GLOVE WITH TEXTURED FINGER AND THUMB CROTCHES

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure is directed to gloves. More particularly, the disclosure relates to gloves for use in tasks which require dexterity and tactile sensitivity. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to a glove having at least one textured crotch area. Each textured crotch area is located between adjacent digit regions. The texture provided on the crotch is formed via a micro-etching process.

BACKGROUND ART

Nitrile or nitrile rubber gloves are well known for use in the medical field. One of the problems with previously known medical gloves is that tactile sensitivity and dexterity may tend to be reduced or lost because of the presence of too much glove material between the user's sensitive fingertips and the patient or equipment contacted with the user's gloved hand. Typically, the thinner the glove material, the better the tactile sensitivity and finger dexterity that the glove can offer. Some nitrile gloves, particularly thinner gloves made from more expensive nitrile materials, are prone to tearing in the finger crotches. During production formers/molds are dipped into a vat of liquid nitrile material with the formers and the liquid being arranged to move at substantially the same speed as one another. The movement of the formers and liquid at the same speed is arranged so as to effectively eliminate turbulence in the liquid nitrile. When the formers are lifted out of the liquid nitrile, excess liquid nitrile will flow off the former. During production the formers are oriented finger-side pointing down. When the formers are lifted out of the liquid nitrile, some of the liquid flowing off the formers will tend to flow into the gaps between adjacent finger regions of the forming glove. When liquid nitrile flows into a gap between adjacent finger regions a bubble may form. As the former continues to be lifted out of the liquid nitrile, the bubble tends to ride upwardly along the flanking finger regions and may eventually pop. Typically, bubbles tend to pop in the finger crotch areas of the forming glove and this can cause a pinhole tear to develop in the glove material.

Furthermore, when medical gloves are worn, heat and sweat from the person's hand will tend to pool in the finger crotch areas of the glove. The heat and sweat tends to damage the glove material over time and thereby reduce the strength of the finger crotches. This can lead to premature failure of the glove material in the finger crotches.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A glove is disclosed herein which includes a plurality of digit regions, with adjacent digit regions connected to one another via an arcuate crotch area. The glove includes one or more crotch areas which are textured, particularly through a micro-etching process. The texturing helps to strengthen the crotch areas of the glove and thereby decreases the possibility of glove failure in the crotch areas. In particular, texturing the finger crotch tends to prevent bubbles from forming in the gaps between adjacent fingers during glove production. The texturing therefore tends to reduce the likelihood of pinhole formation in the glove. Additionally, texturing the finger crotches has been found to effectively thicken the glove material in the finger crotches, strengthening the same and reducing the likelihood of premature finger crotch failure because of heat and sweat pooling in the finger crotches during use of the glove.

The glove according to the present disclosure includes a wrist region, a palm region extending outwardly from the wrist region, and a plurality of digit regions extending outwardly from the palm region. Each digit region has a longitudinal axis extending from a tip of the digit region to the palm region of the glove. An interior cavity is bounded and defined by the wrist region, the palm region, and the plurality of digit regions. The interior cavity is accessible via an opening defined by the wrist region.

In one aspect, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may provide a glove comprising a wrist region; a palm region extending outwardly from the wrist region; a plurality of digit regions extending outwardly from the palm region; a crotch area defined between each pair of adjacent digit regions of the plurality of digit regions; and a texture provided on an exterior surface of at least one crotch area of the glove.

In one embodiment, the texture is formed into a pattern. In one embodiment, the texture is a sand pattern. In one embodiment, the texture is formed by micro-etching the exterior surface of the at least one crotch area of the glove. In one embodiment, the at least one crotch area is provided on an exterior of an arcuate surface extending between opposed side surfaces of a first digit region and a second digit regions of one pair of adjacent digit regions. In one embodiment, the texture of the at least one crotch area extends along part of an exterior of a side surface of the first digit region and part of an exterior of a side surface of the second digit region. In one embodiment, the texture of the at least one crotch area extends at least partially onto an exterior of a front of the palm region. In one embodiment, the texture of the at least one crotch area extends at least partially onto an exterior of a back of the palm region.

In one embodiment, the plurality of digit regions includes a thumb region, an index finger region, a middle finger region, a ring finger region, and a little finger region; and wherein the at least one crotch area comprises a first crotch area located between the thumb region and the index finger region. In one embodiment, the at least one crotch area includes a second crotch area located between the index finger region and the middle finger region, and wherein each of the first crotch area and the second crotch area is textured. In one embodiment, the at least one crotch area includes a third crotch area located between the middle finger region and the ring finger region, and wherein each of the first crotch area, the second crotch area, and the third crotch area is textured. In one embodiment, the at least one crotch area includes a fourth crotch area located between the ring finger region and the little finger region, and wherein each of the first crotch area, the second crotch area, the third crotch area, and the fourth crotch area is textured.

In one embodiment, the plurality of digit regions is aligned along a common plane and the glove is an ambidextrous glove. In one embodiment, the plurality of digit regions includes a thumb region, an index finger region, a middle finger region, a ring finger region, and a little finger region; and wherein the index finger region, middle finger region, ring finger region, and little finger region are aligned along a common plane, and wherein the thumb region is in a different plane, and the glove is a hand-specific glove. In one embodiment, the at least one digit region of the plurality of digit regions includes a fingertip region which is of a reduced circumference relative to a remaining portion of the at least one digit region. In one embodiment, the remaining portion of the at least one digit region further includes a transition portion which tapers in circumference moving in a direction away from the palm region and towards the a tip of the at least one digit region.

In one aspect, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may provide a method comprising forming a glove having a wrist region, a palm region, and a plurality of digit regions; defining a crotch area between each pair of adjacent digit regions of the plurality of digit regions; texturing at least one crotch area defined on the glove.

In one embodiment, the method includes forming a pattern on an exterior surface of the glove along the at least one crotch area with the texturing. In one embodiment, texturing the exterior surface of the at least one crotch area forms a sand pattern. In one embodiment, texturing of the at least one crotch area is accomplished through micro-etching of an exterior surface of the glove in the at least one crotch area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Sample embodiments of the present disclosure are set forth in the following description, are shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a first example of a first embodiment of a glove in accordance with the present disclosure, wherein the first example is an ambidextrous glove shown worn on a left hand of a user, wherein the glove has reduced circumference fingertip areas and includes showing textured first, second, third, and fourth crotch areas;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of the glove illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the glove taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4A is a front elevation view of a second example of the first embodiment of a glove in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, where the glove is an ambidextrous glove having a textured second crotch area;

FIG. 4B is a front elevation view of a third example of the first embodiment, where the glove is an ambidextrous glove having a textured first crotch area and textured second crotch area;

FIG. 4C is a front elevation view of a fourth example of the first embodiment where the glove is an ambidextrous glove having a textured first crotch area, a textured second crotch area, and a textured third crotch area;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of a first example of a second embodiment of a glove in accordance with the present disclosure, wherein the glove is a hand-specific glove shown worn on a left hand of a user, wherein the glove has reduced circumference fingertip areas, and further includes textured first, second, third, and fourth crotch areas;

FIG. 6 is a rear elevation view of the glove of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the glove taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8A is a front elevation view of a second example of the second embodiment of a glove in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, where the glove is a hand-specific glove having a textured second crotch area;

FIG. 8B is a front elevation view of a third example of the second embodiment, where the glove is a hand-specific glove having a textured first crotch area and a textured second crotch area;

FIG. 8C is a front elevation view of a fourth example of the second embodiment where the glove is a hand-specific glove having a textured first crotch area, a textured second crotch area, and a textured third crotch area;

FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of a first example of a third embodiment of a glove in accordance with the present disclosure, wherein the first example is an ambidextrous glove shown worn on a left hand of a user, showing a fingertip region on all digits regions which is of substantially a same circumference as a remaining portion of the digit region, and showing textured first, second, third, and fourth crotch areas;

FIG. 10 is a rear elevation view of the first example of the third embodiment of the glove shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the glove of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12A is a front elevation view of a second example of the third embodiment of a glove in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, where the glove is an ambidextrous glove having digit regions of substantially constant circumference, and showing a textured second crotch area;

FIG. 12B is a front elevation view of a third example of the third embodiment, where the glove is an ambidextrous glove having digit regions of substantially constant circumference, and showing a textured first crotch area and a textured second crotch area;

FIG. 12C is a front elevation view of a fourth example of the third embodiment glove which is an ambidextrous glove having digit regions of substantially constant circumference, and showing a textured first crotch area, a textured second crotch area, and a textured third crotch area;

FIG. 13 is a front elevation view of a first example of a fourth embodiment of a glove in accordance with the present disclosure, wherein the first example is a hand-specific glove shown worn on a left hand of a user, showing a fingertip region on all digits regions which is of substantially a same circumference as a remaining portion of the digit region, and showing textured first, second, third, and fourth crotch areas;

FIG. 14 is a rear elevation view of the glove of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the glove of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16A is a front elevation view of a second example of the fourth embodiment of a glove in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, where the glove is a hand-specific glove having digit regions of substantially constant diameter, and showing a textured second crotch area;

