GLOVE WITH ATTACHMENTS AND METHOD OF USE

Abstract

A glove body, a barrier, and an abrasive layer form a flexible device that fits over the hand of user to perform complex operations on intricate or detailed objects using a variety of interchangeable attachments. The glove body includes a palm portion, a plurality of finger portions, and a thumb portion. The finger portions and the thumb portion extend from the palm portion to form a continuous inner surface. The inner surface is covered by the barrier and is coextensive with the working layer. The barrier is permanently attached to the glove body on one surface. The working layer is releasably attached to the opposite surface of the barrier. The barrier is permanently attached to the glove body with a permanent adhesive or through sewing. The working layer is releasably attached to the barrier through a releasable adhesive or through a hook and loop fastener elements.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a glove with attachments and method for use thereof, and more specifically to cleaning, scouring, and other multiuse attachments for connection to a proprietary sanding glove or other proprietary glove for receiving attachments.

2. Description of the Related Art

Existing cleaning cloths and abrasive pads do not come on form of a die cut hand with adhesive on the back. There are products on the market to attach to poles or other devices but not a hand that can attach to a glove. The significance of a hand is the flexibility and the pressure that makes the product more effective as a cleaning product or abrasive. This would make cleaning, buffing, or dusting much easier and more effective than anything on the market.

Additionally, existing working gloves have permanently attached working surfaces. This requires the entire piece of equipment to be disposed of every time a new one is required, and also would require a separate glove for each type of working surface.

Heretofore there has not been available a system or method for a working glove system with the advantages and features of the present invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally provides a die cut attachment in the shape of a hand including the opposable thumb used to perform numerous tasks such as; scrubbing, cleaning, exfoliating, scuffing, buffing, polishing, stamping concrete, brushing human and animal hair, and many other applications. It is designed to work with a proprietary sanding glove The attachments allow the consumer to use the thumb, fingers and/or palm pressure to enhance the effectiveness of the product. This attachment is a consumable product that can be removed and replaced. The die cut (hand) attachment is bonded by adhesive or sewn to a thin material (bonding material of any thickness) that holds the releasable adhesive. The releasable adhesive is either hook or loop (for hook and loop) or glue that releases. The bonding material may be made of any type of material that loop/hook or releasable adhesive will bond to. The adhesive back to the attachment allows the user to attach and replace many different accessories to the glove part of the glove.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention illustrating various objects and features thereof.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a die cut hand attachment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of a sanding glove with the attachment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded isometric view of the attachment of FIG. 1 releasing from the glove of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the attachment of FIG. 1 connecting to the glove of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart diagramming the steps taken in practicing an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

I. Introduction and Environment

As required, detailed aspects of the present invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, up, down, front, back, right and left refer to the invention as orientated in the view being referred to. The words, “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the aspect being described and designated parts thereof. Forwardly and rearwardly are generally in reference to the direction of travel, if appropriate. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar meaning.

II. Preferred Embodiment Glove System 2

A preferred embodiment of the present invention features a glove system 2 with multiple working attachments 8 for a glove 4. The glove includes a barrier layer 6 which is used to receive the attachment via an attachment face 7. Hook and loop fasteners, adhesive, or some other attachment element can be used to temporarily bind the attachment 6 to the flexible glove 4. The attachment 6 is selectively removable from the barrier layer 6 of the glove 4, and can be replaced as desired with replacement attachments 8. Each attachment has a working face 30, and the glove 4 can be used with multiple different types of working faces 32, 34, 36 as shown in FIG. 4.

The glove has a thumb portion 16 and a plurality of finger portions 14. These match up with corresponding thumb 26 and finger portions 24 of the selected attachment 8. When combined, this provides a flexible working surface 30 courtesy of the flexible glove 4. The glove may also include a cuff 10 which may be secured by a strap 12 or other suitable closure.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show how the attachment 8 is detachable from the glove 4 via the barrier layer 6 and the attachment face 7 of the attachment 7.

