Patent Application
20220022579
The aspects of the disclosed embodiments are concerned with a hand cover system.
There are situations, wherein objects should be touched or gripped without any risk of becoming infected or of spreading bacteria and viruses and also for avoiding chemicals, irritants, dirt, generally undesirable contaminants or any other substances that the user does not want to touch with their bare hands.
Transmission of infection often takes place via the hands, wherefor proper routines for hand hygiene are important.
Gloves are commonly used as an additional measure when users desire not to touch objects with their bare hands for the above reasons and especially for purposes of preventing spreading of bacteria and viruses, e.g. at situations of health care, when touching foodstuffs, or generally when touching things at public places. Depending on use, there are different demands for such gloves. They must e.g be sterile for surgeries.
Such gloves are usually one-time gloves for single use since they become contaminated when used. Care has to be taken at the use of such gloves and a good hand hygiene has to be followed also when using gloves. The one-time gloves have to be thrown away after use and they have to be taken on and off by touching only the orifice and inside of the gloves.
Different factors, however, influence the following of such routines. Such gloves are e.g., as was indicated above, unpractical to put on and off especially for frequent use. They are also uncomfortable or unpractical to wear for prolonged periods of time. Furthermore, there are activities for which the gloves usually have to be taken off, such as for pressing phone keys or wallets, which is burdensome for the user and resulting in a possible cross contamination of these personal objects.
There is therefore a need for practical solutions so that people would feel that the following of recommended hand hygiene routines is easy and motivating.
The hand cover system of the present disclosure has two functional modes. The first one of the functional modes is intended for touching objects, and the second one of the functional modes being intended for isolating potentially contaminated surfaces of the hand cover. The first functional mode is realized by a hand cover that is intended to be worn by a hand by having at least one part for touching or gripping objects. The hand cover furthermore has an outer side and an inner side, whereby the inner side of the hand cover consists of an opening for the hand to enter the inner side of the hand cover. The inner side is divided into at least two compartments for the fingers of the hand inside said parts, respectively. The outer side of the hand cover comprises outer palm side surfaces of each of said parts of the hand cover for contacting an object to be touched, and outer back hand side surfaces of each of said parts of the hand cover on the other side of each part. For realizing the second functional mode, the hand cover further comprises means for isolating said outer palm side surfaces from the environment when the hand cover is not in use.
The preferable embodiments of the present disclosure have the characteristics of the sub claims.
The number of the compartments for the fingers can vary for example between 2-5. Usually there are either two compartments, whereby the parts for touching or gripping objects are in the form of jaws. Another comfortable solution is to have five compartments, one for each finger, whereby the hand cover takes the form of a glove. Solutions with three or four compartments are other useful solutions to be mentioned.
The system can have means, such as a band, a clamp, a clip or other contraptions for pressing the hand cover into a closed state by pressing the outer palm side surfaces of the hand cover against each other, when the hand cover is not in use. Such means are meant to cover any other system as well that exerts force on the hand cover so that the outer surfaces of the hand cover that have potentially been in contact with undesirable contaminants are not able to touch or brush against any other objects and thus increase the risk of cross contamination of the undesirable substances.
Thus, the hand cover has two states (not to be confused with the two functional modes), i.e. an open state, where the palm sides of the outer surfaces of the hand cover do not touch each other and a closed state, where the palm sides of the outer surfaces of the hand cover are pressed against each other.
The pressing for preventing the hand cover to be in an open state is achieved by exerting outside force on the compartments of the hand cover so that the outer palm side surfaces of the hand cover are sufficiently pressed against each other.
Such a band is wrapped around the hand cover. Such a clamp or clip can either press the compartments of the hand cover against each other from the outside of the hand cover, or from the inside of the hand cover. Furthermore, said means can be integrated with the hand cover or be detachable from the hand cover.
The hand cover can be designed to have the compartments of the hand cover pressed against each other automatically in a resting default position when the hand cover is not in use. This can be performed by manufacturing the hand cover of a material that can remember its shape. Such materials can remember earlier shapes by memory. A self-folding material can be used, such as a shape memory polymer. Shape memory polymers are materials that are defined as materials that revert to or rather ‘remember’ theft original form and can return to it either automatically or especially when exposed to a particular temperature change, magnetic field or electrical charge.
In a further embodiment, for example in connection with said material taking a default position by itself, said outer palm side surfaces coming against each other can be separated by an extra piece therebetween.
In a preferable embodiment, for achieving the second functional mode, the system further comprises an enclosure as said isolating means for storing the hand cover when it is not in use. The enclosure can be designed to cover at least a part of the hand cover in such a way that all or a part of the outside surfaces of the hand cover are isolated from the environment or then the enclosure is designed to cover the hand cover entirely. The enclosure can also have a lid for closing the enclosure.
There can be a belt holder fastened to the enclosure as well as a pen enclosure for a tactile pen. The pen is used for touching substances and objects, such as public touch screens that might contain undesirable contaminants or substances.
In a further embodiment, the enclosure has a divider separating the jaws, and thereby said outer palm side surface parts from each other, when the hand cover is placed therein. The divider can be integrated into the enclosure or it can be integrated in the hand cover or it can be separate and detachable.
The hand cover is used for touching, such as gripping, grabbing or transferring objects, and can be a type of a glove or generally a gripper or gripping tool, which is worn around a hand and may or may not have a separate or many separate compartments for fingers.
Material, length or shape does not matter, as long as the hand cover goes on and over the hand by covering at least parts of the palm surfaces of the hand itself and prevents the hand from touching substances or objects directly. In one embodiment, the hand cover also covers the back of the hand (the dorsal side) of the hand itself. It is, however, preferable that the material is flexible and that its shape or length is designed to fit the hand so that it is practical and easy for the user to use. Examples of such materials are silicone rubber, thermoplastic elastomers, elastomers, natural rubbers or any such material that has similar properties for flexibility and resistance to undesirable contaminants. The size and shape of the hand cover can be made for different hand sizes or it can be made so that one size fits all hands.
The aspects of the disclosed embodiments create two separate spaces, a personal space and a public space.
When the hand cover is in use in the first functional mode, the personal space is inside the hand cover and the outer surface of the hand cover contacts the public space. Thus, in this stage, the personal space consists of the space limited by the inner surfaces of the hand cover and the public space consists of the space limited by the outer surfaces of the hand cover. The hand cover is an interface between the personal space and the public space.
When the hand cover is not in use and when it is placed in the enclosure in the second functional mode, the personal space is (as in the first functional mode) still limited by the inner surfaces of the hand cover. The public space, while (as in the first functional mode) still consisting of the space limited by the outer surfaces of the hand cover, is further limited by the inner surfaces of the enclosure, within which the hand cover is placed. Thereby the potentially contaminated surfaces of the hand cover are isolated. This reduces the risk of cross contamination.
As was presented above, the second functional mode can also be achieved by having the hand cover in the second closed state without the enclosure by using the other means mentioned previously, such as a band, a clamp, a clip or other contraptions for pressing the hand cover into a closed state. Still further, the second functional mode can be achieved with a combination of using the enclosure and the other means, such as bands, clamps, clips etc.
Furthermore, the previously mentioned divider may or may not be present with the enclosure or without the enclosure for achieving the second functional mode.
Furthermore, the previously mentioned divider may or may not be present with or without the other means such as bands and clips for having the hand cover in the closed state for achieving the second functional mode.
In this way, the aspects of the disclosed embodiments keep the public space and personal space separated from each other.
Things belonging to the personal space are the person himself, his things, his owned property (like home or car), and generally things not in the public space where they can be touched by other people or otherwise be exposed to undesirable substances. In other words, safe objects and things for the handling of which the use of the hand cover involved in the system of the present disclosure is not necessary.
Things belonging to the public space are in the corresponding way things that might contain undesired substances and for the handling of which there might be a reason to use the hand cover.
The hand cover is the interface separating the “safe” personal space and the “possibly unsafe” public space in such a way that the outer surfaces of the hand cover touch the public space and the inner surfaces of the hand cover touch the personal space. The hands touch things in the safe personal space.
