Latex gloves and articles with geometrically defined surface texture providing enhanced grip and method for in-line processing thereof
First Claim
1. A method of making a latex article with a geometrically defined surface texture, which method comprises:
- dipping a smooth former into a polymeric coagulant composition comprising a water-soluble polymer, a polyglycol, a surfactant, and a coagulating salt;
drying the polymeric coagulant composition to form a tacky, polymeric coagulant coating;
applying discrete coagulant particles to the tacky, polymeric coagulant coating;
dipping the former into a coagulatable aqueous latex emulsion, and destabilizing the latex emulsion in close proximity to the former, thereby forming a coagulated first latex layer that covers the discrete coagulant particles and external surface of the former;
heating the former to form a first cured latex layer by vulcanization or curing;
stripping and inverting the first cured latex layer to expose the discrete coagulant particles; and
leaching or dissolving the discrete coagulant particles in water or an appropriate solvent;
whereupon the latex article with the geometrically defined surface texture is obtained.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Latex articles with geometrically defined surface structure providing enhanced grip characteristics in dry, wet or oily environment; and a method of making same comprising applying a polymeric coagulant coating to a smooth former surface, wherein the coating becomes tacky during drying, applying discrete coagulant particles of selected size, shape and distribution to the tacky coating to attach and protrude from the former surface with the polymeric coagulant coating, dipping the former into an aqueous latex emulsion, wherein the polymeric coagulant coating and the discrete coagulating particles destabilize the latex, thereby developing a latex layer, vulcanizing and stripping the latex article inside out, and dissolving the discrete coagulant particles in water or suitable solvents to reveal the geometrically designed texture with pre-selected size, shape and distribution of impressions providing improved dry, wet and oily surface grip by removal of a fluid boundary layer.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of making a latex article with a geometrically defined surface texture, which method comprises:
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dipping a smooth former into a polymeric coagulant composition comprising a water-soluble polymer, a polyglycol, a surfactant, and a coagulating salt; drying the polymeric coagulant composition to form a tacky, polymeric coagulant coating; applying discrete coagulant particles to the tacky, polymeric coagulant coating; dipping the former into a coagulatable aqueous latex emulsion, and destabilizing the latex emulsion in close proximity to the former, thereby forming a coagulated first latex layer that covers the discrete coagulant particles and external surface of the former; heating the former to form a first cured latex layer by vulcanization or curing; stripping and inverting the first cured latex layer to expose the discrete coagulant particles; and leaching or dissolving the discrete coagulant particles in water or an appropriate solvent; whereupon the latex article with the geometrically defined surface texture is obtained. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification