GB2449251A

GB2449251A - Apparatus and method for donning a glove

Info

Publication number: GB2449251A
Application number: GB0709239A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Webb; Patrick Kelly
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-05-14
Filing date: 2007-05-14
Publication date: 2008-11-19
Also published as: GB0709239D0

Abstract

Glove donning apparatus comprises a plate 2 defining an aperture 3, the plate having a means 6, 7 for detachably retaining a cuff of a glove disposed around the perimeter of the aperture 3 and a glove retained by the cuff retaining means. The method relates to the use of the apparatus for donning a glove and for a glove provided with two beads positioned on the cuff of the glove.

Description

An Apparatus and Method for Donning a Glove This invention relates to a

glove, a device for holding a glove, an apparatus for donning a glove comprising the ôombination of the glove holding device and a glove and a method of donning a glove using the apparatus. The invention is particularly concerned, though not exclusively, with the use of the apparatus with a sterile glove to allow the glove to be put on easily whilst maintaining the sterility of the glove. The invention is equally applicable to the donning of non-sterile gloves.

Gloves, including surgical gloves, are worn in a variety of environments that demand sterility, for example, in medical, laboratory, food-preparation and manufacturing "clean room" environments. There are numerous situations in which it is important to maintain the sterility of a glove as it is being donned.

In the medical environment, gloves are worn to prevent the hands of medical professionals from contacting a patient's body during a physical examination or a surgical operation. Protective gloves, in general, are universally recognised as a major safeguard against the risk of inadvertent or accidental infection or cross contamination of patients, of the wearer of the gloves and of the medical environment.

For example, the use of a single sterile glove on the non-dominant hand may be used to feel over a vein during the performance of a venipuncture to prevent contamination of a patient's bloodstream.

In the manufacturing "clean room" environment, gloves are worn to prevent the hands of a technician from directly contacting items, such as wafers and other devices supporting highly sensitive electronic circuits. Wearing non-sterile gloves in such an environment may lead to contamination of such items, making them unsuitable for use.

It is of the utmost importance that gloves that are manufactured to be sterile are kept in a sterile condition during storage. Where gloves are initially sterile it is often

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highly desirable, and in some cases mandatory, that the sterility of the gloves be maintained during the donning process. Sterility of the glove can be adversely affected during the process in which the wearer puts on or dons the gloves. Accordingly, the putting on or donning process is a major point of contamination of the sterile gloves.

During the donning process, the hands or other sources of contamination can contact and contaminate the sterile gloves by the inadvertent transfer of microbes or other contaminants to the sterile glove surfaces.

In the medical profession, the risk of undesirable contamination arising during the donning process is reduced by putting the glove on by using one of two generally accepted techniques for unassisted donning. These two techniques are open glove donning and closed glove donning.

The open glove donning technique now used for donning gloves, for example surgical gloves, requires that the sealed package containing the sterile gloves be carefully opened so that the inner surfaces of the package, and more particularly, the outside surfaces of the gloves contained therein, do not come in contact with any non-sterile surface. The gloves are usually packaged with their cuffs averted; that is, turned inside out and folded downwardly. To don the right glove, the wearer grasps the right glove on the fold of the averted cuff with the left hand and the right hand is inserted into the glove opening Next, the left glove is picked up and held with the right hand by slipping the gloved fingers of that hand underneath the averted cuff while the left hand is inserted into the glove opening. To complete glove donning, the averted cuffs are carefully pulled over the distal ends of the garment's sleeves so that the entirety of the previously exposed surfaces of the averted cuffs are on the insides of the gloves and the outsides remain untouched by un-gloved hands.

In the closed glove donning technique, the gloves are handled through the fabric of the sleeve itself, for example a surgical gown sleeve. As such, the wearer's hand does not extend outside from the sleeve until the open end of the glove is actually pulled over the sleeve. The closed glove donning technique may best be conveyed by describing its current use in a surgical arena. This method assumes that the wearer is already wearing a sterile surgical gown. Accordingly, the wearer uses the left hand while keeping it within the sleeve of the gown to pick up the right glove by its averted cuff In this maimer, the glove itself is not directly touched since the left hand is shielded by the sleeve. With the right hand extended palm upward but retained within the sleeve, the left hand places the palm of the glove with fingers pointing towards the wearer S against the retained palm of the right hand. The closest edge of the averted cuff is grasped by the right hand through the sleeve fabric. Next, the left hand pulls the un-grasped averted cuff edge over the right sleeve and hand. The left hand is gloved in the same maimer using the gloved right hand to appropriately place the left glove and pull it over the left sleeve and hand.

