U.S. patent application number 15/372164 was filed with the patent office on 2017-06-08 for protective glove with inner glove life indicator.
The applicant listed for this patent is Honeywell International Inc.. Invention is credited to Octavian Buiu, Cornel P. Cobianu, Cristian Diaconu, Eric Farin, Christiane Saunier, Bogdan-Catalin Serban.
Application Number | 20170156420 15/372164 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54848406 |
Filed Date | 2017-06-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170156420 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cobianu; Cornel P. ; et
al. |
June 8, 2017 |
PROTECTIVE GLOVE WITH INNER GLOVE LIFE INDICATOR
Abstract
An inner indicator glove formed of multiple layers including a
protective layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, the
bottom surface facing a hand of a user when wearing the inner
indicator glove, and an indicator layer supported by the top
surface of the protective layer and positioned to contact
protective glove when the inner indicator glove is inserted into
the protective glove, wherein the indicator layer is formed of a
material that changes color when exposed to a solution penetrating
the protective glove.
Inventors: |
Cobianu; Cornel P.;
(Bucharest, RO) ; Serban; Bogdan-Catalin;
(Bucharest, RO) ; Buiu; Octavian; (Bucharest,
RO) ; Diaconu; Cristian; (Bucharest, RO) ;
Farin; Eric; (Paris, FR) ; Saunier; Christiane;
(Auten, FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Honeywell International Inc. |
Morris Plains |
NJ |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
54848406 |
Appl. No.: |
15/372164 |
Filed: |
December 7, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 19/0031 20130101;
A41D 19/001 20130101; A41D 19/0027 20130101; A41D 19/0082 20130101;
A41D 19/0006 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A41D 19/00 20060101
A41D019/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 8, 2015 |
EP |
15198547.0 |
Claims
1. An inner indicator glove formed of multiple layers comprising: a
protective layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, the
bottom surface facing a hand of a user when wearing the inner
indicator glove; and an indicator layer supported by the top
surface of the protective layer and positioned to contact
protective glove when the inner indicator glove is inserted into
the protective glove, wherein the indicator layer is formed of a
material that changes color when exposed to a solution penetrating
the protective glove.
2. The inner indicator glove of claim 1 wherein the change in color
becomes visible from an external surface of the protective glove
when the inner indicator glove is inserted into the protective
glove.
3. The inner indicator glove of claim 1 wherein the change in color
becomes visible when a least a portion of the inner indicator glove
is removed from the protective glove.
4. The inner indicator glove of claim 1 wherein the indicator layer
comprises a pH indicator generating a color corresponding to a pH
of the solution.
5. The inner indicator glove of claim 4 wherein the pH indicator
comprises bromophenol blue.
6. The inner indicator glove of claim 1 wherein the protective
layer comprises natural or synthetic lattices.
7. The inner indicator glove of claim 1 wherein the indicator layer
is a continuous layer.
8. The inner indicator glove of claim 1 wherein the protective
layer comprises at least one of latex, nitrile, or chloroprene and
the indicator layer comprises bromophenol blue.
9. The inner indicator glove of claim 1 wherein the protective
layer has a thickness configured to provide approximately 10
minutes of protection when the life of the protective glove has
failed and the indicator layer changes color responsive to the
failure of the protective glove.
10. The inner indicator glove of claim 1 and further comprising a
protective glove into which the indicator glove has been
inserted.
11. The inner indicator glove of claim 1 wherein the protective
glove includes a transparent patch through which the color of the
indicator layer is observable.
12. A method of forming an inner indicator glove, the method
comprising: dip coating a hand shaped former into a bath to form a
protective-layer having a thickness that provides a selected
protection time less than a protection time of a protective glove;
and forming an indicator layer on the protective layer, the
indicator forming an outer layer of the inner indicator glove.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein forming an indicator layer on
the protective layer comprises dip coating the hand shaped former
having the first protective layer into a bath containing a
bromophenol blue slurry to form the indicator layer comprising
bromophenol blue.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the bromophenol blue slurry
comprises bromophenol blue powder, alcohol, a surfactant, and a
viscosity intensifying agent resin.
