Disposable Hand Cover Sealing Structure for Multi-Size Fit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional disposable hand covers either leave hand parts uncovered, are poorly fitting, or are uncomfortable due to their inability to accommodate varying hand sizes, leading to potential contamination risks and inefficiencies in use.

Innovation Solution

A disposable hand cover with overlaid layers sealed along an edge contour and internal contours, where the internal contours have lower tensile strength than the edge contour, allowing them to be disrupted by hand force for a secure fit across different hand sizes, and can be easily identified as used by breaking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a disposable glove is used to cover the hand substantially completely, then hand coverage is improved, but the glove does not fit any hand closely and may slip off or be uncomfortable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehand coverageVSAvoidhand size adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The hand cover is segmented into multiple size regions defined by internal sealed contours. These contours divide the single cover into adjustable compartments that can accommodate different hand sizes. The segmentation allows the cover to adapt to various hand dimensions while maintaining complete coverage and secure fit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The hand cover transitions from a static, fixed-size design to a dynamic, adjustable structure. The internal sealed contours can be selectively disrupted based on hand size, allowing the cover to dynamically adapt its configuration. This dynamic adjustment enables a single cover to fit multiple hand sizes securely without slipping.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If a disposable napkin is used that fits any hand size, then adaptability is improved, but certain hand parts remain uncovered and risk contact with contaminants

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehand size adaptabilityVSAvoidhand coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The napkin is transformed into a hand cover with segmented compartments created by internal sealed contours. These contours divide the napkin into distinct regions that can be configured to cover all hand parts including fingers and palm. The segmentation ensures complete coverage while maintaining adaptability to different hand sizes through selective contour disruption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The napkin material is configured into a flexible shell structure with sealed contours that conform to the hand shape. The flexible thin film can be manipulated to create a secure fit around various hand sizes while maintaining complete coverage. The sealed edges create barrier regions that ensure no hand parts are exposed to contaminants.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Adaptability or versatility

If internal sealed contours are added to provide tighter fit for small hands, then adaptability is improved, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehand size adaptabilityVSAvoidsealing structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing structure is segmented into external edge contours and internal sealed contours. This segmentation allows the internal contours to be simplified as they only need to create basic size divisions rather than complete structural complexity. Each internal contour serves a specific function of defining a size region, reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The internal sealed contours are designed with varying tensile strength parameters compared to external contours. This parameter change allows the internal contours to be easier to disrupt, simplifying the user interaction required for size adjustment. The differentiated tensile strength parameter enables automatic size selection without complex mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of operation

If the tensile strength of internal sealed contours is reduced to allow breaking by hand force, then ease of operation is improved, but the barrier strength is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontour disruption easeVSAvoidsealed contour strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Different tensile strength qualities are assigned to different parts of the sealing structure. External edge contours maintain high tensile strength for durable barrier protection, while internal sealed contours have reduced tensile strength for easy disruption. This local quality differentiation ensures that the barrier function is maintained where needed while enabling ease of operation where size adjustment is required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing structure is segmented into critical barrier regions (external contours) and adjustable regions (internal contours). This segmentation allows the adjustable internal contours to have lower strength for ease of operation, while the critical external contours maintain high strength for barrier integrity. The segmentation isolates the strength reduction to non-critical areas only.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2921096B1Disposable hand cover
Publication Date: 2022.10.19 ARION HLDG
  • EP2921096B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2921096B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2921096B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a disposable hand cover (washcloth) comprising overlaid first and second layers that are sealed along an edge contour apart from an entrance opening, wherein the layers are further sealed along internal contours that extend within the edge contour and can be disrupted by the force of a hand inserted in the cover. The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing the disposable hand cover (washcloth). The disposable hand cover covers the hand substantially completely, provides a good fit to any size of hand with a reduced risk of slipping off the hand during use, and minimizes waste during production of the hand cover.