Gloves with reinforcing elements and methods for making same

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a multilayer glove and a method of manufacture thereof. The multilayer glove preferably includes a fabric substrate and a protective coating disposed on the fabric substrate to form a composite therewith. The multilayer glove preferably also includes one or more reinforcing elements bonded to the protective layer. The reinforcing elements and the protective coating are preferably formed from nitrile foam rubber. Additional embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein.

1 . A multilayer glove, comprising: 
 a substrate in the form of a glove and having an outer surface;    an intermediate layer of resilient material applied to said substrate so as to completely cover at least a portion of said outer surface thereof; and    an outer layer of resilient material bonded to at least one selected area of said intermediate layer such that said outer layer is separated from said substrate by said intermediate layer.    
   
   
       2 . The multilayer glove of  claim 1 , wherein said outer layer and said intermediate layer form a vulcanized bond.  
   
   
       3 . The multilayer glove of  claim 1 , wherein said substrate is a fabric substrate.  
   
   
       4 . The multiplayer glove of  claim 3 , wherein said fabric substrate is formed from a string-knit fabric.  
   
   
       5 . The multilayer glove of  claim 4 , wherein said outer layer and said intermediate layer are formed from nitrile foam rubber.  
   
   
       6 . The multilayer glove of  claim 1 , wherein said intermediate layer of resilient material is formed from nitrile foam rubber.  
   
   
       7 . The multilayer glove of  claim 1 , wherein said intermediate layer of resilient material is formed from a member of the group consisting of silicone, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, natural rubber, and synthetic rubber.  
   
   
       8 . The multilayer glove of  claim 1 , wherein said outer layer of resilient material is formed from nitrile foam rubber.  
   
   
       9 . The multilayer glove of  claim 1 , wherein said outer layer of resilient material is formed from a member of the group consisting of silicone, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, natural rubber, and synthetic rubber.  
   
   
       10 . The multilayer glove of  claim 1 , wherein said outer layer of resilient material comprises a reinforcing element.  
   
   
       11 . The multilayer glove of  claim 10 , wherein said reinforcing element has at least one relief area formed therethrough.  
   
   
       12 . The multilayer glove of  claim 10 , wherein said reinforcing element has a substantially uniform thickness.  
   
   
       13 . The multilayer glove of  claim 10 , wherein said reinforcing element has a thickness of about 20-80 mil.  
   
   
       14 . The multilayer glove of  claim 10 , wherein said reinforcing element is formed on a palm side thereof.  
   
   
       15 . The multilayer glove of  claim 14 , comprising a finger guard secured on a backhand side thereof.  
   
   
       16 . The multilayer glove of  claim 1 , wherein said outer layer of resilient material comprises a plurality of the reinforcing elements.  
   
   
       17 . The multilayer glove of  claim 16 , wherein said plurality of reinforcing elements has at least one relief area formed therebetween.  
   
   
       18 . The multilayer glove of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the plurality of reinforcing elements are formed to have a first color, and wherein at least another one of the plurality of reinforcing elements are formed to have a second color.  
   
   
       19 . A multilayer glove, comprising: 
 a fabric substrate in the form of a glove and having an outer surface;    an intermediate layer of resilient material applied to said fabric substrate so as to completely cover at least a portion of said outer surface thereof; and    an outer layer of resilient material bonded to a palm area of said intermediate layer such that said outer layer is separated from said fabric substrate by said intermediate layer, said outer layer including at least one reinforcing element forming a vulcanized bond with the intermediate layer.    
   
   
       20 . The multilayer glove of  claim 19 , wherein said fabric substrate comprises a string-knit fabric, and wherein said intermediate layer and the outer layer are formed from nitrile rubber.  
   
   
       21 . A method of manufacturing a multilayer glove, comprising: 
 providing a fabric substrate having an outer surface in the form of a glove; and    applying an intermediate layer of resilient material to said fabric substrate so as to completely cover at least a portion of said outer surface thereof; and    bonding an outer layer of resilient material to at least one selected area of said intermediate layer such that said outer layer is separated from said fabric substrate by said intermediate layer.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein applying the intermediate layer comprises passing reinforcing material through a mesh member onto the intermediate layer.