4. DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
This invention, in general, relates to leather processing. More particularly, this invention relates to impregnating leather with a chemical composition comprising a liquid carrier and a herbal extract.
Prior to usage of leather articles, leather articles may not be cleaned meticulously to remove accumulated dirt. As a result, the leather articles may get inhabited by fungus and bacteria in due course of time. Leather articles may cause sweat in the region of contact of the leather articles with the individual. Typically, leather articles provide warmth but may not provide hygienic and medicinal benefits to the individual. In some cases, the leather articles may contain chemicals that may cause skin irritation, fungal activity, bacterial activity, viral activity, infections, etc.
Hence, there is a need for treating leather with a chemical composition comprising a herbal extract that conveys anti-bacterial properties, anti-viral properties, anti-fungal properties, anti-inflammatory properties, and anti-allergic properties to leather and leather articles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described in the detailed description of the invention.
The chemical composition and the method disclosed herein addresses the above stated need for treating leather. The chemical composition disclosed herein comprises a herbal extract that conveys anti-bacterial properties, anti-viral
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properties, anti-fungal properties, anti-inflammatory properties, and anti-allergic properties to the leather.
The chemical composition comprises a predetermined quantity of a liquid carrier and from 5%-15% by weight of a herbal extract. The chemical composition comprising the liquid carrier and the herbal extract is herein referred to as a "herbal composition". The liquid carrier is, for example, water. The herbal extract is obtained from one or more herbs selected from a group comprising pongamia pinnata (karanja), cassia fistula (argawadha), acacia catechu (kadira), albizia lebbeck (shreesha), triphala, glycyrrhiza glabra (yestimadhu), acacia concinna (saptala), tinospora cordifolia (amrita), saussurea lappa (kostum), lawsonia inermis (mehandi or henna), vitex negundo (nirgundi), sapindus trifoliatus (reetha), rubia cordifolia (raanjista), wrightia tinctoria (kutaja), azadirachta indica (neem), ocimum tenuiflorum (tulsi), and withania somnifera (aswagandha). The herb triphala is obtained from emblica officinalis (amalaki), terminalia bellirica (bibhitaki), and terminalia chebula (haritaki).
The herbal composition is impregnated into the leather during different stages of leather processing. For example, the leather may be impregnated with the herbal composition during pickling of skins or hides. The leather may also be impregnated with the herbal composition during chrome tanning of the pickled skins or hides. The leather may also be impregnated with the herbal composition during fat liquoring and retanning of the chrome tanned leather. Furthermore, the leather may also be directly spray coated with the herbal composition after processing.
The herbal composition imparts the leather with medicinal properties. The medicinal properties, for example, anti-allergic properties, anti-fungal properties, anti-inflammatory properties, anti-viral properties, and anti-bacterial properties, are transdermally transferred to a physical contact surface of the individual, for example, the individual's skin, by the release of the herbal extract from the
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impregnated leather on absorption of sweat from the physical contact surface of the individual.
The impregnated leather may be used to manufacture wearable leather articles, for example, a golf glove, a glove for use in dermatology, etc. A soothing effect is rendered by the glove for use in dermatology to the hand of an individual.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, exemplary constructions of the invention are shown in the drawings. However, the invention is not limited to the specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed herein.
FIGS. lA-lB exemplarily illustrate a method of treating leather with a chemical composition comprising a herbal extract during different stages of leather processing.
FIG. 2 exemplarily illustrates a tabular column showing the test results of the % by weight release of herbal extracts from leather on treatment with artificial sweat.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIGS. lA-lB exemplarily illustrate a method of treating leather with a chemical composition during different stages of leather processing. The chemical composition comprises a predetermined quantity of a liquid carrier and from 5%-15% by weight of a herbal extract. The chemical composition is herein referred to as a "herbal composition". The herbal extract may, for example, be in the form of a powder. The herbal composition is impregnated into leather during processing of skins or hides.

The herbal extract is, for example, obtained from one or more herbs selected from a group comprising pongamia pinnata (karanja), cassia fistula (argawadha), acacia catechu (kadira), albizia lebbeck (shreesha), triphala, glycyrrhiza glabra (yestimadhu), acacia concinna (saptala), tinospora cordifolia (amrita), saussurea lappa (kostum), lawsonia inermis (mehandi or henna), vitex negundo (nirgundi), sapindus trifoliatus (reetha), rubia cordifolia (manjista), wrightia tinctoria (kutaja), azadirachta indica (neem), ocimum tenuiflorum (tulsi), and withania somnifera (aswagandha). The herb triphala is obtained from emblica officinalis (amalaki), terminalia bellirica (bibhitaki), and terminalia chebula (haritaki). The herbal extract imparts medicinal properties to the leather. The medicinal properties comprise, for example, anti-viral properties, anti-allergic properties, anti-fungal properties, anti-inflammatory properties, anti-bacterial properties, etc. When an individual wears a leather article, for example, a glove, impregnated with the herbal composition, the medicinal properties are expected to transdermally transfer to the physical contact surface of the individual by release of the herbal extract from the impregnated leather on absorption of sweat from the physical contact surface of the individual.
The properties and uses of the herbal extracts explained below are obtained from ayurvedic literature. Although the herbal extracts have been described to cure various diseases by directly administering the herbal extracts, the herbal extract impregnated in leather is expected to provide wellness, hygiene, and relief from skin allergies on long term usage of the impregnated leather.
The herbal extract obtained from vitex negundo (nirgundi) comprises anti¬bacterial, anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory properties. The herbal extract obtained from vitex negundo (nirgundi) is used for curing rheumatism, ulcers, wounds, etc.
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The herbal extract obtained from seeds and barks of pongamia pinnata (karanja) is used for treating inflammations, leprous sores, chronic fever, bronchitis, whooping cough, anemia, leucoderma, herpes, scabies, leprosy, and ulcers. The herbal extract obtained from seeds and barks of pongamia pinnata (karanja) is also used as an anthelmintic, a stomachic, a depurative, etc.
The herbal extract obtained from cassia fistula (argawadha) comprises anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, analgesic, anti-cancer, and anti-pyretic properties. The herbal extract obtained from cassia fistula (argawadha) is used for treating skin diseases, infected ulcers, anti-inflammatory boils, and leprosy. The herbal extract obtained from cassia fistula (argawadha) is also used for treating cases of dermatophytic infections, epidermophytosis, scabies, etc.
The herbal extract obtained from sapindus trifoliatus (reetha) is used as an expectorant and an emetic contraceptive. The herbal extract obtained from sapindus trifoliatus (reetha) is also used in the treatment of excessive salivation, epilepsy, chlorosis, and migraines. Saponin present in the herbal extract obtained from sapindus trifoliatus (reetha) inhibits tumor cell growth and is used in the treatment of eczema psoriasis for removing freckles. The herbal extract obtained from sapindus trifoliatus (reetha) comprises insecticidal properties and is used for removing lice from scalp.
The herbal extract obtained from the roots of rubia cordifolia (manjista) comprises anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-viral properties The herbal extract obtained from the roots of rubia cordifolia (manjista) is used in the treatment of leprosy, leucoderma, wounds, ulcers, intestinal debility, tubercular conditions of the skin, slow healing of broken bones, rickets, etc.
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The herbal extract obtained from wrlghtia tinctoria (kutaja) comprises astringent and anti-inflammatory properties. The leaves of wrightia tinctoria (kutaja) are used in the treatment of different skin disorders for example herpes, and scalp disorders. The herbal extract obtained from wrightia tinctoria (kutaja) is also effective in treating psoriasis and dermatitis.
The herbal extract obtained from acacia catechu (kadira) is used for treating flatulence, catarrh, ulcers, foul ulcers, bed sores, wounds, leprosy, leucoderma, helmenthiasis, anorexia, diarrhoea, dysentery, fever, cough, anemia, diabetes, pruritus, and skin diseases. The herbal extract obtained from the bark of acacia catechu (kadira) may be used for treating leprosy, leucoderma, skin diseases, and foul ulcers. Acacia catechu (kadira) may be used in the form of an injection to treat patients suffering from gonorrhoea.
Ocimum tenuiflorum (tulsi) is a bitter plant. The herbal extract obtained from ocimum tenuiflorum (tulsi) is used for treating cardiopathy, blood disorders, leucoderma, asthma, bronchitis, catarrhal fever, hepatopathy, vomiting, gastropathy in children, hepatopathy, vomiting, genitourinary disorders, ringworm, verminosis, and skin diseases. The herbal extract obtained from the leaves of ocimum tenuiflorum (tulsi) is used as a stomachic in treating gastric disorders of children.
The leaves and roots of the plant lawsonia inermis (mehandi or henna) are bitter and acrid. The herbal extract obtained from lawsonia inermis (mehandi or henna) is used as a refrigerant, an expectorant, and as an astringent. The herbal extract obtained from lawsonia inermis (mehandi or henna) has anti-inflammatory and anti-constipating properties. The herbal extract of lawsonia inermis (mehandi or henna) is used for treating burning sensation, wounds, ulcers, cough, bronchitis, dysentery, jaundice, anemia, dipsia, leprosy, skin disorders, hair fall, and premature graying of hair.
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The herbal extract obtained from withania somnifera (aswagandha) is used as a nervine tonic and as a muscle toner. The herbal extract obtained from fruits, leaves, and seeds of the plant withania somnifera (aswagandha) are used as aphrodisiacs, diuretics, and used for treating memory loss.
The herbal extract obtained from saussurea lappa (kostum) is used as a skin tonic and a blood purifier. The herbal extract obtained from saussurea lappa (kostum) promotes blood circulation. The herbal extract obtained from saussurea lappa (kostum) is used for management of higher mental function deficiency and also as a brain tonic.
The herbal extract obtained from tinospora cordifolia (amrita) is used for treating burning sensations, hyperdipsia, skin diseases, leprosy, inflammations, arthritis, etc. The herbal extract obtained from tinospora cordifolia (amrita) comprises anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, digestive, carminative, and rejuvenating properties.
The herbal extract obtained from albizia lebbeck (shreesha) comprises anti-bacterial, anti-allergic, analgesic, anti-fungal and anti-cancer properties. The herbal extract obtained from albizia lebbeck (shreesha) is used for treating cough, asthma, skin eruptions, leprosy, leucoderma, wounds, ulcers, inflammations, etc.
The herbal extract obtained from triphala comprises extracts from emblica officinalis (amalaki), terminalia bellirica (bibhitaki), and terminalia chebula (haritaki). Triphala comprises anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, anti-fungal, anti¬inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-ulcer properties. The herbal extract obtained from triphala is also used in treating wounds, ulcers, inflammation, skin diseases, leprosy, hyper acidity, cough, anemia, arthritis, etc.
The herbal extract obtained from glycyrrhiza glabra (yestimadhu) is used in the treatment of hyperdipsia, cough, bronchitis, gastric ulcers, fever, skin
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diseases, hiccoughs, and anemia. The herbal extract obtained from glycyrrhiza glabra (yestimadhu) may be externally applied on cuts and wounds.
The herbal extract obtained from acacia concinna (saptala) is used for cleaning hair. The herbal extract obtained from acacia concinna (saptala) promotes hair growth and prevents dandruff. The herbal extract obtained from acacia concinna (saptala) is also used for preventing skin dryness and blemishes.
The herbal extract obtained from the bark of azadirachta indica (neem) is used for treating hyperdipsia, leprosy, skin diseases, eczema, leucoderma, malarial fever, wounds, ulcers, burning sensation, tumor, tubercular glands, vomiting, intestinal worms, hegatopathy, cough, bronchitis, and diabetes. The bark used for obtaining the herbal extract is bitter, acrid, anti-periodic, vulnerary, and insecticidal. The herbal extract obtained from the bark of azadirachta indica (neem) acts as an astringent, refrigerant, an expectorant and is also used in the preparation of liver tonic.
Leather processing involves steps namely, removal of unwanted substances, tanning, and imparting desirable properties to the leather. The first step is to remove the unwanted substances, for example, salt, dirt, dung, and non-collagenous materials from raw skins or hides. The second step is to stabilize the fine collagen network by tanning. The third step is to impart desirable properties such as fullness, tightness, softness, and color.
The steps involved in the method of processing 101 skins or hides to obtain leather are soaking the skins or hides, liming, unhairing, reliming, and fleshing the skins or hides. The fleshed skins or hides are subjected to washing, deliming, bating, pickling 101a, and chrome tanning 101b. Chrome tanning converts skins or hides to leather. The leather is then subjected to basifying 101c, sammying lOld, splitting lOle, shaving lOlf, washing lOlg, rechroming lOlh, washing lOli, and neutralizing IDlj. The neutralized leather is then washed lOlk
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and subjected to fat liquoring and retanning 1011. The leather is then piled and assorted into different categories of suede leather and garment leather. Suede leather and garment leather are crusted. The crust leathers are subject to wetting by a wetting agent. The leather is then dyed and fat liquored. The dyed and fat liquored leather is finished and a coating of slip agents are applied.
The method of leather processing and impregnating the leather with the herbal composition during different stages of leather processing is explained as follows. The herbal composition is prepared 102 using one or more of the herbal extracts. The herbal extract is dissolved in a liquid carrier at a preset temperature to obtain a herbal mixture. The herbal mixture is then filtered for obtaining a herbal filtrate. The herbal filtrate is obtained as explained in the example below:
Example 1: 15% by weight of one or more of the herbal extracts is dissolved in 100% of water at 60°C for a predetermined amount of time, for example, for 6 to 8 hours. The dissolved herbal mixture is then filtered, for example, using a filter cloth. The herbal filtrate obtained after filtering is used for treating the leather.
Raw skins or hides are soaked in water with antiseptic and wetting agents to free the skins or hides from salt, dirt, dung, and blood soluble proteins. The soaked skins or hides are then limed to remove the hair, excess flesh, unwanted soluble proteins, and fatty matter. Liming is carried out with sodium sulphide, lime, and water to open up the fiber structure. Liming is performed for unhairing. Unhairing comprises removal of unwanted hair from the skins or hides. The unhaired skins or hides are then relimed with lime and plumping agents to plump up the skins or hides, dissolve fatty matter, and remove soluble proteins. The skins or hides are then fleshed to remove excess flesh in the skins or hides. The fleshed skins or hides are subjected to washing in water to remove excess lime and soluble proteins. The fleshed skins or hides are then delimed with deliming salts, for example, ammonium sulphate and ammonium chloride to remove the lime.
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The skins or hides are then bated with bating enzymes to remove denatured proteins. The sicins or hides are then washed in water. The washed skins or hides are pickled. The step of pickling involves treating the delimed and bated skins or hides with common salt and mixture of formic acid and sulphuric acid in a drum to reduce or bring down the pH of the skins or hides to a condition required for tanning. In one embodiment, the skins or hides are impregnated 103 with the herbal composition during the step of pickling. For example, 80% of water and 10% by weight of common salt is added to a drum. The drum with the skin or hides is run for 20 minutes. Additionally, 0.5% by weight of formic acid, 5% of water, 1% by weight of sulphuric acid mixed with 10% of water is added to the drum at 10 minute intervals. The drum is then run for 60 minutes to equilibrate pH to a range between 2.8 and 3. From 5% to 10% by weight of the herbal composition comprising one or more of the herbal extracts is added and the drum is run for one hour. The hides or skins are then piled over night.
The step of pickling is followed by degreasing to remove natural grease present in the skins or hides. Due to degreasing of skins or hides, the pH level of skins or hides increases. Hence, the step of repickling is carried out on degreased skins or hides. The step of repickling is followed by a step of chrome tanning. Chrome tanning is a step of tanning the skins or hides, where putrescible matter is converted into non-putrescible matter. Chrome tanning may be performed after 24 hours by draining 50% of the pickle bath from the drum. In chrome tanning, 8% by weight of basic chromium salt is used in the pickle bath. The % weights are based on the pelt weight of the skins or hides. Pelts are the untanned skins or hides. Chrome tanning step converts the repickled skins or hides to chrome tanned leather. The chrome tanning imparts high thermal resistance to the chrome tanned leather. The repickled skins or hides may be impregnated 103 with the herbal composition during the step of chrome tanning.
After achieving the desired level of penetration of chrome, the chrome is fixed in the leather by a step called basification. Basification is the step of fixing
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the chrome onto the leather. The leather after chrome tanning and basiflcation is piled for a day to further allow the chrome to be fixed to the leather.
The step of sammying follows chrome tanning and basiflcation. The chrome tanned leather Is sammed in a sammying machine to remove the excess moisture and conditioned for subsequent machine operations such as splitting and shaving. If the leather is thicker than a certain level, the splitting step is performed on the leather. The leather is shaved after the sammying step.
