Laminated glove, device and method of making same
A layered, laminated glove includes an outer layer, a membrane formed from a liquid-resistant, air permeable material positioned on an inner surface of the outer layer and a liner formed from a moisture absorbing material. The liner is positioned on an inner surface of the membrane. The outer layer, membrane and liner are laminated to form a single glove. The glove includes a plurality of fingertip portions in which the outer layer, membrane and liner are substantially fully laminated throughout. The glove may include a 3D pattern formed in one or more layers of the laminate. The glove may include an enlarged knuckle section. A hand mold and system for making the gloves and a method are also disclosed.
1 . A system for making a layered, laminated glove, comprising:
a hand mold having a shape of a hand having fingers, a thumb, a palm opposingly facing a back of the hand and a wrist region, the hand mold being formed from a thermally conductive material and having an open internal cavity, and a heating/cooling system having a supply side and a discharge side and a series of open-ended fluid conveying channels in fluid communication with the open internal cavity, wherein a heating and/or a cooling fluid is conveyed into the supply side and into the open internal cavity and is discharged from the hand mold through the discharge side;
a fluid supply for supply the heating and/or the cooling fluid;
a fluid discharge for receiving the heating and/or the cooling fluid discharged from the hand mold;
a vacuum bag for positioning over a glove on the hand mold; and
a vacuum supply.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the supply side includes a supply manifold and the open-ended fluid conveying channels are in fluid communication with the supply manifold, and wherein the open-ended fluid conveying channels extend into the fingers and thumb of the hand mold.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid discharge is at about the wrist region of the hand mold.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the hand mold further comprises an enlarged knuckle box between a back hand section and a back finger section.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the hand mold further comprises a pattern body projecting from, or recessed relative to an outer surface of the hand mold, the pattern body having a size and a shape.
6 . The system of claim 5 , further comprising an external pattern block having a shape substantially corresponding to the shape of the pattern body, and a size configured to provide a clearance between a periphery of the shape of the pattern body and the shape of the pattern block.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the fingers of the hand mold have respective fingertip regions, and wherein the fingertip regions are enlarged regions.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the fingers and thumb of the hand mold have respective fingertip regions, and wherein the open internal cavity is fluid-tight at the fingertip regions of the fingers and thumb of the hand mold.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the heating/cooling system comprises valves, pumps, heaters, and chillers configured to heat/cool the heating and/or the cooling fluid.
10 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the supply manifold extends into the hand mold at the palm and the back of the hand.
11 . A system for making a layered, laminated glove, the system comprising:
a hand mold comprising:
a unitary mold having a shape of a hand having fingers, a thumb, a palm opposingly facing a back of the hand and a wrist region, the mold being formed from a thermally conductive material and having an open internal cavity; and
a heating/cooling system having a supply side and a discharge side, and a series of open-ended fluid conveying channels in fluid communication with the open internal cavity, wherein fluid is conveyed into the supply side, through the series of open-ended fluid-conveying channels, and into the open internal cavity, and subsequently is discharged from the hand mold through the discharge side;
a fluid supply for supplying the fluid to the supply side;
a fluid discharge for receiving the fluid discharged from the hand mold;
a vacuum bag for positioning over a glove on the hand mold; and
a vacuum supply for drawing a vacuum in the vacuum bag.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the supply side includes a supply manifold, and the open-ended fluid conveying channels are in fluid communication with the supply manifold, and wherein the open-ended fluid conveying channels extend into the fingers and thumb of the hand mold.
13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the fluid discharge is at about the wrist region of the hand mold.
14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the fingers and thumb of the hand mold have respective fingertip regions, and wherein the open internal cavity is fluid-tight at the fingertip regions of the fingers and thumb of the hand mold.