RUBBER GLOVE

A glove comprises a first portion formed of a first flexible material and worn on a hand of a user except for the thumb of the hand and an underside portion of the thumb, a second portion formed of a second flexible material and worn on an upper portion of the thumb, and a third portion connecting the first portion with the second portion, formed of a third flexible material, and worn on a lower portion and the underside portion of the thumb, wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion are aligned on substantially the same surface or level when spread or stretched.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119to Korean Utility Model Application No. 20-2016-0001103, filed on Feb. 29, 2016, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention concern rubber gloves, and more specifically, to a rubber glove structured to allow it to fit either the user's left or right hand or having such structure.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

A rubber glove is a glove made out of rubber. Its primary purpose is protection of the hands while performing tasks involving chemicals. Rubber gloves can be worn during dishwashing to protect the hands from detergent and allow the use of hotter water. Sometimes caregivers will use rubber gloves during the diaper changing process to prevent contact with the child's fecal material/urine. Health professionals use medical gloves rather than rubber gloves when performing surgical operations. Household rubber gloves have been used for washing dishes and cleaning in the home since the 1960s. Many different designs of gloves have been available in a multitude of colors but traditional designs are yellow or pink with long cuffs. While these still remain the most popular patterns today, gloves can be obtained that range from wrist-length to those that are shoulder-length. There are even gloves that are pre-attached to shirts and bodysuits for added protection.

Rubber gloves are best worn with a skin tight fit which, while still allowing for the hands to breathe, makes it easier to hold objects and manipulate them. The palms and fingers usually have a raised pattern which helps provide a good grip when handling objects. Wearing gloves protects the hands from harsh detergents and other cleaning products which are used in the home and elsewhere.

These gloves are traditionally used by people cleaning in the home and are popular with professional cleaners and for clearing up in shops, cafes and other public places. The thickness of the gloves and the long cuffs provide excellent protection for all general cleaning tasks and are useful for all chores where the hands need to be put into water, and provide protection when vacuuming, dusting, and polishing.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a rubber glove comprises a palm portion where the palm of a user's hand is fitted and positioned, finger portions where the fingers of the user's hand are fitted and positioned, and a wrinkled portion formed between a middle portion of the thumb of the uses hand and a portion of the palm portion, wherein the palm portion and the finger portions are arranged to be positioned on the same surface, and the wrinkled portion includes a plurality of wrinkles to allow the rubber glove to be used for either the left or right hand of the user.

The wrinkled portion extends from a first portion where the interphalangeal (IP) joint of the thumb is positioned to a second portion where the scaphoid bone of the thumb is positioned and a third portion where the trapezium bone of the thumb is positioned.

A distance between two adjacent wrinkles of the wrinkles is in a range from about 2 mm to about 5 mm.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a glove comprises a first portion formed of a first flexible material and worn on a hand of a user except for the thumb of the hand and an underside portion of the thumb, a second portion formed of a second flexible material and worn on an upper portion of the thumb, and a third portion connecting the first portion with the second portion, formed of a third flexible material, and worn on a lower portion and the underside portion of the thumb, wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion are aligned on substantially the same surface or level when spread or stretched.

The third portion includes a plurality of wrinkles.

The third portion is formed in an area including where the interphalangeal (IP) joint of the thumb is positioned, where the scaphoid bone of the thumb is positioned, and where the trapezium bone of the thumb is positioned.

The first flexible material and the second flexible material include rubber.

The third portion includes a plurality of protrusions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The inventive concept, however, may be modified in various different ways, and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “connected to,” “coupled to,” or “adjacent to” another element or layer, it can be directly on, connected, coupled, or adjacent to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present.

FIG. 1is a front view illustrating a rubber glove according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2is a front view illustrating an example in which a rubber glove is put on a hand of a user according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, there is provided a glove100. The glove100may include a first portion110and120formed of a first flexible material and worn on a hand of a user except for the thumb of the hand and an underside portion of the thumb, a second portion formed of a second flexible material and worn on an upper portion of the thumb, and a third portion130connecting the first portion110and120with the second portion, formed of a third flexible material, and worn on a lower portion and the underside portion of the thumb. The first portion110and120, the second portion, and the third portion130may be aligned on substantially the same surface or level when spread or stretched.

The third portion130may include a plurality of wrinkles. The third portion130may be formed in an area including where the interphalangeal (IP) joint of the thumb is positioned, where the scaphoid bone of the thumb is positioned, and where the trapezium bone of the thumb is positioned.

The first flexible material and the second flexible material may include rubber.

The third portion may include a plurality of protrusions.

As a more specific example, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, a rubber glove100includes a palm portion110where a user's hand is fitted and positioned and finger portions120extending from the palm portion110and where the user's fingers are respectively fitted and positioned. The palm portion110may be integrally formed with the finger portions120.

The palm portion110and the finger portions120may include anti-slid protrusions on a surface thereof. The anti-slid protrusions may be formed with various structures.

The palm portion110and the finger portions,120may be formed to be positioned or placed on the same surface, rather than overall having a curved structure. A wrinkled portion130may be formed in an area under the finger portion120fitting over the user's thumb and a portion of the palm portion110, allowing the rubber glove to be used for either the left or right hand of the user.

The wrinkled portion130may be flexible enough to fit the thumb put in the finger portion120regardless of whether the thumb is of the left or right hand of the user. As such, the wrinkled portion130and the structure in which the finger portions120and the palm portion110are arranged in line with each other or to be placed on the same surface enable the rub glove100to be used for either of the left or right hand of the user.

For example, the wrinkled portion130may extend from a portion A where the interphalangeal (IP) join of the thumb is positioned to a portion B where the scaphoid bone is positioned and a portion C where the trapezium bone is positioned so as not to cause any inconvenience when the rubber glove is put on either the left or right band of the user.

The wrinkled portions130may have wrinkles whose inter-wrinkle pitch (e.g., the distance between two adjacent wrinkles) is in a range from about 2 mm to about 5 mm.

Departing from the inter-wrinkle pitch may cause less flexibility and resultantly inconvenience in wearing the rubber glove.