The leather is generally of non-uniform thickness. The leather of non¬uniform thickness is to be leveled down through shaving to obtain uniform thickness as determined by the end use of the leather. The shaved leather is washed in water to regulate the moisture content of the leather. The leather may get dry in some portions while splitting and shaving. Therefore, the leather needs wetting-back for further processing. The shaved leather is then rechromed. In the rechroming step, 4% by weight of basic chromium sulphate is used in order to incorporate more chromium in the leather and further improve the thermal resistance, dyeability, fullness, strength, etc. of the leather. The % weight is based on the shaved weight of the leather. The rechromed leather is washed in plain water to remove the unfixed chromium sulphate. In order to neutralize the free acid present in the leather and to raise the pH for conditioning the leather for subsequent operation, the leather is neutralized through the neutralization step. The neutralization step involves treating the leather with a mixture of sodium formate and sodium bicarbonate in a predetermined proportion. The neutralized leather is then washed in plain water in order to remove the salts formed during neutralization step.
A fat liquoring and retanning step follows the neutralization step. The neutralized leather is treated with 8% by weight of synthetic fat liquor or with mixture of synthetic fat liquors and retanned with a blend of synthetic retanning agents. The % weight is based on the shaved weight of the leather. Retanning is
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performed on the leather to obtain the required feel, softness, fullness of the leather, and eventually to obtain a good nap in the case of suede leather and nubuck leather. The step of fat liquoring is carried out to obtain a predetermined degree of softness of the leather. The leather is impregnated 103 with the herbal composition during the steps of fat liquoring and retanning and post tanning.
The step of retanning and fat liquoring is performed as follows:
1.0% by weight of a neutralizing agent, for example, vintan NG is added to 100% of water. The leather along with the neutralizing agent is drummed for 20 minutes. 0.75% by weight of ammonium bicarbonate is then added to raise the pH to 5.4 in three feeds and the mixture is drummed for 30 minutes. The leather is then washed and drained.
For processing the leather using a herbal extract, the retanning and fat liquoring process is performed using fresh water. For example, 3% by weight of a retanning agent syntan such as a novaltan PF is added to 100% of water at 60°C. The leather along with the retanning mixture is run for 20 minutes in the drum. Furthermore, 5% by weight of polymer retanning agent such as a novaltan MAP is added to the leather and drummed for 30 minutes. 5% by weight of basyntan AN is then added to the leather and drummed for 30 minutes. Further, 5% by weight of pellastol 94S, 5% by weight of pellastol ES, 5% by weight of proval BA, 2% by weight of dologen PM, 0.1% by weight of lemongrass oil, 0.5% by weight of vetiver oil, and 0.5% by weight of tergolix A are added and drummed for 60 minutes. The herbal filtrate of 15% by weight of the herbal extract is added to the drum and run for 60 minutes. Finally, fixing is performed by adding 3% by weight of formic acid in 4 to 6 feeds at 10 minutes interval and drumming for 20 minutes.
The example below illustrates the composition and impregnation of the herbal composition into leather during retanning and fat liquoring.
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Example 2: 15% by weight of the herbal extract obtained from vitex negundo (nirgundi) is dissolved in 100% of water at 60°C for 8 hours. The dissolved vitex ningundo extract is then filtered using a filter cloth. The herbal filtrate of vitex ningundo extract obtained after filtering is used for treating the leather. The herbal filtrate of vitex ningundo extract is added to the drum and run for 60 minutes. 3% by weight of formic acid is then added in 4 to 6 feeds at 10 minutes intervals and is drummed for 20 minutes after the last feed. The % weights are based on the shaved weight of the leather.
Alternatively, in example 2, the herbal extract used may be selected from the group comprising pongamia pinnata (karanja), cassia fistula (argawadha), acacia catechu (kadira), albizia lebbeck (shreesha), triphala, glycyrrhiza glabra (yestimadhu), acacia concinna (saptala), tinospora cordifolia (amrita), saussurea lappa (kostum), lawsonia inermis (mehandi or henna), sapindus trifoliatus (reetha), rubia cordifolia (manjista), wrightia tinctoria (kutaja), azadirachta indica (neem), ocimum tenuiflorum (tulsi), and withania somnifera (aswagandha).
After retanning and fat liquoring, the leathers are piled overnight. On the subsequent day the leathers are lightly set, dried, conditioned and staked in a staking machine to obtain a predetermined degree of the softness. The leathers are then toggled, trimmed, buffed on the flesh side with different grits of emery paper to raise the fine nap on the flesh side. After the leather has undergone the post tanning operations and other required mechanical operations, the leather is brought to dried conditions and the step is called crusting. At this stage the leather is called crust leather. Before the crust leather is dyed into different shades, the crust leather is sorted into different categories and grades of suede garment leather and grain garment leather.
The crust leathers are further processed as follows. The crust leathers that include both suede garment and grain garment leathers are wet back in a drum containing 1000% water, 1% by weight of a wetting agent and 1% by weight of
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liquor ammonia, overnight. On the subsequent day, the drum is run for one hour and washed in three changes of water to remove the wetting agents from the leather. The leathers are then further dyed and fat liquored. The % weights are based on the shaved weight of the leather.
The step of dyeing and fat liquoring is performed as follows. 500% of hot water (60°C) on crust weight is added with 1% by weight of a dye leveling agent and run for 10 minutes. From 6%-8% by weight of a blend of dye mixture is then added and run for 40 minutes. 6%-10% by weight of synthetic fat liquor of blend is added and run for 45 minutes. Finally, 2%-3% by weight of formic acid in 30% of water is added in 6 feeds at 5 minutes intervals and finally the drum is run for 15 minutes. The dyed leather may also be impregnated with the herbal composition. The % weights are based on the shaved weight of the leather.
After checking for exhaustion, the leathers are rinsed in cold water and then the leathers meant for suede garment are drained, by piling the leather for a particular time. The drained leathers are then set and hooked for drying. The grain garment leathers are piled in a grain to grain manner on, for example, a wooden horse over night. The following day, these leathers are lightly set and dried, toggled, trimmed and finished as follows:
The finishing step is performed using a seasoning agent. The seasoning agent is obtained by mixing 50 parts of pigment paste,*100 parts of soft acrylic micro resin binder, 20 parts of wax emulsion, 20 parts of feel modifier, 20 parts of fillers, and 5 parts of ammonia. Water is added to bring the mixture to 1000 parts. The above seasoning agent is sprayed on the leather through an auto spray machine, and dried in between each coat, and checked for good covering.
Finished leather articles may optionally be given a direct spray coat of the herbal composition. The direct spray coating may be used to impregnate the herbal composition to non-impregnated leathers. The direct spray coating may
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also be used to restore and recharge the existing herbal composition in the impregnated leathers.
The herbal composition is used in the retanning and fat liquoring step of processing garment leather, nubuck leather and glove leather separately. The herbal composition is expected to have very good health benefits on human beings, when the leather articles impregnated with the herbal composition are used by the human beings in the form of garments and leather gloves.
The finished leather is given a top coat using nitro-cellulose lacquer emulsions and water in a particular proportion and dried. The top coated leather is then provided with a spray treatment using slip agents to get the desired feel on the grain surface.
The processing of suede garment leathers and grain garment leathers are similar except for the quantity and type of syntans used. In case of suede garment leathers, more filling is required to raise fine nap on the flesh side upon buffing. Hence, a higher percentage of syntans are used in suede garment leathers. In the case of grain garment leathers, the degree of drape (softness) is more important and hence a lesser percentage of syntans is used. Similarly, the percentage of fat liquor is also different in the case of grain garment leathers as compared to suede garment leathers. The grain layer is disturbed by shaving and snuffing. The shaving and snuffing makes the leather softer in the case of suede garment leathers. Finally, after the dying and fat liquoring step, the suede garment leathers and grain garment leathers are dry drummed. Dry drumming is performed to open up the nap in case of suede garment leathers and to get the required degree of drape or softness in the case of grain garment leathers.
The leather impregnated with the herbal composition is used in the manufacture of wearable leather articles. The wearable leather articles confer the medicinal properties gained by the impregnated leather to a physical contact
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surface of an individual by the release of herbal extract on absorption of sweat. The wearable article may also comprise a contact surface that releases the herbal extract.
