Water-soluble glove liners and composite gloves containing the same

• US 20080005827A1
• Filed: 01/12/2006
• Published: 01/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microtek Medical Holdings Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Microtek Medical Holdings Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: Steward, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,509,690 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 002/164
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/04 Vests, jerseys, sweaters or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 17/006 against contamination from chemicals, toxic or hostile environments; ABC suits
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 9/001 Decontamination of contaminated objects, apparatus, clothes, food; Preventing contamination thereof

Abstract

Water-soluble glove liners and methods of making, using and disposing of the water-soluble glove liners are disclosed.

Claims

1. A water-soluble glove liner consisting of:

at least one fabric sheet;

an optional sheet fastening device;

an optional sheet closure system; and

an optional chemical treatment;

wherein when more than one fabric sheet is used to form said water-soluble glove liner, the fabric sheets are joined to one another with at least one sheet fastening device, wherein each fabric sheet consists of water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol fibers.

2. The water-soluble glove liner of claim 1, wherein at least two fabric sheets are used to form the water-soluble glove liner, and the at least one sheet fastening device consists of thread.

3. The water-soluble glove liner of claim 2, wherein the thread is water-soluble thread.

4. The water-soluble glove liner of claim 1, wherein each fabric sheet consists of a knitted water-soluble fabric.

7. The water-soluble glove liner of claim 1, wherein each fabric sheet is soluble in water having a water temperature of greater than about 37°

C.

8. The water-soluble glove liner of claim 1, wherein each fabric sheet is soluble in water having a water temperature of greater than about 50°

C.

9. The water-soluble glove liner of claim 1, wherein each fabric sheet is soluble in water having a water temperature of greater than about 75°

C.

10. The water-soluble glove liner of claim 1, wherein each fabric sheet is soluble in water having a water temperature of greater than about 90°

C.

11. The water-soluble glove liner of claim 1 in combination with a glove, wherein the glove is sized so as to be positioned over at least a portion of an outer surface of the water-soluble glove liner.

12. The water-soluble glove liner of claim 11, wherein the glove comprises a rubber latex glove.

21. A method of using the water-soluble glove liner of claim 1, said method comprising exposing the water-soluble glove liner radioactive material in the nuclear industry.

23. The water-soluble glove liner of claim 1, wherein said optional sheet closure system is present and comprises at least one sheet closure member selected from zippers, drawstrings, snaps, buttons, adhesives, hoop and loop materials, or a combination thereof.

5-6. -6. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. A composite glove comprising a water-soluble glove liner in combination with a glove, said glove being sized so as to be positioned over at least a portion of an outer surface of said water-soluble glove liner, said water-soluble glove liner consisting of:

at least one fabric sheet;

optional thread;

an optional sheet closure system; and

an optional chemical treatment;

wherein when more than one fabric sheet is used to form said water-soluble glove liner, the fabric sheets are joined to one another with thread, wherein each fabric sheet consists of a water-soluble fabric consisting of water-soluble fibers.

15. The composite glove of claim 14, wherein the water-soluble fibers consist of water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol fibers.

16. The composite glove of claim 14, wherein the glove comprises a rubber latex glove.

17. The composite glove of claim 14, wherein the outer surface of the glove liner is attached to the glove.

18. The composite glove of claim 14, wherein each fabric sheet consists of a knitted water-soluble fabric consisting of water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol fibers.

22. A method of using the composite glove of claim 14, said method comprising exposing said composite glove to radioactive material in the nuclear industry.

19. A water-soluble glove liner consisting of:

at least two knitted fabric sheets joined to one another with at least one sheet fastening device;

an optional sheet closure system; and

an optional chemical treatment;

wherein each knitted fabric sheet consists of water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol fibers, said water-soluble glove liner being contaminated with radioactive material generated in the nuclear industry.

20. The water-soluble glove liner of claim 19, wherein the at least one sheet fastening device consists of thread.