Abstract:
An ambidextrous or hand-specific glove including a wrist region, a palm region, and a digit region. The glove may be fabricated of nitrile rubber that is free of or essentially free of zinc, sulfur and accelerators to reduce allergic reactions in populations required to frequently wear protective gloves. A band region that partially or fully encircles a user&#39;s finger knuckles may be provided for easier finger bending. Texturing may be provided on glove surfaces that are used to grip articles. The tip regions on the front surface of the index and middle finger regions may be un-textured or smooth to enable a user to take a patient&#39;s pulse. These tip regions may be of reduced diameter and circumference so as to pull the glove material tightly around the tips of the user&#39;s finger so that even a faint pulse in a patient may be detected.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/152,302 filed Apr. 24, 2015, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to gloves and more particularly to nitrile gloves, such as those that may be used by medical professionals. Specifically, the present invention relates to a glove includes a first layer of nitrile rubber that is free of or essentially free of components that may cause hypersensitivity or allergic reaction in people who wear the glove. In particular, the nitrile rubber may be free of or essentially free of zinc and/or sulfur and/or accelerators and wherein an index finger region and/or middle finger region on the glove may be left un-textured or smooth to enable the user to easily take a patient&#39;s pulse. 
         [0004]    2. Background Information 
         [0005]    Nitrile or nitrile rubber gloves are well known in the art, such as for use in the medical field. One of the problems with such gloves is that some individuals have a hypersensitivity to various compounds that may be included in the gloves, such as zinc and/or sulfur and/or a variety of accelerators. Those accelerators may include but are not limited to components such as carbonates or thiurams. In addition, surgical or other gloves may have a tendency to stretch when worn for long periods of time, whereby the gloves may lose the ability to cling to the user&#39;s hand. This tendency for gloves to stretch may be a particular problem for surgeons. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    There is thus a need in the art for an improved glove for use by persons such as medical professionals that will have less of a tendency to affect or cause allergic reactions in persons with hypersensitivity to various components or compounds used in the production of nitrile gloves. Further, there is a need for gloves that are designed to allow medical professionals to take a pulse while also providing other desirable characteristics of the glove. 
         [0007]    An ambidextrous glove and a hand-specific glove are disclosed herein. Each of the ambidextrous glove and the hand-specific gloves include a wrist region; a palm region; and a digit region. The wrist region, palm region and digit region define a hand-receiving cavity and the wrist region defines an opening to that hand-receiving cavity. The disclosed glove addresses some of the issues found with prior art gloves. The glove disclosed herein is comprised of at least a first layer of nitrile rubber that is free of or essentially free of zinc and/or sulfur and/or accelerators. Some accelerators that the glove&#39;s nitrile rubber may be free of or essentially free of may include carbonates or thiurams. 
         [0008]    The composition of the disclosed glove may tend to reduce hypersensitivity or allergic reactions in populations that may be required to frequently wear protective gloves. The glove may include a band region in the digit region that partially encircles or fully encircles a user&#39;s knuckles in one or more of their fingers and thumb. These band regions make it easier for the user to bend their fingers and/or thumb while wearing the glove. This improved bendability provided by the glove may help improve the user&#39;s dexterity while wearing the glove. The presence of the band regions may also reduce the tendency of the glove material to become stretched when the glove is worn for a long period of time. 
         [0009]    The disclosed glove may additionally be provided with texturing on surfaces that are used to grip articles such as the inside or front surfaces of the digit regions and the palm region. In such textured gloves the upper regions of the front surface on the index finger region and/or middle finger region may be left un-textured (i.e., texture-free) or smooth. The untextured or smooth front surfaces on the index and/or middle finger regions may enable the user to more easily take a patient&#39;s pulse than if these front surfaces were textured. The lack of texture helps ensure that the naturally-existing tactile sensitivity in the uppermost pads of the user&#39;s index finger and/or middle finger is as close as possible to how sensitive these regions of the user&#39;s fingers are if no gloves are being worn. If a patient has an extremely weak pulse or is unconscious, it is extremely common that the vast majority of EMT&#39;s (Emergency Medical Technicians) will immediately tear the index and middle finger regions off previously known gloves in order to expose their bare skin so that they may try and locate the patient&#39;s pulse. This tends to occur no matter what size glove the EMT is using. When it comes to taking a pulse, if there is any overlapping material on the middle or index finger regions of a glove, then that extra material tends to interfere with taking a pulse, particularly if the patient&#39;s pulse if faint. Of course, tearing the index and middle finger regions off a glove will leave the EMT at risk of contamination or harm because they now have exposed skin handling an injured or unconscious patient. The glove disclosed herein addresses this issue in that the smooth tip regions on the index finger region and middle finger regions ensure that there is close proximity between the user&#39;s fingertips and the patient&#39;s skin. In some embodiments, the fingertips of the glove of the present invention are of reduced circumference and diameter, thus ensuring the glove material is pulled tightly over the fingertips and ensuring that there is very little if any excess glove material that can interfere with the user finding a faint pulse on a patient. 
