Variable-Thickness Glove Coating for Grip and Flexibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gloves lack durability and flexibility, leading to hand fatigue and reduced dexterity during use, particularly in work environments.
Innovation Solution
A glove design featuring a coating layer with varying thickness patterns, including grooves and ridges, where thinner areas align with bending regions for flexibility and thicker areas enhance grip and abrasion resistance, formed through debossing or secondary coating applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a uniform thick coating layer is applied to the glove, then durability and abrasion resistance are improved, but flexibility and dexterity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The coating layer is designed with non-uniform thickness, featuring thicker regions (first coating thickness) in high-abrasion areas such as the palm and finger bases, and thinner regions (second coating thickness) in bending areas such as knuckles and finger joints. This local variation in coating quality allows the glove to achieve both durability where needed and flexibility where required, resolving the contradiction between uniform protection and flexible movement.
2Strength
If a uniform thick coating layer is applied to the glove, then abrasion resistance is improved, but dexterity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The coating layer incorporates thicker regions aligned with high-abrasion zones (palm, finger bases) and thinner regions aligned with bending zones (knuckles, finger joints). This spatially differentiated coating thickness enables the glove to maintain abrasion resistance in critical areas while preserving dexterity in movement-critical areas.
3Force
If the coating layer is made thicker to enhance grip, then grip strength is improved, but flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The coating layer is designed with thicker regions (first coating thickness) in the palm and finger base areas where grip strength is most needed, while incorporating thinner regions (second coating thickness) in the knuckle and finger joint areas where flexibility is required. This local differentiation allows the glove to provide strong grip without compromising the flexibility needed for hand movement.
Data Source
AI summary
A glove, such as a work glove, is provided. The glove includes a body and a coating layer. The coating layer is coupled to an outer surface of the palm side of the body along a palm portion, a plurality of finger portions, and a thumb portion. The coating layer includes a first coating thickness and a second coating thickness. The second coating thickness is defined by a plurality of grooves formed in the coating layer. A first set of grooves is positioned at the base of each of the finger portions and a second set of grooves is positioned at a first bend region of each of the finger portions. The first bend region corresponds to a knuckle of a user. The first coating thickness is greater than the second coating thickness.