Glove

Abstract

The invention describes a fireproof glove (1) with a layered structure comprising at least one liquid-tight functional layer (18) and a heat-resistant and / or fire-retarding layer (20) with low thermal conductivity. Furthermore, the invention describes a glove (1) comprising a material precut (3) with one or more reinforced areas (24). Moreover, the invention describes a glove (1) with a shaft (15) extending over a wrist area (16) and conically widening in the direction of the open face end area (10) of the shaft, whereby provision is made in the area of the shaft (15) for a first and one other adjusting device (39, 42). Furthermore, the invention describes a glove (1) that is formed by at least one material layer (17) consisting of an inelastic and non-expanding material, and comprising a tubular and cylindrical shaft (15). In its face end area (10) with a slip-in opening (11), said shaft has a circumference on the external surface (23) in the range of from 20 cm to 40 cm.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] Applicant claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of AUSTRIAN Patent Application No. A 1368 / 2004 filed on 12 Aug. 2004. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The invention relates to a fireproof glove as specified in the introductory clause of claim 1, as well as to gloves and the possible application of a glove as described in detail in the introductory clauses of claims 15, 25, 34 and, respectively, 40. [0004] 2. Prior Art [0005] Fireproof and heat-resistant gloves that are structured from a number of layers of material, are known in the prior art. In connection with such gloves, at least one of said layers of material is formed by a functional layer that is impermeable to liquid, for example by a waterproof membrane, and where at least another layer of such a layered structure is formed by a fire- and heat-resistant insulating layer. It is possible with such a glove to protect the hand of the user up to a c...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] The problem of the invention is to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks and deficiencies, and to provide a glove that assures high wearing comfort and enhanced protection of the hands and arms of the user. A part problem of the invention is to provide a glove that exhibits increased resistance to heat and flames without significantly limiting the wearing comfort of the user. A further part problem of the invention is to equip a glove in such a way that it assures increased mechanical and thermal resistance, whereby the goal is to reduce also the expenditure for producing such a glove. A further part problem of the invention is to provide a glove that is more flexible in the area of the shaft, and more precisely adaptable to the covered body parts of the user, for enhancing the wearing comfort and for protecting the lower arm and hand of the user.

[0013] The problem of the invention is independently resolved by the features specified in the characterizing clause of claim 1. Owing to the fact that the heat- and flame-resistant insulating layer with low thermal conductivity is arranged beneath the liquid-tight functional layer, the insulating layer is protected against contact with a liquid acting on the glove from the outside, and absorption of liquid by the insulating layer is thus prevented. This is advantageous particularly if the glove as defined by the invention is used in the field of fire-fighting because the hand of the user is constantly in contact with extinguishing water, whereby according to the invention, the water cannot penetrate the glove up to the insulating layer. Storage of water in the insulating layer is consequently prevented, which means that the glove remains wearable with comfort without deterioration of its tactile properties on the hand of the user. Furthermore, the generation of steam from absorbed water can be prevented if heat acting on the glove from the outside should rise, which prevents steam particularly from any explosion-like penetration of the inner material layers of the glove, and the hand of the user is better safeguarded against heat and flames acting on the glove from the outside. It has been found in test series that the glove is thus capable of withstanding higher thermal influences over a longer period of time, whereby the glove as defined by the invention is capable of meeting the requirements defined in European norm EN 659:2003. It is advantageous in connection with such a glove that owing to the special arrangement of its layers of material, a relatively thin and compact structure of the layers suffices in order to satisfy its adequate protective function, which provides a tactile and comfortably wearable safety glove.

[0014] Claim 2 specifies an advantageous embodiment of the structure of the layers of the glove, which, in addition to the required tightness to water, ensures additionally increased resistance to heat and flames, and the well-tested wearing feeling of a glove, to which the user is accustomed to, remains preserved. The further requirements which gloves, and particularly safety gloves for fire-fighting personnel are expected to satisfy in addition to thermal stability, such as, e.g. good wearing comfort, safe protection from mechanical and chemical influences, etc., are thus satisfied.

Problems solved by technology

Gloves with a layered structure as specified above have the drawback that they are resistant to heat or fire retarding only to a limited degree, and incapable of withstanding any longer-lasting heat and flame radiation, for example during a fire extinguishing operation, which poses the substantial risk that the hand of the user is exposed to suffering burns.

This is substantiated mainly by the fact that the insulating material disposed on the outermost side, or any intermediate layers that may be present, absorb and store liquid acting thereon from the outside, so that any liquid stored in the glove may get heated by the ambient heat above the boiling point, which may cause hot water vapors to penetrate through the liquid-tight functional layer and the inner lining of the glove, so that the hand of the user is directly exposed to the steam and ambient heat, and the hand of the user cannot withstand scalding and burns.

The disadvantage afflicting gloves with reinforcing elements as known in the prior art, is that such elements are formed as separate components of the precut material of the outer cover or top layer of the glove, and that such material precuts have to be additionally pieced together and sewn on, and / or the reinforcing elements have to be fastened on or sewn to the upper hand part of the glove with the help of special connecting means and methods.

When separate reinforcing elements are used, therefore, high material costs are incurred, raising the expenditure for the production process, so that the overall manufacturing costs of the glove are substantially increased.

Furthermore, separate reinforcing elements for the material precuts are disadvantageous in that within the area of the seams connecting the reinforcing element with the precuts, weak points are present with respect to the resistance of the glove, and when the latter is subjected to higher stress, the risk one faces is that the seams may get unraveled, with the result that the reinforcing element is inadequately secured on the material precuts.

Such gloves are disadvantageous in that the shaft extending across the lower arm of the user is only loosely resting on the lower arm, and that the shaft is not fixed on the lower arm in any other way between the first strap and the face end area of the glove.

Thus the problem posed here is that the shaft of the glove fits poorly on the lower arm, and may easily slip, limiting the wearing comfort and the functionality of the glove.

Most importantly of all, the danger thus faced is that foreign material may undesirably penetrate the interior of the glove, and protection of the hand and lower arm of the user is not or only inadequately assured.

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