[0001] The present invention relates to a silicone glove or mitten for use as a work or
kitchen glove.
[0002] Silicone gloves, particularly of the work or kitchen types, are already well known.
The silicone rubbers are, in fact, provided with advantageous mechanical and heat
resistance characteristics - both at high and low temperatures - which make them suitable
for those uses involving contact with objects or introduction in high-temperature
(200°C or higher) or low-temperature (-20/-25°C) environments. Furthermore, items
made of silicone rubbers can be easily cleaned, for example by means of a dishwasher.
Due to the fact of being non-toxic, the silicone rubbers, mainly those obtained by
means of polyaddition with platinum catalysis, are suitable for contact with food,
drugs or direct contact with human body, and they are accordingly employed for kitchen
(moulds, gloves) or medical items.
[0003] Kitchen mittens, which are generally employed for gripping very hot objects, such
as oven moulds or metal casseroles, are formed with one or two pockets. In the latter
case, a pocket is used for introducing the thumb, whereas the other pocket houses
the remaining four fingers of the hand. The use of such mittens or muffles is dictated
by the need of employing materials having a considerable thickness (padded fabric
or synthetic material such as silicone rubbers) to ensure good heat insulation. With
this material, a five-finger glove would be difficult to use. Furthermore, heat insulation
is facilitated by reducing the heat-exchange surface, and accordingly, a glove with
only one pocket ensures the best heat insulation.
[0004] On the other hand, the gloves described above suffer from the drawback of being little
handy, therefore the user is forced to take off the glove whenever he wishes to manipulate
small-sized objects. For instance, a typical case is the normal operation of testing
the cake or similar oven product to see if it is cooked: the user has to remove the
mould from the oven using the mittens, then he is forced to take off the mittens in
order to handle a suitable probe (a toothpick is normally used) that gives indications
about the cooking progress of the cake, and finally, if cooking is not completed,
he has to put on the mittens once again in order to put the mould back into the oven.
[0005] The problem at the heart of the present invention is therefore to provide work or
kitchen gloves overcoming the drawbacks of the prior art gloves.
[0006] This problem is solved by a work or kitchen glove made of silicone, such as described
in the annexed claims.
[0007] Further characteristics and the advantages of the present invention will be better
understood from the description hereinbelow of two exemplary embodiments that is given
by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the following figures:
Figure 1 is a plan view of the glove according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a view of a detail of the surface of the glove from Figure 1, according
to a preferred embodiment.
[0008] With reference to the figures, the work or kitchen glove designated with number 1
comprises a main portion 2 having an aperture 3 for inserting the hand, which is destined
to house, when the glove has been put on, the palm and the back of the hand. The length
extension of said main portion 2 of the glove having a strongly flattened substantially
tubular shape varies according to the requirements and applications intended for the
glove, though it generally extends at least until covering the palm and back of the
hand and wrist or part of the forearm.
[0009] At the end opposite the aperture 3, said main portion 2 comprises three pockets 4,
4' and 4". The first pocket 4 is shaped and sized such as to house three fingers of
the hand, specifically little finger, ring-finger, and middle finger. On the other
hand, the second pocket 3' is intended to house the forefinger, whereas the third
pocket 4" is such arranged and sized to house the thumb. Consequently, whereas the
first 4, and second 4' pockets develop along substantially parallel directions, the
third pocket 4" stretches out sideways relative to the other two, and is substantially
shorter.
[0010] The first 4, and second 4' pockets are shaped such as to substantially follow the
shape of the fingers, i.e. they are rounded at their ends. The third pocket 4" has
its end rounded, too.
[0011] Both the main portion 2 of the glove 1 and the three pockets 4, 4', 4" preferably
lay on a plane.
[0012] The main portion 2 of the glove 1 can comprise a tab 5 having a hole 6 for hanging
the glove 1 to a hook. This tab 5 will be preferably arranged along an edge of the
main portion 2 of the glove 1, near the aperture 3.
[0013] The main portion 2 may have, either on one or both sides thereof, an area 7 intended
to house labels or writings. The writings, such as a trade mark or other trade name,
can be manufactured by printing with suitable inks or laser printing or still by embossing
the material.
