Abstract:
A pair of disposable hand coverings has a body formed of a front film layer and back film layer sealed together about a periphery to form a pair of opposing hand coverings each having a finger section at opposite closed ends and each having a wrist section with at least one line of weakening at the wrist sections to ease separating each of the pair of hand coverings.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The field of this invention relates to film made plastic hand coverings in the shape of mittens or gloves. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Plastic film hand coverings in the form of mittens and gloves are widely used for food handling, patient handling, clean up, fun or for promotions. Typically, these plastic hand coverings are meant for single or short term use and thus, preferably, are made inexpensively from film based plastics. 
     Often, a pair of hand coverings i.e. a left and right hand covering are attached together at their respective wrist sections with separation facilitated by a laterally extending perforation line at a midsection. 
     What is needed is a pair of hand coverings that have features that keep the interest of the wearer made for promotions and for fun that may include graphics depicted on the front and rear faces of the hand coverings, so that the hand covering is retained on the hands for longer periods of time and any separated midsection is also retained. Such features may include structural features besides graphic printing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a pair of disposable hand coverings has a body formed of a front film layer and back film layer sealed together about a periphery to form a pair of opposing hand coverings. Each hand covering has a finger section at opposite closed ends and a wrist section joined together by a midsection. Preferably, the shape is in the form of a mitten. 
     The midsection is defined by two longitudinally spaced apart laterally extended lines of weakening, preferably, in the form of perforations for separation from the respective wrist sections of the pair of hand coverings. The midsection may have one of promotional and informative material printed thereon as an incentive to retain the midsection after separation from the pair of disposable hand coverings. 
     Preferably, the midsection has holes located centrally along a longitudinal axis and equally spaced about a center line that laterally extends across the body such that when the body is folded in half along the center line, the holes align for receiving a mounting rack for hanging and display purposes. The midsection has weakening lines to separate into multiple different pieces for separate promotional or informative messages. Preferably, at least one of the lines of weakening is a perforation is along the center line. 
     In one embodiment, the finger section has longitudinally extending seams connecting of the front and back layers together forming individual finger pockets. Each seam has a line of weakening preferably, in the form of a perforation extending therealong to be tearable to form glove finger sections separated with closed edges. Each of the glove finger sections has lateral extending perforation lines of weakening to allow the glove finger sections to be torn and provide base portions. Preferably, a plurality of vent holes extend through at least one of the back and front film layers of the hand coverings for ventilation. At least one section of one of the front film layer and back film layer may have an autograph receptive coating. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Reference now is made to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a pair of hand coverings according to one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom plan view of the hand coverings shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a segmented view illustrating the top and bottom film layers having a periphery seamed together; 
         FIG. 4  shows the hand covering assembly folded in half and installed on a rack; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged sectional view taken along line  5  in  FIG. 4  illustrating optional seams forming finger pockets and perforation lines in the seams; 
         FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 5  showing the perforation lines torn to separate the finger pockets with closed edges; 
         FIG. 7  is a view the hand covering used with the cross perforation  42  torn; and 
         FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 5  showing fingers  41  protruding from the arcuate cuts. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3 , a film assembly  10  made from a front film layer  12  and a back film layer  14  sealed together about its periphery  16  such that a pair of hand coverings  18  each with a wrist section  24  and two opposite closed ends  22  forming a finger section  20 . The finger section  20  may have a separated thumb  21 . The films are a plastic material that can receive and hold printed graphic ink to form a graphic  23 . A suitable plastic may be low density polyurethane and vinyl. 
     Each wrist section  24  is attached to a midsection  26 . The midsection  24  is separated from each wrist section  24  through a pair of weakening lines  28  extending laterally across the assembly  10 . As used herein, the term “weakening” may include perforation, trimmings or any other suitable weakening. Also the transverse center line  30  may be weakened. The midsection may also have additional weakening lines  29  to allow the midsection to be separated into smaller pieces  31 . Each piece  31  may have graphics  33  printed thereon in the form or coupons, promotions, advertisements, riddles and answers or other information. The graphics  33  may also be printed on the inside surface. Such graphics  33  are to peak a user&#39;s interest so that the user retains possession of the midsection and is an incentive against immediate discarding of the midsection. 
     Apertures  32  extend through the front film layer  12  and apertures  34  extend through back film layer  14  and are aligned with the respective aperture  32 . The apertures  32  and  34  are equally spaced from the center line  30  along a longitudinal axis  27  of the assembly  10 . When the assembly  10  is folded in half along center line  30 , all four holes  32  and  34  align to allow the assembly  10  to be mounted on a rack prong  35  for hanging and display purposes as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the finger section  20  may have several seams  36  extending through to form individual finger pockets  38 . In addition each seam  36  as more clearly shown in  FIG. 5  may have weakenings  39  centrally placed within the seam. In other words, the seam  36  has a width sufficient to accommodate tearing of the weakenings  39  wherein each finger pocket  38  maintains a closed edge  40  as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     In addition, the finger pockets  38  may have cross weakenings  42  such that when cross weakenings  42  are torn, the user may expose portions of fingers  41  for more dexterity as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . The cross weakenings  42  are placed such that when torn, a base portion of the seam  36  remains on the hand covering to continue to provide the individual finger pockets  38 . In addition, optional arcuate cuts  45  can be formed in the finger section  20  to allow fingers  41  to lift the flaps  47  formed by the cuts  45  and to protrude from the finger section  20  as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . The arcuate cuts  45  also allow ventilation to promote longer more comfortable wearing of the convertible hand covering  18 . Optional vent holes  48  ( FIG. 3 ) may also be placed throughout the hand covering for additional ventilation. 
     In this manner, the hand covering is convertible from a mitten type covering to a glove type covering that allows fingers to be exposed or covered. Furthermore, the hand coverings can also be converted to a cut-off glove type covering. 
     At least one face of one hand covering  18  may have a transparent autograph receptive coating thereon. This coating allows autographs  50  or other writings by ink pen or pencil thereon as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . A thin transparent urethane material may be suitable for an autograph receptive coating. 
     The hand coverings  18  as well as the midsection  26  may be printed with graphics  23  and  33  that may include promotional material as well as entertaining or informational material. Sport team logos, venue maps, game boards, the map of the State of Michigan as illustrated are various examples of graphics that may be printed on the hand coverings. 
     It should be understood that all the perforations may be replaced by other lines of weakening. For example, thinner seams of plastic or weaker seams of plastic of different material may also provide for the appropriate tearing. 
     Variations and modifications are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.