Dispensing of gloves

Abstract

The present invention relates to the dispensing of gloves from a dispenser. The dispenser (1) comprises a container (2) and a plurality of disposable gloves (22). The container (2) has a plurality of faces (3, 4, 5), and each glove (22) has a cuff portion (36) and a finger portion (34), the cuff portion having a cuff (40) and the gloves being stacked one on another with the cuffs of the gloves being aligned on one side (42) of the stack (20) of gloves held within the container (2). The container (2) has in use a dispensing aperture (24) in at least one face (3, 5) of the container through which gloves (22) can be dispensed. The gloves (22) are oriented in the container (2) so that the gloves are positioned for dispensing cuff-first through the aperture (24), and the finger portion (34) of each glove (22) is folded back against the cuff portion (36) of the same glove to protect the finger portion from user contact and contamination during dispensing of the glove. The cuff portion has a cuff opening for receiving a user's hand, the cuff opening facing outwards with respect to the dispensing aperture.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]a. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to the dispensing of gloves from a dispenser.[0003]b. Related Art[0004]The control of infection of patients in hospitals, clinics, and doctors' surgeries has become an ever more pressing concern with the rise of infectious bacteria resistant to multiple antibiotics, in particular methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MSRA). In the United Kingdom alone there are thought to be about 5,000 deaths a year from infections caught in hospitals but some experts believe the number could be as high as 20,000.[0005]Research has shown that high levels of MRSA are present on everyday items in hospitals. Samples taken from an intensive care unit at a London hospital found MRSA on charts, bins, pens, medical notes, phones and computer keyboards. There was also MRSA present on staff aprons and hands. The most common route for MRSA infection is between patients or via a doctor or nurse. Hospital staff can spread MRSA ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The invention is a dispenser for disposable gloves that has a container with multiple faces and a dispensing aperture in at least one face. The gloves are stacked one on another with the cuffs of the gloves aligned on one side of the stack. The gloves are oriented in the container so that they can be dispensed cuff-first through the aperture. The container has a movable plate to protect the topmost glove and a plurality of removable panels that can be added or removed to increase the size of the dispensing aperture. The technical effects of this invention include a more efficient use of space, a reduction in the amount of packaging needed, and greater flexibility in where the dispenser can be mounted."

Problems solved by technology

Disposable medical gloves can help prevent cross-contamination, but a problem arises if external parts of the glove are touched by a person prior to or during donning of the glove.

The cuffs of the gloves are not directly accessible to the user.

This arrangement encourages users to touch a glove only by the cuff and so minimise the risk of contamination, but at the cost of increased mechanical complexity and the need to apply an adhesive to the otherwise pristine external surface of the glove.

Apart from the several additional manufacturing steps entailed by this arrangement, the combination of cuff over-folding and interfolding of neighbouring gloves creates voids within the stack of interfolded gloves and so reduces the number of gloves which can be packed in a given volume.

Furthermore, the cuff of the next glove may not always be reliably pulled from the aperture.

This arrangement encourages users to touch a glove only by the cuff and so minimise the risk of contamination, but at the cost of increased mechanical complexity and the need to apply an adhesive to the otherwise pristine external surface of the glove.

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