Fully-adjustable glove removal apparatus

Abstract

A surgical glove removal apparatus in which a crossmember supports one or more flanges that are able to be slipped between the wearer's glove and hand, so that when the hand is withdrawn, the flange peels the glove off away from the wearer. A shield is provided to prevent unwanted splatter, with the shield being adjustable virtually 360 degrees about the crossmember. The crossmember is supported by support legs that are able to be attached to virtually any surface angle, with the flanges able to be utilized with the apparatus attached to a floor surface, a table surface, a wall surface, or even an elevated or ceiling surface, allowing for complete versatility in the placement of this apparatus in a medical setting. The shield and flanges may be adjustable as to position for the user, with the height or extension of the support legs also adjustable so as to accommodate any mounting surface and make it appropriate for the mounting and use of this apparatus.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] Two basic concepts exist for surgical glove removal. The first concept uses vacuum pressure chambers to modify the shape and size of the gloves. Recent art has utilized improvements on this first concept. The second basic concept for surgical glove removal uses an external instrument to pull the glove away from the hand. Prior art generally is not intended for attachment to a ceiling or wall, as the present invention does. Further, shields and guards are desirous, since substances on the gloves may contain unwanted contaminants. [0002] Referring now to U.S. Pat. No. 4,002,276 (Poncy et al.), a method for putting on surgical gloves is shown. This invention typifies an early method for using vacuum chambers to put on gloves, and logically also to remove, surgical gloves. [0003] Referring now to U.S. Pat. No. 4,876,747 (Coffey et al.), a removal method for a specific type of glove is shown, in which the glove itself is equipped with a loop that is abl...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] This instrument avoids undesired contact of one hand against the other, and easily and quickly allows glove removal. In addition, this invention allows for placement and orientation of the invention in virtually all possible orientations. Therefore, this invention finds usefulness in situations where a tabletop is provided as the surface to which this invention is attached, as well as a wall or even a ceiling, where the invention hangs down from above.

[0012] This apparatus comprises a framework in which to support legs are spaced apart and separated on one end by a crossmember, with the other ends of the support legs having a means by which they may be attached to a stable and suitable surface. Typically, a bracket is provided and attached to the support legs to allow easy mounting.

[0019] Accordingly, it is object to this invention to provide a means by which latex gloves are easily removed concurrent with one another in a single removal action.

[0021] It is a further object of this invention to provide apparatus which is capable of being adjusted as to overall length allowing greater options as to the positioning of the flanges with regard to multiple potential surfaces.

[0022] It is a further object of this invention to provide the glove removal apparatus having an adjustable shield means to protect the wearer from undesirable spattering.

Problems solved by technology

The removal of these type of gloves is often difficult to do, owing to the manner in which the gloves themselves provide a constricting force on all of the surface area of the wearer's hand.

In addition, it is often undesirable to attempt removal of these types of gloves without some external instrument, in situations where caustic and / or biologically threatening substances are present on the gloves themselves.

If removal is attempted without using a stationary external instrument, then the undesirable substances on the glove of one hand will likely be transferred to the skin of the other hand during the removal.

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