Puncture Resistant Animal Handling Glove

Abstract

A puncture resistant animal handling glove includes a gauntlet and a dorsal hand portion made of a puncture resistant material; a palm portion and a thumb portion made of a flexible gripping material; and a plurality of finger portions made of the puncture resistant material and the flexible gripping material. The gauntlet, dorsal hand portion, palm portion, thumb portion, and the plurality of finger portions are secured together to form a unitary construction. Selected areas of the palm portion, the thumb portion and the plurality of finger portions made of the flexible gripping material are further made of a reinforcement material disposed on an inside of the flexible gripping material. The puncture resistant material provides a high degree of protection against animal bites and scratches and the flexible gripping material provides flexibility and dexterity while gripping an animal.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A puncture resistant animal handling glove, comprising:
 a gauntlet comprised of a puncture resistant material;   a dorsal hand portion comprised of the puncture resistant material;   a palm portion comprised of a flexible gripping material different from the puncture resistant material;   a thumb portion comprised of the flexible gripping material; and   a plurality of finger portions comprised of the puncture resistant material and the flexible gripping material,   wherein the gauntlet, dorsal hand portion, palm portion, the thumb portion, and the plurality of finger portions are secured together to form a unitary construction,   wherein selected areas of the palm portion, the thumb portion and the plurality of finger portions comprised of the flexible gripping material are further comprised of a reinforcement material disposed on an inside of the flexible gripping material, and   wherein the puncture resistant material provides a high degree of protection against animal bites and scratches and the flexible gripping material provides flexibility and dexterity while gripping an animal.   
     
     
         2 . The puncture resistant animal handling glove according to  claim 1 , wherein the puncture resistant material is selected from the group consisting of: para-aramid material, leather, HPPE, fiber and steel blend, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The puncture resistant animal handling glove according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible gripping material is selected from the group consisting of: neoprene, rubber, latex, nitrile, silicon, vinyl, polytetrafluoroethylene and copolymers, and combinations thereof.