Glove Fitting Device Curved Rings Material Nesting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current glove clamping devices made of elastic material, such as polyurethane, suffer from material wastage and suboptimal user comfort due to their flat shape and structure, which does not efficiently fit the hand's curves, leading to excess material at the fingers and discomfort during gripping and bending.

Innovation Solution

A clamping device with a main ring and secondary rings, where the notches separating the central and lateral secondary rings have a greater flat size than the rings themselves, optimizing material usage and ergonomic fit by allowing better nesting during manufacturing and improved hand curve alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If conventional flat-shaped clamping devices are used, then manufacturing is simple, but material waste is significant and user comfort is suboptimal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvematerial wasteVSAvoiduser comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The clamping device transitions from a flat shape to a three-dimensional curved structure that conforms to the hand's anatomy. The device includes a curved surface with varying radius that matches the contours of the hand, fingers, and wrist, eliminating material waste from poor nesting while improving ergonomic fit and user comfort during gripping and bending operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Shape

If conventional flat clamping devices are used, then the structure is simple, but the fit to hand curves is suboptimal causing excess material at fingers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefit to hand curvesVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The clamping device incorporates locally varied curvature radii tailored to specific anatomical regions. The curved surface has different radius values for different zones: a first radius for the hand palm area, a second radius for the finger regions, and a third radius for the wrist area. This localized adaptation of geometric properties achieves optimal fit to hand curves without requiring complex multi-component structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional clamping devices are used, then manufacturing by flat cutting is straightforward, but nesting efficiency is poor leading to material loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidmaterial waste
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The three-dimensional curved design of the clamping device enables efficient nesting during the flat cutting manufacturing process. The optimized geometry allows multiple device blanks to be arranged and nested more effectively on the base sheet material, significantly reducing unused material areas and minimizing waste while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through conventional cutting methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

This design reduces material waste and enhances user comfort by optimizing the fit of the clamping device to the hand's shape, minimizing excess material and providing more comfortable gripping and bending capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

a one-piece member made of elastic material arranged to be positioned on the hand fitted with the glove

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3209153B1Fitting device for fitting a glove onto the hand of a user
Publication Date: 2018.10.03 MANULATEX FRANCE
  • EP3209153B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3209153B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3209153B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The present invention relates to a fitting device (10) for fitting a glove onto the hand of a user, particularly so that a glove made of chainmail material can closely fit the hand. Said device (10) is formed of a one-piece member made of a resilient material including: - a main ring (12) suitable for inserting the hand therethrough up to the wrist; and - three secondary rings (13, 14, and 15), namely a central secondary ring (14) placed between two side secondary rings (13) and (15), each suitable for passing a finger therethrough. Each side secondary ring (13) and (15) is separated from the central secondary ring (14) by a recess (17, 18), and in accordance with the present invention, the flat dimensions of at least one of said recesses(17, 18) are greater than the flat dimensions of at least one of said side secondary rings (13, 15). During manufacture, this specific feature makes it possible to optimize overlap on the sheet of base material so as to minimize loss of material. In addition, said specific feature makes it possible to improve the comfort of wearing the fitting device (10).