US20170127737A1

US20170127737A1 - Partial glove for protection of touchscreens

Info

Publication number: US20170127737A1
Application number: US14/937,599
Authority: US
Inventors: Edwin Perryman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-11-10
Filing date: 2015-11-10
Publication date: 2017-05-11

Abstract

The invention is directed to a partial glove for the protection of a touchscreen. The partial glove comprises a pair of independent finger sleeves which slide over the index and middle finger, as well as a thumb sleeve which slides over the thumb and wraps around the ball of the hand, to be secured by a patch of hook-and-loop fabric. This prevents soiling and damage of the touchscreen. The partial glove is preferably manufactured from a breathable fabric mesh, except for three elliptical pads on the tips of the fingers and thumb. The pads are preferably manufactured from a smooth, solid material such as leather.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to electronic device accessories and in particular to a partial glove for protection of touchscreens. When a person uses a smartphone, tablet computer, or other electronic device which is equipped with a touchscreen, dirt and skin oil from the user's fingertips will invariably soil the touchscreen. Besides the annoying fingerprints left on the screen, in some cases dirt, grit, and other foreign material on the fingertips or the touchscreen is rubbed against the surface of the touchscreen, causing scratches. Users have also discovered that the non-uniform presence of such foreign material creates an inconsistent contact with the touchscreen, and may obstruct the manual dexterity of the user, preventing the fingertips from their customary gliding motion across the touchscreen and resulting in inaccurate data input. Under certain conditions, the user's perspiration may also affect the touchscreen. Users prefer a surface which is kept clean and hygienic.
A search of the prior art reveals various gloves which have been developed to protect the touchscreen and provide a more consistent contact. None are closely related to the present invention, but several include features which resemble those of the present invention. Each has proven to be less than satisfactory in its own way. The present invention has been developed for the purpose of addressing and resolving these disadvantages.
Sun-proof embroidered gloves capable of operating on touch screen, Chinese Patent No. CN202664335 (filed Jun. 13, 2012), provides a glove which is embroidered on the interior surface of the fingertips with conductive silk threads.
Polar fleece glove for touch screen, Chinese Patent No. CN202396508 (filed Nov. 17, 2011), provides a glove which is manufactured from polar fleece, and features a conductive layer of silver-plated knitted fabric at a first knuckle of at least one finger of the glove's base fabric, such that the user may operate a touchscreen electronic device without removing the glove in cold weather.
Three-finger touch screen glove, Chinese Patent No. CN202873879 (filed Nov. 2, 2012), provides a full glove body with four finger sleeves and a thumb sleeve. However, the finger sleeves covering the user's index finger and middle finger, and the thumb sleeve covering the user's thumb provide fingertip areas which feature conductive fibers in the material.
Thermoelectricity conduction type touch screen operation glove, Chinese Patent No. CN202890589, provides a glove with fingertip sleeves which are manufactured from materials with both heat conduction and electricity conduction properties, such that the user may operate a touchscreen electronic device without removing the glove in cold weather.
Glove convenient for doctors to operate touch screen, Chinese Patent No. 201312564 (filed Dec. 16, 2008), provides a medical rubber glove with a round air cell 1.5 cm in diameter at the tip of the finger sleeve of the index finger.
Leather glove capable of operating touch screen, Chinese Patent No. CN202664326 (filed Jun. 13, 2012), provides a leather glove with a heat retention property, which has been subjected to a conductivity treatment such that the leather is conductive. The glove provides an inner layer and an outer layer.
Glove for touch screen, Chinese Patent No. CN202456548 (filed Jan. 12, 2012), provides a glove with elliptical touch blocks combined on one side of the fingers of the main body. The touch blocks are woven from carbon fibers and metal fibers.
Heat and electricity conductive touch screen operating gloves, Chinese Patent App. No. CN102845872 (filed Sep. 26, 2012), provide gloves with fingertip covers. The fingertip covers are manufactured from materials which conduct heat and electricity, formed by the mixed spinning of 30% stainless steel fibers, 35% cotton fibers, and 35% polyester fibers. Two embodiments are provided. The first exemplary embodiment provides the fingertip covers on all five fingers. The second exemplary embodiment provides the fingertip covers on the thumb, index finger, and middle finger.
Gloves convenient for medical personnel to operate touch screen electronic instruments, Chinese Patent No. CN202211195 (filed Sep. 5, 2011), provides a piece of elliptical conductive rubber adhered to the top end of the index finger.
Touch screen gloves, Chinese Patent No. 202958911 (filed Nov. 16, 2012) provides thumbs and forefingers of the glove bodies which are divided into both upper and lower joints. The upper and lower joints are connected by nylon fastener tapes, and the lower joints of the thumbs and the forefingers are also provided with connecting ropes connected with the upper joints. The nylon fastener tapes adopt a detachable connection manner, such when the touch screen gloves are in use, only the upper joints of the thumbs and the forefingers need to be taken down.
Gloves for touchscreen use, U.S. Patent App. Publ. No. 2011/0265245 (filed Apr. 29, 2010), provide gloves with conductive thread knitted or sewn into one or more fingertips, which are suitable for use in cold weather.
Fingertip cover and method of dispensing same, U.S. Patent App. Publ. No. 2013/0025016 (filed Jul. 30, 2011), provides a fingertip cover wherein a portion of the substrate may be conductive to allow transmission of an electric charge to a surface, such as a touchscreen.
