Hand shield for the unassisted donning of gloves

Abstract

A protective garment having a sleeve that possesses an interior region and a peripheral surface attached to a hand shield. The hand shield also has an interior region and a peripheral opening. The peripheral opening of the hand shield is attached to and shares a common border with the peripheral surface of the sleeve thereby enabling direct access between the interior regions of the sleeve and the hand shield. The hand shield is designed to be detached from the sleeve at a zone of separation without damaging the sleeve. Use of this protective garment is conducive to methods for the unassisted donning of sterile gloves.

1 . A protective garment, comprising: 
 a garment body having sleeves, each sleeve terminating in an open end;    a hand shield attached to at least one of the sleeves such that a portion of the sleeve and hand shield overlap one another, the hand shield comprising a pouch-like compartment having a peripheral opening aligned with and having a common border with a peripheral surface of the sleeve adapted to receive a portion of a wearers hand therethrough and contain the same within the compartment;    wherein at least a portion of the hand shield is permanently detachable from the sleeve at a zone of separation without damaging the sleeve.    
   
   
       2 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the garment body is selected from the group consisting essentially of medical gowns, clean room garments, and work wear.  
   
   
       3 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the hand shield comprises a film formed into a pouch-like compartment.  
   
   
       4 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the hand shield comprises the same material as the sleeve material.  
   
   
       5 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the physical configuration of the hand shield is selected from the group consisting essentially of a glove, a mitt, and a pouch.  
   
   
       6 . The garment of  claim 1 , comprising a bonding agent for attaching the hand shield to the sleeve.  
   
   
       7 . The garment of  claim 6 , wherein the bonding agent comprises an adhesive.  
   
   
       8 . The garment of  claim 6 , wherein the bonding agent is applied to a region coincident with the zone of separation.  
   
   
       9 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the zone of separation comprises a region capable of failure thereby separating the hand shield from the sleeve without generating loose particulate.  
   
   
       10 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the hand shield is attached to the sleeve by any combination of the use of a bonding agent, perforations, thermal bonding, pressure bonding, chemical bonding, a frangible connection, and mechanical fasteners.  
   
   
       11 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein a bonding agent is applied to an inside surface of the hand shield such that a portion of the sleeve is occluded by a portion of the hand shield.  
   
   
       12 . A protective garment, comprising: 
 a sleeve having an interior region, an opening, and a peripheral surface;    a hand shield having an interior region and a peripheral opening, the peripheral opening of the hand shield is attached to and shares a common border with the peripheral surface of the sleeve enabling direct access between the interior regions of the sleeve and the hand shield, wherein a portion of the sleeve and the hand shield overlap one another;    wherein at least a portion of the hand shield is permanently detachable from the sleeve at a zone of separation without damaging the sleeve.    
   
   
       13 . The garment of  claim 12 , wherein the zone of separation comprises the attachment between the hand shield and the sleeve.  
   
   
       14 . The garment of  claim 12 , comprising a bonding agent for attaching the hand shield to the sleeve.  
   
   
       15 . The garment of  claim 12 , wherein the hand shield comprises the same material as the sleeve material.  
   
   
       16 . The garment of  claim 12 , wherein the zone of separation comprises a region capable of failure thereby separating the hand shield from the sleeve without generating loose particulate wherein the hand shield comprises a film formed into a pouch-like compartment.  
   
   
       17 . The garment of  claim 12 , wherein the hand shield is attached to the sleeve by any combination of the use of a bonding agent, perforations, thermal bonding, pressure bonding, chemical bonding, a frangible connection, and mechanical fasteners.  
   
   
       18 . The garment of  claim 12 , wherein a bonding agent is applied to an inside surface of the hand shield such that a portion of the sleeve Is occluded by a portion of the hand shield.  
   
   
       19 . The garment of  claim 14 , wherein the bonding agent is applied to a region coincident with the zone of separation.