Polyurethane-Reinforced Glove Coating for Flexible Grip Durability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gloves lack adequate strength in high-stress areas, such as finger crotches and thumb crotches, while maintaining flexibility and grip properties, and often require bulky and expensive fabric/leather patches.
Innovation Solution
Gloves with a polymeric coating and targeted polyurethane reinforcements in high-stress areas, such as crotches, using a silk-screening method to apply polyurethane material directly on the polymeric coating, enhancing strength and grip.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If thick polymeric coating or thicker liner is used to strengthen gloves in high-stress areas, then strength is improved, but flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies localized reinforcements only in high-stress areas (fingertips, palm, thumb) rather than uniformly throughout the entire glove. This is achieved by positioning specific polymeric features at strategically identified stress points, providing enhanced strength where needed while preserving flexibility in other regions of the glove.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple materials with different properties: a base polymeric coating (natural rubber latex, synthetic rubber latex, or thermoplastic elastomer) with additional polymeric reinforcement features. This composite structure allows the glove to exhibit both the flexibility of the base material and the enhanced strength of the reinforcement features in critical areas.
2Strength
If fabric/leather patches are used to strengthen gloves, then strength is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the polymeric coating itself by varying its thickness and composition in different regions. By controlling the thickness parameter of the polymeric layer (making it thinner in low-stress areas and thicker in high-stress areas), the glove achieves differential reinforcement without requiring separate fabric or leather patches, thereby simplifying the overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymeric coating serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the base glove structure, ensures flexibility, and when locally thickened or reinforced, provides strength in high-stress areas. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate reinforcement patches made from different materials like fabric or leather.
3Strength
If polymeric coating thickness is increased to 0.3-0.4mm to strengthen unsupported gloves, then strength is improved, but flexibility deteriorates and hand fatigue increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements non-uniform thickness distribution of the polymeric coating, with specific regions (fingertips, palm, thumb) having greater thickness or reinforcement than other areas. This localized approach ensures adequate strength in high-stress zones while maintaining overall glove flexibility and preventing hand fatigue.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymeric coating is effectively segmented into regions of different thickness or reinforcement levels. By dividing the glove into high-stress and low-stress zones and applying appropriate polymeric feature thickness to each, the patent optimizes the balance between strength and flexibility.
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 gloves provide enhanced durability, abrasion resistance, and improved grip in both dry and wet/oily environments, reducing the need for multiple glove types and minimizing hand fatigue.
Implementation Method 1
Supported gloves consist of a fabric liner that is dipped into a rubber polymer, e.g., natural rubber latex, synthetic rubber latex, and the like, forming a coating that covers at least a portion of the fabric liner
Implementation Method 2
using a silk-screening method to apply polyurethane material directly on the polymeric coating
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Gloves (200) comprising a polymeric coating or layer (216), optionally including a fabric liner (218), and at least one reinforcement (114), disposed on the coating, fabric liner, or parts of the coating and the fabric liner, and methods of making gloves are disclosed.