Multi-layer polymer glove

Abstract

 A latex glove (1) includes: a finger portion (4) including first and second sections (41, 42); a palmportion (3) extending from the second section (42); and a wrist portion (2) extending from the palm portion (3). The first section (41) has a triple-layer structure formed of inner, middle, and outer layers. Each of the second section (42) and the palmportion (3) has a double-layer structure formed of inner and outer layers. The wrist portion (2) has a single-layer structure formed of a base layer. The inner layers of the first and second sections (41, 42), the inner layer of the palm portion (3), and the base layer are made from natural rubber latex. The middle layer of the first section (41) and the outer layers of the second section (42) and the palm portion (3) are made from nitrile-butadiene rubber latex or a mixture of chloroprene rubber latex and natural rubber latex. The outer layer of the first section (41) is made from chloroprene rubber latex.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a latex glove, more particularly to a latex glove with improved resistance to wear and chemicals and protection against cold.

[0002] Latex gloves are used to prevent a user from directly touching chemicals, water, treated objects, e.g., food. Although the conventional gloves can achieve the above purposes, certain disadvantages still exist. For example, a finger portion of the conventional glove is easily worn out due to frequent use, and protection thereof against cold (e.g., cold water) is insufficient. Moreover, when the glove is used in a turbid liquid, since the glove has a single color, the activity of the fingers cannot be visually identified by the user.

[0003] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a latex glove that can overcome the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art.

[0004] According to one aspect of this invention, a latex glove includes: a finger portion including a first section and a second section; a palm portion extending from the second section of the finger portion; and a wrist portion extending from the palm portion. The first section of the finger portion has a triple-layer structure formed of inner, middle, and outer layers. Each of the second section of the finger portion and the palm portion has a double-layer structure formed of inner and outer layers. The wrist portion has a single-layer structure formed of a base layer. The inner layer of the first section of the finger portion, the inner layer of the second section of the finger portion, the inner layer of the palm portion, and the base layer of the wrist portion are made from natural rubber latex. The middle layer of the first section of the finger portion, the outer layer of the second section of the finger portion, and the outer layer of the palm portion are made from a material selected from the group consisting of nitrile-butadiene rubber latex and a mixture of chloroprene rubber latex and natural rubber latex. The outer layer of the first section of the finger portion is made from chloroprene rubber latex.

[0005] According to another aspect of this invention, a latex glove includes: a finger portion having a first section of a triple-layer structure, and a second section of a double-layer structure; a palm portion of a double-layer structure; and a wrist portion of a single-layer structure. The triple-layer structure of the first section of the finger portion, the double-layer structures of the second section of the finger portion and of the palm portion, and the single-layer structure of the wrist portion are formed by: preparing a mold including a finger part having a first segment corresponding to the first section of the finger portion, and a second segment corresponding to the second section of the finger portion, a palm part corresponding to the palm portion, and a wrist part corresponding to the wrist portion; implanting the first segment of the finger part of the mold into a bath of chloroprene rubber latex; implanting the second segment of the finger part and the palm part of the mold into a bath of a material selected from the group consisting of nitrile-butadiene rubber latex and a mixture of chloroprene rubber latex and natural rubber latex; and implanting the finger part, the palm part, and the wrist part of the mold into a bath of natural rubber latex.

[0006] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of a latex glove according to this invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment taken along line II-II in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment taken along line III-III in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment taken along line IV- IV in Fig. 1.

[0007] Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the preferred embodiment of a latex glove 1 according to the present invention is shown to include a finger portion 4 having five fingers and including a first section 41 and a second section 42; a palm portion 3 extending from the second section 42 of the finger portion 4; and a wrist portion 2 extending from the palm portion 3. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the first section 41 of the finger portion 4 has a triple-layer structure formed of inner, middle, and outer layers . Each of the second section 42 of the finger portion 4 and the palm portion 3 has a double-layer structure formed of inner and outer layers (see Figs. 2 and 3). The wrist portion 2 has a single-layer structure formed of a base layer (see Fig. 2).

[0008] The inner layer of the first section 41 of the finger portion 4, the inner layer of the second section 42 of the finger portion 4, the inner layer of the palm portion 3, and the base layer of the wrist portion 2 are made from natural rubber (NR) latex.

[0009] The middle layer of the first section 41 of the finger portion 4, the outer layer of the second section 42 of the finger portion 4, and the outer layer of the palmportion 3 are made from nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) latex or chloroprene rubber (CR) latex. Nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) latex provides oil resistance property. Chloroprene rubber (CR) latex provides the properties of wear resistance, chemical resistance, heat resistance, weather resistance, and aging resistance. For the sake of reducing costs, a mixture of chloroprene rubber (CR) latex and natural rubber latex can be used since natural rubber latex is cheaper than chloroprene rubber.

[0010] The outer layer of the first section 41 of the finger portion 4 is made from chloroprene rubber latex.

[0011] The triple-layer structure of the first section 41 of the finger portion 4, the double-layer structures of the second section 42 of the finger portion 4 and of the palm portion 3, and the single-layer structure of the wrist portion 2 are formed by: preparing a mold (not shown) including a finger part having a first segment corresponding to the first section 41 of the finger portion 4, and a second segment corresponding to the second section 42 of the finger portion 4, a palm part corresponding to the palm portion 3, and a wrist part corresponding to the wrist portion 2; implanting the first segment of the finger part of the mold into a bath of chloroprene rubber latex; implanting the second segment of the finger part and the palm part of the mold into a bath of nitrile-butadiene rubber latex or a bath of a mixture of chloroprene rubber latex and natural rubber latex; and implanting the finger part, the palm part, and the wrist part of the mold into a bath of natural rubber latex.

[0012] Preferably, a dye or pigment can be included in each bath so as to provide different colors for the first and second sections 41, 42 of the finger portion 4, the palm portion 3, and the wrist portion 2. More preferably, the first section 41 in each finger of the finger portion 4 can have different colors such that the activity of each finger can be exactly seen by the user.

[0013] Preferably, each of the finger portion 4 and the palm portion 3 has a slip-preventing pattern. The wrist portion 2 has an end opening 231, a cuff 232, and a slip-preventing pattern 25 disposed adjacent to the end opening 231.

[0014] It should be noted that the thickness of the finger portion 4, the palm portion 3, and the wrist portion 2 can be the same or different. However, since the attrition opportunity for each of the wrist portion 2, the palmportion 3, and the second section 42 of the finger portion 4 is relatively lower than that for the first section 41 of the finger portion 4, the thicknesses of the former can be thinner than that of the first section 41 of the finger portion 4 so as to reduce manufacturing costs.

[0015] Since the first section 41 and the second section 42 of the finger portion 4, the palm portion 3, and the wrist portion 2 of the latex glove 1 are made from different materials and have different colors and/or thicknesses, the latex glove 1 of this invention can provide improved resistance to wear and chemicals and protection against cold, and facilitates the progress of work.

[0016] While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A latex glove (1) characterized by:

a finger portion (4) including a first section (41) and a second section (42);

a palm portion (3) extending from said second section (42) of said finger portion (4); and

a wrist portion (2) extending from said palm portion (3) ;

wherein said first section (41) of said finger portion (4) has a triple-layer structure formed of inner, middle, and outer layers, each of said second section (42) of said finger portion (4) and said palm portion (3) having a double-layer structure formed of inner and outer layers, said wrist portion (2) having a single-layer structure formed of a base layer, said inner layer of said first section (41) of said finger portion (4), said inner layer of said second section (42) of said finger portion (4), said inner layer of said palm portion (3), and said base layer of said wrist portion (2) being made from natural rubber latex, said middle layer of said first section (41) of said finger portion (4), said outer layer of said second section (42) of said finger portion (4), and said outer layer of said palm portion (3) being made from a material selected from the group consisting of nitrile-butadiene rubber latex and a mixture of chloroprene rubber latex and natural rubber latex, said outer layer of said first section (41) of said finger portion (4) being made from chloroprene rubber latex.

2. The latex glove (1) of claim 1, characterized in that each of said finger portion (4) and said palm portion (3) has a slip-preventing pattern.

3. The latex glove (1) of claim 1, characterized in that said wrist portion (2) has an end opening (231), and a slip-preventing pattern (25) disposed adjacent to said end opening (231).

4. The latex glove (1) of claim 1, characterized in that said finger portion (4), said palm portion (3), and said wrist portion (2) have the same layer thickness.

5. The latex glove (1) of claim 1, characterized in that said first and second sections (41, 42) of said finger portion (4), said palm portion (3), and said wrist portion (2) have different layer thicknesses.

6. The latex glove of claim 1, characterized in that said first section (41) of said finger portion (4), said palm portion (3), and said wrist portion (2) differ in color.

7. A latex glove (1) characterized by:

a finger portion (4) having a first section (41) of a triple-layer structure, and a second section (42) of a double-layer structure;

a palm portion (3) of a double-layer structure; and

a wrist portion (2) of a single-layer structure;

wherein said triple-layer structure of said first section (41) of said finger portion (4), said double-layer structures of said second section (42) of said finger portion (4) and of said palm portion (3), and said single-layer structure of said wrist portion (2) are formed by: preparing a mold including a finger part having a first segment corresponding to said first section (41) of said finger portion (4), and a second segment corresponding to said second section (42) of said finger portion (4), a palm part corresponding to said palm portion (3), and a wrist part corresponding to said wrist portion (2); implanting the first segment of the finger part of the mold into a bath of chloroprene rubber latex; implanting the second segment of the finger part and the palm part of the mold into a bath of a material selected from the group consisting of nitrile-butadiene rubber latex and a mixture of chloroprene rubber latex and natural rubber latex; and implanting the finger part, the palm part, and the wrist part of the mold into a bath of natural rubber latex.

Drawing