The invention relates to a glove. UK patent application number 0607983.4, published under number GB2438672, in the name of the applicant, discloses a cleaning glove having an inner reservoir between an inner glove layer and an outer layer glove layer, and apertures from which liquid is released from the reservoir. The applicant has found that, in certain applications, the specific arrangement of apertures disclosed in the cleaning glove of UK patent application number 0607983.4 may be inappropriate.

An aim of the present invention is to provide a cleaning glove with an alternative aperture arrangement.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a cleaning glove in accordance with Claim 1. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a cleaning glove in accordance with Claim 4. According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a glove in accordance with Claim 5.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a glove in accordance with Claim 10.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a glove in accordance with Claim 11. Other optional and preferred features of the invention are set out in the dependent claims, and the description, below. It will be appreciated that the features of the independent claims can be combined in any complimentary manner, with one or more features of another independent claim, the dependent claims, and/or with one or more features of the description, where such a combination of features would provide a working embodiment of the invention.

Various gloves in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the back of a first glove design, showing hidden detail of the back side of the glove,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the front, or palm, of a glove matching the glove of Figure 1, showing hidden detail of the palm side of the glove, Figure 3 is a plan view of the back of a second glove design, Figure 4 is a plan view of the back of a third glove design,

Figure 5 is a plan view of the front, or palm, of a fourth glove design,

Figure 6 is a plan view of the front, or palm, of a fifth glove design, Figure 7 is a plan view of the back of the glove of Figure 6, Figure 8 is a view of the glove of Figure 7 installed on another glove, and Figure 9 is a side view of a sixth glove design.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a glove 10 comprises an inner glove layer 12 and an outer glove layer 14, both made of natural rubber. The inner glove layer 12 and the outer glove layer 14 are joined at the mouth of the glove, so as to form an inner reservoir 16.

The glove 10 comprises a sealable filling aperture (and optionally outlet) 18 in the outer glove layer 14. The glove 10 also comprises a transparent window 20 in the outer glove layer 14 to monitor the level of liquid in the inner reservoir 16.

In accordance with the invention, the glove 10 comprises apertures 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 in the outer glove layer, so that when pressure is applied to the glove, liquid in the inner reservoir 16 can be released through the apertures 22, 24, 26, 28, 30. In another embodiment of the invention (not shown for conciseness), liquid may be released from the reservoir even when pressure is not applied to the glove.

It will be noted that all of the apertures 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 are arranged in the fingers (the term "finger" includes the thumb) of the outer glove layer. More specifically, the apertures are arranged at or adjacent the tips of the fingers. The apertures are arranged on the palm side of the glove 10 because in practice this is the most usable side of the glove. This aperture arrangement has various advantages. Firstly, since the glove is naturally used in a fingers downward configuration, and a palm downward configuration, the aperture arrangement near the finger tips ensures much of the liquid in the inner reservoir 16 is usable.

Secondly, in certain applications of the glove 10, for example in medical applications, it may be desirable for liquid to be released only from the parts of the glove which come into contact with the patient (which tend to be the finger tips), or parts of the glove immediately adjacent to such areas. It may be undesirable for liquid to be released from other parts of the glove.

Thirdly, finger tips tend to be used to scrub during a cleaning process. It is therefore efficient for the liquid in the reservoir to be released from the same parts of the glove, or parts of the glove immediately adjacent to such parts, so that the liquid is applied substantially directly to the region to be scrubbed.

Fourthly, in practice, the palm side of the glove 10 is the most usable side of the glove. In another embodiment of the invention (not shown for conciseness), apertures may be arranged in the part of the glove adjacent the junction of the wrist and the hand, on the palm side. This junction is often used in scrubbing. In accordance with the invention, and still referring to Figures 1 and 2, the glove 10 comprises a liquid barrier arrangement, in the form of at least one wall, preferably a series of walls 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, shown in broken line, between the inner glove layer 12 and the outer glove layer 14. The walls 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50 divide the inner reservoir 16 into smaller regions, which regions are in liquid communication with each another by virtue of openings in walls (the openings being solely represented by spaces in the broken line denoting walls, and by arrows, for the purpose of clarity).

