U.S. patent application number 10/836392 was filed with the patent office on 2005-11-03 for hand shield for the unassisted donning of gloves.
This patent application is currently assigned to Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.. Invention is credited to Griesbach, Henry L. III, Hafer, Gregory S..
Application Number | 20050241046 10/836392 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34960656 |
Filed Date | 2005-11-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050241046 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Griesbach, Henry L. III ; et
al. |
November 3, 2005 |
Hand shield for the unassisted donning of gloves
Abstract
A protective garment having a sleeve that possesses an interior
region and a peripheral surface attached to a hand shield. The hand
shield also has an interior region and a peripheral opening. The
peripheral opening of the hand shield is attached to and shares a
common border with the peripheral surface of the sleeve thereby
enabling direct access between the interior regions of the sleeve
and the hand shield. The hand shield is designed to be detached
from the sleeve at a zone of separation without damaging the
sleeve. Use of this protective garment is conducive to methods for
the unassisted donning of sterile gloves.
Inventors: |
Griesbach, Henry L. III;
(Clarkston, GA) ; Hafer, Gregory S.; (Roswell,
GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
401 NORTH LAKE STREET
NEENAH
WI
54956
|
Assignee: |
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide,
Inc.
|
Family ID: |
34960656 |
Appl. No.: |
10/836392 |
Filed: |
April 30, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/160 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 19/0089 20130101;
A41D 19/0041 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
002/160 |
International
Class: |
A41B 009/00; A41D
010/00; A41D 001/00 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A protective garment, comprising: a garment body having sleeves,
each sleeve terminating in an open end; a hand shield attached to
at least one of the sleeves such that a portion of the sleeve and
hand shield overlap one another, the hand shield comprising a
pouch-like compartment having a peripheral opening aligned with and
having a common border with a peripheral surface of the sleeve
adapted to receive a portion of a wearers hand therethrough and
contain the same within the compartment; wherein at least a portion
of the hand shield is permanently detachable from the sleeve at a
zone of separation without damaging the sleeve.
2. The garment of claim 1, wherein the garment body is selected
from the group consisting essentially of medical gowns, clean room
garments, and work wear.
3. The garment of claim 1, wherein the hand shield comprises a film
formed into a pouch-like compartment.
4. The garment of claim 1, wherein the hand shield comprises the
same material as the sleeve material.
5. The garment of claim 1, wherein the physical configuration of
the hand shield is selected from the group consisting essentially
of a glove, a mitt, and a pouch.
6. The garment of claim 1, comprising a bonding agent for attaching
the hand shield to the sleeve.
7. The garment of claim 6, wherein the bonding agent comprises an
adhesive.
8. The garment of claim 6, wherein the bonding agent is applied to
a region coincident with the zone of separation.
9. The garment of claim 1, wherein the zone of separation comprises
a region capable of failure thereby separating the hand shield from
the sleeve without generating loose particulate.
10. The garment of claim 1, wherein the hand shield is attached to
the sleeve by any combination of the use of a bonding agent,
perforations, thermal bonding, pressure bonding, chemical bonding,
a frangible connection, and mechanical fasteners.
11. The garment of claim 1, wherein a bonding agent is applied to
an inside surface of the hand shield such that a portion of the
sleeve is occluded by a portion of the hand shield.
12. A protective garment, comprising: a sleeve having an interior
region, an opening, and a peripheral surface; a hand shield having
an interior region and a peripheral opening, the peripheral opening
of the hand shield is attached to and shares a common border with
the peripheral surface of the sleeve enabling direct access between
the interior regions of the sleeve and the hand shield, wherein a
portion of the sleeve and the hand shield overlap one another;
wherein at least a portion of the hand shield is permanently
detachable from the sleeve at a zone of separation without damaging
the sleeve.
13. The garment of claim 12, wherein the zone of separation
comprises the attachment between the hand shield and the
sleeve.
14. The garment of claim 12, comprising a bonding agent for
attaching the hand shield to the sleeve.
15. The garment of claim 12, wherein the hand shield comprises the
same material as the sleeve material.
16. The garment of claim 12, wherein the zone of separation
comprises a region capable of failure thereby separating the hand
shield from the sleeve without generating loose particulate wherein
the hand shield comprises a film formed into a pouch-like
compartment.
