Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02643914 2008-11-17
WATERPROOF AND HIGH HEAT RESISTANT COATED GLOVES
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to kitchen gloves for commercial, industrial
and/or
home use, and related uses requiring waterproof gloves or mitts with high, and
low,
temperature resistance.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is desirable to make kitchen gloves or mitts, or kitchen puppet style
holders out of a
high heat resistant, cold resistant and waterproof or liquid proof material.
Neoprene
rubber, which is made by the Du Pont Company and is generically known as
chloride rubber,
polychloroprene or CR, is used to construct wet suits to protect against cold
and water.
Chloride rubber also does not typically burn or melt, although it can char
(charcoal or
carbonize). However, when used as a glove or mitt material, it is not fully
waterproof,
because there are seams. Hot liquids such as hot oil, steam and other vapors
and liquids can
seep through the glove, mitt or puppet at the seams. These liquids can also
wick along or
through the seams.
The present invention also relates to mitts or puppets that have a high wear
and high
heat resistant material, yet can still grip.
The present invention introduces such refinements. In its preferred
embodiments, the
present invention has several aspects or facets that can be used
independently, although they
are preferably employed together to optimize their benefits. All of the
foregoing operational
principles and advantages of the present invention will be more fully
appreciated upon
consideration of the following detailed description, with reference to the
appended drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a hand mitt comprising a first sheet and a
second
sheet, the first and said second sheets comprising a solid chloride rubber
material and having
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opposing surfaces affixed together and a common edge peripheral region defined
by an edge
termination of said respective first and said second sheet, the first and
second sheets are
characterized as water resistant, stain resistant and insulative to heat and
cold temperatures;
and a protective coating, which is carried on an exterior surface of the first
and the second
sheets; said protective coating comprising a chloride rubber liquid, a pH
stabilizer, an
emulsion stabilizing surfactant, a wetting surfactant, an accelerator, a
curing agent, an anti-
oxidizing agent, a biocide, and a thickener.
The present invention further provides a hand mitt as described above wherein
the
chloride rubber liquid is Neoprene 671A, the pH stabilizer is 0.7% KOH, the
emulsion
stabilizing surfactant is liquid sodium alkyl sulfate and monosodium salt of
sulfated methyl
oleate, the wetting surfactant is octylphenol ethylene oxide condensate, the
accelerator is zinc
2-mercaptobenzothiazole and zinc dibutyldithiocarbamate, the curing agent is
sulfur and zinc
oxide, the biocide is hexahydro-1,3,5-triethyl-s-triazine, the anti-oxidant
agent is zinc 2-
mercaptotolumimidazole plus phenolic antioxidant in an aqueous slurry and the
thickener is
non-ionic cellulose ether and liquid sodium poly-acrylate.
In a further embodiment, the present invention provides a hand mitt comprising
a first
sheet and a second sheet, the first and said second sheet comprising a fabric
material and a
first chloride rubber and having opposing surfaces affixed together and a
common edge
peripheral region defined by an edge termination of said respective first and
said second
sheet, the first and second sheets are characterized as water resistant, stain
resistant and
insulative to heat and cold temperatures and a protective coating composition,
which is
carried on an exterior surface of the first and the second sheets and
comprises: a second
chloride rubber, a pH stabilizer, an emulsion stabilizing surfactant, a non-
ionic detergent, an
accelerator, a curing agent, an anti-oxidizing agent, a biocide, and a
thickener.
