US4548844A — Flexible coated article and method of making same

Claim 1

Independent Claim 111 words

A flexible rubber article of substantially tubular shape for use against human skin or tissue, said article having been treated by the application of an adherent coating of a hydrogel polymer to an outer surface of said article, said hydrogel coating imparting on said outer surface moisture absorbent properties manifested by a feeling of increased coolness on the part of a wearer of said article, and providing said surface with a compatible interface against human skin or tissue during use of said article, said article having been primed with a dilute acid and coated with a solution of said hydrogel polymer prior to final vulcanization of the rubber of said article.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 111 words

A flexible rubber article of substantially tubular shape for use against human skin or tissue, said article having been treated by the application of an adherent coating of a hydrogel polymer to an outer surface of said article, said hydrogel coating imparting on said outer surface moisture absorbent properties manifested by a feeling of increased coolness on the part of a wearer of said article, and providing said surface with a compatible interface against human skin or tissue during use of said article, said article having been primed with a dilute acid and coated with a solution of said hydrogel polymer prior to final vulcanization of the rubber of said article.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 141 words

A flexible rubber article for use in contact with human or animal skin or tissue, said article having been treated by priming with a dilute acid followed by the application of an adherent coating of a hydrogel polymer solution to one surface of said article prior to final vulcanization of said article so as to form an external surface after curing of said coating, said cured external surface imparting moisture absorbent properties to said article surface and providing said article surface with a coating that is compatible with said skin or tissue, said article having been also treated by dipping in a dilute solution of a soluble salt of an at least trivalent metal ion, prior to curing of the hydrogel coating so as to increase the adherence of said polymer coating to said article after curing of the polymer coating.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 141 words

A flexible rubber article for use in contact with human or animal skin or tissue, said article having been treated by priming with a dilute acid followed by the application of an adherent coating of a hydrogel polymer solution to one surface of said article prior to final vulcanization of said article so as to form an external surface after curing of said coating, said cured external surface imparting moisture absorbent properties to said article surface and providing said article surface with a coating that is compatible with said skin or tissue, said article having been also treated by dipping in a dilute solution of a soluble salt of an at least trivalent metal ion, prior to curing of the hydrogel coating so as to increase the adherence of said polymer coating to said article after curing of the polymer coating.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 27 words

An article as recited in claim 2, in which said article has been dipped in a dilute acid solution prior to being dipped in said salt solution.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 27 words

An article as recited in claim 2, in which said article has been dipped in said salt solution prior to dipping in a solution of said polymer.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 16 words

An article according to claim 2, in which an acid is incorporated into said salt solution.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 17 words

An article according to claim 5, in which said salt solution is incorporated into the polymer solution.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 19 words

An article according to claim 2, wherein said polymer incorporates a substantial amount of 2-hydroxyethoxy methacrylate and acrylic acid.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 11 words

The article of claim 1, in the form of a sheet.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 11 words

The article of claim 1 in the form of a glove.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 11 words

The article of claim 2 in the form of a condom.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 13 words

The article of claim 2 in the form of a catheter or urether.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 11 words

The article of claim 1 in the form of a tube.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 70 words

An article according to claim 1, said article being a surgical glove, said hydrogel coating lying on the inner surface of said article, wherein both said inner surface and the outer surface opposite said inner surface have been rendered substantially tack-free, without contact with a powder material, by the application of a liquid powderless surfactant to said glove surfaces subsequent to vulcanization of said rubber and curing of said polymer.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 22 words

An article according to claim 13, wherein said surfactant is in the form of a dilute aqueous solution of a silicone surfactant.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 26 words

An article according to claim 9, wherein said hydrogel polymer is applied in the form of an aqueous solution containing 0.5-10% of said polymer by weight.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 141 words

A process for producing a rubber article, said article comprising an adherent coating of a hydrophilic hydrogel polymer applied to at least one surface thereof, said article having both lubricant properties and vapor transmission properties the latter being manifested by a feeling of coolness experienced by a wearer of said article, said process comprising: (a) priming a mold which has previously been coated by a rubber latex by dipping it into an aqueous solution of dilute acid; (b) dipping said primed rubber coated mold into a solution of a hydrophilic polymer so that said polymer coats said rubber prior to full vulcanization of said rubber, (c) curing said polymer and vulcanizing the thus formed article by application of heat for a period of time sufficient to cure said polymer and vulcanize said rubber so that said polymer adheres to said rubber.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 141 words

A process for producing a rubber article, said article comprising an adherent coating of a hydrophilic hydrogel polymer applied to at least one surface thereof, said article having both lubricant properties and vapor transmission properties the latter being manifested by a feeling of coolness experienced by a wearer of said article, said process comprising: (a) priming a mold which has previously been coated by a rubber latex by dipping it into an aqueous solution of dilute acid; (b) dipping said primed rubber coated mold into a solution of a hydrophilic polymer so that said polymer coats said rubber prior to full vulcanization of said rubber, (c) curing said polymer and vulcanizing the thus formed article by application of heat for a period of time sufficient to cure said polymer and vulcanize said rubber so that said polymer adheres to said rubber.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 29 words

The process of claim 16 wherein said polymer solution contains 2-hydroxyethoxymethacrylate, acrylic acid, a curing agent, and a compound that maintains the solution in an acidic condition under heating.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 43 words

The process of claim 16 wherein a solution of a cationic salt of a valence of at least three is applied to the article prior to application of said polymer, thereby increasing the adherence of said polymer to said rubber upon subsequent heating.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 40 words

The process of claim 16, wherein a solution of a cationic salt of a valence of at least three is incorporated into said polymer solution, so as to increase the adherence of said polymer to said rubber upon subsequent heating.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 14 words

The process of claim 18, wherein the cation of said salt is aluminum ion.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 14 words

The process of claim 19, wherein the cation of said salt is aluminum ion.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1988-10-21	1989-04-22	1989-10-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1992-10-21	1993-04-22	1993-10-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1996-10-21	1997-04-22	1997-10-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Flexible coated article and method of making same

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