U.S. patent application number 09/796841 was filed with the patent office on 2002-08-29 for slippery insert for a mechanical counter pressure glove.
Invention is credited to Jarvis, Christine W., Reddig, Mike, Tourbier, Dietmar.
Application Number | 20020116743 09/796841 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25169198 |
Filed Date | 2002-08-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020116743 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tourbier, Dietmar ; et
al. |
August 29, 2002 |
SLIPPERY INSERT FOR A MECHANICAL COUNTER PRESSURE GLOVE
Abstract
A mechanical counter pressure glove system, that can be used in
low-pressure environments such as outer space, is provided. The
system includes a low friction base glove defining an internal
volume for receiving a hand of a wearer. A pressure inducing glove
is donned on the low friction glove so as to apply a mechanical
pressure on the hand. The low friction material of the base glove
facilitates donning of the pressure inducing glove.
Inventors: |
Tourbier, Dietmar; (Redondo
Beach, CA) ; Reddig, Mike; (Mukilteo, WA) ;
Jarvis, Christine W.; (Six Mile, SC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Honeywell International, Inc.
Law Dept. AB2
P.O. Box 2245
Morristown
NJ
07962-9806
US
|
Family ID: |
25169198 |
Appl. No.: |
09/796841 |
Filed: |
February 28, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/160 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 19/015 20130101;
A41D 19/001 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/160 |
International
Class: |
A41D 019/00 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A mechanical counter pressure glove system, comprising; a first
base glove defining an internal volume for receiving a hand of a
wearer; and a pressure inducing glove, the pressure inducing glove
being over the first base glove so as to apply a mechanical
pressure on the hand, wherein a low friction material of the first
base glove facilitates donning of the pressure inducing glove.
2. The mechanical counter pressure glove system of claim 1, wherein
the first base glove is knitted from a yarn that is made of the low
friction material.
3. The mechanical counter pressure glove system of claim 2, wherein
the low friction material is PTFE.
4. The mechanical counter pressure glove system of claim 2, wherein
the first base glove is seamless.
5. The mechanical counter pressure glove system of claim 1, wherein
the pressure inducing glove is made of an elastomeric material.
6. The mechanical counter pressure glove system of claim 5, wherein
the elastomeric material is a nylon covered yarn material.
7. The mechanical counter pressure glove system of claim 1, further
comprising a pressure inducing member over which the first base
glove is disposed.
8. The mechanical counter pressure glove system of claim 7, wherein
the pressure inducing member is an inflatable bladder.
9. The mechanical counter pressure glove system of claim 8, further
comprising a second base glove over which the inflatable bladder is
disposed.
10. The mechanical counter pressure glove system of claim 8,
further comprising a support glove which is disposed over the
pressure inducing glove, wherein the support glove restrains the
inflatable bladder.
11. The mechanical counter pressure glove system of claim 1,
wherein the first base glove is a slip layer in the mechanical
counter pressure glove system.
12. A donning-enabling garment for use in a mechanical counter
pressure glove system, comprising: a seamless body of a low
friction material defining an internal volume for receiving a hand
of a wearer, wherein the seamless body is knitted from a yarn that
is made of the low friction material and wherein the seamless body
defines a finger portion for receiving the fingers and the thumb, a
palm portion for receiving the palm, and a wrist portion for
receiving the wrist of the hand.
13. The donning-enabling garment of claim 10, wherein the low
friction material is PTFE.
14. The donning-enabling garment of claim 10, wherein the seamless
body is donned prior to a pressure inducing glove.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to counter pressure
garments and, more particularly, to counter pressure garments, such
as gloves, that can be used in low pressure environments.
[0002] Blood pressure in a human subject's body is slightly higher
than the breathing pressure. In a standard atmospheric environment
this breathing pressure is equal to the external gas pressure on
the skin. In environments having very small or no gas pressure,
such as the vacuum of the space or very high altitude, breathing is
often enhanced or enabled only by positive pressure gas supply. In
these cases, a subject's circulatory balance and respiration are of
great concern.
[0003] The human body is covered with a soft tissue layer. The
pressure of this layer is always equal to the external gas pressure
on the skin. In normal atmospheric pressure, the tissue pressure in
this layer matches the blood pressure of the circulatory system. In
a low pressure environment with positive pressure breathing,
however, since the pressure over the tissue layer is lower, the
circulating blood may rush into the tissue layer and pool. If no
preventive step has been taken, the veins, particularly the
capillary ones in the tissue layer, are engorged with blood. As
venous engorgement continues, measurable amounts of excess fluid
can be forced through the capillary walls and accumulate in the
tissue layer. The accumulation of fluid can result in formation of
petechiae or edema and a decrease in the circulating blood.
[0004] In such low pressure environments, a counter pressure must
be applied over the soft tissue layer to prevent the aforementioned
problems. Usually, a counter pressure suit is employed to provide
the necessary counter pressure on the tissue layer. In the context
of outer space, one such suit is a full pressure suit. It is a gas
filled pressure suit that is gas tight. The counter pressure in a
full pressure suit is created with high pressure oxygen supplied
into the suit. Thus, the gas pressure on the skin is in balance
with the breathing pressure. Typically, these suits are made of a
rigid but pressure restraining outer garment.
[0005] Another type of suit is generally referred to as a partial
pressure suit, used, for example, in high-altitude fighter
airplanes. In a partial pressure suit, an elastic or inelastic
outer garment typically covers bladders that are filled with gas.
The bladders with the garment can apply a constant counter pressure
over the tissue. Partial pressure suits have their advantages. For
example, if the partial pressure suit is developed with elastic
material, the elastic material itself can provide counter pressure
to the body. The partial pressure suits tend to be less bulky and
thereby increasing mobility.
[0006] One important drawback with the partial pressure suit is
that in order to apply a counter pressure over a body part, that
body part must be perfectly circular in shape. But the body is not
circular, and instead ovate, ellipsoidal and irregular. In this
context, among other body parts, hands present an exceptional
difficulty. A hand has a combination of concave, convex and
circular areas as well as many joints and muscular areas that
change shape during contraction and relaxation.
[0007] Specifically, the hand includes a palm having five fingers.
The palm has a palmar surface that contacts an object being
grasped, and a dorsal surface that is the upper surface of the
hand. The palmar and dorsal surfaces are defined by the bones and
soft tissue covering the bones. These bones consist of five
metacarpals that extend from the wrist up to the base of the
fingers or so called palmar knuckles. These five metacarpals are
dished, creating a metacarpal arc in the central part of the palm.
At the distal ends of the metacarpals, the fingers are attached.
The index, middle, ring and little fingers each have three
cylindrical phalanges, with the phalanx attached to the
corresponding metacarpal being the proximal phalanx, the next
phalanx being the middle and the fingertips being the distal
phalanx. The thumb has only two cylindrical phalanges, a proximal
and distal.
[0008] Due to its importance and its complex shape, the palm has
been a center of attention in various research studies. It has been
observed that if used for counter pressure purposes, the elastic
material of a counter pressure glove tend to primarily press the
outer edge of the palm and leaves the dorsal and palmar surfaces
without adequate pressure. In an effort to address this problem,
bladders with various shapes are placed on the palmar and dorsal
surfaces before donning the glove. However, even such conventional
bladders are large and stiff, and they are not able to eliminate
fluid accumulation in the soft tissue in the metacarpal area. Their
large size and stiffness decrease dexterity, tactility, and
mobility. Further, their size and stiffness make donning and
doffing of the elastic glove more difficult. More importantly, the
size and the stiffness of the bladders fatigue the elastic glove
during donning and doffing resulting in a defective glove.
[0009] As can be seen, there is a need for an improved counter
pressure glove that provides adequate counter pressure to the palm
of a hand and is easy to don and doff as well as increase
dexterity, tactility, and mobility of the hand.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] A mechanical counter pressure glove system comprises a slip
layer or base glove defining an internal volume for receiving a
hand of a wearer and a power layer or pressure inducing glove. The
pressure inducing glove is donned on the base glove so as to apply
a mechanical pressure on the hand. The low friction material of the
base glove facilitates donning of the pressure inducing glove.
[0011] A donning-enabling garment for use in a mechanical counter
pressure glove system comprises a seamless body of a low friction
material defining an internal volume for receiving a hand of a
wearer. The seamless body is knitted from a yarn that is made of
the low friction material. The seamless body defines a finger
portion for receiving the fingers and the thumb, a palm portion for
receiving the palm, and a wrist portion for receiving the wrist of
the hand.
[0012] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following drawings, description and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1A is an elevated perspective view of the counter
pressure glove system of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 1B is a cross sectional view of the counter pressure
glove system shown in FIG. 1A;
[0015] FIGS. 2A-2B are schematic views of a right hand showing the
relative locations of the dorsal metacarpal and the palmar knuckles
of the hand;
[0016] FIGS. 3A-3B are schematic top and bottom views of a base
glove of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 4A is an elevated perspective view of a pressure member
of the present invention, wherein an upper bladder of the pressure
member has been disposed on the dorsal metacarpals of the hand
having the base glove shown in FIGS. 3A-3B;
[0018] FIG. 4B is a bottom view of the pressure member shown in
FIG. 4A, wherein a lower bladder of the pressure member has been
disposed on the palmar knuckles of the hand;
[0019] FIG. 4C is a schematic front view of the pressure member
shown in FIGS. 4A-4B;
[0020] FIG. 4D is another schematic view of the pressure member
shown in FIGS. 4A-4C;
[0021] FIGS. 5A-5B are schematic top and bottom views of a low
friction glove of the present invention, wherein the low friction
glove has been donned on the pressure member shown in FIGS.
4A-4C;
[0022] FIG. 5C is a cross sectional view of the glove system of the
present invention which is after the low friction glove shown in
FIGS. 5A-5B has been donned;
[0023] FIGS. 6A-6B are schematic top and bottom views of a pressure
glove of the present invention, wherein the pressure glove has been
donned on the low friction glove shown in FIGS. 5A-5C;
[0024] FIG. 6C is a cross sectional view of the glove system of the
present invention which is after the low friction glove shown in
FIGS. 6A-6B has been donned;
[0025] FIG. 7A is an elevated perspective view of the gauntlet of
the present invention;
[0026] FIGS. 7B-7C are top and bottom views of the gauntlet of the
present invention, wherein the gauntlet has been donned on the
pressure glove shown in FIGS. 6A-6C; and
[0027] FIG. 7D is a cross sectional view of the glove system of the
present invention which is after the gauntlet shown in FIGS. 7A-7C
has been donned.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0028] Reference will now be made to drawings wherein like numerals
refer to like parts throughout. FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a
mechanical counter pressure glove system 100 of the present
invention, which is shown as donned on a right hand 102 of a user
(not shown). In this embodiment, the glove system 100 may initially
comprise a comfort layer or base glove 104 that can be donned on
the hand 102. A pressure member or bladder 106 of the glove system
100 may be donned upon the base glove 104 and partially covering
the base glove 104. The pressure member may comprise an inlet port
108 and an inlet tube 110 connected to the inlet port 108. The
inlet tube 110 is connected to a pressure source (not shown) to
inflate the pressure member 106.
[0029] A slip layer or low friction base glove 112 of the glove
system 100 may be donned on the pressure member 106 and the exposed
areas of the comfort layer or base glove 104. A power layer or
pressure glove 114 of the glove system 100 may then be donned on
the low friction glove 112. The material of the low friction base
glove 112 permits easy donning and doffing of the power layer or
pressure glove 114. A support member or gauntlet 116 of the glove
system 100 may next be donned on the pressure glove 114 to prevent
any displacement of the pressure member 106, i.e., any lateral and
vertical displacement away from the original position of the
pressure member 106. The gauntlet or support member 116 may
partially cover the power layer or pressure glove 114 and comprises
a number of fastening flaps 118 on top of the support member 116.
