Capacitive sheaths for hand coverings

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a capacitive sheath fitted for a finger tip that includes conducting material, which may be placed over gloved hands. The capacitive sheath permits the user to operate a touch screen device without removal of any digit or hand covering apparatus, such as gloves.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A capacitive sheath comprising:
 a first portion having a first edge, wherein said first portion comprises conducting material, and   a second portion having a second edge, wherein said second portion comprises a flexible material,   
       wherein the first edge of the first portion is coupled with the second edge of the second portion and the capacitive sheath is adapted to fit over a hand covering of a user. 
     
     
         2 . The capacitive sheath of  claim 1 , wherein the conducting material is selected from the group consisting of: fabrics containing polyurethane-polyurea copolymers, spandex, elastane, silver-plated fabric, woven conductive fibers, metal sheet material, semiconductor material, graphite, antimicrobial fabric, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The capacitive sheath of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material is selected from the group consisting of: fabrics containing polyurethane-polyurea copolymers, spandex, elastane, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The capacitive sheath of  claim 1 , further comprising a non-slip material. 
     
     
         5 . The capacitive sheath of  claim 4 , wherein the non-slip material is selected from the group consisting of: rubber, polymers, neoprene, latex, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The capacitive sheath of  claim 1 , wherein the first edge of the first portion to the second edge of the second portion is coupled by an association selected from the group consisting of: thread, nylon, adhesion, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The capacitive sheath of  claim 1 , wherein the hand covering is selected from the group consisting of: light fabric gloves, driving gloves, cloth gloves, fireman gloves, fashion gloves, garden gloves, heavy winter gloves, skiing gloves, snowboarding gloves, motorcycle gloves, fishing gloves, sporting gloves, golf gloves, ice hockey gloves, goalkeeper gloves, football gloves, horseback riding gloves, fly fishing gloves, work gloves, leather gloves, surgical gloves, latex gloves, electrician's gloves, military gloves, construction gloves, tactical gloves, police gloves, flame-resistant gloves, and specialty gloves. 
     
     
         8 . The capacitive sheath of  claim 1 , wherein the hand covering is a motorcycle glove. 
     
     
         9 . The capacitive sheath of  claim 1 , further comprising a disc having a nub, wherein the disc is associated with the first portion of the capacitive sheath. 
     
     
         10 . A capacitive sheath comprising a conductive material, the capacitive sheath adapted to be insertable over a portion of a hand covering of a user of a capacitive touch screen. 
     
     
         11 . The capacitive sheath of  claim 10 , wherein the conducting material comprises silver-plated spandex fabric. 
     
     
         12 . The capacitive sheath of  claim 10 , wherein the flexible material comprises spandex. 
     
     
         13 . The capacitive sheath of  claim 10 , further comprising a non-slip material. 
     
     
         14 . The capacitive sheath of  claim 13 , wherein the non-slip material is a synthetic rubber. 
     
     
         15 . A method for operating a touch screen electronic device with a gloved hand, comprising the steps of:
 applying a capacitive sheath to a finger receptacle of the hand covering of a user, wherein said capacitive sheath comprises a conducting material.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the conducting material comprises a silver-plated spandex fabric. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the hand covering is a motorcycle glove. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the capacitive sheath covers a top portion of the finger receptacle of a motorcycle glove. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the capacitive sheath further comprises flexible material. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the capacitive sheath further comprises flexible material, non-slip material and a disc having a nub.