         [0010]    In one aspect, the invention may provide a glove comprising a wrist region; a palm region extending outwardly from the wrist region; a digit region extending outwardly from the palm region; a hand-receiving cavity defined by the wrist region, palm region and digit region, and an opening to said cavity being defined by the wrist region, said cavity being adapted to receive a hand of a user inserted through the opening; and wherein the wrist region, palm region and digit region are comprised of a first layer of nitrile rubber that is free of or essentially free of zinc and/or sulfur and/or accelerators. 
         [0011]    In another aspect, the invention may provide a glove comprising a wrist region; a palm region extending outwardly from the wrist region; a digit region extending outwardly from the palm region, said digit region including an index finger region and middle finger region; a hand-receiving cavity defined by the wrist region, palm region and digit region, and an opening to said cavity being defined by the wrist region, said cavity being adapted to receive a hand of a user inserted through the opening; and wherein the wrist region, palm region and digit region are comprised of at least a first layer of nitrile rubber that is free of or essentially free of one or more of zinc and/or sulfur and/or accelerators, and wherein the digit region and palm region may be textured except for a section of a front surface of one or both of the index finger region and the middle finger region and the section is located adjacent a tip of the associated index finger region and the middle finger region and extends for a distance downwardly therefrom and towards the palm region. The term “front section” should be understood to be that part of the index finger region or middle finger region that is adjacent the uppermost pad on the user&#39;s index or middle finger; where that uppermost pad is used to touch objects and is highly sensitive to the touch. 
         [0012]    In another aspect, the invention may provide a glove comprising a wrist region; a palm region extending outwardly from the wrist region; a digit region extending outwardly from the palm region and comprising an index finger region, a middle finger region, a ring finger region, and little finger region and a thumb region; a hand-receiving cavity defined by the wrist region, palm region and digit region, and an opening to said cavity being defined by the wrist region, said cavity being adapted to receive a hand of a user inserted through the opening; and wherein the wrist region, palm region and digit region are comprised of at least a first layer of nitrile rubber that is free of or essentially free of sulfur and one or more of the index finger region, middle finger region, ring finger region, little finger region and thumb region includes a band region adapted to be located proximate one or more of a user&#39;s finger knuckles; and the band region comprises alternating ridges and valley&#39;s formed in the first layer. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    A sample embodiment of the invention is set forth in the following description, is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a first embodiment of a glove in accordance with an aspect of the invention; where the glove is an ambidextrous glove and wherein a rear elevation view of the ambidextrous glove will be a mirror image of the glove shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a cross-section of the front of the ambidextrous glove taken on line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a cross-section of the front of the ambidextrous glove similar to  FIG. 2  except showing an embodiment of the glove that includes additional layers in the glove; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of a second embodiment of the glove in accordance with the present invention showing a hand specific glove for a right hand; wherein the left handed glove will be a mirror image hereof; and wherein the glove includes a plurality of band regions formed in the digit regions; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the glove taken on line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 5  but showing additional layers of the glove; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a front elevational view a third embodiment of a glove in accordance with an aspect of the invention; where the glove illustrated is a hand-specific glove for a user&#39;s left-hand; wherein a right hand hand-specific glove would be a mirror image hereof; and wherein the figure shows texturing on the palm and digit regions but not on the front surfaces of tip regions on the index finger region and the middle finger region; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the glove taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the glove similar to  FIG. 8  showing additional layers of the glove; 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is a front elevational view of a fourth embodiment of a glove in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, where the glove is a hand specific glove and the tip regions of the index and middle finger regions are of a reduced circumference and diameter; 
           [0024]      FIG. 10A  is a cross-section through the tip region of the index finger region of the glove shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10B  is a cross-section through a wider portion of the index finger region of the glove of  FIG. 10 , where the wider portion is located below the tip region; 
           [0026]      FIG. 10C  is a front elevation view of the fourth embodiment of the glove shown as an ambidextrous glove; 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is a front elevational view of a fifth embodiment of a glove in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, where the glove is a hand specific glove that has texturing on the gripping surfaces of the glove but where the tip regions of the index finger region and middle finger region are free of texturing and are smooth; 
           [0028]      FIG. 11A  is a front elevation view of the fifth embodiment of the glove shown as an ambidextrous glove; 
           [0029]      FIG. 12  is an enlargement of the highlighted region of  FIG. 11  showing the diamond texture pattern; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 13  is a cross-section taken along line  13 - 13  of  FIG. 12  and showing the diamond texture pattern in greater detail. 
       
    
    
       [0031]    Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0032]      FIG. 1  shows a sample embodiment of an ambidextrous glove generally indicated at  1 . Glove  1  includes a wrist region  2 , a palm region  4  and a digit region  6 . Glove  1  has a top  8  and a bottom  10  with a bottom entrance opening  12  of a hand-receiving cavity  13 . Entrance opening  12  is at bottom  10  and serves to allow a user to insert his or her hand therethrough and into cavity  13 . Entrance opening  12  is defined by wrist region  2 . Cavity  13  extends from adjacent bottom  10  to adjacent top  8 . 
         [0033]    Digit region  6  includes five finger regions comprising a thumb region  14 , an index region  16 , a middle finger region  18 , a ring finger region  20 , and a little finger region  22 . Each of the finger regions  14 - 22  has a base  24  and a tip  26 . Each of the finger regions at its respective base  24  is secured to palm region  4  and extends upwardly and outwardly therefrom to the respective tip  26 . Glove  1  has an outer surface  28  and an inner surface  30 . 
         [0034]    Glove  1  may include a single first layer  32  as shown in  FIG. 2 , or a plurality of layers, such as layers  32 ,  34  and  36  as shown in  FIG. 3 . Where the single layer  32  is used, as shown in  FIG. 2 , outer surface  28  of glove  1  is also the outer surface of layer  32 , and inner surface  30  of glove  1  is also the inner surface of layer  32 . 
         [0035]    Glove  1  may include one or more additional layers that make up the glove.  FIG. 3  shows two additional layers used to form glove  1 . In this particular example of a glove  1  with two additional layers, a second or intermediate layer  34  has inner and outer surfaces  38  and  40 , and an outer or third layer  36  has inner and outer surfaces  42  and  44 . Inner surface  38  of layer  34  may be in contact with and secured to outer surface  28  of first layer  32 , while inner surface  42  of third layer  36  may be in contact with and secured to outer surface  40  of second layer  34 . Thus, outer surface  44  of layer  36  serves as the outer surface  28 A of glove  1  when formed of these three layers. Inner surface  30  in either case defines cavity  13  and extends from adjacent bottom  10  to adjacent top  8  and serves as the inner surface of wrist region  2 , palm region  4  and each of the finger regions  14 - 22 . Glove  1  may comprise one, two, three or more layers, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. 
         [0036]    Where the single layer  32  is used, as shown in  FIG. 2 , outer surface  28  extends from adjacent bottom  10  to adjacent top  8  and serves as the outer surface of wrist region  2 , palm region  4  and finger regions  14 - 22 . Where the three layers are used as shown in  FIG. 3 , outer surface  44  or  28 A extends from adjacent bottom  10  to adjacent top  8  and serves as the outer surface of wrist region  2 , palm region  4  and finger regions  14 - 22 . 
         [0037]    Layer  32  may be formed of nitrile rubber. In particular, layer  32  may be formed of a nitrile rubber that is free of or essentially free of zinc and/or sulfur and/or accelerators. Thus, each of outer and inner surfaces  28  and  30  may be free of these same components and compounds, thereby providing a glove that reduces or essentially eliminates, in users, hypersensitivity or allergic reactions to compounds such as the zinc and/or sulfur and/or accelerators. It will be understood that people may have hypersensitivity to other compounds that may be used on occasion in nitrile gloves. It will be understood that the nitrile gloves in accordance with an aspect of the present invention may be free of or essentially free of compounds that cause hypersensitivity or allergic reactions in users who wear the glove  1 . 
         [0038]    In the case of glove  1  which includes more than one layer; layer  32  may likewise be formed of this same nitrile rubber that is free zinc and/or sulfur and/or accelerators. Layers  34  and  36  may be formed of various types of polymers that are typically elastomeric polymers that are different from layer  32  and which may be the same as or different from one another. Thus, the elastomeric polymer of any of the additional layers may have a different composition to the nitrile rubber used in the first layer. The layers other than inner layer  32  may be formed of polymers that may or may not include zinc and/or sulfur and/or an accelerator. The use of an additional polymer layer or layers to define outer surface  28 A thus may provide a multilayer glove that essentially eliminates the allergic reaction to compounds such as the zinc and/or sulfur and/or accelerators noted above for a person having hypersensitivity to such elements or compounds. This may be true even if the outer layer includes zinc and/or sulfur and/or an accelerator because allergic reactions of this nature are most commonly caused by prolonged contact with the allergen such as when a person wears the glove for an extended period so that contact of the wearer&#39;s hand and the inner layer / surface of the glove is the primary concern related to producing allergic reactions. 
