Abstract:
An ambidextrous glove for facilitating accurate tactility and dexterity on the distal finger pad tips. The glove has finger tip inserts facilitating tactile sensitivity. The inserts are located between the finger tips and first joint on both sides of at least the thumb, index finger, and middle finger. Optionally, the glove is turned inside out. Holes are cut in both sides of the finger tip. The inserts are adhered to the finger tip to cover the holes. If the glove was turned inside out, it is turned outside out.

Description:
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0001]    Not Applicable 
       REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
       [0003]    This invention relates to medical gloves, which nurses, allied health professionals, and the like use during the performance of their duties, such as feeling for a patient&#39;s arteries and veins, as well as entering data into touch screen devices. 
       2. Description of the Related Art 
       [0004]    Nurses and other health professionals rely heavily on their distal superior phalangeal pads (palmer side fingertips) when performing medical procedures such as drawing blood, using intravenous therapy, determining pulse, and entering data for diagnostic tests via touch screen medical devices, all while being exposed to dangerous diseases. They need a high level of tactile sensitivity and dexterity on their palmer side fingertips to perform these procedures. 
         [0005]    Consequently, a medical glove is necessary to nurses and other health professionals. Unfortunately, the material of the palmer side fingertips of a conventional medical glove has a uniform thickness, thereby failing to provide the necessary level of tactile sensitivity and dexterity. As a result, nurses and other health professionals have difficulty in performing necessary duties. 
         [0006]    Hence, a medical glove capable of providing a high level of tactile sensitivity and dexterity on their distal palmer finger pad tips to a degree sufficient to allow nurses and other health professionals to carry out medical procedures without uncertainty is desirable. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention satisfies a necessity and remedies the shortcomings of the prior art through the provision of a glove for facilitating accurate tactility and dexterity on the finger pad tips. 
         [0008]    The glove has an inner surface and an outer surface with five digits and is designed to be ambidextrous, that is, the glove can be put on either hand. Each thumb/finger tip has a pair of thin distal finger tip inserts, one on each side of the finger between the finger tip end and the first joint. The inserts are composed of a material that facilitates tactile sensitivity where it is most needed by the clinician. The insert is attached to the inside surface, outside surface, or within a slit in the area surrounding the hole at the finger tip. 
         [0009]    Objects of the present invention will become apparent in light of the following drawings and detailed description of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    For a fuller understanding of the nature and object of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a view of the glove of the present invention with inserts on three digits; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a view of the glove of the present invention with inserts on all five digits; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a digit showing inserts on both sides of the digit; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a detailed view of an insert; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a detailed view of one side of the digit tip with a hole and surrounding surface; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a detailed, exploded view of the insert attached to the outside of the digit tip; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a detailed, assembled view of the insert attached to the outside of the digit tip; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a detailed, exploded view of the insert attached to the inside of the digit tip; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a detailed, assembled view of the insert attached to the inside of the digit tip; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a detailed view of the first step, hole cut, of the lateral incision method of attaching the insert; 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a detailed view of the second step, lateral incision, of the lateral incision method of attaching the insert; 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a detailed view of the third step, insert placement, of the lateral incision method of attaching the insert; 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is a detailed view of the fourth step, insert attachment, of the lateral incision method of attaching the insert; 
           [0024]      FIG. 14  is a detailed, assembled view of the insert attached via the lateral incision method; 
           [0025]      FIG. 15  is a detailed view of the first step, hole cut, of the triangular flap method of attaching the insert; 
           [0026]      FIG. 16  is a detailed view of the second step, insert cut and attach, of the triangular flap method of attaching the insert; 
           [0027]      FIG. 17  is a detailed view of the third step, flap flatten, of the triangular flap method of attaching the insert; 
           [0028]      FIG. 18  is a detailed view of the fourth step, flap attach, of the triangular flap method of attaching the insert; 
           [0029]      FIG. 19  is a detailed, assembled view of the insert attached the triangular flap method; 
           [0030]      FIG. 20  is a detailed alternative rolled attachment for the triangular flap method; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 21  is a detailed view of the cut parameters for the triangular flap method. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0032]    The present application hereby incorporates by reference in its entirety U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/098,715, on which this application is based. 
         [0033]    The present invention is an ambidextrous glove  10  with thumb and/or finger tip inserts  20  on the both sides of the thumb and/or fingers (collectively referred to herein as “digit” or “digits”), so that the wearer has increased sensitivity regardless of which hand the glove is put on. The inserts  20  are composed of a thin, sensitive material such as latex, rubber, synthetic rubber, special rubber, lambskin, nitrile, poly-isoprene, polyurethane and the like which has the ability to be in close contact with the digit tip pads, thereby facilitating increased sensitivity and dexterity. 
         [0034]    The glove  10  of the present invention is depicted and exhibited in  FIGS. 1-3 .  FIGS. 4-21  refer to components of the glove  10 . Furthermore, the figures are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, but rather illustrate a representation of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention. 
         [0035]    In reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the figures are shown in accordance with the principles of the invention. The ambidextrous glove  10  has two components, a main unit  12 , which includes the digits  14 , and the inserts  20 , which are attached to or otherwise integrated onto the surrounding digit surface (SDS)  18  around holes  22  on both sides of the digit tip  16 . The digit tip  16  is defined as the end portion of the digit  14  from approximately the last finger joint to the end of the digit  14 . 
         [0036]    The main glove unit  12  is typically comprised of a single layer of elastic material such, as but not limited to, latex, vinyl, nitrile, isoprene, and neoprene. 
         [0037]    The thickness of the material of the main glove  12  is measured in millimeters (mm) or mils (1 mil=0.001 inch). The thickness may vary depending on the material used, but is not typically more than 0.50 mm. Example thicknesses for various materials are shown in TABLE A. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE A 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 Average finger tip 
                 Average cuff 
               
