WO2025226529A1 - Work glove with pads and method of manufacturing same - Google Patents

Abstract

A work glove (10) has one or more polymer pads (12) attached to a liner (14). The pads have various patterns and heights in order to provide optimal protection. The liner has four fingers, a thumb, a palm portion, and a sleeve. Each pad has a pliable, central portion and a backing portion. The backing portion includes a peripheral sewing channel having an inboard sewing portion and an outboard peripheral rim. Each pad is attached to the liner through a sewing thread that passes through the peripheral sewing channel (38) and liner. The central portion is made of a lower shore PVC (polyvinyl chloride) material, while the backing portion is made of a higher shore PVC (polyvinyl chloride) material that provides for a stiffer, stronger and more tear resistant material than the central portion.

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT APPLICATION FOR:

WORK GLOVE WITH PADS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Applicant claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 18/829985 filed September 10, 2024 entitled “Work Glove With Pads And Method Of Manufacturing Same” and of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63/637,011 filed April 22, 2024, entitled “Strengthened Rubber Sewing Channel And Method Of Manufacture".

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

[0003] Not applicable.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0004] The present invention relates to gloves. More particularly, the present invention relates to work gloves provided with pads for protecting a hand of a person wearing the glove against industrial loading and penetration during use of the work glove and a method of manufacturing such. More particularly, the present invention relates to protective pads attached to gloves with an improved strengthened perimeter attachment sewing channel while a central portion provides comfortable, flexible hand protection during use of the glove. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Work gloves with impact and vibration resistance exist in the market today. There are several typical methods for providing the impact resistance for work gloves, including application of adhesive or sewing of the rubber piece or Thermal Plastic Rubber (TPR) strips on the back or front of a textile based glove.

[0006] The attachment strength of the rubber piece to the underlying glove substrate is important with respect to the overall durability and strength of the finished product. Specifically, the strength of the attachment rubber piece depends on the strength of the sewing threads, the stitch density and the type and strength of the rubber and glove substrate. In many cases, the weakest component is the rubber piece and specifically the sewn or sewing area or channel about the periphery of the rubber piece.

[0007] The strength of the rubber material in the sewing channel is of the utmost importance to the overall strength of the attachment. In most rubber materials, the strength is proportional to the rubber piece's hardness or stiffness, also known as being "higher shore". The "shore" or "shore hardness" of rubber is a well-known scale used to define the measure of a particular material's (rubber) resistance to penetration or indentation. Higher shore rubber typically has a higher strength; however, a higher shore is also considered to be stiffer and less comfortable for the wearer. When manufacturing gloves with higher shore rubber, the sewing channel is a continuous component of the overall base of the TPR piece or rubber piece, i.e., the shore of the sewing channel and the base part of the TPR rubber piece are the same. The requirement for higher shore TPR for the sewing channel strength conflicts with and limits the ability to produce a more comfortable glove with sewn rubber strips or TPR.

[0008] A problem has always been how’ to provide a rubber strip or TPR that is both comfortable and capable of having a higher shore to prevent ripping along the sewing. Typically, these rubber strips are formed in a mold wherein the rubber material is poured into the mold in an inverted position so that the top surface of the rubber material w ithin the mold forms the bottom surface of the rubber piece or strip in contact with the underlying glove substrate or liner. Thus, the sewing channel is continuous with the rubber material that forms the padding portion, thus making it difficult to have one portion of a higher shore for sewing strength while having another portion soft or of a lower shore for comfort.

[0009] Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved work glove for protecting a person's hand from industrial loading during use of the work glove while providing comfort to the w earer. It is to such that the present invention is directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] A work glove comprises a liner in the shape of a human hand; at least one pad having a central portion of a first shore hardness and a peripheral backing portion fused to and extending from said central portion, the backing portion having a second shore hardness greater than the first shore hardness of the central portion, and a sewing thread passing through and coupling the peripheral sewing channel of the at least one pad and the liner to couple the at least one pad to the liner.

