Breathable elastomeric glove

Abstract

The present invention is directed to breathable elastomeric gloves. The gloves of the present invention may allow the transmission of water vapor while still providing an effective barrier to virus, bacteria, contaminants, bodily fluids, and the like. In general, a breathability additive may be incorporated into the polymer matrix of one or more layers of the glove to improve the breathability of the layer. For example, polyethylene oxide may be incorporated into a layer as a breathability additive.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A glove comprising: 
 a substrate body comprising at least one layer of a material, said substrate body having an inside surface and an outside surface; and    a breathability additive incorporated into the at least one layer of the substrate body, the breathability additive comprising polyethylene oxide.    
     
     
         2 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one layer is a primary elastomeric layer.  
     
     
         3 . The glove of  claim 2 , wherein the primary elastomeric layer comprises an elastomeric block copolymer.  
     
     
         4 . The glove of  claim 3 , wherein the elastomeric block copolymer is selected from the group consisting of styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-isoprene block copolymers, styrene-butadiene block copolymers, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The glove of  claim 2 , wherein the primary elastomeric layer comprises a polyurethane rubber.  
     
     
         6 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one layer is a donning layer.  
     
     
         7 . The glove of  claim 6 , wherein the donning layer comprises a hydrogel polymer.  
     
     
         8 . The glove of  claim 1 , further comprising a lubricant located on the inside surface of the substrate body.  
     
     
         9 . The glove of  claim 8 , wherein the lubricant comprises a silicone lubricant.  
     
     
         10 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one layer comprises polyethylene oxide in an amount between about 1 and about 70 parts per hundred by weight of the material.  
     
     
         11 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one layer comprises polyethylene oxide in an amount between about 1 and about 50 parts per hundred by weight of the material.  
     
     
         12 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one layer comprises polyethylene oxide in an amount between about 1 and about 30 parts per hundred by weight of the material.  
     
     
         13 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one layer comprises polyethylene oxide in an amount between about 4 and about 6 parts per hundred by weight of the material.  
     
     
         14 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the glove is a breathable glove.  
     
     
         15 . A glove comprising: 
 a substrate body made from at least one layer of a material selected from the group consisting of elastomeric block copolymers, hydrogel polymers, and polyurethanes, said substrate body having an inside surface and an outside surface; and    a breathability additive incorporated into the at least one layer of the substrate body, the breathability additive comprising polyethylene oxide, the polyethylene oxide being incorporated into the at least one layer in an amount up to about 30 parts per hundred by weight of the material.    
     
     
         16 . The glove of  claim 15 , wherein the elastomeric block copolymer is selected from the group consisting of styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-isoprene block copolymers, styrene-butadiene block copolymers, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The glove of  claim 15 , further comprising a lubricant located on the inside surface of the substrate body.  
     
     
         18 . The glove of  claim 17 , wherein the lubricant comprises a silicone lubricant.  
     
     
         19 . The glove of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one layer comprises polyethylene oxide in an amount between about 1 and about 10 parts per hundred by weight of the material.  
     
     
         20 . The glove of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one layer comprises polyethylene oxide in an amount between about 4 and about 6 parts per hundred by weight of the material.  
     
     
         21 . The glove of  claim 15 , wherein the glove is a breathable glove.  
     
     
         22 . A glove comprising: 
 a substrate body made from at least one layer of an elastic material comprising one or more block copolymers, said substrate body having an inside surface and an outside surface; and    a breathability additive incorporated into the at least one layer of the substrate body, the breathability additive comprising polyethylene oxide, the polyethylene oxide being incorporated into the at least one layer in an amount up to about 30 parts per hundred by weight of the elastic material.    
     
     
         23 . The glove of  claim 22 , wherein the elastomeric block copolymer is selected from the group consisting of styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-isoprene block copolymers, styrene-butadiene block copolymers, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         24 . The glove of  claim 22 , further comprising a lubricant located on the inside surface of the substrate body.  
     
     
         25 . The glove of  claim 24 , wherein the lubricant comprises a silicone lubricant.  
     
     
         26 . The glove of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one layer comprises polyethylene oxide in an amount up to about  10  parts per hundred by weight of the elastic material.  
     
     
         27 . A process for forming a glove comprising: 
 providing a solvent,    adding polyethylene oxide to the solvent to form a solution,    adding an elastic material to the solution,    forming a layer of the solution comprising the elastic material on a glove-shaped former; and    drying the layer to form a glove on the former.    
     
     
         28 . The process of  claim 27 , wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of toluene, xylene, cyclohexane, tetrahydrofuran, dimethyl acetamide, methylene chloride, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         29 . The process of  claim 27 , further comprising heating the solvent prior to addition of the polyethylene oxide to the solvent.  
     
     
         30 . The process of  claim 29 , wherein the solvent is heated to a temperature between about 30° C. and about 50° C.  
     
     
         31 . The process of  claim 27 , further comprising forming a donning layer on the glove.  
     
     
         32 . The process of  claim 31 , wherein the donning layer is a continuous layer, the continuous donning layer comprising a breathability additive.  
     
     
         33 . The process of  claim 31 , wherein the donning layer is a discontinuous layer.  
     
     
         34 . The process of  claim 33 , wherein the donning layer is microscopically discontinuous.  
     
     
         35 . The process of  claim 27 , further comprising forming a gripping layer on the glove.  
     
     
         36 . The process of  claim 35 , wherein the gripping layer is a continuous layer, the continuous gripping layer comprising a breathability additive.  
     
     
         37 . The process of  claim 35 , wherein the gripping layer is a discontinuous layer.  
     
     
         38 . The process of  claim 37 , wherein the gripping layer is microscopically discontinuous.  
     
     
         39 . The process of  claim 27 , further comprising adding a lubricant to a surface of the glove.  
     
     
         40 . The process of  claim 27 , further comprising chlorinating the glove.  
     
     
         41 . The process of  claim 27 , wherein the polyethylene oxide is added to the solvent in an amount up to about 70 parts per hundred by weight of the elastic material.