WO2001028374A1

WO2001028374A1 - Working glove which can be easily put on and removed

Info

Publication number: WO2001028374A1
Application number: PCT/EP2000/010232
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giorgio Speciale
Original assignee: Giorgio Speciale
Priority date: 1999-10-19
Filing date: 2000-10-17
Publication date: 2001-04-26
Also published as: ITMI992193A0; ITMI992193A1; AU1272901A

Abstract

A working glove (1), comprising a main body (2) which is associated with a cuff (3) and with end portions (4) and wherein the cuff (3) is sufficiently rigid, so as to maintain an opening which is sufficient to insert one's hand in the main body, which is elastically deformable so that it cannot easily slip off one's hand; the glove further comprising detachable fixing elements (8) which are adapted to lock the glove, with respect to a fixed support (9), in order to allow the insertion of the hand and thus the separation of the glove (1) from the fixed support (9).

Description

WORKING GLOVE WHICH CAN BE EASILY PUT ON AND

REMOVED

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an improved working glove. More particularly, the invention relates to a working glove, particularly for food shops, where the shopkeeper has to handle both food and cash.

The glove can be used any time where upon carrying out a professional or non-professional activity, it will be possible to take advantage by putting on and removing the glove very rapidly and easily. Moreover, the user does not have to touch the outer surface of the glove and this is particularly useful when handling harmful substances. Background Art

A highly important problem in shops is to prevent the shopkeeper who handles the food products, for example bread or meat, from also touching money, for obvious hygiene reasons.

Gloves made of transparent plastic material are sometimes used, but they do not allow good handling of the products by the shopkeeper and in any case would have to be removed once the shopkeeper has served the product and has to receive the money from his customer. Since removing and putting on gloves is extremely awkward, the shopkeeper does not use them at all or uses them to handle both the products and the money, compromising their hygiene characteristics. Disclosure of the Invention

The aim of the present invention is to provide a working glove, particularly for food shops, which allows to eliminate the drawbacks described above.

Within the scope of this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a working glove which can be put on and removed very rapidly and easily. Another object of the present invention is to provide a working glove which ensures good sensitivity to the fingers of the user. Another particular object of the present invention is to provide a working glove which prevents the user who handles money from making direct contact with food products as well.

This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a working glove, characterized in that it comprises a main body which is associated with a cuff and with end portions and in that said cuff is sufficiently rigid, so as to maintain an opening which is sufficient to insert one's hand in said main body, which is elastically deformable so that it cannot easily slip off one's hand; the glove further comprising detachable fixing means which are adapted to lock the glove, with respect to a fixed support, in order to allow the insertion of the hand and thus the separation of the glove from the fixed support.

The removable fixing means are adapted to lock the glove on the fixed support in order to allow to remove the hand from the glove. Brief Description of the Drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the glove according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is another perspective view of the glove;

Figure 3 is a schematic view of the glove during association with, or disconnection from, a fixed support, according to the invention; Figure 4 is a schematic view of the glove, associated with the fixed support;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the glove according to a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 is another perspective view of the glove of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a schematic view of the glove of Figures 5 and 6, shown during association with, or disconnection from, a fixed support;

Figure 8 is a schematic view of the glove of Figures 5, 6 and 7, associated with the fixed support. Ways of carrying out the Invention With particular reference to the above figures, the working glove according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a main body 2 which is provided with a cuff 3 and with end portions 4 which correspond to the fingers of the hand of the user.

The cuff 3 is made, for example, of fabric or other material which has a sufficient rigidity and keeps the cuff open in order to facilitate the insertion of the hand.

For this purpose, the cuff 3 can have reinforcement ridges 5.

The main body 2 is preferably and advantageously made of rubberized canvas, for example of the cut-resistant type, which is commercially available, and is more rigid than the cuff, so that it retains its shape without collapsing.

The main body 2 is shaped and has a curved profile so that the glove does not easily slip off the hand since a certain pressure is generated on the back thereof. Moreover the portion 6 that corresponds to the root of each finger has an oval cross-section, such as to apply a certain pressure to the fingers of the hand, preventing the glove from slipping off.

The end portions 4 are located essentially at the proximal phalanx of each finger and are advantageously made of a material which is sufficiently thin and such as to maintain a sufficient degree of tactile sensitivity and ensure good handling of products.

On the back of the main body 2 there are elements 7 which are adapted to sufficiently stiffen the body and support detachable fixing means 8, so that when force is applied thereto creases do not form but the glove moves as a single body. The detachable fixing means 8 are applied to a fixed support 9 which is associated for example with the lower surface of a worktop or other fixed structure.

In the glove shown in Figures 1-4, the fixing means 8 are constituted by a metallic plate 10 which is folded in a V-like shape so as to have a portion which is fixed to the body 2 of the glove and a wing 11 which can be inserted in a slot 12 formed in the fixed support 9.

Advantageously, at the slot 12 there is a magnet 13 which is adapted to apply magnetic attraction to the metal plate 10 to prevent the glove from sliding off the support. Use of the working glove according to the invention is extremely simple and easy.

The pair of gloves can be advantageously fixed for example under the worktop of the shop by means of the supports 9.

The gloves 1, arranged so that one is on the right and the other one is on the left, can easily be put on by the shopkeeper when he has to touch the bread.

