the or each glove finger member on the knuckle side thereof.

11. A glove as claimed in any of the preceding claims and wherein the knuckle side of the glove is ribbed so as to be expandable lengthwise around the metacarpus.

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