PCT PATENT APPLICATION

Attorney Docket No. A05422WO (98420.33WO) TITLE OF THE INVENTION

GLOVE FOR DISPENSING A SUBSTANCE THEREFROM TO A SURFACE INVENTOR: FAGEL, Mark, a Canadian citizen, of Toronto, Canada, and

PYHRR, Peter, A., a US citizen, of Dallas, Texas. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

United States patent application serial number 11/369,340, filed on 6 March 2006, is incorporated herein by reference. Priority of United States patent application serial number 11/369,340, filed on 6

March 2006, is hereby claimed.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable REFERENCE TO A "MICROFICHE APPENDIX"

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to applications of fluid or powder substance onto a surface. More particularly, the present invention relates to a glove capable of housing a fluid or powder substance on the surface of the glove or within a chamber of the glove so that when the glove makes contact with the surface, the substance is released through a porous outer surface of the glove in order to allow the liquid to dispense upon the surface while the users hands inside the glove are protected from contact with the substance. 2. General Background of the Invention

In the art of dispensing fluid onto a surface such as furniture polish, oil, or other types of fluids, there has been developed articles which are coated or include substances which are utilized when the article contacts onto the target surface. The problems that have developed with this type of product, is that often times the product is unprotected and may be subject to the inadvertent contact before its intended use by the user.

Additionally, the product, when it is inadvertently dispensed through contact, may become contaminated by contact with the air or other surfaces. In addition, there may be

loss of product by evaporation if the product is not secured or is not sealed within the container from which it will be dispensed. Many products are caustic in nature with product application instructions recommending the use of gloves when the product is applied to a surface. (For example, when the product is applied to a cloth to disperse the product, product can easily contact the hands. The glove protects the hands.)

Another problem which occurs with the prior art, is that the product, when it is dispensed, may inadvertently come into contact with the person who is wearing the product such as a glove or the like which may expose the wrists, arms or other body parts by the product leaking from the dispensing implement during application. For example, there is a semi-enclosed applicator as disclosed in US Patent No.

6,257,285, which is presented herein with the information disclosure statement submitted herewith, which does describe a semi-enclosed applicator worn on a persons hand. However, it is seen in that patent that the product has a tendency to seep into the interior of the glove or mitt through an unsealed aperture for the hand cavity while packaged prior to use. Furthermore, the '285 patent provides no method to open the aperture and insert the hand without having a hand come into contact with the product on the outer surface. Therefore, there is a need in the industry for an applicator which may be fully enclosed prior to utilization, and which utilizes a selectively-activatable sheet material for dispensing and dispersing a substance onto the surface of a target object. Such an invention is disclosed in the present application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention solves the problem in the art in a simple and straightforward manner. What is provided is a dispensing applicator which is in the shape of a mitt or glove or the like, which may be worn by a person during the application process. The applicator includes a first fully closed opening which may be unsealed for placement of a persons hand therein; there is further provided a chamber adjacent to the hand containing portion, which has a barrier layer between the hand opening and the product dispensing chamber, so that product is unable to move from the dispensing chamber into the hand portion of the glove. There is further provided a plurality of openings on the outer surface of the product carrier portion, for selectively dispensing the product when the hand dispensing portion makes contact with the surface; there is further provided an outer sealing layer such as a foil layer, which is sealed around

the fluid dispensing layer, so that fluid cannot be dispensed from the applicator until the foil is peeled from the dispensing surface; there is further provided a seal on the opening of the hand containing portion, so that the hand containing portion is also sealed until the user peels away the seal and inserts one's hands into the opening. There may be further provided that the mitt or glove be shaped into various forms depending on the user's desires, and that the product be dispensed from the product dispensing layer upon making contact with the surface and frictionally removing seals in the various openings so as to allow the fluid to flow from the openings onto the surface.

Therefore, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a fully enclosed applicator which contains multiple chambers which are sealed throughout prior to utilization of the applicator;

It is another principal object of the present invention to provide an opening which when unsealed, a person's hand can be inserted therein without making contact with the fluid or powder portions of the applicator; It is a further object of the present invention to provide a cuff around the outer opening of the hand containing portion so as to allow the user to grasp the cuff portion (that does not contain any liquid or powder) to aid in inserting the hand into the glove, as well as protect the wrist and arm from fluid leaking past the cuff when the glove is in a vertical position. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an applicator which is sealed in foil or other containment pouch material when not in use, and when placed into use after the person's hand is inserted into the hand containing portion, the foil is peeled away from the applicator and the applicator may be put into use;

It is a further principal object of the present invention to provide a fluid and/or powder applicator which includes a hand receiving portion and a fluid/powder containment portion having a distribution surface for distributing the substance onto a surface;

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a substance applicator by hand, which is provided in various configurations of a mitt or glove depending on the user's choice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in

conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates an overall view of the preferred embodiment of the glove of the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates a partial cross section view of the fluid distribution and barrier layers of the glove of the present invention;

Figure 3 illustrates a partial cross section view of a single product carrier layer and barrier layer of the present invention;

Figure 4 illustrates a cross section view of dimples or protrusions held on the surface of the carrier layer of the present invention;

Figure 5 illustrates the product being held in open valleys or depressions in the present invention;

Figure 6 illustrates a cross section view of the cuff construction of the glove of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 illustrates a modified cuff utilized in the glove of the present invention from figure 6;

Figure 8 illustrates a glove of the present invention completely sealed off in the present invention;

Figures 9-12 illustrate various alternative glove configurations as seen in the present invention;

Figure 13-18 illustrate the glove of the present invention contained within a file container or pouch;

Figures 19-21 illustrate an alternative method of packaging the glove of the present invention; Figures 22-34 illustrate an additional embodiment of the glove of the present invention for dispensing a liquid substance;

Figures 35 illustrates an embodiment of the glove to release powdered materials which require activation; and

Figures 36 through 38 illustrate a specialized glove construction to arrest bleeding.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENION

Figures 1-38 illustrate the preferred embodiments of the glove of the present

invention designated by the numeral 10. As illustrated in Figure 1, glove 10 includes a finger mitt portion 12 and a thumb portion 14, with an outer glove layer 16 of fabric or other material, and an end portion 18 wherein a user's hand would be slipped therein for use. The glove would have a sealed perimeter portion 20 which would be sealed completely around the mitt portion 12, thumb portion 14 to the rear of the glove 18. The rear of the glove is not permanently sealed so that a hand can be inserted into the glove. The rear of the glove 18 will be temporarily sealed so that the substance cannot enter into the interior of the glove as will be stated further. There is included multiple layers 22 of the glove in its use. The end of the glove may include a cuff portion 19 to protect the hand of the user.

In reference to Figure 2, the outer glove layer holds substance (product) to be dispensed. This may be a single layer and thus be the product carrier layer as shown as 28 in Figure 3, or be multiple layers as shown in Figure 22 for liquids and Figures 35-38 for powdered material. The inner barrier layer 24 prevents substance from contacting the user's hand. The sealed perimeter portion is number 20. The glove back 201 must be a barrier layer so that the product cannot penetrate into the interior of the glove. The glove back may be a single or multiple layer of any material or may be a duplicate construction as the glove face 200 so that the substance application can be accomplished from both face and back of the glove. Item 202 is the opening for the hand insertion at rear of the glove 18.

In Figure 3, there is a single product carrier layer 28 and the barrier layer 24. In the product carrier layer 28, the material holds the product 27. The material might be non- woven, needle punch, hydro spun fabric, sponge, or other porous material that will hold the product. Alternatively, as seen in Figure 4 there are dimples or protrusions where the product 27 held on the surface of the carrier layer with dimples or protrusions holding material away from the surface to be contacted by the product. The product releases when pressed against a contact surface. As seen in Figure 5, the product 27 is held in open valleys or depressions. The product will be released when pressed against the surface as seen in Figures 3-5. Turning now to Figure 6, there is seen the cuff construction of the glove. The purpose of the cuff is to keep the substance from migrating to the inside of the glove while in use. It allows a user to hold the cuff portion at the rear of the glove 18 with one hand while inserting the other hand into the glove. The manufacturing options are such

as seen in Figure 6 extend the inner barrier layer 24 past the rear end of the glove opening and fold it over 203 the glove face 16 or apply a separate barrier layer to the cuff portion. Alternatively, as seen in Figure 7, one may fold the rear edge of the glove material (glove face 200 and/or back 201) over rear edge of glove openings so that the inner barrier layer 24 creates the cuff. In Figure 8, there is illustrated a glove completely sealed off and would not contain the openings for the substance fluid or powder to disperse into the inner part of the glove prior to use. The inner barrier layer 24 prevents the substance from penetrating into the interior of the glove. The perimeter area 20 is sealed. A seal 62 along the rear portion of the glove completes the sealing. This seal 62 will later be opened to allow a hand to be placed into the glove as shown in figure 16. Such a seal 62 may be double sided tape, a zipper or heat seal. This seal 62 may be a separate seal, or it may be incorporated as part of the foil package seal as shown in Figure 17.

Turning now to Figures 9 through 12, it is foreseen that the glove 10 is seen as a mitt for example in figures 1 and 8, with a single chamber for all fingers and a single chamber for the thumb, the glove may be configured in various other configurations. Figures 9 through 12 illustrate a sample of these configurations but are by no means the only configurations possible. For example, in figure 9 the glove 10 is illustrated as having five finger portions 11 and a palm portion 13 which would allow each finger to be individually contained within the glove and have individual movement therein. Whereas in figure 10, there is illustrated a modified mitt glove 10 having a thumb portion 14 and a pinky finger or second thumb portion 15 and the remainder of the fingers would be maintained within a pouch portion. The second thumb configuration would allow the use of both sides of the glove to apply the substance. In Figure 11, there is illustrated what could be called a double mitt portion having a first mitt portion 12 A, a second mitt portion 12B which would contain the four fingers and a thumb portion 14 which may contain the thumb and would be utilized giving the fingers some more leeway in the operation. Figure 12 shows a mitt configuration with the thumb contained within a single pouch portion with a rounded construction as shown in Figure 12A or a square construction, as shown in Figure 12B. Reference is now made to Figures 13 through 18, where glove 10 is contained within a foil container or pouch 60. The pouch may be foil or other packaging materials that will not allow the substance to penetrate the pouch. The pouch can be used for gloves with single or multiple product carrier layers. As illustrated first in Figure 13, the

glove 10, containing the substance 29 within its containment pouch and sealed therein around its seal perimeter 20 and 62 is contained within the foil pouch 60. There is provided a pouch seal 70 along its top edge to prevent the migration of product 29 from the glove and seal the glove into the pouch. This pouch seal 70 may be a double sided tape, a zipper, or heat seal, to seal the glove into the pouch. The foil package 60 includes an outside package seal 66 to seal the package around the perimeter. Foil package seal 66 intersects pouch seal 70 so that no product can escape from the pouch 60.

Turning now to Figure 14, there is an overall view of pouch 60 as seen in Figure 13, wherein there is included the seal foil layer 63 with the glove 10 sealed therein. Again, the glove 10 would be of the type as described herein. When one would want to have access to the glove, one would turn to Figure 15 where the seals 66 and 70 are peeled away at its end portion by a person 65, making access to the glove within the pouch. Again, another view of the pouch 60 is seen in Figure 16, where the two upper and lower layers 63 are peeled away. The glove 10 is exposed and a persons hand 65 can then be inserted into the opening 52 of the glove and the glove can be removed from the pouch without the hand coming into contact with the product.

