A wearable article and a method for producing a wearable article

Abstract

The invention provides a glove (9) formed of an elastomeric material and having a surface (2), wherein a stabilized probiotic is provided on a part of the surface (2) forming an active layer (3), and the part of the surface (2) contacts the skin (21) of the wearer. The invention also provides a wearable article, a method for producing an elastomeric glove (9), and a method for producing a wearable article.

1 . A glove formed of an elastomeric material and having a surface, wherein a stabilized probiotic is provided on a part of the surface to form an active layer, and the part of the surface contacts the skin of the wearer. 
     
     
         2 . A glove according to  claim 1 , wherein the active layer is provided on the whole of the skin contacting surface. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . A glove according to  claim 1 , wherein the active layer extends to a depth of 0.01 to 10 microns below the surface. 
     
     
         5 . A glove according to  claim 1 , wherein the active layer has a thickness in the range 1 micron to 0.5 mm. 
     
     
         6 . A glove according to  claim 1 , wherein the probiotics comprise microbes that make up part of a normal person's skin flora. 
     
     
         7 . A glove according to  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of probiotics in the active layer is present in amounts of greater than 1000 CFUs per cm 2 , or alternatively in the range of 500 to 5000 CFUs per cm 2 . 
     
     
         8 . A glove according to  claim 1 , wherein the probiotics are encapsulated within vesicles. 
     
     
         9 . A glove according to  claim 8 , wherein the vesicles have an average largest measurement across of between 1 and 300 microns. 
     
     
         10 . A glove according to  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the vesicles burst when the article is worn to transfer at least some of the probiotics to the skin of the wearer. 
     
     
         11 . A glove according to  claim 1 , wherein the active layer is in the form of a powder. 
     
     
         12 . A glove according to  claim 1 , wherein the active layer is in the form of a fluid, cream or gel. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A glove according to  claim 1 , wherein the active layer has been sprayed onto the surface using one or more spray guns. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A wearable article having a surface, wherein a stabilized probiotic is provided on a part of the surface. 
     
     
         17 . A method for producing an elastomeric glove, the method comprising:
 forming the material for making the glove into a desired shape; and   providing stabilized probiotic material on a skin contacting surface of the glove to form an active layer.   
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein providing the material on at least part of the surface comprises spraying the material onto the surface using a spray gun. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising, prior to providing the material on the surface, encapsulating the probiotic material within vesicles. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein a former is used to form the desired shape and the method further comprises peeling the glove from the former so that the exterior surface when on the former becomes the interior surface of the glove. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the stabilized probiotic material is formed into a mist using ultrasonic atomization before being applied to the glove. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the gloves are passed through the tunnel on a conveyor belt. 
     
     
         26 . A method for producing a wearable article, the method comprising:
 forming the material for making the wearable article into a desired shape; and providing stabilized probiotic material on at least part of a surface of the article.   
     
     
         27 - 30 . (canceled)