Extensible Sleeve For Direct Contact Prevention

Abstract

An extensible sleeve for direct contact prevention includes a sleeve member having an open first end, an open second end, an exterior, an interior, a dorsal side, and a palmar side. The sleeve member is wearable around the wrist of a user and is extensible from a first position, with the first end around the wrist of the user, to a deployed position, with the palmar side extended to overlie and cover the palmar surface of the user's hand. The sleeve member is securable and maintainable in the deployed position by action of a lip portion, disposed on the interior palmar side of the sleeve member at the first end, engaging overtop the fingertips of the user's hand. A contact surface may include tractive members and conductive elements of sufficient capacitance to interact with touchscreens and may further include antimicrobial properties or features.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many pathogenic microorganisms can survive upon objects and surfaces for periods of time. Contamination occurs when a person contacts a pathogen and introduces it into the body to trigger infection. Cross-contamination occurs when a person picks up a pathogen from one surface or object and transports it to another surface, object, or person.

Manual interaction with objects in public spaces is part of everyday life. Thousands of people may touch the same object each day, especially in urban areas. Consider that Automated Teller Machines (“ATMs”), for example, which dispense currency to the public subsequent keying a particular identifying code upon a keypad or touchscreen, may be host to more bacteria than a public lavatory handle. See, e.g., Ed Zwirn, Manhattan ATMs Are Absolutely Riddled with Bacteria, New York Post, Feb. 16, 2019. In one study, an ATM in Times Square, New York City, yielded a reading of 513 Relative Light Units (“RLU”). (A public toilet handle in Penn Station, for comparison, yielded 163 RLU and a subway pole, only 68 RLU.) Id. Thus, many objects with which human society necessitates daily interaction may act as sites of contamination, including for example, handles, door handles, furniture (such as chair backs and tables), banisters, supports, guard rails, buttons, levers, touchscreens, portable objects and apparatuses, peripheral devices, accessories, keys, accoutrements, and other such objects and surfaces with which persons may frequently interact.

Most people wash their hands to limit exposure to pathogens inadvertently picked up during the course of daily life. However, access to facilities to wash one's hands is not always readily available and periods of time must elapse between washings. To avoid direct contact with objects, some people resort to wearing gloves. However, wearing gloves is often impractical. Frequently donning and doffing gloves when interacting with an object, for example, is also inconvenient and may subject one to unwanted attention.

What is needed is a convenient means of temporarily covering at least the palmer surface of a person's hand to protect the person from contacting microbes and/or other pathogens and toxins as may be encountered during brief interactions with an object or surface, such as opening a door in a public space, entering a Personal Identification Number (“PIN”) into an ATM, or other such manual interaction with an object likely to have come into contact with multiple persons prior to the contact.

The present invention addresses these concerns by enabling a convenient, portable, inconspicuous, and readily accessible extensible sleeve for direct contact prevention that is selectively deployable to prevent direct contact and then, once contact has ceased, is readily restored to an inconspicuous first position not covering the user's hand.

The extensible sleeve is deployable to be readily secured over the palmar aspect of the wearer's hand for short durations, or as desired, to prevent direct contact with the user's epidermis during manual interaction with an object. The extensible sleeve is devised for convenient and rapid deployment and unobtrusive wear when not in use. The extensible sleeve is deployable from a first position, around a user's wrist or forearm, and a deployed position, with a palmar side disposed covering the palmar of the user's hand.

The extensible sleeve may further be devised to enable tractive handling of objects, including objects requiring manual dexterity (such as a stylus or pen, for example) and may include antimicrobial properties and/or elements to limit exposure and/or residence of pathogens upon the extensible sleeve itself.

