BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to glove dispensers for elastomeric gloves such as examination gloves and/or thin mil single use gloves, and more particularly, to glove dispensers that accommodate a wider variety of gloves per unit volume than standard glove boxes. In so doing, the glove dispensers are of comparable size to standard glove boxes and are capable of providing multiple glove options without occupying additional space.

[0002] Examination and laboratory gloves are available in various sizes, thicknesses, materials and textures to accommodate wearer's with different hands and needs. Often these different gloves are required within the same environment. For example, in a single examining room, a physician may wear a different size glove then a nurse, or one user may require a thin glove, where another needs a thicker glove. In another example, traditional natural rubber latex (NRL) gloves may be provided in conjunction with non-NRL gloves such as those made from synthetic latexes, including PVC, nitrile and/or neoprene, or any combination of non- NRL gloves may be used in conjunction without inclusion of natural rubber latex (NRL). To accommodate these requirements, it is necessary to keep a number of boxes of glove available. An Emergency room or Urgent Care, for example, may need to keep boxes of small, medium, large and extra-large glove available at all times. This creates a significant amount of wasted space.

[0003] To alleviate some of these space requirements, wall-mounted brackets are often used which helps to clear some of the counter space used by glove boxes. These brackets can be adapted to hold several boxes of gloves. However, the brackets cannot be used in all locations and do not generally hold more than four boxes of gloves, potentially resulting in the need for multiple brackets.

[0004] Conventional examination and laboratory gloves are supplied in cardboard boxes with relatively small openings, usually perforated, which provide access to the stack of gloves within. The gloves are typically stacked in one direction, with all of the fingers on one side of the box and all of the cuffs on the other side of the box. To remove a glove from the box, the wearer must contact the middle portion of the glove which correlates to the palm area when worn. This contact can result in the transference of contaminants from wearer's hand.

[0005] Additionally, as the size of the glove stack decreases within the box, the wearer must insert their hand further into the opening. This practice greatly increases the risk of viable contaminant exposure from the bare hand cross contaminating the box of gloves. Further, often when the gloves are not easily presented at the box opening the user will insert his/ her hand grasping several gloves and subsequent removal. When too many gloves are withdrawn from the box, the extra gloves are wasted because they should not be replaced in the box. [0006] Marley (U.S. Patent No. 6,062,421) teaches a glove dispensing device which can be mounted to a wall and is capable of holding multiple boxes of gloves. The device of Marley includes a tray for catching any glove which may fall from the dispenser and a means for pushing glove boxes of various dimensions toward the dispensing side. However, Marley does not reduce the space requirements for wall mounting a box of gloves and wearers may still have to reach into the boxes to get a glove, thereby risking contamination.

[0007] Jordan (U.S. Patent Nos. 6,901,723 and 7,063,233) teach methods of folding gloves in a dispenser to minimize the risk of contamination. The methods involve interfolding the glove so that the cuff portion of the top glove is exposed to a wearer. Like a tissue box, when the wearer removes the top glove, the cuff portion of the next glove is presented. These interfolded gloves minimize contamination risks but do not decrease the amount of space required for multiple glove boxes.

[0008] Tramontina (U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2007/0215628 and 2007/0215635) teach glove dispensers which include mechanisms for presenting a single glove to a wearer. Both mechanisms are intended to help reduce the risk of contamination but appear to do nothing to decrease the space requirements.

[0009] Therefore, there is a need for glove dispensers that reduce the amount of space required for multiple boxes while utilizing existing mounting systems and minimizing the risk of contaminating the gloves upon removal from the dispenser. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] One or more embodiments of the invention are directed to examination glove dispensers for single glove extraction that reduces bare hand exposure to the cuff area only while donning, limiting contamination of critical examination glove surfaces prior to patient care. Embodiments of the invention may incorporate the use of complementary inventions such as those described by U.S. Patent No. 6,901,723 and 7,063,233, both to OneGlove, LLC, the entire teachings of which are incorporated by reference herein.

[0011] Embodiments of the invention consist of an examination glove dispenser designed to fit existing traditional wall mounted or similar examination glove dispenser holders. The glove dispenser of some embodiments is designed to dispense one glove at a time, cuff oriented or similar, with parallel to floor mode of extraction.

