Process for preparation of polyurethane condoms

Claim 1

A process for producing polyurethane condoms with walls of substantially uniform thickness utilizing a single dipping step, characterized by the steps of (a) establishing a single dipping bath, said bath comprising (1) a solvent solution of a polyurethane polymer or prepolymer; (2) said polymer or prepolymer being the reaction product of a polyisocyanate and at least one long chain polyol; (3) said polyol being amorphous and noncrystalline at room temperature and having an average molecular weight within the range of between about 500 and 5000; (4) said polyol having an average hydroxy number of within the range of between about 225 and 22.4; and (5) said polyisocyanate having an NCO/OH ratio of within the range of between about 0.95/1 and 1.1/1. (b) dipping molds in which condoms are to be formed in said single dipping bath for a period of time within the range of between about 30 and 60 seconds for depositing a polyurethane film in the form of a condom on each of said molds; (c) withdrawing said molds from said single dipping bath at the rate of within the range of between about 16 and 90 centimeters per minute; (d) curing said deposited film in the form of a condom on each of said molds by exposure to elevated temperatures for a time sufficient to effect said cure; (e) cooling the said cured film on said molds; (f) forming an integral cuff at the base of the said film on each of said molds; and (g) removing said deposited film in the form of a condom with an integral cuff from each of said molds.