Technical field

The present invention relates to an arc flash protection glove, a heat protection glove and a method for manufacturing said gloves.

Background

A major hazard when working with electrical equipment is arc flashes. An arc flash occurs when an electrical connection is established through air, resulting in dispersion of energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation and heat. The amount of energy generated naturally varies with voltage levels of the electrical system in question, but normally falls within the interval of 0 to 600 Cal/cm ² However, it is important to note that an arc flash releasing energy of only 2 Cal/cm ² may cause second-degree bums to unprotected skin.

One way of mitigating the risk of serious injury is the use of protective gloves. There exist a variety of solutions on the market, among which US2014237701 may be mentioned. However, a common problem with existing solutions is that, although they may be fire-resistant to a certain degree, they do not provide adequate protection against arc flashes. More importantly, even if a solution provides good protection, the drawback is often loss of flexibility, wearability and mobility.

Thus, there is a need for gloves with increased arc flash protection while flexibility, wearability and mobility are retained or improved.

Summary

An object of the present invention is therefore to overcome the above problems, and to provide a solution that at least to some extent improve upon the prior art. This, and other objects, which will become apparent in the following, is accomplished by the arc flash protection glove defined in the accompanying claims. According to a first aspect, an arc flash protection glove is provided, the glove comprising a fire-resistant glove liner, which glove liner consists of a palm side and a backside, which palm side comprises palm side finger portions, a palm side center portion and a palm side cuff portion, which backside comprises backside finger portions, a backside center portion and a backside cuff portion, which glove liner is provided with a fire-resistant coating comprising a fire-resistant material, said fire-resistant coating comprises: a backside coating portion having an area of at least 4 cm ² and being arranged on the backside center portion, and a palm side coating portion arranged on the palm side of said glove liner, wherein said palm side coating portion covers at least 90%, at least 95% or 100% of said palm side finger portions and at least 90%, at least 95% or 100% of said palm side center portion, wherein an average coating weight of said backside coating portion is within the range of 5-80% of an average coating weight of said palm side coating portion.

In the context of the present disclosure, an arc flash protection glove is to be understood as a hand protection product, glove materials, glove material systems or other protective products designed to fit on the hand and specifically intended for electric arc flash protection use as protective accessories for workers exposed to electric arc heat flux, which has a determined arc rating as defined and tested and approved according to standard ASTM F2675 (Standard Test Method for Determining Arc Ratings of Hand Protective Products Developed and Used for Electrical Arc Flash Protection).

Moreover, in the context of the present disclosure, a fire-resistant protective glove or material is to be understood as a material or protective glove comprising such material intended for protection against thermal risks and, which glove or material is tested and approved according to the test of 6 “limited fire spread” as defined in section 6.2 in the standard EN407:2020 (Protective gloves and other hand protective equipments against thermal risks (heat and/or fire). More specifically, a fire-resistant protective glove or material should qualify at least for the first level as defined by EN407:2020

An arc flash protection glove according to the first aspect is fully protected on both the palm side and the backside. Hereby, a glove with improved arc flash protection is provided. Furthermore, the arc flash protection glove, being lighter on the backside than on the palm side, does not tire a wearer or needlessly obstruct the mobility thereof. Thus, increased flexibility, wearability, safety and mobility is provided. Furthermore, since coating is arranged on both the palm side and the backside, a thinner glove liner may be used. As such, a lighter and more material efficient glove is provided.

The fire-resistant glove liner is preferably made out of a textile material. A fire-resistant glove liner may e.g. be a knitted fire-resistant glove liner.

An average coating weight of said backside coating portion is alternatively within the range of 10-70%, or 15-60%, or 20-55%, or 25-50% of an average coating weight of said palm side coating portion.

Alternatively, the backside coating portion may have an area of at least 5 cm ² , or at least 6 cm ² , or at least 7 cm ² , or at least 8 cm ² .

According to at least one embodiment, all or a portion of the palm side coating portion may be provided by a palm dip, knuckle dip, finger dip, half-dip, three-quarters dip, or full dip, or a combination thereof. Preferably, the area of at least 4 cm ² of the backside coating portion is arranged on a portion of the backside center portion that is not covered by the palm dip, knuckle dip, finger dip, half-dip, three-quarters dip, or full dip, or a combination thereof. In other word, the area of at least 4 cm ² of the backside coating portion is arranged on a portion of the backside center portion that is free from the coating provided by said palm dip, knuckle dip, finger dip, halfdip, three-quarters dip, or full dip, or a combination thereof.

Consequently, much more than 4 cm ² of the backside center portion may fulfill the relationship of being within the range of 5-80% of an average coating weight of the palm side coating portion.

The fire-resistant coating may be applied by other means than dipping, but still cover an area corresponding to the coated area provided by the palm dip, knuckle dip, finger dip, half-dip, three-quarters dip, or full dip, or a combination thereof.

According to a second aspect, a heat protection glove is provided, the glove comprising a fire-resistant glove liner, which glove liner consists of a palm side and a back side, which palm side comprises palm side finger portions, a palm side center portion and a palm side cuff portion, which backside comprises backside finger portions, a backside center portion and a backside cuff portion, which glove liner is provided with a fire-resistant coating comprising a fire-resistant material, said fire-resistant coating comprises: a backside coating portion having an area of at least 4 cm ² and being arranged on the backside center portion, and a palm side coating portion arranged on the palm side of the glove liner, wherein said palm side coating portion covers at least 90% of said palm side finger portions (3A) and at least 90% of said palm side center portion (3B), wherein an average coating weight of said backside coating portion is within the range of 5-80% of an average coating weight of the palm side coating portion.

A heat protection glove according to the second aspect is protected on both the palm side and the backside. Hereby, a glove with improved fireresistance is provided. Consequently, a glove with improved fire-resistance is provided. Furthermore, the heat protection glove, being lighter on the backside than on the palm side, does not tire a wearer or obstruct the mobility thereof. Thus, a glove with increased flexibility, wearability, safety and mobility is provided.

According a first example, two glove liners of size 10 were produced using the same manufacturing process, each glove liner fulfilling the requirements of ADM 2675. The protection provided by glove liners was tested, and without any coating the glove liner provides a protection of (APTV) 5,9 cal/cm ² ; while after being spray coated with a Chloroprene water dispersion with a solid content above 40% and with 3phh ZnO och 3phh Carbon black the other glove provided a provided a protection of (APTV) 17 cal/cm ² . According to a second example, a first and a second series of size 10 glove liners were made of pararam id and flame retardant polyester. All glove liners were produced using the same process and using the same material, except that the flame retardant polyester used to make the first series was heavier compared to the flame retardant polyester used to make the second series. In more detail, the weight of the glove liners of the first series is 400 g/dz; and the weight of the glove liners of the second series is 300 g/dz. The gloves of the first series were left uncoated, while the gloves of the second series were spray coated with a Chloroprene water dispersion with a solid content above 40% and with 3phh ZnO och 3phh Carbon black. The protection provided by the coated and uncoated glove liners were measured, and it was concluded that the uncoated glove liners from the first serie provided an ATPV of 5,9 cal/cm2; while the coated glove lines provided an ATPV of 9,7cal/cm2. Consequently, although the glove liner of the second serie is 30 % thinner it still provides a protection of 9,7 cal/cm ² when coated. Consequently, a glove according to the invention may be thinner while providing a better protection.

The same composition and amount of coating (4 g) were sprayed on the glove liners in both the first and second example above.

According to a third aspect, an arc flash and/or heat protection glove is provided, the glove comprising a fire-resistant glove liner, which glove liner consists of a palm side and a back side, which palm side comprises palm side finger portions, a palm side center portion and a palm side cuff portion, which backside comprises backside finger portions, a backside center portion and a backside cuff portion, which glove liner is provided with a fire-resistant coating comprising a fire-resistant material, said fire-resistant coating comprises: a backside coating portion having an area of at least 4 cm ² and being arranged on the backside center portion, and a palm side coating portion arranged on the palm side of the glove liner, wherein said palm side coating portion covers at least 90% of said palm side finger portions and at least 90% of said palm side center portion , wherein an average coating weight of said backside coating portion is within the range of 5-80% of an average coating weight of the palm side coating portion. Generally, the technical effects and benefits discussed in relation to the first and second aspects applies mutatis mutandis to the third aspect and will consequently not be repeated to avoid undue repetition.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the composition of the fire-resistant material of the backside coating portion and the composition of the fire-resistant material of the palm side coating portion optionally is the same.