[0011] A method of making a work glove, comprising the steps of (a) forming a liner having a palm portion, four finger tubes, and a thumb tube; (b) providing a mold having a central recess and a sewing channel recess, the central recess being separated from the sewing channel recess by a separation wall having a top edge; (c) placing a molten first, high shore polymer material having a cured first shore hardness into the sewing channel recess to a level at or below the top edge of the separation wall to prevent the first, high shore polymer material from entering the central recess; (d) placing a molten second, low shore polymer material having a cured second shore hardness less than the cured first shore hardness into the central channel recess and over at least a portion of the first, high shore polymer material so as to overlay and be fused to at least a portion of said first, high shore polymer material; (e) curing the first and second, low shore polymer materials to form a resilient pad; (f) removing the cured resilient pad from the mold, and (g j sewung the peripheral sewing channel to the liner. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] So that the manner in which the present inventions can be better understood, certain illustrations, charts and/or flow charts are appended hereto. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only selected embodiments of the inventions and are therefore not to be considered Limiting of scope, for the inventions may admit to other equally effective embodiments and applications. The reference numbering between drawing figures are not necessarily consistent. %

[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a work glove that embodies principles of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective, exploded view of the work glove of FIG. 1.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a mold used to manufacture the work glove of FIG. 1.

[0016] FIG. 4 is cross-sectional view a rubber padding strip portion of the work glove of FIG. I .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

[0017] With reference next to the drawings, there is shown a work glove 10 in accordance with the present invention, referenced hereinafter simply as glove. The glove 10 comprises one or more polymer pads, rubber pieces, rubber strip, or TPR piece 12 attached to a glove-defining substrate or liner 14 having the general shape of a human hand. The glove 10 in variations protects the hand against industrial loading such as impacts, abrasion, vibration, slips, and other force risks. The pads 12 are coupled on the glove textile liner 14 in various patterns and heights on the back or palm of the liner in order to provide optimal protection for a particular purpose-driven industrial application for the gloves 10.

[0018] As shown in Fig. 2, the liner 14 has foul’ finger tubes or fingers 16, a thumb tube or thumb 18, a palm portion 20, and a cuff or sleeve portion 22. The liner is configured to fit over the hand of a wearer in a conventional manner. The liners 14 may be a knitted glove formed on conventional seamless glove kitting machines or cut and sewn gloves assembled from panels cut from sheets of textile fabric. Liner preparation uses typical processes generally known in the market.

[0019] The pads 12 shown in the drawings include a large three fingered pad 24, a single fingered pad 26, and a thumb pad 28; however, it should be understood that the configuration of these pads is for illustrative purposes only and the glove may include any number or variations of pad configurations. With reference to Fig. 4, each pad 24, 26, and 28 has a pliable, upper, padding, or central portion 32 and a backing portion or base 34 that is fused to the central portion 32. The central portion 32 includes a peripheral portion 33 that overlays the backing portion 34. The backing portion 34 includes a peripheral sewing channel or sewing channel portion 38 extending outwardly about or outboard of the central portion 32. The peripheral sewing channel 38 has an inboard sewing portion 40, an outboard peripheral edge or rim 42, and an inner groove 46 oppositely disposed from the rim 42. Each pad 24, 26, and 28 is attached to the liner 14 through a sewing thread 44 that passes through the peripheral sewing channel 38 and liner 14. An optional, additional adhesive may also be used to fijrther strengthen the bond between the pad and the liner.

[0020] The central portion 32 is made of a lower or low shore PVC (polyvinyl chloride) material, although other polymer material, plastic or rubber type materials, such as si licon, may be used as an alternative. The lower shore PVC material has a low viscosity prior to curing. The lower shore PVC material has a mixture or composition of approximately 25 to 35 percent PVC and approximately 65 to 75 percent DOTP (dioctyl terephthalate). The central portion 32 provides for a more flexible and softer material (lower shore) than tire backing portion 34 (higher or high shore). The central portion 32 has a cured shore hardness of approximately 25-35 Shore A on the shore scale, the shore hardness being determined after the materials have been fully cured.