Knit gloves with conductive finger pads, U.S. Patent App. Publ. No. 2013/0104285 (filed Oct. 27, 2011), provide seamless knit gloves wherein the finger sleeves, anterior palm side and posterior back side are knit as a unitary structure which has a high degree of elasticity. The glove needs no finger-linking operation to attach the sleeves to the anterior and posterior glove regions. Electrically conductive yarn is deployed over at least an anterior tip region of the thumb and the index finger sleeve to enable the user to activate a capacitive touch screen of an electronic device. The user's electrical skin condition is transferred via the conductive threads to the capacitive touch screen.
Garment with touch-sensitive features, U.S. Patent App. Pub. No. 2013/0021292 (filed Sep. 11, 2006), provides a garment including a shell adapted to receive a portion of a finger of a wearer therein, the shell having an interior surface, an exterior surface and an aperture for receiving the finger of the wearer and at least one conductive member disposed on the exterior surface of the shell, the at least one conductive member capable of conducting a signal recognizable by a touch-sensitive device. The garment can also include at least one cleaning material piece thereon to be used to clean a control surface of the device.
Most of the prior art inventions are intended to resolve the problem of conductivity between the fingertip and the touchscreen when wearing gloves for the purpose of keeping the user's hands warm in cold weather. The prior art does not address the problem of dirt, grit, and other foreign materials smudging or damaging the touchscreen, or preventing good contact between the fingertip and the touchscreen. The partial glove in the present invention prevents foreign material from accumulating due to contact by the fingertips, and provides minimum coverage for the user's hand and fingers, reducing perspiration in warm conditions which may affect the touchscreen.
The partial glove comprises a pair of independent finger sleeves which slide over the index and middle finger, as well as a thumb sleeve which slides over the thumb and wraps around the ball of the hand, to be secured by a patch of hook-and-loop fabric. The partial glove is preferably manufactured from a breathable fabric mesh, except for three elliptical pads on the tips of the fingers and thumb. The pads are preferably manufactured from a smooth, solid material such as leather. All materials used in construction are preferably easily cleaned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention is directed to a partial glove for the protection of a touchscreen. The partial glove comprises a pair of independent finger sleeves which slide over the index and middle finger, as well as a thumb sleeve which slides over the thumb and wraps around the ball of the hand, to be secured by a patch of hook-and-loop fabric. This prevents soiling and damage of the touchscreen. The partial glove is preferably manufactured from a breathable fabric mesh, except for three elliptical pads on the tips of the fingers and thumb. The pads are preferably manufactured from a smooth, solid material such as leather. All materials used in construction are preferably easily cleaned.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification. They illustrate two embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the first exemplary embodiment, displaying the partial glove 10, the finger sleeves 11, the thumb sleeve 12, the pads 13, the straps 14, the wrist band 15, and indicated by a dashed line the patches of hook and loop fabric 16.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the second exemplary embodiment, displaying the finger sleeves 11, the thumb sleeve 12, the pads 13, and indicated by dashed lines the patches of hook and loop fabric 17.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the invention in more detail, the invention is directed to a partial glove 10 for the protection of a touchscreen. The partial glove 10 comprises a pair of independent finger sleeves 11 which slide over the index and middle finger, as well as a thumb sleeve 12 which slides over the thumb and wraps around the ball of the hand, to be secured by a patch of hook-and-loop fabric. This prevents soiling and damage of the touchscreen. The partial glove 10 is preferably manufactured from a breathable fabric mesh, except for three elliptical pads 13 on the tips of the fingers and thumb. The pads 13 are preferably manufactured from a smooth, solid material such as leather.
The partial glove 10 is presented in two exemplary embodiments, although alternate embodiments are contemplated. The first exemplary embodiment features three straps 14, which attach the finger sleeves 11 and the thumb sleeve 12 to a wrist band 15. In the first exemplary embodiment, the partial glove 10 is secured to the user's wrist with a patch 16 of hook-and-loop fabric at the wrist, providing a closure of the fabric mesh. The second exemplary embodiment comprises two finger sleeves 11 and a thumb sleeve 12 which are not attached to each other. In the second exemplary embodiment, the finger sleeves 11 and the thumb sleeve 12 are individually secured to the user's digits with patches 17 of hook-and-loop fabric, providing a closure of the fabric mesh. The smooth fingertip pads 13 enable the user to tap and drag various images and icons across the touchscreen, without soiling or damaging it. All materials used in construction are preferably easily cleaned.
The finger sleeves 11, the thumb sleeve 12, the straps 14, and the wrist band 15 are preferably manufactured from flexible, durable, breathable fabric which is easily cleaned, such as nylon mesh. The pads 13 are preferably manufactured from a flexible, durable material with a smooth surface which is easily cleaned, such as leather or plastic. Components, component sizes, and materials listed above are preferable, but artisans will recognize that alternate components and materials could be selected without altering the scope of the invention.
While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is presently considered to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should, therefore, not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. A partial glove for the protection of a touchscreen, comprising a pair of independent finger sleeves, a thumb sleeve, and a wrist band; said wristband being connected to said pair of independent finger sleeves and said thumb sleeve by straps; elliptical pads on the tips of the finger sleeves and thumb sleeve.