               
                 Material 
                 thickness 
                 thickness 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Neoprene 
                 0.18 mm = 7.1 mils 
                 0.14 mm = 5.5 mils 
               
               
                 Poly-isoprene 
                 0.18 mm = 7.1 mils 
                 0.14 mm = 5.5 mils 
               
               
                 Poly-isoprene 
                 0.18 mm = 7.1 mils 
                 0.14 mm = 5.5 mils 
               
               
                 Poly-isoprene 
                 0.18 mm = 7.1 mils 
                 0.14 mm = 5.5 mils 
               
               
                 Latex 
                 0.13 mm = 5.1 mils 
                 0.08 mm = 3.1 mils 
               
               
                 Latex 
                 0.13 mm = 5.1 mils 
                 0.08 mm = 3.1 mils 
               
               
                 Latex 
                 0.13 mm = 5.1 mils 
                 0.08 mm = 3.1 mils 
               
               
                 Latex 
                 0.14 mm = 5.5 mils 
                 0.09 mm = 3.5 mils 
               
               
                 Latex 
                 0.14 mm = 5.5 mils 
                 0.09 mm = 3.5 mils 
               
               
                 Latex 
                 0.16 mm = 6.2 mils 
                 0.10 mm = 4.0 mils 
               
               
                 Latex 
                 0.16 mm = 6.2 mils 
                 0.10 mm = 4.0 mils 
               
               
                 Latex 
                 0.23 mm = 9.5 mils 
                 0.20 mm = 7.8 mils 
               
               
                 Latex 
                 0.23 mm = 9.5 mils 
                 0.20 mm = 6.5 mils 
               
               
                 Latex 
                 0.31 mm = 12.5 mils 
                 0.24 mm = 9.4 mils 
               
               
                 Latex 
                 0.23 mm = 9.1 mils 
                 0.17 mm = 6.5 mils 
               
               
                 Bismuth  
                 0.35 mm = 13.7 mils 
                 0.24 mm = 9.3 mils 
               
               
                 Oxide Latex 
                   
                   
               
