Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MULTI-PLY GLOVE CONSTRUCTION
Fleld of the Invent ion
Thls lnventlon relates to multl-ply gloves (or
mltts), havlng an outer insulated shell whlch provldes a
deslred heat lnsulating and waterproof enclosure for the hands
of a wearer, and a selectlvely removable and/or exchangeable
llner ln the lnsulated shell, the shell and the llner belng
speclflcally deslgned ln comblnatlon to keep the hands warm
and dry under the most severe weather condltlons.
Backqrol~nd of the Invent lon
In U.S. Patent No. 4,662,006, (herelnafter the '006
Patent), asslgned to the same asslgnee as ls the lnstant
lnventlon, there ls descrlbed a multl-ply glove constructlon
that has many advantages over the prlor art. More
partlcularly, the glove ln the '006 Patent ls formed from a
multl-ply shell and a selectlvely removable llner, wlth the
shell capable of use wlth, or wlthout, the llner, ln order to
provlde selected degrees of hand protectlon. The shell has an
outer water repellant layer of leather closely woven textlle
fabrlcs, or the llke. An lnner heat lnsulatlng layer ln the
shell ls formed of a loftlng materlal such as down, DACRON ,
FIBER-FILL , THINSULATE flber, or foam. A waterproof
breathable layer formed preferably of a poromerlc materlal
such as GORE-TEX ls arranged between the water repellant
layer and the heat lnsulatlng layer, and a sllde layer formed
of a relatlvely smooth materlal such as brushed nylon or the
llke ls formed on the lnterlor surface of the heat lnsulatlng
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layer, and bonded thereto. The inner sllde layer on the
lnsulatlng layer ls preferably formed wlth a brushed surface
permlttlng relatlvely free movement of another materlal
thereover, yet actlng to retaln materlal ln posltlon so that
the llner may be readlly lnserted, but tend to remaln ln
posltlon after lnsertlon.
The llner selectlvely utlllzed wlthln the shell ls
preferably of a multl-ply constructlon formed to provlde
dlfferent degrees of heat lnsulatlon dependent on cllmatlc
condltlons and formed of a plle, synthetlc natural, or blend
fabrlc, or of a loftlng materlal, or a knltted cashmere or the
llke. The exterlor face of the llner ls formed wlth a coarse
surface layer provlded by a brushed or sueded materlal such as
woven or knlt nylon or the llke, and the lnterlor surface of
the llner ls preferably provlded wlth a sllde layer formed by
utlllzlng a non-brushed nylon to facllltate lnsertlon of the
hands of the wearer.
Arranged at the cuff of the llner, and the cuff of
the shell, are fastenlng elements provlded by matlng VELCR0
strlps, zlppers, and the llke, servlng to permlt selectlve
attachment of the llner to the shell.
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Although the glove ln the '006 patent has many
advantages, lt has been found that varlous lmprovements are
posslble. Thls lnventlon ls dlrected to those lmprovements.
Summary of the Inventlon
The lnventlon provldes a glove or mltt constructlon
comprising: a multi-layer outer shell and a selectively
removable liner, said multi-layer outer shell comprising: an
outer water repellant layer; an inner heat insulating layer; a
vapor barrier layer located between said outer water repellant
layer and said inner heat insulating layer, wherein said vapor
barrier layer comprises a plurallty of holes; and a moisture
absorbing layer formed on the lnner surface of said heat
insulating layer, wherein said moisture absorbing layer
comprises a brushed material.
The vapor barrier layer functions to trap natural
body humidity within the glove construction, thereby
minimlzlng heat loss. The molsture absorblng layer formed on
the lnner surface of sald heat lnsulatlng layer permlts the
glove to be worn wlthout use of the selectlvely removable
llner, thereby provldlng maxlmum flexlblllty ln tallorlng
glove use to all weather condltlons.
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It ls a still further feature of the lnvention that
a degree of curve ls lncorporated lnto the flngers of the
lnventlve multl-layer glove to provlde maxlmum comfort when
the glove ls ln use.
These and other ob~ects and features of the
lnventlon wlll be more fully appreclated from the followlng
detalled descrlptlon when taken ln con~unctlon wlth the
accompanylng drawlngs whlch:
8rlef DescrlPtlon of the Drawlnqs
In the drawlngs:
FIG. 1 ls an exploded perspectlve vlew of a glove
constructlon ln accordance wlth the lnstant lnventlon;
FIG. 2 lllustrates the constructlon of the vapour
barrler lnsert lncluded wlthln the glove of FIG. l; and
FIG. 3 lllustrates a functlonal curve pattern used
wlth the lnstant lnventlon.
Detalled DescriPtlon of the Inventlon
Referrlng now to FIG. 1, there ls shown a glove of
multl-ply constructlon ln accordance wlth the lmprovements of
the lnstant lnventlon. The lnventlve multl-ply constructlon
comprlses an outer water repellent layer 27, whlch layer ls
formed of a varlety of conventlonally employed glove shell
materlals, such as leather, nylon or other synthetlc materlal,
or other blends of flbers. Thls layer may also be plastlc
coated.
Ad~acent to the water repellant layer 27, ls a
waterproof breathable layer 29. In the '006 patent, thls
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layer was formed of poromerlc materlals such as GORE-TEX
Polytetrafluoroethylene. In accordance wlth the lnstant
lnventlon, as descrlbed below, thls layer has now been
lmproved.
The glove also conslsts of a heat lnsulatlng layer
31, posltloned ad~acent to the waterproof breathable layer 29.
The heat lnsulatlng layer may be formed of a varlety of
materlals such as a loftlng materlal, or one whlch tends to
expand ln thlckness so as to create alr pockets between the
top and the bottom surface thereof. Down or synthetlc or
natural materlal flber may be satisfactorily employed for thls
purpose. THINSULATE ls one materlal that ls found to be
sultable.
Secured to the lnwardly faclng surface of the heat
lnsulatlng layer 31, ls a sllde layer 33. In the '006 patent,
thls layer conslsts of an unbrushed or smooth materlal, whlch
was necessary ln order to provlde a sllde surface for easy
passage of a hand, or llner, lnto the shell 10. Thls layer
has now been lmproved as wlll be descrlbed below.
Llner 20, as shown at the bottom portlon of FIG. 1
conslsts of a relatlvely porous, molsture ab~orblng layer 45,
whlch layer serves to provlde deslred warmth and comfort. A
varlety of
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materials can be employed for use ln this layer, lncluding
flannel fabric formed of woven or knit synthetic material, or
a blend of fibers.
A smooth outer layer 46 is preferably formed on the
porous, moisture absorbent layer 45. A smooth lnner surface
48 is provided, preferably of a knit, relatively soft textile
fabric, made up of material or synthetic fibers, or a blend
thereof. The actual manner of enabling and constructing the
multi-ply glove shown in FIG. 1 is described in detail in the
'006 patent.
The flrst improvement accomplished with the instant
lnventlon, ls to change the composltlon of the sllde layer 33
from an unbrushed or smooth materlal, to a brushed or sueded
materlal, thereby creatlng a molsture absorblng layer for the
outer lnsulated shell portlon of the glove. The prevlous
sllde materlal used ln the '006 patent was unbrushed and,
accordlngly, was not able to readlly absorb molsture, a
sltuatlon that could leave a wearer's hand cold and damp lf
excess moisture was generated during exercise such as skiing.
The new brushed slide material comprising layer 33, allows for
greater moisture absorption and pass through of moisture to
the other layers of the multi-ply components.
Most importantly, use of thls layer havlng greater
molsture absorbency, greatly enhances user comfort, when
wearing the
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multl-ply outer lnsulated shell component wlthout the
removable llner. Use of the glove wlthout the removable
llner, ls often advantageous ln response to varying weather
condltlons, for example when less heat retentlon ls deslrable.
Accordlngly, use of the new molsture absorbent layer 33
greatly enhances thls feature of the multl-ply glove
construction.
An addltlonal change necessary to facllltate use of
the brush sllde materlal for layer 33, ls the necesslty to
create additlonal attachment polnts between the flnger and
thumb areas of the multl-ply insulated shell. More
partlcularly, with the glove described in the '006 patent, the
only attachment points between the multi-ply layers of the
shell were at the cuff area. Wlth the lnstant lnventlon,
however, the change from a smooth to a brushed sllde materlal
at layer 33 requires the additlon of attachment points.
Without additional attachment polnts between the layers of the
multi-ply shell, the frlction between the hand and the brushed
slide materlal, when worn wlthout the removable llner, would
cause the multi-ply shell components to separate when the
wearer attempted to remove hls or her hands from the multl-ply
shell. Such separation ln the finger areas would make it
difflcult, lf not lmpossible, for the wearer to relnsert hls
or her hands, or relnsert the llner lnto the multl-ply shell.
Accordlngly, wlth the instant lnventlon, the multl-ply shell
components are also held together at the flnger and thumb tlps
on the glove, and the flnger area and thumb area on mlttens.
For example, the outer layer 27, and the waterproof
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breathable layer 29, must be ~olned together at the flnger and
thumb tlps. In addltlon, the heatlng lnsulatlng layer 31,
must be fastened at the flnger and thumb tlp area under the
water proof breathable layer 29. It ls essentlal that all
layers of the multl-ply shell be ~olned together ln both the
flnger and thumb tlp area, and also at the cuff area. The
preferred method of ~olnlng the multl-ply gloves at the flnger
area ls by glulng. However, other methods, such as stltchlng,
laser, ultrasonlc, or heat attachlng may be used.
An addltlonal requlrement to accommodate the
lmprovement of the greater molsture absorptlon layer 33, ls
that the outer most component of the llner, layer 46, must be
of a smooth materlal to properly sllde agalnst layer 33 of the
shell. It ls essentlal that the correct frlctlon ratlo exlst
between the two sllde materlals (33 and 46), to allow for ease
of lnsertlon of the removable llner lnto the shell. Wlthout
the correct frlctlon ratlo, lt would be dlfflcult to lnsert
the removable llner lnto the shell and malntaln lt ln the
proper posltlon.
An addltlonal lmprovement achleved wlth the lnstant
lnventlon, may be accompllshed by maklng layer 29 from a
vapour barrler materlal. Thls materlal ls lllustrated ln FIG.
2. Thls vapour barrler materlal ls an lnsert comprlslng a
very thln plastlc layer, into whlch plurallty of small holes
have been added. The purpose of the vapour barrler ls to trap
the natural body humldlty, whlch helps keep the hand warm.
Thls ls accompllshed by the use of the vapour barrler lnsert,
whlch surrounds the llnlng and traps the body molsture,
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thereby lncreaslng the humldlty ln the llnlng system and
slgnlflcantly reduclng evaporatlve heat loss.
An addltlonal lmprovement provlded wlth the lnstant
lnventlon, ls lllustrated ln FIG. 3. It ls known ln the glove
buslness that "curved flnger gloves" have been ln exlstence
for an extended perlod of tlme. However, lt ls lmportant to
determlne the correct curve for each flnger ~olnt ln order to
achleve ultlmate comfort. Experlmentatlon and study have
focused on the natural posltlon of the hand ln lts relaxed
state, and also the posltlon of the hand when the flngers are
grlpplng an ob~ect, such as a skl pole.
In multl-ply constructlon, thls pattern must be
determlned for both the llner and the shell, elther alone or
ln comblnatlon. Also, lt ls lmportant to note that use of
such a curve pattern, as lllustrated ln FIG. 3, ls only
necessary when the glove and llner are made of non-stretchable
materlal. Other materlals, such as leather or fabrlcs wlth
normal stretch characterlstlcs, may be cut from conventlonal
patterns.
It ls also known that lf too much of a curve ls
formulated ln the pattern of FIG. 3, the wearer may be
comfortable whlle utlllzlng the gloves whlle grlpplng a skl
pole, for example, but experlence dlscomfort when wearlng the
glove wlth the hands ln a relaxed posltlon. The opposlte
would be true lf the pattern has less than the approprlate
curve.
The baslc parameters of a hand ln a relaxed posltlon
were studled. It was determlned that a hand ln lts naturally
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relaxed state had a degree of curve measured from the knuckle
to the tlp of the flnger of between 15 and 25 degrees. The
fourchettes were then developed to allow for thls type of
curve on the flnlshed product.
The amount of curve allowed ln the palm of the hand
to accommodate easy grlpplng of a skl pole wlthout hand
fatlgue was then determlned. This was not a degree of
measurement, but more a function of comfort. This was
established through a trial and error basls by effectively
changing the fourchettes in a small degree and, ln a larger
sense, alterlng the dlfference between the overall length of
the palm hand and the back hand untll the optlmum posltlon was
establlshed.
Several other factors are lnstrumental ln
establlshlng the degree of curve ln a glove. The most
lmportant is the dlfference ln the length of the palm part of
the glove to the back part of the glove. To obtaln the proper
curve to the flnlshed product, the back must be longer than
the palm part of the glove. The dlfference between the length
of the palm and the length of the back, ls cruclal ln
determlning the degree of curve. For a conventional glove,
the overall length of the palm is approximately 3/4" shorter
than the overall length of the back. On the new patterns of
FIG. 3, however, the overall length of the palm hand ls
approxlmately 1" less than the overall length of the back.
Thls translates to a 33 percent dlfference between a
conventlonal glove and the pattern shown ln FIG. 3.
The foregolng dlsclosure and descrlptlon of the
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lnventlon ls lllustratlve and explanatory thereof, and varlous
changes ln the slze, shape and materlals, as well as ln the
detall~ of the lllustrated constructlon, may be made wlthln
the scope of the appended clalms wlthout departlng from the
~plrlt of the lnventlon.
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