2. The partial glove of claim 1, wherein said partial glove is secured and wristband is closed via a patch of hook-and-loop fabric.

3. The partial glove of claim 1, wherein the partial glove is manufactured from a breathable fabric mesh which is easily cleaned.

4. (canceled)

5. The partial glove of claim 1, wherein said elliptical pads are manufactured from a smooth, solid material which is easily cleaned; said material being configured to interact with a touchscreen display such that said partial glove is used to tap and drag various images and icons across the touchscreen, without soiling or damaging said touchscreen display.

6. A partial glove for the protection of a touchscreen, comprised of two finger sleeves and a thumb sleeve; said two finger sleeves and said thumb sleeve not being attached to each other by any physical structure; elliptical pads on the tips of the finger sleeves and thumb sleeve.

7. The partial glove in claim 6, wherein the finger sleeves and the thumb sleeve are individually secured with patches of hook-and-loop fabric.

8. The partial glove of claim 6, wherein the partial glove is manufactured from a breathable fabric mesh which is easily cleaned.

9. (canceled)

10. The partial glove of claim 6, wherein said elliptical pads are manufactured from a smooth, solid material which is easily cleaned; said material being configured to interact with a touchscreen display such that said partial glove is used to tap and drag various images and icons across the touchscreen, without soiling or damaging said touchscreen display.