Patent Description:
Polymeric gloves, such as surgical and examination gloves, are made of strong but flexible elastomers, which permit a snug fit to hands. Polymeric gloves are often formed in a shape that approximates the shape of a flattened hand. However, gloves made in this shape are not ergonomic. Furthermore, surgeons wearing surgical gloves may do so for long durations during procedures, which tire the surgeon's fingers and/or hands because the elastic modulus of the elastomer, of which the glove is made, must be overcome to flex or bend the fingers. Moreover, the flexure of fingers may be impeded at the knuckles on both a palmside and a backhand side. Also, in an attempt to relieve stresses, some wearers use oversized gloves, which unfortunately cause a loss of dexterity and grip, particularly at the fingertips. Furthermore, surgeons and other medical personnel often "double-glove" to provide extra barrier protection, leading to increased fatigue for wearers because of additional forces that must be overcome to flex the hands. The material of the double-gloves can bunch in certain areas, such as at the finger tips, the crotches between adjacent fingers or the index finger and the thumb, making flexing difficult.

Therefore, a glove-in-glove that is aligned can prevent additional stresses on wearers without loss of tactility and dexterity, representing an advance in the art.

Prior art <CIT> discloses a surgical double glove set which has a first pair of inner gloves and a second pair of outer gloves, the outer gloves being slightly larger than and longer than the inner gloves. The double glove set is packaged in a single sterile pack in which an outer sterile field sheet has the outer hand-specific gloves place side-by-side thereon, a separator sheet is placed over the pair of outer gloves, and the pair of inner gloves is placed a top the separator sheet. The outer sterile field sheet is folded over to sandwich the gloves and separator sheet between the folded portions, and the folded outer sterile field sheet is sealed inside of a sterile pack.

Embodiments according to the disclosure include a glove-in-glove having aligned features, 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 this disclosure will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings.

The foregoing summary is not intended, and should not be contemplated, to describe each embodiment or every implementation of the disclosure. Other and further embodiments are described below. The scope of the invention is defined in appended claim <NUM>.

So that the manner in which the above recited features of the disclosure can be understood in detail, a more particular description of embodiments, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to some embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments. It is to be understood that elements and features of one embodiment may be in other embodiments without further recitation. It is further understood that, where possible, identical reference numerals have been used to indicate comparable elements that are common to the figures.

Embodiments of the glove-in-glove embodiments discussed herein comprise dipped gloves, such as examination gloves, surgical gloves, and gloves for industrial and household use. The glove-in-glove has aligned features corresponding to regions of the human hand, such as crotches between, for example, the index finger and the middle finger, the middle finger and the ring finger, the index finger and the thumb, finger tips, and the like. In this manner, a glove that is disposed within a glove can be aligned. Crotches that are aligned reduce stresses on the human hand during flexing and prolonged periods of use while remaining tight and snug where needed, e.g., fingertips. Furthermore, embodiments of the glove-in-gloves comprise an alignment of the cuff and/or bead areas. Thicker gloves, which are also within the scope of embodiments of the aligned glove-in-gloves according to embodiments, are disclosed. Embodiments also comprise a glove-in-glove in which an inner glove is one-half to one size larger than an outer glove. Embodiments also comprise a glove-in-glove in which an inner glove is one-half to one size larger and/or has a thinner cross-sectional thickness than an outer glove. Embodiments also comprise a glove-in-glove in which an inner glove is one-half to one size larger and/or has a substantially similar cross-sectional thickness compared with an outer glove. Embodiments also comprise a glove-in-glove in which an inner glove is one-half to one size larger and/or has a thicker cross-sectional thickness than an outer glove, wherein the donning of the glove-in-glove is facilitated. An inner glove that is thinner than the outer glove can be suitable for ease of donning and doffing of the glove-in-glove. An inner glove that is thicker than the outer glove provides superior barrier protection. Having a glove disposed within a glove and packaged in this manner allows doctors and other users to don the glove more quickly, with less stress to the hands of the doctor, and with less force on the gloves, promoting fewer breaches. Furthermore, donning two gloves simultaneously saves time, and generates less packaging waste compared to the regular double gloving.

Embodiments in which the gloves are substantially the same size can use an inner glove that is thinner than the outer glove, providing comfort more like that found with the inner glove being slightly larger than the outer glove. This approach thus provides the comfort of the inner larger approach, but without the finger-tip bunching that can be an issue with the latter approach.

Before describing embodiments of the present disclosure in detail, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. Embodiments should not necessarily be limited to specific compositions, materials, sizes, designs or equipment, as such may vary. All technical and scientific terms used herein have the usual meaning conventionally understood by persons skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains, unless context defines otherwise. Also, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

The term "align," or "aligned" in the context of this disclosure indicates at least one of that the fingertips of an inner glove and an outer glove are in contact or close to intimate contact, particularly while being worn by a user and/or that the crotches of an inner glove and an outer glove between adjacent fingers and/or index finger and a thumb are in contact or close to intimate contact, particularly while being worn by a user.

The term "flexing" or "flex" refers to finger movements, such as bending fingers, making a fist, gripping, grasping, clenching or otherwise folding the fingers.

<FIG> depicts an exploded view of an aligned glove-in-glove <NUM>, according to embodiments discussed within this disclosure. The aligned glove-in-glove <NUM> comprises an outer glove <NUM> and an inner glove <NUM>. Each of the outer glove <NUM> and the inner glove <NUM> comprises a thumb <NUM>, a plurality of fingers, e.g., an index finger <NUM> a middle finger <NUM>, a ring finger <NUM>, and a little finger <NUM>, a palm region <NUM>, a backhand region (not shown), and a cuff <NUM>. Each of the outer glove <NUM> and inner glove <NUM> the glove-in-glove <NUM> optionally comprises a bead <NUM> proximate an opening <NUM> for receiving a hand of a wearer. Each of the outer glove <NUM> and the inner glove <NUM> further comprises finger crotches <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> and thumb-index finger crotch <NUM>. As depicted, the outer glove <NUM> is smaller than the inner glove <NUM>, for example, by half a glove size. As shown further below, embodiments also comprise wherein the inner glove <NUM> and the outer glove are the same size. Furthermore, embodiments also include wherein the inner glove <NUM> is smaller than the outer glove <NUM>. The inner glove <NUM> is placed into the outer glove <NUM> and packaged in a paper or foil container and/or the like, as is known to those in the art. For example, by automated processes or manually, the inner glove <NUM> is placed into outer glove <NUM> by forcing the inner glove <NUM> into the outer glove <NUM> at direction D. The inner glove <NUM> may be on a former or mandrel or any other appropriate mold as is known to those in the art. The inner glove <NUM> is placed into the outer glove <NUM> so that the crotches <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are aligned. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the beads <NUM> are aligned after disposition of the inner glove <NUM> into the outer glove <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts the aligned glove-in-glove <NUM> of <FIG>, according to embodiments discussed within this disclosure. As shown, the bead <NUM> of the inner glove <NUM> is shown aligned with the bead <NUM> of the outer glove <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts a cross-section view of a finger <NUM> of the aligned glove-in-glove <NUM> of <FIG>, according to embodiments discussed within this disclosure. The fingertip <NUM> is a cross sectional view of the middle finger <NUM> of the inner glove <NUM>. The fingertip <NUM> is a cross sectional view of the middle finger <NUM> of the outer glove <NUM>. As can be seen, the fingertip <NUM> and the fingertip <NUM> are aligned, i.e., in close contact.

<FIG> shows an illustrative material sheet <NUM> (e.g. paper coated with a thin plastic layer on one or both sides) unfolded, but with fold lines indicated. Panel R is where the right glove is presented on unfolding. Panel RS is that which immediately covers the glove. Panels RL, RU, RSL and RSU complete the right side. Complementary panels beginning with L are for the left glove. An illustrative first fold (arrow) for enfolding is shown.

<FIG> shows the fully folded material sheet <NUM>, with the first fold for unfolding shown. <FIG> shows the next fold for unfolding. <FIG> shows the next folds (A), and the subsequent fold (B) for unfolding. <FIG> shows glove-in-glove 100R, which is cuff folded to facilitate donning. The fully folded material sheet <NUM> can for example be vacuum sealed within a plastic or metalized covering. Sterilization can be prior to sealing followed by sterile practice in the sealing, or post-sealing, such as by radiation.

