Medical / Dental / Practical Gloves with Anti-Fatigue and Improved Air Channels

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved elastomeric glove with stress relief zones that reduce wearer fatigue. The glove may have stress relief areas between and over some or all of the knuckles, knuckles, and bones of the hand, with the relief zones formed as asymmetric or symmetrical nubs. Alternatively, these raised relief zone areas may be formed as asymmetric or symmetrical diamond-shaped or frusto-diamond-shaped zones. Relief zones may also be formed on the webbing between the thumb and palm. Relief zones may also be formed on the soft tissue webbing between the thumb and index finger on the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the hand. Diamond-shaped / nubs-shaped relief zones provide improved (and consistent) glove performance and quality while minimizing manufacturing challenges and costs.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to an ergonomically improved glove having a stress relief function for providing lower resistance to flexion and anti-fatigue strengthening during the functions of the human hand and wrist, and having regions near or within the natural crease lines and stress accumulation regions of the user's hand.

Background Art

[0002] Medical gloves made of latex or other elastomers are used by professionals in medical and / or dental fields, etc. to maintain hygiene management between medical staff (or other users and surgeons) and patients. This glove is also used in non-medical fields such as cleaners, the food industry, the automotive industry, painters, the construction industry, hair stylists, etc. as a barrier to prevent oil, paint, styrofoam, chemicals, etc. from adhering to the operator. Also, the invention described in this specification can also be used to enhance the usefulness of general gloves for other purposes, not only sports gloves and medical gloves.

[0003] Medical gloves are usually of uniform thickness throughout the glove to simplify production and maintain low cost. Therefore, there has been a mismatch between the flexion pattern of the glove and the flexion of the wearer's hand. For example, when bending a finger, since the muscles and skeletons of the hand are different, the glove must stretch unevenly along the joints of the hand. The force required to stretch the glove during use is likely to fatigue the wearer's hand and also cause discomfort such as constriction of the hand. Due to this "compression" of the glove, the muscles of the hand have to work more than the normal effort required for muscle flexion and hand function "without a glove". Furthermore, due to "glove compression" and the accompanying resistance, pressure is applied to multiple bones in the hand, fingers, and wrist, which may cause pain and fatigue and affect function. These effects may also cause mid- to long-term medical complications in the wearer.

[0004] Furthermore, for example, when the wearer bends a finger, the glove overlaps under the joint, so depending on the stretch and contraction of the glove, overlapping and sagging may occur in other parts. Therefore, in order to reduce fatigue, it often becomes necessary to wear gloves that are not the right size ( "too big") for one's hand, but in that case, the fingertips and other areas become bunched up, and there is a drawback that grip and tactile feedback are hindered. What is needed, then, is a glove that is improved to have an economical and ergonomic anti-fatigue function that does not interfere with the natural operation of the wearer's hand and can be easily manufactured.

[0005] There have been several attempts to date regarding stress relief. One such device is shown in U.S. Patent No. 5,323,490 by Yarbrough. A number of bellows are provided along two fingers of the glove, providing a circumferential bending area, but if the bending provided by the bellows is too large, the fingertips of the glove become too loose. Also, the bellows portion under the finger (palm side) is unnecessary and obstructive, for example, to an operator gripping an instrument. Also, in Yarbrough's invention, the possibility that the glove material will slide vertically along the finger during use is not considered, so it is obvious that bunching and wrinkles of the glove material will occur at the fingertips, interfering with use, the operation of equipment, or tactile feedback. Other inventors (see Patent Application Ansel WO2017124134A1) have attempted alternative designs for stress relief areas, but have not addressed the problems of glove material slippage and bunching and have not shown novelty not already invented. Therefore, this cited invention does not add any uniqueness to the field for the design of an improved glove.

[0006] Many other gloves, such as U.S. Patent 3,283,338 and U.S. Patent No. 6,962,739, also provide various solutions. However, these inventions and patents, either alone or in combination, do not describe the invention claimed herein.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0007]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Summary of the Invention

[0008] [Cross - References to Related Applications] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 856,682, filed on June 3, 2019, entitled "Medical / Dental / Utility Gloves with Anti - Fatigue and Improved Air Channels", which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0009] The present invention relates to an improved glove having a stress-relieving zone manufactured in the glove to relieve the bending of the user's joints and facilitate hand clenching. The glove may have convex relief zones or pockets at one or more joints or knuckles of the hand or adjacent thereto, and the relief zones are preferably formed in an asymmetric or symmetric elongated bump shape above and adjacent to or on the joints of the fingers and thumb and the knuckles. The bump-shaped relief zones can also be made on the webbing of the dorsal and ventral ("palm") surfaces between the thumb and index finger (and other areas shown in the figure as well). These relief zones are formed by asymmetric or symmetric diamond shapes, modified diamond shaped or elliptical horizontal or vertical zones. The relief zones described herein provide an improvement in the (continuous) quality of the glove while minimizing manufacturing challenges and costs. Also, these relief zones can provide additional material for expansion as needed in various relief zones by providing a recess at the apex of the relief zone to lower the profile. Further, the relief zones and configurations described herein may be essentially linear or non-linear.

[0010] Accordingly, a primary object of the preferred embodiments of the present invention is to provide an improved glove having anatomically correlated and / or anatomically adjacent stress-relieving zones that prevent the glove material from slipping or overlapping at the fingertips during glove function, thereby preventing a reduction in functionality and tactile feedback.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide an air release channel incorporated into the glove during manufacture to prevent air entrapment that may occur when the glove is worn.

[0012] The object of the present invention is to provide a glove having a plurality of elongated, vertically arranged bump-shaped / deformed diamond-shaped relaxation zones, and to provide a stretch relaxation region of the glove having extra material within a relaxation zone (hereinafter referred to as a "longitudinal relaxation zone") having a shape that substantially crosses the rotation axis of the finger when bent.

[0013] The object of the present invention is to provide a glove having a plurality of elongated, horizontally arranged bump-shaped / deformed diamond-shaped / elliptical relaxation zones, and to provide a stretch relaxation region of the glove having extra material within a relaxation zone (hereinafter referred to as a "horizontal relaxation zone") having a shape that is substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the finger when bent.