FIG. 16B is a front elevation view of a third example of the fourth embodiment of a glove in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, where the glove is a hand-specific glove having digit regions of substantially constant diameter, and showing a textured first crotch area and a textured second crotch area; and

FIG. 16C is a front elevation view of a fourth example of the fourth embodiment of a glove in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, where the glove is a hand-specific glove having digit regions of substantially constant diameter, and showing a textured first crotch area, a textured second crotch area, and a textured third crotch area.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3 there is shown a first example of a first embodiment of a glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated at 10. Glove 10 comprises a wrist region 12, a palm region 14, a thumb region 16, an index finger region 18, a middle finger region 20, a ring finger region 22, and a little finger region 24. Glove 10 defines an interior cavity 10a which is configured to receive a hand of a person therein. Thumb region 16, index finger region 18, middle finger region 20, ring finger region 22, and little finger region 24 comprise digit regions which are configured to receive an associated one of a thumb, an index finger, a middle finger, a ring finger, and a little finger of the person's hand, respectively.

Glove 10 as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 is an ambidextrous glove which is capable of being worn on either of a left hand or a right hand of the person. In the ambidextrous glove 10, each of the thumb region 16, index finger region 18, middle finger region 20, ring finger region 22, and little finger region 24 are aligned along a common plane “P” (FIG. 3).

Glove 10 may be fabricated from any suitable material such as nitrile, nitrile rubber, or natural rubber. The glove material preferably is free of or essentially free of zinc and/or sulfur and/or fluoride, and/or cross-links, and/or accelerators and/or accelerants. Some accelerators/accelerants that the glove's material may be free of or essentially free of may include carbonates or thiurams. The glove material which is free of or essentially free of zinc and/or sulfur and/or fluoride, and/or cross-links links, and/or accelerators and/or accelerants will at least comprise a portion of the glove which will contact the user's skin when the glove is worn. The glove material preferably is also formulated to be resistant to a variety of toxic or corrosive compounds or chemicals including but not limited to opioids, particularly fentanyl and carfentanil. The composition of the material of the disclosed glove may tend to reduce hypersensitivity or allergic reactions in populations which may be required to frequently wear protective gloves, such as medical practitioners.

Glove 10 may be fabricated in a material having an exterior surface of one color and an interior surface of another color, particularly a strongly contrasting color. This difference in color between the interior and exterior surfaces of glove 10 may act as a tear or cut indicator since, if the interior color is visible on the exterior of glove 10, the person wearing the glove will realize that the exterior surface has been compromised in some way.

As illustrated in each of FIGS. 1-3, each digit region of glove 10 includes sections which are referred to herein as a “fingertip region”, a “remaining portion”, and a “transition portion”. The fingertip region originates in a tip of the respective digit region and extends downwardly for a distance towards palm region 14. The distance is of a length such that a lower region of the fingertip region will generally be located adjacent to or near where a first knuckle of the person's associated thumb or finger will be positioned when glove 10 is worn. The remaining portion extends between the fingertip region and the palm region 14. This arrangement can be seen in FIG. 1, for example, where a fingertip region 20a of the middle finger region 20 originates at the tip of the middle finger region 20 and extends for a distance downwardly from the tip, flares outwardly in transition portion 20c, and then remains of a substantially constant diameter for the length of the remaining portion 20b until the palm region 14 is reached. As will be described later herein, fingertip region 20a is of a reduced circumference relative to remaining portion 20b. The remaining portion 20b includes the transition portion 20c which tapers in circumference moving in a direction from the remaining portion 20b towards the fingertip region 20a.

Referring still to FIG. 1, thumb region 16 includes a fingertip region 16a, a remaining portion 16b, and a transition portion 16c. Index finger region 18 includes a fingertip region 18a, a remaining portion 18b, and a transition portion 18c. As discussed above, middle finger region 20 includes fingertip region 20a, remaining portion 20b, and transition portion 20c. Ring finger region 22 includes a fingertip region 22a, a remaining portion 22b, and a transition portion 22c. Little finger region 24 includes a fingertip region 24a, a remaining portion 24b, and a transition portion 24c.

FIGS. 1-3 show each of the fingertip regions 16a, 18a, 20a, 22a, and 24a are of a reduced circumference relative to the associated remaining portions 16b, 18b, 20b, 22b, and 24b. Most particularly, the fingertip regions 16a, 18a, 20a, 22a, and 24a are each of a “bullet-tip” shape but it will be understood that other reduced-circumference configurations may be provided on the digit regions of glove 10 instead. The bullet-tip shaped fingertip region provided on a glove is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 10,602,788 (Hull), which patent is incorporated herein by reference.

When glove 10 is worn on the left hand as illustrated in FIG. 1, the surface of the glove facing the viewer may be considered to be the “front” of the glove 10. The front of glove 10 is that part of the glove which will contact an object held in the left hand of the person wearing glove 10. Because FIG. 1 shows a “front” view of glove 10, the surfaces of the wrist region 12, palm region 14, and digit regions facing the viewer of FIG. 1 are considered to be the “front” surfaces of the wrist region 12, palm region 14, and digit regions 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24. In view of this, FIG. 2 then illustrates a “back” of glove 10 and therefore the surfaces of the wrist region 12, palm region 14, and digit regions facing the viewer of FIG. 2 are considered to be the “back” surfaces of the wrist region 12, palm region 14, and digit regions 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24. As will be readily understood, each of the digit regions 16-24 also has a left or first side and a right or second side. Together, the front, back and first and second sides delineate the circumferential wall of the respective digit region. The circumferential wall bounds and defines part of the interior cavity 10a of glove 10 and the circumferential wall of each digit region is shaped and sized to receive the associated one of the person's thumb or fingers therein.

It should be noted that the terms “front”, “back”, “left”, and “right” are used for ease of description and particularly describe the specific orientation of the glove 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The terms “front”, “back”, “left”, and “right” should therefore not be narrowly construed to necessarily describe the orientation of the glove 10 during use, particularly since glove 10 is an ambidextrous glove and can be worn on either of the left hand or right hand of a user.

Glove 10 includes a crotch area extending between each pair of adjacent digit regions. A first crotch area extends between thumb region 16 and index finger region 18; a second crotch area extends between index finger region 18 and middle finger region 20, a third crotch area extends between middle finger region 20 and ring finger region 22, and a fourth crotch area extends between ring finger region 22 and little finger region 24. In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, each of the crotch areas of glove 10 is textured in a manner which will be discussed later herein. In particular, glove 10 includes a textured first crotch area 66 defined between thumb region 16 and index finger region 18; a textured second crotch area 68 defined between index finger region 18 and middle finger region 20; a textured third crotch area 70 defined between middle finger region 20 and ring finger region 22, and a textured fourth crotch area 72 defined between ring finger region 22 and little finger region 24.

Each of the crotch areas 66-72 comprises a curved or arcuate surface which extends between opposed side surfaces of the two adjacent digit regions and between areas of the front and back of the palm region 14. When glove 10 is worn, each crotch area extends between the curved portions of the person's hand which extend between adjacent digits. For each pair of adjacent digit regions on glove 10 there is effectively a first digit region and a second digit region. The sides of the first and second digit regions are adjacent and opposite one another (such as the side of the middle finger region 20 which is adjacent and opposite the side of the ring finger region 22).

As mentioned previously herein and as is shown in FIGS. 1-3, the exterior surface of glove 10 along the crotch areas 66-72 is textured. One way of texturing the exterior surface is through micro-etching. The micro-etching is accomplished through any process known in the art. In one embodiment, the micro-etching creates a sand pattern texture that is formed partially on part of the front of palm region 14 of glove 10 (shown in FIG. 1), partially on part of the back of palm region 14 (shown in FIG. 2), partially on the exterior surface of the opposed sides of the adjacent digit regions, and partially on the curved exterior surface which extends between the opposed sides of the adjacent digits. The texturing also extends partially onto the front and back of palm region 14. This can be seen in FIG. 3.

The attached figures illustrate a sand pattern texture formed on the exterior surface of the glove material through the micro-etching process as discussed above. It will be understood, however, that in other embodiments other patterns, such as a diamond pattern or a herringbone pattern, or any other desired pattern of texturing, may be produced on one or more of the crotch areas 66-72. Any suitable process for producing these other patterns may be utilized. The texturing of crotch areas 66-72 strengthens the glove material in the crotch areas 66-72 and reduces the tendency of the glove to be damaged and compromised in these regions.

As illustrated in the attached figures, all other areas of the exterior surface of the glove 10 other than the crotch areas 66-72 is free of texturing and is therefore smooth to the touch. It will be understood, however, that in other embodiments, the exterior surface of the glove 10 may be textured. In some embodiments, the texturing may be different to the texturing provided on the crotch areas 66-72 as described previously herein.

A method of producing glove 10 includes forming glove 10 to include wrist region 12, palm region 14, thumb region 16, index finger region 18, middle finger region 20, ring finger region 22, and little finger region 24. The forming of the glove includes defining an interior cavity 10a configured to receive a hand of a user therein. The method further comprises providing a texture in at least one crotch area of the glove, wherein the at least one crotch area is located between two adjacent digit regions of the glove. The method further comprises providing the texture by forming a pattern on the glove 10. The method may further comprise forming a sand pattern on the glove 10. The method may further comprise micro-etching the at least one crotch area to provide the texture.