Table <NUM> shows various combinations of sizes of inner and outer gloves. Synthetic polyisoprene gloves have thicknesses for example of approximately <NUM> at the fingers, approximately <NUM> at the palm region, and approximately <NUM> at a cuff region. Neoprene or polychloroprene gloves have thicknesses of approximately <NUM> at the fingers, approximately <NUM> at the palm region, and approximately <NUM> at a cuff region. Synthetic polyisoprene "Micro" gloves can have thicknesses that is as much as approximately up to <NUM>%, or <NUM>%, or <NUM>% thinner than the above mentioned gloves, for example, approximately <NUM> to approximately <NUM> (such as about <NUM> to about <NUM>, or about <NUM>) at the fingers, approximately <NUM> to approximately <NUM> (such as about <NUM>) at the palm region, and approximately <NUM> to approximately <NUM> (such as about <NUM> to about <NUM>, or about <NUM>) at a cuff region. Micro gloves may be particularly suited for use as an inner glove. Irrespective of size or type (natural rubber, synthetic polyisoprene, polychloroprene, and other various synthetic materials), the length of the gloves is typically approximately <NUM> to approximately <NUM>. Where a hybrid polymer of polyisoprene and chloroprene is used, exemplary glove thicknesses can be about <NUM> to about <NUM> at the fingers, about <NUM> to about <NUM> at the palm, and about <NUM> to about <NUM> at the cuff.

Glove size is determined by the industry-accepted extrapolation from the circumference of the hand measured just below the knuckles, in inches (where <NUM> inch = <NUM>,<NUM>). If the measurement rounded to the nearest ½ inch is for example <NUM> inches, then a size <NUM> glove is configured for that hand, and so forth. For the purpose of fitting a larger glove in a smaller glove, or a smaller glove in a larger glove, smaller size differentials can be used, such as ¼ sizes.

Option <NUM> ((½ a size larger inner, both fingers & crotches align).

Option <NUM> (Both gloves same size, fingers, crotches & bead align).

Option <NUM> (½ a size smaller inner, both fingers & crotches align).

Tables <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> show options of various sized gloves combinations of an inner glove and an outer glove. For example, in Table <NUM>, option <NUM>, the inner glove is ½ a size larger than the outer glove, wherein placing the inner glove on the hand and the outer glove over the inner glove allows both the fingers and the finger crotches to align. In Table <NUM>, option <NUM> the inner glove and the outer glove are the same size, wherein the fingers, the finger crotches and the bead align.

In Table <NUM>, option <NUM>, the inner glove is ½ a size smaller than the outer glove, wherein placing the inner glove on the hand and the outer glove over the inner glove allows the finger crotches to align, and can allow the finger tips to align.

The gloves can be packaged folded in a foldable material configured to unfold and present on the foldable material a right glove on one side, and a left glove on the other side, provided the gloves and foldable material are laid out with the fingers pointed away from the prospective user.

An "ergonomic" glove is one made off an ergonomic former, as will be recognized by those of skill in the surgical glove arts. Examples can be described with respect to an uplifted hand with the fingers spread consistent with the spread of a relaxed hand, where the thumb is positioned inwards of the position it would have if positioned in the plane with the four remaining fingers, and thus positioned, consistent with the anatomical linkages of the hand, in front of rough axis defined by the palmar digital crease (the base of remaining fingers). Looking at the hand from a position orthogonal to the up/down axis of the hand and orthogonal to the above described rough axis, the thumb is positioned from approximately in line with the index finger to a location to the outside that is approximately ½ times the distance of the index finger to the middle finger. An ergonomic glove is configured to best conform to such a hand. In embodiments, the modeling hand has fingers curved inwards as would apply for a hand with the fingers in a relaxed position.

The terms "emulsion," "dispersion," and "suspension" are generally analogous and indicate a system in which small particles of a substance, such as rubber particles, are mixed with a fluid (such as water and/or alcohols and/or other organic fluids) but are at least partially undissolved and kept dispersed by agitation (mechanical suspension) and/or by the molecular forces in a surrounding medium (colloidal suspension). Emulsions contemplated herein may further comprise typical and suitable components for rubber or elastomeric formulations and compounds, such as accelerators, such as guanidines, thiazoles, thiurams, sulfenamids, thioureas, dithiocarbamates, and xanthanates, surfactants, such as sodium dodecyl sulfates and polyvinyl alcohols, activators, such as zinc oxides, cross-linking agents and curatives, such as elemental sulfur and/or polysulphidic donors, anti-oxidants, anti-ozonants, rheology-modifiers, such as various clays and aluminosilicates, pH adjusters, such as hydroxides, such as potassium hydroxide, pigments, processing agents, and/or fillers as are known to those in the art.

The term "polymer" generally includes, but is not limited to, homopolymers, copolymers, such as for example, block, graft, random and alternating copolymers, terpolymers, etc. and blends and modifications thereof. Furthermore, unless otherwise specifically limited, the term "polymer" includes all possible geometrical configurations of the molecule. These configurations include, but are not limited to isotactic, syndiotactic and random symmetries.

The term "thermoplastic" generally includes polymer materials that become reversibly pliable, moldable, and/or heatable above a specific temperature and solidify upon cooling. The term "thermoset" generally includes polymer materials that strengthen following heating and solidification, but cannot be successfully remolded or otherwise processed after an initial heat-forming. The term "thermoplastic elastomer" (TPE) connotes a class of copolymers comprising both thermoplastic and elastomeric/thermoset material properties and generally have crosslinking between adjacent polymeric molecular chains. The term "rubber" generally indicates elastomers produced from natural rubber latexes or synthetic elastomers.

Exemplary thermoplastics include, without limitation, polychloroprenes, butyl rubbers, natural rubber, synthetic polyisoprenes, poly(vinyl) chlorides, polyesters, polyamides, polyfluorocarbons, polyolefins, polybutadienes, polyurethanes, polystyrenes, poly(vinyl) alcohols, and copolymers of the foregoing, and elastomeric polymers such as elastic polyolefins, copolyether esters, polyamide polyether block copolymers, block copolymers having the general formula A-B-A' or A-B like nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), carboxylated nitrile-butadiene rubber, styrene-poly(ethylene-propylene)-styrene, styrene-poly(ethylene-butylene)-styrene, (polystyrene/poly(ethylene-butylene)/polystyrene, poly(styrene/ethylene-butylene/styrene), co-poly(styrene/ethylene-butylene), A-B-A-B tetrablock co-polymers and the like and blends of any of the foregoing. In certain embodiments, the gloves are of a hybrid polymer of polyisoprene and chloroprene with component polymer selected to yield greater translucency than a polyisoprene glove of equal thickness.

All numerical values recited herein are exemplary, are not to be considered limiting, and include ranges therebetween, and can be inclusive or exclusive of the endpoints. Optional included ranges can be from integer values therebetween, at the order of magnitude recited or the next smaller order of magnitude. For example, if the lower range value is <NUM>, optional included endpoints can be <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. <NUM>, <NUM>, and the like, as well as <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and the like; if the higher range is <NUM>, optional included endpoints can be <NUM>, <NUM>, and the like, as well as <NUM>, <NUM>, and the like.

To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate comparable elements that are common to the figures. The figures are not drawn to scale and may be simplified for clarity.

Claim 1:
A sterilely packaged set of right and left glove-in-gloves (<NUM>), each glove-in-glove (<NUM>) comprising:
an outer glove (<NUM>) having a thumb (<NUM>) and a plurality of fingers (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), further comprising crotches (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) between adjacent fingers and thumb (<NUM>); and
an inner glove (<NUM>) having a thumb (<NUM>) and a plurality of fingers (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) with finger tips, further comprising crotches between adjacent fingers (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and thumb (<NUM>),
characterized in that the inner glove (<NUM>) is disposed inside the outer glove (<NUM>) within a packaging material, with the finger tips of the inner glove (<NUM>) and
the outer glove (<NUM>) being aligned;
wherein the gloves are enfolded with the packaging material (<NUM>) such that the material (<NUM>) can be unfolded to present the right glove-in-glove (<NUM>) on the right side and the left glove-in-glove (<NUM>) on the left side, laid out on the packaging material (<NUM>);
wherein the glove-in-gloves (<NUM>) are packaged cuff-folded to facilitate donning; and
wherein the inner gloves (<NUM>) are the same size as the outer (<NUM>), and the inner gloves (<NUM>) have a lesser cross-sectional thickness than the outer (<NUM>).