Hereby, the backside coating portion and the palm side coating portion may have substantially similar properties. As such, a glove with similar fire-resistance properties regardless of the orientation of incident arc flash may be provided. Furthermore, the method of manufacturing the glove is easier, since the number of production stages is reduced.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the backside coating portion is fully or partly composed of a different fire-resistant material compared to the palm side coating portion.

Hereby, the backside coating portion and the palm side coating portion may have different properties. For example, the palm side coating portion may have a higher fire-resistance than the backside coating portion. As another example, the backside coating portion may be composed of a lighter fire-resistant material compared to the palm side coating portion. The palm side coating portion may e.g. comprise a first layer of a first material, and the backside coating portion may comprise a first layer of the first material, wherein the palm side coating portion or the backside coating portion comprise a second layer of a second material.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the backside coating portion is arranged as a continuous or discontinuous layer, optionally comprising a dot pattern.

The backside coating portion may thus be arranged as a continuous layer of an area of at least 4 cm ² on the backside center portion. Alternatively, the backside coating portion may be arranged as a continuous layer of an area of at least 2 cm ² , or at least 3 cm ² , or at least 5 cm ² , or at least 6 cm ² , or at least 7 cm ² , or at least 8 cm ² . The continuous layer may have any shape. For example, the continuous layer may be substantially circular. Alternatively, the continuous layer may be substantially rectangular. Alternatively, the continuous layer may be of irregular shape.

By arranging the backside coating portion as a continuous layer, a glove with more uniform fire-resistant properties is provided.

In some embodiments, a continuous layer may be arranged on the entire area of the backside center portion.

The backside coating portion may thus alternatively be arranged as a discontinuous layer of an area of at least 4 cm ² on the backside center portion. The discontinuous layer may be a plurality of islands. The plurality of islands may be uniform in shape and size. Alternatively, the plurality of islands may be nonuniform in shape and size. As an exemplary embodiment, the discontinuous backside coating portion may comprise a dot pattern. The dot pattern may comprise dots that are 1-3 mm in diameter, with a separation distance of 1-3 mm. Alternatively, the dots comprised in the dot pattern may be non-uniform in size. Furthermore, the dots comprised in the dot pattern may be non-uniform in separation distance, such that some dots are arranged closer to any closest neighbor as compared to other dots.

By arranging the backside coating portion as a discontinuous, e.g. comprising a dot pattern, the fire and/or heat resistive properties of the coating portion may be spread over a larger area while still retaining flexibility of the glove liner.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the glove provided with one thinner coating, which thinner coating covers at least the backside coating portion (5B), and one thicker coating covering at least 90% of the finger portion and at least 90 % of the center portion on the palm side. The thinner coating may also cover portions of or all of the palm side, and thicker coating may cover portions of the backside. The total weight of the thinner coating is 1-8 g/glove of size 10. Additionally or alternatively, the total weight of the thicker coating is 5-20 g/glove of size 10. In relation to this invention when the total weight of a coating is “x g/glove of size 10”, this coating increases the weight of a glove of size 10 by x g. The given weights are scalable to gloves of other sizes according to the below, the total coating weights is proportional to the area of the of the glove.

According to one example, the area of a glove of size 7 is 66-75 % of the area of a glove of size 10, the area of a glove of size 8 is 76-85 % of the area of a glove of size 10, the area of a glove of size 9 is 86-95 % of the area of a glove of size 10, the area of a glove of size 11 is 106-115 % of the area of a glove of size 10, and the area of a glove of size 12 is 116-125 % of the area of a glove of size 10; where the glove sizes are given according to the standard EN 21420.

