Glove donning system
First Claim
1. A system for expanding a cuff portion of an elastically expandable glove from a non-expanded condition to an expanded open condition and for releasably holding said cuff portion in said open condition, said open condition being at least sufficient to enable a hand to pass through the cuff portion of the glove, the system comprising:
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(a) holding means comprising suction means and at least one suitable contact surface for sealingly holding said cuff portion in said open condition when said cuff portion is in abutting contact with said at least one contact surface; and
(b) expandable ring means capable of being reversibly expanded from a first configuration to a second configuration, wherein in said first configuration said ring means comprises a compact external profile such as to enable said ring means to be inserted into said cuff portion when said glove is in said non-expanded condition, and wherein in said second configuration said ring means comprises an expanded external profile at least substantially complementary to that of said at least one contact surface to enable the cuff portion to be abutted thereagainst.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A glove donning system and method, the arrangement having typically a vacuum wand for grasping the outer skin of the cuff portion of a glove, after which the wand together with the glove is suitably transported to a vacuum chamber, where the cuff portion is aligned with the rim of the opening of the vacuum chamber. By grasping only the outer skin of the glove, the cuff portion is gently opened sufficiently to enable a deflated inflatable ring to be inserted into the cuff portion. The ring is then inflated while positioned inside the cuff portion, which is thereby expanded until it touches the rim of the vacuum chamber. The rim is provided with a suction ring capable of generating sufficient suction to keep the cuff of the glove pressed against the rim, at which point the inflatable ring may be deflated and removed. A vacuum may then be applied to the chamber, inflating the glove and thus enabling a hand to be inserted thereinto. A donning device may be fitted with a pair of such systems, one for each hand, and further provided with suitable means for stacking and delivering on demand one glove to each vacuum chamber.
32 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A system for expanding a cuff portion of an elastically expandable glove from a non-expanded condition to an expanded open condition and for releasably holding said cuff portion in said open condition, said open condition being at least sufficient to enable a hand to pass through the cuff portion of the glove, the system comprising:
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(a) holding means comprising suction means and at least one suitable contact surface for sealingly holding said cuff portion in said open condition when said cuff portion is in abutting contact with said at least one contact surface; and
(b) expandable ring means capable of being reversibly expanded from a first configuration to a second configuration, wherein in said first configuration said ring means comprises a compact external profile such as to enable said ring means to be inserted into said cuff portion when said glove is in said non-expanded condition, and wherein in said second configuration said ring means comprises an expanded external profile at least substantially complementary to that of said at least one contact surface to enable the cuff portion to be abutted thereagainst. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for expanding a cuff portion of an elastically expandable glove from a non-expanded condition to an expanded open condition and for releasably holding said cuff portion in said open condition, said open condition being at least sufficient to enable a hand to pass through the cuff portion of said glove, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing holding means comprising suction means and at least one suitable contact surface for sealingly holding said cuff portion in said open condition when said cuff portion is in abutting contact with said at least one contact surface;
(b providing ring means capable of being reversibly expanded from a first configuration to a second configuration, wherein in said first configuration said ring means comprises a compact external profile such as to enable said ring means to be inserted into said cuff portion when said glove is in said non-expanded condition, and wherein in said second configuration said ring means comprises an expanded external profile at least substantially complementary to that of said at least one contact surface to enable the cuff portion to be abutted thereagainst;
(c) inserting said ring means while in said first configuration into the said cuff portion, said cuff portion being in said non-expanded condition;
(d) expanding said ring means to said second configuration such as to expand said cuff portion onto abutting contact with said contact surface, said holding means being suitably aligned with said ring means;
(e) applying suction to said cuff portion via said suction means such as to maintain said cuff portion in contact with said contact surface;
(f) reducing the external profile of said ring means from said second configuration, and removing said ring means from said cuff portion. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. Apparatus for donning elastically expandable gloves comprising:
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(i) at least one vacuum chamber having an open end, said vacuum chamber operatively connected to a suitable vacuum source;
(ii) a holding means comprising suction means and at least one suitable contact surface for sealingly holding said cuff portion in said open condition when said cuff portion is in abutting contact with said at least one contact surface; and
(iii) ring means capable of being reversibly expanded from a first configuration to a second configuration, wherein in said first configuration said ring means comprises a compact external profile such as to enable said ring means to be inserted into said cuff portion when said glove is in said non-expanded condition, and wherein in said second configuration said ring means comprises an expanded external profile at least substantially complementary to that of said at least one contact surface to enable the cuff portion to be abutted thereagainst;
- View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification