U.S. patent application number 12/058643 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-02 for glove having high coefficient of friction regions.
Invention is credited to John Cabauy, Peter Cabauy.
Application Number | 20080235850 12/058643 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39791799 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080235850 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cabauy; John ; et
al. |
October 2, 2008 |
Glove Having High Coefficient of Friction Regions
Abstract
A hand covering. The hand covering comprises a gripping region
comprising a mesh material having a first permeability and a first
coefficient of friction, the first coefficient of friction
rendering the hand covering suitable for use in a desired
application. Regions of the hand covering other than the gripping
region comprise a material having a second coefficient of friction
lower than the first coefficient of friction and a second
permeability lower than the first permeability.
Inventors: |
Cabauy; John; (Miami,
FL) ; Cabauy; Peter; (Miami, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BEUSSE WOLTER SANKS MORA & MAIRE, P. A.
390 NORTH ORANGE AVENUE, SUITE 2500
ORLANDO
FL
32801
US
|
Family ID: |
39791799 |
Appl. No.: |
12/058643 |
Filed: |
March 28, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11424363 |
Jun 15, 2006 |
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12058643 |
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60908674 |
Mar 28, 2007 |
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60690782 |
Jun 15, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/161.8 ; 2/168;
2/169 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 19/01558
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/161.8 ; 2/168;
2/169 |
International
Class: |
A41D 19/00 20060101
A41D019/00; A41D 19/02 20060101 A41D019/02 |
Claims
1. A hand covering comprising; a gripping region comprising a mesh
material having a first permeability and a first coefficient of
friction, the first coefficient of friction rendering the hand
covering suitable for use in a desired application; and regions of
the hand covering other than the gripping region comprising a
material having a second coefficient of friction lower than the
first coefficient of friction and a second permeability lower than
the first permeability.
2. The hand covering of claim 1 further comprising a liner layer in
the gripping region and lining an internal surface of the mesh
material, the liner layer comprising a breathable layer or a
padding layer.
3. The hand covering of claim 2 wherein a material of the liner
layer comprises polyester, rayon, cotton, spandex, brushed spandex,
nylon, wool, silk, breathable suede, breathable leather and
microporous breathable synthetic leather.
4. The hand covering of claim 2 wherein the liner layer defines
openings therein smaller than openings of the mesh material.
5. The hand covering of claim 1 further comprising a spacer fabric
in the gripping region.
6. The hand covering of claim 1 wherein the mesh material of the
gripping region comprises a spacer fabric further comprising an
external surface of a mesh layer with the first COF, a connecting
intermediate layer and an internal surface of a breathable
material.
7. The hand covering of claim 1 wherein the gripping region
comprises one or more of a palm region, one or more finger regions
and a thumb region.
8. The hand covering of claim 7 wherein the mesh material of the
gripping region comprises different aperture patterns, aperture
sizes, thread sizes or thread types in different areas of the
gripping region.
9. The hand covering of claim 1 wherein the first coefficient of
friction is at least about 0.2.
10. The hand covering of claim 1 wherein the mesh material
comprises one or more of a warp knitted material, a weft knitted
material, a woven material, polyester, nylon, polyethylene,
polypropylene, cotton or acrylic.
11. The hand covering of claim 1 wherein the mesh material defines
a repeating or a random pattern of openings.
12. The hand covering of claim 1 wherein the mesh material
comprises a yarn, fiber, filament or thread having the first
coefficient of friction.
13. The hand covering of claim 1 wherein the mesh material
comprises an inner material layer and an outer material layer, the
outer material layer exhibiting a textured surface to increase the
coefficient of friction.
14. A process for manufacturing a hand covering, comprising:
processing a mesh material to increase a coefficient of friction on
a first surface of the mesh material; forming a gripping region of
the hand covering with the processed mesh material, wherein the
first surface comprises an external surface of the gripping region
of the hand covering; and forming regions of the hand covering
other than the gripping region with a material having a COF less
than the COF of the processed mesh material.
15. The process of claim 14 wherein the step of processing
comprises applying a single material layer or multiple material
layers to the mesh material to increase the COF of the mesh
material.
16. The process of claim 15 wherein the single material layer or
the multiple material layers exhibit a mesh pattern, and wherein
the step of applying the single material layer or the multiple
material layers further comprises aligning the mesh pattern of the
mesh material and the mesh pattern of the single material layer or
the multiple material layers to avoid substantially obstructing
openings in the mesh material.
17. The process of claim 14 wherein the step of processing
comprises texturing the external surface.
18. The process of claim 14 wherein the mesh material defines
openings therein, and wherein the step of processing comprises
applying a high COF material to the first surface of the mesh
material that at least partially obstructs the openings, and
further comprises removing at least a portion of the high COF
material obstructing the openings.
19. The process of claim 14 wherein the step of processing
comprises coating a transfer paper with a material layer having a
high COF, laminating the material layer having the high COF to the
mesh material and removing the transfer paper.
20. The process of claim 14 wherein the step of processing further
comprises processing the mesh material on a first side to create an
external surface for the hand covering or processing the mesh
material on the first side and an opposing second side.
21. The process of claim 14 wherein the step of processing further
comprises applying a silicon-based material or a polyvinyl chloride
material to the mesh material to increase the COF.
22. The process of claim 14 wherein properties of the mesh material
are derived from mesh materials and mesh compositions, a mesh
thread size, a mesh thread diameter, dimensions associated with the
mesh openings, a pattern of the mesh openings and manufacturing
processes employed to manufacture the mesh material.
23. A process for manufacturing a hand covering, comprising:
forming a simulated mesh material; forming a gripping region of the
hand covering from the simulated mesh material; and forming
remaining regions of the hand covering from a material having a
lower permeability to air flow than a permeability of the simulated
mesh material.
24. The process of claim 23 further comprising processing the
simulated mesh to increase the COF on at least one surface of the
material, wherein a COF of the simulated mesh is greater than a COF
of the material forming the remaining regions of the hand
covering.
25. The process of claim 23 wherein the step of forming the
simulated mesh material further comprises forming openings in a
solid material.
26. The process of claim 25 wherein the solid material comprises
one of non-woven fabrics, leather, synthetic leather, cellular
urethane, silicon rubber, abrasive materials, knitted fabrics and
woven fabrics.
27. The process of claim 25 wherein the step of forming the
openings comprises one or more of chemical etching the openings
using an aperture pattern mask, drilling the openings in the solid
material and employing a punch press to create the openings in the
solid material.
28. The process of claim 23 wherein the step of forming the
simulated mesh material further comprises extruding a rubber,
plastic or polyurethane material.
29. A process for manufacturing a hand covering, comprising:
forming a first material layer comprising a mesh material; forming
a second lining material; and attaching the first and second
material layers
30. The process of claim 29 wherein the step of attaching comprises
sewing, knitting or applying wet or dry adhesives to one or both of
the first and the second material layers.
31. The process of claim 29 wherein the step of attaching comprises
forming one or more bonding layers between the first and the second
material layers.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit, under 35 U.S.C. 119(e),
of the provisional patent application entitled Glove Having High
Coefficient of Friction Regions filed on Mar. 28, 2007 and assigned
application No. 60/908,674.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a glove and
specifically to a glove having improved breathability and user grip
in the palm region of the glove.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The external palm region of gloves for sports, work and
other activities is often made of high coefficient of friction
(COF) material to enhance the user's grip. Some examples of such
high COF materials include acrylics, latex, leather, nitrile,
polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), rubber, silicon, synthetic
leather and vinyl. Unfortunately, these materials are intrinsically
impervious to moisture and air circulation thereby trapping the
users' sweat and heat generated by the user's hand within the
glove. This problem is compounded by the fact that one of the
highest concentrations of sweat glands in the human body is located
in the palms of the hands. Gloves constructed from solid cloth-like
breathable fabric materials with a high impedance to air flow are
known. It is therefore desired to reduce this air flow
impedance.
[0004] Those skilled in the art have attempted to alleviate sweat
build up and heat entrapment in the palm region of the glove using
a variety of glove materials and designs. In one example,
combinations of breathable fabrics (which are known to have a
relatively low COF) are strategically placed in areas of the glove
not requiring a high gripping-force surface.
[0005] In other gloves direct ventilation areas are created through
pinhole or microscopic perforations on the backside of the glove,
in the area between the fingers and to a lesser extent in the palm
and palm-finger areas. Such pinhole perforations may not provide
sufficient air flow to remove entrapped sweat and/or may not be
located in desired glove areas to effectively reduce accumulated
palm and hand moisture.
[0006] The breathable fabrics used in gloves are typically low COF
materials that are knitted, woven or non-woven and are made of
natural and synthetic fibers and yarns. These low COF materials are
not suitable for the palm region of the glove if a good grip is
desired.
[0007] One example of a highly breathable fabric that can be used
for gloves and other articles of clothing (e.g. sneakers and
traffic safety vests) is a mesh fabric, also referred to as mesh.
Meshes are knitted or woven and made of natural and/or synthetic
fibers and yarns. They provide excellent breathability due to their
screen like architecture that provides easy passage for air flow
due to the visible repeating pattern of apertures throughout the
material, Disadvantageously, the mesh fabrics have a low
coefficient of friction and therefore provide a relatively poor
gripping surface.
[0008] Currently it is known in the art to use a class of mesh
fabrics known as warp knitted mesh made of polyester or nylon for
work or sports gloves. Patches of this mesh may be sewn on to the
backside of the glove and/or between the fingers. The glove offers
optimum ventilation in those areas due to the screen-like porosity
of the mesh fabric's apertures. As noted above, other breathable
fabrics used in gloves, such as knitted cotton, polyester, rayon,
and other combination fabrics are porous but do not provide the
same degree of breathability as a mesh fabric, since these fabrics
present a significantly higher impedance to air flow due to their
smaller apertures. In either case, the low coefficient of friction
remains problematic.
