Peel away multi-layer gloves
OwnerBarbara Elentenyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flexible, elastic glove for medical use has multiple layers, wherein each outermost layer is removable after use and can be discarded. The glove is formed by coating a hand mold with elastomeric material and thereafter applying a protective film including a release agent and then repeating the process to form a desired number of additional, contiguous but separable glove layers. In use, the outermost layer can be stripped away when contaminated to expose the next clean layer, so that the multi-layer glove serves to reduce the number of infections caused by cross contamination of organisms medical procedures.
Claims8
A glove adapted to be worn on a human hand and adapted for use in medical procedures subject to bacterial contamination, said glove comprising:
- an inner layer of impervious elastomeric material;
- an outer layer of impervious elastomeric material covering said inner layer;
- and a plurality of additional layers of elastomeric material between said inner and outer layers, each adjacent pair of layers being separated by said release means;
- and
- release means between said layers for enabling a wearer of the glove to remove and strip away said outer layer whenever it becomes contaminated so that a clean inner layer will be exposed;
- said inner layer and each successive adjacent layer having a longer wrist portion than the next outermost layer, so that all multiple layers of said glove have a different length and are easily distinguishable from each other.
A method for making a multi-layered medical glove comprising the steps of:
- (1) providing hand-shaped mold;
- (2) dipping said mold into a body of liquid elastomeric material;
- (3) withdrawing said mold when a first layer of said elastomeric material has become adhered to it;
- (4) drying said first layer of elastomeric material on said mold;
- (5) applying a release agent to said first layer on said mold;
- (6) dipping said mold with said first layer into said elastomeric material and repeating steps 2-4 for as many layers as desired for said glove;
- and removing said glove from said mold, each successive dipping forming a layer that is shorter than the layer directly under it.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.