Extensible Sleeve For Direct Contact Prevention

Abstract

An extensible sleeve for direct contact prevention includes a sleeve member having an open first end, an open second end, an exterior, an interior, a dorsal side, and a palmar side. The sleeve member is wearable around the wrist of a user and is extensible from a first position, with the first end around the wrist of the user, to a deployed position, with the palmar side extended to overlie and cover the palmar surface of the user's hand. The sleeve member is securable and maintainable in the deployed position by action of a lip portion, disposed on the interior palmar side of the sleeve member at the first end, engaging overtop the fingertips of the user's hand. A contact surface may include tractive members and conductive elements of sufficient capacitance to interact with touchscreens and may further include antimicrobial properties or features.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An extensible sleeve deployable to selectively prevent direct contact of a wearer's hands with exterior objects and surfaces, said extensible sleeve comprising:
 a sleeve member having a first end, a second end, an interior, an exterior, and a palmar side; and   a lip portion disposed at the first end upon the interior, palmar side of the sleeve member;   wherein the sleeve member is extensible from a first position to a deployed position, said first position having the sleeve first end disposed around a wrist of the wearer, said deployed position having the palmar side of the sleeve member overlying a palmar aspect of the wearer's hand, said sleeve member securable in the deployed position by the wearer engaging the lip portion over fingertips of the wearer's hand, whereby the palmar side of the sleeve member prevents direct contact of the wearer's hand with objects or surfaces.   
     
     
         2 . The extensible sleeve of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve member comprises stretchable or elastomeric fabric. 
     
     
         3 . The extensible sleeve of  claim 1  wherein the sleeve member includes a contact portion disposed upon the palmar side, wherein at least said contact portion includes antimicrobial properties. 
     
     
         4 . The extensible sleeve of  claim 3  wherein the sleeve member comprises stretchable or elastomeric fabric. 
     
     
         5 . The extensible sleeve of  claim 3  wherein the antimicrobial properties of the at least the contact portion comprise antimicrobial and/or antibacterial fibers. 
     
     
         6 . The extensible sleeve of  claim 3  wherein at least the contact portion further comprises conductive elements, said conductive elements having sufficient capacitance for interaction with existing touchscreens. 
     
     
         7 . The extensible sleeve of  claim 5  wherein the antimicrobial and/or antibacterial fibers comprise metallic particles having antimicrobial and/or antibacterial properties. 
     
     
         8 . The extensible sleeve of  claim 7  wherein at least the contact portion further comprises conductive elements having sufficient capacitance for interaction with existing touchscreens. 
     
     
         9 . The extensible sleeve of  claim 8  wherein the sleeve member further comprises tractive members configured to increase the coefficient of friction of at least the contact portion of the sleeve member. 
     
     
         10 . The extensible sleeve of  claim 8  further comprising a tab member disposed upon the exterior, said tab member graspable by a wearer to assist movement of the sleeve member between the first position and the deployed position. 
     
     
         11 . The extensible sleeve of  claim 9  further comprising a tab member disposed upon the exterior, said tab member graspable by a wearer to assist movement of the sleeve member between the first position and the deployed position. 
     
     
         12 . An extensible sleeve deployable to selectively prevent direct contact of a wearer's hands with exterior objects or surfaces, said extensible sleeve comprising:
 a tubular sleeve member having a first end, a second end, an interior, an exterior, a dorsal side, and a palmar side, said sleeve member selectively extensible from a first position to a deployed position, said first position having at least the sleeve first end disposed around a wrist of the wearer, said deployed position having at least the palmar side of the sleeve member overlying a palmar aspect of the wearer's hand;   a lip portion disposed at the first end upon the interior, palmar side of the sleeve member; and   a contact portion disposed upon the palmar side of the sleeve member, said contact portion disposed in a position adapted for manual interaction with extant objects by a wearer when the sleeve member is moved to the deployed position;   wherein the sleeve member is securable in the deployed position by engagement of the lip portion over a dorsum of fingertips of the wearer's hand. cm  13 . The extensible sleeve of  claim 12  wherein the sleeve member further comprises a tab member whereby grasping the tab member assists the wearer to move the sleeve member between the first position and the deployed position without the wearer having to touch the contact portion of the sleeve member.   
     
     
         14 . The extensible sleeve of claim  13  wherein the sleeve member comprises antimicrobial and/or antibacterial properties. 
     
     
         15 . The extensible sleeve of  claim 14  wherein at least the contact portion includes conductive elements having sufficient capacitance for interaction with existing touchscreens. 
     
     
         16 . The extensible sleeve of  claim 15  wherein the antimicrobial and/or antibacterial properties comprise metallic particles and/or fibers. 
     
     
         17 . The extensible sleeve of  claim 16  wherein the contact portion further comprises tractive members configured to increase the coefficient of friction of the contact portion relative to the sleeve member. 
     
     
         18 . The extensible sleeve of  claim 17  wherein the sleeve member comprises stretchable or elastomeric fabric.