WO2015028905A2

WO2015028905A2 - Latex dipped articles embedded with natural herbs

Info

Publication number: WO2015028905A2
Application number: PCT/IB2014/063292
Authority: WO
Inventors: Malindra BADATURUGE; Lakshman Nethsinghe; K. A. L. S. Fernando
Original assignee: Dipped Products Plc
Priority date: 2013-08-12
Filing date: 2014-07-22
Publication date: 2015-03-05
Also published as: WO2015028905A3

Abstract

An elastomeric article, embedded with herbs to obtain medicinal properties when in contact with skin whilst worn. Sri Lankan natural herbs and their decoctions are known to be used in traditional remedies whereas medicinal effects of some of them have been proven scientifically. These herbs as they are or with a mixture of other natural ingredients can be embedded in to, gloves, in this instance to gain skin friendly properties whilst worn. There is no such attempt known in the elastomers industry which natural herbs are used.

Description

The latex dipped articles may cause irritations when worn for longer hours and can harm sensitive skin. Therefore, this study was focused on developing a latex dipped article, glove in this instance which may specifically be claimed to help to protect skin when worn. The current invention discloses ways and means of embedding natural herbal essences to the inner layer of the glove to protect outer skin.

Dipped elastomer can contain a general formulation which are used to manufacture gloves. The herbal essence is carefully selected among hundreds of thousands of available remedies which were used more than 2500-5000 years in Sri Lanka for protection of skin and other known diseases.

This concept of having herbs embedded to gloves have not been known and would like to announce as the first known glove range in the market.

Background

Sri Lanka is well-known for its herbal remedies which runs back to about 2500-5000 years of history. Great kings and queens of Sri Lanka have used Sri Lankan traditional herbs for protection as well as cosmetics for their skin. They have applied herbal decoctions to vitalize, rejuvenate and to stop aging of their skin. There were doctors who were called as "weda mahatthaya"s to prescribe these herbal medicines and their generations are still well accepted in the society as miracle curers. This kind of remedies were known as "hela weda" where history runs back about 5000 years. Therefore, these remedies can be claimed as safer and time tested, despite the fact that some of them are scientifically proven and accepted as cosmaceuticles as well as cosmetics.

Natural latex, synthetic latex and other elastomeric substances, blended with other vulcanizing agents, antioxidants and fillers, which were then carefully dipped to manufacture above elastomeric articles, in this instance gloves. Then natural herbs which were selected from some of the traditional remedies are embedded to gain skin friendly properties of the above invention.

These herbs have to be embedded to gloves in a way that it comes in contact with the skin when worn. Therefore, special manufacturing methods have been adapted to keep these herbs skin contact in order to gain maximum properties.

Prior art

Number of prior arts have revealed the use of Aloe vera (Patent No. EP 1774863 ) which discloses a disposable glove having the inner surface of a monolayer glove coated with aloe vera. The casting of the inner surface of the glove is carried out by dipping the inside out turned glove in a solution of Aloe vera having a concentration of 20% of Aloe vera.

But none of them use herbal remedies which are being used in Sri Lanka traditionally. Therefore, this invention is sort to be the first herbal dipped article found in the industry which is claimed to give skin friendly properties when worn.

An elastomeric article can be made of various materials to form a layer as for example resinous materials such as natural rubber, nitrile rubber, neoprene, its blends or any other rubbers, SBR, Butyl, PVC, Silicon rubber, flouroelastomers. According to one of the known techniques for producing elastomeric articles these articles are obtained by dipping a sample having the form of the final elastomeric article in a bath of a latex of liquid elastomeric resin. After dipping the sample is subjected to drying and a basic layer of the elastomeric article is thus obtained. This basic layer can be subjected to further steps for example for adding further layers.

Relating to the embedding of the herbs in a first example, the embedding I carried out by mixing a certain amount of a fine granulated or cut blend/extract of one or more herbs.

The quantity of the blend of herbs added to the fluid elastomeric material can vary from 0.01 % to 0.2% (WAV) of the total weight of the herb in dry elastomeric material.

According to a further example the herb or the blend of herbs is subjected to decoction and the product obtained is sized to the liquid elastomeric material. Typically in this case the quantity of decoction added to the fluid elastomeric material is approximately 0.5 to 4% (V/V) of the total volume of the fluid elastomeric material.

According to still another embodiment the active principles of the natural herbs can be added in the form of derivatives in particular obtained by extraction, purification, distillation or in the form of exudates or other similar processes.

In this case the quantity of derivative obtained from the herbal mixture to be added to the fluid elastomeric material is from 0.5 to 5% of the total volume of the fluid elastomeric resin.

According to a further example combinations of the above examples can be used. In this case one or more herbs are in the form of granulated or finely cut material and part of the herbs are provided in the form of their decotions or one or more of the above derivatives obtained by extraction, purification, distillation or in the form of exudates or other similar processes.

The kind of provision of each kind of herb can be chosen preferably according to effect that is achieved. This means that each different herb is provided in the form allowing to obtain the best functional effect of the active principles of the herb.

According to still another improvement, one or more herbs embedded in the elastomeric material in one or more of the forms described above can be further mixed to the fluid elastomeric material together with other substances like pharmacological substances showing medicinal properties or cosmetics like for example skin friendly applications.

