Field of the Invention

[1] The present invention relates to an article for the treatment of dry skin, eczema and to improve the appearance of skin and method for treatment of dry skin, eczema and to improve the appearance of skin. In the preferred embodiment, the article refers to a glove. The article is however not limited to this form.

Background of the Invention

[2] Currently, for medical (e.g. treatment of skin conditions such as eczema) and cosmetic purposes (to improve the appearance of skin), it is recommended for people to moisturise and wear cotton/breathable clothing. For more extreme eczema cases, wet wrapping is applied, which is similar to above but the material is soaked in water to help ease itching.

[3] These options do not help to provide the optimal balance of skin moisture and breathability, which minimises irritation and promotes healing. Moisturising combined with cotton clothing generally provides too little moisture due to wicking by the cotton/breathable clothing (which can dry out the skin, irritate skin conditions and reduce healing) and wet wrapping provides too much moisture, for mild to moderate cases of dry skin (which can irritate skin conditions, encourage scratching and reduce healing). These options also do not maintain moisture for a sufficient period. Further, wet wrapping is inconvenient time consuming and messy. Other moisturising gloves prefilled with moisturising oils or creams also provide too much moisture and too little breathability due the non-porous glove material used to hold said moisturising oils or creams. These gloves also have little dexterity and inappropriate additives (oils, creams etc) for people with sensitive skin or skin conditions.

[4] The present invention seeks to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, or to at least provide an alternative.

[5] It is to be understood that, if any prior art information is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the information forms part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Summary of the Invention

[6] According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a skin treatment article for holding moisture to a patient's skin while maintaining breathability, the article being made from porous plastic Polyethylene (PE) sheet material or other non-woven fabric capable of retaining moisture. [7] In one embodiment, the article is a glove comprising first and second hand shaped porous layers bonded to each other at their common peripheries apart from a cuff portion which defines the glove opening.

[8] In another embodiment, the sheet material or fabric has spaced micro-apertures in a symmetrical hole pattern.

[9] In another embodiment, the sheet material or fabric has a thickness within the range of 0.05 mm - 0.3 mm, hole size of 100 - 1400 microns, and a basis weights of 10 - 88 gsm.

[10] In another embodiment, the article comprises a generally tubular shaped body.

[1 1 ] In another embodiment, the article is at least partly elastic.

[12] In another embodiment, the article is generally rectangular and comprises longitudinal edges which can be joined to each over.

[13] In another embodiment, the article further comprises an additional external breathable fabric outer layer to the sheet material or non-woven fabric layer.

[14] In another embodiment, the fabric outer layer is formed separate to the glove.

[15] In another embodiment, the article further comprises a cuff attachment means.

[16] In another embodiment, the article further comprises an additional external vapor permeable, liquid impervious layer.

[17] In another embodiment, the porous layers are attached via stitching, glue or moulding to the external breathable fabric outer layer to provide a washable and reusable glove.

[18] In another embodiment, the article further comprises an additional middle layer between the fabric outer layer and the sheet material or non-woven fabric layer, the additional middle layer being made from absorbent sponge like material that will hold moisturising product and release moisturizing product via applied pressure.

[19] In another embodiment, the moisturizing product is solid at room temperature and becomes liquid when subjected to heat from pressure or from the human body.

[20] In another embodiment, the middle layer can receive additional moisturizing product through openings where hollow implements can push additional moisturizing product into the middle layer.

[21 ] In another embodiment, the middle layer comprises moisturizing product contained in rupturable capsules. [22] In another embodiment, the further comprises an additional non-porous temporary barrier layer between the middle layer and the sheet material or non-woven fabric layer, wherein the temporary barrier layer can be ruptured using pressure.

[23] The present invention also provides a method of skin treatment, the method comprising:

applying moisturiser and/or topical creams to the affected portion of the skin; and wearing the article of any one of the above to enclose the moisturised affected portion of the skin.

[24] Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed. Brief Description of the Drawings

[25] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[26] Figures 1 and 2 show a skin treatment glove in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2A is a schematic cross-section of the glove of Figures 1 and 2;

[27] Figure 3 shows a skin treatment band in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3A is a schematic cross-section of the band of Figure 3;

[28] Figure 4 is a modified embodiment of the skin treatment glove of Figure 1 comprising an additional external breathable layer fabric, with a section of the external layer removed for illustration purposes; Figure 4A is a schematic cross-section of the glove of Figure 4;

[29] Figure 5 is a modified embodiment of the skin treatment glove of Figure 4 further comprising a cuff, the glove comprising a skin treatment inner layer attached (via stitching, glue, moulding, etc.) to an external breathable fabric outer layer, with a section of the external layer removed for illustration purposes. The resulting glove is washable and reusable; Figure 5A is a schematic cross-section of the glove of Figure 5; and

[30] Figure 6 is a schematic cross-section of a modified embodiment of the skin treatment glove of Figure 5 further comprising a vapor permeable, liquid impervious external layer.

Description of Embodiments

[31 ] It should be noted in the following description that like or the same reference numerals in different embodiments denote the same or similar features. [32] Figures 1 and 2 show a skin treatment glove 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The skin treatment glove 10 comprises first and second identical hand shaped layers 12a and 12b which are bonded to each other at their common peripheries 14, apart from a cuff portion 16 which defines the glove opening 18. The peripheries 14 are bonded via melting, glue, and/or stitching together as appropriate.

[33] The layers 12 are each made from a fine mesh porous plastics film which in the embodiment is made from Polyethylene (PE) sheet material. The sheet material has spaced micro-apertures in a symmetrical hole pattern which provides precise rates of permeability.

[34] The sheet material is a lightweight nonwoven netting mesh made from an extrusion, embossing and orientation process. The sheet material provides flexibility, purity, high strength and non-adherent to skin properties.

[35] In the embodiment, each layer 12 has a thickness within the range of 0.002" - 0.012" (0.05 mm - 0.3 mm), hole size of 100 - 1400 microns, and a basis weights of 10 - 88 gsm.

[36] One such suitable sheet material is sold under the trade mark DELNET by Delstar Technologies, Inc of the USA.

[37] Other non-woven fabrics (or nets as they are also called) can also be used which are specifically made to face skin & allow breathability. Such fabrics are used in the medical industry for their non-stick properties, such as the wound facing layer of bandage or nonadherent gauze.

[38] The preferred embodiment uses the DELNET D218NAT material which can be used on existing glove machines and allows the peripheries 14 to be sealed.

[39] In use, a user suffering from dry skin or eczema or who want to improve the appearance of their skin will put the desired moisturiser and/or topical creams on their hands and then wear the skin treatment glove 10 over the moisturised hands. The skin treatment glove 10 is breathable which allows the skin of the hands to breath, and at the same time the skin treatment glove 10 maintains the level of moisturiser applied to the skin of the hands for a longer period compared to the prior art.

[40] The skin treatment article is made from a porous plastic (PE) film that helps to retain moisture on the skin while allowing the skin to still breathe, This helps sooth dry, cracked and/or irritated skin, and improves the appearance of skin. It can also promote healing of skin.

[41 ] Dryer areas like hands, feet, elbows, and knees have thin skin and tend to lose moisture faster than other areas on the body. When used, the skin treatment article provides the following benefits: • Enable the user to retain a better balance of moisture and breathability compared to the prior art - which promotes healing and improves the appearance of skin.

• Protection - from further damage and irritants

• Cost savings & effectiveness - the moisture retention benefits of the inserts helps retain moisturiser on/in the user's skin by reducing the amount lost to clothing &/or evaporation, which increases the effectiveness of the cream & reduces the amount required & associated costs.

[42] Figure 3 shows a skin treatment band 10b according to another embodiment of the present invention. The skin treatment band 10b utilises the same material as the skin treatment glove 10 above.

[43] The skin treatment band 10b comprises a generally tubular shaped body 20 which can be at least partly elastic to be worn over and cover part of a user's limb. This allows the user to treat dry skin areas of the arms and legs.

[44] In a possible modification, the skin treatment band is generally rectangular and comprises longitudinal edges which can be joined to each over via suitable means such as buttons, hooks, glue, zippers, or hook and loop fasteners (e.g, VELCRO). This allows the skin treatment band 10b to be adjustable in width dimensions to suit different limbs as needed.

[45] Figure 4 is a modified embodiment of the skin treatment glove 10c comprising an additional external breathable fabric layer 30. The breathable fabric layer 30 is also glove shaped and made from suitable material such as cotton, bamboo, etc. The breathable fabric layer 30 can be made integral/attached to the porous layers 12 or can be separate and worn over the porous layers 12. The breathable fabric layer 30 in use can further assist with retaining moisture and can also hold additional moisturiser if desired.

[46] Figure 5 is a modified embodiment 10d of the skin treatment glove 10 of Figure 4, further comprising a cuff attachment means 40. This glove comprises a skin treatment inner porous layer 12 attached (via stitching, glue, moulding, etc.) to the external breathable fabric outer layer 30. The resulting glove is washable and reusable. The glove is reusable and can be washed.

[47] This embodiment also includes the cuff attachment means 40 which is an adjustable strap or an elastic strap disposed at the glove opening 18. The strap can include any suitable securement means such as hook and loop fasteners (VELCRO), buckle, ties, buttons, zippers, etc.

[48] The cuff attachment means 40 secures the skin treatment glove 10d to the user's hands to avoid removal thereof for example during sleep. [49] Another possible embodiment of the present invention includes a porous film 12 as for the skin treatment glove 10 above bonded via melting, glue, stitching or otherwise to a breathable fabric layer. This embodiment can be made in any shape and/or dimensions to suit.

[50] Another possible embodiment of the present invention is a glove 10e shown in Figure 6 which is a modified embodiment of the glove 10c or 10d. The glove 10e includes a porous film 12 as for the skin treatment glove 10 above bonded via melting, glue, stitching or otherwise to a breathable fabric layer 30, which is then within a vapor permeable, liquid impervious external layer 50. This embodiment can also be made in any dimensions to suit to fit various appendages This will provide waterproofing in required situations (e.g. rain) with the outer layer 50 being porous to allow airflow.

[51 ] The present invention thus provides in one form a skin treatment glove which can be worn by itself or with gloves made from breathable material e.g. cotton or bamboo - the cotton glove provide additional protection while retaining breathability.

[52] The skin treatment band can also be worn with a suitable tube shaped external layer made from breathable material e.g. cotton or bamboo to hold the skin treatment band in place and provide a layered benefit as noted above.

[53] Whilst preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be apparent to skilled persons that modifications can be made to the embodiments described.

[54] In another embodiment, an additional middle layer (between layer 12 and exterior layer 30) can be provided, the additional middle layer being made from absorbent, porous, stretchable, sponge like material - that will hold moisturising product liquids or solids (creams, oils etc.) The moisturising product can then be released onto hand using pressure from inserting hand into glove and/or squeezing the hand into a fist - to release additional moisture when required.

[55] The balance of moisture will be retained i.e. not too much moisture, due to the wicking ability of layer 30. Also, there will be no loss of breathability as all layers are porous. The additional middle layer will also help to increase moisture when needed and/or deal with loss of liquid during packaging/transit etc.

[56] This new middle layer can also hold solids that become liquid at room temperature or when subjected to heat, such as heat from pressure or heat from the human body - so no loss of liquid when in packaging. [57] In another embodiment, this middle layer can also receive additional liquid through openings where narrow, hollow, needle like implements (dispensing tips) can push additional liquids into the spongey layer.

[58] In another embodiment, additional small non porous pockets between layer 12 and the new spongey middle layer (and/or between the sponger middle layer and layer 30) could be used to contain liquids that can be easily ruptured using pressure from inserting the hand into the glove and/or squeezing hand into fist - these pockets are only small (so as not to affect breathability) and are scattered at various points in the glove where additional moisture is required and where the liquid can be easily dispersed, via pressure and gravity, over the hand e.g. finger tips & joints, knuckles, palms.

[59] In another embodiment, an additional thin, non-porous temporary barrier layer between layer 12 and the new spongey middle layer (and/or between sponger middle layer and layer 30) could be used to stop liquids in the spongey middle layer from being released prematurely - this temporary barrier layer can then be easily ruptured using pressure from inserting the hand into the glove and/or squeezing the hand into a fist, when the glove is ready to be used.