WO2013156790A1

WO2013156790A1 - Knitted glove

Info

Publication number: WO2013156790A1
Application number: PCT/GB2013/050997
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fahad MAHBOOB; Abdul Azeem; Basheer Ali; Mikhail Kassam
Original assignee: Midas Safety, Inc.; Tridel Limited
Priority date: 2012-04-19
Filing date: 2013-04-19
Publication date: 2013-10-24
Also published as: GB201206887D0

Abstract

A knitted glove comprising at least eight glove components, each component comprising a plurality of courses of a first yarn, the glove components including: five digit components, an upper palm component, a lower palm component, and a wrist component, wherein at least 50% of the courses of at least one component are single layer and wherein at least 50% of the courses of the upper palm component are plaited with at least a second yarn to provide a multi-layer upper palm portion. According to one embodiment, the multi-layer upper palm portion comprises five or more contiguous courses each plaited with the second yarn. A method for producing the knitted glove is also disclosed.

Description

KNITTED GLOVE

The present invention relates to knitted gloves and methods of making such gloves. In particular, the present invention relates to knitted gloves exhibiting improved shape retention and enhanced flexibility with

reinforcement at portions of the glove subject to wear.

Knitted gloves are known and may be produced using knitting machines specifically constructed in order to knit such gloves. For example, Shima Seiki Manufacturing Limited (Wakayama City, Japan) produces such knitting machines which can knit the various components of a glove in one integral garment under computer control. The use of the Shima automatic seamless glove knitting machine NewSFG is described in the NewSFG instruction manual 20^th Edition (June 2009).

Modified versions of conventional knitted gloves have also been described.

US-B-7,555,921 discloses knitted gloves produced by creating each of the 15 sections of the glove using a separate knitting course and providing varying stitch dimensions with one or two yarns in one or more sections. Embodiments of US-B-7,555,921 which involve plaiting (also known as plating) two yarns together introduce single individual plaited courses at positions in the glove to improve comfort and not to provide additional dexterity and other functional properties of the glove.

US-A-6, 155,084 describes protective articles (including gloves) manufactured using a continuous, one step process incorporating two or more dissimilar non-plaited yarns or materials each having dissimilar mechanical properties and characteristics.

US-A-5,965,223 describes a knitted protective fabric using two or more layers of dissimilar cut resistant materials over the whole glove also produced in a continuous one step process involving, for example, knitting the fabric and plaiting the layers of yarn used in the production process.

US-A-5,547,733 discloses a textile fabric for rapidly moving moisture away from the skin. The composite fabric includes an inner fabric layer made of yarn primarily composed of polyester which has been rendered hydrophilic and an outer fabric layer made of yarn comprising polyester which has been rendered hydrophobic. The inner and outer fabric layers are concurrently knitted using a plaited construction so the layers are distinct and separate yet integrated with one another.

US-B-6,823,699 discloses a method for producing a multi-layer protective textile fabric, in particular a glove, having single layer construction in the palm and double layer construction in the digits. The method involves a two step non-plaiting process.

US-A-5,689,976 discloses gloves having reinforced sections in particular between the thumb and the body.

US-A-2010/275341 and US-A-2010/275342 each disclose seamless, single layer multi yarn gloves with at least two types of yarn in different portions of the glove in order to avoid the expense and thickness of double layer parts of the glove.

Unfortunately, the prior art gloves suffer from either poor flexibility or poor wear resistance or both. Attempts have been made to address these issues. US-A-2009/055992 discloses gloves having a knitted liner with minimal reinforcement portions to reduce problems of the bulkiness of double layer knitted gloves. Reinforcement may be by plaiting a small number of courses (usually three or fewer) at appropriate places in the glove.

Another problem with the knitted gloves of the prior art is that during their lifetime of use the portion at the back of the hand, and also the thumb component and the finger components, have a tendency to become loose and thus poorly fitting. The knitted portion of the glove loses its elasticity due to repeated stretching resulting from the nature of the work performed by the wearer of the glove, and the glove being repeatedly put on and removed. This loosening of the glove causes it to move side to side, forward and backward and is referred to as "glove roll". Glove roll reduces the wearer's ability to hold objects firmly. As a consequence, in order to grip an object firmly with such a worn glove, the wearer has to exert increased gripping force, which in turn leads to hand fatigue and/or other hand problems, such as increased slippage of objects from their grip or even loss of grip. This loss of shape, fit, elasticity and recovery properties make the gloves less comfortable to wear and can also cause safety issues. Consequently, it frequently results in the gloves being replaced before they have shown any other signs of failure, such as cuts, holes or snags, in the palm surface or elsewhere.

