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  Three-dimensional finger gloveUSPTO Application #: 20060137069Title: Three-dimensional finger glove Abstract: A 3-D finger glove that may fit onto a human finger is provided. The finger glove that has a 3-D cavity so that it may easily be put on to a finger by a user and is formed by bonding together two nonwoven webs, at least one of which is elastic, while the elastic web stretched. Additionally, the 3-D finger glove successfully prevents the formation of stiff seams along the edge so that seams will not cause abrasion or damage to the areas where the glove is intended to be used. Additionally, the 3-D glove disclosed can have flush seams, which further reduces the stiffness along the seams so that the user feels more comfortable while wearing the glove. Furthermore, the 3-D shaped finger glove may provide a bigger surface area for cleaning or other uses. A number of therapeutic additives may also be applied to the glove. (end of abstract) Agent: Kimberly-clark Worldwide, Inc. - Neenah, WI, US Inventors: Kaiyuan Yang, Jeffrey E. Fish USPTO Applicaton #: 20060137069 - Class: 002021000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Apparel, Guard Or Protector, Hand Or Arm, Finger Cots Or Protectors The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060137069. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The cut edge or seam line of a nonwoven laminate, especially near bonds, may have some stiffness. In some product applications, such as a finger toothbrush which is used against sensitive body parts, the stiffness may be undesirable because of potential abrasions and cuts. In order to make the seam line soft, the bonded area thus either needs further treatment such as creating microcuts along the seam or performing an "inside-out" process to invert the seam line inside. [0002] Adding a cutting procedure or an inside-out conversion process inevitably increases the production cost and may make the product(s) economically uncompetitive to manufacture. Additionally, microcuts along the seam may still not be desirable because sharp cuts along the seam may still be able to hurt body parts such as the gums. Microcuts along the seam may create undesirable residues or particles along the seam that they may be transferred into a user's mouth or other body parts. Mechnical cutting may produce solid residues, and a water-knife may contaminate the nonwoven surface, wash out potential therapeutic agents, and also requires a drying step. If a laser cutting tool is used, the stiff seam may form a hard cutting edge because of local burning or melting. [0003] Accordingly, there is a great need to develop a finger glove with soft seams or without seams along the edge at all. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] In response to the discussed problems encountered in the prior art, a new, simple and versatile three-dimensional finger glove has been developed. The finger glove is generally formed from a base web material that is shaped into a glove and may contain a pocket for the insertion of a finger. The benefits of a three dimensional finger glove are many: it helps the user insert the finger easier; it pulls two seams away from the edges to one side of the glove so that stiff seams associated with flat finger gloves are not a problem; it allows a user to handle the glove easier; and it allows packaging for continuous use by stacking finger gloves. [0005] The finger glove may be formed from multiple sections. These multiple sections may be made from different base web materials. In one aspect, for example, a first section, desirably not stretched, may be made from a texturized nonwoven material having an abrasive surface useful for cleaning. A second section, or backing, may be made from an elastic nonwoven material having form-fitting properties to help the glove effectively fit onto a finger. A bonding process involving stretching one of the sections, typically the second, during bonding effectively delivers the desired shape. The 3 D shaped finger glove is formed when a stretched fabric retracts to its normal state. The retraction of the stretched fabric not only helps form the 3-D shape, but also pulls the two seams away from the edges so that the stiffness associated with the bonding edge is partially or fully relieved. [0006] The 3-D shape may be further defined by the length ratio of the two sections after the stretched fabric retracts to the normal state. The length ratio is about 70 to 90 percent. The ratio may be about 50 to 70 percent. The ratio may be about 25 to 50 percent. [0007] Any material commonly used in the art to manufacture cloths such as wipes, can be used as a base web. In particular, the base web is typically made from a nonwoven web. More particularly, the base web may be made from pulp fibers, synthetic fibers, thermo-mechanical pulp, or mixtures thereof such that the web has cloth-like properties. The base web may be made from various types of fibers, including meltblown, spunbond, bonded carded, bicomponent, and crimped fibers. The base web may also include various other materials such as elastomeric components or texturized nonwoven materials. Various laminates, such as elastic and film laminates, may also be used in the base web. Suitable elastic laminates include stretch-bonded and neck-bonded laminates (SBL and NBL respectively). [0008] It should be noted here that the stretchable fabric may be easily replaced by any elastic material that may be bonded to the unstretched fabric. For example, an elastic material may be a latex film, or a transparent or nontransparent polymer film, or the like. Such a finger glove may be desired when the application only requires one side of the glove to be a fabric. [0009] The finger glove may also include a moisture barrier that is incorporated into or applied as a layer to the base web. In general, a moisture barrier refers to any barrier, layer, or film that is relatively liquid impervious. In particular, the moisture barrier may prevent the flow of liquid through the finger glove so that a finger inserted therein remains dry when the glove is being used. The moisture barrier may remain breathable, i.e., permeable to vapors, such that a finger within the glove is more comfortable. Examples of suitable moisture barriers may include films, fibrous materials, laminates, and the like. [0010] Various additives may also be applied, if desired, to the finger glove during manufacturing and/or by the consumer. For example, cationic materials, such as chitosan (poly-N-acetylglucosamine), chitosan salts, cationic starches, etc., may be applied to a glove to help attract negatively charged bacteria and deleterious acidic byproducts that accumulate in plaque. Examples of other suitable additives include, but are not limited to, dental agents, such as fluorides, peppermint oil, mint oil and alcohol mixtures; flavoring agents, such as xylitol; anti-microbial agents; polishing agents; hemostatic agents; surfactants; anti-ulcer components; and the like. [0011] Additives may be applied to the finger glove in the form of an aqueous solution, non-aqueous solution (e.g., oil), lotions, creams, suspensions, gels, etc. When utilized, the aqueous solution may, for example, be coated, saturated, sprayed, or impregnated into the wipe. The additives may be applied asymmetrically. The additives may be less than about 100 percent by weight of the finger glove, and in some aspects, less than about 50 percent by weight of the wipe and particularly less than 10 percent by weight of the finger glove. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a finger glove. [0013] Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0014] Finger gloves as described herein are generally constructed from disposable materials, such as nonwoven webs made from synthetic and/or pulp fibers. For example, when used as an oral cleaning device, the finger glove typically includes a texturized surface adapted to scrub or brush the teeth or gums of a user. Further, the finger glove may also include an elastic component for providing the glove with form-fitting properties. As used herein, the terms "elastic" and "elastomeric" are generally used to refer to materials that, upon application of a force, are stretchable to a stretched, biased length which is at least about 125 percent, or one and one fourth times, its relaxed, un-stretched length, and which will retract at least about 50 percent of its elongation upon release of the stretching, biasing force. [0015] It has been discovered that by forming a finger glove with an elastic nonwoven material while the elastic layer is stretched results in a glove that snugly fits onto a person's finger so that the glove may more effectively remain on the finger throughout use. [0016] A finger glove may also remain "breathable" to aid in a person's comfort during use, while also remaining capable of substantially inhibiting the transfer of liquids from the outer surface of the glove to the person's finger. The transfer of liquids may be controlled by using a liquid-impervious material and/or by using a highly liquid-absorbent material. [0017] The finger glove may be formed from two or more sections of base web material. Each section may be identical or different, depending on the desired characteristics of the finger glove. The finger glove is formed from two sections, wherein one section is formed from a textured nonwoven material and the other section is formed from an elastomeric nonwoven material and is stretched during the bonding process. [0018] Referring to FIG. 1, one aspect of a finger glove is depicted. As shown, the finger glove 10 is made from a first section 20 and a second section 30. Generally, one section of the finger glove 10 may be bonded or attached to the other section in a finger-shaped pattern according to any manner known in the art, such as by sewing, adhesive, thermal, ultrasonic, or mechanical bonding, so that the connection of the sections may form a pocket 40 for the insertion of a finger. In FIG. 1, for example, the first section 20 is attached in a finger-shaped pattern to the stretched second section 30 at their respective outer edges via the seams 50 to form a 3-D finger glove 10 having a pocket 40. Once each section is bonded or attached at the seams 50, the materials forming each of the sections 20 and 30 may then be cut adjacent to the seams such that the finger-shaped glove 10 is formed. To form a flush seam, a single cut/seal ultrasonic welding may be used. [0019] Stretching one of the two webs to be bonded may effectively deliver desired 3-D shape with the retraction of the stretched fabric. The retraction of fabric the second web or section not only forms the 3-D shape, but also pulls the two seams 50 away from the edges so that an arch is formed from the unstretched fabric. The interesting outcome for this unique stretch-bonding process is that the stiffness associated with the bonding edge is partially or fully relieved. [0020] The 3-D finger glove 10 and size of the 3-D pocket 11 may be further defined by the length ratio of two fabrics A and B after stretched fabric B has retracted to the normal state. The ratio of B to A is desirably about 70 to 90 percent. The ratio may be about 50 to 70 percent. The ratio may be about 25 to 50 percent. Desirably, the stretched fabric is elastic in any direction. More desirably, the stretched fabric has more elasticity at the direction that is perpendicular to the seams 50. Continue reading... Full patent description for Three-dimensional finger glove Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Three-dimensional finger 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. 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