Glove having heat resistant silicone molded palm piece with protrusions extending therefrom

Abstract

A safety glove having a unique design on the palm portion of the glove, the palm portion comprising a plurality of pyramid shaped protrusions formed in a predeteremined pattern extending from the surface of a molded silicone palm piece.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention provides a glove having a palm piece with a plurality of protrusions extending from the surface of the palm piece, the palm piece and protrusions comprised of silicone.[0003]2. Description of the Prior Art[0004]A number of heat protected gloves have been available in the prior art. For example, the leather gloves having synthetic and natural insulation, knit cotton gloves, oven mitts using cotton or other fiber fabrics with insulation, silicon molded grips and mitts, aluminized coating on cotton, wool, aramid fibers (such as Kelvar® or Nomex® and racing gloves (combination of cut and sewn aramid fabrics and leather) all have some heat protection features.[0005]U.S. Pat. No. 7,086,092 to Carey et al discloses a glove having a heat insulating barrier which is removably inserted into a pocket or pouch positioned adjacent the back of a user's hand. The insulating barrier reduces heat conduction from th...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]The benefit of the above glove construction is that it provides a significant reduction in thermal transfer, from a hot or cold object to the hand of the wearer, while maintaining high dexterity and comfort. The reduction in thermal transfer is a result of the use of silicone (organopolysiloxanes or inorganic polysiloxanes) as the contact material, and having protrusions over a substantial portion of the palmar surface of the glove. Molded silicone has a wide range of thermal stability, from approximately −100° C. (−148° F.) to 316° C. (600° F.). Therefore, it remains flexible and stable in the presence of hot or cold items. Silicone maintains low thermal conductivity, approx 0.33 to 0.52×10-3g-cal / sec / cm2 / cm / ° C. reducing transfer of heat or cold to the wearer's hand. In addition, the use of protrusions decreases the surface area of contact and increasing the distance between the hot or cold object and the wearer's hand thus reducing thermal transfer. Additionally, the protrusions are shaped such that the tip has a smaller area than the base (such as with pyramid, polyhedral or conical shaped protrusions) reducing the surface area of contact and providing a further reduction of thermal transfer.

[0017]Although not part of the present invention, it should be noted that the back of the glove can be comprised of fabric, in order to facilitate comfort and snug fit and lack of bulk. Fabrics made from heat protection fibers is a desired (but not required) option. Insulation, either on the palm side or back of hand side of the glove, to further decrease thermal transfer to the wearer's hand can be provided if desired.

Problems solved by technology

The thin layer of silicone and the raised pattern of silicone, in addition to the other components of the glove, make the glove relatively expensive to fabricate.

Although the prior art glove constructions noted above provided heat protection, when the glove is intended for work applications certain disadvantages arise.

In addition the palm portion of the glove incorporates sewing channels with stitches therein which reduces the wear capability of the glove.

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