Division of the inner reservoir 16 into smaller regions limits the maximum separation distance between a point on the inner glove layer 12 and a corresponding point on the outer glove layer 14, thereby limiting the potential maximum thickness of pockets of liquid forming at certain points of the glove. This feature improves sensitivity, and therefore cleaning efficiency.

The walls 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50 divide the glove 10 into successive regions, that run along the length of the glove.

Referring to Figure 2, the openings can be arranged on the palm side of the glove 10, because in practice this is the most used side of the glove. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, as a wall, for example wall 38, circumscribes the hand, a point on a wall on the back of the glove 10 may be further from the finger end of the glove than a corresponding point on the wall on the palm side of the glove. In other words, the nearest point of a wall to the finger end of the glove is on the palm side of the glove. In use, this arrangement can encourage liquid to flow to the palm side of the glove 10.

An opening in one wall may be substantially aligned with an opening in another wall (broadly speaking like the openings in the top three walls 32, 34, 36 in Figure 2). Additionally, or alternatively, an opening in one wall may be substantially offset from an opening in another wall (not shown for conciseness).

Referring to Figure 2, the openings in a wall 40, 44, 46, 48, 50 can be located at a point circumferentially about the finger which corresponds with the position of the apertures 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 circumferentially about the finger.

The walls 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50 may be formed by simply by plastic welding or heat sealing together corresponding, pre-selected, parts of the inner glove layer 12 and the outer glove layer 14. In use, liquid flows through openings in walls as represented by arrows. Liquid in the regions of the inner reservoir 16 near the wrist flows under gravity to the regions towards the fingers to replenish the regions towards the fingers.

In certain applications, the inner reservoir 16 of the glove 10 can have a variable thickness. The glove 10 can be designed to store more liquid in parts of the glove that are less used or unused in cleaning. For example, towards the mouth of the glove (away from the part of the glove where a cleaning force is applied by the glove) the regions of the inner reservoir can be thicker, as roughly denoted by distance dl between the inner glove layer 12 and the outer glove layer 14, and store more liquid in the corresponding part of the inner reservoir. Towards the fingers and palm of the glove (the parts of the glove where a cleaning force is applied by the glove) the regions may be thinner, as roughly denoted by distance d2 between the inner glove layer 12 and the outer glove layer 14, and store less liquid in the corresponding part of the inner reservoir. This variance in thickness can be achieved by varying the difference in size between the inner glove layer 12 and the outer glove layer 14, the relative geometry of the inner glove layer 12 and the outer glove layer 14, and/or the density of walls between the inner glove layer 12 and the outer glove layer 14. This arrangement can allow better sensitivity or feel when cleaning.

In certain applications, the glove design can permit liquid to exit from the apertures even when no manual pressure is applied to the glove. In such circumstances, when the inner layer of the glove requires filling with liquid, the glove may be filled whilst it is in the "fingers upward" configuration. The glove may also be stored in the "fingers upward" configuration. This filling, and storage, method may also help to prevent leakage of liquid from the apertures.

Referring to Figure 3, a glove 100 comprises a liquid barrier arrangement in the form of walls 102 located on the opisthenar (i.e. the back of the hand). The walls 102 are longer in the direction of the length of the glove than in the direction of the width of the glove. The walls 102 can be made using a similar method to that used in making the walls 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50. In use, the walls 102 can dampen the flow of liquid in the inner reservoir from the palm side of the hand to the back of the hand.

Referring to Figure 4, a glove 120 comprises a wall 122 or walls which can be used to prevent liquid from flowing to certain parts of the space between the inner glove layer 12 and the outer glove layer 14, for example the back of the wrist and the back of the hand. In such a case, the liquid inlet 18 and window 20 can simply be arranged on the palm side of the glove. Only the perimeter of the wall 122 is press sealed, this method being more energy efficient than pressing the entire content of the shape defined by the wall.

