Elastomeric gloves having improved gripping characteristics

Abstract

An elastomeric glove having an outer layer that contains a silicone emulsion is provided. For example, in one embodiment, the glove contains a natural rubber latex substrate body, a donning layer that is capable of being chlorinated, and an outer layer formed from a silicone emulsion. It has been unexpectedly discovered that the application of a silicone emulsion to the outer layer can offset the slipperiness normally caused by chlorination and thus enhance the gripping properties of the resulting elastomeric glove. Specifically, it is believed that the silicone emulsion can inhibit the ability of halogen atoms to bond with the elastomeric material of the substrate, thereby limiting the level of slipperiness usually imparted during chlorination.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An elastomeric glove defining a wearer-contacting surface and a grip surface, said glove comprising: 
 a substrate body including a layer made of an elastomeric material, said substrate body having an inside surface and an outside surface; and    an outer layer overlying the outside surface of said substrate body and forming the grip surface of the glove, said outer layer being formed from a silicone emulsion, wherein said silicone emulsion has a solids content of from about 0.1 weight % to about 10 weight %.    
     
     
         2 . An elastomeric glove as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said silicone emulsion contains a polysiloxane having at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of amino, carboxyl, hydroxyl, ether, polyether, aldehyde, ketone, amide, ester, thiol groups, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         3 . An elastomeric glove as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said silicone emulsion contains at least one emulsifying surfactant.  
     
     
         4 . An elastomeric glove as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said silicone emulsion has a solids content of from about 0.25 weight % to about 5 weight %.  
     
     
         5 . An elastomeric glove as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said silicone emulsion has a solids content of from about 0.3 weight % to about 1.0 weight %.  
     
     
         6 . An elastomeric glove as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric material of said substrate body is selected from the group consisting of styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-isoprene block copolymers, styrene-butadiene block copolymers, natural rubber latex, nitrile rubbers, isoprene rubbers, chloroprene rubbers, polyvinyl chlorides, silicone rubbers, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         7 . An elastomeric glove as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the elastomeric material of said substrate body is natural rubber latex.  
     
     
         8 . An elastomeric glove as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a donning layer that overlies the inside surface of said substrate body.  
     
     
         9 . An elastomeric glove as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said donning layer contains a donning polymer that is halogenated.  
     
     
         10 . An elastomeric glove as defined in  claim 9 , further comprising a lubricant that coats the donning layer.  
     
     
         11 . An elastomeric glove defining a wearer-contacting surface and a grip surface, said glove comprising: 
 a substrate body including a layer made of an elastomeric material, said substrate body having an inside surface and an outside surface;    a donning layer overlying the inside surface of said substrate body, said donning layer comprising a donning polymer that is chlorinated; and    an outer layer overlying the outside surface of said substrate body and forming the grip surface of the glove, said outer layer being formed from a silicone emulsion.    
     
     
         12 . An elastomeric glove as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said silicone emulsion contains a polysiloxane having at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of amino, carboxyl, hydroxyl, ether, polyether, aldehyde, ketone, amide, ester, thiol groups, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         13 . An elastomeric glove as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said silicone emulsion has a solids content of from about 0.1 weight % to about 10 weight %  
     
     
         14 . An elastomeric glove as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said silicone emulsion has a solids content of from about 0.25 weight % to about 5 weight %.  
     
     
         15 . An elastomeric glove as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said silicone emulsion has a solids content of from about 0.3 weight % to about 1.0 weight %.  
     
     
         16 . An elastomeric glove as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the elastomeric material of said substrate body is selected from the group consisting of styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-isoprene block copolymers, styrene-butadiene block copolymers, natural rubber latex, nitrile rubbers, isoprene rubbers, chloroprene rubbers, polyvinyl chlorides, silicone rubbers, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         17 . An elastomeric glove as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the elastomeric material of said substrate body is natural rubber latex.  
     
     
         18 . An elastomeric glove as defined in  claim 11 , further comprising a lubricant that coats said donning layer.  
     
     
         19 . An elastomeric glove defining a wearer-contacting surface and a grip surface, said glove comprising: 
 a substrate body including a layer made of an elastomeric material, said substrate body having an outside surface; and    an outer layer overlying the outside surface of said substrate body and forming the grip surface of the glove, said outer layer being formed primarily from a silicone emulsion, wherein said silicone emulsion has a solids content of from about 0.1 weight % to about 10 weight %.    
     
     
         20 . A method for enhancing the gripping properties of an elastomeric glove, said method comprising: 
 providing an elastomeric glove that contains a substrate body having a layer made of an elastomeric material, said substrate body having an inside surface and an outside surface, said elastomeric glove further containing a donning layer that overlies the inside surface of said substrate body;    applying a silicone emulsion to the substrate body so that said emulsion coats the outside surface of said substrate body; and    thereafter, exposing a halogen-containing compound to the elastomeric glove.    
     
     
         21 . A method as defined in  claim 20 , wherein said silicone emulsion contains a polysiloxane having at least functional group selected from the group consisting of amino, carboxyl, hydroxyl, ether, polyether, aldehyde, ketone, amide, ester, thiol groups, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         22 . A method as defined in  claim 20 , wherein said silicone emulsion has a solids content of from about 0.1 weight % to about 10 weight %.  
     
     
         23 . A method as defined in  claim 20 , wherein said silicone emulsion has a solids content of from about 0.25 weight % to about 5 weight %.  
     
     
         24 . A method as defined in  claim 20 , wherein said silicone emulsion has a solids content of from about 0.3 weight % to about 1.0 weight %.  
     
     
         25 . A method as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the elastomeric material of said substrate body is selected from the group consisting of styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-isoprene block copolymers, styrene-butadiene block copolymers, natural rubber latex, nitrile rubbers, isoprene rubbers, chloroprene rubbers, polyvinyl chlorides, silicone rubbers, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         26 . A method as defined in  claim 25 , wherein the elastomeric material of said substrate body is natural rubber latex.  
     
     
         27 . A method as defined in  claim 20 , wherein said donning layer contains a donning polymer that is halogenated.  
     
     
         28 . A method as defined in  claim 20 , wherein the halogen of said halogen-containing compound is chlorine.  
     
     
         29 . A method as defined in  claim 20 , further comprising applying a lubricant to coat said donning layer.