ANIMAL HANDLING GLOVE AND RELATED METHODS

Abstract

A glove and related methods are disclosed. The glove has a distal portion having a first sheath shaped and configured for receiving the thumb, a second sheath shaped and configured for receiving the index finger, and a third sheath shaped and configured for receiving the middle finger, the ring finger, and the little finger. Alternatively, the glove has a distal portion having a first sheath shaped and configured for receiving at least one of the thumb, the index finger, the middle finger, the ring finger, or the little finger, wherein the first sheath is formed by stitching a first leather fabric, a second leather fabric, and a finger reinforcement together in a wrong side out configuration followed by turning the first sheath right side out, whereby the finger reinforcement is positioned on an interior portion of the first sheath.

Description

FIELD

[0001] This invention is related to gloves. Specifically, but not intended to limit the invention, embodiments of the invention are related to gloves for capturing or holding animals.

BACKGROUND

[0002] A number of gloves for use by veterinarians or other animal handlers are known in the industry. Usually, the gloves are made of leather and/or a man-made material in an effort to reduce the risk of injury. There remains a need, however, or an animal handling glove or method having new and innovative features.

SUMMARY

[0003] An exemplary glove for wear by a user having a hand with a thumb, an index finger, a middle finger, a ring finger, and a little finger has at least one of: (a) a distal portion having a first sheath shaped and configured for receiving the thumb, a second sheath shaped and configured for receiving the index finger, and a third sheath shaped and configured for receiving the middle finger, the ring finger, and the little finger; or (b) a distal portion having a first sheath shaped and configured for receiving at least one of the thumb, the index finger, the middle finger, the ring finger, or the little finger, wherein the first sheath is formed by stitching a first leather fabric, a second leather fabric, and a finger reinforcement together in a wrong side out configuration followed by turning the first sheath right side out, whereby the finger reinforcement is positioned on an interior portion of the first sheath.

[0004] An exemplary method of making a glove for wear by a user having a hand with a thumb, an index finger, a middle finger, a ring finger, and a little finger is described. The exemplary method includes provide a first leather fabric and a second leather fabric. The exemplary method includes stitch the first leather fabric and the second leather fabric together to form one of: (a) a distal portion having a first sheath shaped and configured for receiving the thumb, a second sheath shaped and configured for receiving the index finger, and a third sheath shaped and configured for receiving the middle finger, the ring finger, and the little finger; or (b) a distal portion having a first sheath shaped and configured for receiving at least one of the thumb, the index finger, the middle finger, the ring finger, or the little finger, wherein the first sheath is formed by stitching a first leather fabric, a second leather fabric, and a finger reinforcement together in a wrong side out configuration followed by turning the first sheath right side out, whereby the finger reinforcement is positioned on an interior portion of the first sheath.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION ON THE DRAWINGS

[0005] FIG. 1 is a first side perspective view of an exemplary glove;

[0006] FIG. 2 is a second side perspective view of the glove in FIG. 1;

[0007] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the glove in FIG. 1;

[0008] FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the glove in FIG. 1;

[0009] FIG. 5 is a distal portion perspective view of the glove in FIG. 1;

[0010] FIG. 5A is a distal portion perspective view of the glove in FIG. 1 with optional features;

[0011] FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the glove in FIG. 1;

[0012] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of an exemplary glove turned wrong side out;

[0013] FIG. 8 is a flow chart of an exemplary method; and

[0014] FIG. 9 is a flow chart of an exemplary method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] Persons working in industries requiring physical handling of animals such as small primates and small mammals require protection of their hands and, depending on the size of the animal, forearms. A variety of leather and man-made material gloves are available on the market today. Improvements described herein, however, may assist in improving the safety of animal handlers.

[0016] Turning now to FIGS. 1-6, shown is a glove 100 according to some embodiments. The glove 100 may be referenced herein as a glove for handling small primates. The glove 100 may have a distal portion 102 for receiving the fingers of a handler and a proximal portion 104 having an opening or sheath for assisting in donning the glove 100. The glove 100 may be configured for wear by a user having a hand with a thumb, an index finger, a middle finger, a ring finger, and a little finger.

[0017] As seen most clearly in FIG. 5, the distal portion 102 may have a first sheath 110 shaped and configured for receiving a handler's thumb, a second sheath 112 shaped and configured for receiving the handler's index finger, and a third sheath 114 shaped and configured for receiving all of the middle finger, the ring finger, and the little finger together, as one would expect of a mitten.

[0018] The glove 100 may be configured for handling primates, which have the ability to isolate the individual fingers of users who are wearing standard or five finger gloves. In some embodiments, the third sheath 114, which may also be referenced herein as a pocket, is configured to receive and/or protect the users middle, ring and little finger to assist in preventing the animal from separating and isolating the users middle, ring and little finger, thereby reducing the likelihood of injuries.

[0019] This configuration is in contrast to other gloves having a mitten portion for all fingers except the thumb and allows the user to maintain dexterity and use of the more active index finger and thumb, through the first and second sheaths 110, 112.

[0020] In some embodiments, the glove 100 has a first distraction flap 106. The first distraction flap 106 may be a panel or a piece of leather fabric or other material attached to a top portion of the glove 100, such as by way of a stitching that biases the first distraction flap 106 in a first configuration, such as against the top portion of the glove 100. The first distraction flap 106 may be suited to distracting the primate or animal being handled by providing something for the animal to grasp, explore, and/or attack. The first distraction flap 106 may be made of a material different from the rest of the glove 100.

[0021] In some embodiments and as best illustrated in FIGS. 5-6, the glove 100 has a second distraction flap 108. The second distraction flap 108 may be a panel or a piece of leather fabric attached to a bottom portion of the glove 100, such as by way of a stitching that biases the second distraction flap 108 in a first configuration, such as against the bottom portion of the glove 100. The second distraction flap 108 may be suited to distracting the primate being handled by providing something for the animal to grasp, explore, and/or attack. The second distraction flap 108 may be made of a material different from the rest of the glove 100. The second distraction flap 108 may have a fold or seam 118 at a proximal region, whereby the second distraction flap 108 is configured to be biased toward the bottom portion of the glove 100. The second distraction flap 108 may have a protruding portion 116 for further distraction or convenience.

[0022] In some embodiments, the glove 100 has an upper panel 120, a lower panel 126, and a thumb panel 132 stitched or otherwise joined together to form the distal portion 102 and proximal portion 104 of the glove 100. A first upper protective layer 122 may be stitched or otherwise joined to the upper panel 120 to protect the handler's wrist or forearm area. A second upper panel protective layer 124 may be stitched or otherwise joined to the upper panel 120 to protect the upper portions of the handler's/user's hands or fingers. The second upper panel protective layer 124 may be positioned between the first distraction flap 106 and the upper panel 120.

[0023] A first lower protective layer 128 may be stitched or otherwise joined to the lower panel 126 to protect the handler's wrist or forearm area. The layers 128, 122 may be attached to the panels 120, 126 in a wrong side out configuration, then turned right side out to form a proximal sheath for protecting the handler's wrist or forearm area.

[0024] The thumb panel 132 may be a separate panel attached to the upper panel 120 and/or the lower panel 126, or the thumb panel 132 may be unitary with the upper panel 120 or the lower panel 126, to form a sheath 110 for the handler's thumb. A thumb protective layer 134 may be stitched or otherwise joined to the thumb panel 132 to protect the handler's thumb without reducing dexterity of the thumb. A thumb distraction mechanism 136 may be provided at a distal portion of the sheath 110, as most clearly seen in FIG. 5. The mechanism 136 may be an extra portion of material, a separate panel, and/or fold at the distal portion of the sheath 110 to distract an animal being handled without reducing dexterity of the thumb.