It is sufficient to insert one's hands in the gloves, which remain sufficiently open and lock onto the hands of the user once the hand has been inserted fully. By continuing the forward movement, the user removes the gloves 1 from their supports 9, overcoming the force of the magnet 13, and is therefore immediately able to use them.

When the user has finished handling bread, it is sufficient to insert the wings 11 in the respective slots 12 and pull back one's hands to remove the gloves, which remain fixed to their supports 9.

It should be noted that the wings 11 are triangular, with a rounded tip, in order to facilitate insertion in the slots 12.

In practice it has been observed that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects. The glove according to the invention can in fact be easily put on and removed.

The glove according to the invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept. All the constructive details may furthermore be replaced with technically equivalent elements.

Figures 5 to 8 in fact illustrate a glove 101 according to a second embodiment of the invention.

With particular reference to Figures 5 to 8, the working glove according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 101, comprises a main body 102 which has a cuff 103 and end portions 104 which correspond to the fingers of the hand.

The cuff 103 is made for example of fabric or other material which can have sufficient rigidity to keep the cuff open in order to facilitate the insertion of the hand.

For this purpose, the cuff 103 can have reinforcement ribs 105. The main body 102 is preferably and advantageously made of rubberized canvas, for example of the cut-resistant type that is commercially available, and is more rigid than the cuff so as to retain its shape without collapsing. The main body 102 is shaped and has a curved profile so that the glove does not slip easily off one's hand since a certain pressure is generated on the back thereof.

Moreover portion 106, which corresponds to the root of each finger, has an oval cross-section and is capable of applying a certain pressure to the fingers of the hand, preventing the glove from sliding.

The end portions 104 are located substantially at the proximal phalanx of each finger and are advantageously made of a thinner material which is capable of maintaining sufficient tactile sensitivity for the user.

On the back of the main body 102 there are reinforcement elements 107 which are adapted to sufficiently stiffen said body and to support means for the detachable fixing 108 of the glove with respect to a fixed support 109 which is associated for example with the lower surface of a worktop or other fixed structure.

In the glove shown in Figures 5 to 8, the fixing means 108 are constituted by tear-away means, for example of the type commercially known as Velcro, and are constituted by a portion 111 which is associated with the body 102 at the reinforcement elements 107 and by a fixed portion

113 which is associated with the fixed support 109.

Use of the glove 101 is fully similar to the preceding one, the only difference being that once the hands have been inserted in the gloves it is sufficient to tear them away from the fixed support 109.

In order to return them to the inactive position, it is sufficient to rest the back of each glove against the fixed support 109 and remove one's hands from the gloves, which remain locked on the support. The materials used, as well as their dimensions, may of course be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

It should be specified that the main body of the glove can be provided with slots for air on the central body, in order to allow the passage of air and avoid excessive perspiration. The materials used to produce the glove must be suitable for food products and can be washable even in a washing machine.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. MI99A002193 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. A working glove, characterized in that it comprises a main body which is associated with a cuff and with end portions and in that said cuff is sufficiently rigid, so as to maintain an opening which is sufficient to insert one's hand in said main body, which is elastically deformable so that it cannot easily slip off one's hand; the glove further comprising detachable fixing means which are adapted to lock said glove, with respect to a fixed support, in order to allow the insertion of the hand and thus the separation of the glove from the fixed support.

2. The working glove according to claim 1, characterized in that said detachable fixing means are adapted to lock the glove on the fixed support in order to allow to remove the hand from the glove.

3. The glove according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the cuff is made of fabric or other material which is adapted to have sufficient rigidity to keep the cuff open in order to facilitate insertion of one's hand.

4. The glove according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cuff can have reinforcement ribs.

5. The glove according to claim 1, characterized in that said main body is made of a material whose rigidity is such that the glove retains its shape without collapsing.

6. The glove according to claim 1, characterized in that said main body is made of cut-resistant rubberized canvas.

7. The glove according to claim 1, characterized in that said main body is shaped and has a curved profile so that the glove does not slip easily off the hand since a certain pressure is generated on the back thereof.

8. The glove according to claim 1, characterized in that a portion that corresponds to the base of each finger has an oval cross-section such as to apply a certain pressure to the fingers of the hand, preventing the glove from sliding off.

9. The glove according claim 1, characterized in that the end portions are located substantially at the proximal phalanx of each finger and are made of a material which is sufficiently thin so as to maintain sufficient tactile sensitivity for the user.

10. The glove according to claim 1, characterized in that reinforcement elements are provided on the back of the central body and are suitable to stiffen said body.

11. The glove according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises fixing means for the detachable fixing of the glove with respect to a fixed support.

12. The glove according to claim 11, characterized in that said fixed support is associable with the lower surface of a worktop or any other fixed structure.

13. The glove according to claim 11, characterized in that said fixing means comprise a metal plate which is folded in a V-shaped configuration so as to have a portion which is fixed to the body of the glove and a wing which can be inserted in a slot provided in said fixed support.

14. The glove according to claim 13, characterized in that at the slot a magnet is provided to apply a magnetic attraction to the metal plate in order to prevent the glove from sliding off the support.

15. The glove according to claim 11, characterized in that said fixing means comprise tear-off means, which are constituted by a first portion which is associated with the main body at reinforcement elements and by a second portion which is fixed to the fixed support.

16. The glove according to claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with slots to allow the passage of air and to avoid excessive sweating.

17. The glove according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made of materials for handling food products and in that it is machine washable.