Patent Description:
Working gloves can be classified in various categories. Depending on the material the gloves are made of, they may be textile, rubber, knitted, leather gloves, or a combination between these classes. Depending on the method of manufacture, the gloves may be prepared as one piece, put together from two halves or assembled from several pieces that are prepared separately.

Working gloves normally require protection of the hands from various hazards. These hazards may also be classified in groups, such as biological (provided e.g. by sterile hospital rubber gloves), chemical, mechanical, short-term and long-term thermal, weather, vibrational and others. Mechanical hazards include any hazards that can cause cuts, abrasion or piercing of the skin. A cut-resistant knit glove is described in <CIT>, the glove comprising pre-manufactured composite yarns and a companion yarn. This glove has a limited density of its knit due to the method of its manufacture and can thus only be effective against some types of damage such as cuts.

Short-term thermal protection relates to sudden temperature spikes caused by short exposure to hot surfaces or flames, sparkles, or to extreme cold. Long-term thermal protection usually relates to outside cold.

Vibrational protection ensures safe handling of vibrating devices that may cause damage to the hands. Examples of such devices may include trimmers, drills, jackhammers and other instruments.

Mechanical protection, as well as thermal and vibrational, is normally handled in working gloves either by using hardened gloves or mittens that are uncomfortable to wear, or by coating knitted or textile gloves with protective polymers. Most of the coatings also reduce comfort of wearing the glove at least due to reduced air exchange and lead to sweating of the palms.

The fabric in knitted working gloves is usually thin, has low linear density (around <NUM> tex) and is manufactured from one or two materials. An uncoated knitted glove can be comfortable to wear, but requires thick or multilayered coating to provide protection from the abovementioned hazards, and often still do not protect from all of them. The coating significantly reduces the comfort of wearing.

In manufacture, knitted gloves are prepared by automatic knitting. There are a few types of knitting machines available on the market, with different rates of gloves per hour and differing accuracy or rate of errors resulting in defects.

This invention relates to a knitted working glove that overcomes some of the drawbacks present in the prior art. The glove of the present invention also has additional advantageous properties and technical effects.

According to the invention, a knitted glove comprising a combination of five or more yarns made of three or more different materials is presented. The five or more yarns comprise two or more primary reinforcing yarns, one or more secondary reinforcing yarns and two or more soft base yarns. The glove can be a composite knitted glove, or a knitted glove of composite material. The combination of five or more yarns means that the knitted material of the glove is prepared from a combination of five or more yarns (from a yarn bundle that comprises five or more yarns). Therefore, the number of yarns in the glove represents their proportion in the material, as compared to the other yarns therein. The linear density of each yarn in the material is directly dependent on the number of yarns that the material comprises, but each yarn may have a linear density different from the other yarns. Linear densities of yarns are more representative of the proportion of a certain material in the glove, and their values will be used throughout this application along with the number of yarns that were used in preparation of the glove.

The primary reinforcing yarns determine primary protective properties of the knitted glove. These protective properties can include mechanical protection, vibrational protection, thermal protection or a combination of those. The primary reinforcing yarns can be made of various reinforcing materials that contribute to these protective properties, as discussed in the embodiments below.

The secondary reinforcing yarns have a lower linear density than the primary reinforcing yarn. In other words, the secondary reinforcing yarns are thinner individually than the primary reinforcing yarns. The lower linear density and lower thickness allows the secondary reinforcing yarns to take up space left between more dense and thicker primary reinforcing yarns, and base yarns. The secondary reinforcing yarns may also envelop the other yarns and/or tie the primary reinforcing yarns with the base yarns. This leads to increased protective properties of the glove, since the material can become stronger and filled more densely, without causing the glove to become less flexible.

The base yarns comprise soft base material that determines elastic and ergonomic properties of the knitted glove. The properties can include the tactile sensations, elasticity in all directions, and air permeability that can prevent palms from sweating. The elasticity of the base yarns, combined with the protective properties of the reinforcing yarns, can additionally provide further protection from cuts, abrasion and piercing.

Each individual base yarn has a linear density between <NUM> and <NUM> tex, each individual primary reinforcing yarn has a linear density between <NUM> and <NUM> tex, and each individual secondary reinforcing yarn has a linear density between <NUM> and <NUM> tex and lower than the linear density of each individual primary reinforcing yarn. The overall combined linear density of the five or more yarns comprised in the knitted glove is between <NUM> and <NUM> tex. The combined linear density of the one or more base yarns can be more than the combined linear density of the remaining yarns.

This combination of linear density ranges, and the overall combined linear density of the glove material, provides optimal protective properties to the glove. These properties can include any combination of: protection against cuts, abrasion, ripping of the glove, piercing the glove; protection against inflammation or other heat spikes; protection against short exposure to liquids; protection against vibration; and protection against dirt and dust.

The number of yarns that is more than <NUM> makes it possible to obtain an overall linear density between <NUM> and <NUM> tex. More than <NUM> yarns make the glove stronger in mechanical and other protection as compared to a glove with fewer yarns and same overall linear density. The combination of different yarns can also have an effect of further strengthening the knitted material.

The number of different materials that the yarns are made of provide the properties of each yarn described above, and allow the combined linear density between <NUM> and <NUM> tex to be achieved while maintaining comfortable wearing properties. In an embodiment, the number of materials is aligned accordingly with the number of yarns to provide optimal proportions, protective properties and comfort of wear. Different materials can also contribute to different protective properties, for example fire resistant material makes the whole glove more fire resistant. By adjusting proportions of the materials and yarns used in the knitted glove, protective and ergonomic properties can be adjusted.

In an embodiment, the overall number of yarns is between <NUM> and <NUM>. A glove that has more than <NUM> yarns may be used, however adding more than <NUM> yarns is normally not necessary. More yarns in a glove means the knitted material is more densely filled. The overall number of different materials can be between <NUM> and <NUM>.

The combined linear density of the two or more base yarns is between <NUM> and <NUM> tex, the combined linear density of the two or more primary reinforcing yarns is between <NUM> and <NUM> tex, and the combined linear density of the one or more secondary reinforcing yarns is between <NUM> and <NUM> tex. This proportion of linear densities can provide an optimal combination of comfort and protective properties. The proportion can also reduce the defect rate during manufacture because of the even filling of the knitted material that is formed at these linear densities.

When the base material is cotton or recycled cotton, the base yarn can additionally comprise polyester. Cotton yarns with polyester can be strong against wear and tear.

The primary reinforcing yarn comprises a primary reinforcing material. This material is selected from: polypropylene, aramids, basalt fibre, quartz fibre, glass fibre, carbon fibre and a combination thereof. Aramids include para-aramids and other aramid fibers. The materials in this list can provide good protective properties to the glove, and make strong yarns.

The secondary reinforcing yarn comprises a secondary reinforcing material, which can be selected from: polyamide, polyester, elastane, acryl, nylon and a combination thereof. These materials can be quite thin and have a low linear density compared to the primary reinforcing materials. At the same time, the listed materials are strong against tear and abrasion.

The knitted glove can be coated with a polymer material to increase its protective properties.

An aspect not forming part of the present invention is a method for manufacture of a knitted glove by a knitting machine. The method comprises: providing, into a yarn carrier of the knitting machine, a yarn bundle comprising five or more yarns made of three or more different materials; knitting from the yarn bundle at least eight sections of the glove at a predetermined rate, the at least eight sections including: a first finger section, a second finger section, a third finger section, a fourth finger section, a palmar section positioned adjacent to the knitted first to fourth finger sections, a thumb finger section, a pre-cuff section positioned adjacent to the palmar section with the thumb finger section, and a cuff section including an elastic wristband; and knitting the sections together to form a knitted glove at a rate at least four times lower than the predetermined rate.

Knitting the sections together at a rate at least four times lower than the original knitting rate provides higher accuracy to the complex operations that "stitch the glove together". Additionally, the beginning of knitting operations relating to fingers can also be performed at the reduced rate four times lower than the predetermined rate. This can be beneficial to reduce the number of defects that fingers have at the tips, because forming finger-tips by knitting can be a complex operation.

The method further can comprise coating the knitted glove with a polymer coating by compression or spraying under pressure, followed by temperature curing. Spraying under pressure and compression provide an even coating along the glove, and reduces the amount of wasted coating material. The coated knitted material can become soaked with the coating, effectively saturating the coating into the knitted material, forming a new composite material of the glove.