[0012] The glove dispenser of some embodiments is modularly designed incorporating a retaining sleeve or similar structure to hold multiple primary examination glove dispensers for personalized configuration of glove types or sizes. The dispenser modularity allows the healthcare worker to conveniently choose a glove and allows the assembled modular units to be used in traditional wall mounted holders on or table/bench top surfaces. The modularity of the dispenser also allows the healthcare worker to use only the primary examination glove dispensers, where convenience of dispenser size or smaller quantities of examination gloves is preferred. [0013] In some embodiments, the examination glove dispenser incorporates a lifting mechanism to present gloves for extraction at the face of the dispenser opening. This limits penetration of the healthcare worker's hand into the examination glove dispenser to search for available gloves and thus reduces the risk of bare hand exposure to critical surface of the examination gloves. [0014] One or more embodiment of the invention are directed to glove dispensers comprising a sleeve having a length, width and height about those of a standard box of gloves; and a plurality of boxes in the sleeve, each of the boxes comprising a stack of elastomeric gloves and having an access point for removal of a glove from the box, the sleeve allowing substantially unhindered access to the glove. [0015] In some detailed embodiments, the sleeve has a plurality of access points in substantial alignment with the access points of the plurality of boxes of gloves. In other detailed embodiments, the sleeve has an elongate opening in substantial alignment with the access points of the plurality of boxes. [0016] In some embodiments, the one or more of the plurality of boxes of gloves further comprises a mechanism that applies force to the stack of gloves in the direction of access point. The mechanism of some embodiments further comprises an arc-shaped member which is in a compressed state when the box is full of gloves and in a less compressed (i.e., relaxed) state when the box is substantially empty. In other detailed embodiments, the mechanism further comprises a glove support positioned between the stack of gloves and the arc-shaped member, the glove support distributing the force applied by the arc-shaped member over a larger surface area than that of the arc-shaped member alone.

[0017] The sleeve of some detailed embodiments has a length in the range of about 8.5 to about 11 inches, a width in the range of about 4.5 to about 5.5 inches, and a height in the range of about 2.5 to about 4 inches. The boxes of some detailed embodiments have a length of about 4.875 inches, a width of about 5 inches and a height of about 3.5 inches.

[0018] The glove of some detailed embodiments are interfolded so that upon removal of a first glove a portion of a second glove protrudes from the box. In some specific embodiments, the gloves are interfolded so that upon removal of a first glove, a cuff portion of the second glove protrudes from the box.

[0019] The plurality of boxes in some embodiments contains gloves of different dimension; being one or more of size, thickness and material.

[0020] In some embodiments, the glove dispenser delivers a wider variety of gloves per cubic inch than standard box of gloves. [0021] Further embodiments of the invention are directed to glove dispensers comprising a flexible sleeve and a plurality of boxes in the sleeve oriented such that the length of the sleeve is perpendicular to the length of each box, each of the boxes comprising a stack of elastomeric gloves oriented to be removed cuff-first and having an access point for removal of an elastomeric glove from the box, the sleeve being configured to allow substantially unhindered access to the glove.

[0022] In some detailed embodiments, the glove boxes further comprise a pushing mechanism that comprises an arc-shaped member and a gloves support positioned between the stack of gloves and the arc-shaped member.

[0023] Additional embodiments of the invention are directed to methods of making a glove dispenser, comprising forming a sleeve having a length, width and depth about those of a standard box of gloves and inserting a plurality of boxes in the sleeve, each box comprising a stack of elastomeric gloves and having an access port. The method may also include one or more of packing a plurality of boxes with stacks of elastomeric gloves and wrapping the sleeve with a protective material.