Both glove donning methods entail difficulties. The open glove donning technique requires a high level of finger and hand dexterity. The closed glove donning technique suffers from finger and hand dexterity being hampered while one's fingers remain shielded by the sleeve. As would be expected by such complex procedures, they are susceptible to numerous accidental contamination possibilities, especially during times of distress and urgency. Thus, a better method is needed that enables the wearer to don gloves without using the open or closed methods but using a method which is quicker, easier, more controlled, simple to practice, preformed, sterile and which does not necessitate the help of an assistant. In addition, this method should be economically cost effective to implement and practice.

In dental care settings, where the dentist or dental assistant is obliged to work inside the mouth, post-treatment infections occur because of poor hygiene practice. For example, dental office surveys by means of hidden video cameras revealed that sampled dentists wash their hands before donning gloves in only 23% of patient contacts and changed gloves between patients in only 56% of contacts (Porter el a!.

British Medical Journal 1996; 312: 705). By providing an improved method of donning sterile gloves which is quicker, easier and more efficient than existing methods, dentists and dental assistants are more likely to change gloves between patient contacts and the likelihood of the gloves becoming contaminated during the donning process is reduced. This would have the effect of reducing post-treatment infections.

The magnitude of the un-sterile glove problem comes into focus when one considers: 1. Apart from designated surgical operating rooms, un-sterile exaniintion gloves are cunently estimated at being used at the rate of more than 10 billion/yr. in U.S. health care facilities.

2. Studies by trained observers in sampled intensive care units and emergency rooms reveal that health care workers wash their hands before and after each patient contact only 20-40% of the time (Wurtz et al. Am. J. Infect. Control 1994; 22: 228-230; Nystrom. Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol. 1994; 15: 435-436; Meengs et al. J. Emerg. Nurs. 1994; 20: 183-188).

3. A survey found that health care workers washed their hands before putting on examinations gloves, only 27 times out of a hundred (Thompson B. L. et al. Infect.

Control Hosp. Epidemiol. 1997; 18: 97-103).

4. The increased use of latex gloves by health care workers to protect themselves from HIV and HEy infections has led to a false sense of security among health care workers and patients and has lead to wide-spread failure to wash hands properly and adequately during patient care (Heptonstall & Mortimer. Lancet 1995; 345: 599-600).

The above examples demonstrate that there is high prevalence of failure to wash hands properly, if at all, between patient contacts amongst health care workers and dentists. Therefore, in these situations, the risk of contamination of a sterile glove coming into contact with an unwashed hand is far higher than if the hand had been thoroughly washed. An improved method of donning a sterile glove which minimises the risk of an unwashed hand coming into contact with the sterile outer surface of the glove would significantly reduce the chances of contamination. This, in turn, would reduce the chances of post operative infection, cross contamination, etc. Jn the manufacturing "clean room" environment, an improved method of donning a sterile glove would also significantly reduce the chances of contamination. In this situation, contamination might be from grease, oil or other residues on the wearers hands which could severely affect any electronic circuits or other highly sensitive electronic equipment if such contaminants were to come into contact with the electronic circuits or equipment.

As can be seen, it is highly desirable to develop an apparatus and/or method which allows the donning of sterile gloves to be quicker, easier, more controlled, simpler to practice, preformed, sterile and which does not necessitate the help of an assistant. Tn addition, this apparatus and/or method should be economically cost effective to implement and practice.

An object of the present invention is to minitnise the risk of contamination of a sterile glove during the donning process.

A further object of the invention is to increase the speed and ease by which a glove or pair of gloves can be donned.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the temptation amongst workers in sterile environments not to use gloves or not to change their gloves by using the present invention rather than current cumbersome methods.

According to the invention there is provided a glove donning apparatus comprising a plate defining an aperture, the plate having a means for detachably retaining a cuff of a glove disposed around the perimeter of the aperture and a glove retained by the cuff retaining means.

