U.S. patent application number 13/772181 was filed with the patent office on 2013-08-22 for zonal cut resistant glove.
This patent application is currently assigned to Ansell Limited. The applicant listed for this patent is Ansell Limited. Invention is credited to Jamie ASHWORTH, Raymond W. BENNETT, Ricky Charles CARD, John Farley MICHELOT, James H. MORELAND, Norberto Hector PERALES SOLIS, Agustin PORTILLO MERCADO, Sharon A. QUINN, Gerardo RODRIGUEZ GARAY, Eric THOMPSON.
Application Number | 20130213094 13/772181 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48981226 |
Filed Date | 2013-08-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130213094 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MORELAND; James H. ; et
al. |
August 22, 2013 |
ZONAL CUT RESISTANT GLOVE
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention include knitted gloves having a
cut-resistant yarn in at least one knitted zone of a glove and
further including one or more yarns knitted into other knitted
zones of the glove in which at least one zone has vertically
knitted courses.
Inventors: |
MORELAND; James H.;
(Central, SC) ; THOMPSON; Eric; (Central, SC)
; PORTILLO MERCADO; Agustin; (Chihuahua, MX) ;
RODRIGUEZ GARAY; Gerardo; (Chihuahua, MX) ; CARD;
Ricky Charles; (Greenwood, AR) ; PERALES SOLIS;
Norberto Hector; (Chihuahua, MX) ; ASHWORTH;
Jamie; (Freehold, NJ) ; MICHELOT; John Farley;
(New Brunswick, NJ) ; BENNETT; Raymond W.;
(Jackson, NJ) ; QUINN; Sharon A.; (Holmdel,
NJ) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Ansell Limited; |
|
|
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Ansell Limited
Richmond
AU
|
Family ID: |
48981226 |
Appl. No.: |
13/772181 |
Filed: |
February 20, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61600907 |
Feb 20, 2012 |
|
|
|
61735881 |
Dec 11, 2012 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
66/174 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 19/01505 20130101;
D10B 2403/0114 20130101; D04B 1/28 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
66/174 |
International
Class: |
A41D 19/015 20060101
A41D019/015 |
Claims
1. A glove, comprising: a knitted liner having one or more zones;
the zones having knitted courses, the knitted courses knitted from
at least one yarn, and the knitted courses vertically disposed
along a longitudinal axis of the glove in at least one zone,
wherein at least one yarn of the at least one zone is a cut
resistant yarn.
2. The glove of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of zones
wherein two or more zones are knitted from two or more yarns.
3. The glove of claim 2, wherein the two or more yarns are of
different colors.
4. The glove of claim 2, wherein the plurality of zones define a
palm side and a corresponding backhand side that are seamlessly
knitted together.
5. The glove of claim 4, wherein the zones of the palm side and the
corresponding backhand side comprise different yarns.
6. The glove of claim 2, wherein at least one of the plurality of
zones further comprise knitted courses disposed along a lateral
axis of the glove.
7. The glove of claim 1, further comprising at least one zone
having a plaited yarn.
8. The glove of claim 1, wherein the at least one yarn further
comprises a textured nylon, nylon wrapped SPANDEX.RTM., polyester,
moisture-managing yarn, meta-aramid, para-aramid, ultra-high
molecular weight polyethylene, SPANDEX.RTM., LYCRA.RTM.,
NOMEX.RTM., KEVLAR.RTM., TWARON.RTM., DYNEEMA.RTM., SPECTRA.RTM.,
VECTRAN.TM., STA-COOL.RTM., AQUARIUS.RTM., steel wire, fiberglass,
filaments, or any blend of the fibers and materials thereof.
9. The glove of claim 1, further comprising a polymeric
coating.
10. The glove of claim 9, wherein the polymeric coating comprises
natural latex, guayule, polyisoprene, synthetic latexes,
non-carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene, carboxylated
acrylonitrile butadiene, butyl latex, polychloroprene,
polyurethane, styrene-butadiene, acrylonitrile-butadiene, nitriles,
or blends thereof.
11. The glove of claim 9, wherein the polymeric coating is foamed
or comprises a textured surface.
