Multicolor, multilayer elastomeric articles and methods of manufacturing same

Abstract

Multilayer elastomeric articles and methods of making the same are disclosed in which the outside or outer distal surface of the article is a different color or otherwise visually distinct in appearance from the inside or wearer contacting surface of the article so that the user of the article can readily identify the article as a multilayer elastomeric article. In one aspect, elastomer emulsions, solvent solutions, or plastisols used to form each layer may be modified with the addition of base color and/or colorant components in order to form a colored or patterned layer. In another aspect, one or both of the surfaces of the elastomeric articles (or layers of the articles) may be coated with such a colorant component to sufficiently visually distinguish the layers from each other.

1 . A flexible, elastomeric glove having an outside surface and a wearer contacting surface, the glove comprising:
 a first layer having an exposed surface bearing at least one of a first color and design and a second, unexposed surface;   a second layer having an exposed surface bearing at least one of a second color and design, and a second unexposed surface, the entire unexposed surface of the first layer being permanently bonded to the entire unexposed surface of the second layer; and   wherein the first color and design of the first layer is sufficiently visually distinct from the second color and design of the second layer permitting the human eye to distinguish between the first layer and the second layer of the multilayer article.   
     
     
         2 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer bears a first color and wherein the second layer bears a second color that is sufficiently distinct from the first color to be visually detected by the human eye. 
     
     
         3 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer bears a first design comprising at least one of a color, pattern and texture and wherein the second layer bears a second design comprising at least one of a color, pattern and texture that is sufficiently distinct from the first color, pattern and texture to be visually detected by the human eye. 
     
     
         4 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and the second layers are constructed of an elastomeric material forming an elastomeric matrix and wherein first and the second layers each comprise at least one coloring agent within their elastomeric matrices, respectively. 
     
     
         5 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second layers each comprise at least one coloring agent applied to their exposed surfaces, respectively. 
     
     
         6 . The glove of  claim 1 , further comprising an additional layer constructed of an elastomeric material, the additional layer having a first surface bonded to the exposed surface of one of the first and the second layers, the additional layer also having a second surface bearing at least one of a third color and design. 
     
     
         7 . A method of forming a two-layer, visually identifiable elastomeric glove comprising:
 a) providing a first elastomeric layer having a first visually identifiable characteristic; and   b) providing a second layer having a second visually identifiable characteristic,   wherein the second layer is contiguously bonded to the first layer, and wherein the visually identifiable characteristic of the second layer is sufficiently visually distinct from the identifiable characteristic of first layer to permit identification of the glove as a two-layer glove.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first visually identifiable characteristic is a first color. 
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 8 , wherein the second visually identifiable characteristic is a second color, the second color being sufficiently visually distinct from the first color.