[0014] Those skilled in the art will recognize that, without departing from the scope of the present invention, these relaxation zone regions can also be elliptical in shape, or rotated horizontally or vertically.

[0015] A further object of the present invention is to provide a glove having a plurality of stress relaxation portions, and to reduce the burden on the hand when the glove stretches and contracts around the bent hand and fingers.

[0016] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a plurality of stress relaxation zones having elliptical folds, and to provide a stress-free stretch of the glove around the joints and bodies of the fingers, hands, and wrists.

[0017] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a plurality of stress relaxation zones having asymmetric or symmetric diamond-shaped / bump-shaped / deformed diamond-shaped / deformed bump-shaped relaxation regions, and to provide a stress-free stretch of the glove around the joints and bodies of the fingers, hands, and wrists.

[0018] The object of the present invention is to provide a glove that enables the natural curvature of the hand ("cascade effect") and dramatically reduces the stress and fatigue caused by high stress zones.

[0019] The object of the present invention is to provide improved elements and their arrangements in an apparatus for a described purpose that is inexpensive, reliable, and has sufficient effect to achieve the intended purpose.

[0020] Another object of the present invention is to provide gloves and hand formers that can reduce the stress of the user by providing a stress relief zone suitable for ambidextrous (symmetrical) style gloves.

[0021] The above and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent by considering the following detailed description of the present invention and the accompanying drawings. These objects of the present invention are not exhaustive and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention recited. Furthermore, it should be understood that one embodiment of the present invention need not include all of the aforementioned objects. Rather, a given embodiment may or may not include one of the aforementioned objects. Accordingly, these objects are not used to limit the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

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[0023] The present invention according to at least one aspect is an improved glove having a stress relaxation zone, which improves the ergonomics, comfort, and ease of use of the glove.

[0024] Figure 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the back (the "dorsal" side) of a glove 110 according to at least one aspect of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 1A shows alternative embodiments of relaxation zones in an elliptical shape, an arcuate shape, and a modified diamond shape.

[0026] Figure 2 shows the front side (or the "ventral or palm" side) of the glove.

[0027] Figure 3 shows a dorsal or ventral view depending on whether a particular single-handed or ambidextrous glove is shown.

[0028] Figure 3A is another embodiment of a dorsal or ventral view depending on whether a particular single-handed or ambidextrous glove is shown. This figure shows a relaxation zone 317 extending through the crotch of the finger.

[0029] Figure 4 shows a side view of the glove on the thumb side of the hand.

[0030] Figure 4A shows the muscles of the thumb and a relaxation zone 114 on the base region of the thumb.

[0031] The different zones on the dorsal, ventral, and sides of the hand are stretch / relaxation zones. An additional zone 119 (Figure 5) on the dorsal side of the hand shows an air release zone for releasing the trapped air during wear. These zones can also be provided on the ventral side of the hand.

[0032] In practice, the glove is typically dip-molded into a glove of the desired shape using a hand former, and is composed of a thin layer of uniform latex, nitrile, vinyl, polyisoprene, neoprene, or other elastic or elastomeric material. In this application, any of these materials will be collectively referred to as "polymer", and gloves formed from any of these materials and similar materials will be referred to as "polymer gloves" unless otherwise specified. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one stress relaxation region 112 (Figure 1) is provided over the joints of the hand (finger joints, knuckle joints, etc.), preferably disposed within the main glove portion of uniform thickness. However, it is not necessary for the glove to have a uniform thickness to practice the present invention.

[0033] This extended zone 112 reduces, for example, the amount of force required for the glove material to bend around the knuckles (or "joints") of the hand when bending one or more fingers to grasp a medical / dental instrument. By providing additional material / space in a relaxation zone within a type of balloon area or "pocket", the wearer's fatigue is reduced because the finger can move (or bend further) a greater distance before the glove material stretches to accommodate moving or bending the finger. These extended zones are designed to have less resistance to stretching along the length of the finger compared to the lateral ("circumferential") direction and compared to the material outside the extended zone of the glove.

[0034] Another feature of the relaxation zone is that there is less constriction of the user's hand during operation due to the stretching of the glove. An elastomer such as rubber becomes narrower as it stretches, similar to how a rubber band becomes narrower when stretched. Since the glove is already adjacent to the wearer's skin, the stretching of the glove becomes narrower around the hand, causing a sense of constriction and discomfort to the hand. By providing additional material and free space in the design of the extended zone, anatomical displacement, volume change, and movement of joint bones and the soft tissue thereon can be accommodated in the relaxation zone of the expansion without actually having to "stretch" the material significantly.

[0035] Figures 1, 1A, and 2 illustrate different embodiments of the present invention. A glove 110 made of latex, nitrile, vinyl, polyisoprene, neoprene, or other elastomeric material or similar material is shown. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that some parts of the present invention can be applied to gloves of any material.

[0036] One or more relaxation zones 111, 112, 112A, 113, 113A, 114, 115, 115A, 116, 117, 118, 121, 122, 123, 124 may be provided in the glove.

[0037] The first set of relaxation zones 112 (the "digit relaxation zones") are located over the joints between the middle and proximal phalanges of each finger. The second set of relaxation zones 113 are located over the joints between the distal and middle phalanges of each finger. The third set of relaxation zones 115 or 115A are located between the metacarpals and can extend into the webbing area adjacent to the proximal phalanges. These relaxation zones may extend (a "wrap") from one side of the hand to the opposite side or may not extend (i.e., break / separate) through the crotch area between the fingers and may be on the ventral and / or dorsal (or dorsal only) sides of the glove. The relaxation zones 115 / 115A can partially or fully extend to adjacent interosseous metacarpophalangeal (MCP) or other joints, depending on the needs of the glove.

[0038] Figure 6A shows an alternative version of the relaxation zone 111A with a lower profile. By creating a vertical or horizontal ridge or groove in the center, the overall volume of the relaxation zone is reduced while maintaining its function. The twin peaks of the relaxation zone allow for a more compact relaxation zone. This groove can extend across the entire vertical length of the relaxation zone or only into a portion of the relaxation zone. The same applies to a horizontal relaxation zone. This functionality can be applied to any of the relaxation zones described herein.

[0039] A similar relaxation zone 121 (Figure 1) can be placed on the lateral side of or near the MCP joint of the index finger.

[0040] Another similar relaxation zone 121A (Figure 4) can be placed on the side of the finger.

[0041] The fifth relaxation zone 111 is provided over the joints of the thumb, i.e., between or over the areas of the distal and proximal phalanges of the thumb and over the MCP joint of the thumb. In a preferred embodiment, one, none, or both of these relaxation zones can be used.

[0042] The sixth relaxation zone 114 is located in the vicinity of, or on, the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb, the associated middle phalanx / metacarpal bone, and the adjacent thenar muscle group / muscles.

[0043] The seventh relaxation zone 117 is disposed on the web between the thumb / dorsum of the hand, and may or may not wrap around to the ventral side of the hand through the crotch region between the thumb and index finger. Also, as another embodiment of this relaxation zone, there may be an unconnected double relaxation zone that is located on both the ventral and dorsal sides but does not extend up to the crotch region of the thumb. This relaxation zone can be on only one side, i.e., on the dorsal or ventral side of the hand at this position. This relaxation zone can be characterized by a central groove or depression along the entire length or a part of the length of the relaxation zone, as shown in FIG. 6A (111A).

[0044] The eighth relaxation zone 116 is disposed laterally on the little finger side of the hand.

[0045] The ninth set of wrist relaxation zones 118 is disposed on the wrist joint region (metacarpophalangeal joint region) and / or on the regions of the carpal bone, trapezium bone, and ulna bone. These relaxation zones can be present on the dorsal or ventral side of the wrist and forearm, or in combination on both sides. These relaxation zones can be in the shape of a frusto - diamond, oval, arc, hourglass, or substantially parallel.

[0046] FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate another basic concept of the present invention. FIGS. 9A and 9B show a prior - art hand former (a "mold") used in dip molding (described in detail below). The mold can be asymmetric (FIG. 9A) or symmetric (FIG. 9B). Note that the advantage of an asymmetric - type glove is that it is partially formed with the natural curvature of the hand, fits snugly on the hand, and causes the glove to be in a forward - flexed state.

[0047] Symmetrical gloves are more planar, but because they are substantially symmetrical with respect to the plane, they can be worn on either hand. Also note that the shape is smooth, with no bulges created by the knuckles / joints, or other areas during function. This allows the gloves to fit a greater number of hand sizes and shapes, and with fewer obstacles to impede the flow of the elastomeric glove manufacturing fluid in the mold, the dip molding process can be made smoother / more rationalized.

[0048] In this application, gloves made using such standard hand formers will be referred to as standard asymmetrical gloves (Figure 9A) and standard symmetrical gloves (Figure 9B). The drawback of this approach to making gloves with a standard former is that it does not address the anatomical areas where stress accumulates during glove use, and as such, the user may experience a sense of hand compression, associated fatigue, and negative consequences for the user and the outcome of similar procedures.

[0049] By modifying the hand former to have raised vertical elongate "bumps" (Figures 1 - 3) or "pockets" that extend outward from the shape of the standard hand former, gloves can be manufactured that have a "slack" zone that lies between and slightly covers the joint and bone of the middle metacarpophalangeal joint (MCP) in that area. The direction of these raised areas has an axis that is slightly parallel to the long axis of the hand (e.g., parallel by + / - 20 degrees) and can extend into the area between the middle hand bones and the area between the proximal bones. This slack allows the glove to fit comfortably and have some "give" in the area above the MCP joint when the finger is bent or the fist is clenched (rounded), but then the slack disappears from the glove and the glove becomes highly resistant to hand movement. This slack created in the glove allows the hand to be bent significantly more before the glove stretches compared to gloves of the same size made with a normal hand former. It is the bump / pocket that provides this extra material.

[0050] One such relaxation zone 115 (FIG. 1) illustrates a preferred shape of the relaxation zone. The relaxation zone is of a frusto-diamond shape, but it can also be an hourglass shape, a parallel shape, or other shapes. The edges of the diamond shape are deliberately all shaved off and smoothed. This makes the transition between the non-relaxed part and the relaxed part of the glove smooth. When manufacturing the glove, it is desired that the material flows smoothly. The relaxation zone may have three-dimensional shape characteristics such as an arcuate shape along the contour of the hand it covers. In this application, unless otherwise specified, the frusto-diamond shape is the general shape of a diamond, with the edges removed to provide a smooth transition from one face of the diamond to the other. The frusto-diamond shape is three-dimensional and can be generally flat, arcuate, or a combination thereof depending on the area of the hand or finger it covers. The diamond shape may be symmetric about one axis, two axes, or no axis, especially when stretched.

[0051] In the figure, it may appear that another material forms the relaxation zone, but it is important to remember that it is formed by raised areas designed as bumps or pockets away from the standard hand former surface to create a balloon or pocket with the glove material. Liquid latex or other materials flow down and away from the hand former during dipping, forming a layer of material slightly exaggerated from the normal hand contour around the glove.

[0052] The relaxation zone may be the same as the glove in all other aspects except for having a different shape to provide a pocket for the relaxation zone inside the glove, and it may be the same color, thickness, and material as the rest of the glove. The pocket shape is important for reducing the spring force that resists the bending and stretching of the hand. If there are edges or pointed parts in a frustum diamond shape, a fluid material may be disturbed, making it more likely to cause defects such as pinholes, inconsistencies, and creases in the glove. The smooth regions and transition zones reduce sharp edges so that the fluid flows more smoothly between different regions.

[0053] This design feature is important for flowing the elastomer material smoothly and homogeneously during the manufacturing process and for providing an effective stress relaxation region. The heated elastomer material gathers in the hand mold during dipping. When the former is removed from the pool of liquid material, excess material runs off the mold and detaches from the mold, and ideally, a smooth and relatively uniform thickness of material remains on all parts of the mold. Therefore, the development of various relaxation zones and the resulting contour / design features are important for ensuring an even flow of the material during manufacturing to create a functional and effective relaxation function.

