Glove with a widened cuff area

Abstract

An ambidextrous or hand specific glove with a widened cuff area to aid in donning or doffing the glove is disclosed, together with a former for fabricating the glove and a method of fabricating the same. The glove may further include a bead on the cuff to resist tearing when the glove is put on or taken off. The glove may be fabricated on a continuous, automated chain machine or a batch or semi-batch machine. While the cuff region on the former for fabricating the glove is elliptical in cross-section and is flared, the region of the former on which the end of the glove is fabricated is circular in cross-section and thus allows the beading process to be successfully undertaken.

1 . A glove comprising:
 a palm region;   a digit region extending outwardly from a first end of the palm region;   a wrist region extending outwardly from a second end of the palm region and generally in an opposite direction to the digit region; and   an end of the wrist region comprising a cuff that is disposed a distance remote from the palm region;   a cavity defined by the palm region, digit region and wrist region; wherein the cavity is adapted to receive the hand and wrist of a user therein; and wherein both the wrist region and a portion of the cavity defined by the wrist region gradually increases in width; and that the wrist region gradually increases from a first width proximate the palm region to a second width proximate the cuff.   
     
     
         2 . The glove as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the digit region comprises a thumb region, an index finger region, a middle finger region, a ring finger region, and a little finger region; and wherein the glove is an ambidextrous glove and the thumb, index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger regions are all aligned along a common axis. 
     
     
         3 . The glove as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the digit region comprises a thumb region, an index finger region, a middle finger region, a ring finger region, and a little finger region; and wherein the glove is a hand-specific glove and the index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger regions are all aligned along a common axis and the thumb region is offset relative to the common axis. 
     
     
         4 . The glove as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the glove is fabricated from nitrile or latex and at least a portion thereof is adapted to conform to a hand of a wearer that is inserted into the glove. 
     
     
         5 . The glove as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the digit region, the palm region, and at least part a first section of the wrist region adjacent the palm region are adapted to be disposed in abutting contact with the hand and a wrist of the wearer; and wherein a second section of the wrist region which includes the cuff is adapted to be generally spaced a distance from a forearm of the wearer of the glove. 
     
     
         6 . The glove as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the wrist region includes a first section and a second section; and the first section originates proximate the palm region and extends outwardly for a distance therefrom; and the second section originates at an end of the first section and extends outwardly for a distance therefrom; and wherein the first section gradually increases in width and is narrowest proximate the palm region and is widest proximate the second section. 
     
     
         7 . The glove as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the second section of the wrist region is of a substantially constant width; and that substantially constant width is equal in size to the widest portion of the first section of the wrist region. 
     
     
         8 . The glove as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the glove is fabricated on a substantially continuous automated chain machine. 
     
     
         9 . The glove as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the glove is fabricated on a batch machine or a semi-batch machine. 
     
     
         10 . A glove comprising:
 a palm region;   a digit region extending outwardly from a first end of the palm region;   a wrist region extending outwardly from a second end of the palm region and generally in an opposite direction to the digit region;   a cavity defined by the palm region, digit region and wrist region; wherein the cavity is adapted to receive the hand and wrist of a user therein; and wherein both the wrist region and a portion of the cavity defined by the wrist region gradually increases in width; and wherein the cuff is rolled to form a bead, and wherein the bead is of a greater thickness than the rest of the wrist region; and wherein the glove is a hand specific glove that is fabricated on a substantially continuous automated chain machine.   
     
     
         11 . A glove comprising:
 a palm region;   a digit region extending outwardly from a first end of the palm region;   a wrist region extending outwardly from a second end of the palm region and generally in an opposite direction to the digit region;   an end of the wrist region comprising a cuff that is disposed a distance remote from the palm region;   a cavity defined by the palm region, digit region, wrist region and the cuff; wherein the cavity is adapted to receive the hand and wrist of a user therein; and wherein both the wrist region and a portion of the cavity defined by the wrist region gradually increases in width and the wrist region gradually increases from a first width proximate the palm region to a second width proximate the cuff; and   a bead is provided on the cuff, wherein the bead is of a greater thickness than the rest of the wrist region.   
     
     
         12 . The glove as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the digit region comprises a thumb region, an index finger region, a middle finger region, a ring finger region, and a little finger region; and wherein the glove is an ambidextrous glove and the thumb, index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger regions are all aligned along a common axis. 
     
     
         13 . The glove as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the digit region comprises a thumb region, an index finger region, a middle finger region, a ring finger region, and a little finger region; and wherein the glove is a hand-specific glove and the index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger regions are all aligned along a common axis and the thumb region is offset relative to the common axis. 
     
     
         14 . The glove as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the glove is fabricated from nitrile or latex and at least a portion thereof is adapted to conform to a hand of a wearer that is inserted into the glove. 
     
     
         15 . The glove as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the digit region, the palm region, and at least part of a first section of the wrist region adjacent the palm region are adapted to be disposed in abutting contact with the hand and a wrist of the wearer; and wherein a second section of the wrist region is adapted to be generally spaced a distance from the forearm of the wearer of the glove; and wherein the second section of the wrist includes the cuff and the bead. 
     
     
         16 . The glove as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the wrist region includes a first section and a second section; and the first section originates proximate the palm region and extends outwardly for a distance therefrom; and the second section originates at an end of the first section and extends outwardly for a distance therefrom; and wherein the first section gradually widens in width and is narrowest proximate the palm region and a widest portion thereof is located proximate the second section. 
     
     
         17 . The glove as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the second section of the wrist region is of a substantially constant width. 
     
     
         18 . The glove as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the substantially constant width of the second section of the wrist region is equal in size to the widest portion of the first section of the wrist region. 
     
     
         19 . The glove as defined in  claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of the second section of the wrist region is rolled to form the bead. 
     
     
         20 . The glove as defined in  claim 19 , wherein the glove is fabricated on a substantially continuous automated chain machine. 
     
     
         21 . The glove as defined in  claim 19 , wherein the glove is fabricated on a batch machine or a semi-batch machine.