Glove with interior grasping element for inversion

Abstract

An invertible glove includes a hand portion having at least two digit portions configured to cover at least two digits of a hand of a wearer of the glove and a palm portion configured to cover a palm of the hand of the wearer of the glove. The hand portion includes an exterior surface for handling an object and an interior surface for abutting the hand of the wearer of the glove. The hand portion further includes a grasping element that extends from the interior surface of at least one of the digit portions and is configured to be grasped by a digit of the hand of the wearer of the glove for facilitating inversion of the glove when the hand is removed from the glove. A glove is inverted by pulling on the grasping element as the hand is removed from the glove.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An invertible glove, comprising:
 (a) a hand portion including,
 (i) at least two digit portions configured to cover at least two digits of a hand of a wearer of the glove, and 
 (ii) a palm portion configured to cover a palm of the hand of the wearer of the glove; 
   (b) wherein the hand portion includes first and second layers of the same pliable material joined in a unitary construction,
 (i) the first layer defining a first outermost exterior surface and a first innermost interior surface of the hand portion, and 
 (ii) the second layer defining a second outermost exterior surface and a second innermost interior surface of the hand portion, the first and second outermost exterior surfaces defining an entire outermost exterior surface of the hand portion of the glove, and the first and second innermost interior surfaces defining an entire innermost interior surface of the hand portion of the glove for abutting the hand of the wearer of the glove; 
   (c) wherein the hand portion further includes a grasping element that extends from the hand portion and is configured to be grasped and pulled by a digit of the hand of the wearer of the glove for facilitating inversion of the glove when the hand is removed from the glove; and   (d) wherein the grasping element and at least one of the first and second layers of the pliable material of the hand portion are unitarily constructed, the grasping element comprising a portion of the at least one of the first and second layers of the pliable material of the hand portion.   
     
     
         2 . A glove, comprising:
 (a) a hand portion including first and second layers of pliable material that are joined to define,
 (i) at least two digit portions configured to cover at least two digits of a hand of a wearer of the glove, 
 (ii) a palm portion configured to cover a palm of the hand of the wearer of the glove, and 
 (iii) a grasping element that extends from a surface of the hand portion and that is configured to be grasped and pulled by a digit of the hand of the wearer of the glove for facilitating inversion of the glove when the hand is removed from the glove; 
   (b) wherein the grasping element and at least one of the first and second layers of the pliable material of the hand portion are unitarily constructed, the grasping element comprising a portion of the at least one of the first and second layers of the pliable material of the hand portion   
     
     
         3 . The glove of  claim 2 , wherein the first layer defines a first outermost exterior surface and a first innermost interior surface of the hand portion; and the second layer defines a second outermost exterior surface and a second innermost interior surface of the hand portion, the first and second outermost exterior surfaces defining an entire outermost exterior surface of the hand portion of the glove, and the first and second innermost interior surfaces defining an entire innermost interior surface of the hand portion of the glove for abutting the hand of the wearer of the glove. 
     
     
         4 . The glove of  claim 2 , wherein the at least two digit portions comprise of a thumb portion for receiving a thumb of the hand of the wearer of the glove and at least one finger portion for receiving a plurality of fingers of the hand of the wearer. 
     
     
         5 . The glove of  claim 2 , wherein the grasping element comprises a tab. 
     
     
         6 . The glove of  claim 2 , wherein the grasping element defines an opening that is configured to receive therethrough the end of a digit of the hand of the wearer of the glove. 
     
     
         7 . The glove of  claim 2 , wherein the grasping element defines an opening that is configured to receive therethrough the respective ends of a plurality of digits of the hand of the wearer of the glove. 
     
     
         8 . The glove of  claim 2 , wherein the grasping element comprises an elongate member having first and second opposite ends, each opposite end located at a seam of the glove. 
     
     
         9 . The glove of  claim 2 , wherein the grasping element defines a loop and is located at an interior surface of the hand portion of the glove in an area configured to abut a volar side of the hand when the glove is donned. 
     
     
         10 . The glove of  claim 2 , wherein the grasping element defines a loop and is located at an interior surface of the hand portion of the glove in an area configured to abut a dorsal side of the hand when the glove is donned. 
     
     
         11 . The glove of  claim 2 , wherein the grasping element is disposed proximate an end of a digit portion distal to the palm portion and extends only adjacent the digit portion. 
     
     
         12 . The glove of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second layers of the hand portion define, between at least two digit portions, a cleft that terminates in an arcuate recess. 
     
     
         13 . The glove of  claim 2 , further comprising a forearm portion joined with the hand portion, the forearm portion including first and second sealing elements having spring-like characteristics such that,
 when the glove is in a first configuration, the first and second sealing elements bias the forearm portion toward an open position in which the forearm portion defines an opening for receipt of the hand there through in donning of the glove by the wearer, the first and second sealing elements being disposed in surrounding relation to the opening, and   when the glove is in a second configuration that is inverted relative to the first configuration, the first and second sealing elements are disposed in opposed facing relation to one another and are configured to engage one another in interlocking relation for sealing of the opening defined by the forearm portion.   
     
     
         14 . The glove of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second sealing elements comprise a pair of mating sealing strips configured for interlocking engagement with one another. 
     
     
         15 . The glove of  claim 13 , wherein the forearm portion is formed from the two layers of pliable material of the hand portion. 
     
     
         16 . The glove of  claim 15 , wherein each of the sealing elements comprises a pair of mating sealing strips configured for interlocking engagement with one another, each of the sealing strips being attached to a respective one of the layers of pliable material of the forearm portion.