Protective glove with inner glove life indicator

Abstract

An inner indicator glove formed of multiple layers including a protective layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface facing a hand of a user when wearing the inner indicator glove, and an indicator layer supported by the top surface of the protective layer and positioned to contact protective glove when the inner indicator glove is inserted into the protective glove, wherein the indicator layer is formed of a material that changes color when exposed to a solution penetrating the protective glove.

1 . An inner indicator glove formed of multiple layers comprising:
 a protective layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface facing a hand of a user when wearing the inner indicator glove; and   an indicator layer supported by the top surface of the protective layer and positioned to contact protective glove when the inner indicator glove is inserted into the protective glove, wherein the indicator layer is formed of a material that changes color when exposed to a solution penetrating the protective glove.   
     
     
         2 . The inner indicator glove of  claim 1  wherein the change in color becomes visible from an external surface of the protective glove when the inner indicator glove is inserted into the protective glove. 
     
     
         3 . The inner indicator glove of  claim 1  wherein the change in color becomes visible when a least a portion of the inner indicator glove is removed from the protective glove. 
     
     
         4 . The inner indicator glove of  claim 1  wherein the indicator layer comprises a pH indicator generating a color corresponding to a pH of the solution. 
     
     
         5 . The inner indicator glove of  claim 4  wherein the pH indicator comprises bromophenol blue. 
     
     
         6 . The inner indicator glove of  claim 1  wherein the protective layer comprises natural or synthetic lattices. 
     
     
         7 . The inner indicator glove of  claim 1  wherein the indicator layer is a continuous layer. 
     
     
         8 . The inner indicator glove of  claim 1  wherein the protective layer comprises at least one of latex, nitrile, or chloroprene and the indicator layer comprises bromophenol blue. 
     
     
         9 . The inner indicator glove of  claim 1  wherein the protective layer has a thickness configured to provide approximately 10 minutes of protection when the life of the protective glove has failed and the indicator layer changes color responsive to the failure of the protective glove. 
     
     
         10 . The inner indicator glove of  claim 1  and further comprising a protective glove into which the indicator glove has been inserted. 
     
     
         11 . The inner indicator glove of  claim 1  wherein the protective glove includes a transparent patch through which the color of the indicator layer is observable. 
     
     
         12 . A method of forming an inner indicator glove, the method comprising:
 dip coating a hand shaped former into a bath to form a protective-layer having a thickness that provides a selected protection time less than a protection time of a protective glove; and   forming an indicator layer on the protective layer, the indicator forming an outer layer of the inner indicator glove.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein forming an indicator layer on the protective layer comprises dip coating the hand shaped former having the first protective layer into a bath containing a bromophenol blue slurry to form the indicator layer comprising bromophenol blue. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the bromophenol blue slurry comprises bromophenol blue powder, alcohol, a surfactant, and a viscosity intensifying agent resin. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein forming an indicator layer on the protective layer comprises printing the indicator layer. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 inserting an inner indicator glove into a protective glove, wherein the inner indicator glove has an indicator layer positioned to change color responsive to an end of service life of the protective glove;   using the protective glove with the inserted inner indicator glove;   viewing the change of color of the indicator layer; and   discontinuing use of the protective glove.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein viewing the change of color of the indicator layer comprises removing a portion of the protective glove to expose the inner indicator glove such that the change of color is visible to a user. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein viewing the change of color of the indicator layer comprises viewing a solution that diffused back through nanopores in the protective glove to an outer surface of the protective glove, the solution being colored by the indicator layer responsive to the solution penetrating the protective glove signifying the end of the service life of the protective glove. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein viewing the change of color of the indicator layer comprises viewing the indicator layer through a transparent patch of the protective glove. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the indicator layer comprises bromophenol blue.