Patent Publication Number: US-10781035-B2

Title: Folded packaged gloves

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to gloves. More specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to packaged gloves comprising two or more folds. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Gloves, including supported and unsupported gloves, are used in many industries, such as construction, industrial, and medical, as well as households, to protect the hands of users. Such gloves are being manufactured and specified for narrowly defined uses. In other words, gloves have become specialized, i.e., specifically manufactured and sold for a certain physical property, or service application. For example, some gloves are specified for cut-resistance, while others are specified for an enhanced grip. Moreover, different industries have different standards. For example, a glove having a certain feature, such as a cut-resistant supported glove having a polymeric coating, might not be permissible in a food service setting because of the flaking of the coating, while a cut-resistant glove for a welder needs a flame-resistant coating. Further, as gloves have become specialized and in many cases, more expensive, consumers want to ensure that they obtain the correct glove prior to purchase. 
     Identifying the correct glove, for example, in industrial environments which may stock several types of gloves having different features for different applications, is a non-trivial unsolved problem. For example, gloves are often folded in one orientation and re-folded in a different orientation for packaging, obscuring the branding information of the glove or information identifying the properties of the glove. Also, gloves are sometimes folded inside each other, such as when one cuff is turned inside out, with one glove enveloping a mating glove, which also obscures identifying marks of the glove unless such marks were placed on the interior of the glove, which, therefore, is not a favored solution. Placing marks on the interior would be disadvantageous because in such instances, the marks would not be visible while a glove is worn. 
     Further, many gloves are now distributed using vending machines, and if indicia of the properties is not present or prominently visible on the gloves, the chance of user confusion is increased. Such confusion be detrimental to sales of gloves, or may lead to a user selecting and using the wrong glove for a particular task. Significantly, the use of gloves not indicated for a specific purpose increases the likelihood of injury. Also, gloves need to be folded and packaged efficiently, in order to utilize vending machine space efficiently, and not jam in the vending machine, i.e., to hold as many units as possible in correct orientation within the vending machine. Therefore, packaging gloves so that, for example, a logo or a brand, as well as other identifying information, is clearly displayed while folded represents an advance in the art. 
     SUMMARY 
     Multi-folded, individually packaged gloves, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims, are disclosed. Various advantages, aspects, and novel features of the present disclosure, as well as details of an exemplary embodiment thereof, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings and disclosure depict exemplary embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of the scope of the particular forms described, for those skilled in the art will recognize additional embodiments of the present invention, which covers all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 
         FIGS. 1A-1H  depict a pair of gloves tri-folded for packaging, according to embodiments of the invention; 
         FIGS. 2A-2D  depict a pair of gloves quad-folded for packaging, according to embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  depicts a perspective view of a pair of gloves folded in a tri-fold configuration, according to embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  depicts a top view of the pair of gloves of  FIG. 3  folded in a tri-fold configuration, according to embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  depicts a bottom view of the pair of gloves of  FIG. 3  folded in a tri-fold configuration, according to embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  depicts a side view of the pair of gloves of  FIG. 3  folded in a tri-fold configuration, according to embodiments of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  depicts a side view of the pair of gloves in an alternate tri-fold configuration, according to embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  depicts a top view of pair of gloves in the alternate tri-fold configuration of  FIG. 7 , according to embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 9  depicts a first pair of packaged gloves, a second pair of packaged gloves, and a plurality of packaged pairs of gloves disposed therebetween, according to embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 10  depicts a side view of the packaged glove pairs of  FIG. 9 , according to embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 11  depicts a first pair of packaged gloves, a second pair of package gloves, and plurality of pairs of packaged gloves disposed therebetween, according to embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 12  depicts a side view of the packaged glove pairs of  FIG. 11 , according to embodiments of the invention; 
