BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to cut-resistant gloves, and in particular, disposable cut-resistant gloves.

Protective gloves commonly have cut-resistance and/or liquid-resistance properties. A known protective glove is a metal chainmail glove formed by a plurality of interlocked chain links. Such a glove is known to provide suitable cut-resistance, for example, in the foodservice industry. Such gloves are commonly used in facilities such as restaurant or commercial kitchens, meatpacking facilities, or other locations where food products are frequently cut with a knife.

However, chainmail gloves are relatively expensive to manufacture, and in turn, relatively expensive for the consumer (e.g., the facility operator) to purchase. Thus, the consumer may purchase several gloves to be shared on a repeat basis between multiple users in a particular facility. This can result in such gloves being frequently misplaced or lost requiring the purchase of additional gloves. In addition, sharing of the gloves gives rise to sanitary concerns, for example, by way of germs being transferred between users. Moreover, such chainmail gloves, by their nature, include a number of openings through which a user's hand may become exposed to external liquids, such as liquids from raw foods, grease from meat processing or associated products from a manufacturing environment for example.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a cut-resistant glove that offers suitable cut-resistance and optionally liquid-resistance properties, and that can be manufactured relatively easily and inexpensively when compared to known metal chainmail gloves, so as to be disposable.

SUMMARY

A glove includes a material layer made from a plastic material shaped to include a palm, a back, fingers and a thumb and to define an interior space and an opening providing access to the interior space, for example to receive a hand in the interior space. A plurality of pods are formed in the material layer. The pods have a predetermined first thickness. A plurality of connecting tabs are connected between the pods. The connecting tabs have a second thickness less than the first thickness.

In one embodiment, the plastic material may be an injection moldable plastic material. However, other suitable materials are envisioned as well, including plastic materials suitable for use in 3D printing applications, and/or plastic, or plastic-type materials associated with sculpting plastics and resins. The connecting tabs may be recessed relative to the pods. At least one connecting tab of the plurality of connecting tabs may be connected to four pods. In one aspect, each connecting tab may be connected to four pods.

The pods may be hexagonal in shape. At least one connecting tab may include a first portion extending between and connecting vertices of a first two adjacent pods of the plurality of pods and a second portion extending between and connecting flat segments of a second two adjacent pods of the plurality of pods. The second two adjacent pods may be positioned at least partly between the first two adjacent pods along at least one direction.

The plurality of pods may be arranged in a honeycomb pattern. In one aspect, a plurality of openings are provided between the pods and the connecting tabs and extend through a thickness of the material layer such that the interior space may be in fluid communication with external atmosphere through the openings.

The pods and the connecting tabs may be continuous with one another and formed as a one-piece construction. The material layer may be injection molded.

The material layer may further include a base underlying the pods and the connecting tabs such that the material layer is substantially fluid-resistant. The base, the pods and the connecting tabs may be continuous with one another and formed as a one-piece construction. The material layer may be injection molded.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, elements, components, steps, and processes.

