Sanitary hand covering

Abstract

A sanitary hand cover includes a fluid impermeable material defining two portions, the first portion for fitment over a portion of a user's hand, the second portion for inversion within the user's hand and first portion to form a pocket. The pocket is lined with an absorbent material to receive and retain liquid deposited in the pocket formed in the sanitary hand covering. The absorbent materials extends from within the pocket at least partially over a transition area between the first and second portions adjacent the finger tips when the hand covering is fitted on a user's hand. The transition area defines a constricted pocket opening bearing the absorbent material as a gasket and wiping mechanism. The hand covering can be inverted following use, e.g., for gland expression during animal grooming, to provide a sanitary package for disposal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sanitary hand covering for expressing scent glands, said hand covering comprising:
 a hand covering including a fluid impermeable surface having a first portion sized to receive at least two fingers and a thumb to at least the middle knuckles and top knuckle thereof respectively of a hand of a user, and a second portion configured to be positionable in either of an extended position beyond the first portion or a pocketed position within the first portion;   where an absorbent material is present on at least a major portion of said surface of said second portion, thereby giving said pocket an absorbent layer.   
     
     
         2 . The sanitary hand covering of  claim 1 , wherein said absorbent material is present on a transition between said first and second portions of said hand covering to provide a gasket around an opening of said absorbent pocket. 
     
     
         3 . The sanitary hand covering of  claim 2 , wherein said absorbent material of said second portion defines a region substantially corresponding to the area of a tip of a user's index finger, said region comprising said liquid impermeable surface substantially free of said absorbent material. 
     
     
         4 . The sanitary hand covering of  claim 2 , wherein the hand covering is substantially tubular in a pre-inverted position. 
     
     
         5 . The sanitary hand covering of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second sections define a reduced cross-sectional transition therebetween. 
     
     
         6 . The sanitary hand covering of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one of a deodorant, disinfectant, lotion, ointment, lubricating, topically active substance, or fragrance in said absorbent material. 
     
     
         7 . The sanitary hand covering of  claim 5 , wherein the second portion is of a restricted diameter relative to said first section. 
     
     
         8 . The sanitary hand covering of  claim 5 , wherein the second portion is of a restricted diameter relative to said first section, further comprising at least one of a deodorant, disinfectant, or fragrance in said absorbent material. 
     
     
         9 . The sanitary hand covering of  claim 5 , wherein said absorbent material of said second portion defines a region substantially corresponding to the area of a tip of a user's index finger, said region comprising said liquid impermeable surface substantially free of said absorbent material. 
     
     
         10 . The sanitary hand covering of  claim 6 , wherein said absorbent material of said second portion defines a region substantially corresponding to the area of a tip of a user's index finger, said region comprising said liquid impermeable surface substantially free of said absorbent material. 
     
     
         11 . The sanitary hand covering of  claim 7 , wherein said absorbent material of said second portion defines a region substantially corresponding to the area of a tip of a user's index finger, said region comprising said liquid impermeable surface substantially free of said absorbent material. 
     
     
         12 . The sanitary hand covering of  claim 8 , wherein said fluid-impermeable surface of said hand covering comprises at least one of latex, rubber, vinyl, and plastic. 
     
     
         13 . The sanitary hand covering of  claim 9 , wherein said fluid-impermeable surface of said hand covering comprises at least one of latex, rubber, vinyl, and plastic. 
     
     
         14 . The sanitary hand covering of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one of a deodorant, disinfectant, lotion, ointment, lubricating, topically active substance, or fragrance in said absorbent material. 
     
     
         15 . A method of making a sanitary hand covering for expressing the scent gland of animals, the method comprising:
 providing a fluid impermeable material defining a first portion sized to receive at least two fingers and a thumb to at least the middle knuckles and top knuckle respectively,   providing a fluid impermeable material defining a second portion positionable in either of an extended position beyond the first portion or a pocketed position within the first portion, and   adhering to at least a substantial portion of said second portion an adsorbent material.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein an absorbent material is provided that extends over at least a major portion of said second portion of fluid impermeable material. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the absorbent material is provided on the second portion and extending partially onto the first portion, such that the absorbent material forms a gasket around an opening of a pocket formed by said second portion in said pocketed position with said absorbent material lining a major portion of said pocket. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein providing the absorbent material comprises provision of absorbent material on a reduced cross-section transition between said first and second portions to serve as a gasket about the opening of said pocket. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  where in the step of adhering to at least a substantial portion of said second portion an adsorbent material is chosen from the group consisting of gluing, flocking, thermal adhering, and sonic bonding. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  where in the step of adhering to at least a substantial portion of said second portion an adsorbent material is chosen from the group consisting of gluing, flocking, thermal adhering, and sonic bonding. 
     
     
         21 . A sanitary hand covering for expressing scent glands, said hand covering comprising:
 a hand covering including an elastomeric absorbent material including a first portion sized to receive at least two fingers and a thumb to at least the middle knuckles and top knuckle thereof respectively of a hand of a user, and a second portion configured to be positionable in either of an extended position beyond the first portion or a pocketed position within the first portion;   wherein said elastomeric absorbent material facilitates movement of the fingers and thumb to form a constricted or relaxed annulus.