         FIG. 13  depicts a vending machine comprising several pairs of individually packaged tri-folded gloves, according to embodiments of the invention; and 
         FIG. 14  depicts a method for vending a packaged glove pair using the vending machine of  FIG. 13 , according to embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
    
     The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or embodiments according to the invention. As used throughout this application, the word “may” is used in a permissive sense, meaning having the potential to, rather than the mandatory sense. Similarly, the words “include,” “including,” and “includes” mean including, but not limited to. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments according to the present invention include individually packaged gloves, which are folded in various manners, for example, a pair of gloves that is tri-folded along a longitudinal axis. Gloves include fabric gloves, supported gloves, i.e., gloves comprising a fabric liner having a coating disposed thereon, or unsupported gloves. All gloves, supported, unsupported, knitted, woven, cut-and-sewn gloves, and the like are contemplated as being within the scope of the invention. The gloves according to embodiments of the invention may be tri-folded so that fingers are folded over palm of the glove, and cuff is folded over the fingers, or vice versa, also called a roll fold. Alternatively, the gloves may be folded in a Z-fold configuration, in which the fingers are folded over the palm of the glove, and the cuff is folded over a backhand side of the glove. According to several embodiments, a left glove and a right glove are folded and packaged together as a pair of gloves. The gloves pairs may be configured to have corresponding palms facing each other such that the backhand sides of each of the left glove and the right glove face outwards. In some configurations, a palm of a left glove faces a backhand side of a right glove, such that the backhand side of the left glove faces outwards, or vice versa. In some configurations, the thumbs are folded over respective palm or backhand. In each configuration, the profile of the left and the right gloves substantially overlap to enable substantially uniformly shaped layers of gloves for folding. Previously discussed folding configurations, for example, a roll fold or a Z-shaped fold can be applied similarly to the pair of gloves, for example, by ensuring that at least one backhand side of the glove faces outward such that at least a substantial part of the indicia on the backhand side is visible when the glove pair is folded. 
     The gloves are folded and packaged so that one or more indicia including type, brand, industry-application, or manufacturer can be easily viewed by a consumer prior to purchase. The folding and packaging as described with respect to some embodiments herein ensures that at least one of such indicia is easily and completely visible to a user purchasing gloves from a vending machine, for example. The user can select the appropriate product using the indicia. Moreover, there may be legal reasons why it is important to display certain information. For example, a patent number may be printed on a glove conspicuously so that one who would sell or import the glove into the U.S. might see such indicia. In several cases, the English name of the country of origin of the glove is required to be clearly visible on the glove. 
       FIGS. 1A-1H  depict a pair of gloves  100  tri-folded for packaging, according to embodiments of the invention.  FIG. 1A  depicts the pair of gloves  100  or the glove pair  100 , comprising a right hand glove  102  or a right glove  102 , a left hand glove  104  or a left glove  104 , each having a palm  106 , and  108  respectively. The left glove  102  and the right glove  104  comprise left and right thumbs, referred to as thumb(s)  110 , left and right cuffs, referred to as cuff(s)  112 , and left and right set of fingers, referred to as finger(s)  114 .  FIG. 1B  depicts the glove pair  100  comprising the right and left gloves  102 ,  104  configured in a mirror configuration such that the corresponding palms  106 ,  108  contact each other.  FIG. 1B  depicts the gloves  102 ,  104  offset from each other for illustration purposes, and as such, it is intended that the right glove  102  completely overlaps the left glove  104 , or vice versa. The left glove  104  has a backhand side  118 , while the right glove  102  has a corresponding backhand side  120  (not visible in  FIG. 1B ). The backhand sides  118 ,  120  comprise one or more indicia  116  for identifying application, branding, size and other such information. The indicia  116  of one or either backhands  118 ,  120  are collectively referred to as the indicia  116 , and includes, without limitation, a logo, a manufacturer&#39;s name, or usage information, such as functionality, e.g. cut-resistance, of the gloves  102 ,  104 , for example.  FIG. 1C  depicts the glove pair  100  comprising the right and the left gloves  102 ,  104  overlapping each other completely, and the thumbs  110  folded over the backhand  118  of the left glove  104 .  FIG. 1D  depicts the glove pair  100  with the fingers  114  folded over the backhand  118  and the thumbs  110 . The fold of the fingers  114  defines a folded edge  156  or a finger side edge  156 . 
