The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 14, 2004
Filed:
Aug. 16, 2002
Loi Vinh Huynh, Marietta, GA (US);
Mayuree Wattanayonkit, Songkhla, TH;
Budsarin Rattana, Satun, TH;
Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., Neenah, WI (US);
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a process for producing a powder free natural latex article and the articles produced by the process. In one embodiment, the process of the present invention may be used to form a powder free natural latex glove which has very low levels of extractable protein without being subjected to a halogenation processes. The process includes forming a natural rubber article on a former and then, either before or after stripping the article from the former, contacting the article with a rinse solution comprising the ionic species of a disassociated metal salt. In one embodiment, the metal salt may be sodium chloride. Contact with the rinse solution may lower protein levels in the latex. When the article is stripped from the former prior to contact with the rinse solution, the rinse solution may also remove any residual powders from the glove in order to produce a powder free natural rubber article. The non-chlorinated product may have good gripping characteristics and an extended shelf life when compared to similar chlorinated products.