17. The garment of claim 12, wherein the hand shield is attached to
the sleeve by any combination of the use of a bonding agent,
perforations, thermal bonding, pressure bonding, chemical bonding,
a frangible connection, and mechanical fasteners.
18. The garment of claim 12, wherein a bonding agent is applied to
an inside surface of the hand shield such that a portion of the
sleeve Is occluded by a portion of the hand shield.
19. The garment of claim 14, wherein the bonding agent is applied
to a region coincident with the zone of separation.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to the sterile
donning of gloves, more specifically, to the unassisted sterile
donning of gloves that may be designed to be used in conjunction
with protective garments.
[0002] Gloves, including surgical gloves, are worn in a variety of
environments that demand sterility, for example, the medical,
food-preparation and manufacturing "clean room" environments. In
the medical environment, gloves are worn to prevent the hands of
medical professionals from contacting a patient's body during a
physical examination or a surgical operation. They are universally
recognized as a major safeguard against the risk of inadvertent or
accidental infection of the patient in the administration of
medical and dental treatment. Wearing nonsterile gloves in such an
environment may lead to infection of the patient. In the "clean
room" environment, gloves are worn to prevent the hands of a
technician from directly contacting items, such as wafers and other
devices supporting highly sensitive electronic circuits. Wearing
nonsterile gloves in such an environment may lead to contamination
of such items, making them unsuitable for use.
[0003] As such, these gloves are manufactured to be sterile.
Sterility of the glove can be adversely affected during the process
in which the wearer puts on or dons the glove. During this process,
the hands can contact and contaminate the gloves by the inadvertent
transfer of microbes found on the wearer's hands to the sterile
glove surfaces. Ordinarily, at least in the case of the medical
profession, the risk of undesirable contamination in this process
is reduced by putting the glove on by using one of two generally
accepted fashions or techniques for unassisted donning; that is,
open glove donning or closed glove donning.
[0004] The open glove donning technique now used for donning
gloves, for example surgical gloves, requires that the sealed
package containing the sterile gloves be carefully opened so that
the inner surfaces of the package, and more particularly, the
outside surfaces of the gloves contained therein, do not come in
contact with any nonsterile surface. As such, the gloves are
usually packaged with their cuffs everted; that is, turned inside
out and folded downwardly. To don the right glove, one grasps the
right glove on the fold of the everted cuff with the left hand and
the right hand is inserted into the glove opening. Next, the left
glove is picked up and held with the right hand by slipping the
gloved fingers of that hand underneath the everted cuff while the
left hand is inserted into the glove opening. To complete glove
donning the everted cuffs are carefully pulled over the distal ends
of the garment's sleeves so that the entirety of the previously
exposed surfaces of the everted cuffs are on the insides of the
gloves and the outsides remain untouched by ungloved hands.
[0005] In the closed glove donning technique, the gloves are
handled through the fabric of the sleeve itself, for example a
surgical gown sleeve. As such, the wearer's hand does not extend
outside from the sleeve until the open end of the glove is actually
pulled over the sleeve. The closed glove donning technique may best
be conveyed by describing its current use in a surgical arena. This
method assumes that the wearer is already wearing a sterile
surgical gown. Accordingly, the wearer uses the left hand while
keeping it within the sleeve of the gown to pick up the right glove
by its everted cuff. In this manner, the glove itself is not
directly touched since the left hand is shielded by the sleeve.
With the right hand extended palm upward but retained occluded
within the sleeve, the left hand places the palm of the glove with
fingers pointing towards the wearer against the occluded palm of
the right hand. The closest edge of the everted cuff is grasped by
the right hand through the sleeve fabric. Next, the left hand pulls
the ungrasped everted cuff edge over the right sleeve and hand. The
left hand is gloved in the same manner using the gloved right hand
to appropriately place the left glove and pull it over the left
sleeve and hand.
[0006] Both glove donning methods entail difficulties: open glove
donning requires a high level of finger and hand dexterity; closed
glove donning suffers from finger and hand dexterity being hampered
while one's fingers remain shielded by the sleeve. As would be
expected by such complex procedures, they are susceptible to
numerous accidental contamination possibilities, especially during
times of distress and urgency. Thus, a need exists that would
enable a wearer to don an unattached glove effectively and in an
aseptic manner. Such a method would have an added advantage if it
could be performed without necessitating the help of an assistant,
more so if it were also economically cost effective to implement
and practice.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in
part in the following description, or may be obvious from the
description, or may be learned through practice of the
invention.