       FIG. 1E  depicts a roll fold of the glove pair  100 . The cuffs  112  are folded over the fingers  114 , and the fold of the cuffs  112  defines an edge  158  or a cuff side edge  158 .  FIG. 1F  depicts a back view of the roll folded glove pair  100  of  FIG. 1E , in which the backhand  120  portion of the right glove  102  and indicia  116  thereon is completely visible. 
       FIG. 1G  depicts a Z-shaped fold of the glove pair  100 . The cuffs  112  are folded over the backhand  120  of the right glove  102 , and the fold of the cuffs  112  defines an edge  157  or a cuff side edge  157 . The backhand  118  is partially covered by the fingers  114 , and the indicia  116  thereon, is at least partially visible.  FIG. 1H  depicts a back view of the Z-shaped folded glove pair  100  of  FIG. 1G , in which the backhand  120  of the right glove  102  is completely visible. It is noted that in the Z-shaped fold, the backhand  120  is partially covered by the cuffs, the backhand  120  and any indicia thereon, is still completely visible. 
     In several multi-folded configurations, for example, tri-fold configurations such as the roll fold and the Z-shaped fold, and quad-fold configurations, the right glove  102  and the left glove  104  are folded together in a substantially overlapping configuration, and a substantial portion of the backhand  120  and the indicia  116  thereon is visible when the glove pair  100  is folded in the abovementioned configurations. According to some embodiments, the indicia  116  of at least one of the right glove  102  or the left glove is  104  is completely visible in a folded configuration. According to some embodiments, the indicia  116  of each of the right glove  102  and the left glove  104  is at least partially visible in a folded configuration. Further, in the aforesaid configurations, the left and the right gloves  102 ,  104  are nested, that is, the left and the right gloves are not individually separable while folded. In some embodiments (not shown), the right glove  102  and the left glove  104  are folded individually, and the gloves  102 ,  104  are therefore individually separable while folded. 
       FIGS. 2A-2D  depict a pair of gloves  200  quad-folded for packaging, according to embodiments of the invention.  FIG. 2A  depicts the pair  200  of gloves or the glove pair  200 , comprising a right glove  202  or a right glove  202 , a left glove  204  or a left glove  204 , each having a palm  206 , and  208  respectively. The left glove  202  and the right glove  204  comprise left and right thumbs, referred to as thumb(s)  210 , left and right cuffs, referred to as cuff(s)  212 , and left and right set of fingers, referred to as finger(s)  214 . Each of the thumbs  210  is individually folded over the respective palms  206 ,  208 .  FIG. 2B  depicts the glove pair  200  comprising the right and left gloves  202 ,  204  configured in a mirror configuration such that the corresponding palms  206 ,  208  contact each other. The glove pair  200  comprises a longitudinal axis C-C and a lateral axis D-D.  FIG. 2B  depicts the gloves  202 ,  204  offset from each other for illustration purposes, and as such, it is intended that the right glove  202  completely overlaps the left glove  204 , or vice versa. The left glove  204  has a backhand side  218 , while the right glove  202  has a corresponding backhand side (not shown). The backhand sides comprise one or more indicia  216  for identifying application, branding, size and other such information. The indicia  216  of one or either backhands are collectively referred to as the indicia  216 .  FIG. 2C  depicts the glove pair  200  folded in half along the longitudinal axis C-C of the glove pair  200  extending in a direction from the cuffs  212  towards the fingers  214 , defining an edge  256  or a central fold  256 .  FIG. 2D  depicts the glove pair  200  further folded along the lateral axis D-D, such that the fingers  214  extend to meet the cuffs  212 , and the fingers  214  substantially overlap the cuffs  212 , and vice versa. Such folding configuration is also referred to as a quarter fold. A substantial portion of the backhand  218  and any indicia thereon is visible when the glove pair  200  is folded in this configuration. The left and the right gloves  202 ,  204  are nested, that is, the left and the right gloves are not individually separable while folded. According to some embodiments, the glove pair  200  is folded in alternate quad-fold configurations comprising a double gate fold, or an accordion fold, as generally known in the art, for example, after folding the gloves as shown in  FIG. 2C . 
