Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
WO9S/31118 " ' ` '` ~ ~
A PROTECTIVE ST ~PVE
FIELD OF TH~ INVEN~ON
The present invention relates to a sleeve for protecting the arms of a wearer from contact
S with liquids that otherwise might have an adverse effect on the skin of the user.
There are many ch. where it is desired to protect the arms from contæt with
fluids that have an adverse effect on the skin of the user. This is p~li~uLuly the case
where caustic or æidic solutions are used for cleaning. The difficulty generaDy does
not arise where the hands are immersed into a bucket of cleQning liquid because water
impervious gloves are usuaOy worn, but rather where the hands are lifted above the
horizontal and cleaning liquid runs down the gloves onto the arms.
It is known to provide for protection of the forearm, or even up to the shoulders ir~ the
form of a plastics sleeve but this protection is only mtended to maintain cleanliness of
the foreQrm. The use of a plastic sleeve however does not alleviate the problem of
keeping liquid of the arms and such plastics sleeves only protect against a minimal
amount of spill before cleaning liquid streQms down the arms beyond the end of the
plastics sleeves.
It has been suggested before to construct gloves that include a layer for retaining water
on the outside of a water ' . ' ' layer. The water retaming layer however is
simply on the glove to æt in much the same way as a sponge. so as to apply cleaning
preparation without having separQtely to use a sponge. Examples of such j LL' ~
can be found in British patent application GB2113977 and British apphcation GB
899016. Scourer pads have also been suggested for use with such gloves, to add to
their usefulness such as in British patent application GB2033731 or as in British Patent
21343171 to Koumbas. These gloves however are primarily concerned with applying
cleaning fluid to the surfæe that requircs cleaning, and have no regard for the more
awkward problem of liquid running down a raised arm. In fact the use of such gloves
, the problem because larger amounts of liquid are i , ''y retained and
~lu~ ,ly released down the arm.
It has also been suggested in Australian Patent ~ ... 490155 (73535/74) to
35 provide a surgical gown which includes a central operative field of the front panel of the
gown having a fluid impervious material having an absorbent outer surfæe to absorb
fluids that might come in contact with the central operative field. Use of an absorptive
layer on the gown is said to minimise the amount of liquid run-of
WO 95131118 " ~ ~ PCT/AU95100277
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Tbere has however, to the inventor's knowledge, not been anarticle to provide
prooection to the arms of tbe wearer, that is convenient to use with gloves, that provides t
for secure and close fitting over the``arm, is easy to car y, and to put on and discard, or
S to fit all user sizes. ;~
Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide a protective sleeve that protects
arms of a user against unwanted contact with a fluid that obviates or minimises any one
of tbe ~f ~ problems in a simple yet effective way, or at least provides the
10 public with a useful choice.
SUMMARY OF THE ~VENTION
In a broad form and not necessarily the broadest or only forin the invention could be
said to reside in a protective sleeve including fastening means to fasten around an arm
lS of a wearer so as to be retained in position, said protective sleeve including an mner
layer of watet proof material extending the length of the sleeve, an outermost layer of
absorptive material covering said inner layer . ;.~ ly so as to retard liquid run
off along the sleeve, said sleeve extending to the upper arrn of the user..
20 The fastening means may be in tbe form of an elasticised section that fits around tbe
wrist of the wearer. Cu,.., 'S/ the sleeve is fitted over the arm and secured, and
waterproof gloves are fitted over the outer end of the sleeve so that there is ~""~
overlap ~ a sealmg fit of the sleeve over the arm is not required.
25 Alternatively the fastenmg means might include a loop that hooks over the thumb of a
user, thereby preventing travel of the sleeve away frûm the hand.
In a preferable form the absorptive layer is subst mtialiy coextensive with the water
proof layer. Most preferably the sleeve is formed from a lammate of waterproof and
30 absorptive material, the laminate being produced before the sleeve is formed.
It is to be lln~i~rcl,-o~i however, that the absorptive material may simply be adhered to a
waterproof sleeve with a suitable plastics adhesive. The absorptive maoerial may be of
any material that is absorptive, and generally it is intended that the sleeve is re-useable,
35 the absorptive material is " ,,~1 preferably somewhat rt sistmt to water and/or the
liquid being used and may be of a woven fabric.
WO 95/31118 . 2 1 9 0 0 0 8 PCT/AU95J00277
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It may be desired to have rather Lhicker absorptive material however not co-extensive
with the sleeve but rather formed in bands formed around the sleeve. The absorptive
material of these bands may be in the form of a sponge-lil;é material.
5 The waterproof material is preferably a plastics or rubber material, such as are already
used for protective sleeves, or gloves. In one form the plastics of the sleeves is of a
material that whilst water resistant is sLII able to allow passage of some air so that the
sleeve is breathable.
