Rubber Journal Asia

Patent for nitrile gloves resolved
US company Tillotson says that Smart Glove and Henry Schein have settled their litigation with Tillotson regarding its US patent for disposable nitrile gloves.

The settlement allows Smart Glove and Henry Schein to sell gloves made with Tillotson’s patent and protects their US customers who have bought them. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Neil Tillotson and Luc DeBecker developed and patented the nitrile glove technology in 1990. The Tillotson patent covered technology related to the production of a synthetic rubber glove that relaxes after being donned and comfortably conforms to the contours of the wearer’s hand. 

The patent was reissued in 1997 and expired in May 2010.