Further, deployment of the extensible sleeve between the first position and the deployed position is effectuated without a user having to touch a contact portion of the sleeve proper. The sleeve may also include conductive elements, fibers, or threads, having a capacitance necessary to interact with and operate extant touchscreens.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an extensible sleeve for direct contact prevention that is readily deployable from a first position, around a wearer's wrist, and a deployed position, overtop the palmar aspect of a wearer's hand. The present invention provides a quick, convenient, inconspicuous, aesthetically pleasing, and practical means of avoiding direct contact with exterior objects and surfaces and has been devised for frequent deployment and intermittent and brief encounters with exterior objects. The present invention enables selective deployment, therefore, and may be used intermittently and repeatedly as needed without the inconvenience of frequently donning and doffing gloves. The present invention is wearable around the wrist of a user and may resemble a wrist warmer, bracelet, sweat band, or other clothing item or aesthetically pleasing or fashionable accessory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present extensible sleeve for direct contact prevention has been devised to enable a convenient and accessible means by which a wearer may be protected from surface contamination when manually interacting with the exterior world.

The term “microbe,” as used herein throughout, is taken to include all microscopic lifeforms and viruses as well as other non-living proteinaceous and potentially pathogenic bioactive particles or structures such as, for example, prions, spores, ova, as well as other toxins. The term “antimicrobial,” therefore, as used herein throughout, is taken to mean a quality tending to exclude residence or proliferation of “microbes.”

The present extensible sleeve for direct contact prevention is readily portable, wearable around a wearer's wrist, for example, and is expediently deployable from a first position into a deployed position to cover and conceal at least the palmar surface of the hand of the wearer, whereby manual interaction with exterior objects and surfaces is enabled without the user having to directly contact said exterior objects or surfaces. Upon completion of the manual interaction, engagement, or task, especially when brief, the extensible sleeve for direct contact prevention is readily restorable to the first position without the user having to touch any portion of the sleeve proper which was used to contact the exterior objects of surfaces.

The extensible sleeve is thus particularly useful for intermittent and frequent, repeated use, as when interacting in and through a public area, such as when opening a series of doors, say, or entering and exiting a lavatory, for example. The extensible sleeve is readily deployed and restored to the first position without a user having to touch any portion of the extensible sleeve which has been used to contact an exterior object or surface. Further, the sleeve maintains itself in a position upon the wrist of a user to minimize chances of cross contamination (for example, by folding or compressing down to contain portions exposed when the extensible sleeve is moved to the deployed position).

In use, the extensible sleeve for direct contact prevention is temporarily securable in the deployed position by action of a lip portion disposed upon an interior of a palmar side of the sleeve proper, which lip portion is usable to engage over the dorsum of the wearer's fingertips, thereby to maintain taut and wieldable engagement of the sleeve proper during extension and flexion of the user's fingers and hand.

The instant extensible sleeve for direct contact prevention, therefore, includes a tubular sleeve member wearable upon at least the forearm of a wearer. The extensible sleeve may be rendered at least partially of stretchable or elastomeric fabric, enabling stretching of the sleeve member between the first position and the deployed position, and, in such embodiments, accommodative of at least some elastic rebound of the sleeve member from the deployed position to the first position. The sleeve member's elasticity may assist in compressing the sleeve member in the first position, to minimize outfacing of portions otherwise exposed in the deployed position. The sleeve member's elasticity may further assist in enabling manual dexterity and prehensility in use by tautly engaging around and conforming to manual movements of the user. Alternatively, the sleeve member may be inelastic. For comfort in wear, the sleeve member is contemplated to be pervious to water vapor; however, impervious embodiments are contemplated as within scope of the present disclosure.

The sleeve member includes an open first end and an open second end. A lip portion is disposed at the first end, on an interior of the sleeve member, upon the palmar side. This lip portion comprises a folded portion of the sleeve member, akin to a transverse pocket of minimal depth sufficient to engage over the dorsum of the wearer's fingertips wherein extension of the fingertips engages the sleeve member relatively tautly and/or in extension overtop the palmar aspect of the wearer's hands. The lip portion prevents the sleeve member from recoiling from the deployed position, until released from the wearer's fingertips, and maintains the sleeve member overlying the palmar surface of the wearer's hand.

The sleeve member may also include a tab member, disposed upon the sleeve is member in a position to enable grasping by the wearer's other hand, to deploy the sleeve member between each of the first and deployed positions. A wearer is therefore able to deploy the sleeve member by grasping the tab member with the other hand and position the fingertips of the wearing hand into the lip portion whereby the sleeve member is maintainable in the deployed position until the wearer releases their fingertips from the lip portion and the sleeve member is returnable to the first position with aid of the tab member. The tab member may be situated on the exterior, dorsal side of the sleeve member, or upon another portion of the sleeve member where said tab member is unlikely to come into contact with exterior objects and/or surfaces with which a wearer may interact with the sleeve member disposed in the deployed position.

