Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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The present invention relates to a disposable
ylove, toge-ther with a method and apparatu~ for
manufac-turing the same.
5 BAC:KGROUND OF TI~E INVENTION
There are numerous applications in our society
where a covering for the hand is required. One example
is for the serving of bakery goods, as the clerk does
not wish to be seen to directly handle the customer's
10 purchase. This need i~ presently being fulfilled by the
clerk placing his or her hand in a polyethylene bag.
There are many disadvantages to using a bag. It is
often difficult to find the opening in which one is to
insert ones hand. The bag fall~ o~f the hand, often at
15 an inopportune moment, and it i8 difficult to manipulate
article~ properly.
The obvious solution to the problem i5 to form the
polyethylene into a glove which will conform to the hand
20 and be di~posable when the task i~ completed. This ha~
not been accomplish~d due to a number of problems. One
problem is that upon application of heat to a thin film
of polyethylene to form a glove, the polyethylen~ film
disintegrates. The use of alternate materials has
26 proven too costly, which inhibit~ use as a "dispo~able"
glove. Another problem is one of functional design, as
the attempts to resolve the problem have tended to be
in~erior products which add an addi-tional problem of
tearing to the problems inherent i~ plastic bags.
SU~ARY OF TE~ IN~E~TION
What is r~quired is a method ~f making
thermoplastic material into disposable ~loves. What is
required iY a glove that can readily be placed upon the
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hand and o~ce in place will ~tay there and permit a full
ranye of hand func-tion.
According to one aspect o~ the invention there is
provided a method of convertiny sheet material into
gloves, which is comprised of the steps of arranging
she~t material with two inner plys of thermoplastic
between outer ply8 of tissue. Then, applying heat to
one of the out~r plys of tissue in the outline of a
10 glove, such that the inner plys of the~moplastic bond
the plys of sheet material together to form a glove with
an openiny alon~ one side to permit hand entry.
Although beneficial results may be obtained through
15 use of the method de~cribed, the sheet material between
the diyits will form a web like a baseball glove that
restrict~ movement, and the ~love will not be universal
in fit. Consequently, even more beneficial re~ults can
b~ achieved, if the preferred features are added of
20 having the glove in -the form of a mitten, and including
the further ~tep of cuttiny an arcuate cut from the
inside of the thumb to the side of the sheet material
adjacen-t the thumb, thereby facilitating movement of the
thumb.
According to another aspect of the iTlvention there
is provided an apparatus for u~e in converting sheet
material into glove~ which is compri~ed of a body; and
a metal plate mounted on the body with at lea~t one
30 opening in the ~hape of a glove. Mean~ are provided for
heating the plate. Mean~ are provided for pivotally
mounting the body such that the body may be mounted to a
thermally insulated ~urface and moved between a position
where the plate engages the surface, and a position
3~ where the plate i~ spaced from th0 ~urface.
According to another aspect of the invention there
is provided a disposable glove which is comprised of two
inner plys of thermoplastic ~heet material between outer
plys of tissue ~heet material, ~ealed together to ~orm a
glove with an opening along one ~ide to permit hand
entry.
Althouyh beneficial results may be obtained through
us~ of the disposable glove de~cribed, as previously
10 mentioned, the sheet material between the digits will
form a web like a baseball glove that restrict~
movement, and the glove will not be universal in f it.
Even more beneficial results can be achieved, therefore,
if the preferred features are added of having the glove
15 in the ~orm of a mitten having a perforated arcuate cut
from the inside of the thumb to the 3ide of the sheet
material ddjacent the thumb, thrreby ~acilitatin~
movement of the thumb.
Although beneficial re~ults may be obtained from
using tha described di~posable glove, even more
benef icial results may be obtained i f the opening to the
glove is modified in accordance with the preferred
embodiment to facilitate entry of ~ hand into the
25 opening, This can be accompli~hed by adding to the
described di~posable glove the preferred feature of -the
openin~ having a first side and a second ~ide, the plys
of sheet material on the first ~ide of the opening being
longer than the plys of sheet material on the second
30 side of the opening, thereby forming an extension.
Although beneficial re~ults may be obtained from
using the de cribed di~posable mitt, even more
beneficial re~ults may be obtained if for the
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~onvenienee o the consumer the disposable mit-ts are
dispensed in rolls. If the gloves are dispen~ed in
pair~ -the thumhs can be placed in an extended position
which prolongs the effective life oP the glove.
