Abstract:
A pair of integrally formed plastic gloves is disclosed, in which the gloves are detachable from each other. A glove dispensing apparatus is also disclosed as including at pins engageable with pairs of plastic gloves.

Description:
[0001]     The present invention relates to plastic gloves and an apparatus allowing such gloves to be easily dispensed.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Plastic gloves are used in a large variety of situations. Take, for example, the case in which a nurse has to wear a pair of gloves before entering a ward. Currently, the nurse may, bare handedly, pick up one of the gloves, open the opening and insert one of his/her hands into the glove. He/She may then open the remaining glove and insert his/her remaining hand into the glove. As discussed above, the nurse will touch the outside surface of the gloves with his/her bare hands before the gloves can be worn. In case of high sanitary requirements, such may defeat the purpose of wearing the gloves, as the outside surface of the gloves may thus be contaminated by the hands of the user. In addition, both hands of a user must usually be used in wearing the gloves. This may not be possible when one of the hands of the user is being occupied, e.g. holding other implements or articles. In such a situation, it will be very difficult for a user to wear a pair of gloves.  
         [0003]     It is thus an object of the present invention to provide plastic gloves, and a glove dispensing apparatus, in which the aforesaid shortcomings are mitigated, or at least to provide a useful alternative to the trade and public.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pair of integrally formed plastic gloves, wherein said gloves are detachable from each other.  
         [0005]     According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a glove dispensing apparatus including at least one engaging member engageable with at least a pair of plastic gloves. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1A  shows a top view of a pair of gloves according to the present invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 1B  shows a sectional view of the pair of gloves taken along the line L-L in  FIG. 1A , in which the thickness of the plastic film making up the gloves has been exaggerated for assisting in understanding;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  shows the manner in which the gloves shown in  FIG. 1  are used; and  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  shows pairs of gloves as shown in  FIG. 1  engaged with a glove dispensing apparatus according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0011]     Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , such show a glove pair, generally designated as  10 , as comprising two plastic gloves  10   a,    10   b  formed integrally with each other. The glove pair  10  may be made of such plastic material as polyethylene (PE) films, the density and quality of which may be decided according to the use to which the glove pair  10  are to be put.  
         [0012]     The gloves  10   a,    10   b  are joined with each other via an intermediate part  12 , which is also formed with the gloves  10   a,    10   b  integrally. Openings  14   a,    14   b  are formed during production of the glove pair  10 , which openings  14   a,    14   b  allowing insertion of a hand of a user into the interior of the respective glove  10   a,    10   b.  The surfaces of the glove pair  10  are embossed, so as to allow easy separation of the plastic layers forming the gloves  10   a,    10   b,  thus facilitating insertion of the user&#39;s hands. Two parallel rows of perforations  16   a,    16   b  are provided on the intermediate part  12 , and run across the entire width of the intermediate part  12 . Between the rows of perforations  16   a,    16   b  are two circular holes  18 , the function of which will be discussed below.  
         [0013]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a hand  20  of a user may be inserted into the interior of a glove  10   a  through the associated opening  14   a,  without touching the outside surface of the glove  10   a,  and without the help of another of his/her hand. Once the hand  20  is so inserted into the glove  10   a,  the glove  10   a  may then be torn apart from the intermediate part  12  along the row of perforations  16   a,  while leaving the remaining glove  10   b  intact with the intermediate part  12 . It can be seen that by way of such an arrangement, the outer surface of the glove pair  10  will not be touched by the hands of the user before use, so as to maintain the cleanliness of the glove pair  10 .  
         [0014]     To further facilitate the easy dispensing of the gloves  10   a,    10   b,  a dispensing apparatus is provided, as shown in  FIG. 3  and generally designated as  22 . The apparatus  22  includes a pair of boards  24  connected with each other via a spine  26 . Upwardly extending from the spine  26  are two pins  28 , each received within a respective hole  18  in the intermediate part  12  of the glove  10 . A number of glove pairs  10 , one lying on top of another, may thus be engaged with the apparatus  22 , with the respective gloves  10   a,    10   b  supported by a respective board  24 .  
         [0015]     In use, a user can easily insert each of his/her hands into a respective glove  10   a,    10   b  and thereafter detach the gloves  10   a,    10   b  from each other, and from the intermediate part  12 , along the respective row of perforations  16   a.  The intermediate part  12  will be left fixed on the spine  26  of the dispensing apparatus  22 , via the pins  28 . It can be seen that by way of such an arrangement, the outer surface of the glove pair  10  will not be touched by the hands of the user before use, thus maintain their cleanliness. In addition, both hands can be inserted into the respective glove  10   a,    10   b  simultaneously, without the assistance of another hand.  
         [0016]     It should be understood that the above only illustrates examples whereby the present invention may be carried out, and that various modifications and/or alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention. It should also be understood that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any appropriate sub-combinations.