15. The method of claim 12 wherein forming an indicator layer on
the protective layer comprises printing the indicator layer.
16. A method comprising: inserting an inner indicator glove into a
protective glove, wherein the inner indicator glove has an
indicator layer positioned to change color responsive to an end of
service life of the protective glove; using the protective glove
with the inserted inner indicator glove; viewing the change of
color of the indicator layer; and discontinuing use of the
protective glove.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein viewing the change of color of
the indicator layer comprises removing a portion of the protective
glove to expose the inner indicator glove such that the change of
color is visible to a user.
18. The method of claim 16 wherein viewing the change of color of
the indicator layer comprises viewing a solution that diffused back
through nanopores in the protective glove to an outer surface of
the protective glove, the solution being colored by the indicator
layer responsive to the solution penetrating the protective glove
signifying the end of the service life of the protective glove.
19. The method of claim 16 wherein viewing the change of color of
the indicator layer comprises viewing the indicator layer through a
transparent patch of the protective glove.
20. The method of claim 16 wherein the indicator layer comprises
bromophenol blue.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority under 35
U.S.C. Section 119 to European Patent Application Serial No.
15198547.0, filed on Dec. 8, 2015, which application is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The protective gloves for process industries (petrochemical,
chemical, food, beverage, and pharmaceutical) are constructed to
assure people safety under harsh chemical, mechanical and
electrical conditions. The glove suppliers provide a big product
catalog, where different types of gloves are recommended for
different type of chemicals to be handled. Depending on the
application and chemical products to which they are exposed, the
gloves may have a different type of material and a different
thickness of the layers from which they are made of.
[0003] In many countries, such as European countries, the gloves
have to pass mechanical (EN 388), thermal (EN511), and chemical
standards, such as a European standards (EN 374-2, EN 374-3) before
they are sent to the market. In addition to these standards, the
gloves should comply with the standard EN 420, which specifies
general criteria for comfort, size, dexterity, labeling, and heavy
metal content and pH content. Each standard defines exact test and
acceptance conditions for the gloves exposed to critical
mechanical, thermal, chemical agents. There may be various levels
of performance specified by the different standards. For instance a
first level may specify the test and acceptance conditions for the
least aggressive value of the externally applied agent and the
highest level may be associated with the most aggressive value of
the externally applied agent.
[0004] For example, the standard EN-374-2 characterizes the
permeability features of the gloves and it specifies a method for
testing the protective gloves resistance to permeation of chemical
products (penetration). Standard EN374-3 includes the standard. EN
374-2 requirements, and in addition, requires that the protective
glove pass the performance level 2 of chemical resistance for at
least three chemical products (like, methanol, sulfuric acid 96%,
40% sodium hydroxide, tetrahydrofuran, acetone, carbon disulfide,
ethyl acetate, etc.) This performance level 2 for chemical
resistance means that the permeation time (test made according to
the standard) should be higher than or equal to 30 minutes, when
the glove is exposed continuously to that chemical.
[0005] A catalog of gloves for chemical protection. during handling
of acids and alkalis, for example, would include as suitable the
latex gloves which can be used in harsh applications for food and
beverage industry where cleaning with high concentrated cleaning
agents are the most used. Such latex gloves meet the above standard
and they are also accompanied by a wide list of permeation data.
Related to the protective gloves described above, their use in the
field is made most of the time without keeping clear evidence of
the time of use during their lifetime, and so in many cases they
can be used for a much shorter time with respect to their designed
lifetime. On the other hand, the suppliers themselves may be
conservative in specifying the level of performance, which means
that even if the real level of performance may be 4, the supplier
would specify 3, which is lower than 4. The reason for this
conservative approach may the fact that according to the standard
requirements, the supplier is testing the resistance of the gloves
in 12 families of chemical agents, each represented by a certain
concentration at a certain temperature, while the real breakthrough
time of the glove in the field can be indicated with accuracy only
for breakthrough tests performed in that real agent, at that
temperature.
