Device for facilitating covering hands of a user and method of use

Abstract

A device for facilitating covering hands of a user and method of use. A pair of hand coverings have a palm-facing layer with a pair of wrist-facing portions and a back hand-facing layer with a pair of wrist-facing portions. The back hand-facing layer overlies the palm-facing layer so as to form the pair of hand coverings. The pair of wrist-facing portions of the palm-facing layer are common with each other while the pair of wrist-facing portions of the back hand-facing layer are separated from each other so as to form an exposed portion of the palm-facing layer therebetween and allow for facilitated insertion of the hands of the user into the pair of hand coverings, respectively, simultaneously, and then having the hands of the user push down and away from each other separating the palm-facing layer at the exposed portion thereof and thereby having the hands of the user covered with the pair of hand coverings, respectively, without having to pull the pair of hand coverings over the hands of the user as is conventionally done.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device for covering hands of a user, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a device for facilitating covering hands of a user and method of use.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Polyethylene gloves offer low-cost hygienic protection in industrial and commercial environments, particularly in food service applications. Counter clerks and kitchen personnel don these gloves prior to food handling. The polyethylene gloves are commonly offered in 50 and 100 count boxes. These boxes normally have an opening at the top and the user pulls the gloves from the box one at a time and places them on the hands.

The polyethylene gloves are made from two pieces of polyethylene film which are slightly embossed so that the film of the palm and the film of the back release from each other. To aid in donning, the film is normally lightly embossed with one edge of the film longer than the other, so that the two films easily separate. Nonetheless, in the fast-paced kitchen and counter environment of the fast food restaurants and the like, there is a need to improve the time required to don these gloves, since many pairs are used by each worker on a daily basis.

Therefore, the expansion of the use of such disposable gloves which may be desirable has been hampered by the lack of a convenient and reliable economical system to aid in the donning of the gloves and which provides efficient retrieval of the gloves in a low cost manner which is not so cost prohibitive as to make the use of the gloves economically impractical for most applications.

Thus, there exists a need for a convenient and reliable economical system to aid in the donning of the gloves and which provides efficient retrieval of the gloves in a low cost manner which is not so cost prohibitive as to make the use of the gloves economically impractical for most applications.

Numerous innovations for disposable glove dispensers have been provided in the prior art. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, they each differ in structure and/or operation and/or purpose from the present invention.

FOR EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,844,293 to McLaughlin teaches a dispensing apparatus for disposable, thin plastic gloves wherein the gloves may be retrieved by the user one at a time in a relatively simple manner. The apparatus includes a box-like, generally rectangular enclosure for housing a removably mounted packet containing a plurality of the disposable gloves arranged in the packet in closely spaced, planar unfolded condition. The enclosure is provided with a front window or opening and a removable top cover or cap. The packet of gloves is loaded into the enclosure through a top opening and are disposed so that they may be removed, one at a time, through the front opening of the enclosure. The packet includes a pair of faces yieldably connected to one another which have a configuration generally conforming to the shape of the gloves in an open palm and finger planar condition. The enclosure includes apparatus to support the packet carrying the gloves in a parallel relationship with the gloves being biasly urged toward the front window to conveniently present the outermost glove to the user.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,589 to McLaughlin teaches a dispensing apparatus for disposable, thin plastic articles wherein the articles may be retrieved by the user one at a time in a relatively simple manner. The apparatus includes a box-like, generally rectangular enclosure for housing a removably mounted packet containing a plurality of the disposable articles stacked in the packet in closely spaced, parallel relationship in a flat condition. The enclosure is provided with a front window or opening and a removable top cover or cap. The packet of articles is loaded into the enclosure through the top opening and are disposed to be removed, one at a time, through the front opening of the enclosure. The packet includes a pair of faces yieldably connected to one another which have a planar configuration at least as great as the area of the articles disposed between them. The enclosure includes a spring to support the faces of the packet carrying the articles in a parallel relationship to the walls of the enclosure, with the faces and the articles being biasly urged toward the front window to conveniently present the outermost article to the user.

STILL ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,089 to McLaughlin teaches a dispensing apparatus for thin, disposable plastic gloves wherein the gloves may be reliably removed one at a time in a simple manner. The apparatus includes a generally rectangular enclosure for housing a removably mounted packet containing a plurality of gloves. The gloves are arranged in closely spaced, parallel relationship to one another for removal, one at a time, through an exit opening provided through the walls of the enclosure. Each glove is provided with a weakened tear line across the wrist portion. The packet of gloves includes a mounting strip which extends across the upper wrist portion of the stack of gloves and is fixed to each glove above the tear line. The mounting strip cooperates with apparatus formed in the enclosure to releasably fix the packet within the enclosure. Each glove may be removed by exerting a downward force through the exit opening on the outermost glove sufficient to separate the glove along the tear line from the remaining gloves in the packet.

YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,434 to Hollander et al. teaches a dispenser for a stack of thin, disposable gloves wherein the gloves are placed within a box-like housing. Included within the housing is a biasing apparatus which presses against the stack of gloves directly adjacent the access opening into the gloves. Each uppermost glove in the stack includes a spot of adhesive which is to connect with the directly underneath glove, with this spot being located directly adjacent this access opening. Included within the box-like housing is a dispensing opening, with the uppermost glove to partially protrude from this dispensing opening. The user's hand is to be inserted into the glove, with the glove then being extracted with the adhesive functioning to partially dispense the next glove in the stack of gloves and locate that in a position facilitating connection with a human hand.

It is apparent that numerous innovations for disposable glove dispensers have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to be used. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

ACCORDINGLY, AN OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a device for facilitating covering hands of a user and method of use that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.

ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a device for facilitating covering hands of a user and method of use that is simple to use.

BRIEFLY STATED, STILL ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a device for facilitating covering hands of a user and method of use. A pair of hand coverings have a palm-facing layer with a pair of wrist-facing portions and a back hand-facing layer with a pair of wrist-facing portions. The back hand-facing layer overlies the palm-facing layer so as to form the pair of hand coverings. The pair of wrist-facing portions of the palm-facing layer are common with each other while the pair of wrist-facing portions of the back hand-facing layer are separated from each other so as to form an exposed portion of the palm-facing layer therebetween and allow for facilitated insertion of the hands of the user into the pair of hand coverings, respectively, simultaneously, and then having the hands of the user push down and away from each other separating the palm-facing layer at the exposed portion thereof and thereby have the hands of the user covered with the pair of hand coverings, respectively, without having to pull the pair of hand coverings over the hands of the user as is conventionally done.

The novel features which are considered characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiment when read and understood in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures of the drawings are briefly described as follows:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the device of the present invention facilitating covering hands of a user;

FIG. 2 is an exploded diagrammatic perspective view of the pair of hand coverings of the device of the present invention prior to separation;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the pair of hand coverings of the device of the present invention prior to separation;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the pair of hand coverings of the device of the present invention stacked;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the pair of hand coverings of the device of the present invention stacked and cooperating with the stand of the device of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the pair of hand coverings of the device of the present invention stacked and cooperating with the stand of the device of the present invention which has been collapsed and is being inserted into the box of the device of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the first step of the method of using the device of the present invention comprising the step of joining hands of a user palm-to-palm over the device of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the second step of the method of using the device of the present invention comprising the step of separating the fingers of one hand of the user from the fingers of the other hand of the user and inserting the fingers of the hands of the user down into the pair of hand coverings of the device of the present invention, respectively;

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the third step of the method of using the device of the present invention comprising the step of inserting the thumb and the remaining portions of the hands of the user down into the pair of hand coverings of the device of the present invention, respectively, until the hands of the user are completely in the pair of hand coverings of the device of the present invention so as to form covered hands of the user;

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the fourth step of the method of using the device of the present invention comprising the step of flexing the covered hands of the user outwardly at the wrists of the user;

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the fifth step of the method of using the device of the present invention comprising the step of pushing downwardly the covered hands of the user;

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the sixth step of the method of using the device of the present invention comprising the step of separating the covered hands of the user from the stand of the device of the present invention;

FIGS. 13A-13C are a flow chart of the method of using the device of the present invention for facilitating covering hands of a user; and

FIGS. 14A-14B are a flow chart of alternate steps of the method of using the device of the present invention for facilitating covering hands of a user.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWINGS

20 device of present invention for facilitating covering hands 22 of user 24

22 hands of user 24

24 user

26 pair of hand coverings

28 palm-facing layer of pair of hand coverings 26

30 back hand-facing layer of pair of hand coverings 26

32 pair of wrist-facing portions of palm-facing layer 28 of pair of hand coverings 26, respectively

34 pair of wrist-facing portion of back hand-facing layer 30 of pair of hand coverings 26, respectively

36 exposed portion of palm-facing layer 28 of pair of hand coverings 26

38 pair of weakened tear lines defining exposed portion 36 of palm-covering layer 28 of pair of hand coverings 26

