The heat resistant, protective glove is made up of first and second shell sections which define a palm side and a backside, respectively. The first shell section is made of a twill wave fabric of a temperature-resistant aromatic polyamide fiber. The second shell section is made of a knitted fabric of a temperature-resistant aromatic polyamide fiber. The first and second shell sections are secured to one another, e.g., by sewing, to provide the desired glove configuration and an opening for insertion of the wearer's hand. The protective glove also includes a first liner section which is secured to and overlies the inner surface of the first shell section and is made of a felt fabric of a temperature-resistant aromatic polyamide fiber and has a flame resistant, elastomenic coating on the surface facing and overlying the inner surface of the first shell section

Arons, I. J.

Sidman, K. R.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

1111 
Sidman et al. [45] Feb. 28, 19 
[54] HEAT RESISTANT PROTECTIVE HAND 4,214,321 7/1980 Nuwayser .. 
[75] Inventors: Kenneth R. Sidman, Wayland; Irving PrimaV .Ex~~mi~r-Louis Rimrodt 
[73] Assignees: The United States of America as 
COVERIN6 4,302,851 12/1981 Adair ........... 
J. Arons, Peabody, all of Mass. 
represented by the Administrator of [571 ABSTRACT 
the National A ~ r ~ n a ~ t i c s  and Space 
Administration, Washington, D.C*; 
Richard P. Tschirch, Westwood 
Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Edward K. Fein; John R. 
Manning; Marvin F. Matthews 
A heat-resistant protective glove having first and sec- 
ond shells which generally define the palm side and 
backside of the glove, respectively, each of the shell 
sections being made of a temperature-resistant aromatic 
polyamide fiber, the first shell section being a twill 
weave, the second shell section being a knitted fabric, a 
first liner section having a flame-resistant, elastomeric 
coating on a surface contiguous the inner surface of the 
first shell section, and a second liner section inwardly of 
the second shell section, the first and second liner sec- 
tions generally conforming to the configuration of the 
first and second shell sections, respectively, both of the 
first and second liner sections being comprised of a felt 
fabric Of a temperature-resistant aromatic 
[21] Appl. No.: 393,581 
[22] Filed: Jun. 30,1982 
[51] Int. Cl.3 ............................................. A41D 19/00 
[52] us. C1. ........................................ 21161 R; 21167 
[58] Field of Search ............... 2/158, 159, 161 R, 167, 
2/168 
~561 References Cited 
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 
1,730,763 10/1929 Gerding .............................. 2/158 X 
2,650,365 9/1953 Singer ................................. 2/161 R fiber* 
2,988,457 6/1961 Catcomb ............................. 2/167 X 
4,004,295 1/1977 Byrnes ................................ 2/161 R 11 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19840015045 2020-03-22T08:43:28+00:00Z
U.S. Patent Feb. 28, 1984 4,433,439 
FIG. 1 
4 
4,433,439 
I 
outer layer is made of woven Kevlar fibers, the main 
outer layer also having a lining made of a layer of wool 
While the prior art discussed above has, to some 
5 extent, overcome some of the difficulties in providing 
effective, protective hand apparel for fire fighters and 
the like, the need to constantly improve such apparel is 
readily apparent. 
SUMMARY O F  THE INVENTION 
It is therfore an object of the present inveution to 
provide protective hand apparel such as mitts or gloves 
which are heat and flame-resistant and which are resis- 
t to cutting and puncturing. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide 
otective hand apparel made of composite fab 
maximize comfort and dexterity to the wearer 
providing protection against heat, flame, cuts and punc- 
The above and other objects of the present invention 
will become apparent from the drawings, the &scrip- 
tion given herein and the appended claims. 
invention is made up of first and second shell sections 
of the glove, the first shell section being made of a twill 
weave fabric of a temperature-rlesistant aromatic poly- 
knitted fabric of a temperature-resistant aromatic poly- 
HEAT RESISTANT PROTECTIVE HAND 
COVERING knit fabric. 
Origin of the Invention 
The invention described herein was made in the per- 
formance of work under a NASA contract and is sub- 
ject to the provisions of Section 305 of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, Public Law 85-568 
(72 Stat 435, 42 U.S.C. 2457). 
BACKGROUND O F  THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to protective hand c 
erings such as gloves, mitts and the like and, more p 
ticularly, to gloves that provide improved levels 
protection against cutting, puncturing or burning of the 
hands of the wearer. 
around fUrnaCeS Or Simikir industrial installation are 2o 
necessarily exposed to handling hot objects or direct 
exposure to flame or a high degree of heat which can 
quickly cause Severe burns. In particular, fire fighters 
are continually exposed to a variety of hazards capable 
of causing substantial injury. Cuts, lacerations, and 25 which define a palm side and a backside, respectively, 
punctures resu1t from contacts with broken glass, sharp 
and plastic Objects, and wood en- 
countered in nearly all structural fires. Burns, whether amide fiber, the second shell section being made of a 
can occur in any fire. In addition, fire fighters can be 30 amide fiber. The first and second shell sections are se- 
10 
Fireman, foundry workers, workers who work tures. 
