U.S. patent application number 11/753253 was filed with the patent office on 2008-03-27 for method and apparatus for wearing glove.
Invention is credited to Takashi Saegusa.
Application Number | 20080073388 11/753253 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39223850 |
Filed Date | 2008-03-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080073388 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Saegusa; Takashi |
March 27, 2008 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WEARING GLOVE
Abstract
An expanded glove has its palm and back portions brought into
contact with the palm and back contacting portions, respectively,
of an expansion restricting member so that the palm portion of the
glove may be drawn through vent holes formed in the palm contacting
portion and engaged with an inclined engaging part on the palm
contacting portion.
Inventors: |
Saegusa; Takashi;
(Yokohama-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PRICE HENEVELD COOPER DEWITT & LITTON, LLP
695 KENMOOR, S.E., P O BOX 2567
GRAND RAPIDS
MI
49501
US
|
Family ID: |
39223850 |
Appl. No.: |
11/753253 |
Filed: |
May 24, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
223/111 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 42/50 20160201;
A47G 25/904 20130101; A61B 42/00 20160201 |
Class at
Publication: |
223/111 |
International
Class: |
A47G 25/90 20060101
A47G025/90 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 26, 2006 |
JP |
2006-260136 |
Claims
1. A method of wearing a glove comprising: inserting a stretchable
glove into a reduced pressure vessel containing an expansion
restricting member, reducing an internal pressure of the vessel to
expand the glove to form an expanded glove, and inserting palm and
fingers beyond a wrist into the glove, wherein palm and back
portions of the glove are brought into contact with palm and back
contacting portions, respectively, of the expansion restricting
member so that the palm portion of the glove is drawn through vent
holes in the palm contacting portion and engaged with an inclined
engaging part on the palm contacting portion.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the palm and back
portions of the glove are drawn through vent holes in the palm and
back contacting portions of the expansion restricting member.
3. An apparatus for wearing a glove comprising: a reduced pressure
vessel containing an expansion restricting member, an air drawing
hole, and a palm inserting hole through which an elastic glove is
inserted to have its wrist surrounding edge brought into intimate
contact with an edge of the palm inserting hole so that the vessel
can have its internal pressure reduced to expand the glove, wherein
the expansion restricting member has a palm contacting portion
adapted to face a palm portion of the glove, a back contacting
portion, vent holes formed in the contacting portions and an
inclined engaging part formed on the palm contacting portion for
engaging the palm portion of the glove.
4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the expansion
restricting member comprises a pair of restricting plates facing
each other with a spacing to allow the insertion of a hand
therebetween.
5. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the expansion
restricting member comprises a removable restricting box.
6. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each of the palm and
back contacting portions has the vent holes formed toward an upper
end thereof.
7. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each of the palm and
back contacting portions has the vent holes formed toward a lower
end thereof.
8. An apparatus according to claim 3, further including a blower
motor for reducing the internal pressure of the reduced pressure
vessel.
9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the blower motor is
controlled by a control unit connected to a sensor for detecting a
position of the glove in the expansion restricting member.
10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the sensor comprises
an upper sensor situated toward a top of the reduced pressure
vessel for detecting the glove during beginning of its insertion
into the vessel, and a lower sensor situated toward a bottom of the
vessel for detecting a finger portion of the glove inserted
therein.
11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a delay circuit is
connected between the lower sensor and the control unit.
12. An apparatus according to claim 3, further including a
diametrically expanding ring attached to a wrist portion of the
glove to be inserted in the palm inserting hole, extending across a
whole diameter of the palm inserting hole and having a member for
detaching the ring from the wrist portion.
13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the diametrically
expanding ring comprises a flexible pipe and a connecting cylinder
into which the pipe is connected at both ends to form a ring.
14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the member is for
pulling the connecting cylinder to disconnect the pipe
therefrom.
15. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the diametrically
expanding ring comprises a cylindrical body having an engaging
protrusion or groove formed at a top of its outer wall.
16. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the member
comprises a flexible pull strip attached to the cylindrical body.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus
for making it possible to put on an elastic glove, such as a
medical rubber glove made of a thin-film of material, easily,
quickly and properly such that the glove comes closely into contact
with the palm beyond the wrist and the surfaces of the fingers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A rubber glove made of a thin-film of material is used in a
surgical operation and is formed in a size smaller than the hand so
that the glove fits the fingers closely when put on the hand.
Accordingly, it is difficult to put the hand in the glove smoothly.
So, the hand has to be pushed into the glove forcibly to put it on,
while the wrist-surrounding edge of the glove is being stretched.
However, the above-described manner of putting on the glove takes a
long time to put it on and is also likely to cause damage to the
glove by a nail, etc.
[0003] In order to solve this problem, there has been developed a
glove wearing apparatus comprising a case having an opening
surrounding a gloves a means for fixing removably an inlet of the
glove situated in the vicinity of the opening, a pressure reducing
means situated at a predetermined location of the case, and a
restricting plate extending along the glove in the case for
restricting the expansion of the glove. After the insertion of the
glove into the case through its opening, the pressure inside of the
case is reduced so that the glove is expanded to a size bigger than
the hand expected to put it on, thereby facilitating the insertion
of the hand thereinto, while the expansion of the glove is
restricted by the restricting plate.
[0004] The following types are known as the glove restricting plate
(reference is made to, e.g., JP-A-10-202);
[0005] (1) A hand-shaped type shaped like a bag similar to a glove
and having vent holes formed in its palm and finger positions.
[0006] (2) A flat type consisting of an upper guide and a lower
guide each formed by a flat or a gently curved plate so that the
back and palm portions of an expanded glove come into contact with
the upper and lower guides, respectively.
[0007] The known types have problems as pointed out below.
[0008] (1) As the hand-shaped restricting plate, it has a dividing
wall between every two adjoining fingers thereof, it is likely that
the fingers of a glove may fail to enter the corresponding finger
portions of the restricting plate, and that even if they may enter
correctly, the fingers of the glove may be caught by the dividing
walls. Accordingly, the glove does not expand properly as designed,
thereby disabling the smooth insertion of the hand therein.
[0009] As the vent holes are formed in the finger portions of the
restricting plate, the fingers of the glove are drawn into the vent
holes and stretched longitudinally As a result, the boundary
between the palm and finger portions (or the bases of the fingers)
of the glove and the finger tip portions thereof fail to make a
satisfactory radial expansion, thereby making it difficult to
insert the fingers of the hand therein This phenomenon is more
prominent with a smaller glove. For example, in the natural shape
of a glove prior to its expansion, the tips of fingers of a small
glove for a female nurse have a greater distance from the tips of
finger portions of the restricting plate than those of a large
glove for a male doctor do. As the tips of fingers of the small
glove are stretched to a greater extent upon expansion than those
of the large glove, it becomes still more difficult to put the hand
in the small glove.
[0010] (2) The flat type restricting plate restricts the palm
portion of the glove in its radial expansion, but does not restrict
it in its longitudinal expansion. As the palm portion of the glove
expands longitudinally, while the bases and tips of its finger
portions does not make a satisfactory radial expansion, the tips of
fingers of the hand cannot be inserted in the glove smoothly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] It is an object of the present invention to ensure the
expansion of an elastic glove as designed and its smooth
wearing.
[0012] According to the present invention, there is provided a
method of wearing a glove by inserting a stretchable glove into a
reduced pressure vessel containing an expansion restricting member,
reducing the internal pressure of the vessel to expand the glove,
and inserting the palm and fingers beyond the wrist into the
expanded glove, wherein the palm and back portions of the expanded
glove are brought into contact with the palm and back contacting
portions, respectively, of the expansion restricting member so that
the palm portion of the glove may be drawn through vent holes in
the palm contacting portion and engaged with an inclined engaging
part on the palm contacting portion.
[0013] According to the present invention, there is also provided
an apparatus for wearing a glove which includes a reduced pressure
vessel containing an expansion restricting member and having an air
drawing hole and a palm inserting hole through which an elastic
glove is inserted to have its wrist surrounding edge brought into
intimate contact with the edge of the palm inserting hole, so that
the vessel may have its internal pressure reduced to expand the
glove, wherein the expansion restricting member has a palm
contacting portion adapted to face the palm portion of the glove, a
back contacting portion, vent holes formed in the contacting
portions and an inclined engaging part formed on the palm
contacting portion for engaging the palm portion of the glove.
[0014] According to the present invention, the reduced pressure
vessel has its pressure reduced by a blower motor controlled by a
controller connected to a sensor for detecting the position of the
glove in the expansion restricting member.
[0015] According to the present invention, the glove inserted
through the inserting hole has a wrist portion provided with a
diametrically expansive ring adapted to make intimate contact with
the edge of the inserting hole and having a means for removing
it.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line
II-II in FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a different
state from FIG. 1.
[0019] FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a part of FIG.
3.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a left side elevational view of the glove shown in
FIG. 1.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in
FIG. 5.
[0022] FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line IX-IX in
FIG. 6.
[0023] FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a second
embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line
X-X in FIG. 8.
[0025] FIG. 10 is a partly cutaway perspective view showing a first
experiment.
[0026] FIG. 11 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken
along the line XII-XII in FIG. 10.
[0027] FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing a restricting box.
[0028] FIG. 13 is a sectional view showing a restricting box having
vent holes positioned differently from FIG. 12.
[0029] FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing a restricting box having
vent holes positioned differently from FIG. 13.
[0030] FIG. 15 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a second
experiment.
[0031] FIG. 16 is a sectional view showing a restricting box having
vent holes positioned differently from FIG. 15.
[0032] FIG. 17 is a sectional view showing a restricting box having
vent holes positioned differently from FIG. 16.
[0033] FIG. 18 is a front elevational view showing a third
embodiment of the present invention.
[0034] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a diametrically expanding
ring according to the third embodiment.
[0035] FIG. 20 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of a part of
FIG. 19.
[0036] FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing the removal of the
diametrically expanding ring.
[0037] FIG. 22 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a glove
being set in a glove wearing apparatus.
[0038] FIG. 23 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the glove
inserted in the glove wearing apparatus shown in FIG. 22.
[0039] FIG. 24 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a hand
inserted in the expanded glove.
[0040] FIG. 25 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the hand
being raised after having the glove fitted thereon.
[0041] FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a control unit for a blower
motor.
[0042] FIG. 27 is a perspective view showing a fourth embodiment of
the present invention
[0043] FIG. 28 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a part
of FIG. 27.
[0044] FIG. 29 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a part
of a glove having a diametrically expanding ring fixed thereto.
[0045] FIG. 30 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to FIG. 24,
and showing a hand inserted in a glove wearing apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0046] The first embodiment of the present invention will now be
described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.
[0047] Referring to FIG. 1, a reduced pressure vessel 1 has an air
drawing hole 2 and a hand inserting hole 4 through which an elastic
glove, for example, a medical rubber glove 5 made of a thin-film of
material is inserted into the vessel 1. An inserting cylinder 4a
surrounding the inserting hole 4 has an end to which the glove 5
has its wrist-surrounding part 6 attached in intimate contact
therewith, and the glove 5 is suspended as shown by solid
lines.
[0048] The reduced pressure vessel 1 has its internal pressure
reduced by e.g. a vacuum pump (not shown) so that the reduced
pressure P of the air outside the glove 5 and the atmospheric
pressure Pa prevailing within the glove 5 may have their pressure
difference .DELTA.P increased to expand the glove 5 having the
shape shown by the solid lines into a size enabling the fingers and
palm beyond the wrist to be inserted therein loosely with an ample
clearance, i.e., the shape of a glove 5a shown by one-dot chain
lines in the same figure.
[0049] The reduced pressure vessel 1 contains an expansion
restricting member B connected with the hand inserting hole 4. The
restricting member B comprises, for example, a pair of restricting
plates 9 and 10 facing each other and having a spacing allowing the
insertion of a hand therebetween and each restricting plate 9 or 10
has vent holes 11, while the restricting plate 9 facing a palm
surface portion 7 of the glove has an inclined engaging part
29.
[0050] The restricting plates 9 and 10 are fixed at a distance D
from the palm surface portion 7 and a back portion 8, respectively,
of the palm portion 3 of the glove 5 as shown by the solid lines.
The restricting plates 9 and 10 have their upper ends secured to
the top 1b of the reduced pressure vessel 1 and their lower ends
connected by a connecting plate 12. The connecting plate 12 is
spaced apart from the bottom la of the vessel 1 and the restricting
plates 9 and 10 have their right and left ends connected to the
sidewalls 15 of the reduced pressure vessel 1.
[0051] The restricting plates 9 and 10 have a plurality of vent
holes 11 formed toward the upper ends of their palm and back
contacting portions 9a and 10a, respectively, and the vent holes 11
may be selected in position, shape, number, etc appropriately as
required. For example, the vent holes 11 may be formed in the
middle of each contacting portion 9a or 10a, or only in the back
contacting portion 10a of the restricting plate 10.
[0052] The palm contacting portion 9a of the restricting plate 9 is
a portion adapted to contact the palm portion 7 of the glove 5 and
the back contacting portion 10a of the flat restricting plate 10 is
a portion adapted to contact the back portion 8 of the glove 5.
[0053] The restricting plate 9 has an inclined engaging part 29
formed toward the lower end of its palm contacting portion 9a. The
inclined engaging part 29 is a portion adapted to engage the palm
portion 7 of the glove 5 upon expansion of the glove 5 and is
formed to define a curved surface conforming to the contour of the
palm of the hand, or an inclined surface having a specific angle,
for example, an inclination angle of 30.degree..
[0054] The glove 5 shown by solid lines as stated above has a shape
as shown in FIG. 5 when viewed from its back portion 8 and its
sectional shape taken along the line VI-VI of FIG. 5 is an
elongated flat shape as shown by solid lines in FIG. 6.
[0055] Its sectional shape taken along the line VII-VII of FIG. 5
is a flat loop L5 as shown by solid lines in FIGS. 2 and 7 and its
sectional shape taken along the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 5 is a flat
loop L13 as shown by solid lines in FIGS. 2 and 7.
[0056] The shape of the glove 5a shown by solid lines in FIGS. 6
and 7 is a solid shape formed by a change in shape from the loop L5
having a flattened cross section to a circle C having a radius R as
a result of reduction of the pressure P in the reduced pressure
vessel 1 from the atmospheric pressure Pa, thereafter its radius R
starts to increase.
[0057] The shape of the finger portion 13 of the glove 5a shown by
a solid line in FIG. 6 is a shape formed by a change in shape from
the loop L13 having a flattened cross section to a circle c having
a radius r as a result of some reduction of the pressure P in the
reduced pressure vessel 1 from the atmospheric pressure Pa,
thereafter its radius r starts to increase.
[0058] When the pressure P of the air in the reduced pressure
vessel 1 is further reduced to an air pressure P1 having a greater
difference .DELTA.P from the atmospheric pressure Pa, the circle C
having a radius R expands to a circle C1 having a radius R1, while
the circle c showing the finger portion 13 hardly expands, but
remains the same as its initial radius r.sub.1.
[0059] Referring to FIG. 7 in further detail, a tangential external
force produced by the pressure difference .DELTA.P and acting on a
part of angular displacement .theta. on the circumference of the
circle C is
.intg..sub.0.sup..pi.pR sin .theta.d.theta.=2pR
and when the rubber glove 5 has an internal force .sigma. per unit
area, the external and internal forces are balanced, i.e.
