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  Impervious partial sleeve with glove retentionUSPTO Application #: 20060085887Title: Impervious partial sleeve with glove retention Abstract: An improved protective garment in accordance with the principles of the present invention provides an improved interface between a glove and sleeve of the protective garment. An improved protective garment in accordance with the principles of the present invention is easily incorporated with the protective garment and economically cost effective to implement and use. An improved protective garment in accordance with the principles of the present invention provides an impervious partial sleeve having a surface exhibiting non-adhesive friction when in contact with dry glove materials. (end of abstract) Agent: Kimberly Luna Allegiance Corporation - Mcgaw Park, IL, US Inventors: Joseph Palomo, Joe Miller, Fernando Amaya USPTO Applicaton #: 20060085887 - Class: 002059000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Apparel, Garment Protectors, Sleeve The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060085887. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/620,876 titled "Impervious Partial Sleeve and Method of Manufacture" filed on 21 Oct. 2004. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to protective garments for use with gloves, for example surgical gowns used with surgical gloves. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] The practice of wearing of a surgical gown and surgical gloves to protect health care providers from contamination by body fluids is well accepted; however, one risk faced by health care providers is that such protective barrier can become breached during interaction with a patient. With the increase of highly infectious diseases, such as the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and hepatitis, the risk to health care providers of such protective barrier breach has become acute. [0004] Typically, protective garments rely on the barrier properties of the fabrics used in the garments and on the construction and design of the garment. Openings in the garments that are located in positions subject to contact with body fluids pose a particular risk of contamination. [0005] In the medical industry, the protective gloves are pulled up and over the sleeve of a gown or garment to reduce the openings in the garment; however, the interface between the glove and the protective garment pose a particular risk of contamination. For example, a common issue with surgical gloves is glove "roll-down" or slippage between the interior side of the glove and the surgical gown sleeve. When the glove rolls down on the sleeve, the wearer is at greater risk of exposure to body fluids. [0006] An additional problem associated with the use of surgical gloves is a phenomenon known as "channeling". Channeling occurs when the sleeve of the gown is bunched up under the glove as a result of pulling and rolling the glove up over the cuff and sleeve. Channels may develop along the wrist which can become accessible to body fluids running down the outside of the sleeve of the gown. Body fluids can work down along the channels between the outer surface of the gown and inner surface of the surgical glove. These fluids may then contaminate the gown cuff, which lies directly against the wrist or forearm, particularly if the cuff is absorbent or fluid pervious. [0007] Several attempts have been made to minimize exposure at the glove and gown interface. For example, surgeons commonly use adhesive tape wrapped around the glove portion extending over the gown sleeve to prevent channeling and roll down of the glove; however, common adhesives utilized in tapes are subject to degradation by water and body fluids. It is also common to stretch a rubber band around the glove and sleeve; however, it is difficult to adjust or vary the pressure exerted by the rubber band other than by having a variety of rubber bands of different sizes and tensions available for use. [0008] More recently, attempts have been made to address the exposure at the glove and gown interface structurally in the garments. One such attempt involves sealing together the interface of the garment and gloves. The seal is produced by narrowing the diameter of the distal end of the gown over which the protective glove is placed. The junction of the garment and glove is then sealed with a liquid adhesive. This attempt produces a costly integrated garment that is cumbersome and difficult to use in practice; for example, it is very difficult to match the appropriate size of the gown for a given user with the right glove size. [0009] Another such attempt utilizes a raised band disposed on the sleeves of the gown. The raised band attempts to inhibit a glove pulled there over from rolling or sliding. Incorporating a raised band to the sleeves of the gown adds to the complexity and costs of manufacturing the gown and has proven less than optimal. A related attempt involves adding an adhesive to the sleeve to secure the glove thereon. As previously noted, adhesives are subject to degradation by water and body fluids. In addition, the use of adhesives may require a release liner that would be cumbersome to remove prior to pulling on the glove. In addition the glove may stick to the adhesive before it is positioned properly and tear the glove. Other contaminates could be transferred to the adhesive from any incidental contact. [0010] Thus, what would be beneficial is an improved interface between a glove and a sleeve of a protective garment. Such improved interface should be easily incorporated with the protective garment and economically cost effective to implement and use. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] A protective garment in accordance with the principles of the present invention provides an improved interface between a glove and sleeve of the protective garment. A protective garment in accordance with the principles of the present invention is easily incorporated with the protective garment and economically cost effective to implement and use. A protective garment in accordance with the principles of the present invention provides an impervious partial sleeve having a surface exhibiting non-adhesive friction when in contact with dry glove materials. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a surgical gown in accordance with the present invention. [0013] FIG. 2 is a close-up perspective view of a sleeve portion in accordance with the present invention. [0014] FIG. 3 is a schematic of a blank or pattern for making a sleeve portion in accordance with the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0015] An improved protective garment in accordance with the principles of the present invention comprises an improved interface between a glove and sleeve of the protective garment. In one embodiment of the present invention, an improved interface is provided between a glove and a sleeve of a protective garment. In one embodiment of the present invention, an improved interface is provided between a surgical glove and a sleeve of a surgical gown. In one embodiment of the present invention, an impervious partial sleeve is designed to augument an unreinforced or fabric reinforced single use surgical gown sleeve from above a cuff hem to about mid-forearm, thus providing an impervious layer underneath the glove cuff. In addition, the impervious partial sleeve comprises a surface exhibiting friction when in contact with dry glove materials will help hold the glove up on the forearm. Thus, an improved protective garment in accordance with the principles of the present invention is an improvement over prior art unreinforced gowns as such prior art gowns that typically consist of a spunlaced or spunbond/meltblown/spunbond (SMS) non-woven fabric throughout the body and sleeves. These fabrics are typically not impervious and do not help to provide significant friction against the inside cuff of the glove. [0016] In one embodiment, the impervious partial sleeve can be a two-layer structure comprising a non-woven fabric and a film. Typical non-woven fabrics examples that can be used include, but are not limited to carded polyester, spun laced wood pulp and polyester, spun bond polyolefin, and SMS polyolefin. Typical film examples that can be used include, but are not limited to polyethylene, ethylene-vinyl-acetate copolymer (EVA), molten ethylene methyl acrylate (EMA), polyester co-polymers, polyurethanes, and mettalocine polyolefins. In one embodiment, the film can be Hytrel.RTM. co-polyester elastomer available from E. I. DuPont De Nemours & Company, 1007 Market Street, Wilmington Del. 19898 U.S.A. Multilayer films that may incorporate some of the example polymers listed but put the friction layer on the top layer for contact with the glove may also be used. The film and non-woven fabric can be laminated for example by adhesive, thermal bonding or by extrusion coating. [0017] Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a portion of a surgical gown in accordance with the present invention is seen. The surgical gown 10 includes a body portion 12 and a sleeve portion 14. The surgical gown 10 including the sleeve portion 14 can comprise a non-woven fabric such as, for example, spun laced wood pulp and polyester, spun bond polyolefin, and SMS polyolefin. Referring to FIG. 2, a close-up perspective view of a sleeve portion 14 in accordance with the present invention is seen. In one embodiment of the present invention, the sleeve portion 14 comprises an upper sleeve 16 and a lower sleeve 18. [0018] In accordance with the present invention, the lower sleeve 18 comprises an impervious partial sleeve that augments the sleeve portion 14 from above a cuff hem to about mid-forearm, thus providing an impervious layer underneath the glove cuff. In further accordance with the present invention, the lower sleeve 18 comprises a surface exhibiting friction when in contact with dry glove materials that will help to hold the glove up on the forearm. As previously described, the lower sleeve 18 can comprise a film adhered to the non-woven fabric. In one embodiment, the film can be Hytrel.RTM. co-polyester elastomer available from E. I. DuPont De Nemours & Company. The film and non-woven fabric can be laminated for example by adhesive, thermal bonding or by extrusion coating. Continue reading... Full patent description for Impervious partial sleeve with glove retention Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Impervious partial sleeve with glove retention 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. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Impervious partial sleeve with glove retention or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Perspiration shield and method of making same Next Patent Application: Temperature controlling garment Industry Class: Apparel ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Impervious partial sleeve with glove retention patent info. 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