Protective hand covering

Abstract

Disclosed is an appropriately-sized protective hand cover for children that is made of a suitable barrier material and is used for reducing the potential adverse health impacts associated with dermal and ingestion exposures to infectious disease pathogens and environmental contaminants that are often found in areas where children frequent, such as public bathrooms, and during certain activities, such as painting and baking. The device is preferably mitten-shaped and includes a fastening device adapted to securely fasten the device around at least a portion of the child's hand.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of Invention [0002] The present invention relates generally to prophylactic devices. In particular, the present invention relates to protective hand coverings for use by children to reduce their exposure to infectious disease pathogens, environmental contaminants, and other materials that may be present in locations where those children frequent, such as public restrooms. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] Personal protective equipment (PPE) and personal protective apparel (PPA) for adults have been known in the art for many years. For example, medical professionals have relied on examination gloves, splash masks, gowns, footwear covers, and other devices to protect themselves from exposure to infectious disease pathogens. Environmental professionals have relied on masks, respirators, gloves, bibs, boots, and other devices to protect themselves from exposure to toxic hazardous materials and hazardous wastes. Firefighters, poli...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014] As indicated above, a need has been identified for an appropriately-sized protective hand cover for children that is made of a suitable barrier material and is used for reducing the potential adverse health impacts associated with dermal and ingestion exposures to infectious disease pathogens and environmental contaminants that are often found in areas where children frequent, such as public bathrooms, schools, and other locations.

[0016] It is another object of the present invention to provide a protective hand cover that is adapted to the unique shape of a child's hand to prevent significant loss of dexterity.

[0018] It is another object of the present invention to provide a protective hand cover formed from a suitable barrier material that reduces the probability of a child's hand being exposed to pathogens or environmental contaminants left on a surface of an object when the child comes in contact with that object.

[0019] It is another object of the present invention to provide a protective hand cover that discourages hand-to-mouth contact behavior in children during and after activities where the probability of exposure to pathogens and environmental contaminants is higher.

Problems solved by technology

One problem with the glove disclosed in the Tebbe patent is that it is not easily adapted for use by a child because of its size and square shape.

Gloves can dramatically lower the dexterity of a child's hand if the seams around the glove fingers are bulky.

Also, an child's hand has different anthropometric proportions than an adult's hand, so even making the glove smaller may not provide adequate tactile feel and dexterity that a child may need.

One problem with the invention disclosed in the Darrow patent is that the opening is not adapted to being secured around the wrist of the user, making it practically unusable by a child because a child's hand is even smaller than an adult hand.

Moreover, without a fastening device, the mitten could easily fall off of an inattentive child's hand.

Thus, what the aforementioned prior art prophylactic gloves and mitten devices fail to address is the need for an appropriately-sized protective hand cover, preferably in the shape of a mitten, which can be securely fastened around the wrist of a child and used to protect the child from exposure to pathogens and environmental contaminants often found in areas where children frequent.

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