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a glove  50  is shown that is a hand-specific glove. In particular,  FIG. 4  shows a right-handed glove although it will be understood that  FIG. 4  should likewise represent a left-handed glove inasmuch as a left-handed glove is a mirror image of that shown in  FIG. 4 . Thus, unlike the ambidextrous glove  1  shown in  FIG. 1  in which all of the finger regions including thumb region  14  are aligned along or intersected by a common plane, glove  50  is configured such that the four finger regions  16 ,  18 ,  20  and  22  may be aligned along a common plane whereas thumb region  14  is spaced from said plane. Aside from the fact that glove  50  is a hand-specific glove, it is nonetheless similar to glove  1  in that it includes a wrist region  2 , a palm region  4 , and a digit region  6  which includes five finger regions comprising a thumb region  14 , index finger region  16 , middle finger region  18 , ring finger region  20  and little finger region  22 .  FIG. 4  also shows that each of the finger regions  14 - 22  has a base  24  and a tip  26  and is secured to palm region  4  as described with respect to glove  1 . Each of finger regions  14 - 22  has a finger front  52  and a finger back  54 . It is noted that the finger fronts  52  of finger regions  16 - 22  generally face in the same direction and that the finger backs  54  of finger regions  16 - 22  face generally in the same direction and the opposite direction as finger fronts  52  thereof. On the other hand, the finger front  52  of thumb region  14  faces in a different direction than that of the finger fronts  52  of the index, middle, ring and the little finger regions  16 - 22  and the finger back  54  of thumb region  14  likewise faces in a different direction than that of finger backs  54  of finger regions  16 - 22 . 
         [0040]    One or more of each of finger regions  14 - 22  along the finger back  54  thereof may include a band region  56  including a plurality of band segments  58  that include respective elastomeric bands  60 . Each band region  56  also includes a plurality of trough segments  64  between each adjacent pair of band segments  58 . In the sample embodiment, the top of the band region  58  of a given finger region may be spaced downwardly a distance from the tip  26  of the given finger region, for instance, about ½ or ¾ inch to about ¾, 1 or 1¼ inch and therefore may be positioned between a tip of the user&#39;s finger and the user&#39;s first knuckle in that finger. The bottom of each band region  58  may be located so that the bottom is located between the user&#39;s palm and lowermost knuckle on that particular finger or thumb (obviously only one knuckle is located on the thumb and the band region  58  associated therewith will originate between the tip and the knuckle and the bottom of the band region will fall between the user&#39;s palm and knuckle on the thumb. Each finger region  14 - 22  is formed of a peripheral wall  62  that defines the respective finger front and back  52  and  54 , including the respective band region  56  of band segments  58  and trough segments  64 . 
         [0041]    With reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , band region  56  is described in this paragraph as viewed in a section view taken parallel to the longitudinal axis of the given finger region. Each band segment  58  has a concavely curved inner surface  66  and a convexly curved outer surface  68  such that surfaces  66  and  68  extend from adjacent the top of the given band segment  58  to adjacent the bottom of the given band segment  58 . Inner surface  66  faces the longitudinal axis of the given finger region and the portion of cavity  13  defined by the given finger region while outer surface  68  faces away from the longitudinal axis of the given finger region and the portion of cavity  13  defined by the given finger region. For a given pair of adjacent band segments  58 , the top of the lower band segment (including its surfaces  66  and  68 ) is adjacent the trough segment  64  between the given adjacent pair and the bottom of the higher band segment (including its surfaces  66  and  68 ), which is also adjacent the trough segment  64  between the given adjacent pair. Each band  60  has a convexly curved outer surface  70  and an inner surface  72 . Each of surfaces  70  and  72  extend from adjacent the top of the given band  60  to the bottom of the given band  60 . Inner surface  72  faces the longitudinal axis of the given finger region and the portion of cavity  13  defined by the given finger region while outer surface  70  faces away from the longitudinal axis of the given finger region and the portion of cavity  13  defined by the given finger region. Outer surface  70  of a given band is in contact with and secured to the inner surface  66  of a given band segment  58 . 
         [0042]    Each band  60  is curved as viewed from above or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the given finger region so that inner surface  72  is concavely curved and outer surface  70  is convexly curved as so viewed. Each band  60  is thus configured to partially wrap around the back of a given finger of a person wearing glove  50  with the given inner surface  72  contacting the back of the given finger. This configuration helps prevent glove  50  from sliding off of the person&#39;s hand, especially when worn over an extended period of time. Each band  60  in the sample embodiment extends only along the finger back  54  of a given finger region, and thus no portion of band  60  extends along the finger front  52  of the given finger region. The band regions  58  stretch or elongate when the user bend their finger regions  14 - 22  and elastically returns to the region&#39;s original configuration when the finger region  14 - 22  is straightened. Band regions  58  aid in reducing the forces applied to the finger regions  14 - 22  and thus tend to reduce the degree to which the finger regions may stretch over time. 
         [0043]    As with the multilayer version of glove  1  in  FIG. 3 , where additional layers are used for glove  50  as shown in  FIG. 6 , the second or intermediate layer  34  has inner and outer surfaces  38  and  40 , and the outer or third layer  36  has inner and outer surfaces  42  and  44 . Inner surface  38  of layer  34  is in contact with and secured to outer surface  28  of first layer  32 , while inner surface  42  of third layer  36  is in contact with and secured to outer surface  40  of second layer  34 . Thus, outer surface  44  of layer  36  serves as the outer surface  28 A of glove  50  when formed of these three layers. Inner surface  30  in either case defines cavity  13  and extends from adjacent bottom  10  to adjacent top  8  and serves as the inner surface of wrist region  2 , palm region  4  and each of the finger regions  14 - 22 . Where the single layer  32  is used as shown in  FIG. 2 , outer surface  28  extends from adjacent bottom  10  to adjacent top  8  and serves as the outer surface of wrist region  2 , palm region  4  and finger regions  14 - 22 . Where the three layers are used as shown in  FIG. 3 , outer surface  44  or  28 A extends from adjacent bottom  10  to adjacent top  8  and serves as the outer surface of wrist region  2 , palm region  4  and finger regions  14 - 22 . 
         [0044]    Peripheral wall  62  is formed entirely from layer  32  in a single layer version of glove  50  ( FIGS. 4, 5 ) and may be formed by a plurality of layers, such as layers  32 ,  34  and  36  in a multilayer version of glove  50  ( FIGS. 4, 6 ). Thus, for the single layer version or multilayer version, inner surface  30  includes a finger region inner surface or peripheral wall inner surface  74  of a given finger region  14 - 22  or peripheral wall  62 . For the single layer version, outer surface  28  includes a finger region outer surface or peripheral wall outer surface  76  of a given finger region  14 - 22  or peripheral wall  62 . For the multilayer version, outer surface  28 A/ 44  includes a finger region outer surface or peripheral wall outer surface  76  of a given finger region  14 - 22  or peripheral wall  62 . 
         [0045]    Layers  32 ,  34  and  36  of glove  50  are formed of the same materials as noted above with respect to glove  1 , and each band  60  is formed of a nitrile rubber that is free of or essentially free of zinc and/or sulfur and/or accelerators. Thus, layer  32  and bands  60  provide the same hypoallergenic qualities noted above. 
         [0046]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a glove  80  is shown that is a hand-specific glove. In particular,  FIG. 7  shows a left-handed glove although it will be understood that  FIG. 7  should likewise represent a right-handed glove inasmuch as a right-handed glove is a mirror image of that shown in  FIG. 7 . Thus, glove  80  is configured such that the four finger regions  16 ,  18 ,  20  and  22  may be aligned along a common plane whereas thumb region  14  is spaced from said plane. Glove  80  includes a wrist region  2 , a palm region  4 , and a digit region  6  that includes five finger regions comprising a thumb region  14 , index finger region  16 , middle finger region  18 , ring finger region  20  and little finger region  22 .  FIG. 7  also shows that each of finger regions  14 - 22  has a base  24  and a tip  26  and is secured to palm region  4  as described with respect to glove  1 . Glove  80  has a front or front side  81  (or palm side) and a back or back side  83 . 
         [0047]    Each of finger regions  14 - 22  has a finger front  52  and a finger back  54 . The finger fronts  52  of finger regions  16 - 22  generally face in the same direction and that the finger backs  54  of finger regions  16 - 22  face generally in the same direction and the opposite direction as finger fronts  52  thereof. On the other hand, the finger front  52  of thumb region  14  faces in a different direction than that of the finger fronts  52  of the index, middle, ring and the little finger regions  16 - 22  and the finger back  54  of thumb region  14  likewise faces in a different direction than that of finger backs  54  of finger regions  16 - 22 . Each finger region  14 - 22  is formed of a peripheral wall  62  that defines the respective finger front and back  52  and  54 . 