The impregnated leather articles comprise, for example, gloves and jackets that are used in activities such as golfing, baseball, cricket, bike riding, bicycling, baseball, fitness exercise, industrial use, gardening, etc. The impregnated leather articles provide relief from skin allergies and maintain hygiene of the physical contact surface of the individual. The impregnated leather can also be used to manufacture leather garments, for example, shirts with selective regions made of the impregnated leather.
The leather impregnated with the herbal composition is also used in the manufacture of footwear, for example, shoes, sandals, etc. The skin contact regions of footwear, for example, the insole and inner lining of footwear may be made of impregnated lining leather. Due to body temperature and temperature generated due to friction between the impregnated leather and the individual's skin, the impregnated leather releases the herbal extract to the individual's skin on absorption of sweat.
The impregnated leather is also used to manufacture medicinal wearable leather articles, for example, a glove that may be used in dermatology, a golf glove, etc. The impregnated leather is also used in manufacturing innerwear.
The wearable leather articles impregnated with the herbal composition may lose the concentration level of the herbal composition after prolonged usage. The wearable leather articles may be given a direct spray coating of the herbal composition to restore or augment the concentration of the herbal composition. The direct spray coating is performed for recharging the leather articles with the herbal composition.
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FIG. 2 exemplarily illustrates a tabular column showing the test results of the % by weight release of herbal extracts from leather on treatment with artificial sweat. The tests are carried out to assess whether the sweat leaches out the herbal extracts from the leather to a physical contact surface of the individual on absorption of sweat from the individual. On soaking 1.5 grams of a leather sample treated with the herbal extract in artificial sweat for 24 hours, the release amount in % by weight of the herbal extract is given in the following examples:
Example 3: When 1.5 grams of a leather sample is impregnated with a cassia fistula (argawadha) extract, the leather sample releases 10.7% by weight of the cassia fistula (argawadha) extract on absorption of the artificial sweat.
Example 4: When 1.5 grams of a leather sample is impregnated with a withania somnifera (aswagandha) extract, the leather sample releases 18.5% by weight of the withania somnifera (aswagandha) extract on absorption of the artificial sweat.
Example 5: When 1.5 grams of a leather sample is impregnated with an albizia lebbeck (shreesha) extract, the leather sample releases 28.1% by weight of the albizia lebbeck (shreesha) extract on absorption of the artificial sweat.
Example 6: When 1.5 grams of a leather sample is impregnated with an ocimum tenuiflorum (tulsi) extract, the leather sample releases 2.1% by weight of the ocimum tenuiflorum (tulsi) extract on absorption of the artificial sweat.
Example 7: When 1.5 grams of a leather sample is impregnated with a lawsonia inermis (mehandi or henna) extract, the leather sample releases 7.8% by weight of the lawsonia inermis (mehandi or henna) extract on absorption of the artificial
sweat.
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Example 8: When 1.5 grams of a leather sample is impregnated with an acacia concinna (saptala) extract, the leather sample releases 8.3% by weight of the acacia concinna (saptala) extract on absorption of the artificial sweat.
Example 9: When 1.5 grams of a leather sample is impregnated with a saussurea lappa (kostum) extract, the leather sample releases 12.9% by weight of the saussurea lappa (kostum) extract on absorption of the artificial sweat.
Example 10: When 1.5 grams of a leather sample is impregnated with a triphala extract, the leather sample releases 14.3% by weight of the triphala extract on absorption of the artificial sweat.
Example 11: When 1.5 grams of a leather sample is impregnated with a pongamia pinnata (karanja) extract, the leather sample releases 8.8% by weight of the pongamia pinnata (karanja) extract on absorption of the artificial sweat.
Example 12: When 1.5 grams of a leather sample is impregnated with a glycyrrhiza glabra (yestimadhu) extract, the leather sample releases 19.2% by weight of the glycyrrhiza glabra (yestimadhu) extract on absorption of the artificial sweat.
Example 13: When 1.5 grams of a leather sample is impregnated with a tinospora cordifolia (amrita) extract, the leather sample releases 10.3% by weight of the tinospora cordifolia (amrita) extract on absorption of the artificial sweat.
Example 14: When 1.5 grams of a leather sample is impregnated with an acacia catechu (kadira) extract, the leather sample releases 17.5% by weight of the acacia catechu (kadira) extract on absorption of the artificial sweat.
