Apparel – Hand or arm coverings – Gloves
Patent
1995-05-19
1997-06-24
Vanatta, Amy B.
Apparel
Hand or arm coverings
Gloves
2168, 264537, 264530, A41D 1900, B29C 5500
Patent
active
056407203
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to flexible elastomeric articles, for example, gloves and condoms, processes for their manufacture and formers for use in the manufacturing processes.
2. Scope of the Prior Art
The manufacture of elastomeric gloves by vacuum molding is known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,124,807. The methods described therein comprise the vacuum molding and heat sealing of two sheets of a thermoplastic elastomeric material. However, gloves made from this method will generally possess one or more seams which may be a source of rupture or leakage.
More conventional methods of manufacturing synthetic. elastomeric gloves which overcomes the problem of having seams comprises solvent dipping of an appropriately shaped former into a suitable polymer solvent mix, withdrawing the polymer coated former and then drying off the solvent before stripping the glove therefrom. There are a number of disadvantages with this method, in particular the use of large amounts of solvent is undesirable. Equally, the method of dipping is both time consuming and costly since it is necessary to have a series of formers for dipping which cannot be rapidly reused. Additionally, gloves produced by this method are likely to have residual solvent in them which is toxic and therefore an unacceptable containment.
Blow molding of rigid plastic articles is known, eg. in the manufacture of rigid plastic bottles. However, such techniques have not been used with thin walled flexible elastomeric articles.
WO89/11258 discloses condoms comprising a blow formed tubular main sheath. However, WO89/11258 does not disclose the use of such technology in relation to gloves.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to overcome the abovementioned disadvantages by providing flexible elastomeric articles, especially thin walled articles, a method of manufacturing an article body and then stretching the article body in order to produce a flexible elastomeric article.
According to the invention we provide a flexible elastomeric body comprising a flexible elastomeric material the body of which is adapted to be stretched beyond the yield point of the flexible elastomeric material to produce a flexible elastomeric article.
By the term article we include, inter alia, gloves and condoms.
According to a further feature of the invention, we provide a flexible elastomeric body to comprising a glove body comprising hand and cuff portions wherein the finger and thumb portions are stumps which stumps are adapted to be stretched beyond the yield point of the flexible elastomeric material to produce a glove.
With reference to gloves, the finger and thumb stumps may be a stretched by applying stretching means. Such stretching means may be a mechanical means, such as a system of mechanical plungers which stretch the finger and thumb stumps to form the fingers and thumb of the glove, or alternatively a system of clamps which pull the finger and thumb stumps.
Preferably, since the finger and thumb stumps have inner and outer surfaces, they may be stretched by creating a pressure differential between the inner surface and outer surface of the stumps. That is, stretching may be carried out either by applying a pressure, eg. blow molding, to the inner surface, or by applying a vacuum, eg. vacuum molding, to the outer surface of the stumps. It is particularly preferable to apply pressure or vacuum to the glove form.
Conventional molding techniques may be used in the manufacture of the flexible elastomeric body, ie. molding a flexible elastomeric material into an appropriately shaped body. Molding techniques such as blow molding, eg. of a parison of a flexible elastomeric material or injection molding may be used. Conventional conditions known per se could be used in the manufacture of a flexible elastomeric body.
The glove body as hereinbefore described may be manufactured by conventional methods known per se, such as methods described in Handbook of Thermoplastic Elastomers edited by Benjamin M Walker, which is inc
REFERENCES:
patent: 2248898 (1941-07-01), Ross et al.
patent: 3690804 (1972-09-01), Nave
patent: 4034036 (1977-07-01), Farrell
patent: 4050887 (1977-09-01), Berggren et al.
patent: 4086314 (1978-04-01), Lampert et al.
patent: 4087503 (1978-05-01), Peters
patent: 4115873 (1978-09-01), Stansbury
patent: 4344749 (1982-08-01), Fritz et al.
patent: 4921672 (1990-05-01), Bock
patent: 4935190 (1990-06-01), Tennerstedt
patent: 5002718 (1991-03-01), Tanaka et al.
patent: 5017325 (1991-05-01), Jackowski et al.
patent: 5130159 (1992-07-01), Shienker et al.
patent: 5350361 (1994-09-01), Tsukashima et al.
patent: 5360590 (1994-11-01), Wheeler
Ansell Perry Inc.
Vanatta Amy B.
LandOfFree
Medical apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Medical apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Medical apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-143682