         [0048]    Each of finger regions  14 - 22  has a finger base region  82  having a bottom  84  adjacent the respective base  24  and a top  86 . Each of finger regions  14 - 22  has a fingertip region  88  that extends upwardly from the corresponding base region  82  to adjacent the corresponding tip  26 . Each fingertip region  88  has a bottom  90  at or adjacent the corresponding top  86  and a top  92  at or adjacent the corresponding tip  26 . Fingertip regions  88  may include fingertip region  88 A of thumb region  14 , fingertip region  88 B of index finger region  16 , fingertip region  88 C of middle finger region  18 , fingertip region  88 D of ring finger region  20 , and fingertip region  88 E of little finger region  22 . 
         [0049]    In the sample embodiment, the fingertip region bottom  90  and finger base top  86  of a given finger region  14 - 22  is spaced downwardly a distance from the fingertip region top  92  and tip  26  of the given finger region, for instance, about ½ or ¾ inch to about ¾, 1 or 1¼ inch. Thus, each fingertip region  88  may have a height from bottom  90  to top  92  of about ½ or ¾ inch to about ¾, 1 or 1¼ inch. Each finger base region  82  and fingertip region typically extends along the finger front  52  of the given finger region and may also extend along the corresponding finger back  54 . 
         [0050]    Whereas gloves  1  and  50  typically have an outer surface that is smooth in its entirety, glove  80  may have an outer surface that may have smooth portions and textured portions. In the sample embodiment, the outer surface of glove  80  has one or more smooth outer surfaces  94 , one or more lighter textured outer surfaces  96  that are coarser than smooth surface  94 , and one or more even coarser textured outer surfaces  98  that are coarser than smooth surface  94  and lighter textured surface  96 . Fingertip region  88 B of index finger region  16  and fingertip region  88 C of middle finger region  18  may have smooth outer surfaces  94  that extend from adjacent the corresponding bottom  90  to adjacent the corresponding top  92 . Bottom  90  is located in a region that may be approximately positioned adjacent a front of the first knuckle on a user&#39;s hand. Smooth surface  94  extends from top  92  of index finger region  52  and middle finger region  54  downwardly for approximately a third of the total length of index finger region  52  and middle finger region  54 . (The length will be understood to extend from the tip of any particular finger region to the palm region of the glove.) Smooth surface  94  may be confined to extend only along the given finger front  52  or may also extend along the given finger back  54 . 
         [0051]    Fingertip region  88 A of thumb region  14 , fingertip region  88 D of ring finger region  20  and fingertip region  88 E of little finger region  22  may have coarser textured outer surfaces  98  that extend from adjacent the corresponding bottom  90  to adjacent the corresponding top  92 . Coarser textured surface  98  may be confined to extend only along the given finger front  52  or may also extend along the given finger back  54 . 
         [0052]    The finger base region  82  of each of thumb region  14 , index finger region  16 , middle finger region  18 , ring finger region  20  and little finger region  22  may have lighter textured outer surfaces  96  that extend from adjacent the corresponding bottom  84  to adjacent the corresponding top  86 . Lighter textured surface  96  may be confined to extend only along the given finger front  52  or may also extend along the given finger back  54 . 
         [0053]    Wrist region  2  and palm region  4  may have lightly textured outer surfaces  96  that extend only along front side  81  of glove  80  or which may also extend along back side  83 . Lightly textured outer surface  96  may extend along the entirety of wrist region  2  along front side  81  and may extend along the entirety of wrist region  2  along back side  83 . Lightly textured outer surface  96  may extend along the entirety of palm region  4  along front side  81  and may extend along the entirety of palm region  4  along back side  83 . Typically, lightly textured outer surface  96  extends from adjacent the top of wrist region  2  to adjacent the base  24  of each of finger regions  14 - 22  along front side  81 . 
         [0054]    As with the multilayer version of glove  1  in  FIG. 3  and glove  50  in  FIG. 6 , where additional layers are used for glove  80  as shown in  FIG. 9 , the second or intermediate layer  34  has inner and outer surfaces  38  and  40 , and the outer or third layer  36  has inner and outer surfaces  42  and  44 . Inner surface  38  of layer  34  is in contact with and secured to outer surface  28  of first layer  32 , while inner surface  42  of third layer  36  is in contact with and secured to outer surface  40  of second layer  34 . Thus, outer surface  44  of layer  36  serves as the outer surface  28 A of glove  80  when formed of these three layers. Inner surface  30  in either case defines cavity  13  and extends from adjacent bottom  10  to adjacent top  8  and serves as the inner surface of wrist region  2 , palm region  4  and each of the finger regions  14 - 22 . Where the single layer  32  is used as shown in  FIG. 8 , outer surface  28  extends from adjacent bottom  10  to adjacent top  8  and serves as the outer surface of wrist region  2 , palm region  4  and finger regions  14 - 22 . Where the three layers are used as shown in  FIG. 9 , outer surface  44  or  28 A extends from adjacent bottom  10  to adjacent top  8  and serves as the outer surface of wrist region  2 , palm region  4  and finger regions  14 - 22 . 