There is, therefore, a need for a knitted glove which provides enhanced fit, improved shape retention and comfort, and which also provides for functional properties of the glove such as wear resistance and protection of the hand in the parts subject to wear or in need of cut or puncture protection. It is an aim of the present invention to address this need and to overcome the problems of the prior art.

The present invention accordingly provides in a first aspect, a knitted glove comprising at least eight glove components, each component comprising a plurality of courses of a first yarn, the glove components including: five digit components, an upper palm component, a lower palm component, and a wrist component, wherein at least 50% of the courses of at least one component are single layer and wherein at least 50% of the courses of the upper palm component are plaited with at least a second yarn to provide a multi-layer upper palm portion.

Preferably, the multi-layer upper palm portion is a double layer upper palm portion.

This is greatly advantageous because the resulting glove possesses great flexibility, better shape retention, and improved cut and wear resistance at the upper palm portion (which is often subject to wear) whilst retaining flexibility and comfort for the user because the fingers may be made single layer (if desired) with higher protection multi-layers (preferably double layers) at places of higher risk. This is particularly important because more comfortable gloves tend to be worn more frequently in a production

environment, ensuring that the protection they provide is available to workers in that environment. It is also advantageous to provide thicker portions at the upper palm to enhance grip and comfort while gripping. A further advantage is cost reduction because expensive second yarns may be used only where needed. For example, anti-static yarns may be used only at finger tips or high visibility yarns may be used only at specific portions of the glove for visibility, e.g. in the dark.

A particularly important and advantageous feature of the gloves of the present invention is their improved ability to retain their shape and size once they are in use. This is believed to be due to the fact that the plaited portions of the glove components, which may be a part or the whole of the upper palm and, for example, a part or the whole of the thumb and/or one or more of the fingers, do not stretch so easily. The structure of the gloves has an anti-roll effect. This means that the gloves maintain a closer and firmer fit around the hand of the wearer, and have a longer time of use before the problem of glove roll (described above) occurs. Indeed, glove roll is minimised or even eliminated during normal usage of the gloves over a prolonged period. The gloves of this invention therefore offer improved performance, comfort and safety for the wearer and an increased lifetime before needing to be replaced.

Preferably, at least 60% of the courses of at least one component are single layer, more preferably at least 70%, most preferably at least 80% or even at least 90%.

Preferably, at least 60% of the courses of the upper palm component are plaited with the or a second yarn, more preferably at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, most preferably at least 95% or even 100% are plaited.

Usually, the five digit components comprise an index finger component, a middle finger component, a ring finger component, a small ("pinky") finger component and a thumb component.

Generally, it is advantageous if the multi-layer upper palm portion comprises five or more contiguous (i.e. directly adjacent) courses each plaited with the second yarn.

This is beneficial because a relatively wide portion of the glove is thereby reinforced by plaiting providing particularly good protection at the portion of the glove most susceptible to wear whilst retaining flexibility and good "feel" over other components of the glove. Thus, in a second aspect, the present invention provides a knitted glove comprising at least eight glove components, each component comprising a plurality of courses of a first yarn, the glove components including: five digit components, an upper palm component, a lower palm component, and a wrist component, wherein at least 50% of the courses of at least one component are single layer and wherein the upper palm component comprises five or more contiguous courses each plaited with at least a second yarn to provide a multi-layer (preferably double layer) upper palm portion.

Generally, the multi-layer upper palm portion will comprise six or more contiguous courses, seven or more contiguous courses, eight or more contiguous courses, nine or more contiguous courses or ten or more contiguous courses with each of the contiguous courses being plaited with at least the second (or more) yarn.

One of the benefits of the present invention is that not only the upper palm component but also other components of the knitted glove may be plaited with the or a second yarn to provide a multi-layer component portion at other areas susceptible to wear. Preferably, at least 10% of the courses of one or more other components are plaited with the or a second yarn to provide a multi-layer component portion.

Generally, the or each multi-layer component portion will comprise two or more contiguous courses, preferably three or more contiguous courses, each plaited with the or a second yarn. Again, this provides relatively broad areas of reinforcement and protection at those other components susceptible to wear to cuts, punctures or potential trauma in use.

Preferably, the or each multi-layer component portion will comprise four or more contiguous courses, five or more contiguous courses, six or more contiguous courses, eight or more contiguous courses or preferably ten or more contiguous courses each plaited with the second yarn.