[0008] The present invention provides a protective garment. The
garment itself includes a garment body having sleeves, each sleeve
terminating in an open end, and a hand shield attached to at least
one of the sleeves. The hand shield is essentially a pouch-like
compartment which has a peripheral opening aligned with and having
a common border with a peripheral surface of the sleeve. This
structure is adapted to receive a portion of a wearer's hand
therethrough and contain it within the compartment. At least a
portion of the hand shield is detachable from the sleeve at a zone
of separation and may be so detached without damaging the sleeve.
The invention may be especially well suited to surgical gowns,
clean room garments, and work wear. The hand shield may be made of
a film, may be made of the same material as the sleeve material, or
may be made of various other polymers and/or plastisols. The
physical configuration of the hand shield may take the form of a
glove, a mitt, and/or a pouch.
[0009] In another embodiment, the invention provides a sleeve that
may be used alone or in conjunction with a protective garment. In
this embodiment, the sleeve may have an interior region, an
opening, and a peripheral surface. A hand shield having an interior
region and a peripheral opening is attached to and shares a common
border with the peripheral surface of the sleeve enabling direct
access between the interior regions of the sleeve and the hand
shield. At least a portion of the hand shield is detachable from
the sleeve at a zone of separation without damaging the sleeve.
[0010] The invention provides an advantage enabling the wearer to
gain additional dexterity while donning a sterile glove in an
aseptic manner. In this way, the invention addresses at least
certain of the disadvantages of conventional glove donning
solutions currently available in the market and discussed above. It
should be appreciated that, although the present invention has
particular usefulness in the surgical arena, particularly in its
use with a surgical gown, the invention is not limited in scope to
surgical gowns or the medical industry. The hand shield used with
or without a protective garment according to the present invention
has wide application and can be used in any instance where a
protective coverall, gown, robe, etc., is used with gloves. All
such uses and garments are contemplated within the scope of the
invention. These and other objects are achieved by the process
disclosed and claimed herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0011] FIGS. 1A-1C are perspective views of embodiments of a
protective garment containing three different hand shield
configurations according to the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a garment sleeve
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of an alternative
garment sleeve according to an embodiment of the invention; and
[0014] FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of another garment
sleeve according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0015] FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of still another
garment sleeve according to an embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] Reference will now be made in detail to one or more examples
of the invention depicted in the FIGS. Each example is provided by
way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation
of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as
part of one embodiment may be used with another embodiment to yield
still a different embodiment. Other modifications and variations to
the described embodiments are also contemplated within the scope
and spirit of the invention.
[0017] FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C illustrate various embodiments of a
disposable hand covering or hand shield 10 according to the
invention. Numerous configurations of the hand shield 10 are
possible including that shown in FIG. 1A wherein the hand shield 10
is configured as a pouch-like compartment or receptacle capable of
receiving at least a portion of a wearer's hand therein. In another
embodiment, the hand shield 10 may be configured as a mitten or
mitt 12 having a finger compartment 14 separate from a thumb
compartment 16 as depicted in FIG. 1B. In another embodiment,
depicted in FIG. 1C, the hand shield 10 may be configured as a
glove 18, that is, it may have a separate cot 20 for each finger,
including the thumb. In any of the embodiments, the hand shield may
be designed to be one-size-fits-all without negatively impacting
its function or design.
[0018] Referring to each of these 1A, 1B, and 1C collectively, it
may be seen that in each embodiment the hand shield 10 is designed
to be attached to a sleeve 22. The sleeve 22 may form part of a
protective garment 24 as depicted in FIG. 1A. Alternatively, the
sleeve and hand shield combination may be used by itself, that is,
without requiring its use with a protective garment as depicted in
FIGS. 1B and 1C. Irrespective of its use, in many embodiments, the
hand shield 10 is connected in proximity to the hand end or distal
portion 26 of the sleeve 22 which may include being attached to a
sleeve cuff 28 should the sleeve 22 possess a cuff 28. It should be
noted that the terms "lower" or "distal" when referring to the
sleeve are used to denote features that are closer to the hands of
a wearer as differentiated from features that are closer to the
shoulder region of the wearer.
[0019] The hand shield 10 or at least a portion of the hand shield
10 is designed to detach from the sleeve 22 at a predetermined zone
of separation 30. The attachment of the hand shield to the sleeve
is configured such that a peripheral opening 32 of the hand shield
10 is aligned with, and shares a border with, a peripheral surface
34 of the distal portion 26 of the sleeve 22. This configuration
enables the wearer to extend his hand through the sleeve 22
directly into the hand shield 10. In many embodiments the zone of
separation 30 is positioned on the outside or exterior surface of
the sleeve so that the distal portion 26 of the sleeve 22 or the
sleeve cuff 28 is occluded by the hand shield. Alternatively, the
sleeve 22 may form the exterior surface if desired and the hand
shield attached to an inner surface of the sleeve.
[0020] The zone of separation 30, is that region specifically
designed to fail thus enabling the intentional separation of the
hand shield 10 from the sleeve 22. The zone of separation 30 is
configured so as to minimize the generation of loose particulate.
In one embodiment, the hand shield 10 is made to detach from the
sleeve 22 by pulling the hand shield with sufficient force
resulting in an intentional separation of the hand shield 10 or at
least a portion thereof from the sleeve 22 at the zone of
separation 30. The force necessary to separate the hand shield from
the sleeve is dependent upon a number of controllable design
parameters including: the materials selected in the manufacture of
the sleeve; the materials used in the manufacture of the hand
shield; and the manner and/or form with which the hand shield is
attached to the sleeve. In some embodiments, a portion of the hand
shield may remain attached to the sleeve or sleeve cuff. In such
embodiments safeguards should be incorporated into the design in
order to minimize the potential for the remaining portion of the
hand shield to otherwise negatively impact the sterility of the
subsequently donned gloves. Such methods are discussed below.
[0021] It should be appreciated that the type of fabric or material
used for the sleeve 22 is in no way a limiting factor of the
invention. The sleeve may be made from a multitude of materials,
including nonwoven materials suitable for disposable use. For
example, if the sleeve 22 of a protective garment 24 were used with
or designed to form a part of a surgical gown, the sleeve 22 may be
made of a nonwoven material less likely to tear during donning or
wearing. One material particularly well suited for use with the
present invention is a three-layer nonwoven material known as SMS
or Spunbond-Meltblown-Spunbond laminate. See for example U.S. Pat.
No. 4,041,203 to Brock et al. One particular advantage is that SMS
exhibits enhanced fluid barrier characteristics making it
especially desirable for use in a surgical setting. It should be
noted, however, that other nonwovens in addition to other materials
including wovens, knits, films, foam/film laminates, and
combinations thereof may be used in the construction of the present
invention.
[0022] Looking still to FIGS. 1A-C, as stated above, the sleeve 22
may incorporate a cuff 28 attached to the distal portion 26 of the
sleeve 22. The configuration of the cuff 28 and the materials used
in its construction may vary widely. For example, cuffs made from a
knitted material may be provided. The cuff 28 may be formed with or
without ribs. The cuff may be formed of a liquid repellant material
or a liquid retentive material. Examples of other cuff materials
suitable for use with garments according to the present invention
may be nonwovens such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,594,955 and 5,680,653, both of which are incorporated herein in
their entirety for all purposes.
[0023] The hand shield itself may also be manufactured from a
number of suitable materials. For example, the sleeve material may
be used to manufacture the hand shield. That is, if the sleeve is
made of a nonwoven material, then the hand shield may be made of
the same material. This capability would serve to minimize the
materials necessary in manufacturing the final product. Moreover,
it may provide for a simpler construction in that there would be no
need to accommodate a method or construct capable of attaching
different materials possessing, perhaps, disparate properties.
[0024] Other materials are suitable in the construction of the hand
shield 10. By way of example and not limitation, two such materials
may include polyethylene and vinyl. These materials provide the
advantage of being inexpensive and easily adapted for use in the
present invention. For example, polyethylene may be formed into a
film ply which subsequently could be sealed upon itself or to
another ply so as to form the pouch-like compartment. Sealing
methods may include the application of heat, adhesive, or both. In
the case of vinyl, a hand shield may be made using dip forming
techniques in conjunction with a platisol and appropriate heat
treatments, known to those skilled in the art. One such example may
be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,386 which is incorporated herein in
its entirety for all purposes. Other techniques for affixing one
ply to another or for otherwise creating the pouch-like compartment
are known and would be understood by those skilled in the art.
[0025] As for the manner or form in which the hand shield is
attached to the sleeve, a number of possibilities are contemplated.
In some embodiments, the hand shield may be affixed to the sleeve
simply by use of an appropriately selected bonding agent or
combination of agents. One such bonding agent might comprise an
adhesive, for example, a hot melt or pressure sensitive adhesive.
Alternative bonding agents may be utilized as well. The hand shield
also may be affixed to the sleeve by other means, alone or in
combination. Such other means include but are not limited to: sewn
stitching; fused regions which may be created by the partial
melting and resolidification of selected regions of the hand shield
and/or a portion of the sleeve or sleeve cuff; contiguous
connections such as regions of material separated or otherwise
alternated with voids or perforations. Turning now to FIGS. 2-5, a
few of these possibilities are illustrated. By way of example and
not limitation; these configurations, combinations of the same, and
other suitable arrangements are understood to form a part of the
present invention. Additional forms of fastening the hand shield to
the sleeve to foster the intentional separation of the hand shield
from the sleeve without generating loose particulate, including
thermal bonding, pressure bonding, chemical bonding, radiation
induced degradation of a selected material, etc., would be apparent
to those skilled in the art. An aspect that each of these methods
of fastening have in common is that the connection between the hand
shield and the sleeve is designed to fail or fracture thereby
separating the two components from one another in some manner.
[0026] Looking first to FIG. 2, the hand shield 10 is shown affixed
to the sleeve 22 at the zone of separation 30. As stated earlier,
the zone of separation is designed to fail thereby fostering the
intentional separation of the hand shield 10 from the sleeve 22.
The bonding agent, in this embodiment an adhesive 36, is situated
between an inner surface of the hand shield and the outer surface
of the sleeve. Of course, as stated earlier, there is no
requirement that the bonding agent be an adhesive, however in the
FIG. 2 embodiment an adhesive is described for ease and clarity.
The adhesive 36 selected should enable the hand shield to be
removed from the sleeve without causing damage to or leaving loose
particulate on the sleeve. Whether the adhesive remains behind on
the sleeve is not important so long as it is sufficiently adhered
so as not to shed or otherwise inadvertently release from the
sleeve at an inopportune time. As earlier stated, appropriate
adhesives found useful in the present invention may comprise
pressure sensitive adhesives, hot melt adhesives, or other
adhesives compatible with the materials of the sleeve and hand
shield having the properties described above.
[0027] In the FIG. 2 embodiment, placement of the adhesive may be
accomplished by coating, spraying, printing, slot coating,
laminating or other known conventional processes. The adhesive may
be applied to one surface of the hand shield 10, the corresponding
surface of the sleeve 22, or both. This includes either the inner
surface or the outer surface of either the hand shield or sleeve.
In sum, the adhesive of FIG. 2 should be disposed between the hand
shield and the sleeve. It is to be understood that if the sleeve 22
has a cuff 28, then the adhesive may be applied to the cuff as
well. As one example, the adhesive may be applied to an interior
surface of the hand shield 10 and a portion of the hand shield may
be allowed to occlude a portion of the sleeve. In FIG. 2, the
location of the adhesive also forms the zone of separation 30, in
that appropriate selection of the adhesive 36 will result in the
zone of separation 30 failing when the hand shield is disassociated
from the sleeve by pulling on the hand shield. Adhesives are
available and may be selected so that the adhesive would adhere
more strongly to the hand shield resulting in little to no adhesive
remaining on the sleeve. If desired, an appropriate adhesive may be
designed that would adhere more strongly to the sleeve if it were
so desired.
[0028] It should be noted that in many cases, such as that
illustrated in FIG. 2, the location of the bonding agent and the
zone of separation 30 coincide. In other embodiments, for example,
that of FIG. 3, the zone of separation 30 may be separate and
distinct from the region where the sleeve and hand shield are
attached to one another. Turning to FIG. 3 it can be seen that
perforations 40 have been added at or near the bonding agent, i.e.,
the region where the sleeve and hand shield are attached to one
another. These perforations 40 work in a manner identical to those
seen in paper products, i.e., they form a focal point for tearing
to propagate. As can be seen in this embodiment, the perforations
may be used in combination with any bonding agent, including the
adhesive 36 similar to that described in FIG. 2.
[0029] This manner of attaching the hand shield to the sleeve
illustrates one example of an embodiment that permits a partial
removal of the hand shield. That is, in the FIG. 3 embodiment, a
band of material 42 is caused to remain attached to the sleeve. For
example, as depicted in FIG. 3, the hand shield 10 may be situated
so that it is attached to an inside surface of the sleeve 22.
Pulling the hand shield detaches it from the sleeve at the
perforations 40 while leaving behind the band of material 42 which
is attached to the sleeve by the adhesive 36. Since the band of
material 42 is within the sleeve, it is occluded by the sleeve and
is therefore of little threat to the aseptic conditions desired. As
can be seen, the zone of separation 30, in this case comprises the
perforations 40 and not the region of attachment between the sleeve
and hand shield.
[0030] Obviously, the FIG. 3 embodiment may be adapted to place the
hand shield upon the exterior of the sleeve. In this case, some
means to minimize potential impact of the band of material 42 on
the sterility of the combination is required. Such means may
include: subsequent removal of the band of material 42;
sufficiently adhering the band of material 42 to the sleeve so as
not to interfere with the procedure intended; and/or manufacturing
the combination so that the band of material 42 is ultimately
occluded by the sterile glove later donned.
[0031] FIG. 4 depicts the use of an embodiment without resort to a
bonding agent. One example of this embodiment, the zone of
separation 30 is coincident with a groove 44 or other necked region
between the hand shield and the sleeve. A number of methods may be
employed that create a weakened zone or region between the hand
shield and the sleeve. A partial listing of some examples include
but are not limited to: perforations; grooving or thinning of the
material under a compressive force or thermal source; providing a
frangible connection; partially melting and resolidifying selected
regions of the garment; radiation induced degradation of selected
regions of the garment, including the use of infrared, visible, and
ultraviolet light spectra, etc. Such methods for creating a
weakened zone or region in a material would be apparent to those
skilled in the art. This configuration may be particularly useful
if the sleeve and hand shield were manufactured from the same or
similar materials, for example, a nonwoven web. As should be
evident from this illustration, pulling upon the hand shield causes
it to separate from the sleeve between the perforations.
[0032] FIG. 5 depicts yet another embodiment. In this embodiment
the hand shield is sewn or otherwise stitched to the cuff 28 at the
juncture of the cuff 28 and the sleeve 22. Many protective garments
incorporate cuffs upon the gown sleeves. Moreover, it is common
practice in the art to sew or stitch the cuff to the sleeve. As
such, sewing the hand shield to the sleeve cuff, even at a region
coincident with the juncture of the cuff 28 and the sleeve 22
should prove reasonably simple to incorporate into the
manufacturing process.
[0033] In addition to these enumerated embodiments, numerous other
methods for attaching the hand shield to the sleeve are possible.
Each embodiment is characterized by possessing a zone of separation
designed to fail. It is the failure of this zone of separation that
enables the hand shield or at least a portion of the same to be
removed from the sleeve. These and numerous other embodiments, as
well as combinations of any particular feature in these enumerated
embodiments are capable of being combined with any other aspect of
one or more of the other embodiments.
[0034] This invention makes it easier to don a sterile glove in an
unassisted manner. For example, in one donning method, the hand
shield is attached to the sleeve so that when a wearer's hand and
arm are inserted into the sleeve, the hand fully engages the hand
shield. However, the hand shield may be positioned on the sleeve so
that the sleeve cuff obstructs a portion of the wearer's hand, that
is, it may terminate across the palm of the wearer's hand.
Alternatively, it is possible for the sleeve cuff to terminate at
the wearer's wrist when the hand shield is donned. In either event,
this minimizes the amount of the wearer's hand outside of the
sleeve itself and, in both instances, the wearer's hand is still at
least partially contained within the hand shield. In each case, the
wearer may gain additional dexterity and desirable hand placement,
either of which enable easier unassisted donning of sterile
gloves.
[0035] It should be apparent that this invention is especially well
adapted to be used for the unassisted donning of gloves in place of
or in simplifying either the open or closed donning techniques.
Accordingly, while this invention has been described by reference
to certain specific embodiments and examples, it will be understood
that this invention is capable of further modifications. This
application is, therefore, intended to cover any variations, uses
or adaptations of the invention following the general principles
thereof, and including such departures from the present disclosure
as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this
invention pertains and fall within the limits of the appended
claims.
* * * * *