Three dimensional glove with performance-enhancing layer laminated thereto

Abstract

A 3D hand-shaped glove includes a performance-enhancing layer laminated to a fabric glove shell. A flat, solid laminate preform can be prepared with printed graphics, fabric layers, oriented films, dense and / or concentrated fillers, and other features. The 3D hand-shaped glove shell is placed on a 3D laminating form, and the preform is laminated thereto while preserving the 3D shape. In embodiments, the laminating form includes opposing flat surfaces, and a platen or roller press is used. In other embodiments, a bladder or vacuum bag press is used to laminate the preform to a curved or otherwise shaped surface of the laminating form. In embodiments, edge peel resistance is enhanced by extending the perimeter of a low modulus upper layer beyond underlying layers and bonding it directly to the glove shell. Recovery of the glove shell after deformation by the laminating form can provide a warping deformation of the laminate preform.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 676,021, filed Jul. 26, 2012, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention relates to protective gloves, and more particularly, to three dimensional gloves that closely approximate the shape of a hand and include at least one performance-enhancing layer applied to an underlying glove shell.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Protective gloves are used for a wide variety of household, industrial, and medical applications. Accordingly, gloves are made according to many different methods and from many different materials, depending on the intended application, the quantity to be produced, and the desired manufacturing cost.[0004]There are four principle methods for manufacturing gloves. Some gloves are created by bonding flat sheets of elastomeric films and / or nonwoven materials to each other to form flat 2D gloves. Ot...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention relates to a new lamination process that allows for the creation of thin, flexible gloves. The process uses a thinner laminate preform than traditional dipping, resulting in a low bending stiffness. The gloves also have a lower cross-sectional area than gloves made with traditional dipping, which leads to better flexibility and comfort. The lamination process also reduces warping and deformation of the gloves, resulting in a better fit and more durability. The gloves can be designed with specific features, such as protective textibles, and maintain their shape even after extended use.

Problems solved by technology

However, manufacturing a glove from such materials typically requires specialized equipment and methods, especially if the glove is to be formed into a shape that closely approximates the shape of a hand.

The cost can be prohibitive, and the flexibility, thermal properties, and / or moisture vapor penetration properties of the resulting glove may be unacceptable.

In addition, this approach typically requires that either half of the glove or the entire glove be manufactured from the specially prepared material, so that there is limited freedom to apply the enhancing materials only where they are needed on the glove.

In addition, the prepared materials approach is not applicable to the fabrication of 3D knitted seamless glove shells, where the glove is knitted from yarn directly and there is no glove assembly.

A performance-enhancing layer can be sewn to a glove shell, but this is a labor-intensive step, especially if the 3D shape of the shell is to be maintained.

However, there are many limitations that apply to dipping as a method for applying performance-enhancing layers to a 3D glove shell.

For example, dipping cannot be used to apply highly filler-loaded elastomers, textile layers or oriented films.

Dipping also cannot be used to apply printed graphics to the glove.

In addition, dipping tends to provide a relatively thick coating that significantly reduces the flexibility of the glove.

Blades and other types of coating control tooling are incompatible with dipping.

This viscosity range precludes the use of highly concentrated or highly dense fillers, since either the viscosity of the coating material will be increased by the filler to an unacceptable level, or too much of the filler will settle in the dip tank and will not be applied to the glove.

However, U.S. Pat. No. 7,007,308 is silent regarding adhesion of a solid, preformed enhancement layer to a glove shell having an accurate 3D hand shape.

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