[0021] The backing portion 34, and specifically the sewing channel 38, is made of a higher shore PVC (polyvinyl chloride) material, although other plastic or rubber materials, such as silicon, may be used as an alternative. The higher shore PVC material has a high viscosity prior to curing. The high shore PVC material has a mixture or composition of approximately 40 to 50 percent PVC and approximately 60 to 50 percent DOTP (dioctyl terephthalate). The peripheral sewing channel 38 has a cured shore hardness of approximately 35 to 55 on the Shore A of the shore scale. Thus, the central portion 32 has a shore hardness that is less than the shore hardness of the backing portion 34, or stated differently, the backing portion 34 has a shore hardness greater than the shore hardness of the central portion 32. The backing portion 34 provides for a stiffer, stronger and more tear or shear resistant material than the central portion 32.

[0022] In use, the wearer dons the glove 10 in conventional fashion. The backing portion 34 provides for a select amount of stiffness and high degree of tear or shear resistance to the peripheral sewing channel 38 to restrict the tearing of the pads 24, 26, and 28 from the underlying liner 14, especially the tearing of the pads along the sewing line or perforations created by the sewing process. The central portion 32 provides for a soft, resilient and flexible area to absorb impact from accidental encounters upon the hand of a wearer.

[0023] To manufacture the glove 10, the pads 24, 26, and 28 are positioned upon the liner 14 and then sewn onto the liner 14. In the sewing process, the sewing thread 44 passes through the peripheral sewing channel 38 and the liner 14 so as to couple tire pads 24, 26, and 28 to the liner 14, and specifically through the sewing portions 40 of the peripheral sewing channels 38.

[0024] The pads 24, 26, and 28 are formed with the use of a mold or mold 50 that is the inverse of the desired configuration of the desired pad, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The mold 50 has a cavity 52 that has a central mold depression or recess 54 extending to a sewing channel depression or recess 56 that is generally separated from the central recess 54 through a divider, partition, or separation wall 58 having a top or top end 60. The central recess 54 in the illustrated embodiment is concave in shape. The central recess 54 forms the central portion 32 of the pads 24, 26, and 28. The sewing channel recess 56 has a first portion 62 adjacent to separation wall 58 that has a first select depth DI. The first portion 62 forms the sewing portion 40 of the finished peripheral sewing channel 38 and the peripheral portion 33 of the overlying central portion 32. The sewing channel recess 56 also has a second portion 64 outboard of the first portion 62 that has a second select depth D2 that is deeper than the first select depth DI . The second portion 64 forms the peripheral rim 42 of the finished peripheral sewing channel 38 and the peripheral portion 33 of the overlying central portion 32. [0025] It should be understood that the separation wall 58 may be selected to have a height that allows for a large volume or thickness/depth of material for the central portion 32 while providing for a small thickness/depth of material for the backing portion 34 fused to the central portion 32.

[0026] To manufacture the pads 24, 26, and 28, a molten higher shore material HSM or first material is poured into the sewing channel recess 56 to approximately the height of the top end 60 of the separation wall 58. The separation wall 58 forms the inner groove 46 of the backing portion 34. The higher shore material HSM is applied at a temperature of between 150 and 300 degrees Celsius and then allowed to cool or be gelled.

[0027] Next, a molten lower shore material LSM or second material is poured or placed into the central recess 54 of the mold 50 so that the lower shore material LSM flows over the top end 60 of the separation wall 58 and flows onto the underlying higher shore material within the sewing channel recess 56. The second material is poured or otherwise deposited to the mold 50 at a temperature of approximately 60 degrees Ce lsius. The low shore material LSM is then all owed to cool to a temperature wherein the pad may be removed from the mold without tearing. The cooling may be aided through a waterbed or air cooler.

[0028] Thus, the bottom surface of the low shore material LSM fuses to the top surface of the higher shore material HSM, i.e., the two materials fuse together along their mutual contacting surface 49 with the higher shore material HSM forming the backing portion or base 34. As shown in Fig. 4, the peripheral portion 33 of the central portion 32 overlays the backing portion 34.

