Coated glove and fixture for forming coated glove
A fixture for forming a coated glove is provided. The fixture includes a mandrel configured to move between a dipping position and a curing position, a plurality of finger supports, and a thumb support. The mandrel includes a body with a top surface and a bottom surface. Each finger support of the plurality of finger supports includes a first surface facing away from the top surface. When the mandrel is in the dipping position, a portion of the bottom surface of the body and each first surface of the plurality of finger supports are coplanar. When the mandrel is moved from the dipping position to the curing position, the finger supports pivot with respect to the mandrel in a direction towards the bottom surface of the body.
1 . A fixture for forming a coated glove, the fixture configured to move between a first position and a second position, the fixture comprising:
a mandrel comprising:
a first end configured to be mounted on a machine during the forming of a coated glove;
a second end opposite the first end; and
a body extending between the first end and the second end, the body comprising a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface;
a plurality of finger supports, each finger support in the plurality of finger supports comprising:
a first surface facing away from the top surface of the body; and
a first section pivotally coupled to the second end of the mandrel by a first joint;
wherein an edge of the first joint abuts an inner face of the second end of the mandrel when the fixture is in the first position, and wherein the edge of the first joint is spaced apart from the inner face of the second end when the fixture is in the second position; and
a thumb support coupled to the body;
wherein, when the fixture is in the first position, a portion of the bottom surface of the body located adjacent to the second end of the mandrel and each first surface of the plurality of finger supports are coplanar; and
wherein, when the fixture is moved from the first position to the second position, the plurality of finger supports pivots with respect to the mandrel in a direction towards the bottom surface of the body.
2 . The fixture of claim 1 , wherein the body is sloped such that the first end of the body lies on a first plane and the second end lies on a second plane, wherein the first plane is spaced from and located above the second plane.
3 . The fixture of claim 1 , wherein each finger support in the plurality of finger supports further comprises:
a second section pivotally coupled to the first section by a second joint.
4 . The fixture of claim 1 , wherein the thumb support is pivotally coupled to the body.
5 . The fixture of claim 4 , wherein, when the fixture is moved from the first position to the second position, the thumb support pivots with respect to the mandrel away from the top surface of the body.
6 . The fixture of claim 5 , wherein, when the fixture is in the second position, at least a portion of the thumb support extends below the bottom surface of the body.
7 . The fixture of claim 1 , wherein the thumb support comprises a second surface facing away from the top surface of the body, wherein when the fixture is in the first position, the second surface of the thumb support is coplanar with the portion of the bottom surface of the body located adjacent to the first end of the mandrel.
8 . The fixture of claim 1 , wherein each first section and respective first joint are made from a single, continuous, and contiguous piece of material.
9 . A fixture for forming a coated glove, the fixture movable between a dipping position and a curing position, the fixture comprising:
a mandrel comprising:
a first end configured to be mounted on a machine during the forming of a coated glove; and
a second end opposite the first end, the second end comprising an inner face facing away from the first end of the mandrel;
a thumb support coupled to the mandrel between the first end and the second end;
a first finger support coupled to the second end of the mandrel, the first finger support comprising a first section pivotally coupled to the second end by a first joint, wherein, when the fixture is in the curing position, an edge of the first joint is spaced away from the inner face of the second end; and
a second finger support coupled to the second end of the mandrel and positioned adjacent to the first finger support; and
a third finger support coupled to the second end of the mandrel and positioned adjacent to the second finger support;
wherein, when the fixture is in the dipping position, a bottom surface of the first finger support, a bottom surface of the second finger support, and a bottom surface of the third finger support, each extend along substantially the same plane; and
wherein, when the fixture is in the curing position, the bottom surface of the first finger support, the bottom surface of the second finger support, and the bottom surface of the third finger support, each are curved in a direction towards the first end of the mandrel.
10 . The fixture of claim 9 , wherein the first finger support further comprises:
a second section pivotally coupled to the first section by a second joint.
11 . The fixture of claim 10 , wherein, when the fixture is in the dipping position, a first edge of the first joint abuts an inner face of the second end and a second edge of the second joint abuts an inner face of the first section such that that there is less distance between the first edge of the first joint and inner face of the second end when the fixture is in the dipping position than when it is in the curing position.
12 . The fixture of claim 10 , wherein when in the dipping position, an angle defined between the first section and the second section of the first finger support is at least 170 degrees.
13 . The fixture of claim 10 , wherein when in the curing position, an angle defined between the first section and the second section of the first finger support is at most 135 degrees.
14 . The fixture of claim 11 , wherein the second finger support comprises:
a third section pivotally coupled to the second end by a third joint; and
a fourth section pivotally coupled to the third section by a fourth joint; and
wherein, when in the curing position, a first angle defined between the first section and the second section of the first finger support is greater than a second angle defined between the third section and the fourth section of the second finger support.
15 . The fixture of claim 10 , wherein the second section and the second joint are made from a single, continuous, and contiguous piece of material such that the second section and the second joint move together with respect to the first section when the fixture moves between the dipping position and the curing position.
16 . The fixture of claim 9 , wherein the first section and the first joint are made from a single, continuous, and contiguous piece of material such that first section and the first joint move together with respect to the second end when the fixture moves between the dipping position and the curing position.
17 . The fixture of claim 9 , wherein the second end comprises a first projection and a second projection, and wherein the first joint is positioned between the first projection and the second projection.
18 . The fixture of claim 9 , wherein the first joint defines a hinged connection between the first section and the second end.