[0024] Further embodiments of the invention are directed to methods of dispensing gloves, comprising providing a sleeve having a length, width and height about those of a standard box of gloves, the sleeve comprising a plurality of boxes of elastomeric gloves. The methods of various embodiments further comprise one or more of placing the sleeve within a holder which may be wall mounted, removing a protective wrapper from the sleeve, opening an access port cover on at least one of the plurality of boxes, the access port cover providing substantially unhindered access to the stack of gloves and removing at least one glove from at least one box of gloves. [0025] The foregoing has outlined rather broadly certain features and technical advantages of the present invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures or processes within the scope present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

[0027] FIG. 1 illustrates a glove box according to conventional design; [0028] FIG. 2 illustrates a wall mounted bracket holding a plurality of glove boxes of conventional design;

[0029] FIG. 3 illustrates a sleeve according to one or more embodiments of the invention;

[0030] FIG. 4 illustrates a sleeve and gloves boxes according to one or more embodiments of the invention; [0031] FIGS. 5A to 5E illustrate sleeves and glove boxes according to several embodiments of the invention;

[0032] FIG. 6 illustrates a wall mounted bracket holding a plurality of sleeves according to one or more embodiments of the invention; and

[0033] FIG. 7 illustrates a glove box containing a mechanism for pushing the gloves toward the box opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] Reference to a "standard box of gloves" means a box that is sized according to general practices of the examination glove industry. Typically, such standard boxes deliver 75-150 gloves of thicknesses in the range of 3-8 mil (single wall thickness) when flat-packed. Such a standard box generally has a width in the range of about 4.5 to about 5.5 inches, a height in the range of about 3 to about 4 inches and a length in the range of about 9 to about 10.5 inches.

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a conventional box 10 of gloves typical in medical and laboratory environments. The conventional box of gloves 10 typically includes an access port 12 which allows the user to gain access to the gloves within (not shown). The access port 12 is generally sealed upon receipt of the box 10 and an access port cover 14 is removed by the user. The access port 12 is frequently perforated to allow easy removal of the cover 14 by the user prior to removing gloves. Glove boxes 10 are available in a large variety of materials, sizes and textures. It should be understood that embodiments of the present invention are not limited to any specific type of material, size or texture. [0036] Since gloves are needed in different sizes, materials and textures, it is common to find multiple boxes in an area. For example, the personnel in a single laboratory may require small, medium and large sized gloves for routine use. This would necessitate storage and access to three different boxes of gloves, which can occupy a significant amount of bench/table space. To mitigate the space requirements, many facilities are equipped with wall-mounted brackets 20 as shown in FIG. 2. The wall mounted bracket 20 shown has three boxes 10 with the access ports 12 facing a gap 22 in the bracket 20. The access ports 12 are shown with the covers removed. This type of bracket 20 can sit directly on a countertop or can be mounted to a wall using mounting holes 24. The brackets 20 are made from a variety of materials include transparent, translucent and opaque materials. Often the brackets 20 are made from a relatively light weight plastic material. These brackets, however, still occupy a significant amount of space on the wall or countertop. Most brackets do not hold more than four boxes of gloves, necessitating multiple brackets in areas where various sizes and materials are needed.

[0037] One or more embodiments of the invention are directed to glove dispensers which decrease the space required for storage and display. With reference to FIGS. 3-5, a glove dispenser 30 comprises a sleeve 32 having a length "L", width "W" and height "H" about those of a standard box of gloves. A plurality of boxes 34 are located in the sleeve 32. Each of the boxes 34 comprises a stack of elastomeric gloves (not shown) and has an access point 36 for removal of a glove from the box 34.

[0038] The sleeve 32 allows for substantially unhindered access to the gloves. In FIG. 3, the sleeve 32 is shown surrounding two boxes of gloves 34. A panel 40 covers the area where the individual boxes 34 were inserted into the sleeve 32. The sleeve 32 has openings 38 which are in substantial alignment with access points 36 of the boxes 34. The openings 38 can be open or can have a perforated panel, like the boxes 34, which needs to be removed prior to use.

In these embodiments, the access points 36 of the boxes 34 and the openings 38 of the sleeve 32 can be, any combination, of opened, closed and perforated. [0039] FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the invention, where the sleeve 32 and boxes 34 are separate. The sleeve 32 can be available separately from the boxes 34 and then assembled by the user, or can be prepackaged. The sleeve 32 is shown having one open side, but the sleeve can have any number of sides necessary, including, but not limited to, 4 sides, 5 sides and 6 sides.

[0040] FIG. 5 A shows an embodiment of the invention where there is a sleeve 32 with two boxes 34. The boxes 34 can be inserted by the user or prepackaged. The boxes have access points 36 which line up with the openings 38 in the sleeve. This allows for substantially unhindered access to the gloves within the boxes 34. In this orientation, the sleeve 32 can be placed on a countertop, where the gloves would be removed in a vertical direction. Alternatively, the sleeve can be placed on edge, allowing the gloves to be removed horizontally.

[0041] FIG. 5B shows another embodiments of the invention where there is a sleeve 32 with two boxes 34. Again, the boxes 34 can be pre-inserted into the sleeve, or can be assembled by the user. The sleeve 32 shown has no openings, but is capable of holding multiple boxes 34 with the access points 36 accessible to the user. The advantage to this configuration is that there is no need to align the access points 36 of the boxes with the openings in the sleeves 38.

[0042] FIG. 5C shows another embodiment of the invention where there is a sleeve 32 with two boxes 34. Again, the boxes 34 can be pre-inserted into the sleeve, or can be assembled by the user. The sleeve 32 shown has a single elongate opening 38 which extends along the length of the sleeve 32. The elongate opening 38 allows for substantially unhindered access to the gloves within the boxes 34. The length of the elongate opening 38 can be any desired length, including extending along the sides 39 of the sleeve 32. Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 5D where the sleeve 32 contains four boxes 34. FIG. 5E shows a further embodiment of the invention, where the sleeve 32 contains three boxes 34.

[0043] The boxes 34 shown in the drawings (see FIG. 5B) has a length L', width W and height H', where the length L' is longer than the width W, oriented in the same manner as that of the sleeve 32. That is, the box length L' runs parallel to the sleeve length L. In some embodiments, the box length L' runs perpendicular to the sleeve length L. The orientation depends on the size of the individual boxes 34 in relation to the sleeve 32.

[0044] In one or more embodiments, each of the plurality of boxes 34 of gloves contains a different dimension of glove. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the term "glove dimension" refers to the features of the glove including size, thickness and materials. Thus, the plurality of boxes can result in a combination of gloves of different sizes, different thickness, different materials and combinations of these. As such, the sleeve of some embodiments delivers a greater dimension of gloves per cubic inch than that of a standard glove box. [0045] The sleeve 32 or box 34 materials can be any material suitable for the purpose. Non-limiting examples of suitable materials include cardboard, plastic, polymeric, polyethylene/vinyl materials, acetate films and paper-based materials.

[0046] FIG. 6 shows the space saving ability of the various embodiments of the invention. Here a wall mounted bracket 20, the same bracket 20 as in FIG. 2, can be loaded with one or more sleeves 32 through the gap 22 in the bracket 20. The sleeves 32 shown each contain two boxes of gloves, for a total of four gloves sizes/types/materials. The access points 36 and/or openings 38 are accessible through the gap by a user. These four gloves take up the equivalent space of only two glove types in FIG. 2. If a wall mounted bracket 20 can hold four boxes of gloves, it would be able to hold four sleeves 32 according to various embodiments. This results in space savings because more types of gloves can occupy the same space.

[0047] In a detailed embodiment, the sleeve 32 has a length in the range of about 8.5 to about 11 inches, a width in the range of about 4.5 to about 5.5 inches, and a height in the range of about 2.5 to about 4 inches. In another specific embodiment, the sleeve 32 has a length of about 9.75 inches, a width of about 5 inches and a height of about 3.5 inches. [0048] According to some detailed embodiments, each of the plurality of boxes have the same dimensions. In some specific embodiments, the boxes may have a length in the range of about 4 to about 5.5 inches, a width in the range of about 4.5 to about 5.5 inches and a height in the range of about 2.5 to about 4 inches. In a very specific embodiment, an exemplary drawing of which can be seen in FIG. 5C, each of the glove boxes has a length of about 4.875 inches, a width of about 5 inches and a height of about 3.5 inches, thus allowing two of this size box to be included in a single sleeve.

