Ventilating gloves and methods

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to various gloves capable of ventilating air in and out of themselves in response to various user input forces. More particularly, the present invention relates to a glove which, has a body arranged to define at least one opening for receiving at least a portion of a hand of an user therethrough and an interior arranged to extend from the opening inwardly into the body and for retaining the received portion of the hand of the user. Such a glove also include at least one pumping module which couples with and/or disposed inside the body and is capable of supplying air to the body and/or dispensing air from the body through at least one input force applied by the user and/or at least one movement of at least a portion of the body of the glove which is effected by such an input force of the user. Accordingly, the present invention also relates to various pumping modules arranged to be incorporated into various gloves and/or various actuator modules. coupling with such pumping modules and converting various user input forces into various driving forces which drive the pumping modules. The present invention also relates to various methods of ventilating air in and out of various gloves, incorporating such pumping modules and/or actuator modules into such gloves, and/or converting various user input forces into various driving forces. The present invention further relates to various processes for providing such ventilating gloves and for providing pumping modules and/or actuator modules for such gloves. The pumping and/or actuator modules of the present invention may be incorporated into various gloves designed for thermal insulation and for protection of users hands from mechanical, chemical, radiological, and/or electrical hazards by ventilating air into and out of the gloves, thereby controlling humidity and/or temperature inside such gloves.

1 . GENERAL CONFIGURATIONS: VENTILATING GLOVES 
 Pa1 a ventilating glove having a body configured to define at least one opening to receive at least a portion of a hand of an user therethrough and to also define an interior configured to extend from said opening inwardly into said body and to retain said portion of said hand of said user therein comprising:    Ba1.1 Pumping Module and Input Force 
 at least one pumping module coupling with said body and capable of at least one of supplying air to said interior of said body and dispensing air therefrom by an input force applied by said user.  
   Ba1.2 Pumping Module and Movement 
 at least one pumping module coupling with said body and capable of at least one of supplying air to said interior of said body and dispensing air therefrom in response to at least one movement of at least a portion of said body.  
   Ba1.3 Pumping Module and Actuator Module for Input Force 
 at least one pumping module coupling with said body and capable of at least one of supplying air to said interior of said body and dispensing air therefrom by a driving force; and  
 at least one actuator module operatively coupling with said pumping module and configured to receive an input force applied by said user and then to convert said input force into said driving force by changing at least one of an amplitude, a direction, and a timing of application of said input force.  
   Ba1.4 Pumping Module and Actuator Module for Movement 
 at least one pumping module coupling with said body and capable of at least one of supplying air to said interior of said body and dispensing air therefrom by a driving force; and  
 at least one actuator module operatively coupling with said pumping module and configured to to convert at least one movement of at least a portion of said body into said driving force by changing at least one of an amplitude, a direction, and a timing of application of an input force which is applied by said user and configured to cause said movement of said portion of said body.  
   DCs Dependent Claims of Ba1.1 to Ba1.4    D01. said pumping module may be any of the following pumping modules.    D02 said pumping module supplies air thereto in response to said input force and/or movement.    D03. said pumping module dispenses air therefrom in response to said input force and/or movement.    D04. said actuator module may be any of the following actuator modules.    D05. said movement of said portion of body may be any of the following movements of said body.    D06. said input force may be applied to any module of said glove.    Pa2 A ventilating glove including a body which has at least one mobile portion and is configured to define at least one opening to receive at least a portion of a hand of an user therethrough, to define an interior extending from said opening inwardly into said body and retaining said portion of said hand of said user therein comprising:    Ba2.1 Pumping Module with Positions and Input Force 
 at least one, pumping module coupled to said body, configured to operate between at least one on-position and at least one off-position, configured to move from one to the other of said positions by an input force applied by said user, and capable of at least one of supplying air to said interior of said body in one of said positions and dispensing air therefrom in the other of said positions.  
   Ba2.2 Pumping Module with Positions and Movement 
 at least one pumping module coupled to said body, configured to operate between at least one on-position and at least one off-position, configured to move from one to the other of said positions in response to at least one movement of said mobile portion of said body, and capable of at least one of supplying air to said interior of said body in one of said positions and dispensing air therefrom in the other of said positions.  
