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, 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 2 , wherein the para-aramid material includes nylon and an elastic material. 
     
     
         4 . 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. 
     
     
         5 . The puncture resistant animal handling glove according to  claim 1 , further comprising a reinforced portion positioned on the palm portion. 
     
     
         6 . The puncture resistant animal handling glove according to  claim 5 , wherein the reinforced portion extends along the bottom of the palm portion from a location below the thumb portion to a location below a pinky finger portion. 
     
     
         7 . The puncture resistant animal handling glove according to  claim 1 , wherein the thumb portion and at least one of the finger portions are removable. 
     
     
         8 . The puncture resistant animal handling glove according to  claim 7 , wherein the thumb portion and an index finger portion are removable. 
     
     
         9 . The puncture resistant animal handling glove according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional layer of puncture resistant material that is included in the dorsal hand portion, the palm portion, the thumb portion, and the plurality of finger portions. 
     
     
         10 . The puncture resistant animal handling glove according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one layer of puncture resistant material comprises a para-aramid material including nylon. 
     
     
         11 . The puncture resistant animal handling glove according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one layer of puncture resistant material comprises two layers of puncture resistant material comprised of a para-aramid material including nylon. 
     
     
         12 . The puncture resistant animal handling glove according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one additional layer of puncture resistant material that is included in at least one of the dorsal hand portion, the palm portion, the thumb portion, or the plurality of finger portions. 
     
     
         13 . The puncture resistant animal handling glove according to  claim 1 , wherein the gauntlet extends from the dorsal portion and the palm portion to a position directly below an individual's elbow. 
     
     
         14 . The puncture resistant animal handling glove according to  claim 1 , wherein a water-resistant exterior layer is included on an outer surface of the puncture resistant material. 
     
     
         15 . The puncture resistant animal handling glove according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible gripping material includes beading, knurling, or a silicon coating. 
     
     
         16 . The puncture resistant animal handling glove according to  claim 15 , wherein the flexible gripping material is reinforced with a foam or fiber padding or a layer of puncture resistant material. 
     
     
         17 . The puncture resistant animal handling glove according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible gripping material is reinforced with a foam or fiber padding or a layer of puncture resistant material.