Finger Glove With Tail

Abstract

A finger glove includes a finger sleeve that conforms to a finger, and a tail extending from the finger sleeve on one side of the finger toward the palm or wrist. The finger sleeve may form a barrier operable to prevent material contacting an outer surface of the finger sleeve from reaching an inner surface of the finger sleeve. The tail may include a gripping portion configured to receive a force sufficient to draw the finger sleeve into conformity with a shape of a portion of the finger. The gripping portion may be configured to enable the finger sleeve to be separated from the finger while preventing the material contacting the outer surface of the finger sleeve from reaching the finger.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A finger glove comprising:
 a sleeve that is manufactured or configured to cover a fingertip on a finger of a hand or a thumb tip of a thumb of the hand, the sleeve forming a barrier operable to prevent a substance contacting an outer surface of the sleeve from reaching an inner surface of the sleeve; and   a tail configured to extend from the sleeve and toward a palm or wrist of a wearer and further configured to receive a force from an uncovered digit of the hand, the force being sufficient to retain the finger glove in place while the finger glove is worn on the hand.   
     
     
         2 . The finger glove of  claim 1 , wherein the tail is configured to extend to at least the ball of the thumb when the finger glove is worn on the hand. 
     
     
         3 . The finger glove of  claim 1 , wherein the tail is configured to extend from the sleeve to a location on the palm short of the wrist when the finger glove is worn on the hand. 
     
     
         4 . The finger glove of  claim 1 , wherein the tail is configured to extend at an angle from the sleeve and across the palm. 
     
     
         5 . The finger glove of  claim 1 , wherein the tail comprises:
 a gripping portion configured to receive the force, wherein the force is sufficient to draw the sleeve into conformity with a shape of a portion of the finger or thumb.   
     
     
         6 . The finger glove of  claim 1 , wherein the tail comprises:
 a gripping portion configured to receive the force, wherein the force is sufficient to cause the sleeve to retain its configuration with respect to the finger or thumb while the finger glove is worn on the hand.   
     
     
         7 . The finger glove of  claim 6 , wherein the gripping portion is configured to facilitate separation of the sleeve from the finger or thumb while preventing the substance contacting the outer surface of the sleeve from reaching skin of a wearer. 
     
     
         8 . The finger glove of  claim 6 , wherein the gripping portion is shaped to match a contour of the palm or wrist of the wearer. 
     
     
         9 . The finger glove of  claim 6 , wherein the gripping portion comprises a string. 
     
     
         10 . The finger glove of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an additional sleeve that is manufactured or configured to conform to a tip of second finger or the thumb.   
     
     
         11 . The finger glove of  claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the sleeve comprises a tacky or semi-adhesive material configured to limit slippage or rotation of the sleeve relative the finger or thumb. 
     
     
         12 . The finger glove of  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the sleeve is textured. 
     
     
         13 . The finger glove of  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the sleeve is bristled and configured to be used as a brush. 
     
     
         14 . The finger glove of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a reservoir or pocket fluidically coupled to an outer surface of the sleeve, wherein pressure applied to the outer surface causes a fluid to flow from the reservoir or pocket onto the outer surface.   
     
     
         15 . The finger glove of  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the sleeve comprises an absorptive material. 
     
     
         16 . The finger glove of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an edge formed from a material coupled to a side of the sleeve, the edge being configured as a spatula.   
     
     
         17 . The finger glove of  claim 1 , wherein the finger glove is constructed using vinyl, nitrile or latex. 
     
     
         18 . The finger glove of  claim 1 , wherein the finger glove is constructed using a polymer. 
     
     
         19 . The finger glove of  claim 1 , wherein the finger glove is constructed using a woven material. 
     
     
         20 . The finger glove of  claim 1 , wherein the finger glove is constructed using a non-woven material. 
     
     
         21 . The finger glove of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is manufactured or configured to conform closely to the fingertip or the thumb tip. 
     
     
         22 . The finger glove of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is manufactured or configured to cover substantially all of the finger or the thumb. 
     
     
         23 . The finger glove of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve that is manufactured or configured to cover substantially all of a first side of the finger or the thumb and to partially cover a second side of the finger or the thumb. 
     
     
         24 . The finger glove of  claim 23 , wherein the first side and the second side are opposite sides of the finger or the thumb. 
     
     
         25 . The finger glove of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve comprises:
 two or more layers of material that are bonded together.   
     
     
         26 . The finger glove of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve comprises:
 two or more layers of material that are stitched or sewn to obtain the sleeve.   
     
     
         27 . The finger glove of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is manufactured or configured to cover a portion of each of a plurality of fingers of the hand. 
     
     
         28 . The finger glove of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier formed by the sleeve operates to prevent the substance contacting the outer surface of the sleeve from reaching uncovered portions of the hand.