US4521365A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Glove molding apparatus and method
Assignee: Bioresearch Inc
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Filing: 1983-12-20
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Granted: 1985-06-04
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Expires: 2003-12-20
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for manufacturing elastomer surgical gloves or the like is disclosed. Ordinarily, a glove mold having a handshaped mold member with spaced fingers is dipped into a tank containing a liquid polymer. As the glove mold is slowly withdrawn, polymer latex webs tend to form between the fingers of the mold. In order to prevent the formation of these webs, small objects such as polyethylene balls are moved fairly rapidly along the surface of the polymer. These small objects pass through the spaces between the fingers to prevent the webs from forming.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard D. Kurtz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 02:35
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C41/00; B29C41/02; B29C41/14; B29K; B29K2105/00; B29K2105/0058; B29K2105/0064; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/48; B29L2031/4842; B29L2031/4864
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
An apparatus for preventing web formation during the molding of gloves or the like comprising: a tank containing a liquid polymer; a mold adapted to be submerged in said tank so as to provide a coating of said polymer on said mold, said mold including a mold member having spaced elements; a plurality of small objects, having a diameter of about 1/8 inch, which float on the surface of said polymer; and a moving means for moving said objects along the surface of said polymer as said mold is slowly withdrawn from said polymer whereby said objects move between the elements of said mold and thereby prevent web formation between the elements.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
112 words
An apparatus for preventing web formation during the molding of gloves or the like comprising: a tank containing a liquid polymer; a mold adapted to be submerged in said tank so as to provide a coating of said polymer on said mold, said mold including a mold member having spaced elements; a plurality of small objects, having a diameter of about 1/8 inch, which float on the surface of said polymer; and a moving means for moving said objects along the surface of said polymer as said mold is slowly withdrawn from said polymer whereby said objects move between the elements of said mold and thereby prevent web formation between the elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus for preventing web formation as claimed in claim 1 wherein said moving means is a liquid pump which circulates a portion of said polymer in which said objects are entrained past said mold.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus for preventing web formation as claimed in claim 2 wherein said objects are polyethylene balls.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
76 words
An apparatus for preventing web formation as claimed in claim 2 wherein said tank includes an outer tank and an inner tank, said inner tank being disposed below the surface of said polymer in said outer tank and also disposed in a spaced relationship to opposite sides and to the bottom of said outer tank; and wherein said liquid pump circulates said object entraining polymer portion around the bottom and opposite sides of said inner tank.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for preventing web formation between spaced elements of a mold for gloves or the like comprising the steps of: dipping the mold in a tank containing a liquid polymer to coat the mold; circulating a plurality of small objects floating on the surface of the polymer past the coated mold wherein said objects have a diameter of about 1/8 inch; and withdrawing the mold slowly from the tank whereby the small circulating objects move between the elements of the mold and thereby prevent the formation of webs between the elements of the mold.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for preventing web formation between spaced elements of a mold for gloves or the like comprising the steps of: dipping the mold in a tank containing a liquid polymer to coat the mold; circulating a plurality of small objects floating on the surface of the polymer past the coated mold wherein said objects have a diameter of about 1/8 inch; and withdrawing the mold slowly from the tank whereby the small circulating objects move between the elements of the mold and thereby prevent the formation of webs between the elements of the mold.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method for preventing web formation as claimed in claim 5 wherein said circulating step includes the pumping of a portion of the polymer past the mold and entraining the small objects in the pumped polymer flowing past the mold.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method for preventing web formation as claimed in claim 6 wherein said objects are polyethylene balls.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
108 words
An apparatus for preventing web formation during the molding of gloves or the like comprising: a tank containing a liquid polymer; a mold adapted to be submerged in said tank so as to provide a coating of said polymer on said mold, said mold including a mold member having spaced elements; a plurality of small polyethylene balls which float on the surface of said polymer; and a moving means for moving said polyethylene balls along the surface of said polymer as said mold is slowly withdrawn from said polymer whereby said polyethylene balls move between the elements of said mold and thereby prevent web formation between, the elements.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
108 words
An apparatus for preventing web formation during the molding of gloves or the like comprising: a tank containing a liquid polymer; a mold adapted to be submerged in said tank so as to provide a coating of said polymer on said mold, said mold including a mold member having spaced elements; a plurality of small polyethylene balls which float on the surface of said polymer; and a moving means for moving said polyethylene balls along the surface of said polymer as said mold is slowly withdrawn from said polymer whereby said polyethylene balls move between the elements of said mold and thereby prevent web formation between, the elements.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-06-03 | 1988-12-03 | 1989-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-06-03 | 1992-12-03 | 1993-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-06-03 | 1996-12-03 | 1997-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |