Apparatus for donning sterile gloves and sterile glove package for use therewith
First Claim
1. Apparatus for donning sterile gloves wherein each glove is individually packaged in sterile condition in a package having a glove holder with glove cuff holding means surrounding an opening in the holder in which the glove is positioned and with a cover extending across the side of the opening faced by the outside surface of the glove to maintain the outside surface of the packaged glove in sterile condition and hold the glove within the package during handling and storage of the package, comprising:
- a glove package loading area;
a vacuum chamber having an opening thereinto adapted to receive the glove package thereover and large enough to inflate the largest size glove to be used with the apparatus without such glove touching the walls of the chamber;
means for moving the glove package from the loading area into position over said opening;
means for opening the cover of the package to allow the glove to expand into the vacuum chamber from its securement around the cuff portion of the holder when vacuum is applied to the vacuum chamber;
means for applying vacuum to the vacuum chamber;
means for allowing release of the cuff of the glove from the holder after donning of the glove by a user so that the user can remove his gloved hand from the holder; and
means for moving the package from which the glove has been removed from a position over the vacuum chamber opening to a package collection area.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Individual packages of individual sterile gloves have a glove holder with glove cuff holding means surrounding an opening in the holder in which the glove is positioned. A bottom cover secured to the holder extends across the side of the opening faced by the outside of the glove while a top cover extends across the side of the opening faced by the inside of the glove. The covers keep the glove in sterile condition during handling and storage of the glove packages. A glove package is inserted into a loading area of the gloving apparatus, either manually or automatically, and the glove package is moved to position over an opening into a vacuum chamber. During such movement the top cover of the package is opened. When over the opening to the vacuum chamber, vacuum is applied to the chamber to cause the bottom cover to open and the glove to be drawn into the chamber and inflated. A user now easily inserts his hands into the inflated glove, vacuum is released and the gloved hand is removed. The empty glove holder is moved to waste and the apparatus is ready to repeat the operation.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. Apparatus for donning sterile gloves wherein each glove is individually packaged in sterile condition in a package having a glove holder with glove cuff holding means surrounding an opening in the holder in which the glove is positioned and with a cover extending across the side of the opening faced by the outside surface of the glove to maintain the outside surface of the packaged glove in sterile condition and hold the glove within the package during handling and storage of the package, comprising:
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a glove package loading area; a vacuum chamber having an opening thereinto adapted to receive the glove package thereover and large enough to inflate the largest size glove to be used with the apparatus without such glove touching the walls of the chamber; means for moving the glove package from the loading area into position over said opening; means for opening the cover of the package to allow the glove to expand into the vacuum chamber from its securement around the cuff portion of the holder when vacuum is applied to the vacuum chamber; means for applying vacuum to the vacuum chamber; means for allowing release of the cuff of the glove from the holder after donning of the glove by a user so that the user can remove his gloved hand from the holder; and means for moving the package from which the glove has been removed from a position over the vacuum chamber opening to a package collection area. - 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, 25, 26, 27)
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28. In combination with a glove package having an individual glove packaged in sterile condition therein, said package comprising a glove holder with glove cuff holding means surrounding an opening in the holder in which the glove is positioned, and a cover secured to the holder and extending across at least the side of the opening which the outside of the glove faces to maintain the outside of the packaged glove in sterile condition and hold the glove within the package during the placing of the package on the apparatus and adapted to be opened to allow access to the glove upon application of vacuum to the outside of the cover, apparatus for donning sterile gloves, comprising a vacuum chamber having an opening thereinto adapted to receive the glove package thereover and large enough to inflate the largest size glove to be used with the apparatus without such glove touching the walls of the chamber;
- means for holding the package in position over the opening with the outside of the glove facing the opening;
means for applying vacuum to the vacuum chamber to cause the cover to open and allow the glove to expand into the vacuum chamber from its securement around the cuff portion of the holder; and
means for allowing release of the cuff of the glove from the holder after donning of the glove by a user so that the user can remove his gloved hand from the glove holder. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
- means for holding the package in position over the opening with the outside of the glove facing the opening;
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37. A package for sterile gloves, comprising a glove holder, said holder having a polygonal periphery, a central opening, and means for holding the cuff of a glove about the perimeter of the opening;
- a sterile glove within the opening of the holder with its cuff held about the periphery of the opening by the cuff holding means; and
means covering the side of the opening faced by the outside of the glove to maintain the outside of the glove in sterile condition during handling and storage of the package prior to use. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
- a sterile glove within the opening of the holder with its cuff held about the periphery of the opening by the cuff holding means; and
Specification