   Ba2.3 Pumping Module with Positions and Actuator Module for Input Force 
 at least one pumping module coupled to said body, configured to operate between at least one on-position and at least one off-position, configured to move from one to the other of said positions by a driving force, and capable of at least one of supplying air to said interior of said body in one of said positions and dispensing air therefrom in the other of said positions; and  
 at least one actuator module operatively coupling with said pumping module and configured to receive an input force applied by said user and then to convert, said input force into said driving force by changing at least one of an amplitude, a direction, and a timing of application of said input force.  
   Ba2.4 Pumping Module with positions and Actuator Module for Movement 
 at least one pumping module coupled to said body, configured to operate between at least one on-position and at least one off-position, configured to move from one to the other of said positions by a driving force, and capable of at least one of supplying air to said interior of said body in one of said positions and dispensing air therefrom in the other of said positions; and  
 at least one actuator module operatively coupling with said pumping module and configured to to convert at least one movement of said mobile portion of said body to said driving force by changing at least one of an amplitude, a direction, and a timing of application of an input force which is applied by said user and configured to cause said movement of said mobile portion of said body.  
   DCs Dependent Claims of Ba2.1 to Ba2.4    D01. said pumping module may be any of the following pumping modules.    D02. said pumping module supplies air thereto in response to said input and/or driving force.    D03. said pumping module dispenses air therefrom in response to said input and/or driving force.    D04. said actuator module may be any of the following actuator modules.    D05. said movement of said portion of body may be any of the following movements of said body.    D06. said input and/or driving force may be applied to any module of said glove.    
   
   
       2 . SPECIFIC CONFIGURATIONS: VENTILATION SYSTEMS 
 Pa1 A ventilation system for transporting air in and out of a glove including a body which defines at least one opening for receiving at least a portion of a hand of an user therethrough and which defines an interior extending from said opening inwardly into said body and is configured to retain said portion of said hand of said user, said ventilation system comprising: 
 at least one inlet module configured to be one of directly and indirectly coupled to said body, to have at least one inlet air pathway, and to define at least one inlet opening disposed in one end of said inlet air pathway and capable of being in fluid communication with one of said interior of said body and an exterior of said body;  
 at least one outlet module configured to be one of directly and indirectly coupled to said body, to have at least one outlet air pathway, and to define at least one outlet opening disposed in one end of said outlet air pathway and capable of being in fluid communication with the other of said interior of said body and said exterior of said body;  
   Ba1.1 Inlet, Outlet; Pumping Modules and Input Force+Valve 
 at least one pumping module configured to one of directly and indirectly couple with said body, capable of being in fluid communication with the other end of said inlet air pathway and with the other end of said outlet air pathway, and capable of at least one of supplying air from said exterior into said interior of said body and dispensing air from said interior to said exterior of said body through an input force applied by said user, and  
   Ba1.2 Inlet, Outlet, Pumping Module and Movement+Valve 
 at least one pumping module configured to one of directly and indirectly couple with said body, capable of being in fluid communication with the other end of said inlet air pathway and with the other end of said outlet air pathway, and capable of at least one of supplying air from said exterior into said interior of said body and dispensing said air from said interior to said exterior of said body in response to at least one movement of at least a portion of said body; and  
   Ba1.3 Inlet, Outlet, Pumping Modules with Positions and Input Force+Valve 
 at least one pumping module configured to one of directly and indirectly couple with said body, to operate between at least one on-position and at least one off-position, and to move from one to the other of said positions by an input force applied by said user, and capable of at least one of supplying air from said exterior into said interior of said body in one of said positions and dispensing said air out of said interior to said exterior of said body in the other of said positions; and  
   Ba1.4 Inlet, Outlet, Pumping Modules with Positions and Movement+Valve 
 at least one pumping module configured to one of directly and indirectly couple with said body, to operate between at least one on-position and at least one off-position, and to move from one to the other of said positions in response to at least one movement of at least a portion of said body of said glove, and capable of at least one of supplying air to said interior of said body in one of said positions and dispensing air from said interior to said exterior of said body in the other of said positions; and  
 at least one valve disposed in at least one of said modules and configured to direct said air in a preset direction therealong.  
   DCs Dependent Claims of Ba1.1 to Ba1.4    D01. said pumping module may be any of the following pumping modules.    D02. said pumping module supplies air thereto in response to said input, force and/or movement.    D03. said pumping module dispenses air therefrom in response to said input force and/or movement.    D04. any of the following actuator modules may be incorporated.    D05. said movement of said portion of body may be any of the following movements of said body.    D06. said input force may be applied to any part of said pumping module.    Pa2. A ventilation system for transporting air in and out of a glove in response to at least one input force applied thereto by an user and including a body defining at least one opening to receive at least a portion of a hand of an user therethrough and further defining an interior configured to extend from said opening inwardly into said body and to retain said portion of said hand of said user therein, said ventilation system comprising: 
 at least one inlet module configured to be one of directly and indirectly coupled to said body, to have at least one inlet air pathway, and to define at least one inlet opening disposed in one end of said inlet air pathway and capable of being in fluid communication with one of said interior of said body and an exterior of said body;  
 at least one outlet module configured to be one of directly and indirectly coupled to said body, to have at least one outlet air pathway, and to define at least one outlet opening disposed in one end of said outlet air pathway and capable of being in fluid communication with the other of said interior of said body and said exterior of said body;  
   Ba2.1 Inlet, Outlet, Pumping Modules, Actuator Module for Input Force+Valve 
 at least one pumping module configured to one of directly and indirectly couple with said body, capable of being in fluid communication with the other end of said inlet air pathway and with the other end of said outlet air pathway, and capable of at least one of supplying air from said exterior to said interior of said body and dispensing air from said interior to said exterior of said body by at least one driving force;  
 at least one actuator module operatively coupling with said pumping module and configured to receive said input force and to convert said input force into said driving force by changing at least one of an amplitude, a direction, and a timing of application of said input force; and  
 at least one valve disposed in at least one of said modules and configured to direct said air in a preset direction therealong.  
   Ba2.2 Inlet, Outlet, Pumping Modules, Actuator Module for Movement+Valve. 
 at least one pumping module configured to one of directly and indirectly couple with said body, capable of being in fluid communication with the other end of said inlet air pathway and with the other end of said outlet air pathway, and capable of at least one of supplying air from said exterior into said interior of said body and dispensing air from said interior to said exterior of said body by at least one driving force;  
 at least one actuator module operatively coupling with said pumping module and configured to to convert at least one movement of at least a portion of said body into said driving force by changing at least one of an amplitude, a direction, and a timing of application of said input force configured to effect said movement of said portion of said body; and  
 at least one valve disposed in at least one of said modules and configured to direct said air in a preset direction therealong.  
   Ba2.3 Inlet, Outlet, Pumping Modules with Positions, Actuator Module for Input Force+Valve 
 at least one pumping module configured to one of directly and indirectly couple with said body, to operate between at least one on-position and at least one off-position, and to move from one to the other of said positions by at least one driving force, capable of being in fluid communication with the other end of said inlet air pathway and with the other end of said outlet air pathway, and capable of at least one of supplying air from said exterior into said interior of said body in one of said positions and dispensing air from said interior to said exterior of said body in the other of said positions;  
 at least one actuator module operatively coupling with said pumping module and configured to receive said input force and to convert said input force into said driving force by changing at least one of an amplitude, a direction, and a timing of application of said input force; and  
 at least one valve disposed in at least one of said modules and configured to direct said air in a preset direction therealong.  
   Ba2.4 Inlet, Outlet, Pumping Modules with Positions, Actuator Module for Movement+Valve 
 at least one pumping module configured to one of directly and indirectly couple with said body, to operate between at least one on-position and at least one off-position, and to move from one to the other of said positions by at least one driving force, capable of being in fluid communication with the other end of said inlet air pathway and with the other end of said outlet air pathway, and capable of at least one of supplying air from said exterior into said interior of said body in one of said positions and dispensing air from said interior to said exterior of said body in the other of said positions;  
 at least one actuator module operatively coupling with said pumping module and configured to to convert at least one movement of at least a portion of said body effected by said input force to said driving force by modulating at least one of an amplitude, a direction, and a timing of application of said input force; and  
 at least one valve disposed in at least one of said modules and configured to direct said air in a preset direction therealong.  
   DCs Dependent Claims of Ba2.1 to Ba2.4    D01. said inlet and/or outlet pathway may be tubular and/or planar.    D02. said inlet and/or outlet pathway may be rigid and/or deformable (or collapsible).    D03. said pumping module may be any of the following pumping modules.    D04. said pumping module supplies air thereto in response to said input and/or driving force.    D05. said pumping module dispenses air therefrom in response to said input and/or driving force.    D06. any of the following actuator modules may be incorporated.    D07. said movement of said portion of body may be any of the following movements of said body.    D08. said input and/or driving force may be applied to any any part of said pumping module.    
   
   
       3 . SPECIFIC CONFIGURATIONS: PUMPING MODULES 
 Pa1 A pumping module of a ventilation system for ventilating air in and out of a glove in response to at least one of at least one input force applied to at least a portion thereof by an user and at least one movement of at least a portion of said glove, wherein said glove has a body forming at least one outer surface and at least one inner surface, defining at least one opening which is configured to receive at least a portion of a hand of said user therethrough, and also defining an interior which is configured to extend inwardly into said body from said opening so as to retain said portion of said hand therein, said pumping module comprising:    Ba1.1 Deformable Pump and Input Force 
 a chamber which defines at least one inlet for receiving air therethrough and at least one outlet for dispensing air therethrough,  
   (1) wherein said chamber is configured to be disposed between said outer and inner surfaces of said body, to indirectly receive said input force through at least one of said outer and inner surfaces, and to change its internal volume in response to said input force and wherein said chamber is capable of one of receiving air through said inlet and dispensing air through said outlet as a result of a change in said internal volume.    (2) wherein a portion of said chamber is configured to be disposed between said outer and inner surfaces of said body, wherein another portion of said chamber is configured to be exposed through said outer surface, wherein said chamber is configured to one of directly and indirectly receive said input force by said another portion and to change its internal volume in response thereto, and wherein said chamber is capable of one of receiving air through said inlet and dispensing said air through said outlet as a result of a change in said internal volume.    (3) wherein said body defines at least one gap space between at least portions of said outer and inner surfaces, wherein at least a portion of said body is configured to undergo said movement and to alter at least one configuration of said gap space in response to said movement, and wherein at least a portion of said chamber is configured to be disposed inside said gap space and is capable of one of receiving air through said inlet and dispensing air through said outlet in response to a change in said configuration of said gap space.    Ba1.2 Bellow Pump and Input Force 
 a chamber which defines at least one inlet for receiving air therethrough, at least one outlet for dispensing air therethrough, and a plurality of foldable pleats by which said chamber is configured to deform;  
   (1) wherein said chamber is configured to be disposed between said outer and inner surfaces of said body, to indirectly receive said input force through at least one of said outer and inner surfaces, and to change its internal volume as a result of deformation of said chamber including at least one of said pleats effected by said input force and wherein said chamber is capable of one of receiving air through said inlet and dispensing air through said outlet as a result of a change in said internal volume.    (2) wherein a portion of said chamber is configured to be disposed between said outer and inner surfaces of said body, wherein another portion of said chamber is configured to be exposed through said outer surface, wherein said chamber is configured to one of directly and indirectly receive said input force by said another portion and to change its, internal volume as a result of deformation of said chamber including at least one of said pleats effected by said input force, and wherein said chamber is capable of one of receiving and dispensing air through said inlet and outlet, respectively, as a result of a change in said internal volume.    (3) wherein said body defines at least one gap space between at least portions of said outer and inner surfaces, wherein at least a portion of said chamber including at least one pleat is configured to undergo said movement and to change at least one configuration of said gap space as a result of said movement, and wherein at least a portion of said chamber having at least one pleat is configured to be disposed in said gap space and is capable of one of receiving air through said inlet and dispensing air through said outlet as a result of a change in said configuration of said gap space.    Ba1.3 Syringe Pump and Input Force 
 at least one cylinder which defines at least one inlet for receiving air therethrough, at least one outlet for dispensing air therethrough, and a cavity therein; and  
 at least one piston configured to move inside said cavity between at least one intake position and at least one discharge position and capable of taking air into said cavity in said intake position and dispensing air out of said cavity in said discharge position,  
