Glove Slits for Fingernails and Conductive Touchscreen Interaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gloves are difficult to wear with longer fingernails, as they can be damaged by the nails and are not accommodating for varying nail lengths on the same hand, and users face challenges interacting with touch screens without removing their gloves.
Innovation Solution
A glove design featuring slits that allow fingernails to protrude externally, accompanied by protective pockets and conductive threading on fingertips and knuckles for touch screen compatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional gloves are worn with longer fingernails, then the glove material is damaged by sharp or pointed fingernails, but the user cannot wear the glove without damaging their fingernails and/or the glove
Solution Approach 1:
The glove tip is segmented into multiple layers including an outer layer, intermediate layer, and inner layer. This multi-layer construction distributes the stress from fingernails across different layers, preventing any single layer from being easily penetrated or damaged by sharp fingernails.
Solution Approach 2:
The glove incorporates composite material structures with different layers having different properties. The outer layer provides durability and resistance to punctures, while inner layers provide comfort and fit. This composite structure allows the glove to withstand the pressure and sharpness of long fingernails without compromising wearability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the glove accommodates longer fingernails by allowing them to protrude, then the glove structure is compromised, but the user can wear the glove with longer fingernails
Solution Approach 1:
The glove incorporates dynamic elements such as flexible joints and movable panels that allow the glove structure to adapt when fingernails protrude. The material and construction allow for controlled movement and deformation without compromising overall structural integrity, enabling accommodation of long fingernails while maintaining glove stability.
3Ease of operation
If the glove is designed to be removable for touch screen use, then touch screen interaction is possible, but the user must take off gloves in cold environments
Solution Approach 1:
The glove incorporates conductive threading as an intermediary element that enables touch screen interaction without requiring removal of the glove. The conductive threads act as a mediator between the user's finger and the touch screen, allowing electrical signal transmission through the glove material to activate the touch screen while the glove remains on the hand for warmth protection.
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 glove design enables comfortable wear with longer fingernails, reduces damage to the glove, and allows users to interact with touch screens without removing their gloves, enhancing usability and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
conductive threading on the fingertips and knuckles of the glove
Data Source
AI summary
A glove with slits for fingernails (“glove”) has a base and a plurality of digit receiving sleeves (“sleeves”) extending from the base. The slits are at the tips of the plurality of sleeves and a backing is attached to the interior surface of the plurality of sleeves to fully cover the slit. The interior surface of the sleeve and the backing form a pocket. Conductive threading is placed on the exterior surface of the glove. A method for using the glove has the user inserting their hand into an opening and then each of their digits into a sleeve. For the digits on which the user has longer fingernails, the digit is inserted into the pocket and the fingernail is inserted through the slit. For the digits on which the user has shorter fingernails, the digit and fingernail are inserted behind the backing.