The sleeve member may further include a contact portion, disposed upon the sleeve member palmar side. The contact portion may include tractive elements or members whereby the sleeve member contact portion has a higher coefficient of friction relative to the sleeve member proper. The tractive elements or members may comprise raised members, patterns, or rubberlike or polymeric material, or may comprise a coating, layer, fiber, surface, or other feature distinct the surrounding sleeve member proper that increases frictional engagement with objects in contact therewith.

At least a portion of the contact portion of the sleeve member may include conductive elements with sufficient capacitance to operate touchscreens in lieu of the wearer's epidermis. Further, the sleeve member may include antimicrobial properties, including, for example, antimicrobial surfaces, chemicals, fibers, or particles. For example, silver particles or nanoparticles may be included to coat, cover, or adorn portions of the sleeve member, and particularly the contact portion of the sleeve member, to diminish residence times of microbes and pathogens upon the sleeve member whereby incidences of cross-contamination are less likely. Other known fabrics contemplated herein by way of example include SHIELDEX® and SILVERELL® and/or other fabrics incorporating metals such as silver and having conductive and non-conductive yarns.

Thus has been broadly outlined the more important features of the present extensible sleeve for direct contact prevention so that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.

Objects of the present extensible sleeve for direct contact prevention, along with various novel features that characterize the invention are particularly pointed out in the claims forming a part of this disclosure. For better understanding of the extensible sleeve for direct contact prevention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, refer to the accompanying drawings and description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a dorsal view of an example embodiment of the extensible sleeve a first position around the wrist of a wearer.

FIG. 2 is a palmar view of an example embodiment of the extensible sleeve in the first position around the wrist of a wearer.

FIG. 3A is an in-use view of an example embodiment of the extensible sleeve in a deployed position having a lip portion engaged over the dorsum of the wearer's fingertips to secure the extensible sleeve in the deployed position in-use, in this example, depressing buttons of an Automated Teller Machine (“ATM”).

FIG. 3B is an in-use view of an example embodiment of the extensible sleeve in a deployed position having the lip portion engaged over the dorsum of the wearer's fingertips to secure the extensible sleeve in the deployed position in-use, in this example, interacting with a touchscreen of an Automated Teller Machine (“ATM”).

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of an example embodiment of the extensible sleeve inside-out, to show the interior of the extensible sleeve palmar side and illustrate the position and extent of an example embodiment of the lip portion.

FIG. 5 is an in-use view of an example embodiment of the extensible sleeve in a deployed position exemplifying the extensible sleeve in-use in grasping an exterior object, in this particular example, a stylus for operating a touchscreen apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a detail view of an example embodiment of a contact portion of the extensible sleeve.

FIG. 7 is a dorsal elevation view of an example embodiment of the extensible sleeve in the deployed position illustrating the position of the wearer's fingers engaged inside the lip portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present extensible sleeve for direct contact prevention is shown in example embodiment in the accompanying figures, illustrated herein to demonstrate the principle features of the inventive concept. The figures included herewith are therefore exemplary and presented for the purposes of information only. It is intended that a person of ordinary skill in the relevant art may be apprised of the reasonable metes and bounds of the inventive step illustrated by the figures without importing unnecessary limitations into the invention. Thus, variations in structure capable of equivalently performing the same functionality should be understood as contemplated within the intended scope of the invention. The figures herein presented are therefore not intended to unduly limit alterations applicable across all embodiments where the general intent and functionality of the invention is not appreciably affected. Embodiments shown may be combined and/or elements thereof interchanged without departing from the general intent or scope of the invention.

For purposes of demonstration, the words “user” and “wearer” may be used interchangeably herein throughout. No appreciable distinction is intended between the terms, both terms applying to a person wearing the device for use in the manner intended as set forth herein.