In another embodiment the present invention provides a method of manufacturing
a
mitt, said mitt comprising a first sheet and a second sheet; the first and the
second sheet
comprising a chloride rubber material and having opposing surfaces affixed
together and a
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common edge peripheral region defined by an edge termination of said
respective first and
said second sheet, the first and the second sheets are characterized as being
water resistant,
stain resistant and insulative to heat and cold temperatures and a protective
coating
composition, which is carried on an exterior surface of the first and the
second sheets, and
comprises: a chloride rubber latex; a pH stabilizer; at least one emulsion
stabilizing
surfactant; a non-ionic detergent; at least one accelerator; at least one
curing agent; a biocide
agent; an anti-oxidant; and at least one thickener, wherein the steps comprise
(a) a first
heating of said mitt, (b) a first cooling of said mitt, (c) dipping said mitt
into said protective
coating composition, (d) removing said mitt from said protective coating
composition, and
(e) a second heating of said mitt, whereby said protective coating composition
is first dried at
a first temperature and then cured at a second temperature onto the exterior
surface of said
sheets of the mitt.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 shows a top view of a mitt in accordance with a first embodiment of the
invention;
Fig. 2 shows a side view of a gusset portion of the mitt of Fig. 1 between the
lines 2-2
of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of the gusset portion of the mitt of Fig. 1,
taken along a
line 3-3 of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 shows a partial top view of zigzag stitching and straight stitching on
the inside
of the seams of the mitt;
Fig. 5 is a view of the portion of Fig. 3 in circle 5, but in an alternative
embodiment
of the invention;
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Fig. 6 is a view of a step of dipping a mitt into a chloride rubber solution
for coating
the mitt in accordance with a step in a method in accordance with a second
embodiment of
the invention;
Fig. 7 is view of another step involving heating the mitt before the step of
dipping of
Fig. 6; and
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a coated five-fingered glove in accordance
with a third
embodiment of the invention, and a perspective view of an uncoated mitt prior
to or after the
step of heating in the second embodiment.
Fig. 9 is a front view of a puppet embodiment of the invention, with the top
mouth
portion and bottom mouth portion of the puppet open;
Fig. 10 is a rear view of the puppet of Fig. 9;
Fig. 11 is a view of a portion of the inside of the puppet at the puppet's
mouth with a
layer folded back;
Fig. 12 is a view similar to that of Fig. 11 with the layer more unfolded;
Fig. 13 is a view of the inside lining of the puppet at the mouth;
Fig. 14 is a front view of the puppet similar to Fig. 9 but showing more
detail
including silicone gripping nodules;
Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken along a line 7-7 of Fig. 14; and
Fig. 16 is a view of a portion of Fig. 15 in a circle 8-8.
Fig. 17A, 17B and 18-23 show tables related to the Waterproof and High Heat
Resistant Gloves Invention.
Fig. 24-28 show alternate embodiments of the glove invention.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Waterproof and High Heat Resistant Gloves (Duncan and Pewitt)
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is a chloride
rubber
kitchen glove or mitt, or puppet (hereinafter "mitt" will be used, but the
same applies equally
to gloves and puppets). To waterproof and otherwise seal the seams, the glove
is coated with
a chloride rubber liquid composition, e.g., a dispersion or suspension.
Suitable exemplary
dispersion formulations or compositions for the chloride rubber dispersion are
shown in
attached Figures 17 through 23 incorporated by reference herein.
Chloride rubber material for kitchen mitts are a big advantage over cloth
material
because chloride rubber has non-absorption and non porous characteristics,
which keep
condiments, grease, or other food stuffs from staining the mitt surface like
regular cloth oven
mitts.
A problem with commercially available chloride rubber is that it contains oil
or
"process oil," which affects the ability for coatings to adhere, i.e. makes it
harder for the
coatings to adhere. The purpose of the process oil is to soften the chloride
rubber product, as
in use for wet suits or clothing purposes.
However, use of this "process" oil in the chloride rubber material also causes
the
volatilizing of the process oil at temperatures of 250 to 350 degrees
Fahrenheit, during the
curing cycle after the mitts are dipped into the chloride rubber liquid
composition.
For example, after the mitt is sewn and dipped into the protective liquid
composition,
this protective layer is dried; during this drying and curing step, the
volatiles of the process
oil come off from the foamed chloride rubber. These volatiles tend to collect
near the outer
surface of the chloride rubber and "balloon away" from the "dipped on" and
textured foam
surface and between the original textured chloride rubber material and the
curing dipped
chloride rubber film; in other words, these volatiles can balloon the dipped
chloride rubber
film away from the original material and affect the film to film adhesion.
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To avoid this "volatilizing" problem, preferably, the mitts can be formed from
a
foamed rubber material, which includes a softening agent, which does not
volatilize until the
temperatures reach near 400 degrees F.
In addition, the amount of oil in chloride rubber such as that traditionally
used for
clothing is reduced to a point where a chloride rubber liquid dispersion will
adhere to the
chloride rubber mitt.
Once coated with the protective chloride rubber coating, the mitt/tool can
withstand
134 degrees below zero to about 500 degrees Fahrenheit (about 260 degrees
Celsius). Note
that 500 degrees Fahrenheit is listed as an upper limit for intermittent use,
but most kitchen
uses are in the range of 275 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Typically, inside of a
glove or mitt, a
user's hand will perceive pain and first degree burns at approximately 125
degrees F inside
the glove and at the wearer's skin surface.
With the protective coating, the mitt may be immersed in hot oil, such as for
cleaning
a fryer, e.g., a fast food restaurant's hot oil vat used for French fries,
while the oil still is at or
close to boiling, or at least about 350 to 360 degrees Fahrenheit. Further, in
the process of
canning steamed vegetables, the steamed vegetables can be handled. Also, in
boiling soup or
other food in a bag, the heated bag can be handled and opened without the
boiling water and
steam penetrating the mitt at the seams. Similarly, in the armed forces,
heated rations are
carried in a hot water bath and may be removed using the mitt of the
invention, rather than a
wire basket or the like, enabling more rations to be stored in the bath.
Preferably, as shown, e.g., in Fig. 8, the mitt, which may also be made as a
glove, is
made a bit longer in length. A finished mitt with the coating is shown in Fig.
8 as element 4.
Also, near the end 4a of the mitt 4, there is a cuff 8 (folded over and
stitched at 8a, Fig. 1, to
the glove) to prevent liquids from flowing along the mitt and going past end
4a onto the
wearer's skin or clothes.
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Fig. 2 shows a gusset 10 as a strip of material, which may go part way or all
the way
around the periphery of the glove, and is represented by the dark lines in
Fig. 1. Gusset 10
meets the front and back main pieces of material 4b and 4c at seems 10.
Fig. 3 shows connection of the front material 4b to the gusset 10 and the
gusset 10 to
the back material 4c. (This material is sewn together before the coating is
applied, i.e., while
chloride rubber base layer 16 is still exposed.)
If no gusset is used, then front and back material (or front and back of
finger portions
in a glove) are connected by one seam. Fig. 3 shows the two seams 10a where
the chloride
rubber material is uncoated on the inside and is sewn together by threads 11.
Preferably, one
thread 11 e.g., proximate the outside of the glove is non-bonded or absorbent
to receive the
coating in accordance with the invention, while a second thread 11 is bonded
for strength at
the seam. Coating 14 of the cross-linked or cured chloride rubber dispersion
covers the
entire exterior of the glove and penetrates or seals off each seam, except
that it is preferred
not to coat near end 4a to form a cuff, as noted above. Other embodiments can
have a fully
coated glove.
In a further preferred version, as shown in Fig. 4, the outer stitch 11 of the
seam is
straight and is very close to the outside of the mitt, while the inner stitch
11' of the seam is in
a zigzag or even a double zigzag pattern, for even more strength. Note various
other
stitching patterns can be used.
In Fig. 5, a "foamier" version of chloride rubber 16a or the like, is used,
and chloride
coating 14 is applied to rubber 16a, in the same manner as described herein
for chloride
rubber 16.
Method of Manufacture:
Figures 6, 7 and 8, are for explaining one preferred method of making such a
mitt.
First, an uncoated mitt, or as shown in Fig. 8, a glove 6 (five fingered
glove) is shown before
the coating is applied. The mitt or glove is formed as follows:
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Forming the Mitt Bod~
Preferably, the chloride rubber mitts are prepared by cutting chloride rubber
raw
material into appropriate pieces for a mitt or glove, then folding over the
edges and sewing
them together (i.e., at the insides of the mitt or glove in order to minimize
any exterior
seams). This step of sewing or other bonding, preferably using a porous outer
bonding
element (e.g., stitching 11) is performed with the mitt inside out.
In addition, alternate methods of closing the seams can be used, including
without
limitation: gluing or binding with tape. In the preferred embodiment, a "zig
zag" stitch is
used for strength at the cut edges, and just inside the zig zag stitching, a
straight stitch is
placed with the stitches spaced closely together to assist in stopping
penetration of the
chloride rubber coating from penetrating into the cavity of the mitt or glove.
This closely
spaced straight stitching should be of a composition that will promote
coagulation of the
liquid chloride rubber coating on contact.
Then, the mitt or glove is inverted or turned so that the seams are inside and
the
textured chloride rubber is outside. The nylon or polyester textile fabric
will be to the inside
of the mitt or glove. This textile fabric surface is inside the glove or mitt
is for comfort and
ease of donning and removing the glove or mitt. Other textiles can be used in
this invention,
including without limitation Kevlar brand, Nomex brand, PEEK or some naturally
occurring
fibers; additional textiles can be employed to add flame resistance, biocide
properties, cut-
resistance and heat absorption.
Pre-Coatin Heating eating Step:
Mitts 4 are mounted on heat resistant forms 20 and placed in an oven 22 in
lots, e.g.,
in lots of twenty (for example only). Preferably, the oven is heated to a
temperature and for
a time sufficient to remove significant oil, e.g., to 300 degrees F, and oil
is "burned off' for
about 45 minutes. When excess volatiles have been removed, the mitts are
removed from the
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forms and allowed to cool, while another batch is "burned off." This term
"burned off' is
intended to mean the heating of the mitts to remove process oil.
Mitts are mounted or loaded on a rack or form holder. The forms help position
the
thumb in the mitt. This batch or lot-type manufacturing process and the use of
forms are for
example and are not intended to be limiting; continuous line manufacturing can
also be
employed.
Note also with use of a chloride rubber material with a lower content of
process oil or
a different softening agent may allow for reduction or elimination of this
heating step. In
other words, after the forming or sewing of the glove or mitt, the next step
would be dipping
or coating of the chloride rubber liquid composition.
Dipping or Coating Step:
The rubber chloride compound or composition is agitated, and pH and viscosity
are
selected to enable a smooth coating of desired thickness.
The mitts 4 are slowly immersed in dispersion 30 in a container 32. One
exemplary
rate is 10 inches per minute until the desired depth for that mitt has been
reached. This slow
immersion rate allows the chloride rubber dispersion to wet the textured mitt
surface and
flush any air in front of the wet edge. This step may take a minute or so,
e.g., 72 seconds (1
min 12 sec). Note that the total time for immersion or dipping is dependent on
the size or
length of the product being dipped; for example, preferred lengths of the mitt
product are 10,
12, 14 inches or shoulder length.
The mitts are then withdrawn or removed from the compound preferably at a like
rate
to the dipping rate, e.g., again 10 inches per minute. The slow withdrawal
rate works with
the rheology of the compound to pull most of the excess compound off the glove
so there is
very little drip or compound movement.
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POST-COATING DRYING AND CURING:
Oven Drying and Curing Version One: After about 3-4 minutes, the coated mitts
are
then placed in the oven again at the range of 160 F to 180 degrees F. The
oven is filled with
mitts taking about 1 hour and 45 minutes and held for 10 minutes. After 10
minutes, the
oven is turned up to 200 degrees F for 80 minutes. After 80 minutes, the oven
is turned up to
280 degrees F for 45 minutes. After a total of 135 minutes (2 hours 15
minutes), the last
mitts then are unloaded from the oven and cooled for the coating to harden.
Oven Dr rinv, and Curing Version Two: In the alternative, the coated mitts are
placed
in an oven at a range of 160 to 180 degrees F for approximately 65 to 75
minutes for drying
the moisture from the liquid chloride rubber coating. Then, the oven
temperature is increased
to about 280 degrees F for approximately 45 minutes to cause chemical cross-
linking or
curing of the protective layer. The mitts or glove are removed and allowed to
cool for
inspection. The mitts preferably are inspected for pinholes along the seams.
One possible
inspection test is a leak test. The mitt is filled with pressured air and
submerged into a water
bath, and the presence of air bubbles is used as the pass or the fail
benchmark. Such leak
type tests are well known to those in the glove or mitt industry.
The same coating process may be used by starting with mitts having chloride
rubber
that is lower in oil than standard. With lower oil content, the chloride
rubber is stiffer, and
more like chloride rubber, which would be used for a gasket or seal, than
clothing or other
items that are worn.
Note that the inventors have discovered that using a greater amount of soap
(i.e. a
non-ionic detergent like TRITON X100) during the manufacturing process using a
textile
material of fabric. This greater amount of soap is contrary to what is used in
the industry.
Composition of Liquid Chloride Rubber:
Figure 17A shows beginning formulations for the chloride rubber coating
compound
(latex, liquid, dispersion). The formulation begins with a liquid chloride
rubber, such as
CA 02643914 2008-11-17
DuPont brand neoprene latex, which is common to the glove and mitt dipping
industries.