Glove 10 is used in the following manner. Wrist region 12 of glove 10 has an end 12a which bounds and defines an opening (not shown) to interior cavity 10a. When a person wishes to don glove 10, he or she will insert their hand into interior cavity 10a through this opening and will slide each of their fingers and thumb into the appropriate one of the digit regions of glove 10. Preferably, glove 10 will be slid downwardly along the person's hand until the crotch areas 66-72 are approximately located above or in contact with the finger crotches on the person's hand. The texturing in crotch areas 66-72 helps glove 10 to maintain its integrity on the hand during use and the strengthening of the glove material afforded by the textured crotch areas 66-72 helps to ensure those areas of the glove will tend to resist damage and remain intact during use.

Referring now to FIGS. 4A to 4C there are shown a number of different examples of the first embodiment of glove 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 4A shows a second example of the first embodiment of the glove, generally indicated as glove 10A. Glove 10A is identical to glove 10 in all aspects except that instead of all four of the crotch areas 66, 68, 70 and 72 being textured, only a single crotch area is textured. The remaining three crotch areas are smooth and free of texture. In particular, glove 10A is illustrated as including the textured second crotch area 68. It will be understood, however, that any other one of the first crotch area 66, third crotch area 70, and fourth crotch area 72 may be textured on glove 10A instead of the second crotch area 68.

FIG. 4B shows a third example of the first embodiment of the glove, generally indicated as glove 10B. Glove 10B is identical to glove 10 in all aspects except that instead of all four of the crotch areas 66, 68, 70 and 72 being textured, only two of the four crotch areas are textured. The remaining two crotch areas are smooth and free of texture. In particular, glove 10B is illustrated as including textured first crotch area 66 and textured second crotch area 68. It will be understood, however, that any other combination of two crotch areas may be provided on glove 10B. For example the textured second crotch area 68 and textured third crotch area 70 may be provided on glove 10B instead of the textured first and second crotch areas 66, 68.

FIG. 4C shows a fourth example of the first embodiment of the glove, generally indicated as glove 10C. Glove 10C is identical to glove 10 in all aspects except that instead of all four of the crotch areas 66, 68, 70 and 72 being textured, only three of the crotch areas are textured. The remaining one crotch area is smooth and free of texture. In particular, glove 10C is illustrated as including the textured first crotch area 66, the textured second crotch area 68, and the textured third crotch area 70. It will be understood, however, that any other combination of three textured crotch areas may be provided on glove 10C instead. For example the textured second crotch area 68, third crotch area 70, and fourth crotch area 72 may be provided on glove 10C instead of the textured first, second, and third crotch areas 66, 68, 70.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 through 8C, there is shown a second embodiment of a glove in accordance with the present disclosure. FIG. 5 shows a first example of the second embodiment of the glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated at 110. Glove 110 includes a wrist region 112, a palm region 114, and digit regions which extend outwardly from the palm region 114. The digit regions include a thumb region 116, an index finger region 118, a middle finger region 120, a ring finger region 122, and a little finger region 124.

Glove 110 differs from glove 10 in that glove 110 is a hand-specific glove configured to be worn on a left hand of a person, while glove 10 is an ambidextrous glove. In the hand-specific glove 110 the index finger region 118, middle finger region 120, ring finger region 122, and little finger region 124 are aligned along a common plane but the thumb region 116 is in a different plane. Apart from the glove 110 being a hand-specific glove, all of the component parts of the glove are substantially identical in structure and function to glove 10. In particular, thumb region 116 is identical to thumb region 16; index finger region 118 is identical to index finger region 18, middle finger region 120 is identical to middle finger region 20, ring finger region 122 is identical to ring finger region 22, and little finger region 124 is identical to little finger region 24.

Although not numbered in FIGS. 5-8C, each of these digit regions includes a fingertip region that is identical in structure and function to the associated fingertip region 16a, 18a, 20a, 22a, and 24a. Each of these digit regions includes a remaining portion that is identical in structure and function to the associated remaining portion 16b, 18b, 20b, 22b, and 24b. Each of these digit regions includes a transition portion that is identical in structure and function to the associated transition portion 16c, 18c, 20c, 22c, and 22d. The use of glove 110 is substantially identical to glove 10 except the glove illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 can only be worn on a left hand while the glove 10 can be worn on either of the left hand or the right hand. (It will be understood that a glove for the right hand will be a mirror image of the glove 110.)

Glove 110 includes a textured first crotch area 166, a textured second crotch area 168, a textured third crotch area 170, and a textured fourth crotch area 172. Second, third, and fourth crotch areas 168, 170, and 172 are substantially identical to second, third, and fourth crotch areas 68, 70, and 72. First crotch area 166 is substantially similar to first crotch area 66, the only difference between one of overall shape. However, the shape of first crotch area 166 relative to first crotch area 66 is dictated by the configuration of the hand-specific glove relative to the ambidextrous glove. The manner of texturing first, second, third, and fourth crotch areas on glove 110 is identical to the manner of texturing first, second, third, and fourth crotch areas 66, 68, 70, and 72. In one embodiment the exterior surface of glove 110 along the crotch areas 166-172 is micro-etched to create the texturing. The micro-etching is accomplished through any process known in the art. In one embodiment, the micro-etching creates a sand pattern texture that is made on part of the front of palm region 114 (shown in FIG. 5) and on part of the back of palm region 114 (shown in FIG. 6). Texturing also occurs on the top surface of the respective crotch area 166-172, as can be seen in FIG. 7. The attached figures illustrate a sand pattern texture formed on the exterior surface of the glove material through a micro-etching process. It will be understood that in other embodiments, other patterns, such as a diamond pattern or a herringbone pattern, or any other desired pattern of texturing, may be produced on crotch areas 166-172. The texturing of crotch areas 166-172 strengthens the glove material in the crotch areas 166-172.

As illustrated in the attached figures, the exterior surface of the glove 110 other than the crotch areas 166 through 172 is free of texturing and is therefore smooth to the touch. It will be understood, however, that in other embodiments, the exterior surface of the glove 110 may be textured. In some embodiments, the texturing may be different to the texturing provided on the crotch areas 166-172.

Referring now to FIGS. 8A-8C there are shown additional examples of the second embodiment of glove 110. FIG. 8A shows a second example of the second embodiment of the glove, generally indicated as glove 110A. Glove 110A is identical to glove 110 in all aspects except that instead of all four of the crotch areas 166, 168, 170 and 172 being textured, only a single crotch area is textured. The remaining three crotch areas are smooth and free of texture. In particular, glove 110A is illustrated as including the textured second crotch area 168. It will be understood, however, that any other one of the first crotch area 166, third crotch area 170, and fourth crotch area 172 may be textured on glove 110A instead of the second crotch area 168.

FIG. 8B shows a third example of the second embodiment of the glove, generally indicated as glove 110B. Glove 110B is identical to glove 110 in all aspects except that instead of all four of the crotch areas 166, 168, 170 and 172 being textured, only two of the four crotch areas are textured. The remaining two crotch areas are smooth and free of texture. In particular, glove 110B is illustrated as including textured first crotch area 166 and textured second crotch area 168. It will be understood, however, that any other combination of two crotch areas may be provided on glove 110B. For example the textured second crotch area 168 and textured third crotch area 170 may be provided on glove 110B instead of the textured first and second crotch areas 166, 168.

FIG. 8C shows a fourth example of the second embodiment of the glove, generally indicated as glove 110C. Glove 110C is identical to glove 110 in all aspects except that instead of all four of the crotch areas 166, 168, 170 and 172 being textured, only three of the crotch areas are textured. The remaining one crotch area is smooth and free of texture. In particular, glove 110C is illustrated as including the textured first crotch area 166, the textured second crotch area 168, and the textured third crotch area 170. It will be understood, however, that any other combination of three textured crotch areas may be provided on glove 110C instead. For example the textured second crotch area 168, third crotch area 170, and fourth crotch area 172 may be provided on glove 110C instead of the textured first, second, and third crotch areas 166, 168, 170.

Referring now to FIGS. 9-12C there is shown a third embodiment of a glove in accordance with the present disclosure, generally indicated at 210. Glove 210 is substantially identical in structure and function to glove 10 except as shall be described hereafter.

Glove 210 comprises a wrist region 212, a palm region 214, a thumb region 216, an index finger region 218, a middle finger region 220, a ring finger region 222, and a little finger region 224. Glove 210 defines an interior cavity 210a which is configured to receive a hand of a person therein. Thumb region 216, index finger region 218, middle finger region 220, ring finger region 222, and little finger region 224 comprise digit regions which are configured to receive an associated one of a thumb, an index finger, a middle finger, a ring finger, and a little finger of the person's hand, respectively.

Glove 210 is an ambidextrous glove which is capable of being worn on either of a left hand or a right hand of the person. In the ambidextrous glove 210 each of the thumb region 216, index finger region 218, middle finger region 220, ring finger region 222, and little finger region 224 are aligned along a common plane identical to plane “P” shown in FIG. 3.

Glove 210 includes a textured first crotch area 266, a textured second crotch area 268, a textured third crotch area 270, and a textured fourth crotch area 272. The first, second, third and fourth crotch areas 266-272 are substantially identical in structure and function to first, second, third, and fourth crotch areas 66-72 of glove 10 respectively, and therefore will not be discussed in any further detail herein.

Glove 210 differs from glove 10 in that all of the digit regions 216, 218, 220, 222, and 224 are of a gradually tapering circumference from palm region 214 to a tip of the respective digit region as is illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. In other words, each digit region does not include a reduced-circumference fingertip region which extends from the tip of the digit region to a flaring circumference transition portion, and then to a remaining portion of a larger circumference than the fingertip region as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In particular, the digit regions of glove 210 do not have the bullet-tip shaped fingertip regions of glove 10.

FIGS. 12A through 12C show additional examples of the third embodiment glove. In particular, FIGS. 12A through 12C show gloves 210A through 210C which are substantially identical in structure and function to gloves 10A through 10C (FIGS. 4A through 4C) except for the difference in the fingertip regions discussed above.

FIG. 12A shows a second example of the third embodiment of the glove, generally indicated as glove 210A. Glove 210A is identical to glove 210 in all aspects except that instead of all four of the crotch areas 266, 268, 270 and 272 being textured, only a single crotch area is textured. The remaining three crotch areas are smooth and free of texture. In particular, glove 210A is illustrated as including the textured second crotch area 268. It will be understood, however, that any other one of the first crotch area 266, third crotch area 270, and fourth crotch area 272 may be textured on glove 210A instead of the second crotch area 268.

FIG. 12B shows a third example of the third embodiment of the glove, generally indicated as glove 210B. Glove 210B is identical to glove 210 in all aspects except that instead of all four of the crotch areas 266, 268, 270 and 272 being textured, only two of the four crotch areas are textured. The remaining two crotch areas are smooth and free of texture. In particular, glove 210B is illustrated as including textured first crotch area 266 and textured second crotch area 268. It will be understood, however, that any other combination of two crotch areas may be provided on glove 210B. For example the textured second crotch area 268 and textured third crotch area 270 may be provided on glove 210B instead of the textured first and second crotch areas 266, 268.

FIG. 12C shows a fourth example of the third embodiment of the glove, generally indicated as glove 210C. Glove 210C is identical to glove 210 in all aspects except that instead of all four of the crotch areas 266, 268, 270 and 272 being textured, only three of the crotch areas are textured. The remaining one crotch area is smooth and free of texture. In particular, glove 210C is illustrated as including the textured first crotch area 266, the textured second crotch area 268, and the textured third crotch area 270. It will be understood, however, that any other combination of three textured crotch areas may be provided on glove 210C instead. For example the textured second crotch area 268, third crotch area 270, and fourth crotch area 272 may be provided on glove 210C instead of the textured first, second, and third crotch areas 266, 268, 270.

Referring now to FIGS. 13-16C there is shown a fourth embodiment of a glove in accordance with the present disclosure. FIGS. 13 and 14 show a first example of the fourth embodiment of the glove, generally indicated at 310. Glove 310 is substantially identical in structure and function to glove 110 except that instead of each digit region comprising a reduced-circumference fingertip region, a transition portion and a remaining portion as in glove 110, each of the digit regions of glove 310 gradually tapers in circumference from the palm region 314 of the glove to the tip of the associated digit region, similar to glove 210.

Glove 310 is a hand-specific glove (illustrated to be worn on a left had of a person) and comprises a wrist region 312, palm region 314, a thumb region 316, an index finger region 318, a middle finger region 320, a ring finger region 322, and a little finger region 324. Glove 310 defines an interior cavity 310a which is configured to receive the person's hand. Thumb region 316, index finger region 318, middle finger region 320, ring finger region 322, and little finger region 324 comprise digit regions which are configured to receive an associated one of a thumb, an index finger, a middle finger, a ring finger, and a little finger of the person's hand, respectively.

Glove 310 includes a textured first crotch area 366, a textured second crotch area 368, a textured third crotch area 370, and a textured fourth crotch area 372. The first, second, third and fourth crotch areas 366-372 are substantially identical in structure and function to first, second, third, and fourth crotch areas 166-172, of glove 110 respectively, and therefore will not be discussed in any further detail herein.

