DEVICE FOR PUTTING A GLOVE ON THE PALM OF THE HAND

Abstract

A glove-docking apparatus comprising a glove-opening device and a glove-lifting and positioning device. The glove-lifting and positioning device includes a linear actuator with a movable bar terminating in an insertion pin, a rotary actuator designed to rotate the glove-lifting and positioning device, and a lifting arm with a lifting actuator designed to raise and lower the glove-lifting and positioning device. The glove-lifting and positioning device is designed to insert the insertion pin into a matching hole in a glove holder to which a glove is attached and to insert the glove opening over gripping pins of the glove-opening device.The glove opening device can stretch the glove opening, and when an air pump creates a sub-pressure, the glove inflates to a suitable size for inserting a hand.

Description

DEVICE FOR PUTTING A GLOVE ON THE PALM OF THE HAND ΖΩΖΑηη / ΖΖηΖ / Ε / ΥΙΛΙ FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a glove-docking apparatus for putting a sterile glove on the palm of the hand. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The use of sterile gloves is common and sometimes necessary in operating rooms for medical surgeries, laboratories, and other locations where a sterile environment must be maintained. The user, for example, a surgeon preparing for surgery, typically washes and disinfects their hands with soap and disinfectant and then puts on a pair of sterile gloves. While putting on the gloves, the user touches them, potentially contaminating the outside of the glove. Touching the outside of the gloves, even after washing and disinfecting, can contaminate them with bacteria. The present invention describes a system that provides a solution to this problem. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The drawings accompanying the application are not intended to limit the scope of the invention and its application. The drawings are intended only to illustrate the invention and constitute only one of its many possible implementations. Figure 1 presents a glove (100) with its opening (103) and the circumferential part (104) of the opening (103). Figures 2 and 3 represent the glove-docking apparatus (1) which includes the housing (2), the glove-opening device (3), the glove-lifting and positioning device (4), the air pump (5), and the replaceable glove cartridge (7). Figures 4 and 5 depict the glove lifting and positioning device (4) when the removable bar (411) is oriented downwards on its way to pick up a glove from the replaceable cartridge (7). Figures 6 and 7 represent the glove lifting and positioning device (4) when the insertion pin is inserted into the matching hole of the glove holder. Figures 8 and 9 represent the glove lifting and positioning device (4) in a diagonal state and holding a glove on the way to put the glove into the glove opening device (3). Figures 10 and 11 represent the glove lifting and positioning device (4) in the ΖΑΖΑηη / ΖΖηΖ / Ε / ΥΙΛΙ horizontal and holding a glove and putting the glove into the glove opening device (3). Figures 12 and 13 represent the glove lifting and positioning device (4) that places the glove into the glove opening device (3). Figure 14 represents the glove (100) when it is inserted into the gripping pins and inflated and ready to receive the user's hand. Figure 15 represents the glove lifting and positioning device (4) when the movable bar (411) is in the up position. Figure 16 represents the glove lifting and positioning device (4) when the movable bar (411) is in the down position. Figures 17 and 18 represent the glove lifting and positioning device (4) in a diagonal position. Figure 19 represents the fitting piece (48) in two states with respect to the movable bar (411). Figures 20 and 21 represent the insertion pin (42) when inserted into the glove holder. Figures 22 and 23 represent the insertion pin (42) before and after being inserted into the glove holder (6). Figures 24A to 24E represent various states of the ΖΑΖΑηη / ΖΖηΖ / Ε / ΥΙΛΙ movable bar (411) and the glove holder (6). Figure 25 represents the glove holder (6). Figure 26 represents the glove holder (6) with a glove (100). Figures 27 and 28 represent the glove opening device (3) where the gripping pins (36) are concentrated in the center of the polygonal circumferential frame (31). Figure 29 represents the glove opening device (3) in the partially open position. Figure 30 represents the glove opening device (3) in an open position. Figures 31 to 33 represent the adjuster (8) in various states. Figure 34 is a partial cross-sectional view of the replaceable cartridge (7) with the follower (92) and spring (93). Figure 35 represents an empty replaceable cartridge (7). Figure 36 is a top view of the replaceable cartridge (7). Figure 37 is an upper cartridge frame including the stops (75). ΖΑΖΑηη / ΖΖηΖ / Ε / ΥΙΛΙ DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The main objective of the present invention is to provide a glove-docking apparatus (1) designed to assist users in putting gloves on their hands. The glove-docking