Surface treatment and items having treated surface

Abstract

A method of applying a bittering agent to a substrate provided by an item which it is desired to impregnate in order to prevent, for example, chewing of the item, is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: applying a first coating layer to the substrate, the first coating layer being of a substance that can be treated to acquire a hardened state; applying a bittering agent to the first layer; and treating the first coating layer thereby to generate the hardened state.

1 . A method of applying a bittering agent to a substrate provided by an item which it is desired to impregnate in order to deter oral ingestion of the item, the method comprising the steps of: applying a first coating layer to the substrate, the first coating layer being of a substance that can be treated to acquire a hardened state; applying a bittering agent to the first layer; and treating the first coating layer thereby to generate the hardened state. 
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the first coating layer is made of a substance that can be cured to create its hardened state. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the bittering agent is not harmful for humans to ingest orally. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3  wherein the bittering agent is selected from the group consisting of sucrose octa-acetate, denatonium benzoate, and denatonium saccharide. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the substrate is a metal. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5  wherein the substrate includes a metal oxide. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the item is one a zip slider or a pull tab for a zip slider. 
     
     
         8 . An item having a substrate to which a first coating is applied, the first coating being a material which has been treated to become hardened, and the first coating being impregnated with a bittering agent. 
     
     
         9 . An item according to  claim 8  wherein the first coating is a material that has been hardened by curing. 
     
     
         10 . An item according to  claim 9  wherein the first coating includes one of expoxy resin or enamel. 
     
     
         11 . An item according to any one of  claims 8  wherein the bittering agent is a substance which is not harmful for humans to ingest orally. 
     
     
         12 . An item according to any one of  claim 11  wherein the bittering agent is selected from a group consisting of: sucrose octa-acetate, denatonium benzoate, and denatonium saccharide. 
     
     
         13 . An item according to any one of  claim 8  wherein the item is a zip slider or a pull tab for a zip slider.