The gloves of the present invention are greatly advantageous because they provide a single layer glove with multi-layers appearing at designated portions of the glove in a pre-determined pattern. The invention is flexible enough to make any number of courses to be plaited at any position of the glove. Any designated pattern can be made through this invention to make an aesthetic/reinforced glove. The glove may be designed as a cut resistant glove with reinforcement (plaiting) of another cut resistant yarn at only the designated positions (e.g. index fingers, thumbs and upper palm).

Some of the gloves that may be produced according to the invention include:

a) double layer upper and lower palm with single layer fingers and wrist,

b) double layer upper palm with single layer fingers and wrist, c) double layer upper palm and wrist with single layer fingers, or d) double layer upper palm, thumb and one or more fingers with single layer lower palm and wrist.

Other designs are also, of course, within the scope of the invention. Thus, in one embodiment, the or an other component may comprise the lower palm component. Alternatively, the or a one other component may comprise the index finger component, the middle finger component, the ring finger component, or the or a small finger component, the or a one other component may comprise the thumb component, or the or a one or other component may comprise the wrist component.

It is, of course, possible for multiple components of the glove to be plaited as long as (as discussed above) at least 50% of the courses of at least one component are single layer to provide flexibility and comfort for the user.

Generally, the first yarn and second yarn will be independently selected from monofilament yarns, multifilament yarns, spun yarns, textured filament yarns, multi-component yarns or combinations thereof.

In particular, the material of the first yarn and/or second yarn may be independently selected from one or more of cotton, polyamide, acrylic, aramid (meta- or para-), PTFE, polyolefin, polyester, linen, polyvinyl alcohol, metal, glass fibre, elastane, polyurethane polyurea copolymer, silk and/or wool, cellulosic yarns, elastomeric yarns or combinations of one or more of these yarns. Particularly, preferred types of yarns (for the first or second yarn independently selected) may be selected from the group consisting of fibre glass, steel wire, annealed wire, coated wire, aramids, ultrahigh molecular weight extended chain polyethylene, liquid crystal polyester, polyolefins, polyesters, polyamides, polyurethane polyurea copolymers, elastanes, spandex, cupra ammonium rayon, viscose rayon, cellulose acetate, cotton, bamboo, jute, acrylic, modified acrylic, PBO, PBZT, copolyesters,

copolyamides, polyvinylacetate, polyactic acid, D-polyactic acid, poly vinyl alcohol, ethyl vinyl acetate, flame retardant rayon, flame retardant cotton, fire resistant para aramid, fire resistant PBI, fire retardant para aramid, fire resistant wool and blends thereof. These yarn materials may be manufactured using generally any suitable technology. Combination yarns may be made by methods including plying, twisting, air intermingling, covering, dreff spinning, core spinning or any other process. The yarn combination can also be made by mixing fibres at the spinning stage.

In a number of embodiments, it is beneficial if the knitted glove further comprises a polymeric coating.

The polymeric coating may be generally of any suitable polymer. The material of the polymeric coating may be selected from one or more layers comprising natural rubber, synthetic rubber, polyurethane, carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene, butyl latex, polychloroprene, poly vinyl alcohol, non- carboxylated acrylonitrile and/or polyvinyl chloride or combinations thereof. Generally, the glove may be coated in different places on the knitted glove (which would form the knitted glove liner in a coated glove). For example, the coating may be such that the glove is palm coated, full coated, knuckle dipped, only fingers coated, nitrile dotted, PVC dotted. Different combinations of coating can also be used e.g. nitrile with foam, nitrile coated with nitrile dots, coated glove with PVC/nitrile dots. The article can be made with any kind of coating known in the glove industry and any kind of pattern can be made by a coating/printing technique. Generally, the polymeric coating may be porous or non-porous (i.e. may have a relatively solid polymeric coating or may have a porous polymeric coating (e.g. a foam coated coating)).

The present invention provides in a third aspect a method comprising knitting a glove using a first yarn to knit at least eight glove components, each component comprising a plurality of courses, the glove components including: five digit components, an upper palm component, a lower palm component, and a wrist component, wherein at least 50% of the courses of at least one component are knitted single layer and plaiting at least 50% of the courses of the upper palm component with at least a second yarn to provide a multi-layer (preferably double layer) upper palm portion.

Preferably, the knitting method is weft knitting. The gauge of the weft knitting will typically be 7, 10, 13 or 15 gauge (the higher gauge resulting in much finer knit and requiring thinner yarns), and is preferably 13 gauge.