40 at least a pair of through bores in exposed portion 36 of palm-facing layer 28 of pair of hand coverings 26

42 stand

44 top wall of stand 42

46 pair of side walls of stand 42

48 bottom wall of stand 42

50 generally triangular lateral cross section of stand 42

52 intermediate hinge line of bottom wall 48 of stand 42

54 at least a pair of pegs of stand 42

56 remaining portions of palm-covering layer 28 of pair of hand coverings 26, respectively

58 box

60 fingers of hands 22 of user 24, respectively

62 thumbs of hands 22 of user 24, respectively

64 remaining portions of hands 22 of user 24, respectively

66 covered hands of user 24

68 wrists of user 24

70 palms of hands 22 of user 24

72 folded fingers of hands 22 of user 24

74 unfolded fingers of hands 22 of user 24

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to FIG. 1, which is a diagrammatic perspective view of the device of the present invention facilitating covering hands of a user, the device of the present invention is shown generally at 20 for facilitating covering hands 22 of a user 24.

The configuration of the device 20 can best be seen in FIGS. 2-6, which are, respectively, an exploded diagrammatic perspective view of the pair of hand coverings of the device of the present invention prior to separation, a diagrammatic perspective view of the pair of hand coverings of the device of the present invention prior to separation, a diagrammatic perspective view of the pair of hand coverings of the device of the present invention stacked, a diagrammatic perspective view of the pair of hand coverings of the device of the present invention stacked and cooperating with the stand of the device of the present invention, and a diagrammatic perspective view of the pair of hand coverings of the device of the present invention stacked and cooperating with the stand of the device of the present invention which has been collapsed and is being inserted into the box of the device of the present invention, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the device 20 comprises a pair of hand coverings 26. The pair of hand coverings 26 comprise a palm-facing layer 28 and a back hand-facing layer 30. The back hand-facing layer 30 overlies the palm-facing layer 28 so as to form the pair of hand coverings 26.

The palm-facing layer 28 has a pair of wrist-facing portions 32 and the back hand-facing layer 30 has a pair of wrist-facing portion 34. The pair of wrist-facing portions 32 of the palm-facing layer 28 are common with each other, and the pair of wrist-facing portions 34 of the back hand-facing layer 30 are separated from each other so as to form an exposed portion 36 of the palm-facing layer 28 therebetween and for allowing facilitated insertion of the hands 22 of the user 24 into the pair of hand coverings 26, respectively, simultaneously, and then having the hands 22 of the user 24 push down and away from each other separating the palm-facing layer 28 at the exposed portion 36 thereof and thereby having the hands 22 of the user 24 covered with the pair of hand coverings 26, respectively, without having to pull the pair of hand coverings 26 over the hands 22 of the user 24 as is conventionally done.

The exposed portion 36 of the palm-covering layer 28 is defined by a pair of weakened tear lines 38. The pair of hand coverings 26 separate from each other at the pair of weakened tear lines 38. The pair of weakened tear lines 38 are preferably parallel to each other and substantially coplanar with the pair of wrist-covering portions 34 of the back hand-covering layer 30, respectively, but is not limited to that.

The palm-covering layer 28 has at least a pair of through bores 40. The pair of through bores 40 are spaced apart along the palm-covering layer 28 and are in the exposed portion 36 of the palm-covering layer 28.

As shown in FIG. 4, the device 20 further comprises a stand 42. The stand 42 is for facilitating insertion of the hands 22 of the user 24 into the pair of hand coverings 26, respectively, simultaneously. The pair of hand coverings 26 are stacked on the stand 42, with the palm-covering layer 28 of each pair of hand coverings 26 being operatively connected to the stand 42 at the exposed portion 36 of the palm-covering layer 28.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the stand 42 has a top wall 44, a pair of side walls 46, and a bottom wall 48. The pair of side walls 46 of the strand 42 hingedly depend from the top wall 44 of the stand 42, hingedly to the bottom wall 48 of the stand 42 so as to form a generally triangular lateral cross section 50 for the stand 42.

As shown in FIG. 5, the bottom wall 48 of the stand 42 has an intermediate hinge line 52. The intermediate hinge line 52 of the bottom wall 48 of the stand 42 folds upwardly towards the top wall 44 of the stand 42 as the pair of side walls 46 of the stand 42 fold towards each other allowing the stand 42 to collapse.

The stand 42 further has at least a pair of pegs 54. The at least a pair of pegs 54 of the stand 42 extend upwardly from the top wall 44 of the stand 42 and receive the at least a pair of through bores 40 in the palm-covering layer 28, respectively, of each pair of hand coverings 26, with the exposed portion 36 of the palm-covering layer 28 of each pair of hand coverings 26 overlying the top wall 44 of the stand 42, and with remaining portions 56 of the palm-covering layer 28 of each pair of hand coverings 26 overlying the pair of side walls 46 of the stand 42, respectively, so as to facilitate separating the palm-facing layer 28 of each pair of hand coverings 26 at the weakened tear lines 38 thereof when the hands 22 of the user 24 are pushed downwardly and away from each other.

As shown in FIG. 6, the device further comprises a box 58. The stand 42 with the pair of hand coverings 26 operatively connected thereto slides into the box 58 by virtue of the stand 42 collapsing by the intermediate hinge line 52 of the bottom wall 48 of the stand 42 folding upwardly towards the top wall 44 of the stand 42 as the pair of side walls 46 of the stand 42 fold towards each other.

The method of using the device 20 for facilitating covering hands 22 of a user 24 can best be seen in FIGS. 7-12 and 13A-13C, which are, respectively, a diagrammatic perspective view of the first step of the method of using the device of the present invention comprising the step of joining hands of a user palm-to-palm over the device of the present invention, a diagrammatic perspective view of the second step of the method of using the device of the present invention comprising the step of separating the fingers of one hand of the user from the fingers of the other hand of the user and inserting the fingers of the hands of the user down into the pair of hand coverings of the device of the present invention, respectively, a diagrammatic perspective view of the third step of the method of using the device of the present invention comprising the step of inserting the thumbs and the remaining portions of the hands of the user down into the pair of hand coverings of the device of the present invention, respectively, until the hands of the user are completely in the pair of hand coverings of the device of the present invention so as to form covered hands of the user, a diagrammatic perspective view of the fourth step of the method of using the device of the present invention comprising the step of flexing the covered hands of the user outwardly at the wrists of the user, a diagrammatic perspective view of the fifth step of the method of using the device of the present invention comprising the step of pushing downwardly the covered hands of the user, a diagrammatic perspective view of the sixth step of the method of using the device of the present invention comprising the step of separating the covered hands of the user from the stand of the device of the present invention, and a flow chart of the method of using the device of the present invention for facilitating covering hands of a user, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.

STEP 1: As shown in FIGS. 7 and 13A, the hands 22 of the user 24 are joined palm-to-palm over the device 20.

STEP 2: As shown in FIGS. 8 and 13A, the fingers 60 of one hand 22 of the user 24 is separated from the fingers 60 of the other hand 22 of the user 24 and are inserted down into the pair of hand coverings 26 of the device 20, respectively.

STEP 3: As shown in FIGS. 9 and 13B, the thumbs 62 and the remaining portions 64 of the hands 22 of the user 24 are inserted down into the pair of hand coverings 26 of the device 20, respectively, until the hands 22 of the user 24 are completely in the pair of hand coverings 26 of the device 20 so as to form covered hands 66 of the user 24.

STEP 4: As shown in FIGS. 10 and 13B, the covered hands 66 of the user 24 are flexed outwardly at the wrists 68 of the user 24.

STEP 5: As shown in FIGS. 11 and 13B, the covered hands 66 of the user 24 are pushed downwardly.

STEP 6: As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13C, the covered hands 66 of the user 24 are separated from the stand 42 of the device 26 at the pair of weakened tear lines 38.

As shown in FIGS. 14A-14B, which are a flow chart of alternate steps of the method of using the device of the present invention for facilitating covering hands of a user, alternatively, STEPS 2 and 3 are replaced with the following steps:

STEP 2A: As shown in FIG. 14A, fold the fingers 60 of the hands 22 of the user 24 back onto their respective palms 70 so as to form folded fingers 72.

STEP 2B: As shown in FIG. 14A, insert the thumbs 62 of the hands 22 of the user 24 down into the pair of hand coverings 26, respectively.

STEP 3A: As shown in FIG. 14B, unfold the folded fingers 72 of the hands 22 of the user 24 so as to form unfolded fingers 74.

STEP 3B: As shown in FIG. 14B, insert the unfolded fingers 74 and the remaining portions 64 of the hands 22 of the user 24 down into the pair of hand coverings 26, respectively, until the hands 22 of the user 24 are completely in the pair of hand coverings 26.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a device for facilitating covering hands of a user and method of use, however, it is not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions, and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that from the standpoint of prior art fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of the invention.

Claims

1. A pair of hand coverings with each thereof comprising a hand portion and a back portion, the coverings detachably connected to each other, each of the coverings defining a thumb-receiving opening with each thereof arranged opposite the other for facilitating insertion of each of the users thumbs respectively into one of the pair of hand coverings.

2. A pair of hand coverings for a user's hands, each of the hands having a palm side and a back side, the coverings comprising: a palm layer, a back layer, the palm layer having a pair of wrist-facing portions common with each other, the back layer overlaying the palm layer and spaceable therefrom to form the hand coverings and defining a pair of opposed thumb-receiving openings for facilitating insertion of each of the user's hands respectively into one of the pair of hand coverings.

3. A device for facilitating covering hands of a user, comprising: a pair of hand coverings; wherein said pair of hand coverings comprise a palm-facing layer; wherein said pair of hand coverings comprise a back hand-facing layer; wherein said palm-facing layer has a pair of wrist-facing portions; wherein said pair of wrist-facing portions of said palm-facing layer are common with each other; wherein said back hand-facing layer overlies said palm-facing layer so as to form said pair of hand coverings; wherein said back hand-facing layer has a pair of wrist-facing portions; and wherein said pair of wrist-facing portions of said back hand-facing layer are separated from each other so as to form an exposed portion of said palm-facing layer therebetween and for allowing facilitated insertion of the hands of the user into said pair of hand coverings, respectively, simultaneously, and then having the hands of the user push down and away from each other separating said palm-facing layer at said exposed portion thereof and thereby having the hands of the user covered with said pair of hand coverings, respectively, without having to pull said pair of hand coverings over the hands of the user as is conventionally done.

4. The device as defined in claim 3; further comprising a stand; wherein said palm-covering layer is operatively connected to said stand; and wherein said stand is for facilitating insertion of the hands of the user into said pair of hand coverings, respectively, simultaneously.

5. The device as defined in claim 4, wherein said pair of hand coverings are operatively connected to said stand at said exposed portion of said palm-covering layer.

6. The device as defined in claim 4; further comprising a box; and wherein said stand with said pair of hand coverings operatively connected thereto are stored in said box.

7. The device as defined in claim 3, wherein said exposed portion of said palm-covering layer is defined by a pair of weakened tear lines; and wherein said pair of hand coverings separate from each other at said pair of weakened tear lines.

8. The device as defined in claim 7, wherein said pair of weakened tear lines are parallel to each other.

9. The device as defined in claim 7, wherein said pair of weakened tear lines are substantially coplanar with said pair of wrist-covering portions of said back hand-covering layer, respectively.

10. The device as defined in claim 6, wherein said palm-covering layer has at least a pair of through bores; and wherein said at least a pair of through bores are spaced-apart in said palm-covering layer.

11. The device as defined in claim 10, wherein said at least a pair of through bores are in said exposed portion of said palm-covering layer.

12. The device as defined in claim 10, wherein said stand has a top wall; wherein said stand has a pair of side walls; wherein said stand has a bottom wall; and wherein said pair of side walls of said strand hingedly depend from said top wall of said stand, hingedly to said bottom wall of said stand so as to form a generally triangular lateral cross section for said stand.

13. The device as defined in claim 12, wherein said bottom wall of said stand has an intermediate hinge line; and wherein said intermediate hinge line of said bottom wall of said stand folds upwardly towards said top wall of said stand as said pair of side walls of said stand fold towards each other so as to allow said stand to collapse and slide into said box.

14. The device as defined in claim 12, wherein said stand has at least a pair of pegs; and wherein said at least a pair of pegs of said stand receive said at least a pair of through bores in said palm-covering layer, respectively, with said exposed portion of said palm-covering layer overlying said top wall of said stand, and with remaining portions of said palm-covering layer overlying said pair of side walls of said stand, respectively, so as to facilitate separating said palm-facing layer at said weakened tear lines when the hands of the user are pushed downwardly and away from each other.

15. The device as defined in claim 14, wherein said at least a pair of pegs of said stand extend upwardly from said top wall of said stand.