The measure 1-8 g/glove of size 10 may be translated as follows: 0.66 - 6 g for a glove of size 7 ; and 1 .16 - 10 g for a glove of size 12.

The measure 5-20 g/glove of size 10 may be translated as follows: 3.3 - 15 g for a glove of size 7; and 5.8 - 25 g for a glove of size 12.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the total weight of thinner coating, the coating present e.g. at least in the 4 cm2 area, is in the range of 0.66 - 10 g. Additionally or alternatively, the total weight of thicker coating, the coating present at least on a major part of the palm side, is in the range of 3.3 - 20 g.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the fire-resistant material comprises polymers selected from the group consisting of silicone, polyvinylchloride and chloroprene, or a mixture thereof.

Alternatively, the fire-resistant material may further comprise natural latex, such as guayule or polyisoprene, synthetic latexes, such as synthetic polyisoprene.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the fire-resistant material comprises chloroprene. The fire-resistant material may comprise 10 - 90 wt% chloroprene, or 20 - 80 wt% chloroprene, or 30 - 70 wt% chloroprene, or 40 - 60 wt% chloroprene. Alternatively, the fire-resistant material may comprise 100 wt% chloroprene.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment wherein the fire- resistant coating further comprises an additive selected from the group consisting of: pigments, fillers, softeners, surface active agents, accelerators, crosslinkers and vulcanizers, or mixtures thereof.

Hereby, a variety of properties of the fire-resistant coating may be achieved. For example, the fire-resistant coating may be made more flexible. Alternatively, the fire-resistant coating may be made hydrophobic, hydrophilic, harder, softer, easier to shape etc.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the glove liner is formed of a fire-resistant material selected from the group consisting of: paraaramid, meta-aramid, modacrylic, cotton, wool, polyamide and polyester.

By providing a glove liner that is readily fire-resistant to a certain extent, less fire-resistant coating material may be used. As such, a more material efficient and easier to produce glove is provider.

According to a fourth aspect, a method for manufacturing an arc flash protection or fire-resistant glove is provided, the method comprising the steps of: providing a fire-resistant glove liner, which glove liner consists of a palm side and a backside, which palm side comprises palm side finger portions, a palm side center portion and a palm side cuff portion, which backside comprises backside finger portions, a backside center portion and a backside cuff portion; providing a fire-resistant coating to the glove liner by: providing a backside coating portion having an area of at least 4 cm ² on the backside center portion; and providing a palm side coating portion on the palm side, wherein the palm side coating portion covers at least 90% of said palm side finger portions and at least 90% of said palm side center portion; wherein an average coating weight of the backside coating portion is within the range of 5-80% of an average coating weight of the palm side coating portion.

Generally, the technical effects and benefits discussed in relation to the first, second and third aspects applies mutatis mutandis to the fourth aspect and will consequently not be repeated to avoid undue repetition.

The Fire-resistant coating may be applied by a palm dip, knuckle dip, finger dip, half-dip, three-quarters dip, or full dip, or a combination thereof.

Alternatively, the backside coating portion provided may have an area of at least 5 cm ² , or at least 6 cm ² , or at least 7 cm ² , or at least 8 cm ² . According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of: providing at least one fire-resistant coating composition for said backside center portion, providing at least one fire- resistant coating composition for said palm side, and wherein said step of providing a backside coating on said backside center portion further comprises providing at least one layer of said at least one fire-resistant coating composition for said backside center portion to said backside center portion, wherein said step of providing a palm side coating on said palm side further comprises providing at least one layer of said at least one fire-resistant coating composition for said palm side to said palm side, and wherein said fire-resistant coating composition for said palm side and said fire-resistant coating composition for said backside is optionally different.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, when it has been provided the total weight of the at least one fire-resistant coating composition for said palm side, which may also cover portions of said backside, is in the range of 5- 20 g/glove of size 10. In other words, the at least one fire-resistant coating composition for said palm side adds a weight of 5-20 g to a glove of size 10 at least after drying.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, when it has been provided the total weight of the at least one fire-resistant coating composition for said backside, which may also cover portions of said palm side, is in the range of 1-8 g/glove of size 10. In other words, the at least one fire-resistant coating composition for said palm side adds a weight of 1-8 g to a glove of size 10 at least after drying.