Any kind of elastomeric article can be produced and particularly the invention is directed to elastomeric articles to be worn by a person or animal in direct contact with the skin. Non limiting typical examples can be gloves, condoms or protective clothing like neoprene diving or sailing suits, swimming vests, or similar wearable articles.

Further elastomeric articles can be provided with the blend of herbs and or pharmaceutical substances in order to operate as a protected delivery device of the active principles through skin absorption. The elastomeric article has the function of isolating and protecting an anatolical part from the outside environment while maintaining the active principles in contact with the body in order to be slowly transferred to the body and thus giving rise to their effect.

Although the present invention is directed in the first instance to non lined elastomeric articles, the inventive teaching can also be extended to be applied in combination with inner liner articles and the known proceedings for fabricating such articles. As a non limiting example an inner layer of any kind of flock liners, fabric liners or similar can be provided in order to give extra comfort when wearing. Also reinforcing layers partly or entirely overlapping the surface of the elastomeric product can be provided.

Still according to a further combination the herbs and/or the pharmaceutical or the cosmetic substances can be further blended in the form of micro or nano particles. The mixture can be a purely physical one or the herbs particle or the active principles obtained by the herbs and/or the pharmaceutical substances or the cosmetic substances.

In the following some selected specific examples having particular properties are nearly disclosed. Following is a non limitative example which show interesting and innovative effects.

Example:

Natural rubber latex is selected as liquid elastomeric resin. Once the rubber article is produced, in the post production stage 3mL of the total volume of a blend of 1-2% in weight of a cinnamon bark or leaf oil and anionic surfactants in order to dissolve oily herbal substances are applied to the inner layer.

Cinnamon bark/leaf oil manufacture: The cut herbs are added to water and distilled to obtain pure blend of essential oils (distillation). Then the oil is dissolved in water using special surfactants. This process is carefully carried out which does not destroy the natural essence of oil.

Article is then dried in order to evaporate excess water present in the innerside of the article. The water is evaporated at 50 degrees Celsius leaving active oil substances in the inner layer. Other methods for influencing the distribution of the embedded herbs in order to have a higher amount of herbs at the surface which has to come in contact with the skin when wearing the elastomeric article can be provided.

Cinnamon is scientifically known as Cinnamomum zeylenicum (endemic to Sri Lanka) and 80-90% world cinnamon is supplied from Sri Lanka. Cinnamon has been well-known for different remedies over 1000s of years. Content: Cinnamon bark oil : 40-50% cinnamaldehyde, 4-10% eugenol; Cinnamon leaf oil : 3% cinnamaldehyde and 70-90% eugenol, Cinnamon also contains linalol, methylamine ketone etc.. Sri Lankan cinnamon has negligible traces of coumarines (toxic substances) compared to cheaper sources coming from China/Indonesia/Vietnam.

Similarly well-known herbal essential oil of Snadle wood (Santalum album) can be embedded which can give hydration and moisturizing of skin, helps to rejuvenate aged skin, antiseptic and skin whitening properties. Natural oils and decoctions of lotus, jasmine, neem, tamarind seeds and turmeric are some of herbs which can also be considered for this application. These herbs when in contact with skin can give variety of properties such as antiseptic properties, anti-bacterial properties, skin whitening properties, rejuvenation properties and hydration properties which are timely tested and some of them have been scientifically proven.

Claims

1. An elastomeric article comprising at least one layer of elastomeric material in which natural herbs are embedded.

2. An elastomeric article as claimed in claim 1 wherein the article is a glove, a condom, or any other personal protective clothing.

3. An elastomeric article as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which at least one layer of elastomeric material is made by one or more elastomers made of natural rubber, nitrile rubber, neoprene, its blends or any other rubbers, SBR, Butyl, PVC, Silicon rubber, flouroelastomers.

4. Gloves or personal protective clothing claimed in one or more of the preceding claims further comprising an inner layer.

5. The inner layer claimed in claim 4 is embedded with medical and/or cosmetic herbs.

6. An inner layer according to proceeding claims in which one or more herbs are embedded in the form of finely cut particles, decoctions, blends or distillates of natural herbs.

7. An elastomeric article containing an inner layer of the claims 4 to 6 in which one or more herbs are embedded in the form of decoctions, and/or derivatives of the herbs obtained through extractions, purifications and distillations, exudates or similar processes mixed with natural or synthetic surfactants.

8. An elastomeric article according to one or more of the preceding claims in which said article is obtained by dipping one or more sample forms of the final form of the article in the said mixture of latex of elastomeric material and inner layer is applied through spraying or dipping of the mixture of natural herbs followed by drying at 50 degrees Celsius.

9. An elastomeric article according to one or more of the preceding claims in which in the inner layer of elastomeric material, one or more pharmacological and/or cosmaceutical substances showing medicinal properties or skin friendly applications are embedded with the at least one natural herbs or its decoctions or its derivatives.

10. An elastomeric article according to claim 9 in which the said one or more pharmacological and/or cosmaceutical substances are added in particle form and/or as liquids and/or gels to the inner layer.