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Example 15: When 1.5 grams of a leather sample is impregnated with a rubia cordifolia (manjista) extract, the leather sample releases 30.7% by weight of the rubia cordifolia (manjista) extract on absorption of the artificial sweat.
Example 16: When 1.5 grams of a leather sample is impregnated with a wrightia tinctoria (kutaja) extract, the leather sample releases 23.9% by weight of the wrightia tinctoria (kutaja) extract on absorption of the artificial sweat.
Example 17: When 1.5 grams of a leather sample is impregnated with a vitex negundo (nirgundi) extract, the leather sample releases 29.4% by weight of the vitex negundo (nirgundi) extract on absorption of the artificial sweat.
Example 18: When 1.5 grams of a leather sample is impregnated with a sapindus trifoliatus (reetha) extract, the leather sample releases 36.8% by weight of the sapindus trifoliatus (reetha) extract on absorption of the artificial sweat.
Example 19: When 1.5 grams of a leather sample is impregnated with an azadirachta indica (neem) extract, the leather sample releases 40.9% by weight of the azadirachta indica (neem) extract on absorption of the artificial sweat.
The foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present invention disclosed herein. While the invention has been described with reference to various embodiments, it is understood that the words, which have been used herein, are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Further, although the invention has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art, having the benefit of the teachings of
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this specification, may effect numerous modifications thereto and changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention in its aspects.

5. CLAIMS
I claim:
1. A chemical composition for impregnation into leather, comprising:
a predetermined quantity of a liquid carrier; and from 5%-15% by weight of a herbal extract.
2. The chemical composition of claim 1, wherein said herbal extract is obtained from one or more herbs selected from a group comprising pongamia pinnata, cassia fistula, acacia catechu, albizia lebbeck, triphala, glycyrrhiza glabra, acacia concinna, tinospora cordifolia, saussurea lappa, lawsonia inermis, vitex negundo, sapindus trifoliatus, rubia cordifolia, wrightia tinctoria, azadirachta indica, ocimum tenuiflorum, and withania somnifera.
3. The chemical composition of claim 1, wherein said liquid carrier is water.
4. A method of treating leather with a herbal composition, comprising the steps of:
processing skins or hides to obtain leather, comprising the steps of:
pickling said skins or hides with a pickling agent to reduce pH level of the skins or hides;
chrome tanning said pickled skins or hides using a chrome tanning agent to convert putrescible matter of the pickled skins or hides into non putrescible matter, wherein said chrome tanning converts the pickled skins or hides to chrome tanned leather;

fat liquoring and retanning said chrome tanned leather to render a predetermined degree of softness to the chrome tanned leather;
preparing said herbal composition comprising a herbal extract; and
impregnating said leather with the herbal composition during one or more of said pickling, the chrome tanning, and said fat liquoring and retanning;
whereby the leather is treated with the herbal composition.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the herbal composition comprises a predetermined quantity of a liquid carrier and from 5%-15% by weight of a herbal extract, wherein said herbal extract is obtained from one or more herbs selected from a group comprising pongamia pinnata, cassia fistula, acacia catechu, albizia lebbeck, triphala, glycyrrhiza glabra, acacia concinna, tinospora cordifolia, saussurea lappa, lawsonia inermis, vitex negundo, sapindus trifoliatus, rubia cordifolia, wrightia tinctoria, azadirachta indica, ocimum tenuiflorum, and withania somnifera.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein said step of preparing the herbal composition comprises the steps of:
dissolving said herbal extract in a liquid carrier at a preset temperature to obtain a herbal mixture; and
filtering said herbal mixture for obtaining a herbal filtrate.
7. The method of claim 4, wherein the leather is impregnated with the herbal
composition by direct spray coating.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the herbal composition imparts the leather
with medicinal properties, wherein said medicinal properties comprise anti
allergic properties, antifungal properties, anti inflammatory properties,
antiviral properties, and antibacterial properties, and wherein the medicinal
properties are transdermally transferred to a physical contact surface of an
individual by release of said herbal extract from said impregnated leather on
absorption of sweat from said physical contact surface of said individual.
9. The method of claim 4, wherein said impregnated leather is used to
manufacture wearable leather articles, wherein each of said wearable leather
articles comprises a contact surface that releases said herbal extract from the
impregnated leather during usage of the wearable leather articles.