12. A method of knitting a glove, comprising: knitting a liner into
at least one zone, wherein the courses of the at least one zone are
knitted vertically, wherein a glove having at least one zone is
formed.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of
zones, wherein the courses of at least one the plurality of zones
are knitted horizontally.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the knitting a liner step
comprises using a computer-controlled knitting machine.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the computer-controlled
knitting machine is a SWG model machine.
16. The method of claim 12, further comprising plaiting a yarn into
the at least one zone.
17. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one zone comprises
a cut resistant yarn.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the cut resistant yarn
comprises a textured nylon, a nylon wrapped SPANDEX.RTM.,
polyester, nylon, meta-aramid, para-aramid, ultra-high molecular
weight polyethylene, LYCRA.RTM., NOMEX.RTM., KEVLAR.RTM.,
TWARON.RTM., DYNEEMA.RTM., SPECTRA.RTM., VECTRAN.TM., steel wire,
fiberglass, filaments, or any blend of the fibers and materials
thereof.
19. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of zones comprise
at least two different colors.
20. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of
disposing a polymeric coating on a palm, knuckle, fingers, backhand
or entire knitted liner.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to
U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/600,907, filed Feb. 20,
2012 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/735,881, filed
Dec. 11, 2012, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in
its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to
gloves and, more particularly, to gloves comprising cut-resistant
yarns and fibers in selected zones.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Gloves are used in many industries and households to protect
the hands of users. Many gloves are designed for specific
applications, for example, cut resistant gloves for use in the food
services industries. Cut resistant yarns are also used in gloves
for other industries, such as laborers who use power tools, saws,
work with sheet metal, and the like. However, many such gloves are
over-engineered by having, for example, cut-resistant yarns knitted
throughout an entire glove, although cut resistance is not needed
in all areas of the glove. Furthermore, cut-resistant yarns are
often more bulky and inflexible, producing a glove that is not
thin, dextrous, flexible, or comfortable enough for a given use.
Also, gloves often require chemical, heat, flame, abrasion, and
impact resistance, among other properties, requiring the
incorporation of additional yarns within a glove. In addition,
engineering yarns are expensive, and incorporating such yarns in
areas of a glove where not needed is wasteful. Designing gloves for
such applications can, however, prove to be challenging with a
balance of properties in mind and past attempts have failed at
providing such gloves. Therefore, gloves having an enhanced balance
of desirable properties in various regions or zones of gloves would
represent an advance in the art.
SUMMARY
[0006] Embodiments of the invention comprise knitted gloves
including, for example, a cut-resistant yarn in at least one
knitted zone of a glove and further optionally including one or
more yarns knitted into other knitted zones of the glove,
substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at
least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the
claims. Various advantages, aspects, and novel features of the
present disclosure, as well as details of an exemplary embodiment
thereof, will be more fully understood from the following
description and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] So that the manner in which the above recited features of
the present invention can be understood in detail, a more
particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above,
may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are
illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however,
that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of
this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of
its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective
embodiments. It is also to be understood that elements and features
of one embodiment may be found in other embodiments without further
recitation and that, where possible, identical reference numerals
have been used to indicate comparable elements that are common to
the figures.
[0008] FIG. 1 depicts a glove according to embodiments of the
invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 depicts a cut away view of the glove of FIG. 1, in
accordance with embodiments of the invention;
[0010] FIG. 3 depicts a second cut away view of the glove from FIG.
1, according to embodiments of the invention;
[0011] FIG. 4 depicts a plan view of the palm side of a glove, in
accordance with embodiments of the invention;
[0012] FIG. 5 depicts a plan view of the backhand side of the glove
of FIG. 4, in accordance with embodiments of the invention;
[0013] FIG. 6 depicts the uncoated palm side of a liner according
to embodiments of the invention;
[0014] FIG. 7 depicts the back side of the liner of FIG. 6, in
accordance with embodiments of the invention;
[0015] FIG. 8 depicts the uncoated palm side of a liner according
to embodiments of the invention;
[0016] FIG. 9 depicts the backhand side of the liner of FIG. 8, in
accordance with embodiments of the invention; and
[0017] FIG. 10 depicts a perspective view of a glove having a
polymeric coating in accordance with embodiments of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] Embodiments of the present invention comprise knitted liners
having at least one knitted zone. Optionally, many knitted liners
comprise a plurality of zones. In some embodiments of the
invention, at least one zone comprises vertically knitted courses
and includes a cut resistant yarn. Also, some liners comprise zones
having a second yarn that exhibits a second desired property, for
example, flexibility, abrasion resistance, heat resistance,
moisture management, and the like. In some embodiments of the
invention, a second yarn is plaited with a main yarn in one or more
zones of the liner, creating a second layer of yarn in the one or
more zones, which may also comprise vertically knitted courses. The
zones of a liner in which, for example, a cut resistant yarn is
knitted may be defined by an end use of a glove.
