Non-contact grasping mitt

Abstract

Protective devices have first and second members and an integral hinge joining the members together. The first and second members have external pockets along an outside surface that accommodate placement of a user's fingers therein from the same hand. The first and second members include opposed inside surfaces that are opposite the respective outside surfaces. The device is opened by the user moving their thumb and fingers in the pockets away from each other to move the inside surfaces outwardly to accept an object or surface. The device inside surfaces and inside surface of the hinge is the only surface contacting the object or surface during use. The device is closed by the user moving their thumb and fingers toward each other, causing the inside surfaces to move toward each other. An attachment mechanism us used to keep the inside surfaces contained to avoid unwanted cross-contamination during storage and/or transport.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for protecting a portion of a user's hand from contact with an article to be handled when the device is worn, the device comprising:
 a first member having a pocket projecting outwardly from an outside surface of the first member, the first member pocket being sized to accommodate placement of one or more fingers of a user therein, the first member having an inside surface opposite the outside surface; and   a second member having a pocket projecting outwardly from an outside surface of the second member, the second member pocket being sized to accommodate placement of one more fingers of a user therein, the second member having an inside surface opposite the second member outside surface;   wherein the first and second member are connected with one another along top edges by an integral resilient hinge that is configured to enable the first and second members to move inwardly and outwardly away from one another as useful for permitting a user to grasp an object between the first and second member inside surfaces.   
     
     
         2 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the device is an integral one-piece construction formed from an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         3 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first member pocket is sized differently than the second member pocket. 
     
     
         4 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first member pocket is sized larger than the second member pocket, and the first member pocket is configured to accommodate placement of one or more of the user's fingers therein, and wherein the second member pocket is configured to accommodate placement of one or more of the user's fingers therein that are opposed from the user's one or more fingers disposed in the first member pocket. 
     
     
         5 . The device as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the first pocket member is sized to accommodate placement of at least a user's forefinger therein, and the second pocket is sized to accommodate placement of a user's thumb therein. 
     
     
         6 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the resilient hinge comprises one or more integral folded elements configured to enable movement of the first and second members top edges away from another so as to enable the device to increase its effective grasping dimension between the first and second member inside surfaces. 
     
     
         7 . The device as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the resilient hinge comprises a single folded element that is interposed between the first member and second member top edges and that extends downwardly between the first and second member inside surfaces towards bottom edges of the first and second members. 
     
     
         8 . The device as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a connecting element positioned adjacent a bottom edge of each of the first and second members, wherein the connecting element is configured to enable the first and second members to be placed into a closed state when the device is not in user, wherein the connecting element is configured to provide a releasable connection between the first and second members. 
     
     
         9 . The device as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the connecting element is located along the inside surface of the first and second member in an opposed position from one another. 
     
     
         10 . The device as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the connecting element is a magnetic element that is configured to provide a releasable magnetic connection between the first and second members. 
     
     
         11 . A device for protecting a portion of a user's hand from contact with an object to be grasped, the device comprising:
 a first member that comprises a pocket extending from an outside surface of the first member, the pocket being configured to accommodate placement of one or more fingers therein, the first member including an inside surface opposite the outside surface;   a second member that comprises a pocket extending from an outside surface of the second member, the pocket being configured to accommodate placement of one or more fingers therein that are opposed to fingers on the same hand disposed in the pocket of the first member, the second member including an inside surface opposite the outside surface; and   a hinge that is interposed between the first and second members and that is connected with top edges of the first and second members to enable use of the device to be opened by outward movement of opposed first and second member bottom edges positioned opposite the top edges for grasping an object between the opposed inside surfaces of the first and second members while maintaining connection of the first and second members along the top edges.   
     
     
         12 . The device as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the hinge is integral with the first and second members forming a one-piece construction. 
     
     
         13 . The device as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the hinge is configured to enable movement of the first and second member top edges a distance away from one another when the device is opened for grasping of an object. 
     
     
         14 . The device as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the first and second members are formed from a flexible material. 
     
     
         15 . The device as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the first and second members and the hinge are integral with one another forming a one-piece construction of the same material. 
     
     
         16 . The device as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising a releasable connecting element positioned on one or both of the first and second members away from the hinge, wherein the connecting element is configured to keep the first and second member inside surfaces close to one another when the device is in a closed position. 
     
     
         17 . The device as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the connecting element is a magnetic element. 
     
     
         18 . A method for enabling a user to grasp an object without directly touching the object comprising the steps of:
 placing one or more fingers within a pocket extending from an outside surface of a device first member;   placing one or more fingers within a pocket extending from an outside surface of the device second member, wherein the fingers disposed in the pockets of the first and second members are on the user's same hand, and wherein the one or more fingers disposed in the first member pocket are opposed from the one or more fingers disposed in the second member pocket;   opening the device by the user moving the fingers in the first and second member pockets outwardly away from each exposing opposed first member and second member inside surfaces; and   placing the device inside surfaces over the object and grasping the object by the user moving the fingers in the first and second member pockets towards each other.   
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 18 , wherein during the step of opening, the first and second members remain attached to one another along a hinge that is connected with top edges of the first and second members. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 18 , wherein after the device is used to grasp the object, the device is removed from the object and the first and second members are releasably connected together.