FIGS. 16A through 16C show additional examples of the fourth embodiment glove. FIG. 16A shows a second example of the fourth embodiment of glove, generally indicated as glove 310A; FIG. 16B shows a third example of the fourth embodiment of glove, generally indicated as glove 310B; FIG. 16C shows a fourth example of the fourth embodiment of glove, generally indicated as glove 310C.

Glove 310A is identical to glove 310 in all aspects except that instead of all four of the crotch areas 366, 368, 370 and 372 being textured, only a single crotch area is textured. The remaining three crotch areas are smooth and free of texture. In particular, glove 310A is illustrated as including the textured second crotch area 368. It will be understood, however, that any other one of the first crotch area 366, third crotch area 370, and fourth crotch area 372 may be textured on glove 310A instead of the second crotch area 368.

FIG. 16B shows a third example of the fourth embodiment of the glove, generally indicated as glove 310B. Glove 310B is identical to glove 310 in all aspects except that instead of all four of the crotch areas 366, 368, 370 and 372 being textured, only two of the four crotch areas are textured. The remaining two crotch areas are smooth and free of texture. In particular, glove 310B is illustrated as including textured first crotch area 366 and textured second crotch area 368. It will be understood, however, that any other combination of two crotch areas may be provided on glove 310B. For example the textured second crotch area 368 and textured third crotch area 370 may be provided on glove 310B instead of the textured first and second crotch areas 366, 368.

FIG. 16C shows a fourth example of the fourth embodiment of the glove, generally indicated as glove 310C. Glove 310C is identical to glove 310 in all aspects except that instead of all four of the crotch areas 366, 368, 370 and 372 being textured, only three of the crotch areas are textured. The remaining one crotch area is smooth and free of texture. In particular, glove 310C is illustrated as including the textured first crotch area 366, the textured second crotch area 368, and the textured third crotch area 370. It will be understood, however, that any other combination of three textured crotch areas may be provided on glove 310C instead. For example the textured second crotch area 368, third crotch area 370, and fourth crotch area 372 may be provided on glove 310C instead of the textured first, second, and third crotch areas 366, 368, 370.

It will be understood that a method of producing any of the embodiments of the glove in accordance with the present disclosure includes forming a glove having a wrist region, a palm region, and a plurality of digit regions; defining a crotch area between each pair of adjacent digit regions of the plurality of digit regions; and texturing at least one crotch area defined on the glove. The method further includes forming a pattern on an exterior surface of the glove along the at least one crotch area with the texturing. The texturing of the exterior surface of the at least one crotch area forms a sand pattern. The texturing of the at least one crotch area is accomplished through micro-etching of an exterior surface of the glove in the at least one crotch area.

Unless explicitly stated that a particular shape or configuration of a component is mandatory, any of the elements, components, or structures discussed herein may take the form of any shape. Thus, although the figures depict the various elements, components, or structures of the present disclosure according to one or more exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that any other geometric configuration of that element, component, or structure is entirely possible.

While various inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the inventive teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure.

All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.

The articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.” As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.

While components of the present disclosure are described herein in relation to each other, it is possible for one of the components disclosed herein to include inventive subject matter, if claimed alone or used alone. In keeping with the above example, if the disclosed embodiments teach the features of A and B, then there may be inventive subject matter in the combination of A and B, A alone, or B alone, unless otherwise stated herein.

Although the terms “first” and “second” may be used herein to describe various features/elements, these features/elements should not be limited by these terms, unless the context indicates otherwise. These terms may be used to distinguish one feature/element from another feature/element. Thus, a first feature/element discussed herein could be termed a second feature/element, and similarly, a second feature/element discussed herein could be termed a first feature/element without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

An embodiment is an implementation or example of the present disclosure. Reference in the specification to “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “one particular embodiment,” “an exemplary embodiment,” or “other embodiments,” or the like, means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments, of the invention. The various appearances “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “one particular embodiment,” “an exemplary embodiment,” or “other embodiments,” or the like, are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiments.

If this specification states a component, feature, structure, or characteristic “may”, “might”, or “could” be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included. If the specification or claim refers to “a” or “an” element, that does not mean there is only one of the element. If the specification or claims refer to “an additional” element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element.

In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively.

To the extent that the present disclosure has utilized the term “invention” in various titles or sections of this specification, this term was included as required by the formatting requirements of word document submissions pursuant the guidelines/requirements of the United States Patent and Trademark Office and shall not, in any manner, be considered a disavowal of any subject matter.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the description and illustration of various embodiments of the disclosure are examples and the disclosure is not limited to the exact details shown or described.

GLOVE WITH TEXTURED FINGER AND THUMB CROTCHES

Information

Publication Number

Date Filed

Date Published

Inventors

Original Assignees

CPC

International Classifications

Abstract

Description

Claims