Hereby, the backside coating portion and the palm side coating portion may be provided with substantially different properties. For example, the palm side coating portion may have a higher fire-resistance than the backside coating portion. As another example, the backside coating portion may be composed of a lighter fire-resistant coating compared to the palm side coating portion.

The backside center portion and the palm side may be provided with a different number of layers. For example, the backside center portion may be provided with a first layer of the first material, and the palm side may be provided with a first layer of a first material, whereafter the palm side coating portion or the backside coating portion may be provided with a layer of a second material.

According to some exemplary embodiments, any layer applied to the palm side may be thicker or thinner than any layer applied to the backside center portion, or vice versa.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the step of providing a backside coating further comprises providing a plurality of layers of said fire-resistant material composition on top of each other, and the step of providing a palm side coating portion comprises providing a plurality of layers of the palm coating composition on top of each other, wherein a predetermined number of the plurality of layers of the back side coating and a predetermined number of the plurality of layers of the palm side coating are provided simultaneously, e.g. by means of dipping or spray coating; and optionally the total number of layers of the palm side coating provided to the palm side is larger than total number of layers of the backside coating provided to the backside center portion.

By providing more layers to the palm side than to the backside center portion, more material is deposited on the palm side. Thus, the backside may be lighter than the palm side, resulting in a glove that does not tire a wearer or obstruct the mobility thereof. Thus, a glove with increased flexibility, wearability and mobility is provided.

The coating composition may be provided as a water or solvent based dispersion. The coating composition dispersion may thus comprise water, ethanol, or any other solvent.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the step of providing the backside coating and/or said palm side coating is performed by a method comprising dipping, spraying, brushing or screen-printing, or a combination thereof.

For exemplary embodiments where any layer applied to the palm side is to be thicker or thinner than any layer applied to the backside center portion, or vice versa, a dipping time, spraying time, brushing time or screenprinting time or a combination thereof may be longer or shorter.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the step of providing the backside coating comprises providing a discontinuous coating by means of spraying or screen-printing the at least one fire-resistant coating composition for the backside center portion.

Hereby, a discontinuous but well distributed coating layer may be applied. Consequently, the fire-resistant property is well distributed while flexibility of the glove is retained.

The discontinuous coating may be provided by use of a template through which the coating material passes before being deposited on the backside center portion.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the method further comprises a step of drying of the coating composition to yield a fire-resistant coating material.

The step of drying may comprise application of heat through convection, radiation or conduction, or a combination thereof. The step of drying may be performed with in an oven.

According to at least one exemplary embodiment, the method further comprises a step of vulcanization of the coating composition on the glove liner, wherein the vulcanization temperature is within the range of 80-140 °C, or 85-135 °C, or 90-130°C.

Brief description of the drawings

These and other variants of the present invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the appended drawings showing exemplary embodiments of the present invention, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a palm side and a backside of a glove liner.

Fig 2 is a schematic perspective view of a palm side and a backside glove according to the first aspect, second aspect or third aspect of the present invention comprising a continuous backside coating. Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a glove according to the first aspect, second aspect or third aspect of the present invention comprising a discontinuous backside coating comprising a dot pattern.

Detailed description of the drawings

In the following detailed description, some embodiments of the present invention will be described. However, it is to be understood that features of the different embodiments are exchangeable between the embodiments and may be combined in different ways, unless anything is specifically indicated. Even though in the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide a more thorough understanding of the present invention, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these details. In other instances, well known constructions or functions are not described in detail, so as not to obscure the present invention.