SUMMARY
[0006] An inner indicator glove formed of multiple layers including
a protective layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, the
bottom surface facing a hand of a user when wearing the inner
indicator glove, and an indicator layer supported by the top
surface of the protective layer and positioned to contact
protective glove when the inner indicator glove is inserted into
the protective glove, wherein the indicator layer is formed of a
material that changes color when exposed to a solution penetrating
the protective glove.
[0007] A method of forming an inner indicator glove, the method
including dip coating a hand shaped former into a bath to form a
protective-layer having a thickness that provides a selected
protection time less than a protection time of a protective glove
and forming an indicator layer on the protective layer, the
indicator forming an outer layer of the inner indicator glove.
[0008] A method includes inserting an inner indicator glove into a
protective glove, wherein the inner indicator glove has an
indicator layer positioned to change color responsive to an end of
service life of the protective glove, using the protective glove
with the inserted inner indicator glove, viewing the change of
color of the indicator layer, and discontinuing use of the
protective glove.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a protective outer
glove and inner indicator glove for use inside the protective outer
glove according to an example embodiment.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a cross section representation of a portion of an
inner indicator glove according to an example embodiment.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a protective outer glove having
a transparent patch for viewing an inner indicator glove color
according to an example embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] In the following description, reference is made to the
accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is
shown by way of illustration specific embodiments which may be
practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to
enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it
is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that
structural, logical and electrical changes may be made without
departing from the scope of the present invention. The following
description of example embodiments is, therefore, not to be taken
in a limited sense, and the scope of the present invention is
defined by the appended claims.
[0013] Suppliers of protective gloves may be conservative in
specifying the level of performance of the gloves that they sell.
Even if the real level of performance may be 4, the supplier would
specify 3, representing a shorter period of time than the actual
performance of the glove prior to failure. A protective glove
without any fabrication defects can still create injury to the user
at the unknown end of its service life due to the permeation of the
dangerous liquid/gases through the micro/nano pores of the glove,
which can, thus, reach the skin of the user.
[0014] FIG. 1 is a representation of a protective glove 100 to be
used in conjunction with an inner indicator glove 110 that fits
inside of protective glove 100. The protective glove may be formed
of latex or other protective material, like nitrile, chloroprene
(e.g. Neoprene, butyl, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), PU, CSM, Fluoro
elastomer (e.g. Viton). Off the shelf protective gloves that are
unmodified may be used in some embodiment.
[0015] In order to obtain a maximum protection of the user's hands
even in the situation of protective glove 100 reaching its (100%)
end of service life during the working time, the inner indicator
glove 110 is introduced into the outer protective glove (G2G-glove
to glove). The inner indicator glove 110 is designed to indicate
the permeation of harsh chemicals through the outer glove and to
assure hand protection for a minimum amount of time, such as at
least 10 minutes of work (performance level 1).
[0016] FIG. 2 is a cross section view of a portion 200 of the inner
protective glove 110. The inner protective glove 110 in one
embodiment is thin and flexible, comprising two layers, a top layer
210 and a bottom layer 220, strongly adhering one to the other,
being stacked together during a fabrication process. The bottom
layer 220 is formed of protective material having a thickness
suitable for ensuring protection of a hand for a specified amount
of time following failure of the protective glove 100, such as 10
minutes. Other times, such as 5 minutes, 15 minutes, or any other
time may be selected. Note that the protective bottom layer 220 may
be quite a bit thinner than the thickness of the protective glove
100.
[0017] Top layer 210 of the inner indicator glove is made of a
material which changes its color due to the pH of the liquid
permeating through the outer glove. Such a color changing layer can
be made of universal pH indicator, and may thus respond to any type
of chemical, either acid or base and its mixture.
[0018] A good example for such universal pH indicator is the
bromophenol blue. According to the color change of the bromophenol
blue exposed to the liquid, a yellow color is obtained for pH
smaller than 3, multiple colors for pH between 3 and 4.6 (real pH
indicator in this pH range) and blue color for pH greater than 4.6.