apparatus (1) comprises the following main parts: a housing (2), a glove-opening device (3), a glove-lifting and positioning device (4), and an air pump (5). The glove-docking apparatus (1) may contain a replaceable glove cartridge (7) designed to hold 100 gloves. The gloves can be placed in the replaceable glove cartridge, one on top of the other. The replaceable glove cartridge may be a fixed, permanent part of the glove-docking apparatus, refilled as needed, or alternatively, the entire cartridge may be replaced with a new one, thus serving as a type of disposable glove cartridge. In cases where glove sterility must be maintained, the disposable, replaceable glove cartridge configuration is more appropriate and recommended. The glove lifting and positioning device (4) is designed to lift a glove, possibly from a replaceable glove cartridge, a ЖБЖБзη / ЖЖзЖ / Е / ХЙЛЙ glove at the same time, and position the glove opening (103) over the glove opening device (3). The glove-docking apparatus (1), as depicted in the drawings and as explained above, includes the housing (2), the glove lifting and positioning device (4), the glove opening device (3), and the air pump (5). The housing (2) is partially depicted in the drawings and contains the aforementioned parts of the glove-docking apparatus (1). The housing (2) may also contain the replaceable glove cartridge (7). The glove lifting and positioning device (4) includes: (a) A base (43) with a linear actuator (41) that is equipped with a removable bar (411). When the linear actuator is operated, the removable bar is designed to move back and forth. (b) A rotary actuator (count four) that is designed to rotate the glove lifting and positioning device (4). By operating the rotary actuator it is possible to rotate the glove lifting and positioning device and change the direction in which the movable bar is oriented. ΖΑΖΑηη / ΖΖηΖ / Ε / ΥΙΛΙ (c) A lifting arm (45) with a lifting actuator (46) designed to raise and lower the glove lifting and positioning device (4). The drawings depict, for example, two lifting arms. By controlling the lifting actuator, the position of the glove lifting and positioning device is changed. (d) The base also includes release bars (47). The movable bar (411) terminates with an insert pin (42) and the movable bar (411) includes an adjustment piece (48) with adjustment bars (49). The glove lifting and positioning device (4) is designed to descend and reach a glove holder (6) to which a glove (100) is attached, and then pick up the glove by means of the movable bar (411) because the insertion pin (42) penetrates a matching hole (61) in the glove holder (6) and locks it to the movable bar. At this stage, the glove lifting and positioning device (4) raises the glove upward and forward and presents the glove to the glove opening device. Some explanations about the gloves: The glove-docking device (1) may include the replaceable glove cartridge (7) which contains several gloves (100). Each glove (100) is attached to a glove holder (6). The The glove holder can be made of a flexible plastic that includes several fastening bars (62), each of which terminates in a fastening clip (63) to which the circumferential portion (104) of the opening (103) of the glove (100) and a matching hole (61) are attached. This hole aligns with the insertion pin (42) of the glove lifting and positioning device (4). In this way, the insertion pin (42) is inserted into the matching hole (61), locking the glove holder (6) to it and bringing the glove holder with the glove to the glove opening device (3). In order to center the insert pin (42) directly into the matching hole (61), the removable bar (411) includes the adjusting piece (48) with adjusting bars (49) that center the insert pin (42) directly into the matching hole (61) by embracing and surrounding the glove holder (6). When the glove opening is inserted over the gripping pins (36) while they are in a closed position, and these gripping pins (36) are moved to an open position, the glove is then disconnected from the glove holder (6). At this stage, the glove lifting and positioning device (4) moves back to retrieve another glove on demand. The glove lifting and positioning device (4) then releases from the ΖΑΖΑηη / ΖΖηΖ / Ε / ΥΙΛΙ glove holder (6), which is now without a single glove, pulling back the movable bar (411) so that the glove holder (6) collides with the release bars (47) which are connected to the base (43) causing the glove holder (6) to pop out of the insertion pin (42) and preferably fall into a trash can. The drawings illustrate the glove-opening device (3) with a six-sided frame, although the invention can be implemented with a frame with more or fewer sides. The outer end (33) of each extension bar (32) is joined to the polygonal circumferential frame (31) by means of an axial joint (34). The inner end (35) of each extension bar (32) is equipped with a gripping pin (36). The glove-opening device (3) also includes a mechanism that changes the joint angle between the extension bars (32) and the polygonal circumferential frame (31). The