Frangible Cover Accessory for Single-Glove Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing glove dispensing systems fail to reliably singularize disposable gloves without increasing manufacturing costs, as the mutual adherence of elastomeric materials leads to multiple gloves being dispensed at once, causing waste and inconvenience.
Innovation Solution
A frangible cover with a longitudinal slit or perforation is attached to the dispensing box, providing sufficient frictional resistance to separate gloves, ensuring only one glove is dispensed at a time, without altering the box design or manufacturing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a clear plastic layer is applied to the dispensing box lid to prevent dust and detritus from falling in, then protection against contamination is improved, but the plastic layer is not strong enough to singularize gloves and fails to reliably limit dispensing to one glove at a time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the key parameter of the plastic layer from thin and flexible to thick and stiff. This parameter change enables the plastic layer to provide both protective functions (preventing contamination) and singularizing functions (reliably limiting dispensing to one glove at a time through frictional resistance).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite structure combining a thick stiff plastic layer with adhesive properties. This composite material approach allows the single plastic layer to simultaneously perform multiple functions: dust prevention, glove singularization through friction, and secure attachment to the dispensing box lid.
2Ease of operation
If disposable gloves are packaged in a box with a frangible cover and longitudinal perforation, then ease of access is improved, but multiple gloves adhere together due to mutual adhesion of elastomeric material, causing unwanted dispensing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the friction parameter by using a thick stiff plastic layer instead of a thin flexible one. This increased frictional resistance at the plastic-glove interface prevents mutual adhesion of elastomeric materials, enabling reliable singularized dispensing while maintaining ease of access through the longitudinal perforation.
3Reliability
If a thick stiff plastic layer is used to singularize gloves, then singularizing capability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the plastic layer multi-functional by giving it thickness and stiffness that enable it to simultaneously perform dust prevention, glove singularization through friction, and secure attachment to the lid. This consolidation of multiple functions into a single component avoids the need for additional parts, thereby controlling manufacturing costs while achieving reliable singularizing capability.
4Ease of manufacture
If the plastic layer is made thin and flexible for cost efficiency, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the layer stretches and widens during glove dispensing, rendering it even less effective in singularizing gloves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the plastic layer (thickness and stiffness) to prevent stretching and widening during glove dispensing. This parameter change ensures the layer maintains its dimensional stability and frictional resistance, thereby preserving singularizing effectiveness throughout the dispensing process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The frangible cover effectively singularizes gloves by overcoming mutual adherence, reducing waste and maintaining cost efficiency by not requiring changes to existing dispensing boxes.
Implementation Method 1
the separated sides of the opened longitudinal slit or longitudinal perforation will apply a frictional resistance that is sufficient to overcome any mutual adherence of the gloves to each other
Data Source
AI summary
An accessory attachable to a glove dispensing box singularizes dispensing of gloves therefrom. The accessory includes a frangible cover comprising a longitudinal slit or perforation positioned over a dispensing region of the box. As a selected glove is removed, sides of the opened longitudinal slit or perforation exert a frictional resistance that scrapes away and prevents dispensing of additional gloves that may have mutually attached themselves to the selected glove. The frangible cover can be approximately rectangular and comprise a single longitudinal perforation or slit, or a round or square cover comprising a plurality of radially extending slits or perforations. The frangible cover can be attachable by an adhesive, or a sleeve into which the box is removably inserted. An orthogonal slit or perforation transverse to the longitudinal slit or perforation can enhance access to the box interior. The frangible cover can be at least 0.003 inches thick.