[0054] This provides a relaxation zone with less resistance to bending than the non-relaxation zone part, thus improving the functionality and comfort of the wearer. The improved glove also helps maintain the position of the glove on the hand and resist slippage of the glove by allowing the use of a more form-fitting glove that provides the same comfort as a larger glove (extra-large glove). In practice, it should be noted that the bump / relaxation zone may be over the bones of the hand, over the joints of the hand, over the soft tissue regions of the hand, or a combination thereof.

[0055] Using dip forming (as described in detail below), the glove can have a substantially uniform thickness in the glove body and relaxation zones while reducing resistance to bending. In this case, the relaxation zones have a lower bending resistance (the "spring force") compared to gloves (without relaxation zones) made precisely along the circumference and contour of a normal hand former, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B. The glove can also be made for both hands ("bilateral symmetry"). By making the palm side and the back side of the glove symmetrical, one glove can be used on either hand. By making it bilaterally symmetrical, some relaxation zones may cross to the opposite side of the hand or the relaxation zones may stop before the ends on both sides (the crotch region).

[0056] Another important feature of the relaxation zones in reducing the spring force is by having side or adjacent relaxation zones as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 4A (reference numerals 112A, 114, 116, 121, 121A).

[0057] The main forces resisting the bending, straightening, and movement of the fingers or hand are due to the material of the glove. By cutting the glove in specific areas, it becomes clear how the bending shape of the material can be changed and where stress reduction is most beneficial for hand function. The main objective is to reduce or eliminate hand stress. Thus, by doing so (by "removing material" as described), this leads to weakening the spring force that accumulates in a standard glove. That is, as an example of restricting hand / finger movement in the areas of the knuckles and joints, the glove material shown in area 311 (Figure 3) can be modified, for example, by making cuts in the glove along areas 313, 315. However, since the purpose of the glove is to create a relatively impermeable barrier, cutting is not a practical solution to the problem of stress accumulation. Instead, creating pockets of different shapes and sizes in various locations such as 313 and 315 provides a solution for reducing or eliminating the spring force associated with the glove material. Stress relief areas 313, 315 are an example of a non-obvious solution to the above-described problems. The locations of other stress reduction zones described in this application are based on similar experiments and findings.

[0058] Relief zone 114 (Figures 1, 4, 4A) is preferably elliptical or arcuate in shape, but can be of any shape. It can also be symmetric, asymmetric, linear, or non-linear. One or more of these relief zone structures can be incorporated into a glove or hand former, and these relief zones can be placed on the dorsal, ventral, and / or lateral sides of the glove as needed to suit the specific purpose of the glove.

[0059] These functions reduce the stress on the muscles under that area when the thumb bends and moves along its axis of rotation. These relief zones also serve a secondary function of reducing the spring force that occurs in the areas of the thumb webbing and the palm of the hand, as described above.

[0060] The relaxation zones of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) and proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints and the relaxation zone of the thumb web are also shown and described above. Also, by providing relaxation zones that mirror each other on the opposite side of the glove, it becomes possible to incorporate them into gloves for both hands. Note that the concept of the glove utilizing this mirroring can be applied to any of the embodiments shown in this application, and any relaxation zone of any one embodiment can be exchanged and used with another embodiment to suit the specific purpose of the glove.

[0061] FIG. 5 shows an additional embodiment of a glove with additional features that can be incorporated into any of the above embodiments as needed. FIG. 5 shows a knuckle relaxation zone 120 that extends around or over the joint where the proximal carpal bone and the middle carpal bone meet.

[0062] The relaxation zones on the knuckles, fingers, or finger joints are composed of raised symmetric or asymmetric deformed diamond / knob-shaped relaxation zones with smooth transition zones where the angles of the shape converge to create a flowing transition or the relaxation zone touches the uniform surface of the glove. The relaxation zones can be of any shape, including oval shapes (or "arc shapes") (reference numerals 115A, 123, 124) on the MCP joints and PIP joints of the knuckles as shown in FIG. 1A, or multiple parallel, dome, or oval relaxation zones that provide the desired stress relaxation.

[0063] The relaxation zone is designed to leave a gap or pocket at the finger / knuckle joint and is not planar with respect to the glove area surrounding it in order to allow room for hand / finger movement before stretching. By bulging in this way, a sagging area is created into which the finger / knuckle joint fits when bent, so that the glove material does not have to stretch as much. This is because when the finger is bent or curled, the movable area on the back side of the finger and hand becomes longer and the movable area on the ventral side becomes shorter. This can be clearly seen when looking at the bare hand, as the skin of the knuckle tightens on the back side as the finger bends. The skin stretches to allow the finger to be bent.

[0064] For this reason, in a hand model (a "hand former"), for example, when performing vertical or angled dip molding, a raised area can be provided on it to create a bump / pocket while allowing the elastomer material to flow smoothly. This can be applied to all convergence points of all relaxation zones of the glove and all convergence points between the mostly uniform surface of the glove.

[0065] Figure 5 also shows, as an additional alternative feature of the present invention, an alternative system for an air release channel 119 provided in the glove. The purpose of this air release channel is to release air that accumulates under any relaxation zone during glove use. This channel allows air to move along the raised, indented, or formed channel from any relaxation zone area to the base or wrist area of the glove, or to the open end of the glove / near it, releasing the air trapped in the glove. This prevents "air bubbles" from being trapped and allows the glove to fit closely to the hand. These air release channels can be connected together to all of the plurality of relaxation zones or to individual relaxation zones.

[0066] These air release channels can be connected to relaxation zones anywhere on the glove / form as needed to achieve the most effective air release system, including but not limited to the relaxation zones of the knuckles and finger joints. The air release channels can be located on the dorsal or ventral side of the glove, or on both sides. It is also possible to incorporate lateral relaxation zones. The air release channels may end inside the glove or, depending on the intended use of the glove being manufactured, at the bottom of the glove.

[0067] The digit relaxation zones 111, 111A (FIG. 6A), 112, 112A, and 113 (FIG. 6) are such that when the finger and / or thumb (collectively referred to as the "digit" or "digits") curl (bend) from an extended position to a curled or retracted position, the glove yields along the finger and thumb with low stress. The digit relaxation zones are preferably from one-half to three-quarters of the width of the finger, more preferably two-thirds of the maximum width of the finger of the hand wearing the glove. The knuckle relaxation zone 120 (FIG. 5) provides an area where the glove can withstand the hand when it is in a fist. These relaxation zones are located on the dorsal and ventral sides of the glove, or on only one side. Depending on the intended use of the glove being manufactured, one, some, none, or all of these relaxation zones can be utilized.