FIG. 1 illustrates an elevation view of an example embodiment of the extensible sleeve for direct contact prevention 10 in a first position around the wrist of a user. The extensible sleeve for direct contact prevention 10 includes a tubular sleeve member 20 having an open first end 22 and an open second end 24. To don the extensible sleeve ii member 20, a user simply inserts their hand through the sleeve member 20, from the second end 24 to the first end 22.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sleeve member 20 may comprise a relaxed fit in the first position, comfortably adorning a user's wrist. It should be readily understood that the sleeve member 20 may be more or less bulky than shown in the example embodiments depicted. The sleeve member 20 may therefore be more or less concealable beneath a garment sleeve (not shown) concurrently worn by a user. Alternatively, the sleeve member 20 may have the appearance of a bracelet, a wrist warmer, or other fashion accessory, as case may be. In at least one embodiment contemplated herein, the length of the sleeve member 20 may be around approximately 7 to 8 inches long, however longer and shorter lengths are contemplated as within scope of the present invention.

The sleeve member 20 includes an interior 26 (see FIG. 4), devised to contact the wearer's epidermis, and an exterior 28, outfacing from the wearer. A dorsal side 30 is shown in the elevation view depicted in FIG. 1. A palmar side 32 is not visible in FIG. 1 but is shown in FIG. 2 and discussed in more detail with reference to FIG. 2 (see below). The sleeve member 20 may appear compressed and/or folded and/or wrinkled, or otherwise self-contained when in the first position, whereby exterior surfaces exposed when the sleeve member 20 is moved to the deployed position are oriented to minimize said exposure when the sleeve member 20 is disposed in the first position.

In the example embodiment here depicted, a tab member 50 is disposed upon the exterior 28 of the dorsal side 30 of the sleeve member 20, proximal to the first end 22. The tab member 50 is graspable by the user's other hand and may assist in deploying the sleeve member 20 from the first position around the wrist (as shown in ii FIG. 1) to the deployed position (as shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, FIG. 5, and FIG. 7, for example). Deployment to the deployed position is assisted by grasping the tab member 50 and pulling the sleeve member 20 forward whereby the user may engage their fingertips into the lip portion 34 disposed on the palmar side 32 interior 26 and secure the sleeve member 20 overtop of the palmar aspect of the user's hand (see, e.g., FIG. 7). The tab member 50 further assists the wearer to restore the sleeve member 20 to the first position, without the wearer having to touch the contact portion 36 of the sleeve member, as is discussed in more detail below. The tab member 50 may be disposed in other positions than shown, such as, for example, upon a lateral seam of the sleeve member 20, or elsewhere on the sleeve member 20 appropriate for engagement by the user's other hand to move the sleeve member 20 between the first and deployed positions.

FIG. 2 illustrates an elevation view of an example embodiment of the palmar side 32 of the sleeve member 20 when worn in the first position around a user's wrist. The position and extent of lip portion 34, a folded recess or pocket disposed upon the interior 26 of the sleeve member 20 at the first end 22, is shown by dashed line x-x. It should be noted that the term “lip portion,” as used herein throughout, is taken to include equivalent structures enabling engagement around, in contact with, or upon the user's fingertips when the sleeve member 20 is extended to the deployed position wherein the sleeve member 20 is securable and maintainable covering the palmar aspect of the user's hand, through at least some range of flexion and extension as typical to manual action effectuated when interacting with everyday objects and surfaces including handles, door handles, buttons, touchscreens, keys, pens, supports, accessories, peripherals, and other such objects, accoutrements, or surfaces with which a person is likely to interact in the course of daily life.

In this regard, it is contemplated that the sleeve member 20 may comprise, at least in portion, elastomeric or polymeric fibers enabling at least some stretchability of the sleeve member 20, to maintain tautness and some elastic resistance and elastic rebound when extending the fingers within the lip portion 34. This stretch feature may also assist in use of the tab member 50 (shown in FIG. 1) to release the sleeve member 20 from engagement in the deployed position and restore the sleeve member 20 to the relaxed, first position. Alternatively, the sleeve member 20 may be inelastic, rendered of natural or synthetic fibers exhibiting little elasticity, as case may be. In any case, the sleeve member 20 is extensible from the first position, with the first end 22 around the user's wrist, to the deployed position, with the first end 22 engaged by the user's fingertips interior to the lip portion 34 whereby at least the palmar side 32 of the sleeve member 20 covers the palmar aspect of the user's hand to prevent direct contact with exterior objects or surfaces therewith.

