Protective Glove Layering for Chemical and Physical Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing protective gloves face challenges in balancing chemical resistance with resistance to abrasions, cuts, and punctures while maintaining mobility and comfort, making it difficult to manufacture a glove that meets industry standards effectively.
Innovation Solution
A protective glove design featuring a chemically resistant outer polymer coating, a guard layer positioned within an inner lining for physical protection, and a combination of cut-resistant fibers and materials in the liner, along with a padding layer for added protection and flexibility, ensuring dexterity and comfort without compromising protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a glove is designed with thick chemically resistant materials, then chemical resistance is improved, but mobility and flexibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The glove is divided into multiple functional layers: an inner liner for comfort and basic protection, a middle guard layer with cut-resistant fibers for physical protection, and an outer chemically resistant coating. This segmentation allows each layer to optimize its specific function without compromising overall mobility.
Solution Approach 2:
The glove combines different materials with complementary properties: chemically resistant polymers in the outer coating, cut-resistant fibers (such as aramid or steel-reinforced) in the guard layer, and comfortable lining materials. This composite structure achieves multiple protection types while maintaining flexibility.
2Reliability
If a glove is designed with multiple protective layers, then protection against abrasions and cuts is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guard layer combines cut-resistant fibers with abrasion-resistant materials in a single integrated layer, rather than using separate layers for each function. This merging reduces the total number of manufacturing steps while maintaining comprehensive protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer chemically resistant coating is applied as a thin film or coating layer rather than a thick bulky material. This thin-film approach provides effective chemical protection while minimizing added complexity and maintaining glove flexibility.
3Reliability
If conventional protective materials are used, then protection is provided, but drying time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The padding layer uses closed-cell foam material with a porous structure that allows rapid evaporation and drying of moisture. The closed-cell structure prevents liquid penetration while maintaining breathability and fast drying capability, reducing time loss during glove use.
Data Source
AI summary
A protective glove includes a glove body defining an interior space for, in use, receiving a hand of a user. The glove body can include a liner that is constructed from or includes a material that is compatible with a polymer or nitrile outer coating. A padding layer includes a closed cell foam material. A guard layer includes guard elements that cover at least a portion of a back-of-hand portion of the glove body and one or more finger portions of the glove body. The glove also includes a polymer or nitrile outer coating applied to the liner. Methods of making the disclosed protective gloves are also disclosed.