Abstract:
A finger glove to cover a finger of a user includes a closed distal end and an open proximate end, a first row of longitudinal slots and a second row of longitudinal slots, the second row of longitudinal slots being offset with respect to the first row of longitudinal slots. The slots play roles in making the finger glove fit onto various sizes of human fingers and allowing the skin beneath the finger glove to breathe.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a finger glove, and more particularly to a finger glove that is made from a non-elastic material that can fit into various sizes of human fingers and will not slip off the fingers. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,647,549 discloses a finger glove that can fit onto a human finger. The finger glove can be used as a substitute for cotton balls, swabs, and/or gauzes, or as an oral cleaning device. The finger glove is at least partially made from an elastomeric material such that the glove can more aptly fit onto a finger. Moreover, the glove can also be partially made from a texturized material having an abrasive surface useful for cleaning surfaces. Furthermore, the glove, in some instances, can possess a barrier that is liquid-impermeable, but vapor-permeable so that the finger of a user is more comfortable during use. Various additives can be applied to the glove. 
         [0003]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,819,765 discloses an appliance for hygiene and care of an oral cavity having a thin rubber glove for one finger of a hand, the glove having at least one operative surface area extending to an end of said glove so as to correspond to a position of a finger tip, and a sealed hollow member provided in the at least one operative surface area and accommodating an active product, the sealed hollow member being formed so that during rubbing of said at least one operative surface area against teeth or gums the active product emerges from the sealed hollow member and is spread over the teeth and gums. 
         [0004]    In today&#39;s society, many people eat food such as doughnuts, sandwiches hamburgers and french fries with their bare hands. Such activity not only appears unsanitary but in a great many cases is unsanitary. Furthermore, eating such food with bare hands is messy. Even though, the hands can be cleaned with tissues, the hands generally feel unpleasant until they are thoroughly washed. 
         [0005]    Furthermore, the size of human fingers varies from very large to very small. Consequently, there is a need for a finger glove that can fit the large fingers as well as the small fingers. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The finger gloves of the present invention can be formed from flexible but non-elastic material. 
         [0007]    The finger gloves of the present invention include slots formed in rows. One row of the slots is offset from an adjacent row so that a zig-zag pattern is formed. When pressure or force is applied in a traverse direction to the rows of slots, the slots open into apertures so that the apertures play a role in enlarging the width of the finger glove. This means that the finger glove can be even made from non-elastic material that can be used for various sizes of human fingers. The apertures can also allow the skin beneath the finger glove to breathe. 
         [0008]    The water vapor emitted from the skin of the user is allowed to escape through the apertures. 
         [0009]    The finger glove of the present invention includes embossing in the form of inwardly extending projections. 
         [0010]    Additionally, the finger glove of the present invention includes an attachment apparatus for attachment to the finger to prevent the finger glove from slipping off the finger. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which: 
           [0012]      FIGS. 1   a  and  b  illustrate the expandable slots of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates a plan view of the finger glove of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates a continuous strip of detachably connected finger gloves of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates a top view of a box type apparatus to package the finger glove of the present invention in a container; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of the box type apparatus to package the finger glove of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of the finger glove of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  illustrates a roll type apparatus to package the finger glove of the present invention in a container; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  illustrates a top view of a press plate of the roll type apparatus; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  illustrates a side view of the press plate of the roll type apparatus; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  illustrates another roll type apparatus to package the finger glove of the present invention in a container; 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  illustrates a top view of a press plate of the roll type apparatus; 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  illustrates a side view of the press plate of the roll type apparatus; 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    The finger glove  108  of the present invention shown in  FIG. 2  could be formed from latex which is elastic and consequently could be used for different sized fingers. However, latex is un-permeable with respect to water and consequently, this material could leave the user with an unpleasant feeling. Other materials could be polyethylene or paper. However, these other materials are not elastic. Other materials could include a thermoplastic material such as polypropylene. 
         [0025]      FIG. 1   a  illustrates a section of the finger glove  108  of the present invention. In order to overcome the limitations of non-elastic materials, when the materials are used for finger gloves, the finger glove  108  includes a first row  102  of slots  100  which is offset from a second row  104  of slots  100 . The first row  102  and the second row  104  form a zigzag pattern. The slots  100  are formed substantially in a longitudinal direction of the finger glove  108 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1   b , after the user has placed a finger into the finger glove  108 , the finger glove  108  expands and the slots  100  expand forming substantially diamond shaped apertures  106 . These apertures  106  can play a role in enlarging the width of the finger glove  108  even when non-elastic materials are used for the finger glove  108 . 
         [0026]    These apertures  106  also allow the moisture to escape from the finger of the user. Since the first row  102  and a second row  104  are offset, the apertures  106  are tightly packed and result in a large surface area being exposed to the atmosphere. 
         [0027]    This structure reduces manufacturing costs and the cost for the user. The finger glove  108  of the present invention provides sanitation and saves the use of tissue which may be used to clean up the fingers of the user. 
         [0028]    The fingers of the user generally taper outwards approaching the distal end of the finger which results in the finger glove having difficulty remaining on the finger of the user. This aspect is especially pronounced for users with small fingers such as children. In order to overcome this aspect,  FIG. 2  illustrates a attachment apparatus which is shown as a extending member  212  which extends along the longitudinal direction of the finger glove  108  and which includes adhesive layer  214  formed on the inside surface of the extending member  212  to adhere to the finger of the user, preventing the finger glove  108  from slipping off. 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of the finger glove  108  which includes the slots  100  and the extending member  212 . The finger glove  108  includes a closed distal end and an open proximate end.  FIG. 6  additionally illustrates inward extending projections  620  which are positioned in the interior surface of the finger glove  108  to provide for friction for the finger of the user. 
         [0030]      FIG. 3  illustrates a continuous strip  330  of detachably connected finger gloves  108 . The continuous strip  330  includes a weakened area  332  formed around the periphery of the finger glove  108 . The weakened area  332  may be formed from perforations and allow the finger glove  108  to be detached from the continuous strip  330 . The user of the finger glove  108  can pull and detach the finger glove  108  from the continuous strip  330 . 
         [0031]      FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate a box type apparatus  440  to package the finger glove  108  of the present invention. The box type apparatus  440  includes a spring  442  and a press plate  444  which prevents the continuous strip  330  from returning into the box container and is pressed by the user to detach the finger glove  108  from the continuous strip  330  pressing beneath the press plate  444 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of the finger glove  108  of the present invention. 
         [0033]      FIG. 7  illustrates an embodiment of packaging the finger glove  108  and the container.  FIG. 7  illustrates the roll type apparatus  770  of packaging the finger glove  108  and illustrates a press plate  774  where the user presses to detach the finger glove  108  from the continuous strip  330 . This plate  774  also prevents the reverse rolling of the continuous strip  330 . A section  772  of the roll type apparatus  770  is detailed in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
         [0034]      FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate a top view and a side view of the roll type apparatus  770 , respectively. 
         [0035]      FIG. 10  illustrates another embodiment of the roll type apparatus  1000 . A section  1002  of the roll type apparatus  1000  is detailed in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 11  illustrates a top view of the roll type apparatus  1000  and shows the continuous strip  330  passing beneath the press plate  1004  and a hinge  1006 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 12  illustrates a side view of the roll type apparatus  1000  and shows the press plate  1004  and hinge  1006 . 
         [0038]    While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.