Patent Publication Number: US-2022225707-A1

Title: Glove Holder

Description:
FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to a holder for a glove, and more specifically, a holder for a glove that can receive a hand of a wearer without repositioning the glove on the holder. 
     BACKGROUND 
     When gloves are not being worn by a user, they are generally laid flat or wadded up inside a bag, within a pocket, on a shelf, or in a drawer. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a holder for holding a work glove. The holder includes a support arm and a catch arm. The support arm has a first end portion and a second end portion spaced apart along a longitudinal axis such that the first end portion is spaced apart from the second end portion in a glove insertion direction along the longitudinal axis. The support arm also includes an inner face facing generally in first direction along an arm spacing axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The catch arm has a first end portion connected to the first end portion of the support arm and a free second end portion spaced apart from the first end portion of the catch arm in a glove removal direction along the longitudinal axis. The glove removal direction is opposite the glove insertion direction. The catch arm has an inner face facing generally in a second direction that is opposite the first direction along the arm spacing axis. At least a portion of the inner face of the catch arm is disposed in adjacent, face-to-face relationship with at least a portion of the inner face of the support arm such that the holder defines the glove retention area between the support arm and the catch arm. The holder grips a portion of a cuff of the glove in the glove retention area between the support arm and the catch arm whereby the holder retains the glove. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the nature and objects of the disclosure, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of the holder retaining a glove. 
         FIG. 2  is a side-view illustration of the holder. 
         FIG. 3  is an alternative side-view illustration of the holder. 
         FIG. 4  is an illustration of the holder being releasably fastened to a separate support structure by a fastener. 
         FIG. 5  is a back-view illustration of the holder including fastener receivers. 
         FIG. 6  is an illustration of an alternative embodiment of the glove holder with a belt loop for mounting the holder. 
         FIG. 7  is an alternative illustration of an alternative embodiment of the glove holder with an integrated clip for mounting the holder. 
         FIG. 8  is a front-view of the holder. 
     
    
    
     Reference is made in the following detailed description of one or more embodiments to accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, wherein like numerals may designate like parts throughout that are corresponding and/or analogous. It will be appreciated that the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale, such as for simplicity and/or clarity of illustration. For example, dimensions of some aspects may be exaggerated relative to others. Further, it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized. Furthermore, structural and/or other changes may be made without departing from claimed subject matter. References throughout this specification to “claimed subject matter” refer to subject matter intended to be covered by one or more claims, or any portion thereof, and are not necessarily intended to refer to a complete claim set, to a particular combination of claim sets (e.g., method claims, apparatus claims, etc.), or to a particular claim. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The inventor has recognized that conventional ways of storing gloves (e.g., work gloves) are not optimal for occupations that require the donning of gloves at a moment&#39;s notice. For instance, when firefighters are called upon, they must immediately don their gloves along with other protective gear. The conventional ways of storing gloves do not hold the gloves in a way that allows for them to be quickly put on. Further, the conventional ways of storing gloves often invite glove owners to wad the gloves up when not in use. Wadded gloves can sometimes become stiff, which complicates and delays the process of putting gloves on when called upon. Further, it is believed that wadded up gloves can retain moisture and thereby promote bacterial growth and/or other unsanitary conditions. Additionally, the inventor believes that it would be advantageous to provide a means for holding gloves on a person&#39;s body in a ready-to-wear condition so that the gloves can be quickly donned at a moment&#39;s notice. Therefore, there is a need for a glove holder that is time efficient and does not require additional handling of the gloves prior to putting the gloves on the hands of the wearer. 
     The present disclosure provides a holder  10  for a glove G, as shown in  FIG. 1 . The holder  10  includes a support arm  12  and a catch arm  14 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . In one or more embodiments, the holder  10  can further include a u-shaped portion  16  that extends between the support arm  12  and the catch arm  14 . Further, in one or more embodiments, the holder  10  can be made from a single monolithic piece of material, continuously connecting the support arm  12  to the catch arm  14  through the U-shape portion. The holder  10  can be utilized for gripping a portion of a cuff C of the glove Gin a glove retention area between the support arm  12  and the catch arm  14 . In certain embodiments, the glove retention area is defined by a region along the holder  10 , between the support arm  12  and the catch arm  14 , where the two arms come together in close (e.g., contacting) face-to-face relation. The glove retention area allows the holder  10  to retain the glove G such that the cuff C is partially open while a remainder of the glove hangs at least somewhat outstretched from the holder. By having the glove G hang somewhat outstretched, the glove on the holder  10  is ready, without adjustment, to receive a hand of a wearer. Further glove hangs so that it can air out, which is believed to promote sanitary conditions inside the glove. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the support arm  12  of the present disclosure opposes at least a portion of the catch arm  14  and includes a first end portion  18 , a second end portion  20 , and an inner face  22 . As shown, the first end portion  18  of the support arm  12  is spaced apart from the second end portion  20  of the support arm in a glove insertion direction  24  along a longitudinal axis  26 . Conversely, the second end portion  20  of the support arm  12  is spaced apart from the first end portion  18  of the support arm along the longitudinal axis  26  in a glove removal direction  28 , where the glove removal direction is opposite the glove insertion direction  24 . As shown, the inner face  22  of the support arm  12  faces generally in a first direction  30  along an arm spacing axis  32  perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  26 . 
     In some embodiments, the support arm  12  can further include a hook  34 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The hook  34  can protrude from the inner face  22  of the support arm  12  toward the catch arm  14  such that it may further retain the cuff C of the glove G, as shown in  FIG. 1 . By further retaining the cuff C of the glove G, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the glove does not fall off the holder  10  when the holder is nonstationary. In one or more embodiments, the hook  34  is, for example but not limiting to, a triangular protrusion. The hook  34  can force the cuff C of the glove G to bend as it clears the hook, allowing the hook to hook or engage fabric of the glove in a way that provides resistance to inadvertent movement or withdrawal of the glove in the glove removal direction  28 . As shown, the hook  34  can include a ramped end  38  and a hooking end  40 . The ramped end  38  faces the glove removal direction  28  while the hooking end  40  faces the glove insertion direction  24 . As shown, the ramped end  38  is angled such that the ramped end extends in the first direction  30  along the arm spacing axis  32  while extending longitudinally in the glove insertion direction  24 . In accordance with the present disclosure, the hooking end  40  can be either substantially generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  26  or, in another embodiment (not shown), angled such that the hooking end extends in the first direction  30  along the arm spacing axis  32  while extending longitudinally in the glove insertion direction  24 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the holder  10  comprises a fastener  36  for releasably fastening the support arm  12  to a separate support structure S for supporting the holder on the separate support structure. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the illustrated support arm  12  comprises fastener receivers  41  for receiving removable fasteners  36  (e.g., screws) therethrough. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the fasteners  36  can extend through fastener receivers  41  into the support structure S for fastening the holder  10  to the support structure. In  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the support structure S is a belt to be worn around a person&#39;s waist. Thus, the support arm  12  and fasteners  36  mount the holder  10  on the person so that the holder moves with the person when the belt is worn. This allows the holder  10  to support the gloves on the person in a ready-to-wear condition. As one would understand, location, type, and shape of the fastener receivers can vary to correlate with the type of fastener  36 . Further, the separate support structure S could be other than a belt, e.g., another article of clothing, a stationary article such as a wall, or nonstationary article such as a backpack. 
     In an alternative embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the holder  10  can include a loop  42  on the support arm  12  for mounting the holder  10 , e.g., as an alternative to the holder including fastener receivers  41  and fasteners  36 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the belt loop  42  on the support arm defines a passage  43  for receiving a portion of a belt (not shown) to support the holder  10  on the belt. 
     Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the support arm  12  of the holder  10  can include an integrated clip  44  for mounting the holder or a support structure. As shown, the illustrated support arm  12  comprises first and second arm portions  45 ,  46  that together define the clip  44  for securing the holder  10  to a fabric edge margin (e.g., a pocket or a belt). As sown in  FIG. 7 , the second support arm portion  46  can be toothed so that the first arm portion  45  of the support arm and the second arm portion grip the fabric edge margin received therebetween. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , in the preferred embodiment, the catch arm  14  of the holder  10  includes a first end portion  47 , a free second end portion  48 , and an inner face  49 . The U-shaped portion  16  of the holder  10  connects the first end portion  47  of the catch arm  14  to the first end portion  18  of the support arm  12 . The free second end portion  48  of the catch arm  14  is spaced apart from the first end portion  47  of the catch arm in the glove removal direction  28  along the longitudinal axis  26 . In one or more embodiments, the free second end portion  48  of the catch arm  14  protrudes along the longitudinal axis  26  in the glove removal direction beyond the tip of the support arm  12 . For example, the free second end portion  48  of the catch arm  14  can protrude longitudinally beyond the tip of the second end portion  20  of the support arm  12  by at least 0.5 inches (e.g., at least 1.0 inches). The protruding second end portion  48  of the catch arm  14  can catch the cuff C of the glove G as the glove moves proximal-end-first toward the holder  10  in the glove insertion direction  24 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . In the illustrated embodiment, the cuff C defines the proximal end of the glove G and the fingertips define the opposite distal end of the glove. The inner face  49  of the catch arm  14  faces generally in a second direction  50  along the arm spacing axis  32 , where the second direction is oppositely facing the first direction  30 . Further, at least a portion of the inner face  49  of the catch arm  14  is disposed in adjacent, face-to-face relationship with at least a portion of the inner face  22  of the support arm  12  such that the holder  10  can define the glove retention area between the support arm  12  and the catch arm  14 . The catch arm  14  in one or more embodiments, is configured to guide the portion of the cuff C into the glove retention area as the glove G moves proximal-end-first along the holder  10  after the free second end portion  48  of the catch arm catches the cuff of the glove. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 8 , in one or more embodiments, the catch arm  14  further includes a flared section  52  that defines the free second end portion  48 , a tapering section  56  that defines the first end portion  47 , and a longitudinally extending middle section  54  between the flared section  52  and the tapering section  56 . The flared section  52  includes a first end  58  joined to the middle section  54 . The flared section  52  extends longitudinally from the first end  58  to the free second end portion  48  of the catch arm  14  in the glove removal direction  28 . Further, the flared section  52  is angled to extend in the first direction  30  along the arm spacing axis  32  as it extends longitudinally from the first end  58  of the flared section  52  to the free second end portion  48  of the catch arm  14 . The flared section  52  defines a flare angle  60  between the flared section and the longitudinal axis  26 . In one or more embodiments, the flare angle  60  is in an inclusive range of from about 10° to about 70° (e.g., from about 15° to about 45°). The fared section  60  forms an outwardly protruding catch that allows a user to easily guide the cuff C of the glove G into the glove retention area of the holder  10 . 
     The middle section  54  is spaced apart between the first end portion  47  of the catch arm  14  and the free second end portion  48  of the catch arm  14 . As shown, the middle section  54  is oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis  26 . In one or more embodiments, as shown, the middle section  54  is longer than the flared section  52 . A portion of the illustrated middle section  54  opposes the second end portion  20  of the support arm  12  in close, face-to-face relation. Thus, the middle section  54  defines a portion of the glove retention area, e.g., a portion of the glove can be retained (e.g., clipped, gripped, or pinched) between the opposing portions of the middle section and the support arm  12 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the tapering section  56  that extends longitudinally from the first end portion  47  of the catch arm  14  to the middle section  54  of the catch arm. The tapering section  56  is angled to extend in the second direction  50  along the arm spacing axis  32  as it extends longitudinally from the first end portion  47  of the catch arm  14  to the middle section  54 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the tapering section  56  defines a taper angle  62  between the tapering section and the longitudinal axis  26  that is less than the flare angle  60  of the flared section  52 . In one or more embodiments, the taper angle  62  is less than the flare angle  60 . In certain embodiments, the taper angle is in an inclusive range of from about 5° to about 45° (e.g., from about 10° to about 40°). A portion of the illustrated tapering section  56  opposes the second end the ramped end  38  of the hook  34  in close, face-to-face relation. Thus, the tapering section  56  defines a portion of the glove retention area, e.g., a portion of the glove can be retained (e.g., clipped, gripped, or pinched) between the opposing portions of the tapering section and the hook  34 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the main body of the holder  10 , which includes the support arm  12 , the catch arm  14 , and the U-shaped portion  16 , is formed from a single piece of monolithic material. Suitably, the material is resiliently bendable. This enables the u-shaped portion  16  to resiliently bend to allow the catch arm  14  to move away from the support arm  12  along the arm spacing axis  32 , which opens the holder  10  for receiving the glove G. When the force used to separate the catch arm  14  from the support arm  12  is released, the U-shaped portion resiliently rebounds to return the holder to the closed position shown in the drawings. In certain embodiments (not shown), the holder  10  can include additional retention features for retaining the holder in the closed position when the glove G is in place. 
     Various materials can be used to form the main body of the holder  10  without departing from the scope of the disclosure. For instance, in one or more embodiments, the holder  10  of the present disclosure is formed from Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), or another thermoplastic polymer. Other suitable materials include Ultem (polyetherimide) and tempered metals. As one skilled in the art would understand, the material used for the holder  10  can withstand a variety of environmental conditions based off their material properties correlating with the material. 
     An exemplary method of using the holder  10  will now be briefly described. In certain embodiments, two holders  10  are secured to a garment such as the belt S using suitable fasteners. In these embodiments, a separate holder is provided for the glove of each hand of the wearer. The holders  10  are mounted on the belt S so that the support arm  12  is located close to the body and the catch arm  14  is disposed outboard of the support arm. In an exemplary embodiment, the holders  10  are mounted so that the two holders are located on opposite lateral sides of the body, with the catch arms  14  pointing somewhat laterally inward toward the navel. Other positions and orientations are also contemplated within the scope of the disclosure. 
     A user wearing gloves G can place the gloves on the holders  10  by drawing the gloves proximal-end-first toward the holders. For each glove G, the flared section  52  of the catch arm  14  will catch the cuff C, and the inner surface  49  of the catch arm will then guide the cuff in the glove insertion direction  24  toward the glove retention area. A portion of the cuff C will pass into the glove retention area—the space between the opposing inner surfaces  22 ,  49 . A portion of the cuff will pass longitudinally over the hook  34 , into the enlarged space provided by the tapering section  56  of the catch arm. Fabric of the cuff C can bunch up inside this enlarged space after passing over the hook  34 . Engagement of the cuff C with the U-shaped portion  16  will stop movement of the glove G, causing the cuff to slip of the user&#39;s hand. (It will be appreciated that the glove G can also be installed in the holder  10  when it is not being worn using essentially the same steps.) It can be seen that the holder  10  enables doffing of each glove with a simple movement of the gloved hand toward and along the holder, and this simple causes the glove to be supported in ready-to-wear condition. 
     Once the glove G is positioned on the holder  10 , the hooking end  40  of the hook  34  opposes a portion of the cuff C to resist unintended pullout of the glove. Further, a portion of the glove G is gripped between the ramped end  38  of the hook and the opposing portion of the tapering section  56 , as well as between the middle section  54  of the catch arm  14  and the opposing portion of the support arm  12 . The holder  10  thus retains the glove G such that cuff C is partially open and a remainder of the glove hangs at least somewhat outstretched from the holder. This positions the glove G so that it is ready, without adjustment, for receiving the hand of a wearer. 
     When duty requires use of the gloves G held by the holders H, the user simply places hands into the partially open cuffs C of the gloves suspended from the holders. The positioning of the gloves held by the holders H prevents the fingers or palm region from wadding—instead they remain somewhat open—so that the user&#39;s hand can easily slip into place. As the user continues to move the hands in the distal direction, the hands will naturally tend to sweep in the direction  30  along the arm spacing axis  32 . This will cause the holder  10  to open, releasing the glove G from the hook  34 . The fluid, sweeping movement of the hands thus moves the gloves G out of the holders  10  in the glove removal direction  28 . The holders  10  thus enable donning of each glove with a clean, efficient, one-handed motion. 
     The foregoing description has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of this disclosure. Indeed, while certain features of this disclosure have been shown, described and/or claimed, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the apparatuses, forms, method, steps and system illustrated and, in its operation, can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present disclosure. 
     Furthermore, the foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosure. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the specific details are not required in order to practice the disclosure. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present disclosure are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed, many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the disclosed system and method, and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.