Disposable Hand Covering

Abstract

A disposable hand covering having an cohesive applied to the ends of an arm segment is disclosed. Peeling back a cover strip allows the arm section to be securely fastened to the wearer's arm. The hand covering can be used to handle contaminated material and can then be removed by the wearer. Antimicrobial technology applied to the hand covering reduces the chances of contamination. A covering strip allows easy removal without contact with the contaminated outside of the hand covering. When the disposable hand covering is removed, it everts to form a pouch. After eversion of the hand covering, an cohesive on the ends of the arm segment allows for closure of a pouch. The contaminated outside of the hand covering and any contaminated material which was held by the covered hand is contained within the pouch, allowing for safe disposal of the hand covering and its contents.

Description

FIELD OF DISCLOSURE

This invention relates to a disposable hand covering for handling contaminated material and more particularly to a disposable hand covering which has an cohesive to securely fasten the covering to the wearer's arm and to seal closed a pouch created by eversion of the hand covering.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many types of disposable gloves have been developed. These disposable gloves are often used in cleanup operations. However, once these gloves are used, contaminant material clinging to the glove presents an additional unwanted source of contamination. This is true even if the contaminated glove is turned inside out. Prior to disposal into a sealed container, there is the risk of secondary exposure to humans handling the discarded gloves.

Antimicrobial surfaces are well known in the art and functionalized in a variety of different processes. A coating may be applied to a surface that has a chemical compound or other substances which are toxic to microorganism. Other surfaces may be functionalized by attaching a polymer, or polypeptide to its surface. Additionally, doping with antimicrobial products can be imparted to various materials. Antimicrobial technologies vary in their effectiveness against bacteria and fungal microorganisms. Applying antimicrobial technology to the hand covering further reduces the risk of contamination.

Prior art discloses cleanup gloves which are turned inside out after use and sealed to become a disposal bag. However, although these gloves contain the contaminated material, the wearer runs the risk of self-contamination in removing the glove. Gloves with large stiff cuffs tend to be bulky and more expensive. Additionally, the glove needs to extend well up the arm and needs a means to securely fasten to the arm. Removal of the glove is achieved by grasping a cover strip and stripping the inverted glove from the hand. In view of the high risk level associated with certain types of contaminated material, any contact with the outside of the glove by the wearer must be minimized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the hand covering in its fully extended state.

FIGS. 2a-2c show three embodiments of the hand covering.

FIG. 3 shows the hand covering in its folded state.

FIGS. 4a-4c show the removal of the hand covering by the wearer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A disposable hand covering 1 according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. For convenience, hand portion 2 has been shown in the shape of a mitten. The hand covering may also take the form of a glove, or a simple pouch with no finger portions. The particular embodiment chosen will depend on the degree of manipulation required by the task to be performed by the wearer. For purposes of the following discussion, the inside of the glove will refer to that side of the glove which contacts the wearer's hand during use. The outside of the glove will refer to that side of the glove which contacts the contaminated material.

Hand covering 1 can be made of a variety of materials, in a manner well known in the art. By way of example, hand covering 1 can be made of any leakproof and flexible material including homopolymer, copolymer, or coextrusion that is capable of resisting punctures from fingernails or rings. Suitable materials include polyolefins, particularly polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, latex, nylon, rubber or polyester and coextrusions thereof. Thicknesses in the range of about 0.5 to 10 mils are suitable. The thickness will depend on the strength and puncture resistance of the material chosen. For example, with polyvinyl chloride the preferred range would be about 6-8 mils, whereas with a conventional polyolefin (e.g., polyethylene or polyproplyene) the preferred range would be about 4-6 mils. Improved high-strength polymers, e.g., coextrusions of optionally copolymerized polyethylene, allow thicknesses of the order of 1-2 mils, or less, to be used.