The latex is stabilized with caustics and surfactants. There are cross-linking
accelerators and
cure ingredients, antioxidants and coloring, biocide, and rheology
ingredients.
Note that the wetting agent or surfactant Triton X100 or similar materials are
used at
higher levels (compared to dipping formulations used to dip traditional
textile substrates) to
assist the coating compound to better wet the surface of the previously cured
closed cell
chloride rubber foam material. This elevated level of a highly proficient
wetting agent like
Triton X100 is not normal in dipping compounds used with textile supported
gloves because
a wetting agent would cause a great deal of penetration of the coating
compound into the
interior of the glove. Using a wetting surfactant such as Triton X100 is
contrary to what is
known in the art for traditional textile substrates or fabrics.
Fig. 17B shows another composition for the chloride rubber coating.
Figures 18-23 show formulations for dispersions of some of those ingredients
used in
the formulation of Fig. 17A and 17B. There can be adjustments of active
ingredients solids
for ease of incorporation of ingredients.
In one preferred embodiment, the chloride rubber liquid composition can
include:
a. chloride rubber material or chloride rubber latex such as Neoprene 671 A
(polychloroprene,
anionic colloidal dispersion in water; POLY(2-CHLORO-I,3-BUTADIENE) and
COPOLYMERS; Neoprene 671A liquid dispersion (LD) contains a high modulus
polychloroprene homopolymer made in an anionic colloidal system; good wet gel
elongation
and wet gel tensile strength make wet films of Neoprene 671A resistant to gel
cracking,
either alone or in blends with other Neoprene liquid dispersion; 671A is used
for dipped
goods, construction mastics, laminating adhesives, extruded thread,
impregnated paper,
bonded batts and contact bond adhesives);
b. the pH stabilizer can be 0.7% KOH; the emulsion stabilizing surfactant can
be DARVAN
WAQ (liquid sodium alkyl sulfate from R.T. Vanderbilt Co., Inc.) and DARVAN
SMO (a
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monosodium salt of sulfated methyl oleate from R.T. Vanderbilt Co., Inc.);
other emulsion
stabilizing surfactants can be used;
c. the accelerator can be ZMBT (zinc 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (chemical name:
2(3H)-
Benzothiazolethione, zinc salt); see R.T. Vanderbilt Co., Inc.'s accelerator
product ZETAX
brand ZMBT) and Butyl Zimate (a white to cream zinc dibutyldithiocarbamate
from R.T.
Vanderbilt Co., Inc.); other possible accelerators can be used;
d. the curing agents can be sulfur and zinc oxide (zinc oxide acts as a
vulcanizing agent in
CR and XNBR latex);
e. the biocide can be Vancide TH (hexahydro-1,3,5-triethyl-s-triazine
(chemical name: 1,3,5-
Triazine, 1,3,5-triethylhexahydro-) from R.T. Vanderbilt Co., Inc.); other
biocides can be
used as well;
f. the anti-oxidant agent can be Vanox SPL Slurry (Zinc 2-
mercaptotolumimidazole plus
phenolic antioxidant in an aqueous slurry; a zinc 2-mercaptotolumimidazole
white liquid
from R.T. Vanderbilt Co., Inc.); other anti-oxidants can be used as well;
g. the wetting surfactant can be Triton X100 (a non-ionic detergent; an
octylphenol ethylene
oxide condensate; the "Triton X" series of detergents are produced from
octylphenol
polymerized with ethylene oxide; the number ("-100") relates only indirectly
to the number
of ethylene oxide units in the structure; Triton X-100 has an "average of 9.5"
ethylene oxide
units per molecule, with an average molecular weight of 625); other possible
wetting
surfactants can be used to "wet" a rubber surface;
h. the thickener can be Bermocoll 100 or Bermocoll 200 (Bermocoll is a non-
ionic cellulose
ether from the AKZO NOBEL company and produced in a number of different
particle sizes:
powder, fine powder and extra-fine powder; users simply choose the particle
size that gives
their products the solubility they need; it can also be tailor-made to meet
individual needs
and specifications and is compatible with most binders, fillers, polymers, and
surfactants
used in building materials, paints and gloves; note other sizes of non-ionic
cellulose ethers
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can be used) and Alcogum 9710 (ALCOGUM 9710 from ALCOChemical is a clear to
slightly opaque liquid sodium poly-acrylate thickener (acylic acid
homopolymer, sodium
salt), which can be used in the thickening of natural and synthetic latexes
for a wide variety
of applications in coatings and rubber articles; ALCOGUM 9710 may be used to
thicken
styrene-butadiene, neoprene, acrylic, vinyl acetate and ethylene-vinyl acetate
latex
compounds); note other thickeners can be used; and
i. a coloring agent such as carbon black can also be used.