[0068] The relaxation zone 115 (Figs. 1, 2, 5, 12) provided in part between the proximal bone and the middle hand bone can release elastomer tension (low stress yield) when the hand is bent or curled during movement or operation. This relaxation zone can be arranged on the dorsal and ventral sides of the glove or on only one side. The relaxation zone 115 can be continuous via the crotch region (see Fig. 1) or non - continuous with the dorsal and ventral relaxation zones separated as described (see Fig. 12). A part of the relaxation zone 115 can partially or completely penetrate into the adjacent proximal carpal bone or middle hand bone. One or more relaxation zones 115 can be incorporated into the glove / former design according to the desired function of the resulting glove. This relaxation zone is preferably between 1 / 3 and 2 / 3 of the length of the hand body.

[0069] The air channel 119 may be open to the environment or can be stopped in front of the open end of the glove. It may be necessary to unwind the open end of the glove slightly to expose the end of the channel to the environment around the glove.

[0070] The webbing relaxation zone 117 provides a low - stress expansion area when the thumb is extended away from the hand and provides freedom of movement when the thumb rotates relative to the index finger. The webbing relaxation zones 117 are preferably substantially parallel, but other shapes are acceptable.

[0071] A typical relaxation zone is on the joint of the middle finger. See, for example, Reference 12, U.S. Patent No. 9,179,718, issued November 12, 2015, to Anstey, the applicant of the present application.

[0072] The relaxation zone becomes the cut of a smooth "flat" glove. The relaxation zone provides an area that is more extensible, stretchable, and bendable than a simple and uniform glove area. The relaxation zone preferably consists of raised areas of various shapes and sizes, but may vary depending on the underlying anatomical shape, anatomical structure, and the amount of material or stretch required based on the associated relaxation needs.

[0073] Ideally, the relaxation area is a raised area of material that is raised diamond-shaped or frustum diamond-shaped plateaus or nodules, preferably without sharp transition zones / corners, so that the flow of the elastomeric material during the manufacturing process is kept homogeneous and the thickness of the glove is relatively consistent overall.

[0074] The thickness of the glove in the relaxation zone area is relatively consistent and uniform with the other parts of the glove.

[0075] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this glove is mainly configured such that the back side (FIG. 1) (dorsal side) of the glove has a number of relaxation zones, but it may also have only the webbing relaxation zone 117 separately or on an extension line mainly on the front side (FIG. 2) (ventral side) of the glove. Further, the relaxation zone 115 can also be incorporated on the front side of the glove. As described above, the glove can also be provided with an air release channel 119. The relaxation zones of the finger and knuckle FIGS. 1 and 1A (reference numerals 112, 113, 115A, 122, 123, 124) can be arranged on both the front and back sides, or only on one side of the glove, depending on the functional requirements of the glove to be manufactured.

[0076] The glove can also use any shape or pattern of the glove including diamond shape / bump shape / oval shape or partial diamond shape / bump shape / oval shape, instead of or in addition to some or all of the relaxation zones. Further, the glove may be improved by adding additional material to the crotch between the fingers / digits. By making the glove with the fingers separated from the standard distance of the hand former, additional material is present between the fingers / digits, making it possible to provide a unique type of relaxation zone.

[0077] The relaxation zones and design features shown here can be implemented on one side of the glove or on both the dorsal and ventral sides for the manufacture of single - hand or two - hand gloves.

[0078] The preferred direction of the relaxation zone is elongated / vertical, but the present invention is not limited to relaxation zones in any one direction. The shape of the relaxation zones described on the fingers and thumb is particularly so because it prevents the slipping of the glove material under the fingers / thumb which would interfere with functionality and tactile feedback.

[0079] The general direction and shape of the overall relaxation zone is intentionally inclined vertically (i.e., along the longitudinal axis). The vertical nature of the relaxation zone is designed to accommodate gravity during the manufacturing process. This improves the flow of the elastomer material on the hand former (the "mold") used in the glove manufacturing process. The indentation (Figure 6A, 111A) at the center of the relaxation zone can also be inclined vertically / vertically or horizontally / horizontally in a horizontal relaxation zone, if desired. This indentation can run the full length or part of the length of the relaxation zone. This feature is applicable to any of the relaxation zones described in this application.

[0080] The relaxation zone and the perpendicularity of the channels allow for a uniform flow of the glove manufacturing material, preventing the elastomer material from accumulating during glove manufacturing and enabling the production of a more homogeneous / even-thickness final product. This is a very important point in the glove manufacturing process. Material accumulation negatively affects the performance of the glove and cannot be tolerated as it would impede or neutralize the impact of the relaxation zone on stress reduction during glove use. In the present invention, this concept and implementation of substantially vertically orienting the relaxation region are important and central elements.

[0081] During manufacturing using the dip molding process, the hand former is first immersed in the liquid elastomer finger, and the immersed area of the hand former forms an elastomer layer around the mold. This forms the glove. When the mold rises above the liquid, excess material returns into the liquid along the mold. By carefully designing the relaxation zone, the excess material can naturally (i.e., in a vertically downward direction or a direction close to it) return to the liquid bath. In the design of certain relaxation zones, mainly the horizontally oriented relaxation zones, the liquid flow can slow down or accumulate, causing the material to dry / cool and agglomerate in the glove area, resulting in the glove area becoming overly thick or hard. When the elastomer is not blocked during the flow, as in the case of a vertically oriented relaxation zone design, the excess material can drip or flow, thereby forming a glove with a relatively consistent layer depth / thickness throughout the entire glove.

[0082] Having a relaxation zone that is in the longitudinal direction, mostly / substantially in the longitudinal direction, and either in the vertical direction or smoothly transitioning from vertical allows for this consistent formation of the glove layer while providing the desired / functional relaxation zone. This enables the production of more uniform gloves using a more inexpensive and practical process.

[0083] Medical / disposable gloves are mostly disposable or changed several times during a procedure, so it is important to keep the cost of these gloves at a practical level.

[0084] The value of gloves with a stress-relieving zone decreases if their cost becomes significantly higher than that of the standard gloves currently in use. One way to manufacture gloves made of elastomeric materials such as latex, nitrile, neoprene, polyisoprene, and vinyl at a low cost is to use a dip mold. The present invention is not limited to the manufacturing method, but one such method is to construct a base mold of ceramic or other similar or known materials. The above-mentioned mold-relieving zone can be incorporated into molds of various sizes and shapes configured according to the various sizes and shapes desired for the glove product. The amount, length, and shape of the relieving zone vary depending on, among other considerations, the material of the glove and the size of the glove (small, medium, large, etc.). Next, a silicone, resin, plastic, metal, nylon, ceramic, or other type of mold can be created using known methods from the master. After that, the mold is immersed in an elastomeric material, and the glove is formed through a process including several steps such as heating, chlorination, vulcanization, washing, and drying. Additional steps can also be incorporated into the process to improve the final product in various ways. It is also possible to implement additional immersions and steps to add layers to the glove and create more durable or reusable gloves such as utility or kitchen gloves. Then, the glove can be peeled off the mold after drying, curing, or fixing.

[0085] A horizontally designed relieving zone may prevent this flow and cause the material to accumulate, resulting in an uneven coating along the glove and potentially interfering with the operation of the relieving zone.

[0086] Therefore, a vertical design can provide an optimal glove structure while minimizing costs and eliminating the need for additional manufacturing steps to prevent pooling and the like.

[0087] The vertical relaxation zones 111-121A, 123-124, 313-317 are, in most parts, substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hand / finger as a whole, and can reduce the amount of labor required to bend the finger or make a fist. When the finger is bent, the relaxation zone expands, the joints and soft tissues are pushed up into the relaxation zone, and the relaxation zone also extends laterally. This can provide stress relief not only to the area directly below the relaxation zone but also to adjacent areas.

[0088] Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, reference numerals 1010-1013 indicate various finger crotch relaxation zones. For the purposes of this application, unless otherwise explicitly specified, abduction and adduction are defined as the movement of the fingertips, hand, finger, or toes in the coronal (medial-lateral) plane of movement. Moving the fingertips or hand away from the body in the literal sense, such as spreading the fingers or toes, is called abduction.

[0089] When abducting (spreading) or moving the finger, these crotch relaxation zones serve to reduce the stress accumulated in the glove material. These relaxation zones provide additional material for the movement of the finger, and reduce the lateral tension and contraction usually caused by the material pulling on the function. The current design of the finger crotch stress relaxation zone helps to reduce the overall force in this area and the adjacent areas of the hand. By doing so, the fatigue of the hand muscles is reduced when moving the finger or abducting, and the overall stress on the related soft tissues, bones, nerves, and blood vessels is reduced. This concept can be applied to all stress relaxation zones described in this application.

[0090] This finger crotch relaxation zone can be of any shape. Preferred embodiments as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 are symmetric or asymmetric, elliptical (bow-shaped), frustum diamond-shaped (1011), Conical shape(1010) is in the shape of a rod, dome, ellipse, or arc (1012, 1013). These relaxation zones can partially or completely cover the MCP joint region and the region on the proximal phalanx. The number and shape of the relaxation zones implemented vary depending on the glove being created. The finger crochet relaxation zones can be present on the dorsal, ventral, or both dorsal and ventral sides of the glove and the glove former.

[0091] Frustro diamond shape and Conical shape The finger crochet relaxation zones 1010 - 1013 and the relaxation zones of 115 / 115A (Figure 1) can expand the glove material laterally. Next, this primary lateral expansion results in a spread of secondary expansion in other directions including the longitudinal direction. This realizes an overall non - trivial stress relief during hand function. From this discovery, it can be seen that the non - obvious design and position of the relaxation zones in the above - mentioned regions contribute to reducing stress and hand fatigue during function. This can be regarded as one of the unique and novel features of the present invention.

[0092] Figure 12 shows another embodiment that has relaxation zones 114, 116 but does not have relaxation zone 1010.

[0093] The shape and position of the relaxation zones accommodate more movement / bending of the finger without applying much tension to the glove itself. In a preferred embodiment, the glove material has a relatively uniform thickness throughout the relaxation zones, but can also be made thinner in part of the relaxation zones.

[0094] The relaxation zone 115 (FIG. 1) can extend into the crotch area between the digits, but can also stop in front of this crotch area. The relaxation zone 115 allows for the expansion of the relaxation zone when the fingers open and spread during hand movement. This function can further reduce the stress associated with standard gloves that do not have a relaxation zone in this area. Thus, when the fingers bend or curl, the fatigue experienced by the fingers and hand is reduced compared to when resisting the pulling force of the material. The action of the relaxation zone between the fingers also helps to prevent constriction of the bones and soft tissues and alleviates the associated nerve and bone damage reported in this area.

[0095] Similarly, the webbing relaxation zone 117 (FIG. 1) can reduce the amount of stress within the glove and relieve the pressure on the muscles of the thumb and the hand webbing when the thumb moves away from or rotates relative to the hand. The webbing relaxation zone 117 can be disposed separately on the back and front of the hand, or can extend from the back of the hand to the palm area of the hand to provide relaxation of the webbing area throughout the movement of the thumb.

[0096] This relaxation zone 117 also enables the glove material to continue to closely contact the hand webbing rather than disengaging from contact as a normal glove would due to the tension in this area of the glove (known as the trampoline effect). Thereby, the user can wear a glove that fits more snugly and move the hand and thumb freely within the glove without relying on excess material of a large glove. The relaxation zone 114 (FIGS. 1, 4, 4A) also helps to reduce this trampoline effect and is thus effective in helping to reduce stress in the webbing relaxation zone area.

[0097] Unless otherwise specified within the claims of the present application, the "knuckle" refers to the MCP joint (near 115 / 115A) under the finger, and the "finger joint" refers to the finger joint above the crotch between the fingers (near 112 or 113), and the two are used separately and distinctively.