               
                 Nitrile 
                 0.30 mm = 11.8 mils 
                 0.30 mm = 11.8 mils 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0038]    For a given material, one may assume that thinner gloves allow better dexterity and flexibility, whereas thicker gloves provide better protection but less flexibility. With the highly-sensitive material attached to or integrated with the main glove unit  12  onto the surrounding digit surface  18 , a degree of integrity is maintained and the level of sensitivity and dexterity is enhanced. 
         [0039]    The highly-sensitive material that is connected or integrated at the surrounding digit surface  18 , which makes up distal digit tips  16  of the glove digits  14 , is comprised of a single thin layer of material, which is composed of but is not limited to latex, polyurethane, poly-isoprene, and/or polyurethane film (TEGADERM). 
         [0040]    Examples of thicknesses of various compositions of highly-sensitive material are shown in TABLE B, with a contemplated maximum thickness of 0.20 mm. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE B 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Material 
                 Thickness in mm 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 Latex 
                 0.044 to 0.121 
               
               
                   
                 Polyisoprene 
                 0.045 to 0.06 
               
               
                   
                 Polyurethane 
                 0.0011 to 0.0027 
               
               
                   
                 Polyurethane film  
                 0.025 
               
               
                   
                 (TEGADERM) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0041]    Polyurethane can be made thinner than latex and it also has the ability to transmit body heat better than latex. The advantages of polyurethane include its ability to transfer body heat, odorless, clear, no latex allergens, strength, and compatibility with water-based and oil-based lubricants. The disadvantages are that it is not as elastic as latex and the selection is very limited. 
         [0042]    Polyisoprene has all the characteristics of latex plus it is soft, is a non-latex material, has good elasticity, strength, and is compatible with water-based lubricants. The disadvantage is that it is not compatible with oil-based lubricants. 
         [0043]    The advantages of polyurethane film are that it retains moisture, is impermeable to bacteria, facilitates autolytic debridement, allows wound observation, and does not require a secondary dressing. The disadvantages are as follows: may not be required for infected wounds, not required for wounds with heavy drainage, requires a border of intact skin adhesive edge dressing, may be difficult to apply and handle, may dislodge in high friction areas. 
         [0044]    In reference to the drawings, characteristics have been explicitly described which correspond to designated parts throughout the several depictions. The main glove unit  12  can be composed of any one or more of the materials in TABLE A. For example, the main glove unit  12  in  FIGS. 1, 2, and 5  can be composed of 8-mm-thick nitrile. 
         [0045]    In addition, the inserts  20  can be composed of any one or more of the materials in TABLE B. For example, the inserts  20  can be composed of 0.0027-mm-thick polyurethane. Alternatively, the insert  20  can be composed of 0.0027-mm-thick polyurethane. 
         [0046]    The insert  20  can be attached to or integrated with the main unit glove&#39;s distal surrounding digit surface (SDS)  18  in order to cover the holes  22  of both sides of the five digit tips  16 . The acronym, SDS, refers to the surface  18  surrounding the hole  22 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0047]    Attachment to or integration between the inserts  20  and the SDS  18  on the tips  16  can be achieved by any one or more of various methods. Such methods include, but are not limited to, adhesive, compression, heating, melting, and other manipulations through physical or chemical means. Therefore, the present invention contemplates the use of any method that will attached the insert  20  to the digit tip  16 . 
         [0048]    The various materials used for the main glove unit  10  may have a greater thickness than the various thin materials used for the inserts  20 . As a result, the combined thickness of the two components may be different than the two parts separated, but not necessarily, since some methods of combination may result in the two components&#39; thicknesses being uniform. 
         [0049]    When the inserts  20  are attached to the tips  16 , both the main glove unit  10  and inserts  20  act as a barrier for protection of the user. 
         [0050]    The present invention contemplates a number of different methods for attaching the insert  20  onto the SDS  18  of the tip  16 . These different methods are shown in  FIGS. 6-21 . 
         [0051]    In the attachment of  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a hole  22  is made in the digit tip  16  that is smaller than the size of the insert  20 . The digit  14  is left in the outside out position and the insert  20  is attached, as at  26 , onto the SDS  18  around the hole  22  by whatever means is appropriate, for example, by adhesive or heat. For the typical thumb, the length Y (along the length of the digit) of the insert  20  is approximately 2.5 cm and the width X (laterally across the digit) of the insert  20  is approximately 2.0 cm. For the typical finger, the length Y of the insert  20  is approximately 2.5 cm and the width X of the insert  20  is approximately 2.0 cm. 
         [0052]    In the attachment of  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a hole  22  is cut in the digit tip  16  that is smaller than the size of the insert  20 . The glove  10  is turned inside out and the insert  20  is attached onto the SDS  18  around the hole  22  by whatever means is appropriate, for example, by adhesive or heat. After the insert  20  is attached, the glove  10  is turned outside out. 
         [0053]    In the attachment of  FIGS. 10-14 , a hole  22  is cut in the digit tip  16  that is smaller than the size of the insert  20 . The glove  10  can be in either outside out or inside out. In either case, a thin lateral incision  28  is made below the hole  22 , either approximately ⅛″, 1/16″, or 1/32″ below the hole  22 , whichever is appropriate. The lateral incision  28  extends away from the digit tip  16  creating a flap  30  with a connected rear attachment  32  of ¼″ to ⅛″. The flap has an upper hole  36  and the digit  14  has a lower hole  38 . There is a gap  40  between the digit  14  and the flap  30 . The SDS  18  is in two parts, one surrounding the upper hole  36  and one surrounding the lower hole  38 . 
         [0054]    The insert  20  is inserted into the rear most part of the gap  40 , where the upper peripheral surface of the insert is attached to the under surrounding surface of the upper hole  36  in the flap  30  and the lower peripheral surface of the insert is attached to the upper surrounding surface of lower hole  38  by whatever means is appropriate, for example, by adhesive or heat. Either after attaching the insert  20  or at the same time, the flap  30  is reattached to the digit  14  (the incision  28  is closed) by whatever means is appropriate, for example, by adhesive or heat. 
         [0055]    In the attachment method of  FIGS. 15-19  the glove  10  is turned inside out. With reference to precut  FIG. 21 , the corresponding cuts for the hole  20  are made so that triangular flaps  44  are produced.  FIG. 21  shows example cut parameters. TABLE C lists the parameters for fingers and thumb for the typical glove  10 . 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE C 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Parameter 
                 Thumb 
                 Index Finger 
                 Middle Finger 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 C to side X 1   
                 0.75 
                 cm 
                 0.75  
                 cm 
                 0.75 
                 cm 
               
