GREEN TEA COATED GLOVES AND RELATED METHODS

Abstract

The present invention is drawn to elastomeric gloves and related methods of manufacture. In one embodiment, an elastomeric glove is provided which includes a glove body having a layer made of an elastomeric material. The glove body can have interior surface and exterior surface with a green tea coating on the interior surface of the glove body and a green tea flavoring coated on the exterior surface of the glove body.

Description

PRIORITY DATA

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/865,934, filed Aug. 14, 2013 which is incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to elastomeric gloves, and in particular to elastomeric gloves having green tea coatings and/or flavorings incorporated therein as well as methods of making such gloves.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Elastomeric gloves are commonly used as protective barriers to protect the hands of a wearer. Typically, elastomeric gloves are formed to fit fairly tightly onto a user's hand and to provide excellent grip and tactile characteristics. Elastomeric gloves are generally impermeable to liquids and function as a barrier between the user's hand and the environment. Such gloves are widely used in chemical and biological laboratories as well as throughout the medical and dental industry and in other commercial and residential situations.

[0004] Unfortunately, elastomeric gloves can be uncomfortable for users causing sweating which can lead to drying, irritation, and general discomfort of the skin of the user's hand. Typically, skin discomfort associated with moisture in the glove has been treated through the use of powder, such as talc or calcium carbonate in an effort to absorb the moisture. However, powdered gloves are disliked by many users and are not acceptable for use in many types of situations such as clean rooms, operating rooms, or other environments where powder would cause a negative effect. Additionally, in dental situations where the user's gloves may contact the tongue of a patient, some patients have expressed displeasure with respect to the taste of traditional elastomeric gloves, whether powdered or otherwise.

[0005] Accordingly, research continues for the development of an elastomeric glove that is comfortable for the user and acceptable for use in many environments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention is drawn to elastomeric gloves and related methods of manufacture. In one embodiment, an elastomeric glove is provided which includes a glove body having a layer made of an elastomeric material. The glove body can have interior surface and exterior surface with a green tea coating on the interior surface of the glove body and a green tea flavoring coated on the exterior surface of the glove body.

[0007] In another embodiment, a method of manufacturing a green tea coated elastomeric glove is provided. The method can include forming an elastomeric glove body utilizing of an elastomeric material, applying a green tea coating composition on an interior surface of the elastomeric glove body, and applying a green tea flavoring composition to an exterior surface of the elastomeric glove body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example, features of the invention; and, wherein:

[0009] FIG. 1 shows a general embodiment of an elastomeric glove in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the opening of an embodiment of an elastomeric glove, such as the glove shown in FIG. 1.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT(S)

[0013] Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and additional applications of the principles of the inventions as illustrated herein, which would occur to one, skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention.

[0014] It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to "a green tea extract" includes one or more such extracts, while reference to "the glove" includes reference to one or more of such gloves.

DEFINITIONS

[0015] In describing and claiming the present invention, the following terminology will be used in accordance with the definitions set forth below.

[0016] In this disclosure, "comprises," "comprising," "containing" and "having" and the like can have the meaning ascribed to them in U.S. Patent law and can mean "includes," "including," and the like, and are generally interpreted to be open ended terms. The term "consisting of" is a closed term, and includes only the devices, methods, compositions, components, structures, steps, or the like specifically listed, and that which is in accordance with U.S. Patent law. "Consisting essentially of" or "consists essentially" or the like, when applied to devices, methods, compositions, components, structures, steps, or the like encompassed by the present disclosure, refers to elements like those disclosed herein, but which may contain additional structural groups, composition components, method steps, etc. Such additional devices, methods, compositions, components, structures, steps, or the like, etc., however, do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the devices, compositions, methods, etc., compared to those of the corresponding devices, compositions, methods, etc., disclosed herein. In further detail, "consisting essentially of" or "consists essentially" or the like, when applied to devices, methods, compositions, components, structures, steps, or the like encompassed by the present disclosure have the meaning ascribed in U.S. Patent law and the term is open-ended, allowing for the presence of more than that which is recited so long as basic or novel characteristics of that which is recited is not changed by the presence of more than that which is recited, but excludes prior art embodiments. When using an open ended term, like "comprising" or "including," it is understood that direct support should be afforded also to "consisting essentially of" language as well as "consisting of" language as if stated explicitly.