[0098] Unless otherwise specified within the claims of the present application, the term "hand" includes the fingers and thumb of the hand.

[0099] The present invention has been described as having a preferred design, but further modifications, uses, and / or adaptations of the present invention that generally follow the principles of the present invention are possible, within the scope of known or conventional practices in the technical field to which the present invention pertains, applicable to the central features described herein, and including departures from the present disclosure that fall within the scope of the present invention and the appended claims. Furthermore, any of the features shown in one embodiment can be used in combination with any of the features of any other embodiment.

[0100] The applicant of the present application notes that in the present specification, when gloves are shown in the drawings or the detailed description of the invention, the drawings or the detailed description may refer to the respective glove formers on which the gloves are made. For example, when a glove having an arcuate relaxation zone is illustrated, the glove also describes the details of each glove former having the same arcuate structure for forming the arcuate relaxation zone. It is not considered necessary to provide another drawing of the former relaxation zone to comply with the specification in order to instruct those skilled in the art to manufacture, use, or sell the present invention without undue experimentation. Accordingly, the present invention covers and includes the hand formers for manufacturing the gloves described in the present application and all permutations thereof.

[0101] Therefore, it is understood that the present invention is not limited to the above-described sole embodiment, but encompasses all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A glove made of a polymeric material of substantially uniform thickness, said glove having a palm portion, a back portion, a finger portion, and a thumb portion, said glove having an upper end at the wrist portion of the glove and a lower end at the distal end of said finger portion, said glove having a plurality of pockets for selectively receiving at least a portion of the hand, each of said plurality of pockets including a raised area defining a relaxation zone, each of said plurality of pockets being formed in one of a group of the palm portion, the back portion, the finger portion, and the thumb portion of the hand and extending therefrom to define a relaxation zone, a first one of said plurality of pockets being disposed between adjacent finger portions and only one of said first pockets being provided alone at the position between the metacarpal bones of the adjacent finger portions, and a second one of said plurality of pockets being disposed between the index finger portion and the thumb portion and only one of said second pockets being provided alone at the position between the metacarpal bones of the index finger portion and the thumb portion, each of said plurality of pockets being only an arcuate surface raised to a height that does not touch the hand in the state before bending the hand or only a flat surface, only a smooth transition portion between the relaxation zone and the non-relaxation portion of the glove, and only one smooth transition portion from one end to the other end of each pocket, each of said plurality of pockets leaving a gap for the movement of the hand / finger before stretching, and having a peripheral edge extending so as to completely surround the periphery of each pocket between each pocket and the glove, a part of said peripheral edge partially or completely penetrating into the adjacent metacarpal bone, wherein the arrangement of said plurality of pockets enables the flow of the polymeric material in liquid form through the pockets during the dip molding formation of the glove, preventing the polymeric material from accumulating around and / or within the pockets, and providing a substantially uniform thickness of the glove and each of the pockets along and / or within the periphery of said plurality of pockets. A glove characterized by this.

2. The glove according to claim 1, wherein the height of the relaxation zone in the direction along the length of the hand is greater than the width of the relaxation zone in the transverse direction along the width of the hand. A glove characterized by this.

3. The glove according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of pockets has a frusto-diamond shape.

4. The glove according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of pockets has a shape selected from the group consisting of a conical shape, a rod shape, a dome shape, an elliptical shape, or an arc shape.

5. The glove according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of pockets has a frusto-diamond shape.

6. In the glove according to claim 1, by a drip forming process, the liquid polymer material flows downward from the upper end to the lower end during formation, The relaxation zone is inclined obliquely outward from vertical along a part of its length, promoting the laminar flow of the polymer material passing through the relaxation zone during glove formation, and preventing pooling in or along the relaxation zone.

7. In the glove according to claim 1, by a drip forming process, the liquid polymer material flows downward from the upper end to the lower end during formation, And the relaxation zone is inclined obliquely outward from a first width to a wider second width along a first portion of the length of the relaxation zone, starting from the direction closest to the upper end, reducing the turbulent flow of the polymer material passing through the relaxation zone during glove formation, preventing pooling around or along the pocket, And the relaxation zone is inclined along a second portion of its length so as to return from the second width to the first width.

8. The glove according to claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of pockets has a frusto-diamond shape.

9. The glove according to claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of pockets has a knob shape.

10. In the pockets of the glove according to claim 9, each of the plurality of pockets has a raised area with a concave center of the knob shape to lower its profile. **Claim 11**: The glove according to claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of pockets is adapted to receive therein one of a group of fingers, joints, or knuckles of a hand. **Claim 12**: The glove according to claim 7, wherein bending of the hand wearing the glove causes at least one knuckle joint to move into the pocket, enabling the hand to be bent without stretching the glove. **Claim 13**: The glove according to claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of pockets has a knob shape in which an upper region of the pocket toward the wrist portion of the glove is narrower than a central region of the pocket, and opens toward the upper end along a periphery of the pocket facing the wrist portion of the glove, and does not include a convex portion region that causes pooling or turbulence of the polymer material when flowing from a wrist region passing around the pocket during formation of the glove to a finger region. **Claim 14** A polymer glove having a palm portion, a back portion, a finger portion, and a thumb portion, wherein the polymer glove has an upper end at a wrist portion of the glove and a lower end at a tip of the finger portion, the polymer glove has a plurality of pockets for receiving at least a part of a hand therein, each of the plurality of pockets being formed in one of a group of a palm portion, a back portion, a finger portion, and a thumb portion of the hand and extending therefrom to define a relaxation zone, a first pocket of the plurality of pockets being located between adjacent finger portions and adapted such that only one of the first pockets is located alone between the metacarpals of the adjacent finger portions, and a second pocket of the plurality of pockets being disposed between an index finger portion and a thumb portion and such that only one of the second pockets is located alone between the metacarpals of the index finger portion and the thumb portion, each of the plurality of pockets being only an arcuate surface raised to a height that does not touch the hand in a state before bending the hand or only a flat surface, each of the plurality of pockets having a peripheral edge extending to completely surround the pocket between the pocket and the glove, each of the plurality of pockets tapering from a central portion of the pocket toward an upper portion of the pocket, a part of the peripheral edge partially or completely penetrating into an adjacent metacarpal. Due to the shape of each of the plurality of pockets, during the dip molding formation of the glove, a uniform flow of the liquid polymer material passing through the pockets is enabled, preventing the polymer material from accumulating around each pocket, and providing a glove coating of substantially uniform thickness and pockets along the periphery of the pockets. A polymer glove characterized by this.

