Glove inverter

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Solution Overview

Problem

Substantially thick material gloves, such as industrial heavy duty lined rubber gloves, ski gloves, and leather gloves, are difficult and time-consuming to invert and reform properly by hand, leading to issues like fungal infections, discomfort, and improper fitting.

Innovation Solution

A manual, non-mechanized glove inverter/reformer device with a guide and base that uses a depression and tapered configuration to prevent slippage and ensure complete inversion and reformation without unevenness, allowing for efficient cleaning and drying of the lining.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If gloves are inverted and reformed by hand, then the process can be performed without specialized equipment, but the process is extremely difficult, time-consuming, and results in improper reformation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinversion speedVSAvoiddifficulty of inversion

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a guide as an intermediary tool between the user and the glove. The guide features a depression that matches the contour of the fingertip, providing a mediator surface that enables proper inversion and reformation of thick-gloved fingers without requiring complex manual manipulation techniques

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The guide's depression is specifically designed with dimensional parameters that match the fingertip geometry. By changing the physical parameters of the tool (depression depth, curvature radius, opening size) to correspond to human finger dimensions, the device transforms an impossible manual task into a simple guide-following motion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If thick material gloves are used for protection, then hand safety is improved, but inversion and reformation becomes extremely difficult and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehand protectionVSAvoidinversion time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The guide serves as a mediator that interacts with the thick glove material in a controlled manner. The depression guides the thick material through the inversion process, preventing it from bunching or resisting, thereby enabling quick reformation despite the protective thickness of the glove

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Duration of action of moving object

If improper reformation of gloves occurs, then the glove may be worn again, but hand discomfort and stress increase and proper fit is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveglove usabilityVSAvoidhand discomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The guide's depression is pre-configured with the exact geometry needed to properly reform the glove finger. By providing this preliminary geometric guidance, the device ensures that the glove is always reformed correctly before being worn again, preventing discomfort and stress accumulation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex manual mechanical manipulation with a simple guide-following motion. Instead of requiring users to perform intricate hand movements to reform thick gloves, the guide's geometry substitutes for the complex manual technique, ensuring consistent proper reformation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Ease of operation

If conventional inversion tools are used, then some assistance is provided, but slippage and disengagement of the guide from the glove tip occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinversion assistanceVSAvoidguide stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The guide features a localized depression with specific geometric properties (curvature, depth, opening size) that match the fingertip geometry. This local quality enhancement at the critical contact point prevents slippage and disengagement, providing reliable guidance throughout the inversion process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The depression in the guide is designed with curved surfaces that match the spherical/oval geometry of the fingertip. This curvature matching creates continuous contact during the inversion motion, preventing slippage and ensuring the guide remains engaged with the glove tip throughout the process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS11478029B2Glove inverter

Publication Date: 2022.10.25 SMITH GREGORY J

AI summary

The present invention is a manual non-mechanized device that consists of a base and a guide. This invention is a device that provides an expeditious method to invert or turn inside-out and to reform or turn glove appendages back to the proper side, that has numerous openings, one of which accepts a guide. The guide is defined as an asymmetrical cylinder having two (2) opposing ends. One end has a concave configuration and above and adjacent to the other end are a couple of grooves that circumscribe the guide with a couple of flexible elements fitted therein. The latter end is fitted into one of the openings in the base, to be securely mounted therein without using threaded means. The present invention facilitates efficient cleaning and/or rapid drying of the lining and quick reformation to the proper side with a proper fit. The main objective of the present invention is to promote healthy, morbidity free hands in the workplace and at home.