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:
- (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 expanded from a first configuration to a second configuration and capable of being contracted from said second configuration to said first 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.
58 Citations
39 Claims
-
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:
-
(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 expanded from a first configuration to a second configuration and capable of being contracted from said second configuration to said first 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)
-
-
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:
-
(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 expanded from a first configuration to a second configuration and capable of being contracted from said second configuration to said first 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)
(g) providing probe means extending downstream of said ring means, said probe means having a head comprising at least one nozzle means for directing pressurised gas in a downstream direction, said probe means further comprising a compressed gas line in communication with said probe head, said probe being connectable to a suitable pressurised gas source;
(h) inserting said probe means into said cuff portion, said cuff portion being in said non-expanded condition;
(i) providing compressed air into said glove via said probe means such as to separate opposed flattened surfaces of said cuff portion to enable said ring means to be inserted into said cuff portion, said ring means being in said first configuration comprising a substantially flattened transverse profile, wherein steps (h) and (i) are performed between steps (b) and (c).
-
-
27. A method for expanding a cuff portion as claimed in claim 25, further comprising the steps of:
-
(j) providing said inter-surface separation means for separating the substantially flattened opposed surfaces of the said cuff portion when said cuff portion is in a substantially collapsed flattened condition;
(k) placing said suction port of said vacuum wand in close proximity to the external surface of one opposing flattened surface of said cuff portion, said cuff portion being in said non-expanded condition;
(l) providing suction to a part of said external of said one flattened surface of said cuff portion via said vacuum wand such as to separate opposed flattened surfaces of said cuff portion to enable said ring means to be inserted into said cuff portion, said ring means being in said first configuration, wherein steps (j) to (l) are performed between steps (b) and (c).
-
-
28. A method for expanding a cuff portion as claimed in claim 26, further comprising the steps of:
-
(j) providing said inter-surface separation means for separating the substantially flattened opposed surfaces of the said cuff portion when said cuff portion is in a substantially collapsed flattened condition;
(k) placing said suction port of said vacuum wand in close proximity to the external surface of one opposing flattened surface of said cuff portion, said cuff portion being in said non-expanded condition;
(l) providing suction to a part of said external of said one flattened surface of said cuff portion via said vacuum wand such as to separate opposed flattened surfaces of said cuff portion to enable said ring means to be inserted into said cuff portion, said ring means being in said first configuration, wherein steps (j) to (l) are performed between steps (b) and (g).
-
-
29. A method for expanding a cuff portion as claimed in claim 28, further comprising the steps of:
-
(m) providing said first transport means to enable a vacuum wand mounted thereon to be translated and/or rotated within a predetermined working volume; and
(n) transporting said vacuum wand to a position superposed over said one flattened surface of said cuff portion between step (j) and step (k).
-
-
30. A method for expanding a cuff portion as claimed in claim 29, further comprising the steps of:
-
(o) grasping said cuff portion by means of said vacuum wand and transporting said glove via said first transport means to a position within said holding means such that said cuff portion is aligned with said at least one contact surface prior to step (c);
(p) expanding said ring means to a third configuration intermediate said first configuration and said second configuration, wherein in said third configuration, said ring is expanded sufficiently so as to engage and partially expand said cuff portion;
(q) reducing suction from said vacuum wand such as to disengage from said cuff portion prior to step (d).
-
-
31. A method for expanding a cuff portion as claimed in claim 29, further comprising the steps of:
-
(r) providing said second transport means to enable said ring means mounted thereon to be translated and/or rotated within a predetermined working volume;
(s) expanding said ring means to a third configuration intermediate said first configuration and said second configuration, wherein in said third configuration, said ring is expanded sufficiently so as to engage and partially expand said cuff portion;
(t) reducing suction from said vacuum wand such as to disengage from said cuff portion;
(u) grasping said cuff portion by means of said ring means and transporting said glove via said second transport means to a position within said holding means such that said cuff portion is aligned with said at least one contact surface prior to step (c).
-
-
32. A method for expanding a cuff portion as claimed in claim 25, wherein said holding means are sealingly mounted to an open end of a vacuum chamber such that a glove held by said holding means extends into said vacuum chamber, said vacuum chamber being adapted for expanding a portion of said glove extending into said chamber by the application of a vacuum to the external surface of said portion of said glove when said cuff portion is sealing held in said open condition by said holding means.
-
33. A method for expanding a cuff portion as claimed in claim 32 adapted for donning right handed gloves to a user.
-
34. A method for expanding a cuff portion as claimed in claim 32 adapted for donning left handed gloves to a user.
-
35. Apparatus for donning elastically expandable gloves comprising:
-
(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 expanded from a first configuration to a second configuration and capable of being contracted from said second configuration to said first 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)
-
Specification