Method for forming an elastomeric article
First Claim
1. A method for forming an elastomeric glove, said method comprising:
- dipping a hand-shaped former into at least one bath containing an elastomeric material to form a substrate body, said substrate body having an inner surface and an outer surface that define a hand-shaped cavity, said inner surface being positioned adjacent to said hand-shaped former;
applying a hydrogel coating to said outer surface of said substrate body while said inner surface of said substrate body remains adjacent to said hand-shaped former, wherein said hydrogel coating has a thickness of from about 0.1 to about 20 micrometers; and
thereafter, stripping the glove from said hand-shaped former without the use of an antiblocking powder, wherein the glove is inverted so that said outer surface of said substrate body applied with said hydrogel coating is configured to face a user'"'"'s hand when inserted into said hand-shaped cavity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An elastomeric article (e.g., glove, condom, and so forth) coated with a hydrogel is provided. The hydrogel coating facilitates dry and/or damp donning. In addition, due its low coefficient of friction, the hydrogel allows stripping of a dip-formed article without the use of an antiblocking powder. Thus, the present inventors have discovered that certain treatment steps, such as chlorination and/or lubrication, conventionally conducted “off-line” (i.e., after stripping) are no longer required. Moreover, even when such treatments are used, they may conducted “in-line” (i.e., before stripping). The ability to eliminate certain off-line treatment steps provides a significant improvement in the efficiency of the forming process.
68 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method for forming an elastomeric glove, said method comprising:
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dipping a hand-shaped former into at least one bath containing an elastomeric material to form a substrate body, said substrate body having an inner surface and an outer surface that define a hand-shaped cavity, said inner surface being positioned adjacent to said hand-shaped former;
applying a hydrogel coating to said outer surface of said substrate body while said inner surface of said substrate body remains adjacent to said hand-shaped former, wherein said hydrogel coating has a thickness of from about 0.1 to about 20 micrometers; and
thereafter, stripping the glove from said hand-shaped former without the use of an antiblocking powder, wherein the glove is inverted so that said outer surface of said substrate body applied with said hydrogel coating is configured to face a user'"'"'s hand when inserted into said hand-shaped cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for forming an elastomeric article, said method comprising:
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dipping a former into at least one bath containing an elastomeric material to form a substrate body, wherein said elastomeric material of said substrate body includes natural rubber latex, and combinations thereof, said substrate body having an inner surface and an outer surface that define a cavity, said inner surface being positioned adjacent to said former;
applying a hydrogel coating and a lubricant coating to said outer surface of said substrate body while said inner surface of said substrate body remains adjacent to said former; and
thereafter, stripping the elastomeric article from said former without the use of an antiblocking powder, wherein the elastomeric article is inverted so that said outer surface of said substrate body applied with said hydrogel coating and said lubricant coating is configured to face a user'"'"'s skin when inserted into said cavity. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for forming an elastomeric glove, said method comprising:
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dipping a hand-shaped former into at least one bath containing an elastomeric material to form a substrate body, said substrate body having an inner surface and an outer surface that define a hand-shaped cavity, said inner surface being positioned adjacent to said hand-shaped former;
applying a hydrogel coating and a lubricant coating to said outer surface of said substrate body while said inner surface of said substrate body remains adjacent to said hand-shaped former, wherein said hydrogel coating is formed from a monomer selected from the group consisting of hydroxyethyl acrylates, hydroxyethyl methacrylates, hydroxypropyl acrylates, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof; and
thereafter, stripping the glove from said hand-shaped former without the use of an antiblocking powder, wherein the glove is inverted so that said outer surface of said substrate body applied with said hydrogel coating is configured to face a user'"'"'s hand when inserted into said hand-shaped cavity. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification