| Puncture resistant glove -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Puncture resistant gloveRelated Patent Categories: Apparel, Guard Or Protector, Hand Or ArmPuncture resistant glove description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070083968, Puncture resistant glove. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of PCT/EP2004/013585, having a filing date of Nov. 29, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a safety glove that is resistant to puncture by sharp objects such as needles and broken glass. [0004] 2. State of the Art [0005] Well-known safety problems arise in relation to providing hand protection to workers who may encounter sharp objects (`sharps`) during their work. One example relates to refuse collection workers who can encounter broken glass, sharp edges on tin cans and used hypodermic syringe needles when emptying refuse bins. Another example relates to staff in hospitals (e. g. cleaners and laundry room operatives) for whom risk of needlestick injury is a known hazard. A further example relates to police, security staff and military personnel who may in the course of their duties face the risk of assault by sharp weapons such as knives, broken bottles. The risk of cuts and puncture wounds to the hand is compounded where the sharp object is contaminated. Used hypodermic syringes are of particular concern; most especially in relation to risk of Hepatitis and HIV transmission by needlestick puncture. [0006] A number of puncture resistant gloves have been proposed in the art, but there remains a need for a truly effective solution to the above-described problems. In particular, protection should be provided to the hand regardless of hand orientation or movement and also regardless of the angle of contact of a sharp object with the glove. For utility, the glove should be fully puncture-resistant but when worn should also not significantly compromise the dexterity of the user's hand. Full hand dexterity is desirable to allow effective handling of tasks by the protected hand. [0007] The Applicant has now devised a puncture resistant glove that offers effective hand protection from injury by sharps whilst not significantly compromising hand dexterity and being amenable to manufacture at low cost. [0008] The glove comprises a flexible, hand-wearable support that is provided with both inner and outer puncture resistant shields. The inner and outer shields overlap to form a barrier to sharp object penetration of the hand regardless of its orientation relative to the sharp object or of any hand or finger movements. [0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,751 describes a needlestick resistant glove in which a flexible, one-piece web is provided on its outer surface with plastic disks positioned side-by-side. U.S. Pat. No. 5,644,797 describes a puncture resistant glove, in which a non-puncture resistant layer has disposed thereon a puncture resistant layer comprising plural segments arranged end to end. [0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide a puncture resistant glove that offers protection from sharp object injury to a user's hand during normal use. [0011] It is an object of the present invention to provide a puncture resistant glove that offers protection from sharp object injury to a user's hand regardless of any hand movement or of the orientation of the sharp object to the glove. [0012] It is an object of the present invention to provide a puncture resistant glove that does not significantly compromise the dexterity of a user's hand during normal use. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0013] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a puncture resistant glove for protecting a user's hand comprising a hand-wearable flexible support defining both an inner and outer support surface; provided to said inner support surface, plural inner shields comprised of puncture resistant material; and provided to said outer support surface, plural outer shields comprised of puncture resistant material, wherein in use, said plural inner shields and said plural outer shields overlap to provide impenetrable shielding to said user's hand regardless of movement of the user's hand. [0014] There is provided a puncture resistant glove for protecting a user's hand. The term `puncture resistant` is used herein to mean resistant to puncture by a sharp object such as a sharp edge (e. g. metallic or glass) or tip, particularly the tip of a needle. [0015] The degree of puncture resistance is preferably as great as possible, but at minimum the resistance to puncture should be such as to fully protect the user's hand during normal use of the glove even if puncture is ultimately possible under extreme forces (e. g. during severe laboratory testing conditions). [0016] Examples of normal uses of the puncture resistant glove herein include for refuse collection, cleaning, laundering, food preparation, prison work, hospital work, heavy engineering and tool work, police work including riot control work, and use by the armed forces. The puncture resistant glove may also be used for motorcyclist's hand protection. [0017] The term `user's hand` herein is generally used to mean that part of the user's body extending away from the arm and beyond the wrist and including the upper hand, palm, fingers and thumb. Embodiments are however, also envisaged herein in which protection is additionally provided to the wrist and part of the user's arm. It will be appreciated that the extent of protection will generally be determined by the task to be performed by the user and/or by other safety gear provided to the user (e. g. a coat with protective sleeves). [0018] The glove comprises a flexible support that is wearable by the hand of the user. The flexibility of the support is such as to ensure that hand dexterity is not significantly compromised when worn by the user. Preferably, the support is comprised of flexible material. [0019] The material of the flexible support is desirably water impermeable and may also be resistant to chemicals, heat and/or any other hazards that may be encountered by the user during normal use. The material of the flexible support need not however be puncture resistant since the resistance to puncture is provided by the shields as described hereinafter. Suitable flexible support materials include rubber, latex and Kevlar (trade mark) or other soft, and preferably resilient materials. Suitable flexible support materials that are susceptible to injection-molding forming processes include Thermoplastic Rubber (TPR); Hytrel (trade name) andethylene/propylene/diene (EPDM). In aspects, the suitable materials may be formed (e. g. molded) with a thickness that is selected/varied to give the desired degree of flexibility. [0020] The flexible support is preferably in the form of a glove-shaped support that suitably covers the user's hand in its entirety. Part glove-shaped forms are also envisaged. [0021] The glove-shaped support is suitably comprised of a flexible material of thickness from 0.1 to 5 mm, preferably from 0.5 to 3 mm. Continue reading about Puncture resistant glove... Full patent description for Puncture resistant glove Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Puncture resistant glove 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 Puncture resistant glove or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Puncture resistant glove Next Patent Application: Child's clothing ensemble Industry Class: Apparel ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Puncture resistant glove patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.17243 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Novartis , Pfizer , Philips , Polaroid , Procter & Gamble , 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
