Touchscreen Glove Contacts

Abstract

A glove contact for operation of a touchscreen device, removably attachable to a fingertip portion of a glove via a pressure sensitive adhesive, is presented. The glove contact features an electrical conductivity similar to that of human skin which enables a person wearing a glove equipped with the glove contact(s) of the present invention to enter data or otherwise operate a touchscreen. The glove contact features a functional shape specially designed to allow for secure attachment to the finger portion of a glove.

1 . A flexible contact attachable to a glove, comprising:
 a functional shape designed to attach and conform to a finger portion of a glove, comprised of a flexible composite material;   wherein the flexible composite material includes a layer of flexible, electrically conductive material and a layer of flexible, adhesive material;   wherein, the layer of flexible, electrically conductive material has an electrical conductivity sufficient to operate a touchscreen;   wherein the layer of flexible adhesive material is a pressure sensitive adhesive tape attachable to the electrically conductive material on one side and attachable to the finger portion of a glove on the other side; and   wherein the functional shape includes a generally rectangular main body portion and two generally triangular wrap portions.   
     
     
         2 . The flexible contact attachable to a glove of  claim 1 , wherein the layer of electrically conductive material has an electrical resistivity of about 10 4  ohms when measured using American Society for Testing and Materials (“ASTM”) standard D257. 
     
     
         3 . The flexible contact attachable to a glove of  claim 1 , wherein functional shape has a surface area of between 1.5 to 2.5 square inches per side. 
     
     
         4 . The flexible contact attachable to a glove of  claim 1 , wherein the main body of the functional shape is generally rectangular having long sides and short sides, wherein the short sides are curved and radiused at corners formed with the long sides, wherein the curve of the short sides and radiuses at the corners function to resist peeling of the adhesive layer when applied to the finger portion of a glove. 
     
     
         5 . The flexible contact attachable to a glove of  claim 1 , wherein the generally triangular wrap portions are generally isosceles triangles. 
     
     
         6 . The flexible contact attachable to a glove of  claim 1 , wherein each generally triangular wrap portion has an apex and wherein the apex is radiused in order to resist peeling of the adhesive layer when applied to the finger portion of a glove. 
     
     
         7 . The flexible contact attachable to a glove of  claim 1 , wherein the main body has a horizontal centroidal axis and the combined area of the wrap portions has a horizontal centriodal axis and wherein the horizontal centroidal axis of the wrap portions is offset from the horizontal centroidal axis of the main body. 
     
     
         8 . The flexible contact attachable to a glove of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible composite material includes a flexible carrier tape layer applied to the flexible adhesive layer. 
     
     
         9 . The flexible contact attachable to a glove of  claim 1 , wherein the main body portion further includes a fingertip portion. 
     
     
         10 . A flexible contact attachable to a glove, comprising:
 a functional shape designed to attach and conform to a finger portion of a glove, comprised of a flexible composite material;   wherein the flexible composite material includes a layer of flexible, electrically conductive material and a layer of flexible, adhesive material;   wherein, the layer of flexible, electrically conductive material has an electrical conductivity sufficient to operate a touchscreen;   wherein the layer of flexible adhesive material is a pressure sensitive adhesive tape attachable to the electrically conductive material on one side and attachable to the finger portion of a glove on the other side;   wherein the functional shape includes a generally rectangular main body portion having a horizontal centroidal axis and two generally triangular wrap portions, the combined area of the wrap portions having a horizontal centroidal axis; and   wherein the horizontal centroidal axis of the wrap portions is offset from the horizontal centroidal axis of the main body portion.   
     
     
         11 . The flexible contact attachable to a glove of  claim 10 , wherein the layer of electrically conductive material has an electrical resistivity of about 10 4  ohms when measured using American Society for Testing and Materials (“ASTM”) standard D257. 
     
     
         12 . The flexible contact attachable to a glove of  claim 10 , wherein functional shape has a surface area of between 1.5 to 2.5 square inches per side. 
     
     
         13 . The flexible contact attachable to a glove of  claim 10 , wherein the main body of the functional shape is generally rectangular having long sides and short sides, wherein the short sides are curved and radiused at corners formed with the long sides, wherein the curve of the short sides and radiuses at the corners function to resist peeling of the adhesive layer when applied to the finger portion of a glove. 
     
     
         14 . The flexible contact attachable to a glove of  claim 10 , wherein the generally triangular wrap portions are generally isosceles triangles. 
     
     
         15 . The flexible contact attachable to a glove of  claim 10 , wherein each generally triangular wrap portion has an apex and wherein the apex is radiused in order to resist peeling of the adhesive layer when applied to the finger portion of a glove. 
     
     
         16 . The flexible contact attachable to a glove of  claim 10 , wherein the flexible composite material includes a flexible carrier tape layer applied to the flexible adhesive layer. 
     
     
         17 . The flexible contact attachable to a glove of  claim 10 , wherein the main body portion further includes a fingertip portion. 
     
     
         18 . A flexible contact attachable to a glove, comprising:
 a functional shape comprised of a flexible composite material having a surface area per side in the range of about 1.5 to 2.5 square inches, the functional shape designed to attach and conform to a finger portion of a glove;   wherein the flexible composite material includes a layer of flexible, electrically conductive material, a flexible carrier tape layer and a layer of flexible adhesive material disposed therebetween;   wherein, the layer of flexible, electrically conductive material has an electrical resistivity of about 10 4  ohms;   wherein the layer of flexible adhesive material is a pressure sensitive adhesive tape;   wherein the functional shape includes a generally rectangular main body portion having a horizontal centroidal axis and two generally triangular wrap portions, the combined area of the wrap portions having a horizontal centroidal axis; and   wherein the horizontal centroidal axis of the wrap portions is offset from the horizontal centroidal axis of the main body portion.   
     
     
         19 . The flexible contact attachable to a glove of  claim 18 , wherein the offset of between the horizontal centroidal axis of the wrap portions and the horizontal centroidal axis of the main body portion is between 0.1 and 0.2 inches. 
     
     
         20 . The flexible contact attachable to a glove of  claim 18 , wherein the main body portion further includes a fingertip portion.