         [0055]    Peripheral wall  62  is formed entirely from layer  32  in a single layer version of glove  80  ( FIGS. 7, 8 ) and may be formed by a plurality of layers, such as layers  32 ,  34  and  36  in a multilayer version of glove  80  ( FIGS. 7, 9 ). Outer surface  28  in the single layer version thus includes the smooth, lighter textured and coarser textured surfaces  94 ,  96  and  98 , whereas outer surface  28 A/ 44  in the multilayer version includes the smooth, lighter textured and coarser textured surfaces  94 ,  96  and  98 . Layers  32 ,  34  and  36  of glove  80  are formed of the same materials as noted above with respect to glove  1  so that layer  32  provides the same hypoallergenic qualities noted above. The textured surfaces provided on glove  80  may be provided on regions of glove  80  that will be contacted when an article is gripped when glove  80  is worn by a user. The textured surfaces will, thus, enhance the gripping ability of the user and reduce the tendency for objects to slip when being held by the user when wearing glove  80 . 
         [0056]    Referring to  FIGS. 10-10B  there is shown a fourth embodiment of a glove in accordance with an aspect of the invention, generally indicated at  100 . Glove  100  includes a wrist region  102 , a palm region  104 , a thumb region  106 , an index finger region  108 , a middle finger region  110 , a ring finger region  112 , and a little finger region  114 . Glove  100  is illustrated as a hand-specific glove but the same principles as will be discussed hereafter may be incorporated into an ambidextrous glove. 
         [0057]    Glove  100  may be substantially identical to any of the gloves  1 ,  50 , or  80  except that at least the tip region  108   a,    110   a  of the index finger region  108  and the middle finger region  110  are fabricated to be of a smaller circumference and diameter than are the tip regions of the index finger regions and middle finger regions of any of the other glove embodiments disclosed herein. Additionally the tip regions  108   a,    110   a  of the index and ring finger regions  108 ,  110  are of a smaller circumference and diameter than the remaining length of the respective one of the index and middle finger regions  108 ,  110 . The remaining length of these two finger regions is represented by the reference numbers  108   c  and  110   c,  respectively in  FIG. 10 . Furthermore, the tip regions  108   a,    110   a  are smaller in diameter and circumference than the ring finger region  112 , little finger region  114  and thumb region  106  of glove  100 . The circumference of the tip regions  108   a,    110   a  is measured around an exterior surface of the respective index finger region  108  or middle finger region  110  and in an orientation at right angles to the length of the respective finger region  108  or  110 . The length is measured from a tip of the respective finger region down to the palm region  104 . The reduced dimensions (i.e., circumference and diameter) ensure that the glove material in each tip region  108   a,    110   a  is pulled tightly around the user&#39;s index and middle fingers. The tightly pulled material or film of glove  100  ensures that the user can more easily and readily locate a faint pulse in a patient than if the glove material was only fitted loosely around these two fingertips. 
         [0058]    The dimensions of the tip region  108   a  of the index finger region and the tip region  110   a  of the middle finger region  110  may be reduced by from about 10% up to about 20% relative to the remaining length of that particular finger region  108  or  110 , and to the other finger regions  112 ,  114  and thumb region  106  in glove  100 , or to the finger regions of any of the other embodiments of the glove, and relative to finger regions in prior art gloves. This reduction in the dimensions of the tip regions helps ensure that the glove film/material is stretched to the point that the film/material fits tightly against the user&#39;s index and middle fingers. The film needs to be pulled tight enough to ensure that even a faint pulse may be detected through the film but the film should not be stretched so tight that the gloves are restrictive or uncomfortable to wear. 
         [0059]    Instead of just the tip regions  108   a,    110   a  being of a smaller diameter “D 1 ” and circumference “C 1 ” relative to the tip regions of the other finger regions of the gloves disclosed herein, substantially all of the tip regions of the finger regions on glove  100  (including the thumb region  106 , ring finger region  112  and little finger region  114 ) may be fabricated to be of a reduced diameter and circumference relative to the remaining lengths of those finger regions. Still further, instead of just the tip regions  108   a,    110   a  being of smaller diameter and circumference, the entire index finger region  108  and entire middle finger region  110  may be fabricated to have smaller dimensions relative to the index finger region and middle finger regions of the other embodiments of the glove disclosed herein and relative to the ring finger region  112 , little finger region  114  and thumb region  106  of glove  100 . In other words, the index finger region  108  and  110  may be of smaller diameter and circumference along substantially the entire length thereof from the palm region to the tip of the respective finger region instead of only being smaller in dimension along the tip region  108   a  or  110   a.    