In Fig. 1 , a fire-resistant glove liner 2 is depicted. The fire-resistant glove liner 2 may be formed of a fire-resistant material selected from the group consisting of: para-aramid, meta-aramid, modacrylic, cotton, wool, polyamide and polyester, or any combination thereof. The fire-resistant glove liner 2 consists of a palm side 3 and a backside 4. The palm side 3 comprises palm side finger portions 3A, a palm side center portion 3B and a palm side cuff portion 3C. The backside 4 comprises backside finger portions 4A, a backside center portion 4B and a backside cuff portion 4C. This glove liner comprises five finger portions. In Fig. 1 , the respective portions are delimited with lines.

In Fig. 2, an arc flash and/or heat protection glove 100 is shown. The glove 100 is shown in both a palm side view (left hand side) and backside view (right hand side). The glove 100 comprises a fire-resistant glove liner 2, as seen in Fig. 1 . The glove liner is provided with a fire-resistant coating 5 comprising a fire-resistant material. A fire-resistant material may comprise polymers selected from the group consisting of silicon, polyvinylchloride and chloroprene, or a mixture thereof. For example, the fire-resistant material may comprise 10 - 90 wt% chloroprene, or 20 - 80 wt% chloroprene, or 30 - 70 wt% chloroprene, or 40 - 60 wt% chloroprene.

A fire-resistant coating 5 may further comprise an additive selected from the group consisting of: pigments, fillers, softeners, surface active agents, accelerators, crosslinkers and vulcanizers, or mixtures thereof. The additive and the fire-resistant material may be provided in a fire-resistant coating composition, optionally together with a solvent.

According to one example the fire-resistant composition comprises Chloropren and 5 pph (part per hundred) of ZnO. According to a alternative example the fire-resistant composition comprises PVC, which is thermally treated together with 60 pph of a softener such as DINCH (1 ,2-Cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester).

The fire-resistant coating 5 comprises a palm side coating portion 5A. The palm side coating portion 5A is arranged on the palm side 3 of the glove liner 2. Here, the palm side coating portion 5A covers at least 90% of the palm side finger portions 4A and at least 90% of the palm side center portion 4B. Alternatively, the palm side coating portion 5A may cover at least 95% of the palm side finger portions 4A and at least 95% of the palm side center portion 4B. Alternatively, the palm side coating portion 5A may fully cover the palm side 3 finger portions 4A and the palm side center portion 4B.

The fire-resistant coating 5 further comprises a backside coating portion 5B. The backside coating portion 5B is arranged on the backside center portion 4B. The backside coating portion 5B is arranged on at least 4 cm ² of the backside center portion 4B. As is seen in Fig. 2, the backside 4 is provided with at least at least 4 cm ² of a backside coating portion 5B, as indicated by the dashed square on the backside coating portion 5B. For reference, a corresponding square is shown on the palm side. Alternatively, the backside coating portion 5B may have an area of at least 5 cm ² , or at least 6 cm ² , or at least 7 cm ² , or at least 8 cm ² . The backside coating portion 5B is deposited as at least one layer that is thinner and/or has a different material composition than the palm side coating portion 5A. In Fig. 1 , the backside coating portion 5B is arranged as a continuous layer of an area of at least 4 cm ² on the backside center portion 4B. Here, the continuous layer of the backside coating portion 5B is arranged on the entire area of the backside center portion 4B. Furthermore, the backaside coating portion 5B is arranged on at least 80% of the backside finger portions 4A.

The glove 100 was e.g. manufactured by providing a first coating to the glove liner (not shown), subsequently providing a second coating, e.g. by a palm dip such that the palm side finger portions 3A and the palm side center portion 3B is fully covered by the second coating. Furthermore, the second coating was, e.g. during the palm dip, provided to a portion of the backside finger portions 4A. The glove 100 was e.g. subsequently provided with a third coating on the backside center portion, fully covering the backside center portion, and on a portion of the backside finger portions 4A.

The composition of the fire-resistant material of the backside coating portion 5B and the composition of the fire-resistant material of the palm side coating portion 5A may be the same. Alternatively, the backside coating portion 5B is fully or partly composed of a different fire-resistant material compared to the palm side coating portion 5A. Hereby, the backside coating portion 5B and the palm side coating portion 5A may have substantially different properties. For example, the palm side coating portion 5A may have a higher fire-resistance than the backside coating portion 5B, or vice versa. As another example, the backside coating portion 5B may be composed of a lighter fire-resistant material compared to the palm side coating portion 5A. The palm side coating portion 5A may e.g. comprise a first layer of a first material, and the backside coating portion 5B may comprise a first layer of the first material, wherein the palm side coating portion 5A or the backside coating portion 5B comprise a second layer of a second material.