               
                 C to side X 2   
                 0.75 
                 cm 
                 0.75 
                 cm 
                 0.75 
                 cm 
               
               
                 C to Tip Y 1   
                 1.0  
                 cm 
                 1.0  
                 cm 
                 1.0 
                 cm 
               
               
                 Center to Joint Y 2   
                 1.0 
                 cm 
                 1.0  
                 cm 
                 1.0 
                 cm 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0056]    After the cuts, the flaps  44  are folded over to overlap the digit  14 , as in  FIG. 16 . The SDS  18  is the area surrounding the hole  22  and includes the flaps  44 . 
         [0057]    The insert  20  is formed with wings  46  in the same size and shape as the flaps  44 , as in  FIG. 16 , and the insert wings  46  are attached to the flaps  44 , as at  48 , by whatever means is appropriate, for example, by adhesive or heat. The overlapped wings  46  and flaps  44  are attached to the digit  14  so they are flat, as in  FIG. 18 , by whatever means is appropriate, for example, by adhesive or heat. 
         [0058]    After all of the inserts  20  are attached, the glove  10  is turned outside out, as in  FIG. 19 . Note that, if appropriate, the flaps  44  can be attached to the digit  14  before the wings  46  are attached to the flaps  44 . 
         [0059]      FIG. 20  shows an alternate attachment of the insert  20  to the digit  14 . Adhesive is placed on the surface of flaps  44  and attached to wings  46 . The flaps  44  and wings  46  are then rolled, as at  52 , and both are bonded such that the adhesive is placed at the base of rolled flap/wing combination so it is secured. After all of the inserts  20  are attached, the glove  10  is turned outside out, as in  FIG. 19 . 
         [0060]    Thus it has been shown and described an ambidextrous glove with sensitivity-enhanced digit tip inserts on both sides of the digit. Since certain changes may be made in the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the present invention, it is intended that all matter described in the foregoing specification and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.