glove-donning apparatus (1) may include an adjuster (8) that covers the hole within the polygonal circumferential frame (31) and is designed to close when the apparatus (1) is not in use. ΖΑΖΑηη / ΖΖηΖ / Ε / ΥΙΛΙ and vice versa. Method of operating the glove-docking apparatus (1): The glove-lifting and positioning device (4) lowers and picks up a glove (100) as previously described. The glove-lifting and positioning device (4) then brings the glove opening over the gripping pins (36). Next, the glove-opening device (3) moves from the closed to the open position, in other words, to a position in which the glove opening is stretched to the shape of the polygonal circumferential frame, and the glove effectively seals the opening of the glove-opening device. Then, the air pump (5) creates a sub-pressure inside the housing (2), causing the glove to inflate. The user can now insert their hand into the inflated glove, which, as a result of its slight inward movement, is released from the gripping pins and remains on the user's hand.A sensor that detects complete hand insertion into the glove, or a pressure or touch switch, can control the glove's release from the gripping pins. Additionally, the glove-docking device is equipped with various actuators that activate each of the aforementioned parts, as well as sensors that allow it to operate automatically. Figure 1 shows a glove (100) with its opening (103) and the circumferential portion (104) of the opening (103). Figures 2 and 3 represent the glove-donning apparatus (1) which includes the housing (2), the opening device of The glove lifting and positioning device (4), the air pump (5), and the replaceable glove cartridge (7) are shown in Figures 4 and 5. Figures 6 and 7 show the glove lifting and positioning device (4) when the removable bar (411) is facing downwards, moving to pick up a glove from the replaceable cartridge (7). Figures 8 and 9 show the glove lifting and positioning device (4) when the insertion pin is inserted into the matching hole in the glove holder. Figures 8 and 9 show the glove lifting and positioning device (4) in a diagonal position, holding a glove as it moves to place the glove into the glove opening device (3). Figures 10 and ii represent the glove lifting and positioning device (4) in a horizontal state, holding a glove and placing the glove into the glove opening device (3).Figures 12 and 13 represent the glove lifting and positioning device (4) that places the glove into the glove opening device (3). Figure 14 shows the glove (100) when it is inserted into the gripping pins, inflated, and ready to receive the user's hand. Figure 15 shows the glove lifting and positioning device (4). Figure 16 shows the glove lifting and positioning device (4) when the movable bar (411) is in the up position, and Figure 17 and 18 show the glove lifting and positioning device (4) in the down position. Figure 19 shows the adjusting piece (48) in two states relative to the movable bar (411). Figures 20 and 21 show the insertion pin (42) when it is being inserted into the glove holder (6). Figures 22 and 23 show the insertion pin (42) before and after being inserted into the glove holder (6). Figures 24A to 24E represent various states of the movable bar (411) and the glove holder (6). Figure 25 represents the glove holder (6). Figure 26 represents the glove holder (6) with a glove (100). Figures 27 and 28 depict the glove-opening device (3) where the gripping pins (36) are concentrated at the center of the polygonal circumferential frame (31), i.e., in a closed position. Figure 29 depicts the glove-opening device (3) in a partially open position, i.e., the extension bars (32) are slightly rotated so that their inner ends (35) are closer to the sides of the Figure 30 represents the glove opening device (3) in an open position, i.e., when the extension bars (32) are parallel and adjacent to the sides of the polygonal circumferential frame (31) and the gripping pins (36) are positioned between said sides of the polygonal circumferential frame. Figures 31 to 33 represent the adjuster (8) in various states. The replaceable cartridge (7) and glove holder (6) of the glove-docking apparatus (1) are depicted in the drawings and explained above, and will be described in more detail below. It is preferable that the glove-docking apparatus (1) includes one replaceable cartridge (7) of gloves (100), and it is even more preferable that the glove-docking apparatus includes several replaceable cartridges (7), as explained below. The glove-docking apparatus (1) includes a cartridge mechanism (90) comprising a cartridge housing (91), a follower (92), and a spring (93). The follower (92) may include a push bar (921) equipped with a push plate (922) at its upper end and a pull plate (923) at its lower end, as shown, for example, in Figure 34. One end of the spring (93), preferably a constant-force spring type, is ΖΑΖΑηη / ΖΖηΖ / Ε / ΥΙΛΙ attached to the lower part of the cartridge housing (91) and the other end of the spring is attached to the pull plate (923), such that the spring exerts pressure on the follower (92) to move upwards through the cartridge housing and push the glove holders (6) with the gloves (100), resembling the way a rifle cartridge / loader works. The cartridge mechanism (90) may include several cartridge housings (91) and relevant parts such as followers and springs, and an actuator that rotates the cartridge mechanism to align the relevant replaceable cartridge with the insertion pin (42). Figures 2 and 3 depict the glove-wearing apparatus with the cartridge mechanism (90) that is designed to hold several replaceable cartridges (7). The user can insert a replaceable cartridge (7) into each cartridge housing (91) through the top opening of the cartridge housing and thereby push and press down the follower (92), and then lock the replaceable cartridge into the housing. The spring (93), now in a tensioned state, activates the upward force on the follower (92) as explained above. Whenever a glove holder (6) is removed from the cartridge (7), the follower (92) rises slightly, as well ΖΑΖΑηη / ΖΖηΖ / Ε / ΥΙΛΙ which is the operating principle of a rifle cartridge. When that replaceable cartridge is exhausted, then the cartridge mechanism rotates a little and aligns another cartridge with the insertion pin and when all the cartridges are exhausted, the user can replace them all. The replaceable glove cartridge (7) is designed to hold several glove holders (6), one on top of the other, with a glove (100) attached to each of them. The replaceable cartridge (7) comprises a closed peripheral wall (71) with an upper opening (72) through which the glove holders (6) can be removed from the replaceable cartridge and a lower opening (73) through which the follower (92) can penetrate and push upwards the glove holders (6). The replaceable cartridge (7) includes at least three inner corners (74) that serve as a guide for the glove holders (6) when they are inside the cartridge. In this way, the glove holders (6) are positioned inside the cartridge such that the end of each retaining bar (62) is positioned at each inner corner (74), so that when the glove holder includes three legs, meaning three retaining bars, then the cartridge must include at least three inner corners, and so on. Along two or more of the inside corners (74), ΖΩΖΑηη / ΖΖηΖ / Ε / ΥΙΛΙ 6 or all of them, there is a stop (75) that is designed to stop the upward movement of the glove holders (6). The stops (75) may correspond to the end (64) of the clamping bar (62). For example, the stop (75) may comprise two horizontal protrusions (751) with a separation (752) between them that corresponds to the end (64) of the clamping bar (62) comprising two horizontal pieces (641) with a vertical piece (642) between them. In this way, the two horizontal protrusions (751) of the stop (75) prevent the two horizontal pieces (641) from moving upwards while the vertical piece (642) of the glove holder (6) is positioned within the separation (752) and thus the upper glove holder (6) in the cartridge is properly located in the place to find the insertion pin (42).The glove holder (6) may be made of a flexible material so that when the insert pin (42) penetrates through the matching hole (61) of the glove holder (6), it locks it and pulls it upward, the retaining bars (62) bend, and the glove holder can be removed from the cartridge. Figure 35 shows an empty cartridge (7), Figure 4 shows them with glove holders (6), Figure 36 is a top view of the cartridge (7), and Figure 37 is a top frame of the cartridge including the stops (75). ΖΑΖΑηη / ΖΖηΖ / Ε / ΥΙΛΙ As explained above and will be explained below, the glove holder (6) comprises a base (60) and at least three retaining bars (62). The base (60) comprises a matching hole (61) with several horizontal grooves (611) that engage the insert pin (42). The insert pin (42) comprises a mushroom-shaped rounded tip (421) and a polygonal shank (422). The mushroom-shaped rounded tip (421) allows the insert pin (42) to easily penetrate through the matching hole (61) and prevents it from being easily pulled out. The base can be designed such that the area (612) around and between the matching hole is sloped toward the hole to allow easier penetration of the insert pin and prevent the pin from being easily pulled out of the hole.The polygonal stem (422) is positioned within the matching hole (61) while surrounded by the ends of the horizontal slots (611), which prevents rotational movement of the glove holder (6) around the insertion pin (42). The end (64) of each of the at least three fastening bars (62) comprises a fastening clip (63) to which the circumferential portion (104) of the opening (103) of the glove (100) is attached, and two horizontal pieces (641) with a vertical piece (642) between them. When the glove holders (6) are... ΖΑΖΑηη / ΖΖηΖ / Ε / ΥΙΛΙ positioned inside the cartridge, one on top of the other, then the vertical piece (642) of each glove holder is placed between the two horizontal pieces (641) of the glove holder above it, and therefore, the glove holders are arranged in a stable and orderly manner one on top of the other inside the cartridge.

Claims

1. A glove-docking apparatus comprising a housing, a glove-opening device, a glove-lifting and positioning device, and an air pump; wherein the glove-lifting and positioning device includes a base with a linear actuator equipped with a movable rod, a rotary actuator designed to rotate the glove-lifting and positioning device, and a lifting arm with a lifting actuator designed to raise and lower the glove-lifting and positioning device; wherein said base includes release rods; wherein said movable rod terminates with an insert pin; wherein the glove-opening device comprises a polygonal circumferential frame and several extension rods; wherein an outer end of each extension rod is attached to the polygonal circumferential frame by means of an axial joint;and wherein an inner end of each extension bar is fitted with a gripping pin; wherein the glove lifting and positioning device is designed to move up and down and back and forth and to insert the insertion pin into a matching hole in a glove holder to which a glove can be attached and to lift the glove holder with the glove and insert an opening of the glove over said gripping pins; wherein the glove opening device can move from the closed position to the open position, causing the glove opening to stretch and assume the shape of the polygonal circumferential frame; wherein the air pump can create a sub-pressure in the housing, causing the glove to inflate to a size and shape suitable for inserting a hand into the inflated glove.

2. A glove holder comprising a base including a matching hole designed to correspond with an insert pin having a mushroom-shaped rounded tip, and at least three fastening bars, wherein one end of each fastening bar includes a fastening clip to which a circumferential portion of a glove opening can be attached.

3. The glove holder according to claim 2, wherein said base further includes several horizontal slots that are designed to correspond with a polygonal stem of said insert pin, and wherein said end of said clamping bars further includes two horizontal pieces with a vertical piece between said two horizontal pieces.

4. A replaceable glove cartridge designed to hold glove holders comprising a closed peripheral wall and at least two stops; wherein said closed peripheral wall includes at least three inner corners designed to serve as a guide for the glove holders, an upper opening through which the glove holders can be extracted, and a lower opening through which a follower can penetrate and push upwards the glove holders; wherein the stops are situated along at least two of said at least three inner corners and wherein said stops are designed to stop upward movement of the glove holders when pushed upwards only by means of the follower; wherein each of said stops corresponds to one end of a retaining bar of each of said glove holders;wherein each stop comprises two horizontal protrusions with a separation between them that corresponds to the end of the clamping bar of each of said glove holders comprising two horizontal pieces with a vertical piece between them.;

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