NO20230793A1 - Glove dispenser - Google Patents

Description

PATENT APPLICATION

TITLE

Glove dispenser

Copyright Notice

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention:

[0001] The present invention relates to the dispensing of gloves from a

dispenser.

Description of the Related Art:

[0002] The control of infection of patients in hospitals, clinics, and doctors' surgeries has become an ever more pressing concern with the rise of infectious bacteria resistant to multiple antibiotics, in particular methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In the United Kingdom alone there are thought to be about 5,000 deaths a year from infections caught in hospitals but some experts believe the number could be as high as 20,000.

[0003] Research has shown that high levels of MRSA and C. dificile are present on everyday items in hospitals. Samples taken from an intensive care unit at a London hospital found MRSA on charts, bins, pens, medical notes, phones and computer keyboards. There was also MRSA present on staff aprons and hands.

[0004] The most common route for MRSA infection is between patients or via a doctor or nurse. Hospital staff can spread MRSA by using such items after having contact with patients.

[0005] Research has also shown that if someone has MRSA on their hands, the bacteria would be left on the next four surfaces touched by that person. Once MRSA is on an item it will remain there for up to 80 days unless that item is cleaned. C. dificile will remain active on surfaces much longer than that. Most gloves used in hospitals and clinics are examination gloves, and these are used in large numbers such gloves are supplied not in individual sterile packages, but in relatively inexpensive cardboard dispensing boxes.

[0006] Use of these disposable medical gloves can help prevent crosscontamination, but a problem arises if external parts of the glove are touched by a person prior to or during donning of the glove. Such external parts can then become contaminated prior to use.

[0007] US 4,844,293 discloses a glove dispensing system where a package of gloves is placed in an outer container, and gloves are dispensed through registering apertures in the package and the outer container. The cuffs of the gloves are not directly accessible to the user.

[0008] This arrangement encourages users to touch a glove only by the cuff and so minimize the risk of contamination but at the cost of increased mechanical complexity and the need to apply an adhesive to the otherwise pristine external surface of the glove.

[0009] Most gloves used in hospitals and clinics are examination gloves, and these are used in large numbers such gloves are supplied not in individual sterile packages, but in relatively inexpensive cardboard dispensing boxes. One way of controlling contamination on such examination gloves is disclosed in patent document US 5,816,440. In this disclosure, gloves are packaged with over-folded cuffs within a box having a dispensing aperture. The fingers of each glove are looped partially or interfolded around the cuff of the subsequent glove so that as each glove is pulled from the dispensing aperture, the cuff of the next glove is pulled out of the aperture to make it easy for a user to get hold of the over-folded cuff of the next glove. To avoid users having to reach inside the dispensing aperture to get hold of the first glove to be dispensed, the first glove is packaged with the cuff already extending from the dispensing aperture. To prevent contamination of this first glove, the box is supplied in an air-tight cover that is removed prior to use by spreading apart a pair of sealing tabs. With such an arrangement, there is the possibility that the first glove will become contaminated during the process of removing the cover, or that the protruding glove cuff will subsequently become contaminated prior to being dispensed from the box. In US 5,816,440 this possibility is reduced by over folding of the cuffs so that the external surface of the cuffs is protected by the exposed inner surface.

[0010] There are multiple solutions that have been presented in the prior art. However, these solutions are limited and restricted to their conventional systems. As a result of intensive studies on the requirements, the present inventor aims to provide a novel method of dispensing gloves on users’ hands without any human interference. The proposed invention is universal in nature and works with a variety of gloves.

[0011] None of the previous inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Hence, the inventor of the present invention proposes to resolve and surmount existent technical difficulties to eliminate the aforementioned shortcomings of prior art.

SUMMARY

[0012] In light of the disadvantages of the prior art, the following summary is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of the innovative features unique to the present invention and is not intended to be a full description. A full appreciation of the various aspects of the invention can be gained by taking the entire specification, claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole.

[0013] The primary desirable object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved form of the simplest and most efficient glove dispensing system.

[0014] It is also the primary objective of the invention to provide specifically the method of providing a glove dispenser that allows users to easily dispense gloves onto their fingers.

[0015] It is another objective of the invention to provide a glove dispenser that is universal in nature and works with a variety of gloves.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a glove dispenser that works with dispensing one glove at a single moment of time.

[0017] It is further the object of the invention to provide a system that is able to provide a glove dispenser with improved ergonomics.

[0018] It is a further object of the present invention is to provide a technology that is easy to use and easy to remove.

[0019] It is also the objective of the invention to provide a smart assembly that provides ease of use and convenience to the user and is highly portable and can be carried by the user anywhere anytime.

[0020] It is also the objective of the invention to provide an efficient and easy system that is cost-effective and convenient

[0021] Furthermore, the invention's objective is to provide assembly where less human intervention is required.

[0022] Thus, it is the objective to provide advancement in glove dispensing assemblies. Other aspects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0023] This Summary is provided merely for purposes of summarizing some example embodiments, so as to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the subject matter described herein. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the above-described features are merely examples and should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the subject matter described herein in any way. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter described herein will become apparent from the following Detailed Description, Figures, and Claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0024] The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrate embodiments of concepts that include the claimed invention, and explain various principles and advantages of those embodiments.

[0025] Fig 1 discloses the right-side complete view as per preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0026] Fig 2 discloses the left side view as per preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0027] Fig 3 discloses the open view as per preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0028] Fig 4 discloses the finger glove installed in assembly, as per preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0029] Fig 5 discloses the safety lid installed in assembly, as per preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0030] Fig 6 discloses another perspective view of the assembly, as per preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0031] Fig 7 discloses the inner view of the assembly, as per preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0032] Fig 8 discloses the open view of the assembly, as per preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0033] The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

[0034] The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.

[0036] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0037] The present invention provides a novel method of a glove dispenser that is universal in nature and requires minimal input from the user.

[0038] The preferred dispenser will automatically open a pair of standard disposable gloves in response to a user request. It is a further object that the dispenser include a shuttle assembly that will retrieve and position a pair of gloves for donning. It is a still further object that the dispenser accept glove cartridges that can be loaded into the dispenser without being touched by the hands of the person installing the cartridges. It is another object that embodiments of the dispenser include the ability to provide two or more different-sized or—configured gloves for donning by users. It is yet another object that the dispenser include a glove donning rack assembly that further has a unique glove release assembly for releasing gloves onto hands inserted into them when desired. It is still another object that the dispenser include an embodiment whereby the gloves are inflated prior to being donned, in order to further assist the user in donning the gloves and reduce or even eliminate the need for powder in the gloves.

[0039] The assembly as per its preferred embodiments provides an improved Glove Dispenser comprising a housing through which are formed one or more windows, behind which gloves are mounted (for donning). The gloves are provided for the user in such a way that the user need simply inserts his or her hands through the window in order to don the gloves. In this way, the gloves are donned in a clean environment without the need for the user to touch the outside of them. Also formed in housing are a plurality of doors. In its preferred form, each door will also include an aperture; these apertures will be discussed more fully later, but essentially they provide the user with the ability to observe what size or style of glove is held behind each door.

[0040] Still further, one or more viewing apertures might be formed in the housing, adjacent to the window. If, as depicted here, a viewing aperture is above the window, the user can peer through the aperture while the gloves are being donned. The aperture, therefore, will provide the user with additional dexterity and control during (and probably comfort) with the improved donning process.

[0041] Having described the invention in detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from its spirit. Therefore, it is not intended that the scope of the invention be limited to the specific embodiment illustrated and described. Rather, it is intended that the scope of this invention be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0042] The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

Claims (1)

1: A universal eco-friendly and ergonomic design of glove dispenser comprising:

Material developed from resistant materials including but not limited to plastic, metal, and so on.

As per claim 1, wherein the assembly comprises of a tool that allows users to easily dispense gloves onto their fingers.

As per claim 1, wherein the assembly is universal in nature and is suitable for a variety of gloves.

As per claim 1, wherein the user inserts fingers into the device and the device will automatically dispense glove on the finger.

As per claim 1, wherein the dispenser will release one glove at a time.