The heat resistant, protective glove of th 
from radiant hot Objects Or Open flame, 
exposed to electricity and hazardous liquids while fight- 
ing structural fires. All of these hazards are often ob- 
scured by poor lighting or smoke and, therefore, be- 
come even more dangerous. 
and water or other extinguishing agents that nor- 
discomfort can be severe, adding to both fire fighter’s flame resistant, elastomeric coating on the surface fac- 
stress and reduced alertness. These conditions contrib- 40 ing and Overlying the inner surface of first shell section. 
to fire fighters’ susceptibility to injury by firemscene There is also provided a second liner section inwa 
hazards. of the second shell section and generally overlyin 
inner surface Of  the second shell section, the second 
gloves, are absolutely necessary to protect the fire liner section Comprising a felt fabric of a temperature 
fighter from Severe injury in the performance of his 45 resistant aromatic polyamide fiber. The first and second 
duty, Such gloves must be fire and heat-resistant, resis- liner Sections are secured and generally Conform to the 
tant to cuts and punctures and not adversely affect configuration of the first and second shell sections, 
comfort and dexterity. respectively, to form the glove. Optionally, but prefera, 
2. Description of the Prior Art bly, the glove is provided with a generally tubular 
The prior art, as exemplified by U.S. Pat. Nos. 50 wristlet of a knitted fabric Of a temperature-resistant 
aromatic Polyamide fiber, one end of the wristlet being 
secured to the first and second shell sections in gener- 
ally encircling relationship to the opening for insertion 
cured to one another, e.g. by Sewing, to provide the 
desired glove configuration and an opening for insertion 
of the wearer’s hand. The protective glove also includes 
Hazardous conditions are compounded by debris, 35 a first liner section which is secured to and overlies the 
inner surface of the first shell section, the first liner 
mally.cover and permeate everything at and adjacent to 
a fire scene, including the fire fighters. Consequently, 
section being comprised of a fabric of a tempera- 
ture-resistant aromatic polyamide fiber and having a 
Accordingly, suitable protective garments, including 
1,730,763,2,304,137, 2,650,365, 3,883,898,4,004,295 and 
4,302,851 all disclose various types of heat, flame and- 
/or cut and puncture resistant gloves made of various 
materials. of the wearer’s hand. 
U S .  Pat. No. 1,730,763 to Gerding discloses a protec- 55 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
FIG. 1 is a front, elevational view of a protective 
tive glove for use against fire comprising an outer layer 
of woven or knitted asbestos fabric and an inner laver 
made of various materials such as cotton, wool, leaher 
or any woven or knitted fabric having more cohesive- 
ness or tensile strength than asbestos. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,304,137 to Peakes discloses a protec- 
tive glove comprising an inner glove which is made of 
a layer of cotton fabric, balloon cloth or the like, coated 
with a viscous rubber layer, the inner glove being in- 
serted into an outer wear resistant glove of any suitable 65 
type such as cotton fabric. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,302,851 to Adair discloses a high 
temperature protective mitt or glove of which the main 
glove constructed in accordance with the present in- 
vention. 
FIG. 2 is a fragmental sectional view, on an enlarged 
scale, taken on the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1. 
60 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED 
EMBODIMENT 
The term “glove,” as used herein, is intended to mean 
a conventional glove, a mitt, a mitten or any similar 
type wearing apparel for the h,and. Thus, the present 
invention is directed not only to gloves provided with 
4,433,439 
3 4 
individual fingerstalls and a thumbstall but also hand Glove G is also provided with a second liner section 
apparel of the type wherein there are no individual 38 having first and second surfaces 40 and 42, respec- 
fingerstalls but a thumbstall or where there are neither tively, the first surface 40 of second liner section 38 
individual fingerstalls nor a thumbstall. facing and generally overlying the inner surface 28 of 
Referring first to FIG. 1, the glove G is seen to have 5 second shell section 20. The second liner section 38 is, 
the usual fingerstalls 12, a thumbstall 14 and wrist cuff like first liner section 32, generally formed of a felt 
or wristlet 16. FIG. 1 shows the palm side of glove G, fabric of a temperature-resistant aromatic polyamide 
the backside not being shown. fiber such as Kevlar and will preferably have a weight 
Referring now to FIG. 2, it can be seen that glove G per unit square area of about 3.5 oz./sq.yd. 
has a first shell section 18 which generally defines the 10 It will be appreciated that first and second liner sec- 
palm side of glove G and a second shell section 20 tions 32 and 38 will generally conform to and be se- 
which generally defines the backside of glove G. First cured to first and second shell sections 18 and 20, re- 
and second shell sections 18 and 20 are adjoined to one spectively, as well as to each other. This is conveniently 
another in a suitable manner, such as by sewing or done by sewing the shell sections and the liner sections 
stitching, to form a seam 22, seam 22 generally dividing I5 together along their Peripheral edges as at Seams 17 and 
glove G into the palm side half and the backside half. As 22, preferably with a temperature-resistant thread such 
will be recognized, first shell section 18 and second shell as a thread made from Kevlar fiber. 
seetion 20 when secured to one another will provide an Although optional, it is preferable that glove G be 
opening for insertion of a wearer’s hand, the opening provided with a wristlet 16 which, as will be recog- 
being generally defined by an adjoining Seam 17 be- 20 nized, will be generally tubular in configuration, one 
prised of a fabric of a temperature-resistant aromatic for insertion of the wearer’s hand. Wristlet 16 will pref- 
being manufactured by the DuPont Company and sold 25 resistant aromatic polyamide fiber such as Kevlar. The 
knitted construction of the wristlet 16 provides some- under the trademark “Kevlar.” what of a flexible seal around the wrist of the wearer to First shell section 18, forming the palm side of glove minimize, to the extent possible, the ingress of water or 
other materials into the interior of glove G. Wristlet 16 G, has an inner surface 24 and an outer surface 26 and is 
tween the body of glove G and wristlet 16. First shell 
section 18 and second shell section 20 are both corn- 
end of which be attached to glove G at Seam 17 in 
generally encircling relation to the opening in glove G 
polyamide fiber, a particularly desirable such fiber erably be made Of a knitted fabric Of a temperature- 
Preferably comprised Of a tight, 
the polyamide fiber, the weave fabric Of 30 will generally be about 41 in length although shorter or longer lengths may be used if desired for special pur- weave providing greater wear qualities than other forms of fabric construction 
and therefore being more desirable for the palm side of 
tion 18 is napped, the napped surface enhancing the 35 fabric such as Kevlar. 
insulating ability of first shell section 18. Desirably, the It will be appreciated that the various weights of the 
twill weave fabric of first shell section 18 will have a fabrics used in the composite ofthe present inven- 
ond shell section 20, forming the backside of glove G, application for which the glove is designed. The 
also has an inner surface 28 and an outer surface 30 but 40 weights of the various fabrics noted above appear to 
is preferably of knitted construction to provide stretch impart excellent properties to the gloves in terms of 
for improved dexterity and comfort to the wearer. It is heat and flame resistance and resistance to cuts and 
preferred that the napped side of second shell section 20 punctures while still providing adequate dexterity and also be on the inner surface 28 of second shell section 
20. The knitted fabric forming second shell section 20 45 T~ demonstrate the utility of the gloves ofthe present 
will preferably have a weight Per unit square area of invention, they were subjected to appropriate NIOSH 
about 7 oz./sq.yd. test procedures. The results are shown in the table be- 
Secured to said first shell section inwardly thereof is low. 
TABLE 
a first liner section 32, liner section 32 having first and 
second surfaces 34 and 36, respectively. The first sur- 50 
face 34 of liner section 32 generally faces and overlies 
the inner surface 24 of first shell section 18. In the pre- 
ferred case, first liner section 32 comprises a felt fabric 
of a temperature-resistant aromatic polyamide fiber, 
such as Kevlar. The felt fabric of liner section 32 pro- 55 Heat Penetration 
vides both puncture resistance and thermal insulation. 
The first surface 34 of liner 32 has a flame-resistant 
elastomeric coating 37, coating 37, accordingly, being 
disposed between the inner surface 24 Of first shell Set- 
tion 18 and the first surface 34 of first h e r  section 32. 60 
Generally speaking, the elastomeric coating will be 
from about 4 to about 5 mils in thickness. The elasto- 
meric coating, while preferably a neoprene elastomer, 
can be any elastomeric material which has similar flexi- 
bility, and heat and flame-resistant properties as those of 65 *National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 
neoprene and which therefore aids in preventing con- 
ductive heat penetration through the palm side of the 
glove G. 
poses. For example, lengthening the wristlet 16 will 
provide better protection to the lower forearm of the 
glove G* inner surface 24 Of wearer if wristlet 16 is made of a temperature-resistant 
weight per unit square area Of about oz*/sq.yd, Set- tion can vary somewhat depending on the particular 
for the wearer. 