[0019] A liner may be knitted by conventional knitting processes,
typically having knitted courses disposed horizontally to a
longitudinal axis of the liner, comprising various yarns of certain
deniers and gauges. Alternatively, one or more zones of a liner may
be knitted vertically, as discussed in more detail below. In other
words, the courses of the knitted glove run along the longitudinal
axis of the glove (e.g., the axis from the center of the wrist to
the tip of the middle finger). Because the various zones of gloves
can be knitted vertically, many different designs for zones of a
liner are possible. For example, the palm side and backhand side of
a knitted liner need not be the same, creating greater design
options. Additionally, a glove may comprise liners having knitted
courses that include both vertically and horizontally knitted
courses. Furthermore, some gloves in accordance with embodiments of
the present invention comprise a three-dimensional aspect. For
example, liners in accordance with some embodiments of the
invention comprise tapered zones having a variable thickness,
knitted ridges, and like structures on a knitted liner in a
z-direction with respect to horizontally and vertically knitted
courses.
[0020] Gloves in accordance with embodiments of the invention may
be specified for specific end uses. For example, a glove intended
for use by some food-service employees comprises a cut resistant
yarn in selected zones of the liner chosen to protect a user who is
using a knife. For example, cut resistant yarns may be specified
for the fingertips while comprising a flexible yarn for comfort and
dexterity in other zones of the liner. Other exemplary embodiments
of the invention include a glove intended for use by a food-service
employees who use sharp knives and grab hot pan handles, which
comprises a cut-resistant yarn in one region of the glove and a
heat- and/or flame-resistant yarn in another region, such as on the
palm or a chemical- or oil-resistant yarn on the backhand.
[0021] Furthermore, because each hand is performing a different
function, a glove for each hand may be tailored to the function. In
other words, the glove for the hand holding the knife may comprise
a cut resistant yarn in one zone of the glove, for example, the
index and middle fingers, while the other glove, the "off" hand
glove, which may be holding an item to be cut, comprises a cut
resistant yarn in a different zone, for example, the tips of the
thumb and index finger, and/or wrist. Furthermore, embodiments of
the invention comprise yarns having different colors, providing
visual indicia of the specific type of protection, i.e.,
cut-resistance, chemical-resistance, flexibility, or the like, a
zone within the glove offers. For example, a user can be made aware
that, for example, a yellow yarn represents cut-resistance while a
black yarn indicates heat-resistance. A user can therefore choose a
glove having those properties in zones of the glove as needed for a
specific task.
[0022] FIG. 1 depicts a liner according to embodiments of the
invention. Liner 100 comprises eight zones, four of which define
the four finger zones 1, 2, 3, and 4, one defining the thumb zone
5, one defining an upper palm zone 6, one defining a lower palm
zone 7, and one defining a wrist zone 8. In practice, a liner may
comprise fewer zones or as many as is practicable. For example, any
of zones 1-8 may have one or more zones within a zone. Furthermore,
as discussed below, each zone on the palm side of a liner may have
a corresponding zone on the backhand side of the liner although, in
vertically knit courses, the yarn comprising the palm side zone
need not be the same as the yarn of the corresponding backhand
zone, unlike when courses are knit horizontally. In liner 100, palm
side zones 1-8 correspond with thumb 102, index finger 104, middle
finger 106, ring finger 108, and pinky finger 110, upper palm 114,
lower palm 116, and, optionally, cuff 112. In the fingers and upper
palm 114, the courses of the knitted glove run laterally or, in
other words, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of glove 100.
In exemplary lower palm 116, the courses of the knitted glove run
along the longitudinal axis of glove 100 or parallel to the
longitudinal axis, indicating that these courses were knitted
vertically.
[0023] FIG. 2 depicts a cut away view of the glove of FIG. 1, in
accordance with embodiments of the invention. Cutaway view 120 is
in exemplary upper palm zone 6 of FIG. 1 and shows three yarns 150,
160, and 170 intermeshing in loops to form courses 172, 174, and
176 of knitted stitches in horizontal rows. FIG. 3 depicts a second
cut away view of the glove from FIG. 1, according to embodiments of
the invention. Cutaway view 130 is taken from lower palm 130
corresponding to zone 7. Element 130 shows three yarns 180, 182,
and 184 intermeshing in loops to form courses 186, 188, and 190 of
knitted stitches in vertically knitted courses, in contrast to the
horizontally knit courses. The courses are vertical irrespective of
whether weft or warp knitted. Although FIGS. 1-3 depict a glove
wherein the upper palm and fingers comprise horizontal courses and
a lower palm having vertical courses, in practice, any finger,
thumb, palm, or other zone, or sections of those zones, of a liner
may comprise vertical and/or horizontal courses. Furthermore, as
discussed below, seamlessly knitted courses on cylindrical
features, such as the finger stall of a glove, can now comprise
zones having different yarns around the periphery of the finger
stall.
[0024] FIG. 4 depicts a plan view of the palm side of a glove, in
accordance with embodiments of the invention. Exemplary glove 200
comprises thumb 202 and index finger 204, middle finger 206, ring
finger 208, and little finger 210. Glove 200 optionally comprises
cuff 212. In some embodiments according to the present invention,
thumb 202, index finger 204, middle finger 206 comprise a
KEVLAR.RTM. yarn for cut-resistance while ring finger 208 and
little finger 210 comprise oxidized-polyacrylonitrile (OPAN), for
heat- and flame-resistance. Any of the zones can have vertically
knitted courses. As illustrated, the entire glove in exemplary
glove 200 has vertically knitted courses. For example, only part of
the glove can comprise a KEVLAR.RTM. yarn (the lighter colored
yarn), as in the index finger 204, middle finger 206, and thumb 202
zones while upper palm 216, near little finger 210 and ring finger
208, can comprise an OPAN yarn (the darker colored yarn). Also,
because of the vertical courses, the borderline 222, connecting the
OPAN and KEVLAR.RTM. yarns can, but need not, embody a non-linear
line. As illustrated, a parabolic border 222 is shown, allowing
additional design choices, such having cut resistance near the
fingers and heat resistance (or some other property) near the heel
of the hand. In embodiments of this type, for example, a user can
protect the fingers from cuts while, the little finger and the side
of the palm (interface between the palm side and back hand side
along the little finger) comprises the heat-resistant OPAN yarn,
protecting from burns from a hot surface that a hand may rest on
when cutting or a hot pot handle.
[0025] FIG. 5 depicts a plan view of the backhand dorsal side of
the glove of FIG. 4, in accordance with embodiments of the
invention. The backhand side of glove 200 is shown, including thumb
202, index finger 204, middle finger 206, ring finger 208, little
finger 210 and cuff 212. In this embodiment of the present
invention, the KEVLAR.RTM. yarn is substantially on the same
features as on the palm side of glove 200. Also, the OPAN yarn is
also on the same features as on the palm side of glove 200.
However, as discussed above, this need not be the case. Because of
the vertical courses, the backhand of the glove can comprise
different yarns in different regions of glove 200. For example, in
glove 200, on the backhand side, borderline 224 embodies a
completely distinct pattern than borderline 222 on the palm side of
glove 200. Borderline 222 on the backhand side appears parabolic
and transfers into a stepped function, as shown as steps 224. As
opposed to the parabolic pattern on the palmside. Additionally, in
embodiments of the present invention, gloves knitted with
programmable knitting machines of the SWG type, manufactured by
Shima Seiki, may switch from knitting vertical courses to
horizontal courses easily and on-the-fly, so that patterns of
several different types using different yarns can be created,
allowing varied glove designs having different physical and
chemical properties in any desired region of the glove. In other
words, many multifunctional gloves can be created specifying
various yarns in, and only in, desired zones. Single jersey knits,
full jacquard, intarsia, mesh, and other transfer patterns may be
knitted within various zones of the liners.
[0026] FIGS. 4-5 also shows that glove 200, or other gloves in
accordance with embodiments of the present invention, may comprise
yarns having colors contrasting to each other. Where the color of
one zone of the glove differs from another region, the user can
easily and visually identify the particular glove type, so that
whether a particular glove embodies heat- and/or flame-resistant,
chemical resistance, abrasion resistance, and cut-resistant
properties is known to the user.
[0027] FIG. 6 depicts the palm side of a glove according to
embodiments of the invention. Liner 300 comprises thumb 302, index
finger 304, middle finger 306, ring finger 308, and pinky finger
310, upper palm 312, lower palm 314, and cuff 316. Liner 300
comprises a main body yarn (not shown) and may comprise, for
example, a cut resistant yarn, such as but not limited to, steel
wire, glass fibers, filaments, ultra-high molecular weight
polyethylene, nylons, NOMEX.RTM., TWARON.RTM., KEVLAR.RTM.,
DYNEEMA.RTM., SPECTRA.RTM., VECTRAN.RTM., and the like or any blend
of these fibers and materials. The palm side and backhand dorsal
side of liner 300 are seamlessly knit. Liner 300 further comprises
an additional plaited layer of a cut resistant yarn (shown as
crossed lines), which may be plaited into the main body yarn.
Plaiting in this context is a knitted structure of loops having two
or more yarns knitted in the same knitting cycle. As illustrated in
FIG. 6, additional plaited layer is disposed on index finger 304,
middle finger 306, ring finger 308, and pinky finger 310. As is
discussed below, liner 300 may further comprise a polymeric coating
to form a supported glove, which is not shown for ease of
understanding (See FIG. 10 below for an exemplary coated
glove).
[0028] FIG. 7 depicts the backhand side of the liner of FIG. 6, in
accordance with embodiments of the invention. FIG. 7 comprises an
additional plaited layer on the index finger 304, middle finger
306, ring finger 308, and pinky finger 310. The additional plaited
layer is also disposed on the backhand sides of the fingers and
thumb in some embodiments of the invention. Also, the additional
plaited layer can comprise a cut resistant yarn having a different
color than the main body yarn. Gloves in accordance with
embodiments of the invention can comprise indicia of the properties
of the glove. For example, where the color of the additional
plaited layer is different than that of the main body yarn, a user
can choose a glove for a specific task or hazard based on the
color, similar to that discussed above. In other words, if a user
expects to face potential cuts on all four fingers, such as might
occur during the use of, for example, a table saw or band saw, the
user can choose an appropriate glove based on the color seen
plaited into the glove on all four fingers. In fact, the design
options are nearly unlimited. One finger stall tip can comprise a
heat resistant yarn on the palm side, a cut resistant yarn on the
sides, and a chemical resistant yarn on the backhand side of the
tip.
[0029] Embodiments of the invention may also comprise where any of
the upper palm 312, lower palm 314, or cuff 316 have an additional
plaited layer disposed therein. Furthermore, liner 300 may comprise
a polymeric coating disposed on parts of the fingers, thumb, palm,
knuckles, and the like (not shown). Also, liner 300 may optionally
comprise a cuff 316 knit with an elastic yarn or having a
size-adjustment, for example, by a hook and loop fasteners, such as
VELCRO.RTM. attachment or clasp and strap (not shown).
[0030] The additional plaited layer may be plaited into the main
body yarn in several ways. For example, the additional plaited
layer can be formed by changing the main yarn to the additional cut
resistant yarn while varying stitch dimensions, for example, yarn
tension. The tension of the yarn may be varied by adjusting the
tension of the yarn between a pinch roller and a knitting head by
computer control of a knitting machine, as is disclosed in
commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,434,422, which is herein
incorporated by reference in its entirety. Stitch dimensions can
also be controlled by varying the depth of penetration of the
knitting needle into the knitted liner 300, formed by the main
yarn, and by casting off or picking up additional stitches in a
knitted course. Additional plaited layer may also be formed by
variable plaiting the additional cut resistant yarn on top of the
main yarn while varying the tension of the plaited cut resistant
yarn. Liners of this design may be formed with, for example and not
by way of limitation, the SFG-I and NSFG model machines of Shima
Seiki Mfg., Ltd. Substituting or plaiting one course at a certain
tension forms a liner having additional cut resistance. Knitting
two or more courses, such as three, four, five, etc., courses,
provides a liner having an even greater density of additional
plaited layer 330, thereby providing greater cut resistance.
[0031] FIG. 8 depicts the uncoated palm side of a liner according
to embodiments of the invention. Liner 400, according to
embodiments of the invention, is shown in FIGS. 8-9. Liner 400 is
seamlessly knitted and comprises a main body yarn (not shown) and
further includes an additional plaited layer 430 (shown as crossed
lines) comprised of, for example, a cut resistant yarn, which may
be the same or different than the main body yarn. Also, additional
plaited layer 430 may comprise a yarn of a color contrasting to
that of the main body yarn. In FIG. 8, fingers 404, 406, thumb 402,
upper palm 412, and lower palm 414 comprise additional plaited
layer 430. Liner 400 may optionally comprise a cuff knitted with an
elastic yarn or having a size-adjustment, for example, by a strap
and clasp or hook and loop fasteners, such as VELCRO.RTM.
attachment (not shown).
[0032] FIG. 9 depicts the backhand side of the liner of FIG. 8, in
accordance with embodiments of the invention. FIG. 9 comprises
additional layer 430 on the backs of index finger 404 and middle
finger 406. Also, additional plaited layer 430 is disposed on the
back hand side of the fingers 404, 406, 408, 410, thumb 402 and
upper back hand area 418. As can be seen, the additional layer 430
is present on the backside 420 of ring finger 408 and backside 422
of pinky finger 410, though not on the palm side of liner 400. In
one embodiment of a glove for use in a food service industry, such
a glove would be appropriate for the "off" hand of a person using a
knife. The main hazard for the off hand, which may be holding an
item to be cut, such as vegetables, meat, or another food item, is
the knife impacting the backs of fingers and thumb during normal
use, causing an inadvertent cut. Accordingly, an additional cut
resistant layer is needed in the fingers and, for some
applications, much of or the entire backhand area 418 because it is
those zones which are most proximal during a cutting action.
Alternatively, where the ring and pinky fingers, lower palm, and
back hand area have no additional plaited layer, the glove remains
more flexible and comfortable, providing dexterity that also
promotes safety. In practice, any conceivable combination of the
front or back sides of thumb 402, fingers 404, 406, 408, 410, upper
palm 412, lower palm 414, upper back hand side 418, and lower back
hand area 420, and cuff 416, further comprising the additional cut
resistant layer 430, can be specified for many different uses.
Moreover, in some embodiments of the invention, upper backhand 418
may comprise a yarn, for example, for chemical resistance. Yarns
may be dropped and picked up, whether as a plaited layer or a
single yarn zone, and in view of the design options provided by
vertically knitting courses of the zones, glove designs having
zones specified for many applications and/or properties are
possible.
[0033] The zones of any liner disclosed herein may be knitted with
any known yarn or blends of yarns. Cut resistant yarns comprise,
but are not limited to, steel wire, glass fibers, filaments,
ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, nylons, meta-aramids,
para-aramids, NOMEX.RTM., TWARON.RTM., KEVLAR.RTM., DYNEEMA.RTM.,
SPECTRA.RTM., VECTRAN.RTM., and the like or any blend of the fibers
and materials. The cut resistant yarns may also comprise be blended
with other yarns to improve desirable properties, such as for fit
and comfort. For example, stretchable yarns, including but not
limited to SPANDEX.RTM. or LYCRA.RTM. may be included for
flexibility, comfort, and fit. Also, yarns capable of moisture
management, such as STA-COOL.RTM. polyesters, HYDROTEC.RTM.,
AQUARIUS.RTM., and DRYENERGY.RTM., may be included to withdraw
moisture and perspiration from the skin, creating a more
comfortable glove. Such yarns have high wicking properties, which
promote the transfer of moisture away from wet or sweaty skin to
less wet areas or to reservoirs for eventual storage and/or
evaporation, technologies that are disclosed in commonly assigned
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/538,638, filed on Jun. 29, 2012
and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/571,569, filed on Jun.