     Further details of glove pairs in exemplary folded configurations, and packaging thereof are described with respect to  FIGS. 3-8 .  FIG. 3  depicts a perspective view of a pair of gloves  100  folded in a tri-fold configuration, according to embodiments of the present invention. The pair of gloves  100  includes two gloves, one each corresponding to a right hand  102  and a left hand  104 . Within the present application, the left hand glove  104  or the right hand glove  102  are referred to without distinction, unless required by the context or otherwise indicated. The individual gloves within a pair are configured in a mirror configuration, that is, corresponding parts of the right hand glove are positioned to overlap with the corresponding parts of the left hand glove. This configuration is also referred to as a palm facing configuration, in which the palm of left hand glove overlaps the palm of right hand glove, while the backhand of both the left hand gloves are visible. In a palm facing a backhand configuration (not shown), the backhand of the left hand glove overlaps the palm of the right hand glove. It is noted that the glove pair includes two palms, two backhands, two cuffs, two sets of four fingers and two thumbs, and in the present application, any of these parts may be referred to without distinction, unless otherwise indicated. 
     The tri-fold configuration illustrated in  FIG. 3  is a roll fold, such that fingers  114  and thumbs (not shown) are folded over backhand  118  of the left glove  104 . The fold of the fingers  114  creates the edge  156 , and cuffs  112  are folded over the fingers  112  creating the edge  158 , individually referred to as the finger side edge  156  and the cuff side edge  158 , respectively, and collectively referred to as the fold edges  156 ,  158 . The folded fingers  114  extend towards the opposite cuff side edge  158 , while the folded cuffs  112  extend towards the finger side edge  156 . The folded fingers  114  extend fully to the cuff side edge  158 . The folded cuffs  112  do not fully extend to the finger side edge  156 , creating an overhang portion  160  between the cuffs  112  and the finger side edge  156 . 
     The backhand  120  of the glove  102  includes one or more indicia  116  for display. The visible portion of the backhand  120  of the glove provides appropriate and sufficient space for the indicia  116 , to enable a user to instantly recognize a manufacturer or type of gloves from the indicia  116  while the glove is folded in the tri-fold configuration. The tri-fold configuration nests the gloves  102 ,  104  into a secure packaging configuration and prevents the unintentional un-nesting of the right glove  102  and the left glove  104  while being removed from its packaging. 
       FIG. 4  depicts a top view of the pair of gloves  100  of  FIG. 3  folded in a tri-fold configuration, according to embodiments of the present invention. The indicia  116  further include, text marks  117 , for example.  FIG. 5  depicts a bottom view of the pair of gloves  100  of  FIG. 3  folded in a tri-fold configuration, according to embodiments of the present invention. The folded pair of gloves  100  includes fingers  114  folded over the backhand  118 .  FIG. 6  depicts a side view of the pair of gloves  100  of  FIG. 3  folded in a tri-fold configuration, according to embodiments of the invention. Thumbs  110  are folded in between fingers  114  and the backhand  118  of the left glove  104 , as discussed above. 