According to this aspec-t of the invention there is
provided a disposable glove which is compris~d o~ a roll
of two inner ply5 of thermopla~tic shee-t material
between outer plys of tissue sheet material, sealed
toye-ther to form pairs of mitten~, the roll having
1~ opposed sides, each pair of mittens having interlocking
thumb~ and being separated by perforation~, openings to
permit hand entry into the mitten~ being along the sides
of the roll, each pair of mitten~ beîng separated from
an adjoining pair of mitten~ by perforatio~s.
Although beneficial re~ults may be obtained from
using the described dispoYable mitt, even more
beneficial re~ults may be obtained if modifications are
made to the outer ply of ti~aue material to make it
20 particularly suited for a ~elected usage. By way of
example, the outer ti~5ue can b~ made of an ab~orbent
material for delicate cleaning job3, or abrasive
material for use when scrubbing. The tis~ue can al~o be
treated with a variety of chemicals to alter it 18
25 prop~rties~ By way of example, the ti8SUQ could be
treated with a fir~ retardant for u~e when working with
yasoline or other flamables.
~RI~F DESO~IPTIO~_OF T~ D~WINGS
The~e and other features of the invention will
become more apparent from the following descrip-tion in
which refererlce i~ made to the appended drawing~,
wherein:
FIGUR~ 1 i9 a per~pective view illustrating a first
35step of the preferred method.
FIGURE ~ is a peIspective vie~ of a preferred
embodiment of a dispos~ble glove made i~ accordance with
the invention.
FI~URE 3 is a perspective view of a preferred
embodiment of an apparatus.
FIG~R~ ~ is a perspective view illustr~ting the use
of the apparatus of ~IG~R~ 3.
FIGUR~ 5 is a perspective view of the di~posable
glove of FIGURE 2, dispensed in roll~.
1~ FIGUR~ 6 i~ a perspective view ~f an alternate
embodimen-t of the invention.
D~TAl~D D~SCRIPTI0~ 0~ THE PRÆ~E~R~D ~BODI~ENT
The preferred method will now be described with
15 re~erence to ~IGUR~S 1 and 2. The p~eerred apparatus
which is used in carrying out the msthod will ~ow be
described with reference to FIG~RES 3 and 4. The
preferred embodiment, generally designated by reference
numeral 10, i~ a disposable glove, which will now be
20 described with reEerence to FIG~RÆ 2. Variation~ of
di~posable glove 10 will be de~cribed with reference to
FIG~R~S 5 and 6.
The preferred method permit~ thermoplastic ~heet
25 material 12 and tissue sheet material 14 to be made into
gloves 10 and consi~t~ of the following described steps.
Firstly, referring to ~IG~R~ 1, arran~in~ ~heet material
12 and 14 ~uch that there are two inner ply9 of
thermoplastic 12 b~tween ou~er ply5 of ti~sue 14. For
30 -th~ purpose of this description, the four side~ of the
rectangular sh~et material illustrated shall be
de~ignated by numeral~ 16, 18, 20, and 22. Secondly,
applyiny heat to one of the outer ply~ of tissue 14 in
the outli~e of a mitten 24, ~uch that the inner ply~ of
35 thermoplastic 12 bond the ply8 of ~heet material 12 and
l~. Onc~ shee-t material~ 12 and 14 bond together, an
unsealed pocket 15 i8 fosmed. Pocket 15 is in the
outline of mitten 24 with a finger portion 26, and a
thumb portion 28, as illu~trated in FI~R~ 2~ Pock~t 15
has an unsealed opening 30 along side 16 to permit hand
entry. Thirdly, cutting an arcuate cut 32 from between
finger portion 26 and thumb portion 28 to side 18 of
glove 10 adjacent the thumb portion 28.
It will be apparent to one skilled in the art, that
the application of heat directly to thermoplastic shee-t
material 12 would result in thermoplastic 12
disintegrating. The addition of tissue sheet material
14 enables heat direct heat to be applied to form glove
15 10. The amount of heat required to ~eal sheet material
12 and 14 together depends upon the thicknes~ of
material used. By way of example, the applicant is
presently uslng thermoplastic and tissue sheet material
which are 1/2 of a millimetre in thickness. The heat
20 applied to the de~cribed thickness of material is
approximately 500 degrees fahrenheit. Prior to
developing the apparatu~ which will b~ hereinaf ter
describ~d, proto-type~ where constructed by the
applicant u~ing a household cloth~ iron. Although the
25 type of glove illustrated in the preferred embodimen-t i~
a mitten it will be apparent to one ~kill~d in ths art
that glove~ wi-th separated digits can also be
con~tructed by the described method. The mitten
provides distinct advantages as there need only be
30 ~mall, medium and large sizes. Although the preferred
embodiment has an arcuate cut to facilitate movement oE
the thumb, it will be app~rent to onc ~killed in the art
that by spreading the Einger~ a glove can be constructed
with a web between the f ingers which resembles and
3~ functions much like a baseball glove. If de~ired, the
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web between the digi-ts could be cut to permi-t
indeperldent movement of each f inger .
Apparatu~ 34 as illu~trated în FIGUR~S 3 and ~ has
as its primary component a rectangular body 36. For the
purpose of this description the sides of rectan~ular
body 36 ~hall be designated by reference numerals 38,
40, 42, and 44, and the face of body 36 shall be
designated by reference numeral 46. A metal plate 48
10 is mounted to face 46 of body 36. Plate 48 has two
opening~ 50, both of which are in the shape of a mitten.
Although not vi~ible in th~ illustrations, an electric
heating element i8 positioned within plate 4~, which,
when connec-ted to a power source, results in plate 48
15 bein~ heated. "C" clamps 52 are attached by hinges 54
to Qide 38 of body 36. A handle 56 i9 attached to ~ide
42 of body 36.
The operation of apparatus 34 will now be described
20 with re~arence to FI~RES 3 and ~. In FI~RE 3,
apparatus 34 i8 shown as being attached to an ironing
board with a thermally in~ulated cover, which has been
de~ignated by reference numeral 58. Ironi~ board 58
has a ~ontact surface 80. In order to use apparatu~ 34,
25 it must be attach~d by "C" clamps 52 to a base, suoh as
ironing board 58. It is pr~erable if the base is
thermally in~ulated so that it is not damaged by the
application of heat. "C" clamps 52 are attached by
hingeq 54 to side 38 of body 36. Hinges 54 permit body
30 36 to be moved between a ~irq-t position where the plate
48 engage~ surface 60 of ironing board 58, and a second
position where plate 43 i~ spaced from ~ur~ace 60 of
ironing board 58. With body 36 in the ~econd position,
sheet~ of thermoplastic material 12 and sheets o~ ti~sue
35 material 14 are placed on surface 60 of ironing 'ooard 58
~ ~`3'~ 5~
directly below plate 48. As de~cribed in relation -to
-the pre~erred method, sheet material 12 and 14 mu~t be
arranged such that there are two inrler plys of
thermoplastic 12 between outer plys of tissue 14. The
electric element in plate 48 i~ therl connected to a
power source to heat plate 48, until plate 48 has
reached sufficient heat to bond the thermopl~-tic
mat~rial 12 with the tissue material 14. For @xample, a
heat of 500 degrees fahrenheit i~ sufficient where the
10 thickne~s of each ply of material i8 . 5 of a millimetre,
for a total thickness of 2 millimeters. Body 36 is
moved to a Eirst position, and maintained i~ position
for 2 to 3 seconds. When in -the firs-t position plate 4a
heat seal~ sheet materials 12 and 14. However, the
15 openings 50 in plate 48 leave an un ealed pocket 15
between the plys thermoplastic sheet material 12 and a~
unsealed opening 30 along sid& 16 to permit hand en-try.
Th~ described apparatus was developed a~ an
20 alterna-tive to pressing the outline of a glove on shee-t
material 12 and 14 u~ing an iron. It will be apparent
to one skilled in the art that a ~imilar result can be
achieved by having two matins plates, and tbat there are
: numerou~ ways to mechanically arrange the movement of
25 the plates between fir~t and second positions. It will
be apparent to one skilled in the art that instead of
ironing board 58 an ordinary table may be used provided
that it is protected by a thermally insulated pad where
plate 48 contacts the table when body 36 in thz first
30 position.
Disposable ~love 10 consists o~ two inner plys of
thermoplastic sheet material 12 between outer plys of
tissue sheet material 14. For the purpose of this
35 description, the four sides of the rectangular sheet
5:~
material illustrated shall be designated by numerals 16,
18, 20, ~nd 22. Sheet material 12 and 14 are sealed
toge-ther to form a pocket 15 with an unsealed opening 30
along side 16. Pocket 15 is in the outline of mit-t~n 24
with a finger pvrtion 2Z, and a -thumb portion 28, as
illustrated in FIGURE 2. Glove 10 has a partially
perforated arcuate cut 32 which extends from between
firlger portion 26 and thumb portion 28 to side 18 o~
glove 10 adjacent the thumb portion 28. A semi-circular
10 configuration 62 i5 positioned at one end 64 oE arcuate
cut 32. Opening 30 has a first side 66 and a second
side 68. The plys of sheet material 12 and 14 un firs-t
side 66 of opening 30 are longer than the ply8 of sheet
material 12 and 14 on ~econd side 68 o~ opening 30
15 forming an extension 670 The outline of a mitten 24 i8
marked in coloured ink on glove 10. The thermoplastic
sheet material 12 visible on extension 67 is also
coloured.
The operatiorl of glove 10 will now be described
with re~erence to FIG~RE 2. Although glo~e 10 is
rectangular in appearance, unsealed opening 30 can
easily be located with reference to the outline of
mitten 24 marked in ink, and the coloration of extension
25 6~. These features clearly indicate to -the u~er the
correct orientatiGn of the glove. The u er then grasps
glove 10 by extension 67 and inserts his hand between
the plys of thermoplastic sheet material 12. E~tension
67 facilitates ease of hand entry into opening 30 as the
30 user may grasp extension 67 to manipulate ~love lO into
position and the difference in the len~th of sheet
material 12 and 14 on sides 66 and 68 of opening 30
enables the user to easily part the plys of
thermoplastic sheet material 12. Once glove 10 is in
position on the users hand, with the user's thu~b in
thumb poxtion 28 and the u~er's fingers in finger
portion 26, arcuate cut 32 permit~ the user full
movement of his thumb. The semi-circular configurat.ion
62 positioned at end 64 of arcuate cut 32 erves to
prevent splitting of the sheet material 12 and 14 upon
movement of the user'~ thumb.
I-t will be apparent to one skill~d in the art
variou~ refinement which oan be made to the invention
10 which can not be illus-trated in the drawings. The entry
of the user 1 5 hand can be facilitated by placing a
powder between the ply8 of thermoplastic sheet material
12. Tissue sheet material 14 which serves as the outer
working surface of glove 10 can be specially adapted for
15 particular tasks. Tis~ue 14 can be mad~ of an ab~orbent
material for delicate cleanirlg jobs, or abrasive
material for u~e when scrubbing. It will further b~
apparent to one skilled in the art that one ply Df
ti~sue 14 can be made of absor~ent material while th~
20 other ply of tis~ue 14 can be made of abrasive material
to permit glove 10 to have multiple use. Tissue 14 can
al~o be tr~ated with a variety of chemicals to ~l-ter
it's properties, as with a fire retardant for use when
working with gasoline or other flamable~.
2~
~ illustrated in FIGV~E 5, disposa~le glove 10 may
be di~pensed in rolls ~0 having opposed Yides ~2, by
placing perforationY 74 along sides 18 and 22. Side 16
of glove 10 along which opening 30 i~ po~itioned
30 corresponds to one of ~ide-~ ~2 of roll ~0. When 80 used
it is preferable that arcuate cut 32 be joined with
perforations ~5 until separated by the user, and that
arcuate cut 32 doe~ not extend all the way to side 18 of
sheet material 12 and 14.
5~
When using a roll 70 containing a plurality of
gloves 10, the u~er tears roll 70 along perforation~ 74
which connect side 22 of glove 10 with ~ide 18 of glove
10'. Perforations 7B' and the fact that arcuate cut 32'
starts back from side 18', prevent tearing oE arcuate
cut 32' of glove 10' as glove 10 is separated. It
should be noted that side 16 of glove 10 along which
unsealed opening 30 is positioned i~ located along ~ide
~2 of roll ~O. Once detached from the roll ylove 10 is
10 used a~ has previouYly been de~cribed.
Gloves 10 may be dispen~ad in pairs. Dispensing
gloves 10 in pairs enables the de~ign of the glove~ to
be cimplified and advanta~es to be obtained as will be
1~ hereinafter described. Referring to ~IG~R~ 6, two înner
ply8 of thermoplastic sheet material 12 are arranyed
between outer ply5 of tissue ~heet material 14. The
plys of sheet material 12 and 14 are sealed together to
form a pair of pockets 15 in the shape of mittens 24.
Pocket 15 has a finger portion 26, and a thumb portîon
28. The pair of mittens 24 are joined along side 18
with interlocking thumb portion~ 28 ~eparated by
perforations 76. Unsealed npenings 30 are located alon~
~ide 16 of sheet material 12 and 14 to permit hand entry
25 into pockets 15. If it is desired to dispense the pair
of mitten~ ln rolls ~O, each pair o mitterls 24 are
~eparated from an adjolning pair of mittens ~no-t shown)
by perforations ~ which are positioned along side 22.
Side 16 o~ shaet material 12 and 14 having un~ealed
30 opening 30 must be po~itioned alon~ side~ ~2 of roll ~O.
When u~iny a pair of gloves 10 di~pen~ed in pairs,
the user simply separates the pair along perforations
76. The use of the gloves 10 is then as has previou~ly
3~ been described. IE the pair of gloves 10 i~ dispensed
12
from a roll ~0, side 22 of one ylove 10 of th~ pair îs
connected by perforations 74 to side 22 o~ another pair
(not shown). The user merely tear~ a pair of ~loves 10
from roll 70, and ~eparates them for use as has
previou~ly been describe~.
It will be apparent to one s~illed in the art that
advantages may be ohtained by dispensing gloves 10 in
pairs with interlocking thumb portions 28 joined along
10 side 18. Unrestric-ted use of the thumb is o'otained
merely be separating the pair of ~love~ along
perforations ~6. This mean~ that arcuate cut 32 iB not
required, nor is semi-circular configuration 62. In
addition, thumb por-tion 28 can be placed at an angle,
1~ which ~ive~ a greater range of movement to ~he thumb
without as great a tendency for the material to tear.
This is possible due to the fact that thumb portion 28
may extend beyond the usual width of ~love 10.
2~ It will be apparent to one skilled in th~ art that
the development of a non-stick coating sold under the
trademark "Tef lon", makes po3sible the use of apparatug
34, with thermopla~tic materials without an interveniny
layer of ti~ue. Such an apparatus would be more
expensive, but would be identical to the described
apparatu~ with, of course, the addition of a teflon
coating on plate 48. Gloves made in this fashion would
not be in accordance with t}le preferred method.
It will be apparent to one ~killed in the art that
two ply thermoplastic gloves made on a teflon coated
version of apparatus 34 would provide beneficial
result~. However, even more bene~icial results could be
obtained if such gloves incorporated in their design
35 ~ome or all of the preferred features taught in this
S~
13
application. One fea-ture readily adaptable -t~ two ply
thermoplastic gloves is having the glove in the form of
a mitten with a thumb portion and a finger portiorl; and
having a partially perforated arcuate cut Erom betw~en
the -thumb portion and the finger portion to
substantially th~ edge of the sheet material adj~cent
the thumb. Another feature readily adaptable to two ply
-thermoplastic glove~ i~ having a semi-circular
configuration at the end of the arcuate cut between the
10 thumb portion and the Eingar portion, to prevent
splitting of -the sheet material upon movement of the
thumb. Another feature readily adaptable to two ply
thermoplastic gloves i5 having an openin~ with a fir~t
side and ~ second side, the ply of sheet material on the
15 fir~t side of the openin~ bein~ lonyer than the ply of
sheet material on the second side of the openin~,
thereby forming an e~ten~ion which facilitates ea~e of
hand entry into the opening. Another feature readily
adaptable to two ply thermoplastic gloves is having a
20 shape of a mitten marked on the outside of the glove,
-thereby clearly indicating -to the UBer the correct
orientation of the glove. Another feature readily
adaptable to two ply thermoplastic glove9 i5 haviny the
~heet material being dispensed in roll9 having opposed
2~ ~ides, the sheet material being connected by
perforation~ along two opposed ~ide~ with the opening to
each glove being alony one of the oppo~ed ~ide~ of the
roll. Another preferred f~ature readily adaptable to
two ply thermopla~tic glove~ i~ having a pair of mitten~
30 ~ach of which h~s a thumb portion and a finger portion,
the pair of mittens bein~ joined along one side with
interlocking thumb portions ~eparated by perforations,
each mitten having an opening~ to permit hand entry into
the mit-ten. It will finally be apparznt to one
3~killed in the art that further modifications may be
14
made withc:ut departing from the ~icope of the invention.
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