The method generally comprises the steps of programming a knitting machine to knit a glove comprising at least the eight glove components.

Generally, the same method may also be used to knit a sleeve/gauntlet or any other article.

The method preferably further comprises coating at least a portion of the knitted glove with a polymeric coating (preferably an elastomeric coating as discussed above).

The preferred methods of coating the knitted glove include dip coating in which a coagulant solution may (or may not) be first applied to the knitted glove. Thereafter the knitted glove may be dipped in a polymeric latex or sol (e.g. plastisol), dried and cured.

The knitted gloves according to the present invention have uses in many areas in which gloves are used but find particular use in industrial fields to provide protective gloves.

In order that the present invention may be better understood, it will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates the conventional components of a knitted glove. Figure 2 illustrates plaiting (also known as plating) in weft knitting.

Figure 3 illustrates one embodiment of a glove according to the invention (Example 1 ).

Figure 4 illustrates another embodiment of a glove according to the invention (Example 2).

Figure 5 illustrates another embodiment of a glove according to the invention (Example 3) having a polymeric coating on the palm side of the glove and parts of the back side of the digits.

Figure 6 illustrates another embodiment of a glove according to the invention (Example 4).

Figure 7 illustrates another embodiment of a glove according to the invention (Example 5) having a polymeric coating as in Figure 5.

Figure 8 illustrates another embodiment of a glove according to the invention (Example 6).

Figure 9 illustrates another embodiment of a glove according to the invention (Example 7).

Figure 10 illustrates another embodiment of a glove according to the invention (Example 8).

Figure 1 1 illustrates another embodiment of a glove according to the invention (Example 9).

Figure 12 illustrates another embodiment of a glove according to the invention (Example 10) having a polymeric coating as in Figure 5.

Figure 13 illustrates another embodiment of a glove according to the invention (Example 1 1 ) having a polymeric coating as in Figure 5.

Figure 14 is a graph of force versus % strain data for samples of plaited double layer knitted fabric and single layer knitted fabric (Example 13).

Figure 1 illustrates the various components of the knitted glove according to the invention. These components are used, for example, in the instructions to the NewSFG Shima glove knitting machines. The components are the little ("pinky") finger 1 , the ring finger 2, the middle finger 3, the index finger 4, the thumb 5, the upper palm 6, the lower palm 7 and the wrist portion 8. Figure 2 illustrates a plaiting stitch during weft knitting in which a latch needle 14 (the latch needle is illustrated schematically: the latch of the needle is not shown) gathers a loop of a first yarn 10 and a second yarn 12 during downward movement of the latch needle 14. The technical face 18 of the fabric is situated on the side of first yarn 10 and the technical back 16 of the fabric is situated on the side of the second yarn 12.

Figure 2 shows an illustration of plaited weft fabric according to David Spencer Knitting Technology (3^rd edition) (2001 ).

The invention is further illustrated by the following Examples which illustrate the production of the gloves of Figures 3 to 1 1 , and their mechanical properties.

The gloves were knitted on a NewSFG knitting machine (Shima Seiki) using the U3 attachment (Examples 1 to 9) or the A4 attachment (Examples 10 and 1 1 ).

Alternatively, the or each second yarn may be introduced by other units such as a colour device or knotting device.

In the Examples, yarn 1 (the yarn used to knit all courses) was

Dyneema Nylon Lycra (white). The plaiting yarn (yarn 2) was Kevlar Nylon steel (yellow) or Nylon glass (black).

Example 1

In Example 1 , only the upper palm component 6 was plaited with yarn 2. The pattern is described in Table 1 and the knitted glove illustrated in Figure 3 (the plaited area is shaded).

(Yarn 1 = Dyneema Nylon Lycra) white colour

(Yarn 2 = Kevlar Nylon steel) yellow colour

Yarn 1 Yarn 2

Glove Component No. of Courses

Principal Yarn Plaiting Courses

1 (Pinky finger) 74 1-74

2 (Ring finger) 98 1-98

3 (Middle finger) 106 1-106

4 (Index finger) 96 1-96

5 (Thumb) 76 1-76 -

6 (Upper palm) 40 1-40 1-40

7 (Lower palm) 52 1-52

8 (Wrist) 82 1-82 _

Table 1

Example 2

In Example 2, upper palm component 6 and lower palm component 7 were each 100% plaited with yarn 2. The pattern is described in Table 2 and the knitted glove illustrated in Figure 4 (the plaited area is shaded).