Hand covering 1 can be made from separate sheets or a flattened tube of plastic. The plastic can be sealed and then cut along the outside of the seal, or the two steps can be reversed, i.e., the plastic can be first be cut to the desired shape and then sealed near the edges. In the latter case, excess material can be trimmed immediately after sealing, or at a later stage in the manufacturing process. The sealing can be by any of several well known techniques, e.g., by heat, laser, ultrasonic bonding or the application of RF power. Alternatively, when the material is latex, hand covering 1 can be made by a dip method to produce a hand covering without seams, in the manner used to make surgical gloves. Certain polyvinyl chlorides are also susceptible to a dip method.

Hand covering 1 is shown with long arm segment 3 and a hand segment 2. Cover strips 4 and 4′ are made of a material which easily peels back exposing an cohesive 5 applied to outside of the covering 1. During eversion of hand covering 1, the cover strips 4 and 4′ flip to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 1. The thickness of cover strip 4 and 4′ allow for this flipping action.

In a preferred embodiment, antimicrobial coating is applied to hand segment 2 and arm segment 3 that has a chemical compound or other substances which are toxic to microorganism. Organic, inorganic, and organometallic antimicrobial technologies are routinely used in a breadth of textile applications including polyester, nylon, cotton, rayon, cotton/polyester blends, acrylic and natural fibers. One such antimicrobial process incorporate silver, copper and other elemental ions into a zeolite carrier. The ions exchange with other positive ions (often sodium) from the moisture in the environment, effecting a release of the antimicrobial elements “on demand”. Elemental ions attack multiple targets in the microbe to prevent it from growing to a destructive population. This tri-modal action fights cell growth in three ways. The first way prevents respiration by inhibiting transport functions in the cell wall. The second way inhibits cell division (reproduction). The third method of preventing cell growth disrupts cell metabolism. Multiple companies provide various antimicrobial solution that may be applied.

An embodiments of cover strips 4 and 4′ are shown in FIG. 2. The configuration of FIG. 2 assures proper alignment of the cover strips 4 and 4′ for sealing after removal of hand covering 1. In addition, the covers trip 4 and 4′ peel back exposing cohesive 5 applied to the upper arm segment 3. The cohesive 5 enables the upper arm segment 3 to securely fasten to the arm of the wearer. In a preferred embodiment, a cohesive material is used. A cohesive material is a material which has a greater affinity for itself than it has for other materials. Thus, it has a minimum tack, but forms a strong bond when it comes in contact with itself. A perfect cohesive material for the present invention would have a high affinity for itself and for cover strip, and a low affinity for all other materials, i.e. clothing, skin, etc.

The cohesive material may be a hot melt cohesive, which may be applied in a patterned fashion. The cohesive may also take the form of double-sided tape. It may be necessary with such a material to provide a cover strip, such as silicone release paper, which is removed prior to sealing. The cover strip prevents the cohesive from sticking to other materials. The sealing means may also comprise any of the microencapsulated cohesives which are well-known in the art.

In those embodiments in which hand covering 1 is not form-fitting, the use of powder on the inside of hand covering 1 may be avoided. This eliminates the introduction of powder into open cuts on the wearer's hands and the undesirable feeling which remains after the removal of powdered gloves.

The cover strips 4 and 4′ also allow the unique flipping action which prevents the necessity of grasping any outside portion of the glove during removal. After removal, the cover strips 4 and 4′ are easily aligned for sealing.

Because hand covering 1 contains contaminated material, the sealing means should be such that it cannot be readily reopened after sealing. In a preferred embodiment, the strength of the sealing means is greater than that of the hand covering material, so that it is necessary to destroy the hand covering to obtain access to the contents.