10 In an alternaLive form a chemically resistmt layer is also provided which is resistant to
chemicals for which the sleeve is mtended for use with. The chemically resisL~nt layer
may be separate from the waterproof layer or it may be integral with iL
It may be convenient to produce the protective sleeve integrally with a glove. It is
5 envisaged that the glove portion would not include an absorptive layer, because the
absorpLive layer would lead to an increase in liquid spilling down the sleeve.
Whilst certain indication have been given relating to the scope of the invention it is to be
understood that the invention may reside im two or more of these mdications combined.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
To assist with the I ' " ~ of the invention several ~ b. " are illustrated. It
is to be understood from the foregomg that the illustrated LL ~ of the inventionare merely illustrative amd in no way restrict the scope of the invention.
In the i'-
Flgure I is an illustration of a first ~ L ' ' of the protective sleeve fitted to the
arm of a wearer with the hand proximal portion of the sleeve fitted under a pair of water
30 proof gloves,
FlgUre 2 is a cross sectional detail of the first f .. ho.l;.. ~l showing the laminate
between the waterproof material and the absorptive layer and formation of an elasticised
end,
hgule 3 is an illustration of a second f mho~ of the protective sleeve fitted to an
arm of a wearer the hand proximal portion of Lhe sleeve extending just past Lhe elbow of
the wearer,
WO 9S131118 PCTIAU95/00277
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Figure 4 is detail of both ends of the second ~...b ' showimg UUII~IlUUl.iU~
detail of the ends of the sleeve an'd the method of keeping the waterproof and the
absorbent layer together,
Figure S is an illustration of a third; ' ^~" having an integral glove to cover the
h nd the glove portion not having any absorptive covering, and the absorptive layer
being kept in close proximity with the water proof layer by use of a plurality of spaced
apart contacts.
Flgure 6 is a cross sectional view showing detail of the means of keeping the
waterproof and absorbent layers together.
Figure 7 is a view of a fourth .... ~h~ of the invention wherein bands ûf
1~ absorptive material are spaced along the length of the sleeve, and
Figure 8 is a cross sectional view showing details of the bands of absorptive material
connected to the waterproof layer.
20 Similar reference characters indicate c~ . " g, parls throughout the several views
of the drawings.
Dimensions of certain of the parts as shown in the drawings may have been modified
and/or i ,," ~ for the purposes of clarity of illustration.
DETAILED DESCRlPrlON OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
The protective sleeve of this invention comprises an inner layer (1) of waterproof
material extending along the length of the sleeve, and an outermost layer (2) ofabsorptive material that covers the inner layer ~,il. r ' lly~ SO that liquid running
30 along the length of the sleeve absorbs into the absorptive layer and the running off is at
least retarded.
The first ~ bo~l ~ 1 illustrated in Figure I and hgure 2 comprises two layers, a water
prûof plastics layer I on am imside of the sleeve that acts as a support for an absorptive
35 layer 2. An outer end of the plastics layer is folded over and an elastic member 3 is
irlserted in the channel 4 so formed. The channel is sewn closed. The elasticised outer,
hamd proximal end (5) of the sleeve acts to hold the sleeve in position on the wrist of the
user.
~ WO95/31118 2 1 90oo~ IJ J
The irmer, or hand distal (6) end of the sleeve extends to the shoulder of the user, and is
also elasticised in a manner similar to that on the hand proximal end to be retained on
the shoulder of the user. It may be desired to provide for a further fastening means for
5 the inner end, for exaunple it may be desired to have a band extending from the inner
end around the shoulder of the user, so as to maintain the sleeve as high up on the arm
as is practicable. The length of the sleeve is illustrated as being up to the shoulder.
The absorptive material shown in this ' " is substantially ~ .t~ ;v~, with the
10 plastics material, except at the outer end of the sleeve there is no absorptive material
covering the elasticised portion, so that liquid is not retained on the stitching of the
sleeve. It is to be understood that the invention also ~"~ forms where the
absorptive material is not co-extensive with the water-proof material.
15 The absorptive material in this ' ' is a flannel material adhered to a plastics
sleeve using an adhesive layer (7) . A laminate so formed is preferable to having the
flarmel separate from the plastics material, because where there is no laminate type
structl}re there are portions of the sleeve where the flar~nel material is not in contact with
the plastics material and the liquid can progress along the sleeve much more rapidly.
In use the sleeve is fitted onto the arm of the user and the hand distal end (6) is secured
to the shoulder, which term is intended to include the upper parts of the arm close to the
shoulder. The hand distal portion of the sleeve is securely fitted to the wrist. A water
proof glove is then put on and the sleeve and glove is ready for use.
When the arm is raised the sleeve is particularly effective, in that water or other cleaning
liquid will run off the glove onto the sleeve and become absorbed by the flannel of the
absorptive layer. It will be understood the capacity of the sleeve to absorb liquid is not
ir~mite and that where great amounts of liquid are to be used then the moisture will
30 exceed the capacity of the outer layer to absorb.
Whilst a plastics layer is used on the flannel, it may be preferred to coat the flannel or
other absorptive layer with a water ~ ' ' coating thereby forming an
,. ., ~ . layer.
