If you’re looking for answers to the question ‘why is it called a glove box?’, then you’ve come to the right place. Let’s find out why this convenient storage space within our car dashboards has been given such an amusing name.
The answer is deeply rooted in history and the clever minds of manufacturers of the past. So keep reading to discover the story behind one of the automotive industry’s most beloved features!
Why is it called a Glove Box?
A glove box is a sealed container used to manipulate items that are hazardous to the environment or to humans.Typically, it is a cabinet-like structure that is made from transparent sheets to enable a user to view its contents without exposing oneself to whatever hazardous chemicals or materials are stored within. To handle items inside, users slip their hands into built-in rubber gloves. This concept goes back as far as Ancient Greece, where chemist and physician Herophilus was known to have placed his hands in this same method of air-tight protection in order to perform experiments with poisonous substances.
Uses of a Glove Box
Today, glove boxes are used for a variety of applications. A glove box has long been the accepted solution for handling chemical or biological contamination to the environment.The protective space allows the operator to manipulate hazardous material without the risk of it escaping into the environment. For this reason, glove boxes are often used in labs and pharmaceutical production areas to ensure the safety of both people and the environment. In the automotive industry, technicians often use glove boxes as a convenient way to access and manipulate small parts.
Mechanics gloves protect the technician from dirt, oil, and other contaminants, but examinations of still-moving parts like automobile engines and transmission require more air-tight protection. The glove box provides an ideal means of isolation while still allowing the technician to work.
Design
Glove boxes are typically composed of two panels of durable clear plastic that fit neatly together with an airtight seal. The panels are fitted with either metal or high-grade plastic hinges and latches that are fastened securely to guarantee the container’s air-tight integrity. The interior is lined with neoprene, a durable rubber that is also used to make the gloves.On the interior wall of the glove box there is a metal frame structure that holds the gloves in place.