Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Title: Waterproof and High Heat Resistant Coated Gloves
Inventors: DUNCAN, David W. (Valencia, California, U.S.)
PEWITT, Richard W. (Summerville, Georgia, U.S.)
Attorney Docket No.: 2007-05-0218-PCT
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to kitchen gloves for commercial, industrial
and/or home
use, and related uses requiring waterproof gloves or mitts with high, and low,
temperature
resistance.
It is desirable to make kitchen gloves or mitts, or kitchen puppet style
holders out of a
high heat resistant, cold resistant and waterproof or liquid proof material.
Neoprene rubber,
made by du Pont, or generically known as chloride rubber, is used as wet suits
to protect against
cold and water. Chloride rubber also does not burn, although it can char
(charcoal or carbonize).
However, when used as a glove or mitt, it is not fully waterproof, because
there are seams. Hot
liquids such as hot oil, steam and other vapors and liquids can seep through
the glove, mitt or
puppet at the seams. These liquids can also wick along or through the seams.
The present invention relates to mitts or puppets that have a high wear and
high heat
resistant material, yet can still grip.
The present invention introduces such refinements. In its preferred
embodiments, the
present invention has several aspects or facets that can be used
independently, although they are
preferably employed together to optimize their benefits. All of the foregoing
operational
principles and advantages of the present invention will be more fully
appreciated upon
consideration of the following detailed description, with reference to the
appended drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. I shows a top view of a mitt in accordance with a first embodiment of the
invention;
Fig. 2 shows a side view of a gusset portion of the mitt of Fig. I between the
lines 2-2 of
Fig. I;
Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of the gusset portion of the mitt of Fig. 1,
taken along a line
3-3 of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 shows a partial top view of zigzag stitching and straight stitching on
the inside of
the seams of the mitt;
Fig. 5 is a view of the portion of Fig. 3 in circle 5, but in an alternative
embodiment of the
invention;
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Fig. 6 is a view of a step of dipping a mitt into a chloride rubber solution
for coating the
mitt in accordance with a step in a method in accordance with a second
embodiment of the
invention;
Fig. 7 is view of another step involving heating the mitt before the step of
dipping of Fig.
6; and
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a coated five-fingered glove in accordance
with a third
embodiment of the invention, and a perspective view of an uncoated mitt prior
to or after the step
of heating in the second embodiment.
Fig. 9 is a front view of a puppet embodiment of the invention, with the top
mouth
portion and bottom mouth portion of the puppet open;
Fig. 10 is a rear view of the puppet of Fig. 9;
Fig. I 1 is a view of a portion of the inside of the puppet at the puppet's
mouth with a
layer folded back;
Fig. 12 is a view similar to that of Fig. 11 with the layer more unfolded;
Fig. 13 is a view of the inside lining of the puppet at the mouth;
Fig. 14 is a front view of the puppet similar to Fig. 9 but showing more
detail including
silicone gripping nodules;
Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken along a line 7-7 of Fig. 14; and
Fig. 16 is a view of a portion of Fig. 15 in a circle 8-8.
Fig. 17-23 show tables related to the Waterproof and High Heat Resistant
Gloves
Invention.
Fig. 24-28 show alternate embodiments of the glove invention.
DESCRIPTION OF TH'E PREFERRED EMBODiMENTS
Waterproof and High Heat Resistant Gloves (Duncan and Pewitt)
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is a chloride
rubber kitchen
glove or mitt, or puppet (hereinafter "mitt" will be used, but the same
applies equally to gloves
and puppets). To waterproof and otherwise seal the seams, the glove is coated
with a chloride
rubber liquid, e.g., a dispersion or suspension. Suitable exemplary dispersion
formulations for
the chloride rubber dispersion are shown in attached Appendix A, incorporated
by reference
herein.
A problem with chloride rubber is that it contains oil and so coatings will
not adhere to it
easily. This is one of the attributes that makes it desirable for a kitchen
mitt, because the chloride
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rubber is nonporous and will not absorb condiments, grease, or other food
stuffs that typically
stain materials.
In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, the amount of oil in
chloride
rubber such as that traditionally used for clothing is reduced to a point
where a chloride rubber
liquid dispersion will adhere to the chloride rubber mitt. This is achieved,
e.g., by heating the
chloride rubber for a sufficient time at a sufficient temperature to remove
substantial amounts of
emollients (oil), which bakes off, until the chloride rubber is able to have
the liquid chloride
rubber dispersion form a permanent coating thereon.
In an alternative embodiment, the chloride rubber for the mitt may be produced
with
substantially lower oil than heretofore used for clothing or the like. At the
desired level of oil for
the preferred embodiment of the invention, the chloride rubber is much dryer
than usual. Once
coated, the mitt/tool can withstand 134 degrees below zero to about 500
degrees Farenheit (260
degrees C).
With the coating, the mitt may be immersed in hot oil, such as for cleaning a
fryer, e.g., a
fast food restaurant's hot oil vat used for French fries, while the oil still
is at or close to boiling,
or at least about 350 to 360 degrees Farenheit. Further, in the process of
canning steamed
vegetables, the steamy vegetables can be handled. Also, in boiling soup or
other food in a bag,
the bag can be handled and opened without the boiling water and steam
penetrating the mitt at
the seams. Similarly, in the armed forces, heated rations are carried in a hot
water bath and may
be removed using the mitt of the invention, rather than a wire basket or the
like, enabling more
rations to be stored in the bath.
Preferably, as shown, e.g., in Fig. 8, the mitt, which may also be made as a
glove, is made
long. The more mass, the more the heat or cold is dissipated. In addition,
there is more
protection. A finished mitt with the coating is shown in Fig. 8 as element 4.
It may be seen that
near the end 4a of the mitt 4, there is a cuff 8 (folded over and stitched at
8a, Fig. 1, to the glove)
to prevent liquids from flowing along the mitt and going past end 4a onto the
wearer's skin or
clothes.
Fig. 2 shows a gusset 10, a strip of material which may go part way or all the
way around
the periphery of the glove, represented by the dark lines in Fig. 1. Gusset 10
meets the front and
back main pieces of material 4b and 4c at seems 10.
Fig. 3 shows connection of the front material 4b to the gusset 10 and the
gusset 10 to the
back material 4c. (This material is sewn together before the coating is
applied, i.e., while
chloride rubber base layer 16 is still exposed.)
If no gusset is used, then front and back material (or front and back of
finger portions in a
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glove) are connected by one seam. Fig. 3 shows the two seams l0a where the
chloride rubber
material is uncoated on the inside and is sewn together by threads 11.
Preferably, one thread 1 l
e.g., proximate the outside of the glove is nonbonded or absorbent to receive
the coating in
accordance with the invention, while a second thread 11 is bonded for strength
at the seam.
Coating 14 of the solidified chloride rubber dispersion covers the entire
exterior of the glove and
penetrates or seals off each seam, except that it is preferred not to coat
near end 4a to form a cuff,
as noted above.
In a further preferred version, as shown in Fig. 4, the outer stitch I 1 of
the seam is
straight and is very close to the outside of the mitt, while the inner stitch
I I' of the seam is in a
zigzag or even a double zigzag pattern, for even more strength.
In Fig. 5, a` foamier" version of chloride rubber 16a or the like, is used,
and chloride
coating 14 is applied to rubber 16a, in the same manner as described herein
for chloride rubber
16.
Figs. 6 and 7, and also 8, are for explaining a method of making such a mitt.
First, an uncoated mitt, or as shown in Fig. 8, a glove 6 (five fingered
glove) is shown
before the coating is applied. The mitt or glove are formed as follows:
Preferably, the chloride rubber mitts are prepared by cutting chloride rubber
raw material
into appropriate pieces for a mitt or glove, then folding over the edges and
sewing them together
inside the mitt or glove. This step of sewing or other bonding, preferably
using a porous outer
bonding element (e.g., stitching 11) is performed with the mitt inside out.
Then, the mitt is turned so that the seams are inside and the textured
chloride rubber is
outside.
Mitts 4 are mounted on heat resistant forms 20 and placed in an oven 22 in
lots, e.g., in
lots of twenty. Preferably, the oven is heated to a temperature and for a time
sufficient to remove
significant oil, e.g., to 3000 F and oil is burned off for about 45 minutes.
When excess volatiles
have been removed, the mitts are removed from the forms and allowed to cool,
while another
batch is burned off.
Mitts are mounted (loaded) on the form again; the thumb piece is placed in the
thumb and
positioned to open up the thumb crotch by wedging the thumb piece between the
mitts' cuff and
a large paper spring clip.
Two forms with gloves of equal length are clamped together in a wooded form
holder.
Rubber chloride compound is agitated and pH and viscosity are selected to
enable a smooth
coating of desired thickness.
The mitts 4 are slowly immersed in dispersion 30 in a container 32. One
exemplary rate
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is 10 inches per minute until the desired depth for that mitt has been
reached. This slow
immersion rate allows the chloride rubber dispersion to wet the textured mitt
surface and flush
any air in front of the wet edge. This step may take a minute or so, e.g., 72
seconds (i min 12
sec). The mitts are then withdrawn from the compound preferably at a like rate
to the dipping
rate, e.g., again 10 inches per minute. The slow withdrawal rate works with
the rheology of the
compound to pull most of the excess compound off the glove so there is very
little drip or
compound movement, but there is usually one drop on the tip of the palm and
the tip of the
thumb. This step again takes about a minute or so, e.g., 72 seconds (I min 12
sec).
The mitts are turned up thumb first. This allows the larger drip or tag to
flow along the
seam and down the long edge of the glove. The tag on the thumb does go into
the crotch but if
the crotch is still spread and the tag thins out without leaving any problems.
After about 3-4 minutes the mitts a placed in the oven again at 180 degrees
F. The oven
is filled with mitts taking about 1 hour and 45 minutes and hold for 10
minutes.
After 10 minutes the oven is turned up to 200 for 80 minutes. After 80
minutes the
oven is turned up to 280 for 45 minutes. After a total of 135 minutes (2
hours 15 minutes) on
the last mitts then are unloaded from the oven and cooled for the coating to
harden.
The mitts preferably are inspected for pinholes along the seams. If a pinhole
is found the
glove is repaired, e.g., by spot application of dispersion or even re-dipping.
Mitts are then donned on the hand and immersed into water and flexed 30 cycles
and
examined by touch for any moisture. 'If no moisture is found the mitt is dried
and ready.
The same coating pi-ocess may be used by starting with mitts having chloride
rubber that
is lower in oil than standard. With lower oil, the chloride rubber is stiffer,
and more like that
which would be used for a gasket or seal than clothing or other items that are
worn.
Note that the inventors have discovered that using a greater amount of soap
during
the manufacturing process using a textile material of fabric. This greater
amount of soap is
contrary to what is used in the industry.
High Wear and Heat Resistant Gloves with Gripping Pods (Duncan)
As shown in Figs. 9-10 and 14, a puppet I for use as a kitchen tool or the
like for
handling hot or cold items has a mouth having an upper portion 2 and a lower
portion 4. The
main body 8 of the puppet may be made of a suitable hot and cold resistant
material such as
Neoprene rubber made by du Pont, or generically known as chloride rubber. The
body 8 may
be made by stitching at the seams as is explained in a provisional patent
application concurrently
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filed herewith, by folding in each layer and stitching the seams using a
straight stitch andlor a
zigzag or double zigzag stitch, or other suitable bonding.
The U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/801,455 (Filed 17 May
2006) is entitled
WATERPROOF AND HIGH HEAT RESISTANT COATED GLOVES with inventors: David
D. Duncan and Richard W. Pewitt, incorporated by reference herein.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention uses a high heat resistant
and high
durability material such as Nomex 10 for the mouth of the puppet and another
high heat
resistant material Kevlar 12 in the central gripping area of mouth 10 on the
upper and lower
portions. The Nomex is not very porous and is not easy to grip with. Kevlar
also is not easy to
grip with, but has more porosity. Therefore, the KevIar is used in the
gripping area, and silicone
nodules 14 are formed to protrude from, but be rooted in, the porous surface
of the Keviar.
The Nomex may have a lip I Oa and 10b folded over the back side and stitched
at 15 to
the back chloride rubber layer 18.
Folds 22 (Fig. 15) enable stitching and seams to be covered up. The stitching
24 may be
straight or zigzag or other stitching or bonding. The stitching preferably
passes through the
Nomex 10, then the Kevlar 12, then the Nomex, then a silicone rubber layer 17,
then the chloride
rubber. The stitching 26 at the chloride rubber seams may also bind the edges
of the Nomex 10;
the silicone nodules are preferably food grade.
This provides great gripping, with high heat resistance, i.e., significantly
more than
typical high kitchen temperatures of 500 degrees Farenheit, and wear
resistance significantly
greater than typical mitt or puppet wear resistance. To provide water or
liquid resistance, and a
steam barrier, the folds are provided.
The silicone nodules may be applied to the Keviar using a perforated drum, and
then
curing in an oven. The Kevlar may be cut to size before or after applying the
nodules.
An apparatus for a hand of a user to handle hot or cold items comprising: a
body with a
first end and a second end; the body further comprising a first material,
which is resistant to cold
and hot temperatures, and said body being able to receive the hand of the user
at the second end;
there is a mouth at the first end of the body; the mouth has an upper portion
and a lower portion
and a central gripping area; the mouth comprising a second material with high
heat resistance and
high durability characteristics; the central gripping area of the mouth having
a third material with
high heat resistance; and the central gripping area having at least one
gripping nodule.
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While the invention as described above in connection with preferred
embodiments, it will
be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to those
embodiments. On the
contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and
equivalents as may be
included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the
appended claims. Any
element in a claim that does not explicitly state "means for" performing a
specific function, or
"step for" performing a specific function, is not be interpreted as a "means"
or "step" clause as
specified in 35 U.S.C. Sec. 112, Paragraph 6. In particular, the use of "step
ofl' in the claims
herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. Sec. 112,
Paragraph 6.
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