The average coating weight of the backside coating portion 5B is within the range of 5-80% of the average coating weight of the palm side coating portion 5A. The darker coating present i.a. on the palm side coating portion may have a total coating weight within the range of 5-20 g/glove of size 10. The brighter coating present i.a. on the backside coating portion may have a total coating weight in the range of 1-8 g/glove of size 10. This is scaleable to gloves of other sizes as explained above.

Fig. 3 depicts an arc flash and/or heat protection glove 200 where the backside coating portion 5B is arranged as a discontinuous layer. The glove 200 is shown in both a palm side view (left hand side) and backside view (right hand side). The discontinuous layer is arranged on an area of at least 4 cm ² on the backside center portion 4B. Here, the discontinuous backside coating portion 5B comprises a dot pattern. Here, the dots 6 comprised in the dot pattern are depicted as being distributed in a uniform manner over the backside center portion 4B, such that any dot 6 has the same separation distance to any closest neighbor of the dot 6. The dot pattern may e.g. comprise dots 6 that are 1-3 mm in diameter, with a separation distance of 1- 3 mm. Alternatively, the dots 6 comprised in the dot pattern may be non- uniform in size. Furthermore, the dots 6 comprised in the dot pattern may be non-uniform in separation distance, such that some dots 6 are arranged closer to any closest neighbor as compared to other dots 6. For example, the dot pattern may comprise dots that are alternating in size, such that half the dots are larger than the other half. For example, half the dots may be 3-6 mm in diameter while the other half may be 1-3 mm in diameter.

The gloves 100 and 200 in Fig. 2 and 3 may be manufactured by the same method. A method for manufacturing an arc flash protection or fire- resistant glove is provided according to the fourth aspect of the present invention. First, a fire-resistant glove liner 2 is provided. The glove liner 2 consists of a palm side 3 and a backside 4, which backside 4 comprises backside finger portions 4A, a backside center portion 4B and a backside cuff portion 4C.

A fire-resistant coating 5 is subsequently provided to the glove liner 2. The fire-resistant coating 5 is applied by providing a backside coating portion 5B having an area of at least 4 cm ² on the backside center portion 4B, and providing a palm side coating portion 5A on the palm side 3, wherein the palm side coating portion 5A covers at least 90% of the palm side 3. The backside coating portion 5B may be arranged in a continuous layer, as is shown in Fig. 2 and discussed in relation to said figure above, or in a discontinuous layer, as is shown in Fig. 3 and discussed in relation to said figure above.

An average coating weight, after the palm side coating portion 5A and the backside coating portion 5B have been applied, of the backside coating portion 5B is within the range of 5-80% of an average coating weight of the palm side coating portion 5A. An average coating weight of said backside coating portion is alternatively within the range of 10-70%, or 15- 60%, or 20-55%, or 25-50% of an average coating weight of said palm side coating portion. An estimation of the coating weight may be made: by cutting a 4 cm ² piece of the backside center portion 4B and a 4 cm ² piece of e.g. the palm side center portion, weigh the separate pieces, divide the respective weights with 4 cm ² each and calculate the ratio therebetween. A more thorough way of measuring the coating weight is subtracting the dry weight of the glove liner 2 before the step of providing fire-resistant coating 5 from the dry weight of the coated glove liner 2.

Optionally, the method may comprise providing at least one fire- resistant coating composition for the backside center portion 4B, and providing at least one fire-resistant coating composition for said palm side 3. The step of providing a backside coating on said backside center portion 4B may thus further comprise providing at least one layer of the at least one fire- resistant coating composition for the backside center portion 4B to the backside center portion 4B. Correspondingly, the step of providing a palm side coating 5A on the palm side 3 further comprises providing at least one layer of the at least one fire-resistant coating composition for the palm side 3 to the palm side 3. The backside center portion 4B and the palm side 3 may be provided with a different number of layers.