[0029] Once the pads 24, 26, and 28 are fully formed and allowed to cure, the pads 24, 26, and 28 are removed from the mold 50 and sewn to the liner 14. To do so, the sewing thread 44 is passed through the peripheral sewing channel 38, the overlying peripheral portion 33 of the central portion 32, and the liner 14, and preferably the sewing portions 40 of the peripheral sewing channel 38. The peripheral rim 42 provides for a thicker area adjacent the threads 44 to further enhance the tear resistance of the peripheral sewing channel 38. [0030] It thus should be appreciated that the glove of the present invention provides for a sewing area that is comprised of a higher shore material and a comfortable middle pad area that is comprises of a lower shore material. This provides for a strong sewing area to avoid shearing or tearing while also providing a soft pad for comfort.

[0031] The inner groove 46 provides for a clearly defined demarcation between the central portion 32 and the backing portion 34, which is important when the first and second materials are of different colors as the groove masks any merging or mixing of the two materials. The inner groove 46 also provides for a flexing of the pad 12 during use of the glove 10 for additional comfort.

[0032] It is thus seen that a glove that has pads that are both centrally soft for comfort and perimeteriy hard for tear resistance. Although the invention has been shown and described in its preferred form, it should be understood that modifications and variations may be made thereto without departure from its spirit and scope as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A work glove comprising: a liner in the shape of a human hand; at least one pad having a central portion of a first shore hardness and a peripheral sewing channel fused to and extending from said central portion, said peripheral sewing channel having a second shore hardness greater than said first shore hardness of said central portion, and a sewing thread passing through and coupling said peripheral sewing channel of said at least one pad and said liner.

2. The work glove of claim 1 wherein said peripheral sewing channel includes a sewing portion and a peripheral rim extending above said sewing portion, said peripheral rim being outboard of said sewing portion.

3. The work glove of claim 2 wherein said peripheral sewing channel further inc ludes an inner groove extending from said sewing portion oppositely disposed from said peripheral rim.

4. The work glove of claim 1 wherein said central portion has a peripheral portion overlying said peripheral sewing channel.

5. A work glove comprising: a liner in the shape of a human hand; a pad having a pliable padding portion and a base coupled to said pliable padding portion, said base having a peripheral channel portion extending outward from said pliable padding portion, said base being of a material that is more tear resistant than said pliable padding portion, and a sewing thread passing through said peripheral channel portion and said liner to couple said pad to said liner.

6. The work glove of claim 5 wherein said peripheral channel portion includes a sewing portion and a peripheral rim extending above said sewing portion, said peripheral rim being outboard of said sewing portion.

7. The work glove of claim 6 wherein said peripheral channel portion further includes an inner groove extending from said sewing portion oppositely disposed from said peripheral rim.

8. The work glove of claim 5 wherein said pliable padding portion has a select first shore hardness, and wherein said base has a select second shore hardness greater than said first shore hardness of said pliable padding portion.

9. The work glove of claim 5 wherein said pliable padding portion includes a peripheral portion overlying said base.

10. A method of making a work glove, compr ising the steps of:

(a) forming a liner having a palm portion, four finger tubes, and a thumb tube;

(b) providing a mold having a central recess and a sewing channel recess, the central recess being separated from the sewing channel recess by a separation wall having a top edge;

(c) placing a molten high shore polymer material having a cured first shore hardness into the sewing channel recess to a level at or below the top edge of the separation wall to prevent the high shore polymer material from entering the central recess;

(d) placing a molten low shore polymer material having a cured second shore hardness less than the cured first shore hardness into the central channel recess and over at least a portion of the high shore polymer material so as to overlay and be fused to at least a portion of said high shore polymer material;

(e) curing the high shore and low shore polymer materials to form a resilient pad;

(f) removing the cured resilient pad from the mold, and

(g) sewing the peripheral sewing channel to the liner.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein step (b) the sewing channel recess has a first portion extending from the separation wall having a first recess depth and a second portion extending from the first portion and oppositely disposed from the separation wall having a second recess depth larger than the first recess depth of the first portion of the sewing channel.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein in step (g) the sewing is performed through the first portion of the sewing channel.