The separation of the personal space and the public space from each other decreases the risk of direct contamination and indirect cross-contamination. Cross-contamination involves the inadvertent transfer of bacteria or other contaminants from one surface, substance, etc., to another especially because of unsanitary handling procedures.
When not interacting with public space, the user does not have to wear the hand cover and can keep their hands free for interacting with their belongings in their personal space such as keys or mobile devices.
When interacting with public spaces, the user can wear the hand cover so that their hand touches only the inside surfaces of the hand cover. The user can then use the outside surfaces of the hand cover to interact with substances in the public space so that their hand does not touch objects or substances in the public space that might have undesirable contaminants such as for example dirt, chemicals, pathogens etc. In this way, the personal space and public space are kept separate by the barrier that is the hand cover and where the hand cover works as said interface. In this way, the hands do not come into contact with undesirable contaminants directly or indirectly, when the hand cover is used.
Switching interaction between personal space and public space is fast and convenient by easily taking the hand cover from the enclosure and by easily putting the hand cover back into the enclosure.
When the hand cover is not used, it can be stored and transported safely and conveniently in the enclosure in a preferable embodiment. This ensures that the outer surfaces of the hand cover that have potentially been in contact with undesirable contaminants do not come into contact with the user or with objects in the personal space of the user. This decreases the risk of cross-contamination of the undesirable contaminants that the hand cover has been in contact with.
The core idea of separating the personal space and public space using the hand cover and enclosure system is that the potentially cross-contaminating outer surfaces of the hand cover are isolated from the personal space so that they will not come into contact with the user or his personal belongings. This is achieved in two ways with the aspects of the disclosed embodiments, i.e. either by placing the hand cover in the enclosure or by closing the cross-contaminating surfaces of the hand cover against each other so that they do not come into contact with the user or their personal belongings, or then the isolation can be done as a combination where those outer surfaces of the hand cover, which have been in contact with things in the public space, are closed against each other while at the same time the hand cover itself is placed in the enclosure. The divider can be present in either case or in the combination of these cases.
The aspects of the disclosed embodiments are a practical and easy to use solution in situations, wherein touching things with hands is desired to be avoided, not only for contracting or spreading infections, but also for avoiding the touching of dirt, chemicals, allergens, unpleasant surfaces, or hot or cold objects. Examples of such situations are for example transferring or touching things during pandemics or other conditions of prevalent infective diseases. They are also useful for avoiding touching foodstuffs directly or generally things touched by many people in shops, working places or other public places. The aspects of the disclosed embodiments are especially useful in situations where the need for protecting hands occurs sporadically and where there is an inconvenience for the user to be wearing traditional protective gloves constantly.
The second functional mode also enables safe storage and transportation of the hand cover system, so that the surfaces of the hand cover that have potentially been in contact with contaminants will not come into contact with other objects in order for reducing the probability of cross contamination of the undesirable contaminants.
In the following, the present disclosure is described by some preferable embodiments by referring to figures. The present disclosure is not restricted to the details of these embodiments.
b present different embodiments of the hand cover of the present disclosure with means for pressing the palm side outer surface parts of the jaws of the hand cover against each other, when the hand cover is not in use.
The hand cover 1 has an outer side and an inner side, whereby there is an opening 6 for the hand 2 to enter the inner side of the hand cover 1, i.e. to enter the inner space of the hand cover 1. The inner side (or inner space) is divided into at least two compartments 7a, 7b inside each jaw 3a and 3b of the hand cover 1, respectively.
The enclosure 8 is designed to cover at least a part of the hand cover 1 in such a way that at least a part of the outside surfaces of the hand cover 1 are isolated from the environment. For clarity, it is emphasized that said outside surfaces include the outer surfaces 4a, 4b of both the palm side of the hand 2 and the outer surfaces 5a, 5b of the back of the hand 2.
The system can comprise means for pressing the outer palm side surface parts 4a, 4b of the jaws 3a, 3b of the hand cover 1 (or other type of touching or gripping parts of the hand cover) against each other, when the hand cover 1 is not in use when realizing the second functional mode of isolating the potentially cross contaminating surfaces of the hand cover.
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