Systems and methods for dispensing gloves

Abstract

A system for dispensing gloves including a dispenser and a plurality of gloves positioned in a frictional fit within the dispenser in a compressed configuration. The dispenser has a removable section that forms a dispensing opening for removing an outermost glove from the dispenser. The dispensing opening is shaped such that, upon removal of the removable section of the dispenser, the frictional engagement between the dispenser and a cuff portion of the outermost glove is less than the frictional engagement between the dispenser and a finger portion of the outermost glove.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for dispensing gloves, the system comprising:
 a dispenser comprising:
 a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, first and second side surfaces connected to and extending therebetween the top surface and the bottom surface, first and second end surfaces connected to and extending therebetween the top surface and the bottom surface, and a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second end surfaces; and 
 a removable section defined thereon a portion of a selected side surface and the adjoining portions of the top surface of the housing, wherein the removable section is configured for selective removal to thereby form a dispensing opening of the housing; and 
   a plurality of gloves, each glove of the plurality of gloves having a finger portion and a cuff portion, the cuff portion defining an opening, each glove of the plurality of gloves having a longitudinal axis extending between the cuff portion and the finger portion of the glove and a transverse axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the plurality of gloves are aligned in a compressed configuration in which the plurality of gloves are folded substantially along the transverse axes of the plurality of gloves, the plurality of gloves in the compressed configuration being received therein the housing of the dispenser in frictional engagement with interior portions of the housing such that the transverse axes of the plurality of gloves are positioned proximate the portion of the selected side surface that forms the dispensing opening of the housing,   wherein, upon removal of the removable section of the housing, the frictional engagement between the interior portions of the housing and the cuff portion of an outermost glove of the plurality of gloves is less than the frictional engagement between the interior portions of the housing and the finger portion of the outermost glove.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cuff portion of the outermost glove is accessible through the dispensing opening to thereby permit withdrawal of the outermost glove from the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of gloves comprises a plurality of increasingly inwardly positioned gloves, and wherein, following withdrawal of the outermost glove from the housing, the plurality of gloves expand into an expanded configuration such that the frictional engagement between the interior portions of the housing and the plurality of gloves within the housing is maintained. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein, following withdrawal of the outermost glove from the housing, the cuff portion of the next sequential inwardly positioned glove is accessible through the dispensing opening of the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, upon removal of the removable section of the housing, at least a portion of each glove of the plurality of gloves underlies the portion of the top surface that forms the dispensing opening. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the removable section of the dispenser is defined by a plurality of perforations thereon the selected side surface and the top surface of the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the selected side surface that forms the dispensing opening is generally rectangular. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the top surface that forms the dispensing opening is generally triangular. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the distance between the top surface and the bottom surface of the housing corresponds to a height of the housing, and wherein, in the compressed configuration, the plurality of gloves have a height that is less than the height of the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the distance between the top surface and the bottom surface of the housing corresponds to a height of the housing, and wherein, in the compressed configuration, the plurality of gloves have a height that is at least equal to the height of the housing such that the plurality of gloves are in frictional engagement with at least a portion of the respective interior portions of the top surface and the bottom surface of the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the distance between the first and second end surfaces of the housing corresponds to a length of the housing, and wherein, in the compressed configuration, the plurality of gloves have a folded width that is less than the length of the housing. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the distance between the first and second end surfaces of the housing corresponds to a length of the housing, and wherein, in the compressed configuration, the plurality of gloves have a folded width that is at least equal to the length of the housing such that the plurality of gloves are in frictional engagement with at least a portion of the respective interior portions of the first and second end surfaces. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the distance between the first and second side surfaces of the housing corresponds to a width of the housing, and wherein, in the compressed configuration, the plurality of gloves have a folded length that is less than the width of the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the distance between the first and second side surfaces of the housing corresponds to a width of the housing, and wherein, in the compressed configuration, the plurality of gloves have a folded length that is at least equal to the width of the housing such that the plurality of gloves are in frictional engagement with at least a portion of the respective interior portions of the first and second side surfaces. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second end surfaces of the housing is integrally connected to the bottom surface by a seam and detachably connected to the top surface such that the end surface is configured to pivot about the seam between a closed position in which the end surface is connected to the top surface and an open position in which the end surface is spaced apart from the top surface. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, prior to removal of the removable section of the dispenser, the dispenser is configured for storage within a vending machine. 
     
     
         17 . A method for dispensing gloves, the method comprising:
 aligning a plurality of gloves in a stacked configuration, each glove of the plurality of gloves having a finger portion and a cuff portion, the cuff portion defining an opening, each glove of the plurality of gloves having a longitudinal axis extending between the cuff portion and the finger portion of the glove and a transverse axis substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;   folding the plurality of gloves along the transverse axes of the plurality of gloves;   positioning the plurality of gloves in a compressed configuration within a dispenser to create a frictional engagement between the plurality of gloves and interior portions of the dispenser, the dispenser comprising:
 a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, first and second side surfaces connected to and extending therebetween the top surface and the bottom surface, first and second end surfaces connected to and extending therebetween the top surface and the bottom surface, and a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second end surfaces; and 
 a removable section defined thereon a portion of a selected side surface and the adjoining portions of the top surface of the housing, wherein the removable section is configured for selective removal to thereby form a dispensing opening of the housing, 
   wherein, in the compressed configuration, the plurality of gloves are received therein the housing such that the transverse axes of the plurality of gloves are positioned proximate the portion of the selected side surface that forms the dispensing opening of the housing, and   wherein, upon removal of the removable section of the housing, the frictional engagement between the interior portions of the dispenser and the cuff portion of an outermost glove of the plurality of gloves is less than the frictional engagement between the interior portions of the dispenser and the finger portion of the outermost glove.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the cuff portion of the outermost glove is accessible through the dispensing opening to thereby permit withdrawal of the outermost glove from the housing. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein, in the compressed configuration, the plurality of gloves comprises a plurality of increasingly inwardly positioned gloves, and wherein, following withdrawal of the outermost glove from the housing, the plurality of gloves expand into an expanded configuration such that the frictional engagement between the interior portions of the dispenser and the plurality of gloves within the dispenser is maintained. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein, following withdrawal of the outermost glove from the housing, the cuff portion of the next sequential inwardly positioned glove is accessible through the dispensing opening of the housing. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein, upon removal of the removable section of the housing, at least a portion of each glove of the plurality of gloves underlies the portion of the top surface that forms the dispensing opening. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the removable section of the dispenser is defined by a plurality of perforations thereon the selected side surface and the top surface of the housing. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the portion of the selected side surface that forms the dispensing opening is generally rectangular. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the portion of the top surface that forms the dispensing opening is generally triangular. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising, following the step of positioning the plurality of gloves in the compressed configuration within the dispenser, storing the dispenser within a vending machine.