In Figures 17 and 18 there are shown alternate constructions to that shown in Figure 14. Rather than have a separate seal 62 at the end portion of the glove and a separate seal 70 along the top portion of the pouch, as shown in Figure 13, there is a single combined pouch/glove seal 71 as shown in Figure 17. This single seal 71 has the advantage of requiring the opening of one versus two seals to access the glove. Figure 18 shows the glove, including the cuff portion, totally enclosed within the pouch. This may be a configuration used for liquid or powder for multiple layer gloves where the substance is not exposed on the top layer of the glove. Figures 19 through 21 illustrate an alternative method of packaging the glove 10.

The purpose would be to reduce the size of the package and to save storage space and have less outside foil packaging material as was described earlier. For example, in Figure 19 there is seen a glove 10 in the unfolded position as was described in the earlier figures. However, in Figure 20, the finger portion or mid portion 12 of the glove has been folded onto the rear portion 18 of the glove which as compared with figure 10 configures a much reduced size configuration. Figure 21 shows the glove folded in half vertically. Several folds may be utilized to reduce package size.

In Figures 22-34, there is represented an additional embodiment of the glove of

the present invention designated by the numeral 100, which shows multiple layers required to dispense a liquid substance. In this particular embodiment of the glove 100, glove 100 would be of a type of glove that would have a substance containment capsule 101 where the products should be dispersed therefrom. There are specific problems with caustic/corrosive substances in that the substance will not release until the glove contacts the target surface and/or containment capsule was purposely broken to release the caustic/corrosive substance. The release of substantially all of the substance must be done to saturate the glove. For example, in US Patent No. 4,878,775, entitled "A Liquid Transfer Device", one must break the micro- capsules and if the capsules are not broken, the small capsules or thicker capsules might be difficult to easily break. Likewise, in US Patent No. 6,099,940 entitled "A Selectively Activated Three-Dimensional Sheet Material Having Multi-Stage Progressive Activation to Deliver a Substance to a Target Surface", shows a flowable substance, such as glue. The substance physically held within protrusions and valleys of material. The material is released when the protrusions are compressed and substance comes into physical contact with the target surface. The substance is selectively released only in the specific area contacted by the substance. The types of products which would be used for the caustic/corrosive materials would be such as oil based products or surfactants.

In Figure 22, there is seen an overall view of glove 100 with Figures 23-25 illustrating isolated views of the glove construction itself. The glove 100 would be non- woven material, sponge or other material to distribute the substance. As seen in cross- section view in Figures 24 and 25, there would be first included a substance distribution layer 102, a product separation layer 104, an end seal 106 around the perimeter 108 of the substance containment capsule 101 and a barrier 110 which would separate the space 112 for the hand would be placed and then there would be the back side of the mitt or glove

114. As is noted, the product separation layer 104 physically holds the substance away from the distribution layer 102. The material of the product separation layer 104 would be a polyethylene or polypropylene or other material depending on the substance. Ideally, the layer 104 can be manufactured so that the protrusions 116 as seen in isolated view in figure 23 would be narrow at the tip 118 to be more readily break when pressure is applied, yet be thicker at the base 120 for added strength in holding the substance. For example, at tip 118 the thickness may be .0005 inches (0.00127 centimeters). The total height of the protrusion 116 would be .0065 inches (0.001651 centimeters) and the

thickness of the base 120 would be between .0010 and .0020 inches (0.00254 and 0.00508 centimeters). This may be accomplished and manufactured by stretching the material by inserting a nail dye into the separation layer of material to make intermittent protrusions. Turning now to the barrier layer 110, that layer 110 would protect hands from coming into contact with the substance contained within the substance containment capsule 101 and would provide a second side of disbursing layer to obtain substance in that the substance is contained between the product separation layer 104, barrier layer 110 and the end seal 106 which forms a pattern within the glove 100. The end seal 106 seals the substance at the end in any pattern design so that the substance 105 is contained within the product separation layer 104 and the barrier layer 110 in the end seal 106. Again, referring to Figures 22 and 24, in Figure 22 is seen the overall glove or mitt 100 having a substance containment capsule 101. The substance containment capsule 101 as seen in cross-section view in figure 24 would include the product separation layer 104, the end seal 106, the substance 105 contained within the space 107 and the barrier layer 110. All of these layers would comprise the substance containment capsule 101 and would be overlayed by the substance distribution layer 102 as seen in the figures.

Turning now to Figure 25, one is seen where pressure has been put in the direction of arrows 130 to the substance 105 and the substance 105 then flows into the various protrusions 116 and ruptures the ends 118 of the protrusions 116 so that the substance 105 is dispersed within the distribution layer 102, in the direction of arrows 103. In disbursement of the substance 105 throughout the distribution layer 102, the substance would then move out of the distribution layer and make contact with the surface to be treated. Of course, the rupturing of the various protrusions 116 is caused by pressure to a person's hand pressing within the glove space 112 during use. Again, the barrier layer

110 and the seal 106 would prevent the substance from making contact with the hand contained within space 112.

As seen in Figure 26, the substance 105 would disperse throughout the mitt by breaking the protrusions in the product separation layer as seen by the arrow 103 as it flows through the various openings in the distribution layer 102 after it has flowed out of the substance containment capsule 101. Again, as with the principal embodiment, there would be various shapes of gloves or mitts where these various shapes are shown in figures 22 through 26 of the glove or mitt 100, each containing a substance containment

capsule 101 with a distribution service 102 in various shapes.

Figure 27 illustrates an embodiment of the mitt 100 which would contain a substance containment capsule 101. In this case, capsule 101 would be divided into a first substance portion 101 A and a second substance portion 10 IB. Each of the portions 5 101A and 101B containing perhaps different substances 1 and 2. The use of such a mitt would be to apply two different substances to the target surface and, for example, substance 1 may be needed to activate substance 2 in the other portion of the substance containing portion.

For example, in Figure 28, the glove 100 is a five-finger glove which would have 0 a five-finger substance containment capsule 101 protruding into each of the fingers and along the palm or glove 100. Whereas, in Figure 29, there is illustrated a mitt wherein the entire user's hand would fit therein, again having a substance containment capsule 101 over an entire distribution surface 102 of the entire mitt after the capsule has ruptured and the substance flows therefrom. 5 In Figure 30, again there is shown a different configuration of the mitt 100 having the substance containment capsule 101 having a pair of left and right finger members so the thumb and pinky finger would move into the two fingers and the three remaining fingers would be at the mid portion 112 of the glove 100. Whereas in Figure 31, there is seen the mitt separated into a pair of fingers 103 and 105, again having a substance 0 containment capsule 101 of the mitt 100 and the thumb portion 105 and two finger portions 103 or 105 of the mitt.

Figure 32 illustrates an alternative configuration where the substance containment space 101 contains capsules 205 filled with substance. Capsules 205 would be broken by squeezing the hand. While all capsules might not be broken, the nature of the substance 5 or application problems might make this a desired alternative.

In Figure 32 there is seen layer 101 having a substance distribution layer 102, the barrier layer 110 and intermediate layer for capsules 205 filled with substance. Figure 34 shows the containment capsule 101 filled with capsules 205. Some substances might require the use of capsules to effectively contain the product. In Figure 33 an alternative 0 construction of the substance containment capsule for liquid or powder. The substance containment capsule 101 as seen in figure 33 external contours of the glove, the item 204B is the ultimate substance containment capsule across the entire width of the glove. While in figure 34 the substance containment capsule can also cover the entire face of the

glove as substance containment capsule 204B.

Turning now to Figure 35, there is an isolated view of a multi-layer fabric of the glove 100 utilized by releasing powdered materials which require activation. There are specific problems with powdered material which require activation. The powder must be contained within the glove 100 and not accidentally disperse within the container while in use. The powder must be activated by a second substance such as water or blood for use. Also, the activation substance must be able to come into contact with the powder and the powder/activation solution must be dispersed to the target surface. Examples of powder products requiring activation include blood coagulators, such as MDOC (micro-dispersed oxidized cellulose), powdered form which activates when put into contact with blood. Another type is water activated powder such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or granular disinfectants, cleaners or powdered bleach products.