In another embodiment of the invention (not shown), a glove can comprise means for temporarily or reversibly restricting the flow of liquid in the internal reservoir. For example, a suitably tight elastic band can be placed about the glove, to bring the surfaces of the inner layer and the outer layer into contact. The position of the elastic band can correspond to the position of the upper surface of the liquid in the reservoir, e.g. near to wall 34 when the glove is configured fingers downward as shown in Figure 1. The elastic band stops liquid flowing through the reservoir, in a similar manner to the above mentioned walls within the inner layer and the outer layer. The elastic band can be moved towards the fingers as the quantity of liquid in the reservoir diminishes, e.g. near to wall 36 or 38. This band arrangement maintains pressure on the liquid in the reservoir, and can help the liquid to be reliably dispensed through the apertures. The elastic band can simply be removed to de-restrict the flow of liquid in the internal reservoir.

In certain conditions, the walls 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50 can be combined with walls 102, or wall 122 or similar. Referring to Figure 5, a glove 150 shows a preferred aperture 152 configuration. Each aperture 152 is a cut through the material of the outer glove layer 16 that operates as a one way slit valve. The aperture 152 may be a cross shaped cut.

In accordance with the invention, but not shown for conciseness, apertures can be selectively openable and closable in certain applications. This arrangement can be achieved by covering selected apertures with caps, or sealing tape, or other known manner for covering an aperture. In accordance with the invention, but not shown for conciseness, the window 20 could be elongated in the direction of the length, i.e. the longest dimension of, the glove. The window 20 could extend at least the length from approximately the metacarpophalangeal joints at the base of the fingers, known as the first, or major, knuckles, to approximately the junction of the wrist and the hand.

Referring to Figures 6, and 7, a glove 200, comprises an impermeable layer 202, typically made of a flexible plastics material. The impermeable layer 202 comprises one or more holes 204, each of which are covered in a permeable cleaning element 206 such as a brush or sponge.

A hole 204 can be arranged at each finger, optionally at the front of the fingers. The finger holes can correspond to the entire finger. Alternatively, the impermeable layer 202 can extend into the finger, for example on the back of the hand. This arrangement may be more durable. A hole 204 can also be arranged on the palm. Referring to Figures 6 and 7, the mouth of the glove 200 comprises a strap 210 which can be fastened by hook and loop fastening means (not shown).

Referring to Figure 7, the glove 200 comprises a window 208, on the back of the hand.

Referring to Figure 8, the glove 200 is arranged over a second glove like glove 10 but with some apertures on the palm. Generally speaking, the position of the apertures in the outer layer of the glove 10, from which liquid is released, coincides with the position of the holes in the glove 200.

The strap 210 is tightened and the hook and loop fastening means are fastened at a point where the mouth of the glove 200 is small enough that the glove 200 cannot slip off the glove 10. The glove 10 and the glove 200 define a space for receiving cleaning liquid from the glove 10. Cleaning liquid can be diluted to an optimum concentration in the space due to the ingress of some water through the cleaning elements, before the cleaning liquid is applied to the product to be cleaned. The periphery of the palm is raised with respect to the central part of the palm and therefore the periphery of the palm is a useful surface through which to apply a cleaning force, and hence a cleaning liquid. Therefore, in another embodiment (not shown for conciseness) a glove, in some respects like glove 200, can comprise a ring shaped hole the position of which coincides with the periphery of the palm. Referring to Figure 8, a glove 300 can comprise bottle brush attachments 302. The brush attachments 302 are on the back of the hand, preferably on the back of one or more of the fingers. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the brush attachments 302 can extend from the tips of the fingers along the hand to approximately the metacarpophalangeal joints at the base of the fingers, known as the first, or major, knuckles. The brush attachments 302 are flexible to permit the fingers to bend at each knuckle.