FIG. 3A illustrates an example embodiment of the sleeve member 20 in-use in the deployed position. Tab member 50 is shown on the dorsal side 30. The user's index finger is visible through the first end 22, with tip engaged interior to the lip portion 34. The user is shown depressing a button on an Automated Teller Machine (“ATM”) whereby the sleeve member 20, in the deployed position, prevents direct contact therewith. The lip portion 34 is engaged over the dorsum of the user's finger tips and the sleeve member 20 is extended and maintained in the deployed position thereby.

FIG. 3B also illustrates an example embodiment of the sleeve member 20 in-use in the deployed position. Tab member 50 is shown on the dorsal side 30. In this example embodiment, the user is interacting with a touchscreen on an ATM. As also shown in FIG. 3A, the user's index finger is visible through the sleeve member 20 first is end 22, with tip engaged interior to the lip portion 34. The user is shown interacting with the touchscreen and preventing direct contact therewith. The lip portion 34 is engaged over the dorsum of the user's fingertips and the sleeve member 20 is extended and maintained in the deployed position thereby. Conductive elements 70, with capacitance sufficient to operate the touchscreen, are contemplated as comprising at least a portion of the sleeve member 20, as will be discussed further hereinbelow.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example embodiment of the sleeve member 20 inside-out, to show the interior 26 palmar side 32 in elevation view whereby an example embodiment of the lip portion 34 is visible. In this example embodiment, lip portion 34 includes a folded recess wherein the user's fingertips may be engaged, the lip portion 34 thereby disposed to engage overtop the dorsum of the user's fingertips. In the example embodiment shown, contact portion 36 is also illustrated. Contact portion 36 may comprise, at least in part, antimicrobial properties, at least on the exterior 28 of the palmar side 32 of the sleeve member 20, to diminish residence of microbes and pathogens thereupon. The contact portion 36 may thus comprise antimicrobial elements such as chemicals, residues, coatings, or particles. In one example embodiment contemplated herein, at least the contact portion 36 includes metallic particles and/or fibers, such as SHIELDEX® and SILVERELL® fabrics, silver particles, or nanoparticles, whereby contact inhibition of microbes and overall sterility of at least the exterior 28 of ii the contact portion 36 is promoted. As shown in FIG. 6 below, the contact portion 36 may further include tractive members 40 devised to increase the coefficient of friction of the sleeve member 20 proper, at least with respect to the contact portion 36 and thereby suited for interaction with objects. An approximate range of a coefficient of is friction of 0.2 to 2 is contemplated as exemplified by the tractive members 40.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example embodiment of the sleeve member 20 in the deployed position in-use by a user wielding a stylus for authenticating payment at a point of sale. Dexterous and prehensile use of the sleeve member 20 is therefore contemplated and use with pens and keys, for example, and other objects requiring manual dexterity is enabled with the sleeve member 20 extended in the deployed position. In this regard, the tractive members 40, when present, may assist in wielding particular objects which otherwise would be more easily misapplied without traction afforded by contact with the tractive member 40 or elements.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example embodiment of the palmar side 32 of the sleeve member 20 with contact portion 36 presented in elevation view. In this example embodiment, tractive members 40 are contemplated to be rubberlike protrusions, projections, surfaces, or adornments that may be raised or disposed upon the contact portion 36 for increased frictional engagement with objects and surfaces brought into contact with the contact portion 36 of the sleeve member 20. Additional patterns, shapes, groupings, and embodiments of the tractive members 40 are contemplated as within scope of this disclosure, the essential and fundamental feature of the said tractive members 40 being to increase the overall coefficient of friction of the sleeve member 20 in respect to the contact portion 36 therein.

Contact portion 36 may also include conductive elements 70 having a capacitance sufficient to operate and interact with touchscreens. Such conductive elements 70 may include metallic substrates or non-metallic substrates that are conductive by virtue of particular atomic structure, such as, for example, graphene, or other electrostatic, conductive, resistant, or capacitant materials known in the art and suited for such purpose.