30, 2011, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
[0034] Gloves in accordance with embodiments of the invention may
further include yarns for chemical resistance, impact-resistance,
flame-resistance, abrasion-resistance, and other desirable
properties imparted by various yarns and/or structures. Modacrylic
yarns and oxidized-polyacrylonitrile (OPAN), such as PANOX.RTM.,
and ARSELON.RTM., provide enhanced heat-resistance. Furthermore,
any yarn may comprise one or more yarns, such as can be created by
ring spun, rotor spun, friction spun, SIRO, braiding, and other
processes for blending yarns.
[0035] Gloves in accordance with embodiments of the invention may
be knitted using automatic seamless glove knitting machines. These
seamless glove knitting machines include, but are not limited to,
models NSFG, SFG-1, and SWG by Shima Seiki Mfg., Ltd. The method of
making knitted liners comprises using one or more continuous yarns
and an array of knitting needles corresponding with the denier of
the yarn. For example, when a second yarn is introduced as a
plaited yarn, the same needle, which does the knitting of the
glove, carries the first and second yarns together. When the
selected zone of the glove is completed, the second yarn is cut
off, while the first yarn continues the knitting process.
Similarly, when knitting a different zone of the glove is being
knitted, the second yarn may be added to the first yarn to create a
knitted zone having both yarn fibers.
[0036] A commonly used knitting needle for knitting liners is a
15-gauge needle. Shima Seiki manufactures knitting machines that
are capable of using finer knitting machine needle size, such as an
18-gauge needle. The gauge of the knitting machine needle
corresponds with the denier of the yarn. For example, a needle of
gauge 15 may be used to knit a liner having a 319 denier yarn.
However, a needle of gauge 18 may be used to knit a liner having,
for example, 70 to 221 denier yarn. Denier is defined as number of
grams of a yarn having a length of 9000 meters. A liner knitted by
an 18-gauge needle is approximately 30% lighter than a liner
knitted with a 15-gauge needle. The small diameter of 221 denier
yarn knitted with an 18-gauge needle also has higher packing
density per square unit area, thereby presenting a smoother surface
for polymeric, elastomeric, or latex coating, as discussed below,
resulting in a smoother, thinner coating. Other gauges and deniers
may be 7, 10, or 12 gauge for knitting yarns up to, for example,
3000 denier.
[0037] Liners 100, 200, 300, 400, and other liners in accordance
with embodiments of the invention, further comprise a polymeric,
elastomeric, or latex coating disposed on all or part of the
gloves. Also, embodiments of the invention comprise transparent or
translucent polymeric, elastomeric, or latex coatings so that a
glove in which indicia of properties provided by different colored
yarns, as discussed above, may still be known to the user. FIG. 10
depicts a perspective view of a glove having a polymeric coating in
accordance with embodiments of the invention. Coating 530 may
comprise natural or synthetic polymeric coatings or mixtures
thereof. For example, a latex coating may comprise a natural latex,
such as guayule or polyisoprene, synthetic latexes, such as
synthetic polyisoprene, carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene,
non-carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene, butyl latex,
polychloroprene, nitriles, polyurethane, styrene-butadiene,
acrylonitrile-butadiene, and the like, or mixtures thereof. The
polymeric coating on liners 100, 200, 300, or 400 can comprise a
palm dip, knuckle dip, finger dip, three-quarters dip, full dip,
and the like as needed for specific applications using the dip
processes as described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No.
7,814,571, which is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety. FIG. 10 depicts liner glove 500 having a palm dip in
which the palm is totally covered with an polymeric coating 530.
The palm side of fingers 502, 504, 506, 508, and 510 are covered
with polymeric coating 530, and extending over the tips to the
backhand sides. Coating 530 partially covers the backside of
fingers, while the back hand side 518 of a left hand glove 500 is
uncoated, leaving the cut resistant layer 522 exposed. Glove 500
may further comprise cuff 526 and lower backhand section 524, which
are not coated with coating 530 as shown.