       FIG. 7  depicts a side view of the pair of gloves  100  in an alternate tri-fold configuration, according to embodiments of the invention. The tri-fold is a Z-shaped fold, such that the fingers  114  and the thumbs  110  are folded over the backhand  118  creating the edge  156 , and cuffs  112  are folded over the backhand  120  of the right glove  102  creating the edge  157 . Also, the thumbs  110  are folded onto the backhand  118 , and the fingers  114  are folded over the thumbs  110  and the backhand  118 , in other embodiments (not shown), the fingers  114  are folded over the backhand  118 , and the thumbs  110  are folded over the fingers  114 . The cuffs  112  are folded over the backhand  120  of the right glove  102 . The cuffs  112  do not fully extend to the finger side edge  156  which is opposite the cuffs  112 , creating a first overhang portion  160  between the folded cuffs  112  and the finger side edge  156 . The fingers  114  are folded such that the folded fingers  114  do not fully extend to the cuff side edge  157 , which is opposite the folded fingers  114 , creating a second overhang portion  162  between the fingers  114  and the cuff side edge  157 .  FIG. 8  depicts a top view of the pair of gloves  100  in the alternate tri-fold configuration of  FIG. 7 , according to embodiments of the invention. The backhand  120  of the glove  102  includes indicia  116 , such as patterns, for example, logos, marks, text  117  and the like, which are visible in the tri-folded configuration. 
     The tri-folded glove pair  100 , tri-folded in either the roll fold or the Z-shaped fold configuration, as described with respect to  FIGS. 3-8  can be packaged in, for example, partially or substantially transparent packaging (not shown) to allow visibility of the indicia  116  and the gloves  100 , while constraining the volume occupied by the gloves  100 . The packaging is made from polyethylene or similar transparent packaging materials, as are well known in the art. 
       FIG. 9  depicts multiple packaged glove pairs  100 , according to embodiments of the invention. Individual tri-folded glove pairs  100   1 ,  100   2  . . .  100   N  are packaged in individual first packaging  902   1 ,  902   2  . . .  902   N . The first packaging  902  tightly encases the glove pairs  100  in a tight manner, such that the first packaging  902  maintains the shape and the multi-fold configuration of the folded glove pairs  100 , preventing the unfolding of the glove pairs  100  while packaged. According to some embodiments, the packaging  902  is shrink-wrapped over the glove pairs  100 . Multiple pairs of gloves  100  packaged in first packaging  902  are further packaged in an outer second packaging  904 . The indicia  116  of gloves  100  are visible through the first packaging  902  and through the second packaging  904 . 
       FIG. 10  depicts a side view of the packaged glove pairs  100   1 ,  100   2  . . .  100   N  of  FIG. 9 , according to embodiments of the invention. First packaged glove pair  100   1  and second packaged glove pair  100   2  overlap such that the edge  158   2  of the glove pair  100   2  lies under the overhang portion  160   1  of the first packaged glove pair  100   1 . Therefore, the first packaged glove pair  100   1  overlaps a portion of the second packaged glove pair  100   2  within the overhang portion  160   1  of the first packaged glove pair  100   1 . Advantageously, the packaging  902  allows for the overhang portion  160   1  to be prominent available to accommodate the edge  158   2  of the glove pair  100   2 . The packaging configuration described is referred to as an overlap packaging configuration. According to several embodiments, use of such overhang portions of a glove pair to accommodate portions of another glove pair provides volume efficient packaging, which is advantageous for transportation and for display and dispense in vending machines, without compromising on the visibility of the indicia  116 , for example. While volume efficient packaging has been illustrated by use of overlap  160 , it should be noted that any fold that comprises an overhang, such as overhang  160  or  162 , allows for an overlap packaging configuration, in a manner similar to that described above. Such configurations will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and the spirit of the present invention. 