16. A method for facilitating covering hands of a user, comprising the steps of: a) fabricating a pair of hand coverings by overlying a back hand-facing layer having a pair of wrist-facing portions separated form each other onto a palm-covering layer having a pair of wrist-facing portions common with each other so as to form an exposed portion of said palm-facing layer therebetween; b) overlying said pair of hand coverings on a stand, with the pair of hand coverings depending down the stand; c) inserting the hands of the user into the pair of hand coverings; d) pushing the hands of the user donned with the pair of hand coverings down and away from the stand; and e) causing the pair of hand coverings to separate from each other thereby having the hands of the user covered with the pair of hand coverings, respectively, without having to pull the pair of hand coverings over the hands of the user as is conventionally done.

17. The method as defined in claim 16; further comprising the steps of: a) fabricating a stand; and b) connecting operatively the palm-covering layer to said stand.

18. The method as defined in claim 17, wherein said step of connecting operatively the palm-covering layer to the stand includes connecting operatively the pair of hand coverings to the stand at the exposed portion of the palm-covering layer.

19. The method as defined in claim 17; further comprising the steps of: a) fabricating a box; and b) storing the stand with the pair of hand coverings operatively connected thereto in the box.

20. The method as defined in claim 16; further comprising the step of defining the exposed portion of the palm-covering layer by a pair of weakened tear lines; and wherein said step of causing the pair of hand coverings to separate from each other includes causing the pair of hand coverings to separate from each other at the pair of weakened tear lines.

21. The method as defined in claim 20, wherein said step of causing the pair of hand coverings to separate from each other at the pair of weakened tear lines includes causing the pair of hand coverings to separate from each other at the pair of weakened tear lines that are parallel to each other.

22. The method as defined in claim 20, wherein said step of causing the pair of hand coverings to separate from each other at the pair of weakened tear lines includes causing the pair of hand coverings to separate from each other at the pair of weakened tear lines that are substantially coplanar with the pair of wrist-covering portions of the back hand-covering layer, respectively.

23. The method as defined in claim 19; further comprising the step of causing at least a pair of through bores to be in the palm-covering layer and be spaced-apart.

24. The method as defined in claim 23, wherein said step of causing at least a pair of through bores to be in the palm-covering layer includes causing at least a pair of through bores to be in the exposed portion of the palm-covering layer.

25. The method as defined in claim 23, wherein said step of fabricating a stand includes fabricating a stand that has a top wall, a pair of side walls, and a bottom wall; and further comprising the step of depending hingedly the pair of side walls of the strand from the top wall of the stand, hingedly to the bottom wall of the stand so as to form a generally triangular lateral cross section for the stand.

26. The method as defined in claim 25, wherein said step of fabricating a stand that has a top wall, a pair of side walls, and a bottom wall includes fabricating a stand that has a top wall, a pair of side walls, and a bottom wall that has an intermediate hinge line; and further comprising the step of bending upwardly the intermediate hinge line of the bottom wall of the stand towards the top wall of the stand as the pair of side walls of the stand bend towards each other so as to allow the stand to collapse and slide into the box.

27. The method as defined in claim 25, wherein said step of fabricating a stand includes fabricating a stand that has at least a pair of pegs; and further comprising the step of receiving by the at least a pair of pegs of the stand the at least a pair of through bores in the palm-covering layer, respectively, with the exposed portion of the palm-covering layer overlying the top wall of the stand, and with the palm-covering layer overlying the pair of side walls of the stand, respectively, so as to facilitate separating the palm-facing layer at the weakened tear lines when the hands of the user are pushed downwardly and away from each other.

28. The method as defined in claim 27, wherein said step of fabricating a stand that has at least a pair of pegs includes fabricating a stand that has at least a pair of pegs that extend upwardly from the top wall of the stand.

29. The method as defined in claim 16, wherein said step of inserting the hands of the user into the pair of hand coverings includes the steps of: a) separating the fingers of one hand of the user from the fingers of the other hand of the user so as to form separated fingers; b) inserting the separated fingers down into the pair of hand coverings, respectively; and c) inserting the thumbs and the remaining portions of the hands of the user down into the pair of hand coverings, respectively, until the hands of the user are completely in the pair of hand coverings.

30. The method as defined in claim 16, wherein said step of inserting the hands of the user into the pair of hand coverings includes the steps of: a) folding the fingers of the hands of the user back onto their respective palms so as to form folded fingers; b) inserting the thumbs of the hands of the user down into the pair of hand coverings, respectively; c) unfolding the folded fingers so as to form unfolded fingers; and d) inserting the unfolded fingers and the remaining portions of the hands of the user down into the pair of hand coverings, respectively, until the hands of the user are completely in the pair of hand coverings.