Table 2

Example 3

In Example 3, the upper palm component 6, the lower palm 7 and the wrist 8 were 100% plaited with yarn 2. The pattern is described in Table 3 and the knitted glove illustrated in Figure 5 (the plaited area is lightly shaded). After knitting, the glove was dip coated on the palm side and on the back side of the upper digits (the coated area is shown with darker shading in Figure 5) using a nitrile rubber porous coating formulation prepared as discussed in EP- A-2, 181 ,826 (see, in particular, the Examples).

Table 3

Example 4

In Example 4, only the upper palm component 6 (100% plaited), the lower palm component 7 (19% plaited) the lower portion of the thumb component (approx. 49% plaited) and the lower portion of the index finger component (about 49% plaited) were plaited with yarn 2. The pattern is described in Table 4 and the knitted glove illustrated in Figure 6 (the plaited area is shaded). (Yarn 1 = Dyneema Nylon Lycra) white colour

(Yarn 2 = Kevlar Nylon steel) yellow colour

Yarn 1 Yarn 2

Glove Component No. of Courses

Principal Yarn Plaiting Courses

1 (Pinky finger) 74 1-74

2 (Ring finger) 98 1-98

3 (Middle finger) 106 1-106

4 (Index finger) 96 1-96 49-96

5 (Thumb) 78 1-78 40-78

6 (Upper palm) 40 1-40 1-40

7 (Lower palm) 52 1-52 1-10

8 (Wrist) 82 1-82 _

Table 4

Example 5

In Example 5, the upper palm component 6 (100% plaited), the lower palm component (100% plaited), the lower portion of the thumb component (about 49% plaited) and the lower portion of the index finger component (about 49% plaited) were plaited with yarn 2. The pattern is described in Table 5 and the knitted glove illustrated in Figure 7 (the plaited area is lightly shaded). The glove was dip coated (the coated area is shown with darker shading in Figure 7) using the method described for Example 3.

Table 5 Example 6

In Example 6, the upper palm component 6 (100% plaited), the lower palm and wrist components (both 100% plaited), the lower portions of both the thumb and index finger components (both about 49% plaited) were plaited with yarn 2. The pattern is described in Table 6 and the knitted glove illustrated in Figure 8 (the plaited area is shaded).

Table 6

Example 7

In Example 7, the upper palm component 6, the index finger

component 4 and the thumb component 5 (each 100% plaited) and the upper portion of the lower palm component 7 (about 19% plaited) were plaited with yarn 2. The pattern is described in Table 7 and the knitted glove illustrated in Figure 9 (the plaited area is shaded). (Yarn 1 = Dyneema Nylon Lycra) white colour

(Yarn 2 = Kevlar Nylon steel) yellow colour

Yarn 1 Yarn 2

Glove Component No. of Courses

Principal Yarn Plaiting Courses

1 (Pinky finger) 74 1-74

2 (Ring finger) 98 1-98

3 (Middle finger) 106 1-106

4 (Index finger) 96 1-96 1-96

5 (Thumb) 78 1-78 1-78

6 (Upper palm) 36 1-36 1-36

7 (Lower palm) 52 1-52 1-10

8 (Wrist) 82 1-82 _

Table 7

Example 8

In Example 8, the upper palm component 6, the index finger component 4, the thumb component 5 and the lower palm component 7 were each 100% plaited with yarn 2. The pattern is described in Table 8 and the knitted glove illustrated in Figure 10 (the plaited area is shaded).

Table 8 Example 9

In Example 9, the upper palm component 6, the index finger component 4, the thumb component 5, the lower palm component 7 wrist component 8 were all 100% plaited with yarn 2. The pattern is described in Table 9 and the knitted glove illustrated in Figure 1 1 (the plaited area is shaded).

Table 9

Example 10

In Example 10, the upper palm component 6, the lower palm

component 7 and the wrist component 8 were all plaited with yarn 2. The pattern is described in Table 10 and the knitted glove illustrated in Figure 12 (the plaited area is lightly shaded). The glove was dip coated (the coated area is shown with darker shading in Figure 12) using the method described for Example 3.

(Yarn 1 = Dyneema Nylon Lycra) white colour

(Yarn 2 = Nylon glass) black colour

Yarnl Yarn2

Glove Component No. of Courses

Principal Yarn Plaiting Courses

1 (Pinky finger) 86 1-86

2 (Ring finger) 106 1-106

3 (Middle finger) 116 1-116

4 (Index finger) 102 1-102

5 (Thumb) 86 1-86 -

6 (Upper palm) 46 1-46 1-44

7 (Lower palm) 40 1-40 1-40

8 (Wrist) 70 1-70 1-70

Table 10

Example 11

In Example 1 1 , the upper palm component 6 was plaited with yarn 2.