.sigma.=2pR
[0060] The radius R of the circle C increases by .DELTA.R to
R+.DELTA.R and its circumferential length 2.pi.R increases by
R.DELTA..theta., and the Young's modulus E of the rubber glove 5 as
thereby deformed is
E=.sigma./(.DELTA.R/R)
Thus, it follows that the amount .DELTA.R of its radial
displacement is
[0061] .DELTA.R=1/E2pR.sup.2
[0062] Thus, the amount .DELTA.R of its radial displacement is
proportional to the square of its radius R, and the radius r of the
glove 5a along the line VIII-VIII is by far smaller than its radius
along the line VII-VII, i.e., the radius R of its palm portion,
while its Young's modulus E and the air pressure P along one of
those lines are equal to those along the other.
[0063] Therefore, if there were no restricting plate 9 or 10, the
radius of the glove along the line VIII-VIII, i.e., the radius r of
its finger portion 13 would hardly increase, but would remain
almost unchanged despite the increase of its radius R along the
line VII-VII to R1 or R2 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and it would be
impossible to insert the fingers of the hand into the finger
portions of the glove.
[0064] According to the present invention, the restricting plates 9
and 10 having the vent holes 11 and spaced apart by a distance D
from the palm and back portions 7 and 8, respectively, of the glove
5 shown by solid lines as described above do not allow the radius R
in FIGS. 6 and 7 to increase to R1 or R2 despite the reduction of
the pressure P of the air in the reduced pressure vessel 1 to P1 or
P2, but the palm and back portions 7 and 8 of the glove 5 are met
and stopped by the restricting plates 9 and 10, respectively.
[0065] At this time, the palm and back portions 7 and 8 of the
glove 5 are pushed against the palm and back contacting portions 9a
and 10a, respectively, of the restricting plates 9 and 10, and
partly drawn into the vent holes 11, as shown in FIG. 4, while the
palm portion 7 is engaged by the inclined engaging part 29 as shown
in FIG. 3. Accordingly, the palm portion 3 of the glove 5 is not
allowed to expand or slide in the direction of an arrow A5, but the
finger portions 13 are meanwhile allowed to expand.
[0066] Referring to the relations between the air pressures P1 and
P2 and the radii R1 and R2, the air pressure P1 would allow the
glove to expand to a glove 5b having a radius R1 as shown by
one-dot chain lines in FIG. 6, while the air pressure P2 would
allow it to expand to a glove 5c having a radius R2 as shown by
two-dot chain lines, if the restricting plates 9 and 10 were
removed from FIG. 6. However, as the glove 5 is not allowed to
expand beyond the restricting plate 9 and 10, the pressure energy
leaving the glove portion restricted from expansion acts on the
finger portions 13 of the glove 5, which are not contacting the
restricting plate 9 or 10, and causes the finger portions 13 to
expand to the extent that their radius r increases to r.sub.1
responding to the air pressure P1 or P2, that is to say, to the
extent that they allow the loose insertion of the fingers
[0067] Thus, the palm beyond the wrist on which the glove is to be
put is inserted into the satisfactorily expanded glove 5 loosely
with an ample clearance through its wrist portion, as shown in FIG.
3. Then, air is drawn into the reduced pressure vessel 1 through
its air drawing hole 2 to make the pressure of the air in the
reduced pressure vessel 1 equal to the atmospheric pressure to
allow the expanded glove 5 to contract elastically and closely
contact with the hand.
[0068] The expanded glove 5 in which the hand has been inserted has
its tip portion slid in the direction indicated by the arrow A5 to
have its wrist portion disengaged from the inserting cylinder 4a,
as shown in FIG. 3. Then, the hand is slid in the opposite
direction to have the wrist pulled out from the hand inserting hole
4 of the reduced pressure vessel 1, whereby the action to put on
the glove 5 is finished.
[0069] The apparatus installed in e.g. an operation room in a
hospital enables the doctor to put on gloves quickly and accurately
without the aid of a nurse or the like and thereby perform medical
treatment more quickly and accurately.
[0070] The second embodiment of the present invention will now be
described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. The same reference
numerals used in these figures denote the same names and functions
as that of in FIGS. 1 to 7.
[0071] The following points differentiate the present embodiment
from the first embodiment:
[0072] (1) The reduced pressure vessel 1 has a lid 21. The reduced
pressure vessel 1 is composed of a bottomed cylindrical body 20 and
the lid 21 which can open and close the opening of the body 20, and
the body 20 and the lid 21 have their joint sealed with a packing
material 23.
[0073] (2) The expansion restricting member B comprises a
restricting box 25 formed in a box shape instead of a pair of
restricting plates 9 and 10. The restricting box 25 is a box which
is independent of the reduced pressure vessel 1 and the lid 21, and
has a bottom wall 25a and four side walls surrounding the bottom
wall 25a, i.e., right and left side walls 25b and 25c, a back side
wall 25d and a palm side wall 25e.
[0074] The bottom wall 25a is spaced apart from the bottom 1a of
the reduced pressure vessel 1. The right and left side walls 25b
and 25c are formed from non-porous plates and face each other in a
spaced apart relation from the inner surface of the reduced
pressure vessel 1. The back and palm side walls 25d and 25e each
have a plurality of vent holes 11 formed in a line in the middle of
their portions corresponding to the palm portion 3 of the glove 5,
i.e., their palm and back contacting portions 9a and 10a,
respectively
[0075] The palm side wall 25e has an inclined engaging part 29
formed toward the lower end of its palm contacting portion 9a. Of
the back and palm side walls 25d and 25e, those portions 9a and 10a
which correspond to the palm portion 3 are on the opposite side
from each other of a palm inserting space 27 therebetween, and
those portions which correspond to the finger portions 13 are on
the opposite side from each other of a finger inserting space 30
therebetween. The palm inserting space 27 is large enough to enable
the insertion of the pale in its open state with an ample clearance
and the finger inserting space 30 is smaller than the palm
inserting space 27, and is large enough to enable the insertion of
the fingers with an ample clearance.
[0076] Since the operation of putting on glove according to the
present embodiment is identical to that of the first embodiment,
the description thereof is omitted. Here, the operation of putting
off the glove after a surgical operation will be described.
[0077] After the end of the operation, each hand wearing the glove
5 made of a thin-film of rubber is inserted into the inserting hole
4 and its palm is positioned in the palm inserting space 27 of the
restricting box 25, and its fingers in the finger inserting space
30 thereof.
[0078] After the wrist surrounding edge 6 of the glove 5 is
attached to the outer end of the inserting cylinder 4a on the lid
21 in close contact therewith, a reduced pressure is created by
e.g. a vacuum pump (not shown), whereupon the glove 5 expands and
its palm portion 3 is separated from the palm of the hand and its
finger portions 13 from the fingers thereof. The hand can now be
pulled out through the inserting hole 4 without receiving any
resistance from the glove 5, whereby the glove can be put off
easily.
[0079] After the glove 5 has been put off, the atmospheric pressure
in the reduced pressure vessel 1 is restored to return the glove to
its natural state and the wrist surrounding edge 6 of the glove 5
is detached from the outer end of the inserting cylinder 4a on the
lid 21. The removal of the glove as described is desirable from a
sanitary standpoint, since, for example, blood adhering to the
glove does not stain any clothes, skin, or the like.
[0080] When the apparatus according to the present invention is
used for putting off the glove 5, the reduced pressure vessel 1 and
the restricting box 25 are soiled, but the removal of the lid 21
from the reduced pressure vessel 1 makes it possible to take out
the restricting box 25 and clean the reduced pressure vessel 1 and
the restricting box 25 easily.
[0081] Description will now be made of experiments.
[0082] A first experiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
10 to 14. In practice, the palm and back portions 7 and 8 of a
glove 5 are in contact with the palm and back contacting portions
25e and 25d, respectively. However, in these drawings, they are
illustrated in a spaced apart relation just for the sake of clearly
showing the positions of the vent holes 11.
[0083] The restricting box 25 provided in a reduced pressure vessel
1 has a restricting wall 25w, as shown in FIG. 10. The restricting
wall 25w has a palm contacting portion 25e and a back contacting
portion 25d facing each other and each having vent holes 11.
[0084] A glove 5 made of a thin-film of rubber and staying in its
natural shape (yet to be expanded) is suspended in the reduced
pressure vessel 1 through its inserting hole 4, and has its wrist
surrounding edge secured around the inserting hole 4. The finger
portion 13 of the glove 5 in its natural shape has its tip 13a
staying on a standard line S, as shown in FIG. 11.
[0085] The restricting box 25 shown in FIG. 12 had its vent holes
11 formed below the fingers of the glove 5 in its natural shape.
When a blower motor (not shown) was started to draw air out through
the air drawing hole 2 and create a negative pressure in the
reduced pressure vessel 1, the glove 5 was expanded while being
restrained by the restricting wall 25w, and the tip 13a of the
finger portion 13 extended and reached at a height H1 of about 6 cm
below the standard line S.
[0086] The restricting box 25 shown in FIG. 13 had its vent holes
11 formed near the bottom of the palm portion 3 of the glove 5 in
its natural shape, and the tip 13a of the finger portion 13 of the
glove 5 extended and reached at a height H2 of about 4 to 5 cm
below the standard line S.
[0087] The restricting box 25 shown in FIG. 14 had its vent holes
11 formed near the top of the palm portion 3 of the glove 5 in its
natural shape, and the tip 13a of the finger portion 13 of the
glove 5 extended and reached at a height H3 of about 3 cm below the
standard line S.
[0088] As is obvious from the experiment described above, the
extension of the finger portion of the glove depends largely on the
position of the vent holes 11, and unless its extension is to the
extent that having its tip located within less than 3 cm below the
standard line S, it is difficult to put on the glove smoothly.
[0089] A second experiment will be described with reference to
FIGS. 15 to 17. In practice, the palm and back portions 7 and 8 of
a glove 5 are in contact with the palm and back contacting portions
25e and 25d, respectively. However, in these drawings, they are
illustrated in a spaced apart relation just for the shake of
clearly showing the positions of the vent holes 11.
[0090] The present experiment is differentiated from the first
experiment by an inclined engaging part 29 formed toward the bottom
of the palm contacting portion 25e of the restricting wall 25w
facing the surface 7 of the palm portion 3 of the glove 5.
[0091] The restricting box 25 shown in FIG. 15 had its vent holes
11 formed below the fingers of the glove 5 in its natural shape.
When the glove 5 was expanded, the tip 13a of the finger portion 13
extended and reached at a height H4 of about 4 cm below the
standard line S.
[0092] The restricting box 25 shown in FIG. 16 had its vent holes
11 formed near the bottom of the palm portion 3 of the glove 5 in
its natural shape. The tip 13a of the finger portion 13 of the
glove 5 extended and reached at a height H5 of about 3 cm below the
standard line S.
[0093] The restricting box 25 shown in FIG. 17 had its vent holes
11 formed near the top of the palm portion 3 of the glove 5 in its
natural shape. The tip 13a of the finger portion 13 of the glove 5
extended and reached at a height H6 of about 1 to 2 cm below the
standard line S.
[0094] It is obvious from the experiment described above that the
restricting box 25 shown in FIG. 16 or 17, i.e., the expansion
restricting member having an inclined engaging part 29 and vent
holes 11 formed in its portion corresponding to the palm portion of
the glove, is the optimum for the practical purpose of putting on
the glove smoothly.
[0095] The third embodiment of the present invention will now be
described with reference to FIGS. 18 to 26. The same reference
numerals used in these figures denote the same names and functions
as that of in FIGS. 1 to 17.
[0096] The following points differentiate the present embodiment
from the first embodiment:
[0097] (1) The glove is provided with a diametrically expanding
ring around its wrist portion.
[0098] (2) The reduced pressure vessel has its internal pressure
reduced by a blower motor which is automatically controlled in
accordance with the output of a sensor detecting the position of
the glove.
[0099] Referring to FIG. 18, the glove 5 is an elastic glove
designed for use by e.g. a surgeon and formed from a thin-film of
latex rubber, for example, a thin-film having a thickness of 0.16
mm at its finger portion 13 and a thickness of 0.10 mm at its wrist
portion (cuff) 6. The thickness of the thin-film of the glove may
be selected as required, and it may, for example, be formed from a
thin-film having a thickness of 0.21 mm at its finger portion 13
and a thickness of 0.22 mm at its wrist portion (cuff) 6. Its wrist
portion 6 is provided with a bead 31 at its open end.
[0100] The wrist portion 6 is provided with a diametrically
expanding ring 32 at its open end 6a. The diametrically expanding
ring 32 has a flexible pipe 33 formed from e.g. a synthetic resin,
a connecting cylinder 34 into which the flexible pipe 33 is
connected at its opposite ends to form a ring and a disconnecting
means 36 attached to the connecting cylinder 34, as shown in FIGS.
19 to 21
[0101] The diametrically expanding ring 32 is circular and has a
diameter which is equal to, or slightly larger than that of the
inserting hole 4 of a glove wearing apparatus which will be
described below. The disconnecting means 36 comprises a yarn ring
formed by passing one end of a gut or cotton yarn through the
connecting cylinder and fastening it to the other end thereof. The
yarn ring 36 is large enough to be easily picked up with
fingers.
[0102] The glove 5 is stored in e.g. a storage bag (not shown) with
the diametrically expanding ring 32 fixed to its wrist portion 6.
The diametrically expanding ring 32 can be fixed to the wrist
portion 6 by stretching the wrist portion 6 to turn it over at its
open end 6a and engaging the bead 31 with the diametrically
expanding ring 32.
[0103] Description will now be made of a glove wearing apparatus.
The glove wearing apparatus has a reduced pressure vessel 1. The
reduced pressure vessel 1 has an air drawing hole 2 and a hand
inserting hole 4 and contains an expansion restricting member B
communicating with the hand inserting hole 4 The restricting member
B comprises, for example, a pair of restricting plates 9 and 10
facing each other with their spacing allowing the insertion of a
hand and each having vent holes 11, while the restricting plate 9
facing the palm portion 7 of a glove has an inclined engaging part
29.
[0104] The restricting plates 9 and 10 are held in position at a
distance D from the palm and back surfaces 7 and 8, respectively,
of the palm portion 3 of the glove 5 in its natural shape (yet to
be expanded) as shown by solid lines in FIG. 23. The restricting
plates 9 and 10 have their upper ends fixed to the top of the
reduced pressure vessel 1 and their lower ends connected by a
connecting plate 12. The connecting plate 12 is spaced apart from
the bottom of the vessel 1 and the restricting plates 9 and 10 have
their right and left ends connected to the sidewalls of the reduced
pressure vessel 1.
[0105] The restricting plates 9 and 10 have a plurality of vent
holes 11 formed toward the upper ends of their palm and back
contacting portions 9a and 10a, respectively. The palm contacting
portion 9a of the restricting plate 9 is a portion adapted to
contact the palm portion 7 of the glove 5 and the back contacting
portion 10a of the flat restricting plate 10 is a portion adapted
to contact the back portion 8 of the glove 5.
[0106] The restricting plate 9 has an inclined engaging part 29
formed toward the lower end of its palm contacting portion 9a. The
inclined engaging part 29 is a portion adapted to engage the palm
portion 7 of the glove 5 upon expansion of the glove 5 and is
formed to define a curved surface conforming to the contour of the
palm of the hand, or an inclined surface having a specific angle,
for example, an inclination angle of 30.degree..
[0107] The reduced pressure vessel 1 has a light sensor 35 for
detecting the displacement of the glove 5. The sensor 35 comprises
an upper sensor 35A situated toward the top of the reduced pressure
vessel 1 and a lower sensor 35C situated toward its bottom, though
the positions of the sensors 35A and 35C may be selected as
required.
[0108] The upper sensor 35A comprises a pair of transmission light
sensors situated on the opposite sides of the expansion restricting
member B from each other and includes a light emitter 35a having a
light-emitting element and a light receiver 35b having a
light-receiving element. Light L1 is emitted from the light emitter
35a to the light receiver 35b.
[0109] Of the restricting plates 9 and 10 of the expansion
restricting member B, those portions which correspond to a path for
the light L1 (or its axis) are formed from a transparent material,
e.g. glass windows, so as not to obstruct the transmission of the
light L1. It is possible to form the restricting plates 9 and 10
from a transparent material instead of the glass windows.
[0110] The light receiver 35b is connected to a control unit 38 for
controlling the actuation operation (on/off) of a blower motor 39.
The blower motor 39 is connected with the air drawing hole 2 of the
reduced pressure vessel 1 and can be driven to draw air out from
the reduced pressure vessel 1 to create a reduced pressure
therein.
[0111] The lower sensor 35C comprises a pair of transmission light
sensors situated on the opposite sides of the expansion restricting
member B from each other and includes a light emitter 35c having a
light-emitting element and a light receiver 35d having a
light-receiving element
[0112] Light L2 is emitted from the light emitter 35c to the light
receiver 35d. Of the restricting plates 9 and 10 of the expansion
restricting member B, those portions which correspond to a path for
the light L2 (or its axis) are formed from a transparent material,
e.g. glass windows, so as not to obstruct the transmission of the
light L2.
[0113] It is possible to form the restricting plates 9 and 10 of
the expansion restricting member B from a transparent material
instead of the glass windows, as stated before.
[0114] The lower sensor 35C is so positioned that the axis of light
emitted by the light emitter 35c may lie on a standard line, i.e.,
a horizontal line passing through the tip of the finger portion 13
of the glove 5 held in the expansion restricting member B and
suspended in its natural state (yet to be expanded), though its
position may be selected as required.
[0115] The light receiver 35d is connected to the control unit 38
through a delay circuit 37. The delay circuit 37 is employed for
preventing any erroneous operation of the control unit 38 and may,
for example, comprise a timer.
[0116] Description will now be made of the use of the glove wearing
apparatus by a surgeon for putting on gloves. Before starting an
operation, the surgeon takes out each glove 5 from its storage bag,
inserts it into the inserting hole 4 of the apparatus and puts the
diametrically expanding ring 32 of its wrist portion 6 on the upper
end of the inserting hole 4.
[0117] Before the glove 5 is suspended as shown by solid lines in
FIG. 23, its finger portion 13 interferes with the light L1 of the
upper sensor 35A and prevents it from reaching the light receiver
35b, as shown in FIG. 22, so that the light receiver 35b ceases to
send its output to the control unit 38.
[0118] The control unit 38 turns on the blower motor 39 to draw out
air from the reduced pressure vessel 1 through its air drawing hole
2. A reduced pressure is created in the reduced pressure vessel 1
outside the glove 5 to increase a difference between the pressure P
of the air outside the glove 5 and the atmospheric pressure
prevailing inside it, whereby the glove 5 is expanded.
[0119] As it further expands, the glove 5 is deformed as shown at
5a by chain lines in FIG. 23, and its palm portion 7 contacts the
palm contacting portion 9a of the restricting plate 9, while the
back portion 8 of the glove 5 contacts the back contacting portion
10a of the restricting plate 10.
[0120] The finger portion 13 of the glove 5 interferes with the
light L2 emitted by the light emitter 35c of the lower sensor 35C
and prevents it from reaching the light receiver 35d. This makes it
possible to learn that the finger portion 13 of the glove 5 has
reached the lower portion of the expansion restricting member.
[0121] The surgeon inserts his hand H into the glove 5 through its
inserting hole 4, as shown in FIG. 24. Re can insert his hand H
smoothly into the glove 5 as the glove has expanded to a
sufficiently larger size.
[0122] At this time, the air existing in the finger portion 13 of
the glove 5 disables the hand H to have its finger tips fit closely
in the finger portion 13. Therefore, the hand R is moved up and
down a plurality of times, for example, three or four times, to
expel the air from the finger portion 13 and thereby enable the
finger tips to fit closely in the finger portion 13.
[0123] Although the transmission of light by the lower sensor 35C
and its discontinuation are repeated by the up and down movement of
the hand H, the delay circuit 37 ensures that the control unit 38
does not send the blower motor 39 any signal to stop operation
unless the transmission of light continues for a specific length of
time, for example, three seconds. Therefore, the up and down
movement of the hand repeated a plurality of times as stated above
does not stop the operation of the blower motor 39.
[0124] When the hand H is lifted or clenched with its finger tips
fitted closely in the finger portion 13, the light L2 in the lower
sensor 35C reaches the light receiver 35d and its output is sent to
the delay circuit 37. After a specific length of time, for example,
three seconds, the control unit 38 sends a signal to stop the
operation of the blower motor 39. Air is drawn into the reduced
pressure vessel 1 through its air drawing hole 2 and the pressure
of the air in the reduced pressure vessel 1 becomes equal to the
atmospheric pressure. As a result, the resilience of the glove 5a
causes it to contract from its expanded state into close contact
with the hand, as shown in FIG. 25.
[0125] When the hand H is lifted, the light L1 of the upper sensor
35A reaches the light receiver 35b and its output is sent to the
control unit 38. Thus, it is possible to learn that the glove 5 has
been put on, and that the hand H has been pulled out through the
inserting hole 4.
[0126] If the yarn ring 36 is pulled after the hand H has been
pulled out through the inserting hole 4, the flexible pipe 33 is
detached from the connecting cylinder 34 at one end and the
diametrically expanding ring 32 is disengaged from the open end 6a
of the wrist portion 6 of the glove, as shown in FIG. 21. As a
result, the open end 6a fits the wrist of the hand H closely in its
process of restoring its original shape resiliently.
[0127] As it is not necessary to touch the glove 5 with the hand
directly to detach the diametrically expanding ring 32 therefrom,
there is no fear of the outer surface of the glove being stained
with sweat, or the like.
[0128] The fourth embodiment of the present invention will now be
described with reference to FIGS. 27 to 30. The same reference
numerals used in these figures denote the same names and functions
as that of in FIGS. 18 to 26.
[0129] The present embodiment is differentiated from the third
embodiment by a cylindrical diametrically expanding ring 40 in
place of the one formed from a flexible pipe.
[0130] The ring 40 comprises a cylindrical body 41 having an
engaging protrusion 42 formed at the top of its outer surface and a
disengaging means 43 provided to the cylindrical body 41. The
cylindrical body 41 is a rigid cylindrical body formed from e.g. a
synthetic resin.
[0131] The disengaging means 43 is a pull strip formed from a
flexible material, such as vinyl or cloth, and having a base fixed
to the top of the cylindrical body 41. The width, length, material,
etc., of the pull strip 43 are selected as required.
[0132] The wrist portion 6 of a glove 5 is turned over at its open
end 6a and its bead 31 is engaged with the engaging protrusion 42.
The pull strip 43 is flexible enough to be easily deformed under
the wrist portion 6 turned over at its open end 6a.
[0133] After a hand is put in the glove 5, the pull strip 43 is
picked up at its free end with fingers and lifted to disengage the
bead 31 from the engaging protrusion 42, whereby the diametrically
expanding ring 40 is detached from the glove 5.
[0134] As it is not necessary to touch the glove 5 with the hand
directly to detach the diametrically expanding ring 40 therefrom,
there is no fear of the outer surface of the glove being stained
with sweat, or the like.
[0135] The embodiments of the present invention are not limited by
the foregoing, but may be modified or varied as stated below:
[0136] (1) The diametrically expanding ring according to the third
embodiment may, for example, comprise a flexible pipe or bar having
an oval or rectangular cross section and connected at both ends
into the connecting cylinder. The ring is not necessarily circular,
but may alternatively be oval or polygonal. The connecting cylinder
may be replaced by any other connecting means, and the
disconnecting means does not necessarily have to be a yarn ring,
but may be replaced by, for example, a flexible strip having a base
fastened to the connecting cylinder.
[0137] (2) The cylindrical body for the diametrically expanding
ring according to the fourth embodiment may be replaced by a body
having an oval or polygonal cross section. The engaging protrusion
may be replaced by, for example, a groove formed at the top of the
outer wall of the cylindrical body for engaging the bead.
[0138] (3) The present invention is useful not only in a medical
field of application including a surgical operation, but also in
the fields of e.g. atomic power, food, semiconductors, liquid
crystals and medicines calling for a clean room for their
manufacture.
[0139] (4) The transmission light sensor used to detect the
position of the glove may be replaced by, for example, a touch
sensor adapted to detect the finger (finger portion of the glove)
in the expansion restricting member to cause the blower motor to
start or stop automatically.
[0140] (5) The reduced pressure vessel may be provided with a
volume switch for controlling the degree of drawing air from the
vessel.
[0141] Recently, the gloves which are in wide use in various fields
of industry are not merely employed for protecting hands or
preventing the contamination of products with stained hands, but
also include gloves intended for a wide variety of functions, such
as dust-preventing purposes (so that no dust may adhere to small
industrial products, such as semiconductors, and spoil their
properties), and antistatic purposes, as well as specially shaped
gloves.
[0142] These types of gloves are often difficult to put on, since
their functions are considered more important than the easiness of
putting them on, and in order to overcome such difficulty, it is
necessary to expand any types of gloves as desired.
[0143] In order to satisfy the requirement, it is effective to rely
on a volume switch for controlling the air drawing power of the
blower motor. The volume switch may be controlled to make it
possible to expand any kind of gloves as intended. Preferred
examples of the volume switch are a rotary switch, a slide switch,
and a digital switch having a DA converter.
* * * * *