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  Disposable glove dispensing apparatusUSPTO Application #: 20060010563Title: Disposable glove dispensing apparatus Abstract: A disposable glove dispensing apparatus includes an apparatus support and a disposable glove roll holder supported by the apparatus support. A disposable glove roll is retained on the disposable glove roll holder. The disposable glove roll includes a plurality of individual disposable gloves retained on a continuous glove carrier strip assembly. An electric motor is supported by the apparatus support for unrolling the glove carrier strip assembly and for positioning disposable gloves in a glove access region. A motor-actuator button is electrically connected to the electric motor for actuating the electric motor. With one embodiment of the invention, the disposable gloves can be in the form of five-fingered gloves. With another embodiment of the invention, the disposable gloves can be in the form of mitts. (end of abstract) Agent: S. Michael Bender - St. Petersburg, FL, US Inventors: David S. Michel, Laura A. Michel USPTO Applicaton #: 20060010563 - Class: 002159000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Apparel, Body Garments, Gloves The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060010563. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority based upon my copending Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/574,254; filed May 26, 2005. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates generally to article dispensers, and, more particularly, to dispensers especially adapted for dispensing disposable gloves. [0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art [0005] Disposable gloves are employed for a variety of purposes in a variety of environments. A convenient way of storing and dispensing disposable gloves is to employ a roll of disposable gloves and to pull off from the roll the disposable gloves that are to be used. [0006] Throughout the years, a number of innovations have been developed relating to dispensing articles, and the following U.S. patents are representative of some of those innovations: U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,583,557, 3,958,768, 5,096,089, 6,021,919, and 6,435,388. [0007] More specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,089 discloses a disposable glove dispenser in which a plurality of gloves are arranged in closely spaced parallel relationship to one another for removal, one at time, from an exit opening in an enclosure. To mechanically place a plurality of disposable gloves in closely spaced parallel relationship to one another may require a complex reciprocating mechanical movement. Rather than require such a complex reciprocating mechanical movement, it would be desirable if a plurality of disposable gloves were placed on a roll. Mechanically placing a plurality of disposable gloves on a roll requires only a simply rotary movement. [0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,021,919 discloses a dispenser for sanitary gloves in which gloves are dispensed by hand from a roll of gloves. A user must grasp a glove by a free end and pull on the grasped glove to unroll the roll of gloves. Sometimes it is difficult for a user to manually locate a free end of the roll of disposable gloves. Also, sometimes it is difficult to manually grasp a located free end. In this respect, it would be desirable if a motorized movement device were employed to rotate a roll of disposable gloves to advance the free end of the roll to a location at which a user can easily grasp the desired disposable glove. [0009] U.S. Pat. No. 6,435,388 discloses an apparatus for donning sterile gloves. The apparatus operates to employ a powered vacuum system to inflate a sterile glove, and a user places one's hand in the inflated glove and removes the hand and glove from the apparatus. The powered vacuum system employed with this device is complex and expensive. In this respect, it would be desirable if an apparatus for dispensing disposable gloves were provided in which no powered vacuum system is employed. [0010] U.S. Pat. No. 3,958,768 discloses a package of gussetted bags on a roll. Bags that are dispensed from this apparatus must be dispensed by hand. A user must grasp a bag by a free end and pull on the grasped bag to unroll the roll of bags. As stated above with respect to the discussion of U.S. Pat. No. 6,021,919, it would be desirable if a motorized movement device were employed to rotate a roll of disposable gloves to advance the free end of the roll to a location at which a user can easily grasp the desired disposable glove. [0011] U.S. Pat. No. 3,583,557 may be of interest for its disclosure of a plastic binding and apparatus for dispensing same. [0012] Still other features would be desirable in a disposable glove dispensing apparatus. Disposable gloves are very flaccid and are not rectangularly shaped. As such, is may be difficult to efficiently and conveniently produce a neat roll of flaccid and non-rectangular disposable gloves. To overcome these problems, it would be desirable if each disposable glove were placed on a rectangular backing strip, that is somewhat stiffer than the disposable glove, such that the backing strip can be separated from the flaccid glove at the location at which a user grasps the glove. [0013] If a roll of disposable gloves is placed in an outdoor environment in winter, such as near a gasoline pump, the disposable gloves may crack in the cold temperatures. In this respect, it would be desirable to provide a heating apparatus to assure that the disposable gloves to be dispensed are maintained at a suitable temperature to prevent the gloves from cracking. [0014] Thus, while the foregoing body of prior art indicates it to be well known to use dispensers for dispensing disposable gloves from a roll of gloves, the prior art described above does not teach or suggest a disposable glove dispensing apparatus which has the following combination of desirable features: (1) provides a plurality of disposable gloves that are placed on a roll; (2) employs a motorized movement device to rotate a roll of disposable gloves to advance the free end of the roll to a location at which a user can easily grasp the desired disposable glove; (3) does not employ a powered vacuum system; (4) provides that each flaccid disposable glove is placed on a rectangular backing strip that is somewhat stiffer than the disposable glove, such that the backing strip is separated from the flaccid glove at the location at which a user grasps the glove; and (5) provides a heating device to assure that the disposable gloves to be dispensed are maintained at a suitable temperature to prevent the gloves from cracking at cold temperatures. The foregoing desired characteristics are provided by the unique disposable glove dispensing apparatus of the present invention as will be made apparent from the following description thereof. Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0015] To achieve the foregoing and other advantages, the present invention, briefly described, provides a disposable glove dispensing apparatus which includes an apparatus support and a disposable glove roll holder supported by the apparatus support. A disposable glove roll is retained on the disposable glove roll holder. The disposable glove roll includes a plurality of individual disposable gloves retained on a continuous glove carrier strip assembly. An electric motor is supported by the apparatus support for unrolling the glove carrier strip assembly and for positioning disposable gloves in a glove access region. A motor-actuator button is electrically connected to the electric motor for actuating the electric motor. [0016] With one embodiment of the invention, the disposable gloves can be in the form of five-fingered gloves. A strip assembly guide, supported by the apparatus support, is provided for receiving the glove carrier strip assembly and for guiding the glove carrier strip assembly to the glove access region. [0017] More specifically, the glove carrier strip assembly can include a base carrier strip. A glove retention strip is supported by the base carrier strip, and glove connectors are connected between the glove retention strip and the disposable gloves. Preferably, the glove connectors are perforated regions between the glove retention strip and the disposable gloves. [0018] The strip assembly guide includes a separator edge for separating the base carrier strip from the glove carrier strip assembly and includes a guide edge for separating the glove retention strip from the apparatus support. The apparatus support can be in a form of a counter top. This embodiment is very useful in food preparation venues. [0019] With another embodiment of the invention, the disposable gloves are in a form of disposable mitts. The continuous glove carrier strip assembly includes a plurality of disposable mitts linked together in head-to-tail fashion. The linked disposable mitts are linked by perforated regions between adjacent disposable mitts. This embodiment is very useful in gasoline stations to provide disposable mitts for people who pump gasoline. [0020] In addition, each of the disposable mitts can include a sealed region spaced apart from the perforated regions. Also, each of the disposable mitts can include a longitudinal perforated line. [0021] With this embodiment, the apparatus support is in a form of a housing. A heating unit, housed in the housing, can be provided to prevent the disposable mitts from cracking in cold weather. Continue reading... Full patent description for Disposable glove dispensing apparatus Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Disposable glove dispensing apparatus patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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