[0017] The term "about" as used herein, when referring to a numerical value or range, allows for a degree of variability in the value or range, for example, within 10%, or, in one aspect within 5%, or in another aspect within 2%, of a stated value or of a stated limit of a range. Furthermore, it is understood that even when the term "about" is used in connection with a numerical value, that support should be afforded for the precise numerical value as well.

[0018] As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and/or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary.

[0019] Where features or aspects of the disclosure are described in terms of a list or a Markush group, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group. For example, if X is described as selected from the group consisting of bromine, chlorine, and iodine, claims for X being bromine and claims for X being bromine and chlorine are fully described as if listed individually. For example, where features or aspects of the disclosure are described in terms of such lists, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure is also thereby described in terms of any combination of individual members or subgroups of members of list or Markush group. Thus, if X is described as selected from the group consisting of bromine, chlorine, and iodine, and Y is described as selected from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, and propyl, claims for X being bromine and Y being methyl are fully described and supported.

[0020] It should be noted that ratios, concentrations, amounts, and other numerical data may be expressed herein in a range format. It is to be understood that such a range format is used for convenience and brevity, and thus, should be interpreted in a flexible manner to include not only the numerical values explicitly recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values or sub-ranges encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range includes "about `x` to about `y`". To illustrate, a concentration range of "about 0.1% to about 5%" should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly recited concentration of about 0.1 wt % to about 5 wt %, but also include individual concentrations (e.g., 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4%) and the sub-ranges (e.g., 0.5%, 1.1%, 2.2%, 3.3%, and 4.4%) within the indicated range. In an embodiment, the term "about" can include traditional rounding according to significant figures of the numerical value. In addition, the phrase "about `x` to `y`" includes "about `x` to about `y`".

[0021] As used herein, all percent compositions are given as weight-percentages, unless otherwise stated. When solutions of components are referred to, percentages refer to weight-percentages of the composition including solvent (e.g., water) unless otherwise indicated.

[0022] As will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading this disclosure, each of the individual embodiments described and illustrated herein has discrete components and features that may be readily separated from or combined with the features of any of the other several embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the present disclosure. Any recited method can be carried out in the order of events recited or in any other order that is logically possible.

[0023] It is noted in the present disclosure that when describing the gloves or methods, individual or separate descriptions are considered applicable to one another, whether or not explicitly discussed in the context of a particular example or embodiment. For example, in discussing an elastomeric polymer for use in the glove per se, the method embodiments are also inherently included in such discussions, and vice versa.

[0024] With the above in mind, the present invention is drawn to elastomeric gloves and related methods of manufacture. In one embodiment, an elastomeric glove 10 is provided which includes an elastomeric glove body having a layer made of an elastomeric material such as shown in FIG. 1. A cross-sectional view of the opening of an embodiment of the glove 10 of the present invention is shown in FIG. 2. The elastomeric glove body 26 can have interior surface 20 and exterior surface 22. The interior surface can be coated with a green tea coating composition to form a green tea coating 24 on the interior surface of the elastomeric glove body. In some embodiments, the exterior surface of the glove body can be coated with a green tea flavoring, such as on the exterior surface of the glove body 28. In some embodiments one of either the green tea coating 24 on the interior surface or the green tea flavoring on the exterior surface 28 may be optional.

[0025] The gloves of the present invention can be made of a variety of elastomeric materials available in the industry. Non-limiting examples of elastomeric materials that can be used in the forming of the gloves can include natural rubber latex, synthetic rubber, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl, synthetic nitrile rubber, or combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the elastomeric material can be synthetic nitrile rubber. Other examples of specific elastomeric materials that can be used include styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymers, isoprene rubbers, silicone rubbers, and combinations of these or any of the other rubbers set forth above.

[0026] The elastomeric glove bodies of the gloves of the present invention can have their interior surfaces coated with a green tea coating composition. The green tea coating composition can include green tea and/or green tea extract as well as other components. The green tea or green tea extract can be present as a component of the green tea coating composition such that it can comprise about 0.01 wt % to about 1 wt % of the green tea coating composition. In another embodiment, the green tea extract can be present in the coating in an amount of up to about 10 wt %. In one embodiment, the green tea or green tea extract can comprise about 0.02 wt % to about 0.5 wt % of the green tea coating composition. It is noteworthy that the green tea coating composition can include solvents, such as water, the majority of which will evaporate following application of the green tea coating composition to the glove. Thus, the final green tea coating on the interior of the glove body may have a higher effective concentration of green tea or green tea extract than the initial green tea coating composition.

[0027] The green tea coating composition can be coated on an interior surface of the glove, or an exterior surface, or on both interior and exterior surfaces. In some embodiments, the coating may be applied to only selected portions of the glove, such as on only the fingers, finger tips, specific fingers, the thumb, etc. In some embodiments the coating may cover only the distal portion of one or more fingers or the thumb. In other aspects, the coating may cover the entire length of one or more fingers, or the thumb. In some embodiments, the previously described coatings may cover only, 1, 2, 3, or 4 fingers, and/or the thumb. In some embodiments, the concentration of green tea extract, or amount of coating (i.e. thickness) can be varied in specific locations. Such aspects may fluctuate in an amount required to achieve a desired effect or performance. In some embodiments, the coating may be substantially uniform across all interior or exterior glove surfaces, or both.

[0028] In other embodiments, the coating composition can also include other components such as a thickening agent, a moisturizer or humectant, a biocide, or combinations of these or other components. In one embodiment, the green tea coating composition can include a moisturizer or humectant in an amount of 5 wt % to about 20 wt % based on the total composition. The moisturizer or humectant can be present in an amount of about 7 wt % to about 15 wt % of the green tea coating composition. Non-limiting examples of moisturizers or humectants that can be included in the green tea coating composition include glycerin, sorbitol, propylene glycol, hexylene glycol, butylene glycol, alpha-hydroxy acids, and mixtures thereof among others. In one embodiment the green tea coating composition can include glycerin. In another aspect, the glycerin can be present in an amount of 7 wt % to about 14 wt % of the green tea coating composition. In yet another aspect the glycerin can be present in an amount of about 10 wt % of the green tea coating composition.

[0029] In another embodiment, the green tea coating composition can include a polymeric thickening agent. Non-limiting examples of such agents include acrylate polymers, acrylate copolymers, cross-linked polyacrylic acid copolymer, and the like. Specific commercially available examples of polymeric thickening agents that can be used include Carbopol®, such as Carbopol® 2020. Other non-polymeric thickening agents can also be used in some embodiments or such agents can be used in combination with a polymeric thickening agent.

[0030] The elastomeric gloves of the present invention can also include a green tea flavored coating on a surface of the glove, particularly the exterior surface of the glove. In addition to the green tea flavoring, other flavorings can also be included in the coating of the exterior part of the glove. The green tea flavoring can be derived from natural sources or can be synthetic flavorings. In one embodiment, the coating on the exterior of the glove can also include other components such as fragrance, colorants, additional flavorants, combinations thereof, and the like. In one aspect, a green tea coating can be provided on the inside surface of the glove and a different flavor coating can be provided on the outside surface of the glove. In some embodiments, multiple flavorants can be used on the same glove, for example by putting them on different fingers, etc.