FIG. 4 shows a complete kit 52 which includes the glove system 2 featuring the glove 4 and several attachments 8.1, 8.2, 8.3 as well as a storage container 38 which may also be the retail product packaging. These attachments may be interchangeably used with the glove 4. Each may have different corresponding working surfaces 32, 34, 36, which may include (1) a scouring pad made of various materials and various textures and rigid compositions; (2) a sponge or absorbent material; (3) dusting materials; (4) micro fiber cloth; (5) cleaning cloths; (6) steel wool or scouring pads; (7) polishing cloths; (8) buffing materials; (9) rubber stamps with textures to match stamps for concrete; (10) hair and fur brushes; and (11) sandpaper of various grit.

Each attachment 8 is a die cut in in the shape of a hand. Dies for cutting will have to be tooled for various materials used for different attachments. Hook and loop technology or releasable glue may or may not be applied to the attachment face 7 of attachments 8. The process can be done by either gluing, sewing, fusing, or a combination of these techniques to a bonding material to the attachment. All parts of the attachment are in the same die cut hand shape and made to match the die cut hand including finger portions 14 and thumb portion 16 of the glove 4.

The attachment is a die cut to fit a right- or left-handed glove, such as a proprietary sanding glove. The opposable thumb, fingers, and palm improve the effectiveness of the attachment. An attachment layer helps to connect the attachment to the glove, such as a hook and loop connection or a releasable adhesive attached to the entire back side of the bonding material and the various die cut attachments. This allows the attachments to be connected to the sanding glove or other proprietary glove for receiving attachments.

The barrier layer 6 of the glove 4 protects the hand and is secured to the glove via an adhesive layer to permanently secure the barrier layer to the glove. This construction is formed from any suitable compatible materials that can be joined to one another to form a permanent connection. Suitable adhesive materials include thermoplastics, thermosets, or elastomeric materials. This barrier layer with attachment capabilities allows for the multiple working attachments 8 to be attached and removed multiple times without tearing the attachments or discarding the glove.

FIG. 5 steps through the process of practicing and using the present invention. The process starts at 100 and the user obtains the glove 4 at 102. A first attachment is connected to the palm and finger portions of the glove at 104, and the working surface of that first attachment is used at 106. This process continues until the user replaces the attachment at 108. The first attachment is removed from the glove, and another attachment is affixed to the glove. A determination is made at 110 whether the new attachment is the same type as the first attachment or a new type of attachment entirely. If the first attachment wore out and a replacement is needed at 110 rather than a new type of attachment, the attachment is replaced with the same type at 112 and that new attachment is used at 106. Otherwise, a new attachment type may be affixed to the glove at 114. If the job is finished at 116, all components can be stored at 118 and the process ends at 120. Otherwise, the new attachment's working surface is used at 106 until the process ends and the user is finished.

It is to be understood that while certain embodiments and/or aspects of the invention have been shown and described, the invention is not limited thereto and encompasses various other embodiments and aspects.

Claims

1. A glove system comprising: a glove having a palm portion, a plurality of finger portions, and a thumb portion;said palm, plurality of finger portions, and thumb portion at least partially covered in a barrier layer;a first attachment having an attachment layer, said first attachment being die cut to match the shape of said glove and said first attachment having a plurality of finger portions corresponding with said glove finger portions, and a thumb portion corresponding with said glove thumb portion;said first attachment having a first working surface;a second attachment having an attachment layer, said second attachment being die cut to match the shape of said glove and said second attachment having a plurality of finger portions corresponding with said glove finger portions, and a thumb portion corresponding with said glove thumb portion;said second attachment having a second working surface;wherein said first working surface and said second working surface provide different working purposes; andeach said attachment layer configured to be selectively removable from said barrier layer of said glove.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprises: said barrier layer and each said attachment layer comprising corresponding hook and loop fasteners.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each said attachment layer comprises an adhesive layer.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said first working surface is selected from a working surface from the list comprising: a scouring pad; a sponge; dusting materials; micro fiber cloth; cleaning cloths; steel wool; polishing cloths; buffing materials; rubber stamps with textures to match stamps for concrete; hair brush; fur brush; andsandpaper

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said second working surface is selected from a working surface from the list comprising: a scouring pad; a sponge; dusting materials; micro fiber cloth; cleaning cloths; steel wool; polishing cloths; buffing materials; rubber stamps with textures to match stamps for concrete; hair brush; fur brush; and sandpaper.

6. A kit for working a plurality of surfaces, the kit comprising: a glove having a palm portion, a plurality of finger portions, and a thumb portion;said palm, plurality of finger portions, and thumb portion at least partially covered in a barrier layer;a first attachment having an attachment layer, said first attachment being die cut to match the shape of said glove and said first attachment having a plurality of finger portions corresponding with said glove finger portions, and a thumb portion corresponding with said glove thumb portion;said first attachment having a first working surface;a second attachment having an attachment layer, said second attachment being die cut to match the shape of said glove and said second attachment having a plurality of finger portions corresponding with said glove finger portions, and a thumb portion corresponding with said glove thumb portion;said second attachment having a second working surface;a storage container configured to store said glove, said first attachment, and said second attachment;wherein said first working surface and said second working surface provide different working purposes; andeach said attachment layer configured to be selectively removable from said barrier layer of said glove.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprises: said barrier layer and each said attachment layer comprising corresponding hook and loop fasteners.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein each said attachment layer comprises an adhesive layer.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein said first working surface is selected from a working surface from the list comprising: a scouring pad; a sponge; dusting materials; micro fiber cloth; cleaning cloths; steel wool; polishing cloths; buffing materials; rubber stamps with textures to match stamps for concrete; hair brush; fur brush; and sandpaper.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein said second working surface is selected from a working surface from the list comprising: a scouring pad; a sponge; dusting materials; micro fiber cloth; cleaning cloths; steel wool; polishing cloths; buffing materials; rubber stamps with textures to match stamps for concrete; hair brush; fur brush; and sandpaper.

11. A method of performing work with a glove having a working surface, the method comprising the steps: providing a glove having a palm portion, a plurality of finger portions, and a thumb portion, wherein a barrier surface is applied to said palm portion, said plurality of finger portions, and said thumb portion;providing a first attachment having an attachment layer and a first working surface, said first attachment being die cut to match the shape of said glove and said first attachment having a plurality of finger portions corresponding with said glove finger portions, and a thumb portion corresponding with said glove thumb portion;providing a second attachment having an attachment layer and a second working surface, said second attachment being die cut to match the shape of said glove and said second attachment having a plurality of finger portions corresponding with said glove finger portions, and a thumb portion corresponding with said glove thumb portion;providing a storage solution for selectively packaging said glove, said first attachment, and said second attachment;attaching said first attachment to said glove about said barrier surface;working with said first working surface;selectively removing said first attachment from said glove;attaching said second attachment to said glove about said barrier surface; andworking with said second working surface.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said barrier layer and each said attachment layer comprising corresponding hook and loop fasteners.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein each said attachment layer comprises an adhesive layer.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said first working surface is selected from a working surface from the list comprising: a scouring pad; a sponge; dusting materials; micro fiber cloth; cleaning cloths; steel wool; polishing cloths; buffing materials; rubber stamps with textures to match stamps for concrete; hair brush; fur brush; and sandpaper.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said second working surface is selected from a working surface from the list comprising: a scouring pad; a sponge; dusting materials; micro fiber cloth; cleaning cloths; steel wool; polishing cloths; buffing materials; rubber stamps with textures to match stamps for concrete; hair brush; fur brush; and sandpaper.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps: providing a third attachment having an attachment layer and a third working surface, said third attachment being die cut to match the shape of said glove and said first attachment having a plurality of finger portions corresponding with said glove finger portions, and a thumb portion corresponding with said glove thumb portion;selectively removing said second attachment from said glove;attaching said third attachment to said glove about said barrier surface; andworking with said third working surface.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps: selectively removing said second attachment from said glove;reattaching said first attachment to said glove about said barrier surface; andworking with said first working surface.