The pattern is described in Table 1 1 and the knitted glove illustrated in Figure 13 (the plaited area is lightly shaded). The glove was dip coated (the coated area is shown with darker shading in Figure 13) using the method described for Example 3.

Table 1 1 Example 12

The mechanical properties (cut, puncture and tear resistance) of samples of single layer knitted material (i.e. non-reinforced shell) and plaited double layer knitted material (i.e. reinforced shell) were tested according to EN388 (the mandatory standard for gloves sold in the European market) and ISO 13997. The results are set out in Table 12, and show the higher performance achieved by the plaited double layer knitted material.

Table 12 Example 13

Using a Testometric M350-SAT Tensometer, a stretch versus load test was performed to compare samples of knitted fabric taken from across the upper palms of two gloves knitted on a NewSFG machine using the U3 attachment. One sample (Test 1 ) was of Dyneema Nylon Lycra yarn plaited with Kevlar Nylon steel yarn to form a double layer knitted fabric. The other sample (Test 2) was of a knitted fabric formed of single layer Dyneema Nylon Lycra yarn.

The samples were 25 mm wide and 200 mm in length. During testing, the sample pieces were clamped in the Tensometer with a 100 mm initial gate. The results are shown in Table 13 and in Figure 14.

It can be seen from this data that the plaited knitted fabric does not stretch as readily as the non-plaited knitted fabric. At each of the set forces, the extension of the single layer fabric is around double that of the plaited fabric.

Table 13

Claims

A knitted glove comprising at least eight glove components, each component comprising a plurality of courses of a first yarn, the glove components including:

five digit components,

an upper palm component,

a lower palm component, and

a wrist component,

wherein at least 50% of the courses of at least one component are single layer and wherein at least 50% of the courses of the upper palm component are plaited with at least a second yarn to provide a multilayer upper palm portion.

A knitted glove as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the multi-layer upper palm portion comprises five or more contiguous courses each plaited with the or a second yarn.

five digit components,

an upper palm component,

a lower palm component, and

a wrist component,

wherein at least 50% of the courses of at least one component are single layer and wherein the upper palm component comprises five or more contiguous courses each plaited with at least a second yarn to provide a multi-layer upper palm portion.

A knitted glove as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least 10% of the courses of one or more other components are plaited with the or a second yarn to provide a multi-layer component portion.

A knitted glove as claimed in claim 4, wherein the or each multi-layer component portion comprises three or more contiguous courses each plaited with the second yarn.

A knitted glove as claimed in either claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the or a one other multi-layer component portion comprises the lower palm component, the index finger component, the thumb component, or the wrist component, or a combination of two or more thereof.

A knitted glove as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first yarn and second yarn are independently selected from monofilament yarns, multifilament yarns, spun yarns, textured filament yarns, multi-component yarns or combinations thereof.

A knitted glove as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the material of the first yarn and/or second yarn is independently selected from one or more of cotton, polyamide, acrylic, aramid (meta- or para-), PTFE, polyolefin, polyester, linen, polyvinyl alcohol, metal, glass fibre, elastane, polyurethane polyurea copolymer, silk and/or wool, cellulosic yarns, elastomeric yarns or combinations of two or more of these yarns

A knitted glove as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a polymeric coating.

A knitted glove as claimed in claim 9, wherein the polymeric coating is selected from one or more layers comprising natural rubber, synthetic rubber, polyurethane, carboxylated acrylonitrile butadiene, butyl latex, polychloroprene, poly vinyl alcohol, non-carboxylated acrylonitrile and/or polyvinyl chloride or combinations thereof.

1 1 . A knitted glove as claimed in either claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the polymeric coating is porous or non-porous.

12. A method for producing a knitted glove, the method comprising knitting a glove using a first yarn to knit at least eight glove components, each component comprising a plurality of courses, the glove components including:

five digit components,

an upper palm component,

a lower palm component, and

a wrist component,

wherein at least 50% of the courses of at least one component are knitted single layer, and

plaiting at least 50% of the courses of the upper palm component with at least a second yarn to provide a multi-layer upper palm portion.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the knitting method is weft knitting.

14. A method as claimed in either claim 12 or claim 13, further comprising coating at least a portion of the knitted glove with a polymeric coating.

15. A method as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the knitting gauge is 7, 10, 13 or 15.