15. A hand-shaped hand former for forming a glove, The hand former has a palm portion, a back portion, at least one finger portion, and a thumb portion, The hand former has an upper end at the wrist portion of the hand former and a lower end at the tip of the at least one finger portion, The hand former has a plurality of bumps for forming a plurality of pockets of the glove, and the plurality of bumps are formed in one of the groups of the palm portion, the back portion, the finger portion, and the thumb portion. Only one of the plurality of bumps is located between adjacent finger portions and is arranged alone between the middle phalanges of the adjacent finger portions, Each of the plurality of bumps has only an arcuate surface raised to a height that does not touch the hand in the state before bending the hand or only a flat surface, Each of the plurality of bumps has a peripheral edge extending so as to completely surround the periphery of the bump between the bump and the hand former, Each of the plurality of bumps has a length in the direction from the upper end to the lower end that is greater than its width, and the bump extends over at least one-third of the maximum width of the finger portion of the hand former, A part of the peripheral edge partially or completely penetrates into the adjacent middle phalanx, The bump has a convex upper end, and the convex shape of the bump enables a uniform flow of the liquid polymer material passing through the pocket during the dip molding formation of the glove on the hand former, preventing turbulent flow or pooling of the polymer material at the upper end of the bump, and providing a coating of the hand former of substantially uniform thickness and a pocket along the periphery of the pocket. A hand former characterized by this.

16. In the hand former according to Claim 15, each of the plurality of bumps has a frustro diamond shape. A hand former characterized by this. **Claim 17**: The hand former according to claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of bumps is selected from the group consisting of a conical shape, a rod shape, a dome shape, an elliptical shape, or an arc shape. **Claim 18** A glove manufactured from a polymer material of substantially uniform thickness, comprising a ventral part, a dorsal part, finger parts, and a thumb part, an upper end at the wrist part of the glove and a lower end at the distal end of the finger parts, and a plurality of relaxation zones, wherein at least one relaxation zone located between the metacarpal bones among the plurality of relaxation zones consists of only one raised area including a longitudinal axis extending substantially parallel to the major axis of the finger part, and only one said raised area is arranged alone between adjacent finger parts and between the metacarpal bones of the adjacent finger parts, and the raised area is only an arcuate surface raised to a height that does not touch the hand in the state before bending the hand or only a flat surface, and is only a smooth transition part between the at least one relaxation zone and the non-relaxed part of the glove, and is only a smooth transition part from one end to the other end of the at least one relaxation zone, and a part of the peripheral edge of the relaxation zone partially or completely penetrates into the adjacent metacarpal bones, and gaps are left so as to leave room for hand / finger movement before each of the plurality of relaxation zones expands. A glove characterized by this. **Claim 19**: The glove according to claim 18, wherein at least one relaxation zone located between the metacarpal bones extends into the webbing area adjacent to the proximal phalanx. **Claim 20**: The glove according to claim 18, wherein at least one relaxation zone located between the metacarpal bones extends from one side of the hand to the opposite side through the crotch area between the fingers. **Claim 21**: The glove according to claim 18, wherein at least one relaxation zone located between the metacarpal bones is on both the ventral and / or dorsal sides of the glove. **Claim 22**: The glove according to claim 18, wherein at least one relaxation zone located between the metacarpal bones is only on the dorsal side of the glove. **Claim 23**: The glove according to claim 18, wherein at least one relaxation zone located between the metacarpal bones extends along an axis parallel to the major axis of the hand. **Claim 24**: The glove according to claim 18, characterized in that at least one relaxation zone includes at least one pocket for selectively receiving at least a part of the hand. **Claim 25**: The glove according to claim 24, characterized in that at least one relaxation zone is in a frustro-diamond shape. **Claim 26**: The glove according to claim 24, characterized in that at least one pocket has a peripheral edge that extends to completely cover the periphery of the pocket between the pocket and the glove. **Claim 27**: The glove according to claim 24, characterized in that the arrangement of at least one pocket enables the flow of a polymer material in liquid form to pass through and / or within the plurality of pockets during the dip molding formation of the glove, prevents the retention of the polymer material around and / or within the plurality of pockets, and provides a substantially uniform thickness of the glove and the pockets along the periphery of the at least one pocket and / or within the plurality of pockets. **Claim 28**: The glove according to claim 18, characterized in that the length of the plurality of relaxation zones in the direction along the length of the hand is greater than the width of the relaxation zones in the transverse direction along the width of the hand. **Claim 29**: The glove according to claim 18, characterized in that the plurality of relaxation zones have a bump shape with a central depression to lower the profile. **Claim 30**: The glove according to claim 18, further characterized by including one relaxation zone arranged on the little finger side of the glove. **Claim 31** A glove manufactured from a polymer material of substantially uniform thickness, comprising a dorsal part, a ventral part, finger parts, and a thumb part, having an upper end at the wrist part of the glove and a lower end at the distal end of the finger parts, and consisting of a plurality of relaxation zones. At least one of the plurality of relaxation zones consists of a raised region including a longitudinal axis extending substantially parallel to the major axis of the finger portion, and the raised region is only an arcuate surface raised to a height that does not touch the hand in the state before bending the hand or only a flat surface, and is only a smooth transition portion between the at least one relaxation zone and the non-relaxation portion of the glove, and is only a smooth transition portion from one side to the other side of the at least one relaxation zone, leaving a gap for the movement of the hand / finger before the at least one relaxation zone extends. A part of the peripheral edge of the relaxation zone partially or completely penetrates into the adjacent middle phalanx. The glove according to claim 18, wherein the at least one relaxation zone continuously inclines outward from a first width to a second width wider than the first width along a first portion of its length from the direction closest to the upper end, and inclines inward along a second portion of its length, and the at least one relaxation zone has a bump shape with a raised region having a concave center so as to lower the profile.

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