An object of the glove donning apparatus is to hold the open end of a glove in an open position so that it is relatively quick and easy to insert a hand into the open end of the glove, thereby donning the glove. Further, by maintaining the open end of the glove in an open position, the finger and thumb portions of the glove are more clearly exposed allowing the fingers and thumb of a hand to be more quickly and easily inserted into the finger and thumb portions. This makes the glove donning process extremely straightforward which reduces the risk of contaminating the glove during the donning process. The plate and the detachable retaining means of the plate are configured so as to enable the glove to stretched at a predetermined tension across the aperture.

A further object of the invention is to allow a hand to be inserted into the glove without coming into contact with the external surface of the glove, This ensures that no contamination is transferred from the hand to the external surface of the glove when the glove is donned.

The plate may be any shape or size and may be flexible or rigid. The plate can be made from metal, cardboard, plastic, elastomer, rubber, a composite material or any other suitable material.

The aperture defined by the plate may be any shape or size. It may be circular, oval, elliptical, square, rectangular or any other suitable shape. Preferably, the aperture is oval. When the plate is formed from one piece of material, the aperture is preferably sized to allow a hand to pass therethrough.

The means for detachably retaining a cuff of a glove can be any suitable means so that a cuff of a glove can be retained by said means and remain attached to the plate until such a time that sufficient force is applied to the glove to cause it to become detached from said means. The means for detachably retaining the cuff of a glove is disposed around the perimeter of the aperture so that the open end of a glove, when mounted on said means, is held open and surrounds the aperture defined by the plate in such a way that an object passing through the aperture would pass through the open end of the glove into the interior of the glove. Preferably, the means for detachably retaining the cuff of a glove comprises a lip. The cross section of the lip may be circular, oval, elliptical, square, rectangular or any suitable shape which acts as a clip or holding mechanism to retain the cuff of the glove prior to donning. Preferably, the lip comprises a continuous ring, having a circular cross-section, disposed around the perimeter of the aperture. The means for detachably retaining the cuff of a glove may be made from rigid or flexible plastic, metal, elastomer, rubber, cardboard, a composite material or any other suitable material, It may be made from the same or a different material from the plate.

The term "glove" is intended to cover conventionally configured gloves which cover the entire hand and have individual openings or sheaths for the fingers and thumb of the wearer. The term is also intended to cover mitten type gloves which cover the entire hand and have an opening for the lingers of the wearer and a separate opening for the thumb of the wearer. The term "glove" is also intended to encompass hand garments which oniy partially cover the hand of the wearer. Gloves of this type may, for example, comprise individual finger and thumb sheaths, or a glove which covers the fingers and thumb of a wearer but does extend fully across the palm of the wearer to their wrist.

For conventional gloves and mittens the term "cuff" is defined as the part of a glove defined by the open end of the glove on one side and extending along the glove from the open end to the palm area of the glove on the other side, just above the point at which the thumb portion of the glove connects to the palm area. When a glove is located on a users hand, the "cuff" will normally be surrounding the wrist and possibly the forearm of the user, depending on the length of the glove. Therefore, the "cuff' may be a large portion of the glove if it extends a significant way up the users arm. For the glove types mentioned above which only partially cover the hand of the wearer, the cuff may surround the base of one or more of the fingers or thumb of the wearer, or extend across the palm of the wearer.

The glove may be any suitable glove. Preferably the glove is an elasticised glove, for example, like the type commonly used by doctors, nurses and lab workers to protect the hands whilst not impairing dexterity. The glove can be a wet or dry type. The glove that is used may be a glove that is already on the market and widely available.

Alternatively, it may be a purpose built bespoke glove, or a commercially available glove which has been adapted or modified accordingly. Generally, thin elasticised gloves that are widely available have beads at the open end of the glove. The term "bead" means the hardened, tightly rolled edge which forms the end of the glove at the open end. This bead may be used as a point of attachment so that the cuff retaining means retains the glove by cooperating with the cuff bead. When the cuff retaining means comprises a lip, said lip retains the bead attached to the cuff of the glove.

In one embodiment, the glove donning apparatus may further comprise a second means for detachably retaining the cuff of a glove. This may be the same as the first cuff retaining means or it may be different. Preferably, the second means for detachably retaining the cuff of a glove comprises a lip. The cross section of the lip may be circular, oval, elliptical, square, rectangular or any suitable shape which acts as a clip or holding mechanism to retain the cuff of the glove prior to donning.

Preferably, the second cuff retaining means comprises a continuous ring, having a circular cross-section, disposed around the fist cuff retaining means, being at a distance from the first cuff retaining means.

The invention further provides a glove comprising two beads positioned on the cuff of the glove positioned at a distance from each other. Preferably, the glove is an elasticised glove, for example, like the type commonly used by doctors, nurses and lab workers to protect the hands whilst not impairing dexterity. The glove may be made from natural or synthetic rubber, nitrile, latex, silicone, composite, fibre, resin, plastic, elastomer, paper or any other suitable material such as natural materials, ecologically friendly and/or any chemical combination of materials. The glove may be any size. It is envisaged that different size gloves will be used for different embodiments of the invention to take into account the different size of the hands of potential users. The glove may be a range of different colours. Preferably, different sized gloves are colour-coded to indicate the size of the glove, and/or the nature of any active cleaning or sterile chemical agent applied to or incorporated into the glove.

The glove according to the present invention may be manufactured with two beads positioned at a distance from each other. The glove can be any suitable type of glove.

Alternatively, a commercially available glove may be used which already comprises one bead positioned on the cuff. Such gloves are well known to those skilled in the art.

A second bead can be attached to the commercially available glove by a sticking or fixing process. Preferably, this is done during the manufacturing process. In another embodiment, two beads can be attached to a commercially available glove that does not comprise any beads. The glove according to the present invention may be used with a glove donning apparatus comprising one means for detachably retaining the cuff of a glove. Preferably, the glove according to the present invention is used with a glove donning apparatus comprising two means for detachably retaining the cuff of a glove. In use, the first bead is retained by the first cuff retaining means and the second bead is retained by the second cuff retaining means. The beads of the glove can be any S suitable shape, for example, square, rectangular, oval, elliptical or circuiar. The beads may be made from the same material as the glove or a different material. The beads may be made from natural or synthetic rubber, nitrile, silicone, composite, fibre, resin, plastic, elastomer, paper or metal.

Preferably, the glove according to the present invention comprises a first bead positioned at one end of the cuff next to the palm section of the glove and a second bead positioned at the other end of the cuff next to the open end of the glove.

The cuff of the glove retained by the cuff retaining means may be held so that substantially the whole of the cuff of the glove is held by the cuff retaining means as a result of the cuff being rolled, folded, scrunched or being in layers of rolls. This has the effect of making the glove donning apparatus more compact. Further, this has the effect of opening the glove to a greater extent and positions the finger and thumb portions of the glove more prominently. This makes it easier to align a hand with the finger and thumb portions when donning the glove. This makes the donning process easier, quicker and more reliable.

In the embodiment with two cuff retaining means, substantially the whole of the cuff of the glove is held by the two cuff retaining means as a result of the cuff being rolled, folded, scrunched, being in layers of rolls or a combination of these. When a glove with two beads is used with the embodiment with two cuff retaining means, the area of the cuff that is between the two beads is held on the plate in between the two cuff retaining means. This allows easier storage of the cuff portion whilst ensuring that the glove is in an open position. This also makes it easier to insert a hand into the glove as the hand can be inserted straight into the palm section containing the finger and thumb portions without worrying about the cuff portion. The cuff portion will only come into contact with the user's hand once the rest of the glove is in position over the user's hand. This helps to ensure that the external surface of the glove does not come into contact with the user's hand.

The finger and thumb portions of the glove may also be rolled, folded, scrunched, put in layers of rolls or a combination of these. This has the effect of further compacting the apparatus and allowing easier, quicker and more reliable donning of the finger and thumb portions of the glove.

in another embodiment, the plate of the glove donning device further comprises a cover attached to the plate which forms a sealed compartment, and wherein an external surface of the glove is positioned on the interior of the sealed compartment.

Further, the whole of the glove may be positioned on the interior of the sealed compartment. The cover may be made of any suitable material. The cover may be a thin membrane, film or other light material. The sealed compartment can be manufactured as an air tight package or vacuum sealed. Preferably, the cover is formed so that it can become detached from the plate when the glove is donned. This may occur as a result of the force provided by the movement of a hand, for example, breaking the seal. Alternatively, the cover may be removed mechanically or by an electronic device.

Instead of the cover becoming detached from the plate, the cover itself may split or tear allowing the glove and hand to pass therethrough. This may be achieved by having perforations or lines of weakened material in the cover, or the cover may be sufficiently thin.

A detachable or breakable cover allows the glove to be donned easily without the cover hindering the donning process. It also allows the glove donning apparatus to be more compact but still fully functional as the glove may be contained in a small space.

Preferably, the sealed compartment is sterile. Preferably, the sealed compartment further contains a chemical or active ingredient to ensure the compartment is kept sterile, for example, a disinfectant or anti-bacterial agent formulated to attack and kill bacteria, germs and the like.

*. * I An object of the embodiment comprising a sterile sealed chamber is to allow the glove to be donned easily and quickly and to ensure that the external surface of the glove remains sterile. Since the apparatus of the present invention is very straightforward to use, there will be a very low risk that the external surface of the glove will be contaminated compared to the prior art gloves and apparatuses.

In yet another embodiment, the plate comprises at least two pieces capable of separating so that the aperture defined by the plate increases in size when the pieces are separated and the cuff of the glove is stretched into a more open position.

Preferably, the glove donning apparatus further comprises a means for separating the pieces of the plate. Preferably, the means for separating the pieces of the plate comprises any one of: a spring loaded mechanism; extenders; and levers. Preferably, the means for separating the pieces of the plate are controlled by an electronic device.

The a.lvantage of having a plate comprised of at least two pieces is that the cuff retaining means can be sized to be only slightly larger than the cuff of the glove. In this way, a small amount of force will be applied to the cuff of the glove when it is mounted onto the cuff retaining means and also when the glove is mounted on the plate for a long period of time. This will reduce the possibility of the material from which the glove is made degrading over time, breaking, snapping or becoming weakened. When the glove is ready to be donned, at least two pieces of the plate can be separated to stretch the open end of the glove making it much easier for a hand to be inserted into the glove. This makes the donning process much quicker and easier.

The invention also provides multiple glove donning apparatuses joined together in a roll for use in a dispensing machine.

The invention further provides a glove donning apparatus formed into a cartridge for use in a dispensing machine.

The invention provides a glove holding device upon which a glove may be mounted comprising a plate defining an aperture, the plate having a means for detachably

I

retaining a cuff of a glove disposed around the perimeter of the aperture. This glove holding device is designed to be used in combination with a glove to form the glove donning apparatus as described above. Therefore, the glove holding device may have some or all of the additional features associated with the plate of the glove donning S apparatus as described above. More specifically, these features may be as follows: I. the aperture may be sized to allow a hand to pass therethrough; 2. the means for detachably retaining the cuff of a glove may comprise a lip; 3. the lip may comprise a continuous ring, having a circular cross-section, disposed around the perimeter of the aperture; 4. the glove holding device may further comprise a second means for detachably retaining the cuff of a glove; 5. the second means for detachably retaining the cuff of a glove may comprise a lip; 6. the lip being the second cuff retaining means may comprise a continuous ring, having a circular cross-section, disposed around the first cuff retaining means, being at a distance from the first cuff retaining means; 7. the glove holding device may further comprise a cover attached to the plate, said cover being capable of forming a sealed compartment when a glove is mounted on the device so that an external surface of a glove is positioned on the interior of the sealed compartment; and 8. the plate may be comprised of at least two pieces capable of separating so that the aperture defined by the plate increases in size when the pieces are separated.

9. the plate may be comprised of a single piece which does not fully surround the aperture. In such an embodiment, the plate may be considered to be "C" or "U" shaped when viewed in plan.

The invention also provides a method of donning a glove onto a hand using the glove donning apparatus of the invention comprising the steps of: aligning the fingers and thumb of the hand with the finger and thumb portions of the glove; inserting the fingers and thumb of the hand into the finger and thumb portions of the glove; and moving the hand through the aperture of the apparatus until the glove becomes detached from the cuff retaining means.

When the plate of the glove donning apparatus comprises at least two pieces capable of separating so that the aperture defined by the plate increases in size when the pieces are separated and the cuff of the glove is stretched into a more open position, the method of donning a glove onto a hand using the glove donning apparatus comprises the steps of: causing the pieces of the plate to separate thereby stretching the opening of the glove; aligning the fingers and thumb of the hand with the finger and thumb portions of the glove; inserting the fingers and thumb of the hand into the finger and thumb portions of the glove; and moving the hand through the aperture of the apparatus until the glove becomes detached from the cuff retaining means.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures in which: Figure 1 a shows a top view of a glove holding device.

Figure lb shows a cross section through the glove holding device of figure la.

Figure 2 shows a cross section through part of a glove donning apparatus.

Figure 3 shows a cross section through a glove donning apparatus wherein the apparatus comprises a cover which forms a sealed compartment.

Figure 4 shows a method of donning a glove onto a hand.

Figures shows a glove comprising two beads. t.

Figure 6 shows a roll of glove donning apparatuses contained within a glove dispensing machine.

Figure 7 shows cartridges formed from glove donning apparatuses contained within a g]ove dispensing machine. Figure 8 shows a roll of glove holding devices, wherein the plate of

the glove holding device comprises two pieces.

Figure 9 shows a roll of glove holding devices, wherein the plate of the glove holding device comprises two pieces and the two pieces have been separated.

Figure 10 shows a roll of glove donning apparatuses, wherein the plate of the glove donning apparatus comprises two pieces.

Figure 11 shows a roll of glove donning apparatuses, wherein the plate of the glove donning apparatus comprises two pieces and the two pieces have been separated.

Figure 1 a shows the design of a glove holding device 1. This device I comprises a plate 2 defining an aperture 3 which is a rounded rectangular opening of 70mm in width 4 and 130mm in length 5 and large enough for a hand to pass through the aperture to don a glove. These dimensions can vary to suit the size of the hand. The plate is fitted with two tips, an inner lip 6 and an outer lip 7. The two lips are at a distance of about 4mm from each other. This distance can vary from 0.5mm to lOnun or more. Figure lb shows a cross section through the glove holding device of figure la.

Figure 2 shows part of a glove 10 with two beads 11 which are held or stretched over an inner lip 6 and an outer lip 7. In between the two beads 11 is a cuff section 12 of the glove which is folded. The folds of the cuff section 12 are retained in a gap between the inner lip 6 and the Outer lip 7. The glove section beyond beads Ii and folds 12 extends into the aperture 3 of the plate 2. The fingers 15 of the glove (only one shown) are folded.

Figure 3 shows a glove donning apparatus wherein the apparatus comprises a cover 23 which forms a sealed compartment 24. The open end of a glove 20 is stretched open across an aperture 21 of a plate 22. The finger and thumb portions of the glove 20 are folded. The cover 23 is attached to the plate 22 and forms a sealed compartment 24 wherein the external surface of the glove 20 is positioned on the interior of the sealed compartment 24. When the fingers and thumb of a hand are inserted into the finger and thumb portions of the glove 20, exerting pressure on the cover 23, the cover 23 either becomes detached from the plate 22 or splits or tears to allow the hand to be fully inserted into the glove.

Figure 4 shows a method of donning a glove 31 onto a hand 30. The hand 30 is aligned and moved towards the finger and thumb openings of the glove 31 (Fig. 4(1) and 4(2)). The hand 30 is then continuously moved forward through the open end of the glove that is stretched open over an aperture of a plate 32, thereby inserting the fingers and thumb into the finger and thumb portions of the glove (Fig. 4(3)). Once the hand is inserted far enough through the aperture 33 in the plate 32 so that the glove is virtually entirely donned, a cuff 34 of the glove will become detached from a cuff retaining means 35 thus completing the donning of the glove 30 (Fig. 4(4)). The hand can then be removed from the aperture 33 in the plate 32. The force exerted by the hand movement is sufficient to break a cover, if a cover is attached. The above described steps may be repeated so as to don a further glove to the hand of a wearer where double gloving is deemed necessary.

Figure 5 shows the design of a glove 40 comprising two beads. One bead 41 is positioned on the cuff 42 of the glove 40 around the open end of the glove 40. The other bead 43 is positioned just above a palm portion 44 of the glove 40 and also just above where a thumb portion 45 of the glove 40 connects to the palm portion 44 of the glove. The cuff 42 may optionally be provided with an external pocket generally designated 90. The pocket 90 is configured so as to be able to receive and retain a tongue like projection of a glove removal apparatus. Such an apparatus may be used by a wearer of the glove 40 to remove the glove 40 without touching the glove 40. In use, the projection of the removal apparatus is inserted into the pocket 90. The wearer is then able to remove their hand from the glove 40 such that the glove 40 remains attached to the projection.

Figure 6 shows a roll of glove donning apparatuses contained within a glove dispensing machine 50. The glove dispensing machine 50 has an opening 51 for each hand. A large number of glove donning apparatuses joined together in sheet form are rolled onto a dispensing roll 52 and are enclosed in the glove dispensing machine 50.

A receiving portion 53 collects the glove holding devices once the gloves have been detached therefrom. The glove dispensing machine 50 can have a number of designs, for example, a manually operated mechanical design, or an electronically operated design. This may be dictated by cost.

Figure 7 shows cartridges 61, formed from glove donning apparatuses, contained within a glove dispensing machine 60. Cartridges 61, comprising two glove donning apparatuses, are loaded into the glove dispensing machine 60. Gloves are donned at two openings in the dispensing machine 62. The empty cartridge 63 is then taken away by a transporting mechanism 64. The glove dispensing machine 60 can have a number of designs, for example, a manually operated mechanical design, or an electronically operated design. l'his may be dictated by cost.

Figure 8 shows a roIl 70 of glove holding devices, wherein a plate 71 of a glove holding device comprises an upper piece 72 and a lower piece 73. There is a perforated line 74 in the roll 70 along which the roll can separate. When the roll separates along the perforated line 74, as shown in Figure 9, the upper piece 72 of the plate separates from the lower piece 73 of the plate, thereby increasing the size of an aperture 75. The roll 70 does not completely separate as it is held together by four flexible holding straps 76.

The effect that this separation in the plate has on a glove mounted on the glove holding device is shown in Figures 10 and 11. Figure 10 shows a roll 80 of glove donning apparatuses, wherein a plate 81 of the glove donning apparatus comprises an upper piece 82 and a lower piece 83. A glove 84 is mounted on the plate 81 across an aperture defined by the plate 81. Finger portions 85 of the glove 84 can be seen. There is a perforated line 87 in the roll along which the roll can separate. When the roll 80 separates along the perforated line 87, as shown in Figure 11, the upper piece 82 of the plate 81 separates from the lower piece 83 of the plate, thereby increasing the size of the aperture defined by the plate 81 and thus stretching the open end of the glove 84 mounted on the plate 81. This has the effect of stretching the open end of the glove 84 into a more open position which makes it easier to insert a hand into the glove during the donning process. The roll 80 does not completely separate, once the glove has been donned and therefore removed from the plate 81, because it is held together by four flexible holding straps 86. The above described separation feature may be embodied in an individual glove holding device of the type described with reference to figure la.

Claims

Claims 1. A glove donning apparatus comprising a plate defining an

aperture, the plate having a means for detachably retaining a cuff of a glove disposed around the perimeter of the aperture and a glove retained by the cuff retaining means.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the aperture is sized to allow a hand to pass therethrough.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the means for detachably retaining the cuff of a glove comprises a lip.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the lip comprises a continuous ring disposed around the perimeter of the aperture.
5. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the glove comprises a bead positioned on the cuff of the glove and said bead is retained by the cuff retaining means.
6. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein substantially the whole of the cuff of the glove is held by the cuff retaining means as a result of the cuff being rolled, folded, scrunched or being in layers of rolls.
7. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plate further comprises a second means for detachably retaining the cuff of the glove.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the second means for detachably retaining the cuff of the glove comprises a lip.
9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the lip, being the second cuff retaining means, comprises a continuous ring, having a circular cross-section, disposed around the first cuff retaining means, and being at a distance from the first cuff retaining means.
10. The apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the glove comprises two beads positioned on the cuff of the glove at a distance from each other, and wherein a first bead is retained by a first cuff retaining means and a second bead is retained by a second cuff retaining means.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first bead is positioned at one end of the cuff next to a palm section of the glove and the second bead is positioned at the other end of the cuff next to an open end of the glove.
12. The apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 11, wherein substantially the whole of the cuff ofthe glove is held by the two cuff retaining means as a result of the cuff being rolled, folded, scrunched, being in layers of rolls or a combination of these.
13. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the finger and thumb portions of the glove are rolled, folded, scrunched, in layers of rolls or a combination of these.
14. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plate further comprises a cover attached to the plate which forms a sealed compartment, and wherein an external surface of the glove is positioned on the interior of the sealed compartment.
15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the sealed compartment is sterile.
16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the sealed compartment further comprises a chemical or active ingredient to ensure the compartment is kept sterile.
17. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plate comprises at least two pieces capable of separating so that the aperture defined by the plate increases in size when the pieces are separated and the cuff of the glove is stretched into a more open position.
18. The apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a means for separating the pieces of the plate.
19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the means for separating the pieces of the plate comprises any one of: a spring loaded mechanism; extenders; and levers.
20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18 or claim 19 and further comprising means to limit the separation of the pieces of the plate.
21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein said means comprise one or more flexible straps.
22. The apparatus according to any of claims 18 to 21, wherein the means for separating the pieces of the plate are controlled by an electronic device.
23. The combination of a plurality apparatuses according to any one of the preceding claims, said apparatuses being joined together in a roll for use in a dispensing machine.
24. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 22, formed into a cartridge for use in a dispensing machine.
25. A glove suitable for use with an apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the glove is provided with two beads positioned on the cuff of the glove at a distance from each other.
26. The glove according to claim 25 wherein at least one of the beads is attached by a sticking or fixing process.
27. The glove according to claim 25 or claim 26 wherein a first bead is positioned at one end of the cuff next to a palm section of the glove and a second bead is positioned at the other end of the cuff next to an open end of the glove.
28. The glove according to any one of claims 25 to 27 which is colour-coded to indicate the size of the glove and/or the nature of any active substance applied to or incorporated into the glove.
29. The glove according to any one of claims 25 to 28 made from rubber, nitrile or latex.
30. A glove according to any one of claims 25 to 29 and including a means to connect the glove to a glove removal apparatus.
31. A glove according to claim 30 wherein said means comprises a pocket provided on the cuff of the glove.
32. A glove holding device upon which a glove may be mounted, the device comprising a plate defining an aperture, the plate having a means for detachably retaining a cuff of a glove disposed around the perimeter of the aperture.
33. The device according to claim 32, wherein the aperture is sized to allow a hand to pass therethrougti.
34 The device according to claim 32 or claim 33, wherein the means for detachably retaining a cuff of a glove comprises a lip.
The device according to claim 34, wherein the lip comprises a continuous ring, disposed around the perimeter of the aperture.
36. The device according to any one of claims 32 to 35, further comprising a second means for detachably retaining a cuff of a glove.

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37. The device according to any one of claims 32 to 36, wherein the second means for detachably retaining a cuff of a glove comprises a lip.
38. The device according to claim 37, wherein the lip, being the second cuff retaining means, comprises a continuous ring disposed around the first cuff retaining means, and being at a distance from the first cuff retaining means.
39. The device according to any one of claims 32 to 38, further comprising a cover attached to the plate, said cover being capable of forming a sealed compartment when a glove is mounted on the device so that an external surface of a glove is positioned on the interior of the sealed compartment.
40. The device according to any one of claims 32 to 39, wherein the plate is comprised of at least two pieces capable of separating so that the aperture defined by the plate increases in size when the pieces are separated.
41. A method of donning a glove onto a hand using the apparatus according to any one of claims Ito 16, the method comprising the steps of: aligning the fingers and the thumb of the hand with the finger and thumb portions of the glove; inserting the fingers and the thumb of the hand into the finger and thumb portions of the glove; and moving the hand through the aperture of the apparatus until the glove becomes detached from the cuff retaining means.
42. A method of donning a glove onto a hand using the apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 20 comprising the steps of: causing the pieces of the plate to separate thereby stretching the opening of the glove; aligning the fingers and thumb of the hand with the finger and thumb portions of the glove; inserting the fingers and the thumb of the hand into the finger and thumb portions of the glove; and f d., moving the hand through the aperture of the apparatus until the glove becomes detached from the cuff retaining means.
43. A glove holding device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as shown in the accompanying drawings.
44. A glove comprising two beads substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as shown in the accompanying drawings.
45. A glove donning apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as shown in the accompanying drawings.
46. A method of donning a glove onto a hand substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as shown in the accompanying drawings.