Referring to FIG. 1A, the mechanical counter pressure glove system
100 may be attached to a cuff section 120 of a space suit (not
shown).
[0030] To explain the terminology regarding a human hand and its
relationship to the subject invention, FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate
various sections of a right hand 102 having a palm 121 extending
between the fingers 122 and the wrist 124. The dorsal metacarpals
126 and palmar metacarpals 128 cover the top (FIG. 2A) and the
bottom of the palm 121 (FIG. 2B), respectively. The palm 121 is
connected to the fingers 122 through knuckles 130. The dorsal
metacarpal side of the knuckles 130 is called dorsal knuckles 132
and the palmar metacarpal side of the knuckles 130 is called palmar
knuckles 134.
[0031] During an extra vehicular activity in outer space, or other
environment having no or very low atmospheric pressure, the
pressure exerted by the glove system 100 functions as a mechanical
counter pressure which prevents soft tissue swelling caused by the
pressure difference. The mechanical counter pressure is needed to
counter balance the pressure difference between the arterial and
venous blood vessels and the external pressure during an extra
vehicular activity.
[0032] Providing mechanical counter pressure to the dorsal
metacarpals 126 and the palmar knuckles 134 is very difficult using
the prior art systems, such as foams or hard inserts. Despite the
fact that the mobility of the hand is critical for extra vehicular
activities, the prior art do not allow adequate motion of the hand
and fingers. The dorsal metacarpals 126 and the palmar knuckles 134
are highly variable in surface shape, and far from being circular.
When placed into a vacuum environment, the glove system 100
advantageously provides the necessary mechanical counter pressure
across the hand 102 including the dorsal metacarpals 126 and the
palmar knuckles 134, while allowing full range of the motion of the
hand.
[0033] In more specifically describing the present invention, FIGS.
3A and 3B show the comfort layer or base glove 104 of the glove
system 100. In this embodiment, the base glove 104 is shown donned
on the hand 102, which substantially conforms the shape of the hand
102 and makes direct contact with the soft tissue of the hand. The
base glove 104 may be made of a stretchable material. Preferably,
the base glove 104 is knitted out of a yarn which is mostly flat
(non-twisted) nylon or polyester. The base glove 104 may also
comprise small amount of elastomeric yarn. The comfort layer or
base glove 104 provides comfort between the hand of the wearer and
the other components of the system 100. Further, the base glove 104
minimizes friction that may occur between the hand 102 and the
subsequent components as the glove system 100 is donned. As will be
described below, in this embodiment, the subsequent components are
the pressure member 106 and the low friction glove 112. Thus, the
base glove allows the pressure member 106 and the low friction
glove 112 to be donned easily.
[0034] As shown in FIGS. 4A-4C, after donning the comfort layer or
base glove 104, the bladder or pressure inducing member 106 may be
donned on the base glove 104. In this embodiment, when donned on
the comfort layer 104, the bladder 106 substantially covers the
palmar knuckles 134 and the dorsal metacarpals 126 including dorsal
knuckles 132 of the hand 102 (FIGS. 2A and 2B). As will be
described more fully below, the power layer 114 of the glove system
100 provides the majority of the mechanical counter pressure on the
hand. However, due to the irregular shape of the dorsal metacarpals
126 and the palmar knuckles 134, the power layer 114 may not
adequately supply a counter pressure over these particular areas of
the hand (FIGS. 2A-2B). This limitation of the power layer 114 may
be compensated with the use of the pressure member 106 on such
areas.
[0035] The pressure inducing member 106 may, in one preferred
embodiment, be adapted to comprise two integrally connected
inflatable components, namely, an upper bladder 136 and a lower
bladder 138. The upper bladder 136 covers the dorsal metacarpals
126 including the dorsal knuckles 132 while the lower bladder 138
covers the palmar knuckles 134. When inflated with a pressure agent
such as gas, liquid or a gel material, the upper and lower bladders
136 and 138 supply adequate mechanical counter pressure over the
soft tissue covering the dorsal metacarpals 126 including the
dorsal knuckles 132 and the palmar knuckles 134 while still
providing full hand mobility. The pressure inducing member 106 may
be a form-fitted member that is sized and dimensioned to fit a hand
and conforms to the individual shape of the hand. In use, the
pressure member 106 may be donned as inflated to a predetermined
pressure level. Alternatively, the pressure member 106 may be
inflated to the adequate counter pressure, for example, after
either donning the pressure member 106 or donning the glove system
100. During an extra vehicular activity in outer space, for
example, the pressure exerted by the bladders 136 and 138 functions
as a mechanical counter pressure which prevents soft tissue
swelling caused by the pressure difference. As described above, the
mechanical counter pressure is needed to counter balance the
pressure difference between the arterial and venous blood vessels
and the external pressure.
[0036] Referring to FIGS. 4A-4C, finger holes 140 allow the
pressure member 106 to be placed over the hand 102 by inserting
four fingers (the little, ring, middle and index fingers) through
the holes 140. Tabs 142 extending between a distal end 144 of the
upper bladder 136 and a distal end 146 of the lower bladder 138
function to define the finger openings 140 as well as to connect
the upper and lower bladder 136 and 138 to each other. Tabs 142
also provide additional counter pressure in the webs between the
fingers. Additionally, a first and second side sections 148 and 150
form the sides of the pressure member 106, hence, further securing
and aligning the pressure member 106 on the hand 102. The inlet
port 108 may be located at a proximal end 154 of the upper bladder
136. The inlet port 108 may be connected to a pressure source 156
and a pressure gauge 160 through the inlet tube 110. The pressure
gauge 160 optimizes the operating pressure of the pressure member
106, thereby allowing a user to adjust the pressure level of the
pressure member 106. In one embodiment, the pressure source 156 may
be a rubber squeeze bulb to pump air into the upper and lower
bladders 136 and 138. The inlet port 108 may be, for example,
formed as a pinch valve or the like. Via a pinch valve, the
pressure member 106 may be inflated to an appropriate pressure
range by the bulb 156; after removing the bulb 156, the pressure
member 106 may be sealed by permanently sealing the pinch
valve.
[0037] As previously mentioned, providing mechanical counter
pressure to the dorsal metacarpals and the palmar knuckles is
difficult using the prior art, as they are highly variable in
surface shape. Mobility of the hand is critical, such as for extra
vehicular activities in outer space. The prior art hand inserts or
foams do not allow adequate motion of the hand and fingers. When
placed into a vacuum environment, the pressure member 106
advantageously provides the necessary mechanical counter pressure
across the dorsal metacarpals 126 and the palmar knuckles 134,
while allowing full range of the motion of the hand.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 4D, in another preferred embodiment, the
pressure member 106 may be a single bladder or a bag that may be
inflated using the inlet port 108. As a single bladder, the
pressure member 106 may comprise the upper and lower bladders 136
and 138 of the above embodiment. The upper bladder 136 may be in
fluid communication with the lower bladder 138 so that air from the
inlet port 108 inflates both of them. In order to secure pressure
member 106 around the hand, the lower bladder 138 may be folded
along a fold line 164 over the upper bladder 136 and the respective
ends 166 and 168 are attached to each other. Accordingly, once the
pressure member 106 is formed, the folded edge may correspond to
the first section or edge 148 of the pressure member 106 (FIGS.
4A-4C). Similarly, the attached edge may correspond to the second
section or edge 150 of the pressure member 106. In this embodiment,
the omission of edges 148, 150 better allows the pressure agent
within the bladder 106 to move from one part to the other as the
hand moves.
[0039] In the next manufacturing step, the tabs 142 are attached to
the respective attachment locations 170 on the distal ends 144 and
146 of the bladders 136 and 138. The pressure member 106 may
preferably be made by cutting two material layers into the shape of
the pressure member 106 as shown in FIG. 4D. Then, the layers with
matching shapes are put on top of each other and sealed along the
peripheral edge 172. In a preferred embodiment, a material for the
pressure member 106 may be polyurethane such as that available from
JASCO Products, Inc. The edge 172 may be sealed using Radio
Frequency (RF) welding or other conventional methods using
adhesives or heat sealing. RF welding may be used to attach the
ends 166 and 168 as well as tabs 142 to the attachment locations
170. The pressure member 106 of the present invention may withstand
a gas pressure in the range of about 4 to 8 psid, preferably about
4 to 5 psid.
[0040] It is further within the scope of the present invention to
replace one of the bladders 136 and 138 with an alternative form of
counter pressure means such as foam inserts or the like. The tab
members 142 or webbing are to align the pressure member 106 on the
hand. An alternative embodiment may remove the tab members 142
permanently or replace them with other alignment means. Also, in an
alternative embodiment, the inlet tube 110 may be not necessary if
the pressure member is inflated to the required pressure level and
is subsequently temporarily or permanently sealed at that pressure
level.
[0041] As illustrated in FIGS. 5A to 5C, after donning of the
pressure member 106 on the comfort layer or base glove 104, the
slip layer or low friction glove 112 of the glove system 100 may be
donned. The slip layer 112 covers the pressure member 106 and the
exposed portions of the comfort layer 104. The low friction glove
112 may comprise a body portion 174 defining an inner volume 176 to
receive a hand of a wearer. The body portion 174 further defines a
wrist portion 178 and a palm portion 180 to receive the wrist and
palm, while finger portions 182 receive the fingers and thumb. The
position of the pressure member 106 after the donning of the glove
112 is illustrated by the broken lines in FIGS. 5A-5C. The low
friction glove 112 forms a slip layer of the glove system 100 so as
to facilitate donning and doffing of the power layer or pressure
glove 114. If no slip layer 112 is utilized, the strong elastic
material of the pressure glove 114 makes the donning process of the
pressure glove 114 very difficult.
[0042] As will be described more fully below, the pressure glove
114 forms a power layer that provides the majority of the
mechanical counter pressure on a hand. To be able to exert
necessary mechanical counter pressure on the hand, the pressure
glove 114 is made of a very strong elastic material. However, due
to this property of the glove, it is very difficult to pull the
pressure glove 114 over the pressure member 106 or the exposed
portions of the base glove 104.
[0043] Without having the low friction glove 112, if the pressure
glove 114 is fully pulled to be donned, the pressure glove 114 may
be fatigued from the strenuous pulling and friction, which impairs
its mechanical counter pressure function.
[0044] In a preferred embodiment, the low friction glove 112 may be
made of a low friction material, preferably PTFE
(polytetrafluoroethlene), also referred to as Teflon.TM.. In one
embodiment, the low friction glove may be made of PTFE yarn that is
seamlessly knitted into a glove. The PTFE yarn may be available
from Dupont. The knitting process may be carried out using a
knitting machine such as that available from Shima Seiki. The low
friction glove 112 significantly lessens the fatigue that may be
built up in the pressure glove 114 during the donning process. It
is within the scope of the present invention that the low friction
glove 112 may be manufactured using other manufacturing methods
such as sewing disparate pieces made of PTFE material.
[0045] As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the power layer or pressure
inducing glove 114 may be donned on the low friction glove 112. The
pressure glove 114 forms a pressure or power layer of the glove
system 100. As discussed above, the elastic material of the
pressure glove 114 may not apply an adequate counter pressure on
the dorsal metacarpals 126 and the palmar knuckles 134 due to the
relatively irregular shape of these areas of the hand 102 (FIGS.
2A-2B). However, the combined use of the pressure member 106 and
the pressure glove 114 within the glove system 100 of the present
invention substantially minimize this problem. FIG. 6C shows how
the pressure member 106 and the pressure glove 114 function
together when the pressure member 106 is inflated.
[0046] Referring now to FIGS. 6A to 6C, over the dorsal metacarpals
126 and the palmar knuckles 134, the pressure glove 114 and the
pressure member 106 together establish a mechanical counter
pressure in the direction D substantially normal to the tissue of
the hand. However, the mechanical counter pressure for the rest of
the hand (such as the fingers, wrist and the rest of the palmar
metacarpals 128) may be provided only by the pressure glove 114.
The pressure glove 114 may be made of Globespun.TM. yarn,
preferably 850 denier nylon covered Globespun.TM. yarn, that is
seamlessly knitted into a glove. The 850 denier nylon covered
Globespun.TM. yarn may be available from Dupont. The knitting
process may be carried out using a knitting machine such as that
available from Shima Seiki.
[0047] As shown in FIGS. 7A-7D, after donning the pressure glove
114, the gauntlet or support member 116 of the glove system 100 may
be donned on the pressure glove 114. The support member 114
prevents pressure member 106 from moving laterally over the fingers
or ballooning vertically when the system 100 is used during an
extravehicular activity, for example. Further, the support member
116 restrains the pressure member 106 and keeps the pressure member
thin and flexible when the hand is used. In the preferred
embodiment, the support member 116 may be formed as a gauntlet
having a gauntlet body 184 covering the wrist and the palm of a
wearer. The body 184 may have a top and bottom portions 186 and 188
connected together in a face to face relationship to define the
gauntlet body 184.
[0048] The top and bottom portions 186 and 188 may be configured
and sewn together to define a front opening 190 to receive four
fingers, a thumb opening 192 to receive the thumb, and a wrist
opening 194 to insert the hand. The top and bottom portions 186 and
188 may preferably be made of a cloth comprising Nomex.TM. that may
be available from ILC Dover. At the front opening 190, webbing
strips 196 extend between the top and bottom portions 186 and 188.
There are three webbing strips 196 spaced and dimensioned such that
when the gauntlet is donned the webbing strips 196 are aligned
between the four fingers as in the manner shown in FIGS. 7A-7C. As
such, the webbing strips 196 apply some mechanical counter pressure
between the fingers and further stabilize the gauntlet 116. The
webbing strips 196 may preferably be made of a flexible, high
initial modulus reinforcement strips that have low flammability. A
front section 198 of the top portion 186 may have pleats 199 that
allow fingers to bend forward into a fist or for grasping objects.
The pleats 199 may be formed from folded over Nomex.TM. material.
Further, the top portion 186 has the fastening flaps 118.
Preferably, three fastening flaps extend across the top portion 186
of the gauntlet 116. A hook portion 200 of a coacting hook and loop
fastener is preferably mounted on one face of the fastening flaps
118. The hook portion 200 may be selectively connected to the loop
portion 202 that is mounted on selected locations on the top
portion 186. In this manner, using the fastening flaps 118, the
gauntlet 116 can be adjusted to the size of a user's hand. Such
hook and loop fasteners are commercially available and sold under
the brand name Velcro.TM..
[0049] Although, in the preferred embodiment, the gauntlet 116 is
made of Nomex.TM., it is within the scope of this invention that
any cloth with enough strength to withstand the force of the
pressure member 106 may be used. Similarly, the Velcro.TM.
fasteners may be replaced with other fasteners such as hooks,
snaps, buttons or just ties. The pleats over the dorsal knuckles
may be replaced with alternative systems. Such alternative systems
may include the use of two pieces of cloth which pass over each
other at the dorsal knuckle, or deep pockets that allow knuckle
motion.
[0050] After the donning of the glove system 100 is completed, in
one embodiment, the pressure member 106 may be inflated to the
predetermined pressure level. This predetermined pressure level may
be in the range of about 4 to 5.8 psid, depending on the supplied
breathing pressure. In the next step the tube 110 may be separated
from the pressure source and sealed.
[0051] It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing
relates to preferred embodiments of the invention and that
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
* * * * *