[0038] Knitted liners 100, 200, 300, and 400, as well as other
liners according to embodiments of the invention, may have a
coagulant disposed thereon before the coating is applied, such as
calcium nitrate, calcium citrate, calcium chloride, other salts,
and like coagulants known to those in the art. The coagulant may be
disposed by dipping, spraying of other processes. The coagulant
destabilizes the polymeric, elastomeric, or latex emulsion, causing
the coating therefrom to set on the fabric of a liner, preventing
strikethrough of the coating. Also, gloves in accordance with
embodiments of the invention may further comprise coatings that are
foamed (open cell or closed cell) or unfoamed. Additionally,
coatings may be built up in layers or in varying thickness. In some
embodiments of the invention, a liner having a coating disposed
thereon may have a second coagulant disposed on the coating, which
may then have a second layer of coating disposed thereon. The
layers may comprise the same or different polymeric materials.
Additionally, the coatings may further comprise textured surfaces
(not shown). Open cell and closed cell foamed layers and/or
textured coatings may impart additional friction during use,
allowing superior gripability and safety properties, such as is
disclosed in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,378,043, 7,771,644,
and 8,001,809 which are herein incorporated by reference in their
entireties.
[0039] The following embodiments of the invention are exemplary. It
is to be understood that any of the features of one embodiment can
be incorporated within any preceding embodiment. Embodiments in
accordance with the invention include a knitted glove having a palm
side and a backhand side. Both the palm side and backhand side may
comprise vertically knitted courses that are seamlessly knitted
together.
[0040] In embodiments of the invention, either or both of the palm
side and backhand side comprise zones, for example, knitted zones
defining a thumb, index finger, middle finger, ring finger, little
finger, upper palm, lower palm, and cuff. Additionally, either of
these zones may be further separated into sub zones. Any of these
zones can comprise courses that are vertically knitted or
horizontally knitted. And, contiguous zones can be knitted
seamlessly together, even if one zone, for example, the palm side
of the tip of an index finger has vertically knit courses and the
corresponding backhand side of the tip of the index finger has
horizontally knitted courses.
[0041] In embodiments of the invention, for example, the palm side
and backhand side of the little finger and ring finger may comprise
a cut resistant yarn and the palm side and backhand side of the
middle finger and index finger comprise a non-cut resistant yarn,
such as a flexible yarn, such as LYCRA.RTM. or SPANDEX.RTM..
[0042] In embodiments of the invention, for example, the palm side
of the little finger and ring finger may comprise a cut resistant
yarn and the backhand side of the middle finger and index finger
comprise a cut resistant yarn, while the backhand side of the
little finger and ring finger may comprise a non-cut resistant
yarn, such as SPANDEX.RTM. and the backhand side of the middle
finger and index finger comprise a non cut resistant yarn such as
SPANDEX.RTM..
[0043] In embodiments of the invention, for example, the palm side
of the little finger and ring finger may comprise a cut resistant
yarn and the backhand side of the middle finger and index finger
comprise a cut resistant yarn, while the backhand side of the
little finger and ring finger may comprise a non-cut resistant
yarn, such as SPANDEX.RTM. and the backhand side of the middle
finger and index finger comprise a non cut resistant yarn such as
SPANDEX.RTM.. The thumb optionally comprises a cut resistant yarn
around, for example, 270 degrees of its lateral periphery (from
around one side to the other, as opposed to from the base to the
tip) and a flexible yarn the remaining 90 degrees.
[0044] In embodiments of the invention, the palm side of the little
finger and ring finger and upper palm zone comprise a cut resistant
yarn that follows a parabolic pattern toward the lower palm zone
while the thumb, index finger and middle finger comprise a non-cut
resistant yarn, such as a moisture-managing yarn. In embodiments of
the invention, the backhand side comprises a yarn of the same type
as on the palm side. In some embodiments, the backhand side
comprises a different yarn than the palm side. In some embodiments,
the pattern is not parabolic and defines a stepped pattern.
[0045] In embodiments of the invention, any yarn may have one or
more yarns plaited within any stitch or any zone without regard for
whether the stitches comprising the knitted courses are vertically
or horizontally knit.
[0046] In some embodiments of the invention, for example, the
gloves may include a polymeric, elastomeric, or latex coating,
which may be disposed on the glove by spraying, dipping, and other
processes.
[0047] While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the
present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention
may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and
the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.
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