Furthermore, any layer applied to the palm side 3 may be thicker or thinner than any layer applied to the backside center portion 4B, or vice versa.

The step of providing a backside coating 5B may further comprise providing a plurality of layers of the fire-resistant material composition on top of each other. Furthermore, the step of providing a palm side coating portion 5A comprises providing a plurality of layers of the palm coating composition on top of each other. A predetermined number of the plurality of layers of the backside coating 5B and a predetermined number of the plurality of layers of the palm side coating 5A may be provided simultaneously. Optionally, the total number of layers of the palm side coating 5A provided to the palm side 3 is larger than total number of layers of the backside coating 5B provided to the backside center portion 4B.

Furthermore, the fire-resistant coating composition for the palm side 3 and the fire-resistant coating composition for the backside 4 may be different. As such, the compositions may comprise different fire-resistant materials, and/or different additives, leading the coating compositions to provide different properties to the sides to which they are applied. For example, the backside center portion 4B may be provided with a first layer of a first composition, and the palm side 3 may be provided with a first layer of the first composition, whereafter the palm side coating portion 5A or the backside coating portion 5B may be provided with a layer of a second composition.

Providing the backside coating 5B and/or said palm side coating 5A may be performed by a method comprising dipping, spraying, brushing or screen-printing, or a combination thereof. For example, the glove liner 2 may first be subjected to dipping. The glove liner 2 may e.g. be subjected to three- quarter dipping. Alternatively, the glove liner 2 may be subjected to a palm dip, knuckle dip, finger dip, half-dip, or full dip, or a combination thereof. For example, the glove liner 2 may be subjected to dipping such that a palm side coating portion 5A is applied. Subsequently, the glove liner 2 may be subjected to spraying, brushing or screen-printing such that a backside coating portion 5B is applied.

The step of providing the backside coating may comprise providing a discontinuous coating. The step of providing a discontinuous coating may be performed by means of spraying or screen-printing the at least one fire- resistant coating composition for the backside center portion 4B on the backside center portion 4B. The discontinuous coating may be provided by use of a template through which the coating material passes before being deposited on the backside center portion 4B.

In some embodiments, the glove liner 2 may be mounted on a mould. By mounting the glove liner 2 on a mould, it is for some coating methods easier to coat the liner 2. A flat mould may be used. The flat mould may have a non rectangular transection measured across the finger. The flat mould may e.g. be a flat mould as disclosed in the registered design RCD-007571237. Alternatively, the glove liner 2 may be mounted on a hand shaped mould, such as an aluminum mould.

The glove liner 2 may optionally be washed in water. The glove liner 2 may be washed in water on the mould, alternatively off the mould before being mounted on the mould. During washing, the glove liner is dipped into water, ethanol or methanol with dissolved electrolytes such as CaCI2, Ca(NO3)2 or similar.

The coating composition or coating compositions may, after having been applied to the glove liner 2, be subjected to drying of the coating composition to yield a fire-resistant coating material. The step of drying may comprise application of heat through convection, radiation or conduction, or a combination thereof. The step of drying may be performed with in an oven.

The coating composition may be subjected to two steps of drying. For example, the coating composition may be pre-dried after it has been provided to the glove liner 2. After pre-drying, the composition is washed by dipping the coated glove liner into water, ethanol or methanol with dissolved electrolytes such as CaCI2, Ca(NO3)2. After washing, the coated glove liner 2 may be subjected to final drying.

The coating glove liner 2 may also be subjected to salt texturing or a second dip in a coagulant in order to stabilize the coating.

A step of vulcanization of the coating composition on the glove liner 2 may optionally be employed. The vulcanization temperature may be within the range of 80-140 °C, or 85-135 °C , or 90 - 130 °C. The person skilled in the art realizes that the present invention by no means is limited to the variants described above. The features of the described variants may be combined in different ways, and many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The word “comprising” does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps than those listed in the claim. The word “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.