         [0060]    Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 10A , there is shown a cross-section through tip region  108   a  of index finger region  108 . Tip region  108   a  is shown to have a circumference “C 1 ” measured around an exterior surface of the tip region  108   a ; and a diameter “D 1 ”. The circumference “C 1 ” is of such a size that when glove  100  is donned, the tip region  108   a  will be smaller than the circumference and diameter of the user&#39;s finger that is received in the interior cavity  108   b  thereof. Because of this reduced circumference “C 1 ”, the film of index finger region  108  will be pulled tightly around the user&#39;s finger as the material thereof stretches to allow of the user&#39;s index finger to enter into the interior  108   b  thereof. Because of the stretching of the film of tip region  108   a  to accommodate the user&#39;s index finger, the thickness of the wall of tip region  108   a  will be reduced to a thickness “T 1 ”. (A similar situation exists with tip region  110   a  when the user&#39;s middle finger is inserted into the interior  110   b  therein.) 
         [0061]      FIG. 10B  shows a cross-section through the wider part  108   c  of the index finger region  108 . This wider part  108   c  is located below the tip region  108   a.  The circumference of the wider part  108   c  is greater than the circumference “C 1 ” of the tip region  108   a  and is indicated in  FIG. 10B  as circumference “C 2 ”. The wider part  108   c  is of a diameter “D 2 ” that is greater than the diameter “D 1 ” of tip region  108   a.  The circumference “C 2 ” is of a size that will be greater than the diameter of a user&#39;s index finger that will be received into the interior  108   b  of index finger region  108 . The thickness “T 2 ” of the wall of wider part  108   c  is greater than the thickness “T 1 ” of the wall of tip region  108   a.  The thinner wall thickness “T 1 ” of index finger region  108  ensures that the material of the tip region  108   a  is pulled tighter around the tip of the user&#39;s finger than is the material along the rest of the length of the wider part  108   b.    
         [0062]      FIG. 10  shows that tip regions  108   a,    110   a  are smooth or free of texture, i.e., un-textured, thereby hindering the tactile sensitivity of the user&#39;s fingertips on their index and middle fingers to a lesser extent than if the tip regions  108   a ,  110   a  were textured.  FIG. 10C  is a front elevation view of the fourth embodiment of the glove. In this instance, the glove  100  is an ambidextrous glove instead of a hand specific glove. It will be understood that the rear elevation view of this glove will be a mirror image of what is illustrated in  FIG. 10C . 
         [0063]    Referring now to  FIGS. 11-13 , there is shown a fifth embodiment of a glove in accordance with an aspect of the invention, generally indicated at  116 . Glove  116  includes a wrist region  118 , a palm region  120 , a thumb region  122 , an index finger region  124 , a middle finger region  126 , a ring finger region  128 , and a little finger region  130 . Glove  116  is illustrated as a hand-specific glove but the same principles as will be discussed hereafter may be incorporated into an ambidextrous glove. 
         [0064]    Glove  116  may be substantially identical to any of the gloves  1 ,  50 ,  80  or  100  particularly as relating to the shape and features of these gloves. Glove  116  differs from the other gloves disclosed herein in that substantially the entire front surface of the glove, i.e., the gripping surfaces thereof, is textured except for the smooth and un-textured tip regions  124   a  and  126   a  in index finger region  124  and middle finger region  126 . The rear surface and/or side surfaces of the glove  116  may also be textured if that is desired or if the glove is an ambidextrous glove. 
         [0065]    The texture pattern utilized in glove  116  has been found to be most advantageous if the pattern is a diamond pattern. The illustrated diamond pattern allows for better gripping ability when wearing glove  116  because of the additional friction provided by the raised diamond shapes on the glove&#39;s exterior surface. The diamond shapes in the pattern also effectively and efficiently wick water and other liquids away from the glove&#39;s exterior surface. This again improves the gripping ability of the exterior surface of the glove  116 . It will be understood that instead of using a diamond pattern, other patterns may be utilized on glove  116 . 
         [0066]      FIG. 11A  is a front elevation view of the fifth embodiment of the glove  116  except that, in this instance, the glove  116  is an ambidextrous glove. It will therefore be understood that the rear elevation view of glove  116  will be a mirror image of what is illustrated in  FIG. 11A . 
         [0067]    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. 
         [0068]    Moreover, the description and illustration set out herein are an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.