Gloves for disposal of waste and methods for making and using them

Abstract

A glove for disposing of waste includes an open end, a plurality of finger pockets, and a closure on the open end. The glove may be sufficiently flexible to be inverted upon removal from a hand, the closure configured for closing the open end when the glove is inverted. The closure may include a mating protrusion and channel, similar to a zip-lock closure, a drawstring, or a strap. Optionally, the glove may include a decorative pattern that is exposed when the glove is inverted and/or a handle for carrying the glove. During use, a wearer's hand is inserted into the open end, waste material is grabbed by the wearer's hand, the glove is inverted, e.g., during removal from the hand, to capture the waste material within the inverted glove, and the open end of the glove is closed with the waste material therein.

1 . A device for disposing of waste, comprising:
 a glove comprising an open end and a closed end including a plurality of finger pockets for receiving fingers of a hand inserted into the open end, the glove being sufficiently flexible to be inverted upon removal from the hand; and   a closure mechanism on the open end of the glove configured to substantially close the open end when the glove is inverted upon being removed from a wearer's hand.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the closure mechanism comprises a channel extending along a portion of the open end, and a protrusion extending along a portion of the open end generally opposite the channel before the glove is inverted, the channel and protrusion being oriented towards one another when the glove is inverted such that the protrusion may be received in the channel to substantially close the open end. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the closure mechanism comprises a pocket extending around a perimeter of the open end and a drawstring disposed within the pocket that may be tightened to substantially close the open end. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the closure mechanism comprises a strap including a first end fixed to the glove adjacent the open end and a second end that is attachable to the glove at a location across the open end from the first end for substantially closing the open end. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the second end comprises one of a hook and eye fastener and wherein the glove comprises a mating hook and eye fastener at the location across the open end such that the second end is attachable to the mating hook and eye fastener. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the mating hook and eye fastener is disposed on an inside surface of the glove adjacent the open end before the glove is inverted. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the strap comprises an elastic material such that the strap is stretchable to provide sufficient length to be attached to the location across the open end from the first end. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the strap has sufficient length to provide a handle when the second end is attached to the location across the open end from the first end. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the second end comprises an adhesive thereon for attaching the second end to the glove. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the second end is releasably secured to the glove to the first end or the inside surface of the glove such that the second end is separable from the glove before being attached to the location across the open end from the first end. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle adjacent the open end for carrying the device after the glove is inverted. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the handle comprises first and second ends attached to the glove and an intermediate region between the first and second ends, at least a portion of the intermediate region being releasably secured to the glove. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the at least a portion of the intermediate region is releasably secured to an inside surface of the glove before the glove is inverted. 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the glove comprises an examination glove. 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the glove comprises a surgical glove. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the glove comprises an elastomeric material that is expandable to facilitate inserting a hand into the glove, the material resiliently contracting to engage a hand inserted into the glove. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a pattern on an inside surface of the glove, the pattern being exposed when the glove is inverted. 
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the pattern comprises one or more colors printed on the inside surface. 
   
   
       19 . A device for disposing of waste, comprising:
 a glove comprising an open end and a plurality of finger pockets for receiving fingers of a hand inserted into the open end, the glove being sufficiently flexible to be inverted upon removal from the hand;   a channel extending along a portion of the open end; and   a protrusion extending along a portion of the open end generally opposite the channel before the glove is inverted, the channel and protrusion being oriented towards one another when the glove is inverted such that the protrusion may be received in the channel to substantially close the open end.   
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the channel is provided in a first elongate strip attached to an outside surface of the glove, and wherein the protrusion is provided on a second elongate strip attached to the outside surface of the glove generally opposite the first elongate strip. 
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the first and second elongate strips extend substantially parallel to an edge of the glove defining the open end. 
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the channel and the protrusion are molded into an edge of the glove defining the open end such that the channel and the protrusion are oriented away from one another before the glove is inverted. 
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the channel and the protrusion comprises shapes that prevent removal of the protrusion when received in the channel to substantially permanently close the open end of the glove. 
   
   
       24 . A device for disposing of waste, comprising a glove comprising an open end and a plurality of finger pockets for receiving fingers of a hand inserted into the open end, the glove being sufficiently flexible to be inverted upon removal from the hand, the glove comprising a decorative pattern on an inside surface thereof such that the decorative pattern is exposed when the glove is inverted. 
   
   
       25 . The device of  claim 24 , further comprising a handle adjacent the open end for carrying the device after the glove is inverted. 
   
   
       26 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the handle comprises first and second ends attached to the glove and an intermediate region between the first and second ends, at least a portion of the intermediate region being releasably secured to the glove.