The method further comprises overedging the knitted cuff section with an overlock. This operation can complete certain types of glove with a "band" that holds the glove better on the wrist. The overlock can also prevent back-winding of the glove.

The method can further comprise separating the first, second, third, fourth section from the yarn carrier. This can be done, for example, by cutting the yarn bundle. This allows to produce each finger of the glove individually, and possibly knit some of them again in case of defects.

This section is a short description of the accompanying drawings.

The following description will provide details on example embodiments of the present invention.

The detailed description below relates to the appended drawings and is only intended as a description of some embodiments, not as a limiting disclosure. Similar or equivalent functions and structures may be accomplished in different embodiments.

<FIG> shows a knitted glove <NUM> comprising combination of six yarns made of three different materials. The combined linear density of all yarns comprised of the glove <NUM> is between <NUM> and <NUM> tex, and in this example it is <NUM> tex. The area of the glove zoomed in to illustrate the knitted material <NUM> may be selected anywhere on the glove <NUM>.

The zoomed in knitted material <NUM> shows base yarns <NUM> made of cotton. This yarn <NUM> has the brightest color, almost white, and provides elastic and ergonomic properties to the glove. Cotton can provide flexibility and resistance against cuts and tears, and provides the glove <NUM> with good air permeability. The linear density of each cotton base yarn <NUM> is <NUM> tex. The knitted material <NUM> of the glove <NUM> comprises three base yarns <NUM>, and the combined linear density of the three base yarns <NUM> is <NUM> tex. The cotton base yarns <NUM> may also include polyester.

The primary reinforcing yarn <NUM> is made of polypropylene and determines primary protective properties of the glove <NUM>. The polypropylene yarn <NUM> has a dark and thick black texture on the black and white image. It contributes to mechanical resistance of the glove <NUM>. The linear density of the primary reinforcing yarn <NUM> is <NUM> tex. The knitted material <NUM> of the glove <NUM> according to this example comprises one primary reinforcing yarn.

The secondary reinforcing yarns <NUM> are made of polyester and show on the Figure as the thinnest yarns running through the knitted material <NUM>. Each polyester yarn <NUM> has a linear density of <NUM> tex, and the glove has two secondary reinforcing yarns <NUM> with a combined linear density of <NUM> tex. These yarns are "weaved" within the knitted material and can bind the other yarns together, improving the overall strength of the glove, while also providing additional mechanical protection due to the properties of polyester.

The glove <NUM> may include an overedged cuff section <NUM> for comfort of wear. The glove <NUM>, due to the combination of yarns and their properties, provides good mechanical protection against cuts, abrasion and vibration.

<FIG> shows similarly a different knitted glove <NUM> made of <NUM> yarns. The combined linear density of all yarns comprised in the glove <NUM> is <NUM> tex. The area of the glove zoomed in to illustrate the knitted material <NUM> may be selected anywhere on the glove <NUM>.

The zoomed in knitted material <NUM> shows base yarns <NUM> made of recycled cotton. This yarns <NUM> have the brightest color, almost white, and provide elastic and ergonomic properties to the glove. Recycled cotton can provide flexibility and resistance against cuts and tears, and provides the glove <NUM> with good air permeability. The linear density of each individual base yarn <NUM> is <NUM> tex, and the glove <NUM> comprises two of these yarns, summing up their combined linear density to <NUM> tex. The base yearn <NUM> may comprise polyester.

The primary reinforcing yarns <NUM> are made of an aramid, for example a para-aramid synthetic fiber, and determines primary protective properties of the glove <NUM>. The aramid yarns <NUM> have a grey and wattled texture on <FIG>. They greatly contribute to mechanical resistance of the glove <NUM>. The linear density of each aramid primary reinforcing yarn <NUM> is <NUM> tex, and the knitted material <NUM> of the glove <NUM> in this example includes two primary reinforcing yarns <NUM>. Their combined linear density is <NUM> tex.

The secondary reinforcing yarn <NUM> is made of polyester and shows on the Figure as the thinnest yarn of darkest color, running through the knitted material <NUM>. The polyester yarn <NUM> has a linear density of <NUM> tex. This yarn is "weaved" within the knitted material and can bind the other yarns together, improving the overall strength of the glove, while also providing additional protective properties due to the qualities of polyester. In this example embodiment, the glove includes one secondary reinforcing yarn <NUM>.

The glove <NUM>, due to the combination of yarns and their properties, provides good protection against short-term thermal spikes up to <NUM>, abrasion and cuts.

The gloves <NUM>, <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> are only example embodiments of the present invention, and each yarn may be made of alternative materials. The technical effect of improved mechanical, thermal and vibrational protection can be achieved with different combinations of materials, and different numbers of yarns. The combined linear density of the yarns is still between <NUM> and <NUM> tex to provide the above technical effects, and each of the primary reinforcing, secondary reinforcing and base yarns should have a density in the claimed ranges. It is clear to a skilled person that the exact values of linear densities, and the exact numbers of yarns used in the knitted material, are provided as an example only and may be chosen differently within the claimed ranges.

<FIG> is a schematic illustration of a glove <NUM> separated into numbered sections. A method according to an aspect not forming part of the claimed invention, is a method for manufacturing a knitted glove by a knitting machine. The method comprises providing, into a yarn carrier of the knitting machine, a yarn bundle comprising five or more yarns made of three or more different materials. The method then includes knitting from the yarn bundle eight sections of the glove at a predetermined rate. These sections include: a first finger section <NUM>, a second finger section <NUM>, a third finger section <NUM>, a fourth finger section <NUM>, a palmar section <NUM> positioned adjacent to the knitted first to fourth finger sections <NUM>-<NUM>, a thumb finger section <NUM>, a pre-cuff section <NUM> positioned adjacent to the palmar section <NUM> with the thumb finger section <NUM>, and a cuff section <NUM> with an elastic wristband. The method concludes with knitting the sections <NUM>-<NUM> together to form the knitted glove <NUM> at a rate at least four times lower than the predetermined rate.

Knitting the sections together at a rate at least four times lower than the original knitting rate provides higher accuracy to the complex operations that knit the glove together. Additionally, in an embodiment, the beginning of knitting operations relating to fingers <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM> can also be performed at the reduced rate four times lower than the predetermined rate. This can be beneficial to reduce the number of defects that fingers have at the tips, because forming finger-tips by knitting can be a complex operation.

The method further can comprise coating the knitted glove with a polymer coating by compression or spraying under pressure, followed by temperature curing. Pressured spraying or compression provide an even coating along the glove, and reduces the amount of wasted coating material. The coated knitted material can become soaked with the coating, effectively saturating the coating into the yarns to enhance or form a new composite material of the glove.

The method further comprises overedging the knitted cuff section with an overlock <NUM>. This operation can complete certain types of glove with a "band" that holds the glove better on the wrist. The overlock <NUM> can also prevent back-winding of the glove.

The method can further comprise separating sections <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM> from the yarn carrier. This can be done, for example, by cutting the yarn bundle. This allows to produce each finger of the glove individually, and possibly knit some of them again in case of defects.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and acts, the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above.

The steps of the methods described herein may be carried out in any suitable order, or simultaneously where appropriate.

Claim 1:
A knitted glove (<NUM>), comprising a combination of five or more yarns made of three or more different materials, characterized in that the five or more yarns are provided from a yarn bundle that comprises five or more yarns, and the yarns comprise:
two or more primary reinforcing yarns (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising a primary reinforcing material selected from: polypropylene, aramids, basalt fibre, quartz fibre, glass fibre, carbon fibre and a combination thereof;
one or more secondary reinforcing yarns (<NUM>, <NUM>) having a lower linear density and a higher flexibility than the primary reinforcing yarn; and
two or more base yarns (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising a soft base material;
wherein
each individual base yarn has a linear density between <NUM> and <NUM> tex,
each individual primary reinforcing yarn has a linear density between <NUM> and <NUM> tex,
each individual secondary reinforcing yarn has a linear density between <NUM> and <NUM> tex and lower than the linear density of each individual primary reinforcing yarn,
the combined linear density of the two or more base yarns (<NUM>, <NUM>) is between <NUM> and <NUM> tex, the combined linear density of the two or more primary reinforcing yarns (<NUM>, <NUM>) is between <NUM> and <NUM> tex, and the combined linear density of the one or more secondary reinforcing yarns (<NUM>, <NUM>) is between <NUM> and <NUM> tex, and
the combined linear density of the five or more yarns comprised in the knitted glove (<NUM>) is between <NUM> and <NUM> tex.