[0025] In some embodiments, and as shown in FIG. 5A, an impact protection panel(s) 122a, 128a may be provided in the proximal portion 104 of the glove 100. In some embodiments, the panel may be placed between the panels 122, 128 and an inner liner, though those skilled in the art will recognize this is not required. That is, the impact protection panel(s) 122a, 128a may be attached to the exterior of the glove 100, or the impact protection panel(s) 122a 128a may be interior of the panels 122, 128 and adjacent the user's skin. The impact protection panel(s) 122a, 128a may be provided to reduce injury to users that may be caused by striking, crushing, biting, thrown objects, or other fast movements. The impact protection panel(s) 122a, 128a is different from the protection panels or layers 122, 124, 128, 130, in that the protection panels or layers 122, 124, 128, 130 may provide bite and puncture protection, which the impact protection panel(s) 122a, 128a serves to protect from blunt force impacts. The impact protection panel(s) 122a, 128a may be made of any material suitable for reducing the effects of striking, crushing, biting, thrown objects, or other fast movements, such as, by way of example only, shatter-resistant plastics, metals, or other natural or synthetic materials. Lightweight materials may be desirable. Non-conductive (electrical and/or heat) materials may be desirable. In some embodiments, the impact protection panel 122a, 128a may be a unitary piece (not shown) configured to wrap around the entirety of the user's forearm or wrist area, or the impact protection panel(s) 122a, 128a may be formed of a plurality of non-unitary components, as is shown in FIG. 5. The impact protection panel(s) 122a, 128a may be made of a material that is more rigid or less flexible than the panels and/or layers 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132.

[0026] The proximal portion 104 may have a sheath extending proximally toward the user's wrist, forearm, elbow, or shoulder. The length of the proximal portion 104 may be dictated by the size of the animal being contemplated for handling.

[0027] One or more of panels 120, 126, 132 may be made of a first material, such as a first leather, having a first flexibility. The layers 124, 130, 122, 128, 134 and flaps 106, 108 may be made of a second material, such as a second leather, having a second flexibility. That is the material for the panels 120, 126, 132 may be selected for comfort and dexterity, while the material for the layers 124, 130, 122, 128, 134 and flaps 106, 108 may be selected for puncture resistance.

[0028] One or more of the panels 120, 126, 132 and/or the layers 124, 130, 122, 128, 134 and/or the flaps 106, 108 may be made of a hydrophobic leather and/or may be treated with a chemical, whereby one or more of the panels 120, 126, 132 and/or the layers 124, 130, 122, 128, 134 and/or the flaps 106, 108 have a hydrophobic property for hygienic cleaning/washing and sanitizing.

[0029] The panels 120, 126, 132 by be attached together using stitching methods that offer distractive features, such as protruding pieces of material, for the animal.

[0030] The entirety of the glove 100 may be made of puncture-resistant leather.

[0031] Turning now to FIG. 7, a glove 700 having a proximal portion 704 and a distal portion 702 having a first sheath, which may also be referenced herein as a pocket, shaped and configured for receiving at least one of the thumb, the index finger, the middle finger, the ring finger, or the little finger may be provided for handling very small animals, such as small mammals and primates. In some embodiments, the first sheath is formed by stitching a first leather fabric, a second leather fabric, and a finger reinforcement 706 together in a wrong side out configuration followed by turning the first sheath right side out, whereby the finger reinforcement is positioned on an interior portion of the first sheath. In some embodiments, the first sheath is formed by stitching a first vinyl fabric or other suitable material, a second vinyl fabric or other suitable material, and a finger reinforcement 706 together in a wrong side out configuration followed by turning the first sheath right side out, whereby the finger reinforcement is positioned on an interior portion of the first sheath. In some embodiments, a second sheath may include a finger reinforcement 708. In some embodiments, the finger reinforcement 706, 708 comprises a molded insert material, leather, Kevlar, rubber, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments the finger reinforcement 706, 708 may include or be a patch, an insert, and/or additional stitching. Other materials are contemplated herein. Finger reinforcements and/or molded inserts may be provided in one or more sheaths, up to all five sheaths suitable for five fingers. The finger reinforcement 706, 708 may be on an interior portion of one ore more sheaths, to limit the number of locations for an animal to catch on, bite, or otherwise engage.

[0032] In some embodiments, protective panels and/or molded inserts may be provided on the interior of the glove 700 in any shape or location suitable for protecting the user's hand or fingers.

[0033] In some embodiments, the glove 700 may include features described with reference to the glove 100 previously described herein. For example, without limitation, the glove 700 may include impact protection panel(s) 122a, 128a as shown in FIG. 5A.

[0034] Turning now to FIG. 8, a method 800 of making a glove for wear by a user having a hand with a thumb, an index finger, a middle finger, a ring finger, and a little finger is now described. The method 800 may include providing 802 a first leather fabric panel and providing 804 a second leather fabric panel. The method 800 may include joining or stitching 806 the first leather fabric panel and the second leather fabric together with a third leather fabric panel to form a glove having a distal portion having a first sheath shaped and configured for receiving the thumb, a second sheath shaped and configured for receiving the index finger, and a third sheath shaped and configured for receiving the middle finger, the ring finger, and the little finger.

[0035] The method 800 may include attaching 808 a first distraction flap. The method 800 may include attaching 810 a second distraction flap.

[0036] The method 800 may include stitching the first leather fabric and the second leather fabric together to form the distal portion having the first sheath shaped and configured for receiving the thumb, the second sheath shaped and configured for receiving the index finger, and the third sheath shaped and configured for receiving the middle finger, the ring finger, and the little finger; forming a proximal portion, wherein forming the proximal portion comprises forming a sheath and inserting a protection panel into a pocket in the sheath; and attaching the distal portion to the proximal portion, whereby the proximal portion is shaped and configured to guide the user's hand toward the distal portion. The method 800 may include attaching 812 a finger reinforcement. The method 800 may include attaching one or more bite protection panels to the proximal portion and/or the distal portion. The method 800 may include inserting one or more impact protection panels in the proximal portion.

[0037] The method 800 may be used to make the glove 100 previously described herein.

[0038] Turning now to FIG. 9, a method 900 is described. The method 900 may include providing 902 a first leather fabric or panel, providing 904 a second leather fabric or panel, providing a first finger reinforcement 906, stitching 908 the first leather fabric, the second leather fabric, and the reinforcement to form a glove turned wrong side out. The method 900 may include turning 910 the glove right side out. The method 900 may include providing a second finger reinforcement. The method 900 may include providing a molded insert with or as the finger reinforcement. The method 900 may be used to make the glove 700 previously described herein.

[0039] Each of the various elements disclosed herein may be achieved in a variety of manners. This disclosure should be understood to encompass each such variation, be it a variation of an embodiment of any apparatus embodiment, a method or process embodiment, or even merely a variation of any element of these. Particularly, it should be understood that the words for each element may be expressed by equivalent apparatus terms or method terms--even if only the function or result is the same. Such equivalent, broader, or even more generic terms should be considered to be encompassed in the description of each element or action. Such terms can be substituted where desired to make explicit the implicitly broad coverage to which this invention is entitled.

[0040] As but one example, it should be understood that all action may be expressed as a means for taking that action or as an element which causes that action. Similarly, each physical element disclosed should be understood to encompass a disclosure of the action which that physical element facilitates. Regarding this last aspect, the disclosure of a "fastener" should be understood to encompass disclosure of the act of "fastening"--whether explicitly discussed or not--and, conversely, were there only disclosure of the act of "fastening", such a disclosure should be understood to encompass disclosure of a "fastening mechanism". Such changes and alternative terms are to be understood to be explicitly included in the description.

[0041] Moreover, the claims shall be construed such that a claim that recites "at least one of A, B, or C" shall read on a device that requires "A" only. The claim shall also read on a device that requires "B" only. The claim shall also read on a device that requires "C" only.

[0042] Similarly, the claim shall also read on a device that requires "A+B". The claim shall also read on a device that requires "A+B+C", and so forth.

[0043] The claims shall also be construed such that any relational language (e.g. perpendicular, straight, parallel, flat, etc.) is understood to include the recitation "within a reasonable manufacturing tolerance at the time the device is manufactured or at the time of the invention, whichever manufacturing tolerance is greater".

[0044] Those skilled in the art can readily recognize that numerous variations and substitutions may be made in the invention, its use and its configuration to achieve substantially the same results as achieved by the embodiments described herein.

[0045] Accordingly, there is no intention to limit the invention to the disclosed exemplary forms. Many variations, modifications and alternative constructions fall within the scope and spirit of the invention as expressed in the claims.

Claims

1. A glove for wear by a user having a hand with a thumb, an index finger, a middle finger, a ring finger, and a little finger, comprising: a distal portion having a first sheath shaped and configured for receiving the thumb, a second sheath shaped and configured for receiving the index finger, and a third sheath shaped and configured for receiving the middle finger, the ring finger, and the little finger.

2. The glove of claim 1, comprising: a first distraction flap, the first distraction flap having a panel attached to a top portion of the glove, the top portion of the glove configured to be associated with a back of a user's hand, the first distraction flap configured to be biased toward the top portion of the glove.

3. The glove of claim 2, comprising: a second distraction flap, the second distraction flap having a panel attached to a bottom portion of the glove, the bottom portion of the glove configured to be associated with a palm portion of a user's hand, the second distraction flap configured to be biased toward the bottom portion of the glove.

4. The glove of claim 1, comprising: a proximal portion having a first upper protective layer and a first lower protective layer configured to protect at least one of the user's wrist or forearm, the proximal portion further having an impact protection panel positioned adjacent at least one of the first upper protective layer or the first lower protective layer; wherein the impact protection panel is configured to protect from blunt force impacts; and wherein the first upper protective layer and the first lower protective layer are configured to provide bite and puncture protection.

5. (canceled)

6. The glove of claim 1, further comprising: a proximal portion having a sheath shaped and configured to guide the user's hand toward the sheath extending proximally toward the user's wrist, forearm, elbow, or shoulder.

7. A method of making a glove for wear by a user having a hand with a thumb, an index finger, a middle finger, a ring finger, and a little finger, the method comprising: provide a first leather fabric and a second leather fabric; stitch the first leather fabric and the second leather fabric together to form one of: (a) a distal portion having a first sheath shaped and configured for receiving the thumb, a second sheath shaped and configured for receiving the index finger, and a third sheath shaped and configured for receiving the middle finger, the ring finger, and the little finger.

8. The method of claim 7, comprising: attaching a first distraction flap to a top portion of the glove, the top portion of the glove configured to be associated with a back of a user's hand, the first distraction flap having a panel; and configuring the first distraction flap to be biased toward the top portion of the glove.

9. The method of claim 8, comprising: attaching a second distraction flap to a bottom portion of the glove, the bottom portion of the glove configured to be associated with a palm of a user's hand, the second distraction flap having a panel; and configuring the second distraction flap to be biased toward the bottom portion of the glove.

10. The method of claim 7, comprising: forming a proximal portion, wherein forming the proximal portion comprises forming a sheath and inserting an impact protection panel into the sheath; and attaching the distal portion to the proximal portion, whereby the proximal portion is shaped and configured to guide the user's hand toward the distal portion

11. (canceled)

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising: forming proximal portion having a sheath; and attaching the proximal portion to the distal portion, whereby the proximal portion is shaped and configured to guide the user's hand toward the sheath extending proximally toward the user's wrist, forearm, elbow, or shoulder.