The advantage of bromophenol blue is that it has the largest change
in color hue, when the concentration of the observed sample
increases or decreases. If for example one needs a indicator to be
used for the top layer 220 of the inner indicator glove 110
immersed only in the acid baths, then one can use a color changing
layer (top layer 220) based on methyl orange
(C.sub.14H.sub.14N.sub.3NaO.sub.3S) which indicates the presence of
acids (pH between 0 and 6), discriminating very well the strength
of the acid. For other applications, where only bases are handled,
one can have a color changing layer based on phenolphthalein, which
is colorless below 8.2 and pink above that value up to a pH of
about 13. For even stronger basic solutions, the phenolphthalein
becomes colorless. The bottom layer 220 of the inner glove, which
is in contact with the skin, it is made of a chemically resistant
material like latex, butyl, CSM/neoprene, etc.
[0019] Such an inner indicator glove 110 with continuous color
change top layer 220 above the entire hand has the advantage of
identification of the starting leakage area without any harmful
effect of on the skin of the user, while the outer protective glove
itself has been safely used during its maximum service life,
without any concerns related to its use in the last period of
use.
[0020] Determining that the inner indicator glove 110 has changed
color may be done in several different ways. In one embodiment, the
user may simply remove the outer protective glove 100 and visually
inspect the inner indicator glove 110 for color changes. In a
further embodiment, a transparent or at least partially transparent
or translucent patch may be provided on an alternative outer
protective glove 300 as indicated at 310 in FIG. 3. The patch 310
is sufficiently transparent to allow a user to see the color of the
inner indicator glove without removing the outer glove.
[0021] In a still further embodiment, the activation mechanism
causing the inner indicator glove to produce a visible indication
results in a flow of an indicator solution comprising vapors and
liquids the external glove is exposed to, to an external surface of
the protective glove. In the body of the protective gloves there
are always nanopores which are filled with air, and these nanopores
are at the origin of the liquid permeation process. This means that
the liquid molecules can diffuse inside the protective glove via
those pores and after a certain time they can penetrate the entire
thickness of the protective glove, reaching the inner indicator
glove. This time is called the breakdown time of the protective
glove in a certain solution. The breakdown time of a protective
glove will depend on its thickness, the magnitude of the permeating
liquid molecule and the size of the nanopores. Exposure of the
protective glove to the solution results in nanopores filling with
liquid molecules, and thus the liquid gradually penetrates the
protective glove. After the nanopores are filled with the solution
along the entire thickness of the protective glove, the solution
from the nanopores will start to dissolve the color changing
indicator layer 210 containing bromophenol blue in one embodiment
in the inner indicator glove 110, acting as a pH indicator or dye.
This dye will start diffusing back along the nanopores via
concentration gradient and capillary forces, through the protective
glove 100 until visible at the outer surface of the protective
glove 100.
[0022] When the dye arrives at the outer surface of protective
glove 100 through a multitude of nanopores, a change in the
background color of protective glove will be easily visible to a
user. A background color of white for the protective glove 110 may
provide for maximum contrast of the indication color. The color
will be changed according to the overall pH of the liquid in the
pores after glove exposure to both acids and bases, and solvents,
i.e., the solution.
[0023] Three fabrication processes for the inner indicator glove
are described, where a solid state pH indicator layer is deposited
continuously on the entire chemically resistant layer of the inner
indicator glove.
[0024] The first fabrication process is similar to a traditional
dip coating process used for the protective glove. A second process
is a hybrid approach where the chemically resistant layer is made
by dip coating while the color changing layer is made by direct
printing. The third process is an all-printing process, where both
color changing layer and the chemically resistive layer are made by
a method of direct printing. This G2G concept can be applied to all
types of chemically protective gloves. Moreover, a universal inner
indicator glove can be used for all type of gloves dedicated to
acid/base/solvent combinations.
[0025] Generic standard technology for the dip coating fabrication
process of the protective gloves consists of full immersion of a
hand shaped former (HSF) in multiple baths where the liquid state
of the future layers are present. In one embodiment, the hand
shaped former is in the shape of a typical glove, having portions
corresponding to an arm, palm area, four fingers and a thumb.
Different HSFs may be used for each hand and multiple HSFs may be
used of varying sizes corresponding to different sizes of hands and
protective gloves. After each dip coating, a thermal treatment is
made for the solid state consolidation of the film. At the end of
the process, the gloves are peeled off from the HSF, and thus the
last deposited layer on the glove will be the layer in contact with
the skin. Note that in some embodiments, the glove is not reversed
when peeling it off from the HSF, or may be turned inside out after
peeling off. This allows the inner indicator glove to be formed by
first forming the latex protective layer followed by the indicator
layer.
[0026] Note that in some embodiments, the same size HSF may be used
to form both the protective glove 100 and the inner indicator glove
110 such that a tight fit of the inner indicator glove 110 into the
protective glove 100 is obtained. A tight fit ensures better
tactile feel and dexterity for the user in utilizing the combined
gloves. A tight fit may also promote better migration of color from
the inner indicator glove to the outside of the protective glove
for viewing by a user. In further embodiments, a slightly smaller
size HSF may be used for the inner indicator glove formation.
[0027] Three alternative methods for making inner indicator glove
110 are described.
[0028] I. An example of a "standard" all-dip-coating fabrication
process of a smart latex inner indicator glove 110 containing a
color change layer 210 as follows:
[0029] 1. Dip coating of the hand-shape former (HSF) into the
"latex" bath for getting a latex film of the desired thickness.
[0030] 2. Thermal treatment of the dip-coated HSF for obtaining a
solid state of the thin latex film.
[0031] 3. Dip-coating of the HSF from step 2 into a bath containing
bromophenol blue slurry at the right viscosity.
[0032] 4. Thermal treatment of the HSF from the step 3.
[0033] II. An example of the original hybrid fabrication process of
smart inner indicator glove 110 based on dip-coating and direct
printing may be performed as follows:
[0034] 1. Dip coating of the hand-shape former (HSF) into the
"latex" bath for getting a latex film of desired thickness. (about
20% of the thickness of the outer glove).
[0035] 2. Thermal treatment of the dip-coated HSF from step 1 for
obtaining a solid state of the first latex film.
[0036] 3. Direct printing of the color changing layer. Direct
printing, such as by inkjet printer allows the color changing layer
to be masklessly deposited.
[0037] 4. Thermal treatment of the HSF from step 3 which was direct
printed for getting a solid color changing layer.
[0038] III. Finally, an example of original all-printed inner
indicator glove 110 may also utilize direct printing to replace all
the dip-coating processes from above.
[0039] An example of process for making the viscous bromophenol
blue slurry that can be used for dip coating or inkjet printing can
be as shown below:
[0040] 1. Dissolve the bromophenol blue powder in a mixture of
water and small amount of solvent like ethylic alcohol,
dimethylformamide, or dimethylsulfoxide.
[0041] 2. Add surfactants like Tween 20, Tween 40, Tween 60, Tween
80.
[0042] 3. Add viscosity intensifying agent resin (like shellac,
guaiac gum methyl cellulose and ethyl cellulose).
[0043] 4. Obtain a homogeneous and viscous solution of the color
changing agent based on bromophenol blue.
[0044] An automated factory for fabrication of all printed inner
indicator gloves utilizing moving the HSF on a line from one
location to another, and at each location, the HSF will receive the
required process as described above. For thermal treatment the HSF
can travel through a furnace with the required temperature profile,
as required by the previous printed layer.
EXAMPLES
[0045] 1. An inner indicator glove fanned of multiple layers
comprising: [0046] a protective layer having a top surface and a
bottom surface, the bottom surface facing a hand of a user when
wearing the inner indicator glove; and [0047] an indicator layer
supported by the top surface of the protective layer and positioned
to contact protective glove when the inner indicator glove is
inserted into the protective glove, wherein the indicator layer is
formed of a material that changes color when exposed to a solution
penetrating the protective glove.