[0009] Those skilled in the art have attempted to use mesh fabrics
in the palm region of gloves due to its high breathability, but
these attempts have not met with success due to the low COF grip of
the mesh fabric. In the few cases where mesh fabrics are used in
the palm region (e.g. cyclist gloves, lacrosse gloves and women's
weight training gloves), their use has been limited only to small
patches of mesh, with the remainder of the palm area comprising a
less breathable but high grip (i.e., high COF) material. Thus these
glove designs attempt to mitigate the need for high grip and high
breathability by placing the mesh in areas of the palm where the
need for a strong gripping force is perceived to be less.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The present invention can be more easily understood and the
advantages and uses thereof more readily apparent when the
following detailed description of the present invention is read in
conjunction with the figures wherein:
[0011] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate gloves constructed according to
different embodiments of the present invention.
[0012] FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C illustrate different mesh materials for
use in the gloves of FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0013] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a section of a glove of the present
invention gripping a golf club shaft.
[0014] FIG. 6 illustrates the air flow and sweat absorption
mechanism of certain glove embodiments according to the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 7 illustrates the air flow and sweat absorption
mechanism of an embodiment having an inner liner.
[0016] FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention
using a spacer fabric construction.
[0017] FIG. 9 illustrates a die pattern for use in forming openings
in a material for use with the glove of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 10 illustrates a mesh pattern formed using the die
pattern of FIG. 9.
[0019] In accordance with common practice, the various described
device features are not drawn to scale, but are drawn to emphasize
specific features relevant to the invention. Like reference
characters denote like elements throughout the figures and
text.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] Before describing in detail the exemplary methods and
apparatuses related to a glove having desired gripping and
breathability properties, it should be observed that the present
invention resides primarily in a novel and non-obvious combination
of elements and process steps. So as not to obscure the disclosure
with details that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the
art, certain conventional elements and steps have been presented
with lesser detail, while the drawings and the specification
describe in greater detail other elements and steps pertinent to
understanding the invention.
[0021] The following embodiments are not intended to define limits
as to the structure or method of the invention, but only to provide
exemplary constructions. The embodiments are permissive rather than
mandatory and illustrative rather than exhaustive.
[0022] The present invention asserts that perspiration can be
adequately removed from the inside (palm/grip) glove (i.e., a hand
covering) area consistent with providing a grip suitable for the
desired use or application of the glove. Specifically, the
invention relates to a glove that facilitates greater air
circulation and sweat evaporation in the palm and finger grip areas
while maintaining an excellent grip with a high COF mesh in the
palm area.
[0023] A glove of the present invention comprises an external palm
area surface formed partially or completely from a knitted or a
woven mesh material, fabric, textile or cloth (referred to as a
mesh). Those skilled in the art recognize that various processes
(including both knitting processes and weaving processes) can be
used to form a mesh suitable for use according to the teachings of
the present invention. Generally, a knitted material comprises
substantially parallel courses of natural or synthetic yarn, fiber,
filament, textile or any knittable product joined by interlocking
loops, including interlocking knots. Generally, a woven material
comprises two sets of natural or synthetic yarn, fiber, filament,
textile or any weavable product that are combined or interlaced to
form a cloth-like material.
[0024] According to the presenting invention, hand perspiration and
moisture is transferred and vented from the palm through a
plurality of holes or apertures in the mesh. According to different
embodiments the mesh presents a high coefficient of friction
surface or a mesh is treated with a coating to provide a high
coefficient of friction surface while maintaining the plurality of
holes that provide excellent breathability.
[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates a glove 20 comprising a gripping surface
22 further comprising a palm region 24, finger regions 26 and a
thumb region 28. Generally, these are considered gripping regions
of the glove 20 since the gloved hand contacts a griped or grasped
object in these regions. The gripping surface 22 comprises a mesh
fabric having a relatively high COF to permit the user to maintain
a firm grip on the object. A specific COF value is dependent on the
material employed, the material of the object that is grasped and
the conditions of the interfacing surface (e.g., wet, dirty). In
any case, the material should present a sufficiently high COF such
that the user maintains a firm grip on the object for completing
the desired task. COF values greater than about 0.2 should be
capable of providing a sufficiently firm grip for the user.
[0026] A FIG. 2 embodiment of a glove 40 comprises a gripping
surface 42 further comprising the palm region 24 and partial finger
and thumb regions 46 and 48, respectively. In one embodiment the
gripping surface 42 comprises a mesh material as described
herein.
[0027] In one embodiment, the gripping surface 42 comprises a mesh
or non-mesh material having a relatively high COF. Generally, the
non-mesh material is regarded as non-permeable or at least has a
permeability lower than the mesh material. In other embodiments,
the high COF material region is reduced in size from the gripping
surface 42, with portions of the palm region 24, the finger regions
26 and/or the thumb region 28 comprising relatively low COF
material, i.e., having a COF lower than the COF of the relatively
high COF mesh. Also in different embodiments different regions of
the gripping surface 42, the palm region 24, the finger regions 26
and the thumb region 28 comprise the mesh or non-mesh high COF
material or a low COF material For example, in one embodiment one
of the finger regions 26 comprises the high COF mesh material and
the remaining finger regions 26, the palm region 24 and the thumb
region 28 comprise the low COF material. In another embodiment one
of the finger regions 26 comprises the high COF mesh material and
the remaining finger regions 26, the palm region 24 and the thumb
region 28 comprise a high COF non-mesh material. Thus in different
embodiments different ones of the palm region 24, the finger
regions 26 and the thumb region 28 comprise high COF mesh material,
low COF material or high COF, non-mesh material depending on the
intended use for the glove.
[0028] In the various described glove embodiments a composition of
the glove backside material is not relevant to the inventive
features and can therefore comprise any common glove material,
cloth, fabric, etc.
[0029] Candidate mesh fabric materials for use as the gripping
surface are constructed using known processes (e.g. warp knitting,
weft knitting, woven etc.) and made of known materials (e.g.,
polyester, nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, cotton, acrylic
etc.). Suitable mesh fabrics are available from Apex Mills of
Inwood, N.Y.; Fablok Mills, Inc. of Murray Hill, N.J. and Gehring
Textiles, Inc. of Garden City, N.J.
[0030] Suitable mesh fabrics comprise a repeating or random pattern
of relatively closely spaced holes/apertures for providing the
desired features. See FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C. FIG. 3A illustrates
substantially square mesh apertures and FIG. 3B illustrates
elliptical mesh apertures. The thread knitting or weaving density
is greater in the mesh fabric of FIG. 3A than that of FIG. 3B. In
FIG. 3C a mesh fabric with varying aperture shapes and sizes
repeats across the mesh fabric intermediate a zigzag knitting
pattern. Other shaped apertures are also suitable, including for
example, round, oblong, hex, square, diamond, elliptical and
rectangular.
[0031] The gripping surface can comprise a single mesh aperture
pattern and aperture size formed from a single thread size and
type. Alternatively, different aperture patterns, aperture sizes,
thread sizes and types can be used in different portions of the
gripping surface. Thread types and sizes can be chosen to provide
mesh fabric properties that are easy to integrate into the glove
and comfortable for the user to wear. For example, threads may be
chosen to be thicker for high durability and padding in work
gloves, while thinner threads may be chosen for a more tactile skin
feel in sports gloves.
[0032] Aperture sizes with openings ranging from about 0.1
millimeters to about 15 millimeters are all suitable for use with
the present invention. Larger or smaller apertures may also be
suitable, depending on the use for the glove. Variously shaped
apertures are also suitable, including for example, round, oblong,
hex, square, diamond, elliptical and rectangular. One example of an
untreated mesh fabric for use with the glove of the present
invention comprises a warp knitted mesh made of nylon thread
(resulting in a nylon mesh material) with a thickness of about
0.013 inches, weighing about 2.2 ounces per square yard and having
roughly 7-8 apertures per inch. In another embodiment, the mesh
material comprises up to about at least 100 apertures per inch. In
still another embodiment the mesh material comprises less than
about 30 apertures per inch.
[0033] Preferably, one embodiment of the present invention
comprises a mesh material formed from a high COF yarn, fiber,
filament or thread. In another embodiment a mesh material formed
from a material with a relatively low COF is treated with coating
processes representative of those used to make synthetic/imitation
leather, vinyl and other coated textiles to enhance or increase the
mesh material's COF. Some high COF coatings that may be used to
increase the mesh material's COF are the following: acrylic, latex,
nitrile, polyurethane, rubber, PVC, silicon elastomer, vinyl,
compounds used for making synthetic/imitation leather or compounds
and combinations of compounds that yield a high COF surface. Such
an untreated mesh fabric may be purchased from Apex Mills of
Inwood, N.Y. The fabric comprises a warp knitted material of nylon
thread with a thickness of about 0.013 inches, weighing about 2.2
ounces per square yard and having roughly 7-8 apertures per
inch.
[0034] Coating thicknesses according to the present inventions vary
depending on the intended glove application. For instance, thinner
coatings tend to retain the original mesh substrate properties,
such as flexibility and tensile strength. Also, relatively thin
coatings do not substantially reduce the aperture (opening) size.
Thicker coatings can increase padding (cushioning) between the
user's hand skin and the object as well as provide more protection
from abrasion and the elements when the glove is worn. However,
such a relatively thicker coating tends to reduce the aperture
size. It is preferable that the aperture size of the coated mesh
material be within the approximate range of about 0.1 millimeters
to about 15 millimeters.
[0035] The mesh fabrics with a relatively low COF may be treated
with high COF coatings before or after the fabric is knitted or
woven. However, it is preferable to apply the coating after the
fabric has been knitted or woven into a mesh. Some exemplary
processes that may be used to apply high COF coatings to mesh or
knitted fabrics are the following as well as others known in the
art: curtain coating, foam spraying, gap coating (knife over roll,
floating knife, etc.), gravure coating, hot melt coating, immersion
dip coating, slot die coating, spraying, etc. In addition, the mesh
material may be pre-treated with adhesion promoters and fabric
pre-treatment processes, known in the art, that increase the
adhesion of the coating to the mesh material. In one embodiment the
coating is applied with an adhesion promoter.
[0036] In another embodiment, coatings may be applied in a single
layer or in multiple layers with varying coating materials and
thicknesses in each layer so as to enhance the coated mesh material
properties. In addition, in some applications it may be desirable
to texture or emboss the surface of the coating with sand or a
grainy pattern so as to increase the COF of the coating. Some
representative properties are the following: coating adhesion
strength, coating abrasion resistance, durability, flexibility,
texture, tear strength, tensile strength. Additionally, adhesion
promoters may be applied between coating layers in order to
increase the adhesion strength between applied coatings.
[0037] In yet another embodiment processes associated with making
synthetic leather can used on a mesh substrate, resulting in a
synthetic leather material with a relatively high COF.
[0038] Mesh fabrics may also be coated by laminating a high COF
film comprising common coating materials or by combining multiple
layers of coatings and multiple laminating film layers to create a
high COF surface. The laminating film or films can preserve the
mesh fabric's aperture patterns by laminating only the mesh fabric
surface while leaving the apertures unobstructed. Such a process
suggests that the laminate material exhibit an aperture pattern
that is similar to the aperture pattern of the mesh fabric
material. Alternatively, the mesh's apertures may be partially
obstructed with the laminating film or films while retaining an
aperture size within the range of about 0.1 mm to about 15 mm
diameter. In yet another process, the laminate or laminates may
initially cover the entire mesh fabric including the apertures and
in a second step be cleared of the portion of laminate film or
films obstructing the apertures. As in the previous case, a portion
of the laminating film or films may be left to obstruct a partial
area of the mesh's apertures while still leaving an apertures size
within the range of about 0.1 mm to about 15 mm in diameter. Some
representative processes that may be used to remove the portion of
laminating film or films obstructing the apertures are the
following: chemical etch with a mask overlying the mesh's pattern,
heat melt, heat melt and high pressure air blowing off the excess
laminate, etc.
[0039] In yet another process, synthetic/imitation leathers, vinyls
etc. can be coated onto a transfer paper making a laminate
(laminate film). The fabric substrate may also be coated with an
adhesive or other coating, or it may be dip coated and coagulated
within its pores with a polyurethane coat. High pressure is applied
to the combination of the laminate and the treated fabric
substrate, for example by passing the combination through a pair of
rollers with or without the application of heat, causing the
laminate and the substrate to fuse according to a chemical and/or
melting process. The transfer paper is then removed, producing a
synthetic/imitation leather, vinyl, etc. with a coating applied
thereto. In one embodiment the transfer paper is patterned to
create a grainy or patterned surface on the fabric substrate. The
coating material and surface pattern can be selected to enhance the
COF of the substrate or create other appealing texture surface
properties (i.e. soft to touch, supple etc.). Material formed
according to these techniques can be used to increase the COF in
one or more areas of the glove according to the teachings of the
present invention. In an embodiment where the fabric substrate
comprises a woven or knitted material, it may be advantageous to
remove the laminate within the mesh openings according to a
chemical etching, heating or forced air process.
[0040] Coatings applied to the mesh fabric may be supplemented with
additives for coating textiles as is known in the art. Some
representative supplements are the following: colorants,
odor/scents, fillers, flame retardants, heat stabilizers,
lubricants, accelerators, antidegradants, cross-linking agents etc.
These coatings may be further treated to create microporousity
features, enabling moisture transfer through the coating as well as
increased surface area providing more contact area and higher
friction with other surfaces that the coated surfaces contacts.
[0041] A prevalent method of obtaining a microporous coating is by
coagulating the mesh fabric's internal matrix by a polymer solution
in a nonsolvent. In one embodiment a solution of polyurethane in
dimethylformamide (DMF) is applied onto the fabric's matrix by
dipping and/or coating, followed by dipping in a large excess of
water. The polyurethane coagulates in the nonsolvent due to
precipitation and coalescence. After drying, the microporous
coating on the mesh fabric may be treated with other layers of
coating materials and finishes that preserve the microporousity and
the increased surface area, using methods known in the art. In yet
another embodiment, a microporous laminate may be constructed on a
transfer paper or substrate and then transferred onto the mesh
fabric's surface using methods previously described. Additionally,
surface area and friction may be increased for the coated mesh
fabric by embossing, engraving or using other methods known in the
art that can create tiny grainy pattern or other textured-like
patterns to increase the surface area coming into contact with the
surface to be gripped.
[0042] The exemplary mesh fabric identified above having a
thickness of about 0.013 inches, weighing about 2.2 ounces per
square yard and having roughly 5-10 apertures per inch is suitable
for coating according to these methods. Preferably the coating is
less than about 0.3 mm thick to increase the COF and enhance the
user's grip when the coated material is used to form the palm
region of a glove or other hand covering.
[0043] According to one embodiment, aperture opening sizes (i.e.,
prior to application of the high-COF coating) of a low COF material
that does not provide sufficient COF in the glove grip area for the
intended use of the glove can be in the range of about 1.5 to about
1.8 millimeter. After coating according to the teachings of the
present invention the mesh opening size is reduced, but it has been
determined that remaining opening dimensions can provide acceptable
breathability and adequate grip when the coated mesh material is
employed in the palm region of the glove.
[0044] According to the present invention the mesh material can be
treated on one side or both sides, depending on the intended use
for the glove. For example, a high COF material can be applied to
both surfaces of the mesh fabric and thus when used to form a glove
palm region, the COF between the hand and the glove (an internal
surface of the glove) and the COF between the glove and the grasped
object (an external surface of the glove) are both increased. In an
embodiment having only one surface coated with a COF material, the
coated surface is preferably located on the outside or external
surface of the glove to increase the friction to the grasped
object.
[0045] In another preferred embodiment of a thinly coated mesh
material for use in the palm or grip region of a glove, the
uncoated nylon mesh material referenced above is pretreated with an
adhesion promoter process and then treated with a silicon
elastomer, e.g., LSR 3631 available from Dow Corning of Midland,
Mich.
[0046] The silicon coating is applied thinly to the nylon mesh
using a gravure coating process known in the art. Using this method
the coating may be carefully controlled to apply the coating to one
or both sides and to form the thin coating layer that raises the
COF of the mesh material without substantially closing the
apertures that provide breathability for a glove constructed from
this material. For example, in one case the applied coating is
about 11 microns thick. In another embodiment this coating is
applied to only one side of the mesh material.
[0047] Any of the coated or uncoated, treated, etc. mesh (or
non-mesh) fabrics described herein can be used to for the grip
portion of a sports or work glove as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the
case of sports gloves, a coated nylon mesh glove can provide
sufficient breathability to the user's hands allowing extended wear
without degradation of the user's grip due to sweat accumulation. A
thin mesh (e.g. less than about 0.8 millimeters) provides the user
with a skin feel for grasped objects such as a baseball bat, golf
club, football or racquet, etc. while also protecting against the
formation of calluses and blisters. In an embodiment where the mesh
apertures are sufficiently large (e.g. an opening size of more than
about one millimeter), the mesh material provides direct skin
contact with the grasped object, enhancing the user's feel and
control of the object. This feature provides the user with a touch
feel sensitivity that is important in sports such as golf.
[0048] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a user's skin surface 60 protruding
through apertures 64 of a mesh material 65 as the user grips a golf
club shaft 66. Note that in this case the user's grip is enhanced
by having a combination of skin and mesh friction surfaces linking
the hand to the shaft 66.
[0049] Coating one surface of the mesh fabric with a material
having a high COF and using the coated surface as the
outside-facing surface for the material of a glove grip area,
retains the intrinsic absorption and texture properties of the mesh
on the inside-facing surface of the glove. FIG. 6 is a close-up
illustration of a palm side of a thinly-coated mesh glove showing
three processes that reduce sweat buildup on the user's hand, i.e.
air ventilation, evaporation of sweat, and absorption or wicking
away of sweat onto an internal layer of the mesh. Using a mesh
material with a high COF coating on only one surface promotes the
wicking action and thus offers better sweat dissipation than a mesh
material having a COF coating on both surfaces. The degree of air
ventilation and sweat evaporation is responsive to the mesh
aperture size. Further, convective heat flow from the hand through
the apertures reduces the hand temperature.
[0050] Glove variations within the scope of the present invention
are achieved using different mesh types, that is, matching glove
use with the mesh type. Generally, a mesh type is distinguished by
thread size and thread diameter, dimensions and pattern of the mesh
openings, the mesh manufacturing process, the mesh materials and
compositions and coatings applied to the mesh material. For
example, in sports glove where a skin feel is desired (e.g.
football, racquet ball, golf etc.) a relatively large mesh opening
size is preferred to provide the user with direct skin contact
through the mesh apertures.
[0051] In a work environment where hand protection against blisters
caused by repetitious actions (e.g. swinging a hammer) is
important, a mesh fabric with a relatively thick coating is
desired. An exemplary glove comprises a thickly coated mesh
material, such as a knitted polyester mesh coated via a spraying or
foaming process with PVC or a silicon elastomer, where the coating
may be several millimeters thick. A glove using such a PVC mesh
provides a comfortable padding in the palm and finger area of a
glove. With a suitable choice of aperture sizes and coating type
and thickness the glove can provide a breathable alternative to
prior art PVC work gloves. A thick foamed PVC mesh glove or a thick
foamed silicon mesh glove provides padding and protects the user
from abrasion and the elements while providing breathability and
improved grip to the palm area.
[0052] Another embodiment of the present invention incorporates a
breathable internal liner with an outer surface comprising a mesh
fabric according to the teachings of the present invention. A
breathable inner liner provides a direct passage of air from the
palm side of the hand to the apertures of the external mesh. It
also provides a wicking action for accumulated sweat from the palm
side of the hand that expediently removes the sweat through the
external mesh apertures of the palm region (see FIG. 7).
[0053] Inner liner materials are breathable textile fabrics that
may be comprised of one or more of the following representative
textiles: polyester, rayon, cotton, spandex, brushed spandex,
nylon, wool, silk, breathable suede/leathers, microporous
breathable synthetic leathers and other materials commonly known in
the art. Typically, inner liners are knitted, woven or non-woven
and are made of natural and synthetic fibers and yarns. In
addition, an inner liner material may be a mesh made with smaller
openings than the external mesh fabric. Inner liner materials may
be attached to the external mesh fabric through processes known in
the art such as, sewing, knitting or the application of wet
adhesives or dry adhesives with hot presses and rollers etc. One
technique places a dry adhesive between the inner liner and a
coated mesh material. The resulting laminate is processed through a
series of heated rollers at about 300-400 degrees F. The
combination of the high heat and pressure melts the adhesive to a
liquid state. When dry, a strong bond is formed between the inner
liner and the coated mesh material. Breathability of the inner
liner is preserved as the adhesive does not plug or foul the
openings of the inner liner. A web adhesive or dry film adhesive
can also be used in lieu of the dry adhesive to retain more
breathability, but the bond strength is sacrificed.
[0054] The mesh glove may consist of multiple inner liner layers
(i.e., between the outer layer and a surface of the hand covered by
the glove) depending on the function of the glove. For instance, a
work glove where padding is necessary may consist of several inner
liners allowing breathability through palm side apertures of the
external mesh. Inner liners used in such a glove may be made of
different materials/fabrics with varying breathability and padding
characteristics. In another embodiment a padding layer (comprising,
for example, rubber, a silicon gel or another padding material, for
comfort, for example) is disposed between the two inner liner
layers. These pads can be modified to allow for breathability as
desired. In yet another embodiment the inner liners may be treated
with a high COF coating/laminate to increase contact friction
between the user's hand and the glove. This technique may prevent
slippage and bunching up of the glove's fabric while handling
objects.
[0055] In lieu of an internal liner or liner layers, in another
embodiment a spacer fabric may be used. Spacer fabrics are
extremely breathable and lightweight. As shown in FIG. 8, a spacer
fabric consists of three layers: a top face layer 70, a connecting
layer 72 and a bottom face layer 74, with air flow indicated by
arrowheads 80.
[0056] The top face and bottom face layers are typically
constructed of highly breathable fabrics such as mesh fabrics as
taught by the present invention. The connecting layer is knitted or
woven in two or three dimensions using monofilaments or other types
of yarns or threads. The connecting layer generally provides 1 to
10 millimeters of compression resistant cushioning and is extremely
breathable due to its relatively hollow knitting architecture. When
the top face layer 70 and/or the bottom face layer 74 comprise a
breathable material as taught by the present invention, an entirely
breathable spacer fabric is formed.
[0057] A mesh glove according to the present invention can be
constructed with a spacer fabric where the top face layer is
external on the palm side of the glove and comprises a mesh fabric
with a high COF yarn, fiber or thread, or a mesh that is treated
with a high COF coating or laminate. The intermediate layer or
connecting layer is constructed using methods known in the art as
described above, and the bottom face layer may be made of a solid
face breathable material or preferably a mesh fabric. The bottom
face layer constructed of a solid face breathable material or mesh
fabric (i.e., in contact with the user's skin) may be made of high
COF yarn, fiber or thread and it may be treated or untreated with a
high COF coating or laminate depending on the user's need for
internal grip to the glove. In addition, the spacer fabric may have
an additional inner liner or multiple inner liner arrangements as
described in the teachings of this invention. In an embodiment
where the top and bottom faces comprise mesh fabrics it is not
necessary that both surfaces comprise the same mesh fabric
material. The mesh fabrics can differ in knitting styles, materials
etc.
[0058] In yet another embodiment, a glove can be formed entirely of
mesh material and only the gripping region coated with a high COF
material. Such an embodiment provides maximum breathability for the
entire hand and appropriate gripping forces for the palm area or
the palm area and the finger/thumb areas.
[0059] The various embodiments of a glove of the present invention
provide improved breathability and grip via a high COF mesh fabric.
The mesh fabric may be knitted of high COF yarn, fiber or thread or
the mesh may be treated with a high COF coating, laminates or
layers of coatings. The coating may be applied before or after the
knitting process, although it is preferably applied after the mesh
has been knitted. The high COF coating or layers of coatings may be
applied to one or both mesh surfaces depending on the glove user's
needs. For instance, the internal side of the mesh may be left
uncoated due to the mesh fabric's relatively soft and comfortable
texture against the user's skin. In addition to comfort, the
internal side of the mesh fabric may be able to better absorb or
wick away sweat into the mesh fiber matrix if the internal side of
the mesh is left uncoated. Alternatively, an internally coated mesh
can provide an enhanced internal grip to the user. This is often
needed in high hand movement applications, such as sports, where
the looseness of a glove to the hand can degrade performance.
Finally, the external high COF coated mesh allows the glove user to
grip surfaces while maintaining breathability and moisture control
in the palm of the hands.
[0060] A mesh treated with a high COF coating or layers of coatings
that is applied non-uniformly on the mesh fabric (e.g. beading,
varying thicknesses, etc.) increases the contact surface area
between the hand and the grasped object and thus increases the COF
between the two contact surfaces. Furthermore, a high COF coated
mesh's surface may be embossed, engraved or patterned, using
methods known in the art, to create a surface that is grainy or
patterned to increase the surface area and COF between the two
contact surfaces. A non-uniform coating, embossed, engraved or
patterned on the internal surface increases the COF between the
hand and the glove.
[0061] In yet another embodiment a simulated mesh may be
constructed from solid (i.e., whole or having no apertures)
materials or fabrics that do not have apertures such as the
previously described mesh fabrics and materials. Some examples of
materials or fabrics that may be used to mechanically construct a
simulated mesh are the following: non-woven fabrics, leather,
synthetic/imitation leather, Poron.RTM. (cellular urethane),
silicon rubber, rubber pads, abrasive pads and common knitted and
woven fabrics with micropores etc. These materials or fabrics
either have an intrinsic high COF or may be coated with a high COF
coating before or after the mechanical construction.
Coating/laminating techniques that may be employed are those
according to the teaching of this invention and those known the in
the art of coating textiles.
[0062] Mechanical construction of a simulated mesh may be performed
by equipment that can create a set of apertures on a material or
fabric. Representative equipment that can create a set of apertures
in a repeating manner are the following: chemical etching with an
aperture patterned mask, CO2 laser hole drills, and a punch press.
Alternatively, the material may be extruded or hot pressed into a
mesh. Apertures may be constructed in any variety of shapes, sizes
and patterns that knitted or woven mesh fabrics can provide along
with aperture shapes, sizes and patterns that can only be made via
mechanical construction. This is due to the fact that mechanical
constructions are not inhibited by geometries dictated by knitting,
weaving or thread types. As in the case of knitted or woven mesh
fabrics, the aperture sizes with openings ranging from about 0.1
millimeters to about 15 millimeters are all suitable for use with
the present invention. Larger or smaller apertures may also be
suitable, depending on the use for the glove. Variously shaped
apertures are also suitable, including for example, round, oblong,
hex, square, diamond, elliptical and rectangular. One example of a
simulated mesh constructed from rubber, plastic and polyurethane
based materials is an extruded mesh.
[0063] In one example of the present embodiment, Cabretta leather
tanned from Hair Sheep may be purchased from The Hide House in
Napa, Calif. The Cabretta leather is supple with a high COF and
about 1 to 1.5 ounces per square foot corresponding to a thickness
of about 0.5 to 0.8 millimeters. The Cabretta leather is
mechanically altered by a punch press leaving about 41% of the
leather as open area. The punch press die may be set to a staggered
patterned dye with holes in a 60 degree isometric pattern as shown
in FIG. 9. The diameter of the holes punched in the leather is 1/16
inch resulting in approximately 132 holes per square inch. FIG. 10
shows the mechanically constructed Cabretta Leather mesh
pattern.
[0064] Tensile and tear strength of mechanically constructed,
simulated mesh may be enhanced through coating layers before and/or
after the fabric or material has been altered. In this case,
coatings may serve a dual purpose of providing a high COF surface
while increasing the durability of the simulated mesh with respect
to wear and tear. As noted earlier, coatings that may be applied
can come as multiple layers of laminate films and/or coating layers
as well as other coating procedures known in the art. Additionally,
non-woven materials, woven and knitted fabrics and materials may be
mechanically constructed into a simulated mesh, and later converted
into synthetic/imitation leather or other coated textile fabric
while preserving the apertures in the simulated mesh's pattern.
[0065] While the present invention has been described with
reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those
skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalent
elements may be substituted for the elements thereof without
departing from the scope of the invention. The scope of the present
invention further includes any combination of elements from the
various embodiments set forth herein. In addition, modifications
may be made to adapt a particular situation to the teachings of the
present invention without departing from its essential scope.
Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the
particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention will
include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended
claims.
* * * * *