As seen in figure 35, such a glove 100 would consist of three layers. Such a glove 100 that would be first with an outer distribution layer 120 which would be of a non- woven material, sponge or other material which would allow activation substances to flow through the layer to contact and activate the powder contained in the powder carrier layer 122 and would become a solution. This would allow the activated powder/activation substance solution to flow back through the distribution layer 120 to contact the target surface 124. There would be further included a barrier layer 126 which again protects the hand of the user from coming into contact with the powder or the powder carrier layer 122 or the activation solution in the distribution layer 120. For clarity, the powder carrier layer 122 would be a non- woven material sponge or PVA or other material that would hold powder until contact with the activation solution. Powder may adhere to the surface of the material or be encapsulated into the material. The layer may release powder into activation solution or may become part of the activation solution

(such as PVA which dissolves when it comes into contact with water).

The final product that will be discussed as part of the present invention is seen in Figures 36 through 38. This is a specialized glove 100 construction to arrest bleeding. Glove 100 would have a substance containment capsule 101 for releasing powdered materials and have an elongated sleeve portion 103. As seen in Figure 36, it would be any glove or mitt configuration and the material would be constructed of a stretch band non- woven with a linear elongation up to 16 inches to encompass all wounds for legs, arms, necks, heads or perhaps even longer for abdominal length depending on the user.

As seen in Figures 37 and 38, the substance containment capsule 101 would be placed against a wound and the elongated sleeve portion 103 would be wrapped around a person's arm 140. Finger and palm pressure is applied until the blood flow is reduced and then wrapped fully around the arm or leg, head or body, depending on the user, and would be secured by some method of attachment 204 such as a clip, tape or other means for ongoing use as seen in Figure 38. The method of attachment may be an integral part of the glove or may be a separate element. In this way, while the glove is serving as a tourniquet for stopping or reducing blood flow, the substance containment capsule 101 would be releasing powder materials and would be helping to treat the wound during use. It is foreseen that the general types of substances or product contained within the glove of the present invention may include, but not limited to, self-leveling liquids; thick atrophic material; shear thinning gels and pastes; powders, those types which may be applied directly to a surface or be treated or powders activated by placing the glove/mitt into water or other activation agents prior to use. As explained earlier, there may be several substances provided in a single glove for distribution. Further, the types of products which may be contained may included but not limited to disinfectants, cleaning agents, furniture polish, leather/vinyl polish or cleansers, anti-static products, ice-free products, medicinal agents, lubricants, colorants, protectants, condiments, bug repellant, deodorants, combinations of products and in general any product which may be applied to a surface.

The following is a list of parts and materials suitable for use in the present invention.

PARTS LIST Part Number Description 10 glove

11 finger portions

12 finger mid portion 12A first mid portion 12B second mid portion 13 palm portion

14 thumb portion

15 second thumb portion

16 outer glove layer

18 end portion, rear portion

20 sealed perimeter end portion

22 multiple layers

24 inner barrier layer

27 product

28 product carrier layer

29 substance

52 opening

60 pouch

62 seal perimeter

63 foil layer

65 person

66 seal

70 pouch seal

71 combined pouch glove seal

100 glove

101 substance containment capsule

101A first substance portion

101B second substance portion

102 distribution layer

103 arrow, fingers, elongated sleeve portion

104 product separation layer

105 substance, fingers

106 end seal

108 perimeter

110 barrier layer

112 glove space

114 glove backside

116 protrusions

118 tip

120 base

130 arrows

140 arm

200 glove face

201 glove back

202 item

203 item 204 attachment

204B substance containment capsule

205 capsules

All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. All materials used or intended to be used in a human being are biocompatible, unless indicated otherwise.

The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.