[0031] In some embodiments, the flavoring coating may be coated on substantially the entire exterior surface of the glove. In other aspects, it may be coated on less than the entire exterior surface of the glove. In yet additional aspects, the flavoring may be coated only on fingers and the thumb of the glove. In further embodiments, the flavoring may be coated on only selected fingers of the glove, such as the index finger, the middle finger, and a thumb. However, in further embodiments, the flavoring coat may be limited to any specific finger or thumb, or combinations of fingers, or combinations of finger(s) and thumb. Moreover, in some aspects, the flavoring may be coated on only a portion of a selected finger or thumb, such as the tip, the distal end, a portion beyond a user's first knuckle, a portion beyond a user's second knuckle, or a portion on the inside of the finger and/or thumb, or a portion on the outside of the finger and/or thumb. Nearly any placement of flavoring coat 28 in discrete areas on the outside surface 22 of the glove 10 can be selected.

[0032] On the whole, the elastomeric gloves of the present invention provide excellent protection to the hands of the wearer while providing soothing effects associated with the green tea coating composition on the interior of the glove. Further, when a flavoring coating is used, a pleasant taste can be imparted to the mouth of a subject in which a glove wearer is operating.

[0033] The gloves of the present invention can be made by the methods disclosed herein. Specifically, a method of manufacturing a green tea coated elastomeric glove is provided. A general flow diagram of an embodiment of the method 30 is shown in FIG. 3. The method can include forming an elastomeric glove body utilizing of an elastomeric material 32, applying a green tea coating composition on an interior surface of the elastomeric glove body 34, and/or applying a green tea flavoring composition to an exterior surface of the elastomeric glove body 36. In one embodiment the interior surface of the elastomeric glove body can be coated with the green tea coating composition and the exterior of the glove body can be coated with a green tea flavoring composition.

[0034] The forming of the elastomeric glove body can include dipping a hand shaped mold into a tank of liquid coagulant material followed by dipping the hand shaped mold into a tank of liquid elastomeric material. The liquid coagulant material into which the clean forms are first dipped can be used to assist the gelling or setting of the elastomeric material when the form or mold is dipped into the elastomeric material. The coagulant material can be any known coagulant material known in the art including calcium nitrate among others. It is noteworthy that in some embodiments a coagulant material may not be required.

[0035] The step of dipping the hand shaped mold or form into the elastomeric material can be repeated multiple times depending on the desired properties of the glove and/or the characteristics of the elastomeric material use. The elastomeric material used in formation of the glove can be any of those elastomeric materials described above, or otherwise known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

[0036] The formation of the elastomeric glove body can further include washing, drying or leaching steps. Leaching can be used to remove any excess water or other agents that are not desired. A chlorination step can also be included in the manufacture of the elastomeric glove body. Typically, the chlorination step occurs when the elastomeric glove body has been formed, dried, and cooled. The chlorination can be accomplished by dipping the elastomeric body into a chlorinated solution, e.g. chlorine water, or by passing the gloves through a chlorine gas. The chlorination step can be useful to sterilize the glove body and provide other cleaning benefits.

[0037] Following the formation of the elastomeric body, coatings can be applied to either the interior surface or the exterior surface or both. In one embodiment, the interior surface of the elastomeric glove body is coated with the green tea coating composition. The green tea coating composition can be applied to the interior of the glove through any mechanism capable of achieving such a coating. However, in one embodiment, the green tea coating composition is applied to the interior surface of the glove by spraying the composition onto the interior surface of the glove body. In one embodiment, the spraying can utilize an atomizer. Generally it can be advantageous to apply the green tea coating composition while the elastomeric glove body is still on the mold or form. In some embodiments, the coating can be applied to the glove by dipping one or more selected portions of the glove in a green tea extract formulation. Following the coating of the green tea coating composition, the glove can be allowed to dry. In one embodiment, the green tea coating composition on the glove is dried at a temperature of about 60° C. to about 100° C.

[0038] Following formation of the green tea coating on the surface of the glove, particularly the interior surface, the coated glove body can be removed from the form and turned right-side out. The interior surface of the glove is now oriented with the green tea coating on the inside of the glove. Once the glove has been turned right-side out, the green tea flavoring can be applied to the exterior surface of the glove by spraying or by other mechanism suitable, or capable of creating such a coating. In one embodiment, the green tea flavoring can be applied to the outer surface of the glove body by atomization of the green tea flavoring with an atomizer. In another embodiment, the green tea flavoring can be atomized within a tumbler during its application to the outer surface of the glove body. In still a further embodiment, the green tea flavoring can be applied by includes disposing the elastomeric glove body into a tumbler device, forming a cloud of fine droplets of the green tea flavoring within the tumbler, activating the tumbler to cause the elastomeric glove body to move within the tumbler for a period of time, and deactivating the tumbler.

[0039] Following application of the green tea flavoring, the elastomeric gloves can be dried and packaged into standard packing utilizing automated or manual packaging techniques.

EXAMPLES

Example 1

Preparation of Elastomeric Glove Body

[0040] A glove former is cleaned and prepared for the formation of the elastomeric glove body. Specifically, after the gloves from the previous manufacture are stripped from the former, the former is cleaned with acid, brush, and alkali. First the former is dipped into a tank of 2.0% to 5.0% nitric acid at temperature of 55° C. to 65° C. for a period of time of about 3 seconds to 5 seconds. The forms are then rinsed in a heated water tank prior to dipping into a tank of 2.0% to 5.0% alkali solution for a period of about 6 seconds to 10 seconds. Following the dip in the alkali solution the forms can be brushed to remove any residue and then dipped into a 2.0% to 5.0% surfactant cleaner solution. Following the surfactant solution the forms can again be brushed followed by rinsing with water.

[0041] Once the forms are cleaned the process for forming of the elastomeric body can begin. A layer of coagulant coating is disposed in a tank and the forms can be dipped in the tank for a period of about 2 seconds to 6 seconds. The coagulant in the tank can comprise 9% to 12% calcium nitrate, 1.0% to 1.5% coagulant polymer, and 0.3% to 5% of a wetting agent. The coagulant in the tank can be heated to a temperature of about 55° C. to 60° C. and can have a pH of about 7.5 to 8.5. Following dipping in the coagulant solution the form can be dried.

[0042] The form with the dried coagulant solution is next dipped into a liquid elastomeric material solution (e.g. liquid nitrile). The liquid elastomeric material can be heated to a temperature of about 40° C. to 55° C. and the elastomeric material solution can have a pH of about 9 to 10. The form is dipped in the glove a first time to form a first layer of elastomeric material and then allowed to partially prior to a second dipping into the tank of elastomeric material. Following the second dipping, the form is removed and allowed to dry.

[0043] The dried glove will then be dipped into one or more leaching solutions in order to remove water soluble residue/chemical and particles from the glove. The glove can then be dried. In some embodiments, it can be beneficial to dip the form into chlorine solution or passed through chlorine gas in order to help sterilize the gloves.

[0044] The manufacturing process for the elastomeric body can include addition rinses or post-leaching steps.

Example 2

Coating the Elastomeric Glove with Green Tea Coating Composition

[0045] The elastomeric glove body prepared as in Example 1 can be coated with green tea coating on the interior surface. This green tea coating can be applied to the glove body through the utilization of an atomizer associated with a tank of green tea coating composition. The atomizer converts the liquid green tea coating composition into a fine spray of droplet which is sprayed onto the elastomeric glove body. The green tea coating composition can be prepared utilizing the compositional elements described in Table I below:

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE I Ingredient Amount (Percent) Deionized Water 88.94% Glycerin (USP) 10.00% Carbopol 20/20 0.15% Sodium Hyaluronate 1% solution 0.01% Biocide Preservative 0.75% Sodium Hydroxide 0.1% Green Tea Extract 0.05%

Following application of the green tea coating composition the glove can be dried.

Example 3

Coating the Elastomeric Glove with Green Tea Flavor

[0046] Coated gloves, such as those produced by Example 2, can be coated on an exterior surface with a green tea flavor as described herein. The green tea flavor solution can be prepared utilizing the compositional elements described in Table II below:

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE II Ingredient Amount (kg) Amount (wt %) Green Tea Flavor 24 80 Water 6 20 Total 30 100

[0047] The gloves have been removed from a former and are right-side out. The gloves can be placed into a tumbler having an inlet through which green tea flavor can be passed. The tumbler is closed and an atomizer can be activated to form a fine droplet cloud of the green tea flavor within the tumbler. The tumbler can then be activated in order to cause the tumbler to rotate and the gloves then pass through the fine droplet cloud in order to cause the formation of a layer of green tea flavor on the exterior of the glove. The charging of the tumbler with the fine droplet cloud of green tea flavorant followed by activation of the tumbler can be repeated several times (e.g. 3-8 times) to provide various levels of flavor in the coating of the glove.

[0048] While the forgoing examples are illustrative of the principles of the present invention in one or more particular applications, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications in form, usage and details of implementation can be made without the exercise of inventive faculty, and without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the claims set forth below.

Claims

1. An elastomeric glove, comprising: an glove body having a layer made of an elastomeric material, said glove body having an interior surface and exterior surface; a green tea coating on the interior surface of the glove body; and optionally a green tea flavoring coated on the exterior surface of the glove body.

2. The elastomeric glove of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric material is selected from you group consisting of natural rubber latex, synthetic rubber, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl, synthetic nitrile rubber, or combinations thereof.

3. The elastomeric glove of claim 1, wherein the elastomeric material is synthetic nitrile rubber.

4. The elastomeric glove of claim 1, wherein the green tea coating on the interior surface of the glove includes green tea and glycerine.

5. The elastomeric glove of claim 1, wherein the green tea coating comprises about 0.01 wt % to about 0.1 wt % of green tea extract.

6. The elastomeric glove of claim 1, wherein the green tea coating includes a polymeric thickening agent.

7. The elastomeric glove of claim 1, wherein the green tea coating is applied to the interior surface of the glove is sprayed onto the interior surface of the glove body.

8. The elastomeric glove of claim 1, wherein the green tea flavoring is applied to the outer surface of the glove body by atomization of the green tea flavoring.

9. The elastomeric glove of claim 7, wherein the green tea flavoring is atomized within a tumbler during its application to the outer surface of the glove body.

10. A method of manufacturing a green tea coated elastomeric glove, comprising: forming an elastomeric glove body utilizing of an elastomeric material; applying a green tea coating composition on an interior surface of the elastomeric glove body; optionally applying a green tea flavoring composition to an exterior surface of the elastomeric glove body.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the elastomeric material is selected from the group consisting of natural rubber latex, synthetic rubber, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl, synthetic nitrile rubber, or combinations thereof.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the elastomeric material is synthetic nitrile rubber.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the forming of the elastomeric glove body comprises dipping a hand shaped mold into a tank of liquid coagulant material followed by dipping the hand shaped mold into a tank of liquid elastomeric material.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the applying of the green tea coating is by spraying of the green tea coating composition.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the spraying utilizes an atomizer.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the green tea coating composition includes green tea and glycerine.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the green tea coating composition comprises about 0.01 wt % to about 0.1 wt % of green tea extract.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the green tea coating composition includes a polymeric thickening agent.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein following applying of the green tea coating composition the glove is dried at a temperature of about 60.degree. C. to about 100.degree. C.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein the applying of the green tea flavoring includes the use of an atomizer.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the applying of the green tea flavoring includes disposing the elastomeric glove body into a tumbler device, forming a cloud of fine droplets of the green tea flavoring within the tumbler, activating the tumbler causing the elastomeric glove body to rotated within the tumbler for a period of time, and deactivating the tumbler.

Images