Performance 
NIOSH Criteria Rating 
No  surface cut @ 16 Ibs Pass 
23 Ibs 
4.6 sec 
N1oSH* Test 
Cut Resistance 
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ i ~ ~ u c t i v e  t2 : ~ ~ ~ ~ { u r y  
threshold temperature 
for 5 seconds 
Not to exceed injury 
threshold temperature 
for 10 minutes 
After-flame <Z sec 
After-glow <2 sec 
Visible char < I  in 
Pick up 0.20 in dia- 
meter X 1.6 in lpng 
steel pin between 
thumb and each finger 
Resistance to Radiant 
Heat Penetration 
Resistance to Flame 
h-I min 
Pass 
Pass Dexterity 
As the results in the table above show, the composite 
gloves of the present invention are ideally suited for use 
L l  
4,433,439 
5 6 
as tire fighters’ gloves. It will also be recognized that 
the gloves are equally suited for uses by other workers 
such as foundry workers and the like whose hands are 
subjected to excessive temperatures and may come in 
contact with objects or work pieces than can puncture 5 
or cut the hand of the wearer. 
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous 
modifications and changes will readily occur to those 
skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention 10 
to the exact construction and operation shown and 
described, and accordingly all suitable modifications 
and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the 
scope of the invention. 
a second liner section secured to said second shell 
section and having first and second surfaces, said 
first surface of said second liner section facing and 
generally overlying said inner surface of said sec- 
ond shell section, said second liner section compris- 
ing a felt fabric of a temperature-resistant aromatic 
polyamide fiber. 
2. The glove of claim 1 wherein said aromatic poly- 
amide fiber comprises Kevlar. 
3. The glove of claim 1 wherein said elastomeric 
coating comprises neoprene. 
4. The glove of claim 3 wherein said coating is in the 
range of from about 4 to about 5 mils in thickness. 
5. The glove of claim 1 wherein said first and second 
We claim: 15 shell sections are secured to one another using thread 
1. A heat-resistant protective glove comprising: formed from a temperature-resistant aromatic polyam- 
a first shell section generally defining the palm side of ide fiber. 
said glove and having inner and outer surfaces, said 6. The glove of claim 1 further including a generally 
first shell section comprising a twill weave fabric of tubular wristlet having one end secured to said first and 
a temperature-resistant aromatic polyamide fiber; 20 second shell sections and in generally encircling rela- 
a second shell section generally defining the backside tion to said opening for insertion of said hand. 
of said glove and having inner and outer surfaces, 7. The glove of claim 1 wherein said inner surface of 
said second shell section comprising a knitted fab- said first shell section is napped. 
ric of a temperature-resistant aromatic polyamide 8. The glove of claim 1 wherein said inner surface of 
fiber, said first and second shell sections being se- 25 said second shell section is napped. 
cured to one another so as to provide an opening 9. The glove of claim 1 wherein said twill weave 
for insertion of a wearer’s hand; fabric of said first shell section has a weight per unit 
a first liner section secured to said first shell section square area of 8 oz./sq.yd. 
and having first and second surfaces, said first sur- 10. The glove of claim 1 wherein said knitted fabric of 
face of said first liner section facing and generally 30 said second shell section has a weight per unit square 
overlying said inner surface of said first shell sec- area of 7 oz./sq.yd. 
tion, said first liner section comprising a felt fabric 11. The glove of claim 1 wherein said fabric of said 
of a temperature-resistant aromatic polyamide fiber first and second liner sections has a weight per unit 
having a flame resistant, elastomeric coating on square area of 3.5 oz./sq.yd. * * * * *  said first liner surface; and 35 
40 
45 
50 
55 
60 
65 
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 
CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION 
Patent No. 4,433,439 Dated Feb. 28, 1984 
Inventor(s) Richard P. Tschirch, Kenneth R. Sidman, I r v i n g  J. Arons 
It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent 
and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below: 
Cover page, block [73], d e l e t e  "Richard P .  Tschirch, Westwood" as an 
assignee . 
Cover page, block [75) ,  add "Richard P. Tschirch, Westwood" t o  l i s t  o f  
co-inventors, Kenneth R. Sidman, Wayland; and I r v i n g  J. Arons, Peabody, 
a l l  o f  Mass. 
5igncd and 5cafcd this 
Sevenreertrh ,Day o f  J U I Y  1984 
ISEALl 
Attest: 
GERALD 1. MOSINGHOFF 
Commissioan of &ma and Tmdemarks Atttsthg Officer 


Heat resistant protective hand covering

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