[0049] In other specific embodiments, the boxes may have a length in the range of about 4 to about 5.5 inches, a width in the range of about 4.5 to about 5.5 inches and a height in the range of about 1.25 to about 2 inches. In very specific embodiments, exemplified by FIG. 5D, each glove box has a length of about 4.875 inches, a width of about 5 inches and height of about 1.75 inches, thus allowing four of this size box to be included in a single sleeve. In other detailed embodiments, shown in FIG. 5E, the sleeve can contain a combination of boxes where one half of the sleeve contains a single box and the other half of the sleeve contains two boxes. [0050] In other embodiments (not shown), the sleeve contains boxes of differing dimensions. For example, one box of gloves may occupy 2/3 of the length of the sleeve, with the other box occupying the remaining 1/3 of the sleeve length. The larger of the boxes can be any dimension so long as the box fits within the sleeve and leaves enough room for at least a second box. [0051] In other detailed embodiments, the gloves in one or more of the plurality of boxes of gloves are interfolded so that upon removal of a first glove a portion of a second glove protrudes from the box. In further specific embodiments, the gloves are interfolded so that upon removal of a first glove, a cuff portion of the second glove protrudes from the box.

[0052] According to one or more embodiments, the glove dispenser has a sleeve which contains two boxes of gloves. In other embodiments, the sleeve holds 3, 4 or more boxes of gloves. The size of the individual glove boxes can be modified to allow more boxes to be included within the sleeve.

[0053] In specific embodiments, the glove dispenser delivers at least about 175 gloves per sleeve having dimensions similar to that of a standard size glove box. In other specific embodiments, the glove dispenser delivers in the range of about 175 to about 375 gloves per sleeve having dimensions similar to that of a standard size glove box.

[0054] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 7 one or more of the plurality of boxes 34 of gloves further comprises a mechanism that applies force to the stack of gloves 40 in the direction of access point 36. In a specific embodiment, the mechanism comprises an arc- shaped member 42 which is in a compressed state when the box 34 is full of gloves 40 and in a relaxed or less compressed state when the box 34 is empty. By reference to "compressed state," it is meant that the arc-shaped member has tension in it. Reference to "relaxed state" or "less compressed state" means that there is less tension in the arc-shaped member as compared to the compressed state. The term "substantially empty" means that the box may still have gloves in it, but such gloves do not present enough weight so as to prevent the arc-shaped member from being in a relaxed or less compressed state.

[0055] In other specific embodiments, the mechanism further comprises a glove support 44 positioned between the stack of gloves 40 and the arc-shaped member 42. The glove support 44 distributes the force applied by the arc-shaped member 42 over a larger surface area than that of the arc-shaped member 42 can alone.

[0056] Additional embodiments of the invention are directed methods of making a glove dispenser. A sleeve is formed having a length, width and depth about those of a standard box of gloves. A plurality of boxes is inserted in the sleeve, each box comprising a stack of elastomeric gloves and having an access port.

[0057] Detailed embodiments further comprise packing a plurality of boxes with stacks of elastomeric gloves. Each of the plurality of boxes may be packaged with a different dimension of elastomeric glove as previously described.

[0058] Some embodiments further comprise wrapping the sleeve with a protective material. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, cellophane wraps which can protect the sleeves from dust and particulates during transport and storage.

[0059] In other embodiments, the stacks of elastomeric gloves are interfolded so that upon removal of a first glove a portion of a second glove protrudes from the box. In other detailed embodiments, the gloves are interfolded so that upon removal of a first glove, a cuff portion of the second glove protrudes from the box.

[0060] Further embodiments are directed to methods of dispensing gloves. A sleeve is provided having a length, width and height about those of a standard box of gloves. The sleeve comprises a plurality of boxes of elastomeric gloves. In detailed embodiments the sleeve is placed within a holder which may be mounted on a wall. In specific embodiments, a protective wrapper is removed from the sleeve. In some detailed embodiments, an access port cover is opened on at least one of the plurality of boxes, the access port cover providing substantially unhindered access to the stack of gloves. In some specific embodiments, at least one glove is removed from at least one box of gloves. In very detailed embodiments, the at least one glove is removed by a cuff portion projecting through the access port.

[0061] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment," "certain embodiments," "one or more embodiments" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Thus, the appearances of the phrases such as "in one or more embodiments," "in certain embodiments," "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment of the invention. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. The order of description of the above method should not be considered limiting, and methods may use the described operations out of order or with omissions or additions.

[0062] It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.