The inventors used Bermocoll and Alcogum products in a blend to obtain a
certain
desired rhelogy; both materials increase viscosity, but because they increase
thixotropy "flow
properties" at different rates, the inventors use a blend of both thickeners
in the composition.
The above listed chemical company products are for example only and are not
intended to be limiting. The above dipping composition can be used for a
variety of different
types of mitts and gloves, including mitts with gussets, puppet-style mitts,
and five-finger
gloves.
Some manufacturing steps: cutting chloride rubber material into the mitt/glove
parts;
logo or design printing on the mitt/glove parts; sewing the mitt/glove parts
of the chloride
rubber material into a mitt or glove; turning/inverting the mitt or glove (so
as to cover any
exposed seams); "burn off' or heating of mitts to remove "volatiles" or oils
in chloride
rubber materials while on a form; load with thumb; dip mitts into protective
coating liquid
composition; remove mitts from protective coating liquid composition; oven
drying and oven
curing of the coated mitts/gloves; unload cured mitts/gloves; inspect;
attaching or bar tack
sewing of the cuff and/or loop; and labeling and packing of the finished
product.
The hand mitt defined can be made from more than one sheet of material and
have an
irregular exterior surface chosen from raised ribs, recesses or raised waffle-
type pattern;
these sheets can further have a fabric material backing or textile supported
material.
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Note that the above description for the liquid chloride rubber protective
coating is
specified for neoprene latex; however, other polymeric coatings, including but
not limited to
XNBR or SBR or natural rubber, can be used.
Hip-h Wear and Heat Resistant Gloves with Griuainp- Pods (Duncan)
As shown in Figs. 9-10 and 14, a puppet 1 for use as a kitchen tool or the
like for
handling hot or cold items has a mouth having an upper portion 2 and a lower
portion 4. The
main body 8 of the puppet may be made of a suitable hot and cold resistant
material such as
Neoprene rubber made by the Du Pont chemical company, or generically known as
chloride rubber. The body 8 may be made by stitching at the seams as is
explained in a
provisional patent application concurrently filed herewith, by folding in each
layer and
stitching the seams using a straight stitch and/or a zigzag or double zigzag
stitch, or other
suitable bonding.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention uses a high heat resistant
and high
durability material such as Nomex 10 for the mouth of the puppet and another
high heat
resistant material Kevlar 12 in the central gripping area of mouth 10 on the
upper and lower
portions.
This invention allows interchangeable use of Kevlar and Nomex brand materials;
both materials can be coated with a silicone backing. The one advantage of
Nomex is that it
can be dyed into more colors than Kevlar.
In another preferred embodiment: the manufacturing steps could include having
the
mouth part of the mitt textile screen printed with the silicon dots/nodules,
which would
simplify the sewing construction and reduce the amount of heat absorbing
textile materials.
The silicone nodules help to restore grip (lost by the textile fabric faces)
and create an
additional air gap between the heat source and the surface of the mitt or
glove.
The Nomex material is not very porous and is not easy to grip with. The Kevlar
material also is not easy to grip with, but has more porosity. Therefore, the
Kevlar is used in
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the gripping area, and silicone nodules 14 are formed to protrude from, but
also to be rooted
in, the porous surface of the Kevlar.
The Nomex area may have a lip l0a and l Ob folded over the back side and
stitched at
15 to the back chloride rubber layer 18. The folds 22 (Fig. 15) enable
stitching and seams to
be covered up. The stitching 24 may be straight or zigzag or other stitching
or bonding. The
stitching preferably passes through the Nomex 10, then the Kevlar 12, then the
Nomex, then
a silicone rubber layer 17, then the chloride rubber. The stitching 26 at the
chloride rubber
seams may also bind the edges of the Nomex 10; the silicone nodules are
preferably food
grade.
In addition, across the back of the puppet mouth or thumb crotch, some of the
stitching was present to create a line, which would make flexing of the
multilayered palm
area easier. This "line" stitching for improving flexion would preferably be
done only
through the Nomex and Kevlar and foamed silicone layers and not the chloride
rubber
layer(s).
In other versions, the mitt would employ other non-stitching connection
methods to
secure the different material layers together; in particular, other
embodiments would avoid
using stitching to connect the chloride rubber layer to the other layers
(Nomex and Kevlar
layers); stitching may puncture the chloride rubber layer in the mid palm
area, which might
possibly would allow steam, liquid or stains to penetrate.
This mitt provides great gripping, with high heat resistance (i.e.,
significantly more
than typical high kitchen temperatures of 500 degrees Fahrenheit), and wear
resistance
significantly greater than the typical mitt or puppet wear resistance. To
provide water or
liquid resistance, and a steam barrier, the folds are provided.
The silicone nodules or dots may be applied to the Kevlar using a perforated
drum/rotary screen or flat bed screen and then curing in an oven. The Kevlar
may be cut to
size before or after applying the nodules.
CA 02643914 2008-11-17
There is a hand or multi-purpose mitt comprising: a first sheet and a second
sheet; the
first and said second sheets comprising a solid chloride rubber material and
having opposing
surfaces affixed together and a common edge peripheral region defined by an
edge
termination of said respective first and said second sheet; the first and
second sheets are
characterized as water resistant, stain resistant and insulative to heat and
cold temperatures;
and a protective coating, which is carried on an exterior surface of the first
and the second
sheets; said protective coating comprising a chloride rubber liquid, a pH
stabilizer, an
emulsion stabilizing surfactant, a wetting surfactant, an accelerator, a
curing agent, an anti-
oxidizing agent, a biocide, and a thickener.
Further defining the hand mitt, the chloride rubber liquid is Neoprene 671A;
the pH
stabilizer is 0.7% KOH; the emulsion stabilizing surfactant is liquid sodium
alkyl sulfate and
monosodium salt of sulfated methyl oleate; the wetting surfactant is a non-
ionic detergent or
octylphenol ethylene oxide condensate; the accelerator is zinc 2-
mercaptobenzothiazole and
zinc dibutyldithiocarbamate; the curing agent is sulfur and zinc oxide; the
biocide is
hexahydro-1,3,5-triethyl-s-triazine; the anti-oxidant agent is zinc 2-
mercaptotolumimidazole
plus phenolic antioxidant in an aqueous slurry; and the thickener is non-ionic
cellulose ether
and liquid sodium poly-acrylate.
A method of manufacturing a mitt, said mitt comprising: a first sheet and a
second
sheet; the first and the second sheet comprising a chloride rubber material
and having
opposing surfaces affixed together and a common edge peripheral region defined
by an edge
termination of said respective first and said second sheet; the first and the
second sheets are
characterized as being water resistant, stain resistant and insulative to heat
and cold
temperatures; and a protective coating composition, which is carried on an
exterior surface of
the first and the second sheets, and comprises: a chloride rubber latex; a pH
stabilizer; at least
one emulsion stabilizing surfactant; a non-ionic detergent; at least one
accelerator; at least
one curing agent; a biocide agent; an anti-oxidant; and at least one
thickener, wherein said
steps comprising:
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CA 02643914 2008-11-17
a. A first heating of said mitt;
b. A first cooling of said mitt;
c. Dipping said mitt into said protective coating composition;
d. Removing said mitt from said protective coating composition;
e. A second heating of said mitt, whereby said protective coating composition
is first dried at
a first temperature and then cured at a second temperature onto the exterior
surface of said
sheets of the mitt.
For the method of manufacturing, the first temperature of the second heating
is from
160 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit and the second temperature of the second heating
is about 280
degrees Fahrenheit.
While this invention has been described with reference to illustrative
embodiments
and examples, the description is not intended to be construed in a limiting
sense. Thus,
various modification of the illustrative embodiments, as well as other
embodiments of the
invention, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to
this description. It is
therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover any such
modifications or
embodiments. Further, all of the claims are hereby incorporated by reference
into the
description of the preferred embodiments.
Any publications, patents and patent applications referred to herein are
incorporated
by reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each individual
publication, patent or
patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be
incorporated by reference
in its entirety.
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