Title:  Aloe Vera glove and manufacturing method

United States Patent:  6,274,154

Appl. No.:  288067

A moisturizing and therapeutic glove is disclosed which includes a thin layer of Aloe Vera coated evenly and uniformly on an inside surface of the glove. Aloe Vera is attached to the surface through a dehydration process achieved with a controlled drying method. Aloe Vera soothes hand during the wearing of the glove.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention satisfies these needs. This invention is a novel disposable glove with Aloe Vera uniformly applied to the inner surface of the glove through a dehydration process, and a method for making such a glove.

One object of this invention is to condition and soothe the hands during glove use.

Another object of this invention is to produce a glove that is equivalent to a single layer glove in the user's ability to pick up and manipulate objects.

Still another object of this invention is to prevent growth of bacteria, viruses, yeast and fungi on the hands, which become more active in a wet environment resulting from sweating during prolonged or frequent wearing of gloves.

A related object is to cause the anti-microbial substance to dissociate and release from the glove surface in response to the degree of wetness of hand.

A further object is to preserve the shelf life of glove by using natural non-oil based substance and to preserve the activity of the therapeutic substance by keeping the substance in a dehydrated state.

The above objects are accomplished by applying Aloe Vera evenly to the inner surface of a disposable examination glove through dehydration.

The objects are further accomplished by a method of manufacturing the Aloe Vera glove. The disposable gloves are first treated with chlorine solution to wash off any powders, extract soluble substances in the composite material, and kill microorganisms. After drying, the gloves are turned inside out and dipped into a prepared Aloe Vera solution to saturate the outer surface. The gloves are then dried in a tumbling heater within a controlled narrow range of temperature between 45^oC. and 65^oC., and for a specific length of time. This causes water to evaporate and the Aloe Vera to evenly coat the glove surface. After cooling to room temperature, the gloves are inverted so that the side with Aloe Vera coating is facing inside.

Claim 1 of 12 Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A disposable examination glove comprising:

a) only a single layer of a flexible material forming a cavity to receive a hand; and

b) a quantity of dehydrated Aloe Vera on an inner surface of the layer of the flexible material, the Aloe Vera contacting the hand during donning of the disposable examination glove,

wherein the aloe vera is attached to the flexible material by dipping the glove into a solution comprising aloe vera, removing the glove from said solution and subsequently heating the glove to form a layer of dehydrated aloe vera on the surface of the glove.

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