HAND POWDER COMPOSITION PROVIDING ENHANCED SLIP OR GLIDE FEEL

Abstract

A hand powder composition, particularly useful for musicians of necked stringed instruments, comprising a fine moisture absorbing powder in an amount from about 90%-99% by weight of the total composition and a fine polytetrafluoroethylene powder in an amount from about 1%-7% by weight of the total composition. The polytetrafluoroethylene powder may have average particle sizes of about 18-22 m. The moisture absorbing powder may be talcum powder or corn starch, or a combination thereof. A fine alkaline powder may be included to neutralize acidity of perspiration. A fine powdered colorant may be included for approximately matching the color of the composition to a desired color.

Claims

1. A hand powder composition comprising: a fine moisture absorbing powder in an amount from about 90%-99% by weight of the total composition; and a fine polytetrafluoroethylene powder in an amount from about 1%-7% by weight of the total composition.

2. The hand powder composition of claim 1 wherein the average particle sizes of the polytetrafluoroethylene powder are about 18-22 m.

3. The hand powder composition of any one of claims 1-2 wherein the wherein the moisture absorbing powder is talcum powder.

4. The hand powder composition of any one of claims 1-2 wherein the moisture absorbing powder is corn starch.

5. The hand powder composition of any one of claims 1-4 wherein the amount of polytetrafluoroethylene is from about 2%-4% by weight of the composition.

6. The hand powder composition of any one of claims 1-4 wherein the amount of polytetrafluoroethylene is about 3.5% by weight of the composition.

7. The hand powder composition of any one of claims 1-6 further comprising a fine alkaline powder to neutralize acidity of perspiration.

8. The hand powder composition of claims 7 wherein the alkaline powder is sodium bicarbonate in an amount from about 0.25%-1.5% by weight of the composition.

9. The hand powder composition of claims 8 wherein the amount of sodium bicarbonate is about 1% by weight of the composition.

10. The hand powder composition of any one of claims 1-9 further comprising a fine powdered colorant for approximately matching the color of the composition to a desired color.

11. The use of a hand powder composition of any one of claims 1-10 for playing necked stringed musical instruments.

12. The use of a hand powder composition of any one of claims 1-10 on a hand for increasing glide feel between the hand and a neck of a stringed musical instrument.

13. The use of a hand powder composition of any one of claims 1-10 for playing billiards.

14. The use of a hand powder composition of any one of claims 1-10 on a hand for increasing glide feel between the hand and a billiard cue.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] The present invention provides hand powder compositions that provide a combination of desirable properties including moisture absorbency and enhanced slip and glide feel, making it especially useful for musicians playing necked stringed instruments such as guitars, banjos, ukuleles and the like. The hand powder compositions may be used for other applications requiring enhanced slip or glide feel between a hand and an object, such as for example between the hand of a billiard player and the billiard cue in the game of billiards.

[0012] The hand powder composition comprises a fine moisture absorbing powder making up about 90%-99% of the composition by weight, and a fine polytetrafluoroethylene powder making up about 1%-7% of the composition by weight.

[0013] The moisture absorbing powder may be a finely ground starch, such as for example corn starch of the kind used in baby powders. Preferably the moisture absorbing powder is a fine talcum powder such as the kind used in baby powders. The particle size distributions of these finely ground or fine powders are typically such that 100% passes through a 60 mesh screen and not less than 99% passes through a 100 mesh screen and at least 98% passes through a 200 mesh screen.

[0014] The talc that is useful in the present invention is a cosmetic grade of talc, which is a white, odorless, fine powder ground from a naturally occurring rock ore and it typically consists of about 90% hydrous magnesium silicate having a structural formula of Mg.sub.3 (Si.sub.4.O.sub.10).(OH).sub.2, with the remainder consisting of naturally associated minerals such as calcite, chlorite, dolomite, kaolin, and magnesite and containing no asbestos minerals.

[0015] Preferably, the polytetrafluoroethylene powder is a cosmetic grade fine powder having average particle sizes of about 18-22 m as these have been found to provide a desired slip or glide feel. An example of a preferable polytetrafluoroethylene powder for use in the present invention is a product sold as FluoroPURE 8200 by Presperse of N.J., USA. Preferably, the polytetrafluoroethylene powder is present in an amount from about 1% to about 7% of the composition by weight, and more preferably from about 2% to about 4% of the composition by weight, While higher percentages of polytetrafluoroethylene may be used, doing so increases cost and decreases the overall moisture absorbency of the composition.

[0016] The hand powder composition may further include a fine alkaline powder to neutralize acidity of perspiration. Preferably, the alkaline powder is sodium bicarbonate in an amount from about 0.25%-1.5% of the composition by weight.

[0017] In some embodiments, a fine powdered colorant may be added to the composition to achieve a desired color of the overall hand powder composition. For example, the composition may include powdered colorants to approximate a skin tone to make it less noticeable to an audience that the musician is using the hand powder composition.

[0018] An example of a hand powder composition comprising about 95.5% talcum powder, about 3.5% polytetrafluoroethylene powder (FluoroPURE 8200) and about 1% sodium bicarbonate powder, by weight of total composition, has been found to provide the desired advantages of moisture absorbency, superior slip and glide feel of the hand and fingers over the neck and strings of the instrument, and pH balance to reduce the corrosive effect of perspiration on the metal components on the instrument.

[0019] While specific embodiments of the invention have been described, such embodiments are illustrative of the invention only and should not be taken as limiting its scope. In light of the present disclosure, many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, and the invention, therefore, should be construed in accordance with the accompanying claims.