Glove of rubber or the like

Abstract: Glove of rubber or other resilient material comprising of an essentially tubular sleeve portion (1) and a cuff portion (2) which extends conically outwardly in extension of the sleeve portion and can be folded back such that the free end of the connically outwardly extending cuff portion (2) has a radial distance from the outer circumference of the sleeve portion (1), characterized in that a thinner wall portion (3) having a wall thickness smaller than the wall thickness of at least the sleeve portion (1) is provided between sleeve portion (1) and cuff portion (2), whereas the thinner wall portion (3) is either a thinner extension of the sleeve portion (1) or has the shape of an inwardly directed undulation, wherein the cuff portion (2) is foldable back about the said thinner wall portion (3).

Description: The present invention relates to a glove according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a glove is known from EP 0 824 002, wherein an inwardly directed undulation is provided between sleeve portion and cuff portion when the cuff portion extends in extension of the sleeve portion. A thickened wall portion is provided between undulation and cuff portion, whereas sleeve portion, undulation and cuff portion have the same wall thickness. When the cuff portion extends in extension of the sleeve portion certain stresses arise in the material of the glove wall in the area of the undulation which stresses are equalised as soon as the cuff portion is folded outwardly back about the undulation toward the sleeve portion. It is an object of the present invention to provide a glove according to the preamble of claim 1 in such a way that the material of the glove wall is free of stresses also under the condition that the cuff portion extends in extension of the sleeve portion, wherein a stable cuff portion is provided in the turned-back position which cuff portion maintains its shape and protective characteristic without collapsing or losing its firm position during movement of a hand wearing the glove. This object is achieved by the features in the characterising part of claim 1. Due to the thinner wall portion between sleeve portion and cuff portion no stresses arise in this area of the material, when the cuff portion extends in extension of the sleeve portion, whereas the cuff portion is foldable back about the thinner portion very easily and the cuff portion maintains its stable shape. The invention is described in more detail by examples of embodiments of a glove in connection with the drawings. Fig. 1 shows schematically a side view of a glove, wherein the end of the sleeve portion and the cuff portion are shown schematically in a longitudinal section and the left half of the section shows the cuff portion in extension of the sleeve portion, whereas the right half of the section shows the cuff portion in the folded-back position. Fig. 2 shows a modified embodiment according to Figure 1. Fig 3 shows another embodiment in the same way as in Figure 1. Fig. 4 shows a modified embodiment of the structure according to Figure 3. Fig. 5 shows a further embodiment in the same way as in Figures 1 and 3, and Fig. 6 shows a modified embodiment according to the structure in Figure 5. The figures show a glove of rubber, latex or another resilient material comprising a tubular or slightly conical sleeve portion 1 and a cuff portion 2 which extends conically outwardly in extension of the sleeve portion 1 as shown in the left part of Figure 1 for example. The cuff portion 2 has a wall thickness equal to the wall thickness of the sleeve portion 1, whereas a thinner wall portion 3 is provided therebetween which thinner wall portion extends around the circumference of the glove. The cuff portion 2 can be folded outwardly back toward the sleeve portion 1 by bending the thinner wall portion 3 as shown in the right part of Figure 1. Due to the thinner wall thickness on the wall portion 3 no or only low bending forces arise in this area if the cuff portion is in the position of the right part in Figure 1. In the embodiment according to Figure 1 an annular bead or thickened wall portion 4 is provided between thinner wall portion 3 and cuff portion 2. Bead or thickened wall portion 4 means that this part is thicker than the wall thickness of the cuff portion 2. Such a bead 4 assists a stable shape of the folded back cuff portion. Depending on the length of the thinner wall portion 3 the bead or thickened wall portion 4 abuts in the folded back position on the outer circumference of the sleeve portion 1 as shown in Figure 1 or - in case the thinner wall portion 3 has a greater length - on the outer circumference of the thinner wall portion 3, preferably in the transition area between thinner wall portion 3 and thicker sleeve portion 1 as it is the case in the embodiment according to Figure 3. The radius r of the annular bead 4 about the center axis 6 of the sleeve portion 1 in the position of the cuff portion 2 in the left part of figure 1 is the same as in the folded back position of the cuff portion as shown in the right part of figure 1. In this way only bending forces arise in the thinner wall portion 3 when the cuff portion is folded back. On the free end of the cuff portion 2 a further bead 5 is provided in the embodiment according to Figure 1 as well in the other embodiments. Such a bead 5 assists a stable shape of the cuff portion 2 especially in the folded back position. The radius R of this annular bead 5 about the central axis 6 is preferably also equal in both positions of the cuff portion 2 as shown in Figure 1. If two beads 4 and 5 are provided on both ends of the cuff portion 2 then the wall thickness of the cuff portion 2 can be reduced without reduction of the stiffness of the cuff portion. In such a case the wall thickness of the cuff portion 2 can be smaller than the wall thickness of the sleeve portion 1. Figure 2 shows a modified embodiment of the structure according to Figure 1 in that the thinner wall portion 3 has the shape of an inwardly directed undulation when the cuff portion 2 extends in extension of the sleeve portion 1 as shown in the left part of Figure 2. In this way the bending forces in the thinner wall portion 3 are reduced when the cuff portion is folded back toward the sleeve portion as shown in the right part of Figure 2. Figure 3 shows another embodiment, wherein a second annular bead or thickened wall portion 7 is provided between thinner wall portion 3 and sleeve portion 1. In this embodiment the length of the thinner wall portion 3 can be dimensioned such that the first bead 4 abuts on the outer circumference of the thinner wall portion 3 in the folded back position of the cuff portion 2 as shown in the right part of Figure 3 or the first bead 4 can abut on the outer circumference of the sleeve portion 1 in this position, i. e. on the other side of the second bead 7 as it is the case in the embodiment according to Figure 5. Figure 4 shows a modified embodiment of the structure of Figure 3 corresponding to the embodiment according to Figure 2, wherein the thinner wall portion 3 has the shape of an inwardly directed undulation when the cuff portion 2 extends in extension of the sleeve portion 1 as shown in the left part of Figure 4. Figure 5 shows a further embodiment comprising a third annular bead 8 which is arranged in a small distance from the second bead 7 on the sleeve portion 1. The length of the thinner wall portion 3 is dimensioned such that the first bead 4 engages between second bead 7 and third bead 8 in the folded back position as shown in the right part of Figure 5. The distance between the two beads 7 and 8 preferably corresponds to the longitudinal dimension of the bead or thickened wall portion 4. The beads are shown as solid ring of the glove material, but the shape of the cross section of the bead or thickened wall portion can be varied. Also in case of the embodiment according to Figure 5 the radius r and R of beads 4 and 5 are the same in both positions of the cuff portion 2 to avoid stresses in the glove material. Figure 6 shows a modified embodiment according to Figure 5, wherein the thinner wall portion 3 has the shape of an inwardly directed undulation as it is described in connection with Figures 2 and 4. The annular beads 7 and also 8 are provided for an additional reinforcement of the end portion of the sleeve portion 1 and additionally for receiving and positioning the bead 4 of the cuff portion..

Claims: Glove of rubber or the like comprising a tubular sleeve portion (1) and a cuff portion (2) which extends conically outwardly in extension of the sleeve portion and can be folded back such that the free end of the conically outwardly extending cuff portion (2) has a radial distance from the outer circumference of the sleeve portion (1), characterised in that a thinner wall portion (3) having a wall thickness smaller than the wall thickness of at least the sleeve portion (1) is provided between sleeve portion (1) and cuff portion (2), wherein the cuff portion (2) is foldable back about said thinner wall portion (3). Glove according to claim 1, wherein an annular bead or thickened wall portion (4) is provided between thinner wall portion (3) and cuff portion (2). Glove according to claims 1 and 2, wherein a second annular bead (7) is provided between thinner wall portion (3) and sleeve portion (1). Glove according to claim 3, wherein a third annular bead (8) is provided on the sleeve portion (1) in a distance from the second bead (7) such that the first bead (4) between thinner wall portion (3) and cuff portion (2) engages between the second and third bead on the outer circumference of the sleeve portion (1), when the cuff portion (2) is folded back about the thinner wall portion (3). Glove according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the thinner wall portion (3) has the shape of an inwardly directed undulation when seen in a longitudinal section of the glove and the cuff portion (2) extends in extension of the sleeve portion (1). Protecting sleeve of rubber or the like comprising a tubular sleeve portion (1) and a cuff portion (2) which extends conically outwardly in extension of the sleeve portion and can be folded back such that the free end of the conically outwardly extending cuff portion (2) has a radial distance from the outer circumference of the sleeve portion (1), wherein the transition area between sleeve portion (1) and cuff portion (2) is embodied according to one of the claims 1 to 5. Glove or protecting sleeve according to the preceding claims, wherein the free end of the cuff portion (2) is provided with an annular bead (5).

Inventors: ANANIADOU ANASTASIA, VRISSIMDJIS CONSTANTINE SOLON, ANANIADOU, ANASTASIA, VRISSIMDJIS, CONSTANTINE SOLON
Applicants: ANANIADOU ANASTASIA, VRISSIMDJIS CONSTANTINE SOLON, ANANIADOU, ANASTASIA, VRISSIMDJIS, CONSTANTINE SOLON
Application year: 1999
Main classification: A41D19
IPC codes: A41D19