   (1) wherein said cylinder and piston are configured to be disposed between said outer and inner surfaces of said body, wherein said piston is configured to indirectly receive said input force through at least one of said outer and inner surfaces, to reciprocate along said cavity between said positions in response thereto, and to change an amount of air contained inside said cavity to a maximum value in said intake position and to a minimum value in said discharge position, and wherein said cylinder is configured to receive air through said inlet in said intake position and then to dispense air through said outlet through said outlet in said discharge position due to of a change in said volume thereof.    (2) wherein at least a substantial portion of said cylinder is configured to be disposed between said outer and inner surfaces of said body, wherein at least a portion of said piston is configured to be exposed through said outer surface and to directly receive said input force thereby, to reciprocate along said cavity between said positions in response thereto, and to change a volume of said cavity to a maximum value in said intake position and then to a minimum value in said discharge position, and wherein said cylinder is configured to receive air through said inlet in said intake position and then to dispense air through said outlet in said discharge position due to a change in said internal volume.    (3) wherein said body defines at least one gap space between at least portions of said outer and inner surfaces, wherein at least a portion of said body is configured to undergo said movement and to alter at least one configuration of said gap space as a result of said movement, and wherein at least a portion of at least one of said piston and cylinder is configured to be disposed in said gap space and is capable of one of receiving air through said inlet and dispensing air through said outlet as a result of a change in said configuration of said gap space.    D01. a single opening serves as both of said inlet and outlet openings.    D02. said chamber has a recoil property and/or includes a recoil unit.    D03. said pumping module supplies air thereto in response to said input force.    D04. said pumping module dispenses air therefrom in response to said input force.    D05 said movement of said portion of body may be any of the following movements of said body.    D06. said input force may be applied to any any part of said pumping module.    
   
   
       4 . SPECIFIC CONFIGURATIONS: ACTUATOR MODULES 
 Pa1 An actuator module of a ventilating system for ventilating air in and out of a glove in response to at least one movement of at least a portion of said glove effected by at least one input force applied to at least a portion of said glove by an user, wherein said system has at least one pumping module configured to be coupled to said body of said glove and to pump air into and out of itself, said actuator module comprising:    Ba1.1 General 
 at least one actuator configured to be operatively coupled to said pumping module, to at least one of deform and move in response to said movement of said portion of said glove, and to convert said input force into a driving force which has at least one of an amplitude, a direction, and a timing of application different from that of said input force and which is delivered to said pumping module so as to at least one of pump air thereinto and pump air therefrom.  
   Ba1.2 Actuator Modules with Positions 
 at least one actuator configured to be operatively coupled to said pumping module, to at least one of deform and move between at least one on-position and at least one off-position in response to said movement of said portion of said glove, and to convert said input force into a driving force while moving from said off-position to said on-position, wherein said driving force is configured to have at least one of an amplitude, a direction, and a timing of application different from that of said input force and to be delivered to said pumping module in order to at least one of pump air thereinto and pump air therefrom.  
   Pa2 An actuator module of a ventilation system for ventilating air in and out of a glove in response to at least one movement of at least a portion of said glove effected by at least one input force applied to at least a portion of said glove by an user, wherein said glove includes a body forming at least one finger portion configured to receive at least one finger of a hand of said user, at least one backhand portion, and at least one palm portion and wherein said system includes at least one pumping module configured to be coupled to said body of said glove and to pump air into and out of itself, said actuator module comprising:    Ba1.1 Fisting-Unfisting 
 at least one actuator configured to be operatively coupled to said pumping module, to at least one of deform and move in response to at least one of a fisting and unfisting movement of at least one of said finger portion, and to convert said input force into a driving force which has at least one of an amplitude, a direction, and a timing of application different from that of said input force and which is delivered to said pumping module so as to at least one of pump air thereinto and pump air therefrom.  
   Ba1.2 Stretching-Unstretching 
 at least one actuator configured to be operatively coupled to said pumping module, to at least one of deform and move in response to at least one of a stretching and unstretching movement of at least one of said finger portion, and to convert said input force into a driving force which has at least one of an amplitude, a direction, and a timing of application different from that of said input force and which is delivered to said pumping module in order to at least one of pump air thereinto and pump air therefrom.  
   Ba1.3 Bending-Unbending 
 at least one actuator configured to be operatively coupled to said pumping module, to at least one of deform and move in response to at least one of a bending and unbending movement of at least one of said finger portion, and to convert said input force into a driving force which has at least one of an amplitude; a direction, and a timing of application different from that of said input force and is delivered to said pumping module so as to at least one of pump air thereinto and pump air therefrom.  
   Ba1.4 Squeezing-Relaxing 
 at least one actuator configured to be operatively coupled to said pumping module, to at least one of deform and move in response to at least one of a squeezing and relaxing movement between said palm portion and at least one of said finger portion, and to convert said input force into a driving force which has at least one of an amplitude, a direction, and a timing of application different from that of said input force and which is delivered to said pumping module to at least one of pump air thereinto and pump air therefrom.  
   Ba1.5 Interfinger Squeezing 
 at least one actuator configured to be operatively coupled to said pumping module, to at least one of deform and move in response to at least one of a squeezing and relaxing movement between a plurality of said finger portions, and to convert said input force into a driving force which has at least one of an amplitude, a direction, and a timing of application different from that of said input force and which is delivered to said pumping module in order to at least one of pump air thereinto and pump air therefrom.  
   
   
   
       5 . GENERAL METHODS 
 Pm1 A method of ventilating air into and out of a glove defining an interior comprising the steps of:    Bm1.1 Simplest 
 supplying fresh air from atmosphere into said interior of said glove; and  
 dispensing moist air inside said interior of said glove out of said interior thereof.  
   Bm1.2 Active Pumping module 
 providing a pumping module capable of pumping air thereinto and therefrom; and  
 supplying fresh atmospheric air into said interior of said glove by said pumping module; and  
 replacing moist air inside said interior of said glove therefrom by said fresh air.  
   Bm1.3 Active Pumping module 
 providing a pumping module capable of pumping air thereinto and therefrom; and  
 dispensing moist air in said interior of said glove therefrom by said pumping module; and  
 allowing fresh air to flow into said interior of said glove.  
   Pm2 A method of ventilating air into and out of a glove defining an interior comprising the steps of:    Bm2.1 Active Pumping 
 providing a pumping module capable of pumping air thereinto and therefrom; and  
 manipulating said pumping module so as to pump fresh air from atmosphere into said interior of said glove while pushing out moist air inside said interior of said glove therefrom by said fresh air.  
   Bm2.2 Passive Pumping 
 providing a pumping module capable of pumping air thereinto and therefrom; and  
 manipulating said pumping module so as to pump out moist air inside said interior of said glove to atmosphere, thereby allowing fresh air to move into said interior of said glove.  
   Pm3 A method of controlling humidity of air in an interior of a glove comprising the steps of:    Bm3.1 Active Pumping 
 providing a pumping module capable of pumping air thereinto and therefrom; and  
 manipulating said pumping module in order to pump dry air from atmosphere into said interior of said glove while pushing out moist air in said interior of said glove therefrom by said dry atmospheric air, thereby controlling said humidity approximately at a level of said atmosphere.  
   Bm3.2 Passive Pumping 
 providing a pumping module capable of pumping air thereinto and therefrom;  
 manipulating said pumping module in order to pump out moist air in said interior of said glove to atmosphere; and  
 allowing dry air in atmosphere to move into said interior of said glove, thereby controlling said humidity approximately at a level of said atmosphere.  
   Pm4 A method of controlling temperature of air ventilated into an interior of a glove comprising the steps of:    Bm4.1 Different Lengths 
 providing a plurality of air pathways for flowing air therethrough and having different lengths;  
 disposing said air pathways adjacent to said interior of said glove;  
 allowing air to absorb thermal energy from said interior while flowing through said plurality of said air pathways for different temporal durations due to said different lengths thereof; and  
 selecting one of said air pathways, thereby controlling said temperature of air flowing through said one of said air pathways.  
   Bm4.2 Heat Exchange between Air 
 providing at least one first air pathway for flowing fresh air into said interior of said glove;  
 providing at least one second air pathway for flowing moist air out of said interior thereof; and  
 disposing said first and second air pathways adjacent to each other, thereby allowing a heat exchange between said fresh air and said moist air.  
   
   
   
       6 . PRODUCTS-BY-PROCESSES 
 Modify preambles of other apparatus claims of the foregoing [ 1 ] to [ 4 ]   Then use bodies of any method claims of the foregoing [ 5 ]   DCs Dependent Claims    Same as those for the apparatus claims and/or method claims of the foregoing [ 1 ] to [ 4 ]