Apparel – Hand or arm coverings – Gloves
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-12
2001-07-03
Calvert, John J. (Department: 3765)
Apparel
Hand or arm coverings
Gloves
C427S002300, C427S421100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253383
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to protective gloves and more particularly to chemical-resistant protective gloves.
Polymers such as polychloroprene, acrylonitrile, natural or synthetic isoprene, and butyl rubber provide relatively inexpensive and useful materials for making protective gloves. Gloves can be made by injection molding or by dipping a glove former into a vat of such polymers.
Because polymers have different characteristics, it has in the past been found useful to make composite gloves of successive laminations of different materials. U.S. Pat. No. 5,459,880, for example, teaches that a glove with high strength and oil resistence can be made at a low cost by successively immersing a glove former in two different rubber latexes.
It is also known that some fluoroelastomeric materials, such as the commercially-available VITON® or TECHNIFLON fluoroelastomers, can be used to provide improved chemical resistance to a wide variety of toxic corrosive chemicals and solvents, radiation, and flammablity. U.S. Pat. No. 4,218,779 describes the desirability of using such materials as the outer layer of a protective glove.
Unfortunately, the cost and physical characteristics of many fluoroelastomeric materials make the conventional successive-immersion process impractical as a method for applying a fluoroelastomeric coating on a glove. Apparently unable to find a cost-effective way to add a thin layer of fluoroelastomeric material over a less-expensive polymeric base, some manufacturers have chosen to make gloves entirely of the more expensive fluoroelastomeric material.
Another problem with using fluoroelastomeric materials on gloves stems from the fact that the fluoroelastomeric materials tend to create a very smooth, slick surface. This surface reduces grip when handling wetted objects. The smooth, slick surfaces of such gloves also tend to adhere to one another when the gloves are packaged, making it difficult to subsequently separate the gloves. In order to overcome this as well as to allow the gloves to don more easily, most fluoroelastomer gloves are powdered inside.
There is a long-felt need for a cost-effective way to add a thin layer of fluoroelastic material over a polymer glove base, and for a fluoroelastomer-coated glove with a non-adhesive finish that will increase wet gripping and allow the gloves to be sold free of powder.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to the use of a spray to apply a thin layer of a fluoroelastomeric material to the outside surface of a polymeric glove base.
Spraying of the glove base while it remains on the glove former on which the glove base is formed would be undesirable because gloves are conventionally formed inside-out on the formers; the surface of the glove next to the former generally becomes the outside surface of the completed glove, while the surface of the glove that faces outwardly while the glove is on the former becomes the insider surface of the completed glove. Accordingly, spraying a glove base while it is still on the former would lead to the spray coating being applied to what will become the inside surface of the completed glove. Since one of the purposes of the fluoroelastomeric material is to protect the less-resistant polymeric base from external chemicals, applying the fluoroelastomeric material to what will become the inside surface of the completed glove is not particularly desirable. A second problem is that the fingers on the former are too close together to allow good access for the application of the fluoroelastomer. Lastly, it would be very difficult to design a system that would prevent overspraying onto the glove former. After the newly formed glove is removed from the former, overspray build-up would interfere with subsequent glove formation.
In order to apply the fluoroelastomeric spray layer to the outside surface of the completed glove, the glove base is first prepared, cured, and removed from its former. The cured glove base is then placed on a mounting fixture with the final outside surface facing out, where it can be conveniently sprayed.
One problem faced when attempting to apply a spray coating to a glove is that the fingers of the glove make it difficult to direct the spray to reach the areas between the fingers. In order to overcome this problem, the glove base is inflated with air while on the mounting frame. Inflating the glove causes the fingers to spread, making it easier to cover the surface of the glove base with the spray.
Spraying a finished polymeric glove base with a conventional, solvent-based fluoroelastomeric material could result in the solvents damaging the glove base. This potential problem is avoided by using a water-based fluoroelastomeric material for the spray coating.
After the initial coating is applied, a final, atomized spray of the fluoroelastomeric material can be used to give a matte finish to the completed glove. The matte finish does not have the adhesive characteristics of conventional fluoroelastomic gloves, facilitating handling.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3637411 (1972-01-01), Agostinelli
patent: 4218779 (1980-08-01), Hart et al.
patent: 5019096 (1991-05-01), Fox, Jr. et al.
patent: 5493899 (1996-02-01), Beck et al.
Bordas John
Mallernee Rick
Calvert John J.
Mapa Pioneer Corporation
Marshall O'Toole Gerstein Murray & Borun
Moran Katherine
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