       FIG. 11  depicts a first pair of packaged gloves  200   1 , a second pair of package gloves  200   N , and plurality of pairs of packaged gloves disposed therebetween, according to embodiments of the invention. Individual quad-folded glove pairs  200 , as discussed with respect to  FIGS. 2A-2D , are packaged in individual first packaging  1102 . The first packaging  1102  encases the glove pairs  200  in a tight manner, such that the first packaging  1102  maintains the shape and the fold configuration of the glove pairs  200 , and prevents unfolding of the glove pairs  200  while packaged. According to some embodiments, the packaging  1102  is shrink-wrapped over the glove pairs  200 . Multiple pairs of such gloves  200  packaged in individual packaging  1102   1 ,  1102   2  . . .  1102   N , are further packaged in an outer second packaging  1104 . At least a part of the indicia  216  of gloves  200  are visible through the first packaging  1102  and through the second packaging  1104 . According to several embodiments, adjacent pairs of glove pairs  200  are turned upside down, such that if a top of a glove pair  200   2  and bottom of glove pair  200   3  is visible. In this configuration, at least a part of the indicia  216  is visible from both sides of the packaging  1104 . Such folding configuration provides for volume efficient packaging and is also advantageous for display and dispense in vending machines, while ensuring visibility of at least a part of the indicia  216  from both sides of the glove pairs  200 . 
       FIG. 12  depicts a side view of the packaged glove pairs  200  of  FIG. 11 , according to embodiments of the invention. Glove pairs  200   1 ,  200   2  are laid adjacent such that the edge  256  of the glove pair  200   1  lies next to an edge opposite to the edge  256  of the glove pair  200   2 . 
       FIG. 13  depicts a vending machine  1300  comprising several pairs of individually packaged tri-folded pair of gloves  100 , according to embodiments of the invention. The vending machine  1300  comprises trays  1302  for displaying products that are dispensed to a collection tray  1304  by use of user interface  1306 . The pair of gloves  100   1  or  100   2  are visible through a display area  1308 , typically a transparent window that securely displays the products in the vending machine  1300 . According to several embodiments, the vending machine  1300  stores individual glove pairs  100  with packaging  902 , for display and dispense, using the vending machine  1300 . Advantageously, in addition to being volume efficient, the tightly wound packaging  902  prevents accidental unfolding of the folded gloves pairs  100 , or a significant change in shape of the folded glove pairs  100 , thereby preventing jamming of the vending machine  1300 . The glove pairs  100  are efficiently stored, and have the indicia  116 , which is visible from outside the vending machine  1300  through the display area  1308 , for appropriate selection by a consumer who wishes to extract a glove pair using the vending machine  1300 . Any of the several vending machines as generally known in the art may be deployed for dispensing the glove pairs  100 , or the glove pairs  200 . 
       FIG. 14  depicts a method  1400  for vending a packaged glove pair using the vending machine  1300  of  FIG. 13 , according to embodiments of the invention. At least some steps of the method  1400  are implemented using a microcontroller or microprocessor based digital computing device, or other digital computing electronic device deployed in vending machines, as generally known in the art. The method  1400  starts at step  1402  and proceeds to step  1404 , at which the method  1400  displays at least one packaged glove pair in a vending machine. For example, the vending machine  1300  displays, to a user of the vending machine  1300 , the glove pair  100  tightly encased in the packaging  902 . The method  1400  proceeds to step  1406 , at which the method  1406  receives a selection for the displayed packaged glove. For example, the user of the vending machine  1300  views the displayed glove, and selects the desired product. At step  1408 , the method  1400  dispenses the selected packaged glove pair. The method  1400  proceeds to step  1410 , where the method  1400  ends. 
     Although only a few exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. For example, while multiple folds have been explained with respect to tri-folds, similarly configured quad-folds will occur readily to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Further, wherever possible, the left hand gloves and the right hand gloves may be reversed without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. While the embodiments are discussed herein with respect to palm facing configuration, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments are not restricted by the palm facing configuration, but rather extend to several other configurations discussed herein or that will occur readily to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
     Publications and references, including but not limited to patents and patent applications, if cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety and cited as if each individual publication or reference were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference herein as being fully set forth. 
     The foregoing description of embodiments of the invention comprises a number of elements, devices, machines, components and/or assemblies that perform various functions as described. These elements, devices, machines, components and/or assemblies are exemplary implementations of means for performing their respectively described functions. While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof.