Elastomeric Gloves Coated with Rice Starch and Colloidal Oatmeal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional elastomeric gloves face issues with tackiness, skin irritation, and allergic reactions due to common manufacturing practices, including the use of powders like cornstarch and talc, which can lead to adhesions and systemic allergies, and existing coatings do not adequately address these problems while being cost-effective and easy to produce.

Innovation Solution

The use of a polymeric glove substrate coated with a powder coating of powdered rice starch, optionally combined with colloidal oatmeal or beta glucan, which provides a pleasant tactile feel, reduces skin irritation, and offers therapeutic benefits, while being less detectable under industry standards for powder-free gloves.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional powders like cornstarch and talc are used as coatings, then ease of donning is improved, but skin irritation and allergic reactions increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of donningVSAvoidskin irritation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the coating material by substituting conventional powders with rice starch and colloidal oatmeal. This parameter change maintains the lubricating properties needed for ease of donning while eliminating the harmful skin irritation and allergic reactions associated with conventional powders like cornstarch and talc.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a disposable coating approach by applying rice starch and colloidal oatmeal as temporary surface treatments that are removed after use. This disposable coating method provides the necessary lubrication for ease of donning without the long-term skin irritation and allergic reactions caused by conventional powders, as the coating is not meant to remain on the skin.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Ease of operation

If powder coatings are applied to facilitate donning, then ease of operation is improved, but detectability under industry standards increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of donningVSAvoiddetectability under industry standards

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical parameters of the coating by using rice starch and colloidal oatmeal, which have different detectability characteristics compared to conventional powders. These materials provide the necessary lubrication for ease of donning while being less detectable under industry standards, likely due to their different particle size, composition, or detection method characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional coatings are used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but therapeutic benefits are lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidtherapeutic benefits

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The coating significantly improves the ease of donning and reduces skin irritation, providing therapeutic benefits and a silky feel, while using less material and being cost-effective, thus addressing the limitations of existing coatings.

Implementation Method 1

The liquid is dried on the glove to leave a film-like coating

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS7740622B2Elastomeric gloves and methods of making

Publication Date: 2010.06.22 HARTALEGA SDN BHD

AI summary

Elastomeric film-like products such as natural latex gloves are coated with novel lubricity compositions and compositions which protect the skin of the wearer from certain undesirable medical conditions. In powder-coated gloves, the coating composition comprises rice starch, and optionally USP-grade colloidal oatmeal in pharmaceutically accepted concentration. In powder-free gloves, the coating composition comprises colloidal oatmeal enhanced water or beta glucan solution, optionally in combination with one or more other starch components. Colloidal oatmeal enhanced water, and methods of making the colloidal oatmeal enhanced water are also disclosed. In addition, beta glucan solution, and methods of making the beta glucan solution are also disclosed. A liquid referred to herein as Polycoat may also be made by mixing colloidal oatmeal enhanced water with beta glucan solution, and the resulting liquid may be applied to elastomeric articles such as gloves.