[0048] 2. The inner indicator glove of example 1 wherein the change
in color becomes visible from an external surface of the protective
glove when the inner indicator glove is inserted into the
protective glove.
[0049] 3. The inner indicator glove of any of examples 1-2 wherein
the change in color becomes visible when a least a portion of the
inner indicator glove is removed from the protective glove.
[0050] 4. The inner indicator glove of any of examples 1-3 wherein
the indicator layer comprises a pH indicator generating a color
corresponding to a pH of the solution.
[0051] 5. The inner indicator glove of example 4 wherein the pH
indicator comprises bromophenol blue.
[0052] 6. The inner indicator glove of any of examples 1-5 wherein
the protective layer comprises natural or synthetic lattices.
[0053] 7. The inner indicator glove of any of examples 1-6 wherein
the indicator layer is a continuous layer.
[0054] 8. The inner indicator glove of any of examples 1-7 wherein
the protective layer comprises at least one of latex, nitrile, or
chloroprene and the indicator layer comprises bromophenol blue.
[0055] 9. The inner indicator glove of any of examples 1-8 wherein
the protective layer has a thickness configured to provide
approximately 10 minutes of protection when the life of the
protective glove has failed and the indicator layer changes color
responsive to the failure of the protective glove.
[0056] 10. The inner indicator glove of any of examples 1-9 and
further comprising a protective glove into which the indicator
glove has been inserted.
[0057] 11. The inner indicator glove of any of examples 1-10
wherein the protective glove includes a transparent patch through
which the color of the indicator layer is observable.
[0058] 12. A method of forming an inner indicator glove, the method
comprising: [0059] dip coating a hand shaped former into a bath to
form a protective-layer having a thickness that provides a selected
protection time less than a protection time of a protective glove;
and [0060] forming an indicator layer on the protective layer, the
indicator forming an outer layer of the inner indicator glove.
[0061] 13. The method of example 12 wherein forming an indicator
layer on the protective layer comprises dip coating the hand shaped
former having the first protective layer into a bath containing a
bromophenol blue slurry to form the indicator layer comprising
bromophenol blue.
[0062] 14. The method of example 13 wherein the bromophenol blue
slurry comprises bromophenol blue powder, alcohol, a surfactant,
and a viscosity intensifying agent resin.
[0063] 15. The method of any one of examples 12-14 wherein forming
an indicator layer on the protective layer comprises printing the
indicator layer.
[0064] 16. A method comprising: [0065] inserting an inner indicator
glove into a protective glove, wherein the inner indicator glove
has an indicator layer positioned to change color responsive to an
end of service life of the protective glove; [0066] using the
protective glove with the inserted inner indicator glove; [0067]
viewing the change of color of the indicator layer; and [0068]
discontinuing use of the protective glove.
[0069] 17. The method of example 16 wherein viewing the change of
color of the indicator layer comprises removing a portion of the
protective glove to expose the inner indicator glove such that the
change of color is visible to a user.
[0070] 18. The method of example 16 wherein viewing the change of
color of the indicator layer comprises viewing a solution that
diffused back through nanopores in the protective glove to an outer
surface of the protective glove, the solution being colored by the
indicator layer responsive to the solution penetrating the
protective glove signifying the end of the service life of the
protective glove.
[0071] 19. The method of example 16 wherein viewing the change of
color of the indicator layer comprises viewing the indicator layer
through a transparent patch of the protective glove.
[0072] 20. The method of example 16 wherein the indicator layer
comprises bromophenol blue.
[0073] Although a few embodiments have been described in detail
above, other modifications are possible. For example, the logic
flows depicted in the figures do not require the particular order
shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. Other
steps may be provided, or steps may be eliminated, from the
described flows, and other components may be added to, or removed
from, the described systems. Other embodiments may be within the
scope of the following claims.
* * * * *