FIG. 7 is an elevation view of the dorsal side 30 of the sleeve member 20, in-use in the deployed position. All of the wearer's fingers are engaged inside the lip portion 34 whereby the palmer aspect of the wearer's hand is covered by the palmer side 32 of the sleeve member 20.

Claims

1. An extensible sleeve deployable to selectively prevent direct contact of a wearer's hands with exterior objects and surfaces, said extensible sleeve comprising: a sleeve member having a first end, a second end, an interior, an exterior, and a palmar side; anda lip portion disposed at the first end upon the interior, palmar side of the sleeve member;wherein the sleeve member is extensible from a first position to a deployed position, said first position having the sleeve first end disposed around a wrist of the wearer, said deployed position having the palmar side of the sleeve member overlying a palmar aspect of the wearer's hand, said sleeve member securable in the deployed position by the wearer engaging the lip portion over fingertips of the wearer's hand, whereby the palmar side of the sleeve member prevents direct contact of the wearer's hand with objects or surfaces.

2. The extensible sleeve of claim 1 wherein the sleeve member comprises stretchable or elastomeric fabric.

3. The extensible sleeve of claim 1 wherein the sleeve member includes a contact portion disposed upon the palmar side, wherein at least said contact portion includes antimicrobial properties.

4. The extensible sleeve of claim 3 wherein the sleeve member comprises stretchable or elastomeric fabric.

5. The extensible sleeve of claim 3 wherein the antimicrobial properties of the at least the contact portion comprise antimicrobial and/or antibacterial fibers.

6. The extensible sleeve of claim 3 wherein at least the contact portion further comprises conductive elements, said conductive elements having sufficient capacitance for interaction with existing touchscreens.

7. The extensible sleeve of claim 5 wherein the antimicrobial and/or antibacterial fibers comprise metallic particles having antimicrobial and/or antibacterial properties.

8. The extensible sleeve of claim 7 wherein at least the contact portion further comprises conductive elements having sufficient capacitance for interaction with existing touchscreens.

9. The extensible sleeve of claim 8 wherein the sleeve member further comprises tractive members configured to increase the coefficient of friction of at least the contact portion of the sleeve member.

10. The extensible sleeve of claim 8 further comprising a tab member disposed upon the exterior, said tab member graspable by a wearer to assist movement of the sleeve member between the first position and the deployed position.

11. The extensible sleeve of claim 9 further comprising a tab member disposed upon the exterior, said tab member graspable by a wearer to assist movement of the sleeve member between the first position and the deployed position.

12. An extensible sleeve deployable to selectively prevent direct contact of a wearer's hands with exterior objects or surfaces, said extensible sleeve comprising: a tubular sleeve member having a first end, a second end, an interior, an exterior, a dorsal side, and a palmar side, said sleeve member selectively extensible from a first position to a deployed position, said first position having at least the sleeve first end disposed around a wrist of the wearer, said deployed position having at least the palmar side of the sleeve member overlying a palmar aspect of the wearer's hand;a lip portion disposed at the first end upon the interior, palmar side of the sleeve member; anda contact portion disposed upon the palmar side of the sleeve member, said contact portion disposed in a position adapted for manual interaction with extant objects by a wearer when the sleeve member is moved to the deployed position;wherein the sleeve member is securable in the deployed position by engagement of the lip portion over a dorsum of fingertips of the wearer's hand. cm 13. The extensible sleeve of claim 12 wherein the sleeve member further comprises a tab member whereby grasping the tab member assists the wearer to move the sleeve member between the first position and the deployed position without the wearer having to touch the contact portion of the sleeve member.

14. The extensible sleeve of claim 13 wherein the sleeve member comprises antimicrobial and/or antibacterial properties.

15. The extensible sleeve of claim 14 wherein at least the contact portion includes conductive elements having sufficient capacitance for interaction with existing touchscreens.

16. The extensible sleeve of claim 15 wherein the antimicrobial and/or antibacterial properties comprise metallic particles and/or fibers.

17. The extensible sleeve of claim 16 wherein the contact portion further comprises tractive members configured to increase the coefficient of friction of the contact portion relative to the sleeve member.

18. The extensible sleeve of claim 17 wherein the sleeve member comprises stretchable or elastomeric fabric.