Long arm portion 3 allows a special folding arrangement which facilitates removal of the hand covering without contact by the wearer with the contaminated outside of the hand covering. The special folding arrangement is shown in FIG. 3. Long arm portion 3 is first folded down over the outside of hand covering 1 to form fold 8. This is the singlefold arrangement used for donning surgical gloves without contaminating the sterile outside of the glove, commonly referred to as “the technique cuff.” In the present invention, long arm portion 3 is then folded back on itself at fold 9 to form a double cuff arrangement. The upper edges of cover strip 4 and 4′ should closely approach fold 8 in order to minimize any possibility of contamination of the inside portion of the glove. This “double technique cuff” not only prevents contact with the outside of the hand covering during donning, but also prevents contact with the outside of the hand covering during removal. A weak sealant is used to maintain alignment of the double technique cuff until the hand covering is removed.

The hand covering is donned by grasping at fold 8 and pulling hand portion 2 onto wearer's hand 11.

FIGS. 4a-4c show removal of hand covering 1. Free hand 12 is inserted in the pocket created by the folded-back portion of long arm portion 3. Hand 12 contacts only the inside of hand covering 1. Movement of hand 12 downward (i.e., toward hand portion 2) brings the fingers of hand 12 in contact with the inside of fold 9. Further movement downward begins eversion of hand covering 1. When the end of hand portion 2 is reached, a natural flipping action of cover strip 4 and 4′. Hand 12 can complete this flipping action to bring the two into alignment for sealing. Hand 11 is removed from hand covering 1 and any contaminated material held by hand 11 is now sealed in everted hand covering 1. Thus, hand covering 1 is used to collect, contain and confine.

Hand covering 1 can also be used with a double gloving technique. Don the disposable hand covering extending it to full length. Peel off the tearstrip exposing the adhesive. Secure the disposable hand covering by folding the top end backward to the adhesive. Obtain a second set of gloves. Don the second set of gloves over the disposal hand covering. Perform the desired procedure wearing both sets of gloves. Clutching any waste or clean-up material in one hand, use the other to grab the outside of the disposable hand covering. Pull the disposable hand covering down the arm and over the handheld material inverting the disposable hand covering. This process will capture the second glove and the held material inside the disposable hand covering. Grasp the removed disposable hand covering with the still covered hand. Insert the bare hand thru the top end of the covered hand. Spread the fingers and slide the disposable hand covering down the forearm. Peel off the disposable hand covering, inverting it, and thereby capturing the held materials.

Although the invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration, it will be apparent that changes and modifications may be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A disposable hand covering comprising: a hand segment;an arm segment attached to said hand segment;said arm segment having an external inner arm portion;said arm segment having an external outer arm portion; andan cohesive applied to an end of the external inner arm portion and applied to an end of the external outer arm portion.

2. A disposable hand covering according to claim 1, wherein said cohesive of both the external inner arm portion and external outer arm portion have a peelable cover strip.

3. A disposable hand covering according to claim 2, wherein said peelable cover strip extend beyond the width of said arm portion.

4. A disposable hand covering according to claim 2, wherein said cohesive acts to adhere the external outer arm portion and the external inner arm portion to each other when said external arm portions make contact.

5. A disposable hand covering according to claim 4, wherein said arm and hand portions comprise a flexible and leakproof material.

6. A disposable hand covering according to claim 5, wherein said material is comprised of a homopolymer, copolymer, or coextrusion of two or more homopolymers or copolymers.

7. A disposable hand covering according to claim 5, wherein said arm and hand portions comprise material selected from the group consisting of latex, polyolefins, polyvinyl chloride, nylon, polyesters, and rubber.

8. A disposable hand covering according to claim 6, wherein the thickness of the material used in said arm and hand portions is from about 0.5 to 10 mils.

9. A disposable hand covering according to claim 5, wherein said material is impregnated with a microbial material.

10. A disposable hand covering according to claim 5, wherein said material is coated with a microbial material.

11. A method of handling material, comprising the steps of: donning of a disposable hand covering by a wearer;donning a second glove over said hand covering;handling of the material by a gloved hand;eversion of the hand covering; andenclosing the material with the second glove inside the hand covering.