[0014] The glove is completely made of silicone. Preferably, the silicone may be a silicone
elastomer obtained by polyaddition with platinum catalysis. In fact, this material
is non-toxic and does not leave bad odour or taste in case of contact with food. Preferably,
HTV silicone (High Temperature Vulcanization) may be used, particularly of the LSR
(Liquid Silicone Rubber) type. However, any type of silicone may be used, such as
that obtained by means of epoxy process.
[0015] The glove 1 can be manufactured either by hot- or cold-moulding in suitable moulds.
Cold-moulding may be obtained from two-component curable silicones at room temperature.
[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, such as shown in Figure 2, the outer surface
of glove 1 may be either partially or entirely covered by corrugations or knurlings
8 of varying shapes. In the case where the glove 1 comprises the area 7 intended for
writings, then at least this area 7 will be smooth. In the example from Figure 2,
the assembly of said knurlings is substantially honeycombed, with irregular cells
covering the entire surface of the glove 1, save for area 7. Of course, other types
of corrugations or knurlings 8 may be provided.
[0017] Preferably, these corrugations or knurlings 8 may cover both sides of glove 1.
[0018] The advantages of the glove 1 according to the present invention will be understood
from the description above.
[0019] Firstly, providing separate pockets 4', 4" for the forefinger and thumb imparts a
greater comfort of use to the glove, because one can also manipulate those small-sized
objects that are typically handled with these two fingers.
[0020] Secondly, using silicone for the glove 1 of the invention enables to make use of
the inherent advantages of this material, i.e. high thermal resistance and insulation,
both to hot and cold temperatures, easy machine washing, as well as non-toxicity.
[0021] Furthermore, the embodiment providing to cover the outer surface of the glove with
corrugations or knurlings 8 enables to obtain greater heat insulation and improved
grip, mainly with that tableware having a particularly smooth surface. In this way,
one also obtains the advantage of being able to reduce the thickness of the walls
of the glove 1, with consequent saving of material and greater flexibility of the
glove itself. The latter characteristic is particularly useful in order to improve
the handiness of the glove.
[0022] The shape of the corrugations or knurlings 8 can be varied and can be adapted to
aesthetic purposes, besides functional purposes. The type of corrugations 8 such as
shown in Figure 8, for example, gives an attractive and distinctive appearance to
the glove 1 as a whole.
[0023] Accordingly, the silicone glove 1 being the object of the invention can be used for
all those applications requiring high performance both in terms of mechanical and
thermal features, and is therefore an ideal kitchen or work glove in general.
[0024] It should be understood that only a number of particular embodiments of the work
or kitchen glove being the object of the present invention have been described, to
which those skilled in the art will be able to carry out all those modifications required
for adapting the same to particular applications, without however departing from the
scope of protection of the present invention, such as stated in the above description
and the claims below.
1. A kitchen or work glove (1) made of silicone, comprising a main portion (2), having
an aperture (3) for inserting the hand, a first pocket (4) for housing the middle
finger, ring-finger and little finger of the hand, a second pocket (4') for housing
the forefinger, and a third pocket (4") for housing the thumb of said hand.
2. The glove (1) according to claim 1, wherein said silicone is a silicone elastomer
obtained by means of polyaddition with platinum catalysis.
3. The glove (1) according to claim 2, wherein said silicone elastomer is HTV silicone,
preferably of the LSR type.
4. The glove (1) according to any claim 1 to 3, wherein said main portion (2) of the
glove extends until covering the palm, back and wrist of the hand.
5. The glove (1) according to any claim 1 to 4, wherein said first, second and third
pockets (4, 4', 4") have a rounded shape at the closed end thereof.
6. The glove (1) according to any claim 1 to 5, wherein said main portion (2) of the
glove comprises a tab (5) having a hole (6) for hanging the glove (1) to a hook.
7. The glove (1) according to any claim 1 to 6, wherein said main portion (2) of the
glove has an area (7) intended to house labels or writings, either printed or embossed.
8. The glove (1) according to any claim 1 to 7, wherein both said main portion (2) and
said pockets (4, 4', 4") of the glove lay on the same plane.
9. The glove (1) according to any claim 1 to 8, wherein the outer surface of said glove
is either entirely or partially covered with corrugations or knurlings (8).
10. The glove (1) according to claim 9, wherein said corrugations or knurlings (8) are
substantially irregularly honeycombed.
11. The glove (1) according to any claim 1 to 10, said glove being manufactured by means
of hot- or cold-moulding.