A second i ~o~' of the invention is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. This comprises
a plastics layer (I) which is quite separate from the water absorptive layer (2). This
sleeve is imtended more as a disposable sleeve so that the outer layer is simply a layer of
WO 95/31118 ~' PCIIAU95/00277
l~9OOOa i- -
absorptive paper. Instead of having the two layers adhered together the layers are
joined only at the two ends (5, 6~ o~ the sleeve. An elasticised band (4) as well as
aligned ends of the plastics and .paper layer are over sewn together, as is best seen in
figure 4.
S
Whilst it is a slight ~ that the two layers are not contacted together, there isstiLI sufficient contact between the two layers along the length of the sleeve such that
moisture does no simply soak through the absorptive layer close to the glove and run
along the plastics layer with minimal moisture absorption. In use, the two layers do not
10 represent to well formed cylinders, but they have a ~r... :.1. . ,.1.1~ number of folds and
cmves as a result of the complex shape of a dynamic arm and ~ a great
number of contacts are made between the two layers.
The length of the sleeve is somewhat shorter than that of the first r~mh ~ ' t, and
15 extends past the elbow of users. The hand proximal end of this ~,...L ~ " is intended
to end ~ , half way between the elbow and the shoulder. This is found to be
a uu..,;~ more . . . ~ to wear, leading to more secure fitting
aroumd the upper part of the arm. GeneraLly when the arm is lifted to during cleaning,
generally the elbow is stiLI bent, so that generally the greatest amomnt of water flow is
20 on the forearm of the user, only very rarely does liquid contact the upper arm.
Cr , 'y it is of ' "~! greater importance to protect the lower arm (10) of
the user rather than upper arm ( I l).
A third ' ~rlimPn~ of the invention is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. This ... ~hn.l ......
25 comprises a combined sleeve and glove (13). The gloYe comprises a suitable water
resistant material that is sufficiently robust to withstand the use to which it is to be put.
No absorptive layer covers the glove. A sleeve portion (14) of the glove comprises a
water resistant layer that is integraUy formed with the glove portion. The absorbent
layer is formed onto the sleeve portion by a heat welding process giving a stippled look.
30 The heat welds (15) being patterned over the sleeve. The hand distal portion of the
sleeve is gathered as for the other illustrated; ' - ' and has an elasticised band
attached.
This ~ ,bo li ~ ~ has the advantage that separate gloves need not be used, and that only
35 one item needs to be domned for each arm and hand. The glove portion is not covered
with an absorptive layer because that would lead to a greater supply of residual liquid to
un off down the sleeve. One difficulty however is that different sizes may be needed
depending on the hand size of the user. Whilst the illustrated third i ' ~ " shows
WO9~1118 2 t 900~g PCTIAU9i,002M
7 ' ' S
a sleeve portion that extend to past the elbow of a user and not to the shoulder, it may
be desired to have a shoulder length sleeve portion in connection with a glove.
.. ..
It is to be understood that the stippled heat welded double layer is ad~a..~,~ in that
S tbe two layers are held in close proximity whilst not lequiring the expense of forming
an adhesive layer ~ el,.,~ or a laminate. It is also to be understood that tbis
material may be used in ' " of the sleeve having no glove and that other double
layers may also be used. r, the sleeve portion need not be integrally formed
with the glove and may be joined provided that the join is water proofed.
A fourth . '~o.l,.... 1l of the invention is illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. In tbis
l~lho~ thewaterprooflayer(l)formsthesleeve~ Theabsorbentlayerisprovided
in the form of bands (20) that are spaced apart I -, ' lly along tbe sleeve. Thebands of absorptive material comprise a sponge material and are shown as being
15 ~ ,ly thicker than the absorptive layers shown in the other ~ The
bands of sponge are ~ 'y 7mm thick. This 1~ " has the capacity for
absorbing a ~ n rlr . ~ volume of water. Each of the bands acts as a barrier to flow
of liquid where a greater quantity of liquid is anticipated. r~ the bands act tospread the flow of water laterally so that unlike where a layer of absorptive paper is
20 used streams of water will be rapidly spread and more easily absorbed.
This sleeve is shown as the same length as that of the third; ' - " and as with the
third . ..I .o.: .. this may also take the form of a shoulder length sleeve.
25 Additionally where a ~ . : 1 . ..1,1. flow of liquid is anticipated it may be desirable to
provide a continuous absorptive layer such as described in anyone of the first tbree
illustrated Pmhc ' together with a banded layer such as described in the fourth
on top of the continuous layer.
30 Otner ~ of .' absorptive layer may also be provided.
Whilst only a two layered ,. " ,., ,c,.. 1 has been shown, it may be desirable to have
more than two layers, provided that tbe outer layer is absorptive. and that there is a
layer intemal of the absorptive layer that is . ' ' to liquid. It may be desirable
35 for comfort to the wearer to provide a three layered sleeve, where an intemal absorptive
layer is also provided to take up moisture intemally of the sleeve, for example from
