Patent US5087499A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5087499A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Puncture-resistant and medicinal treatment garments and method of manufacture thereof
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1990-05-09
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Granted: 1992-02-11
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Expires: 2010-05-09
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to improvements in puncture-resistant and medicinal treatment garments. Garments made from fibers such as KEVLAR® and designed to deter penetration of objects are subjected to an additional brushing step to enhance the fibers' abilities to prevent penetration of sharp needle-like penetrating objects. The fibers may also be coated with an abrasive material to further engage and deflect penetrating objects. In another aspect of the invention, the fibers may be coated with a disinfectant or pharmaceutical agent. The coated fibers, having the improved fiber structure resulting from the brushing step, may be used in fabrics to treat skin conditions, disinfect penetrating objects in puncture-resistant materials, or as a disinfecting prevention fabric for use in textiles in high risk infection areas such as hospitals and public facilities.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas M. Sullivan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 14:12
CPC Classifications
A; A41; A41D; A41D31/00; A41D31/04; A41D31/24; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/23907; Y10T428/23986; Y10T428/23993
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
In the method of making garments having improved puncture resistance against sharp penetrating objects including the steps of providing a fiber having puncture-resistant properties, producing a plurality of individual fibrils from said fiber, forming said fibrils into a yarn and manufacturing a puncture-resistant garment from said yarn, the improvement comprising the step of brushing said yarn with an abrasive device to loosen the ends of said fibrils, said loosened ends of said fibrils providing enhanced puncture-resistance by crossing and covering holes between yarns and intertwining, thereby providing increased surface area to engage a sharp penetrating object.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
In the method of making garments having improved puncture resistance against sharp penetrating objects including the steps of providing a fiber having puncture-resistant properties, producing a plurality of individual fibrils from said fiber, forming said fibrils into a yarn and manufacturing a puncture-resistant garment from said yarn, the improvement comprising the step of brushing said yarn with an abrasive device to loosen the ends of said fibrils, said loosened ends of said fibrils providing enhanced puncture-resistance by crossing and covering holes between yarns and intertwining, thereby providing increased surface area to engage a sharp penetrating object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said fiber is selected from the group consisting of polyaramids, polyesters, polyethylenes, cotton, nylon, scleroproteins, polyurethanes, fiberglass or combinations thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, including performing said brushing step on said yarn prior to said step of manufacturing said puncture-resistant garment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, including performing said brushing step on said yarn after said manufacturing step.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising, after said brushing step, subjecting said yarn to a high-pressure fluid stream to intertwine said loosened ends of said fibrils.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of coating said fiber with an abrasive material to further enhance engagement of a sharp penetrating object by said fibrils.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said abrasive material further comprises ceramic particles dispersed in a polymeric resin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 7, wherein said coating step further comprises immersing said fiber in a bath containing said ceramic particles dispersed in said polymeric resin.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of coating said fiber with a polymer having a high modulus of elasticity, said coated fiber enhancing puncture-resistance by distributing an instantaneous stress from a penetrating object over a large surface area of a said fiber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of epoxides, imides and methacrylates.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of coating said yarn with a disinfecting agent, said coated yarn providing a disinfecting effect on infectious fluids associated with a said sharp penetrating object.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 11, wherein said coating step further comprises, after said yarn is manufactured into a said puncture-resistant garment, immersing said garment into an ultrasonic bath containing a said disinfecting agent.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 11, wherein said disinfecting agent is selected from the group consisting of a 10% solution of 1-ethenyl-2-pyrrolidinone homopolymer with iodine and 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone polymers in an iodine complex.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
107 words
In the method of making garments having improved medical treatment properties including the step of providing a fiber, producing a plurality of individual fibrils from said fiber, forming said fibrils into a yarn and manufacturing a garment from said yarn, the improvement comprising the step of: (i) brushing said yarn with an abrasive device to loosen the ends of said fibrils; and (ii) coating said brushed yarn with a pharmaceutical agent, (iii) whereby said coated fibril containing garment provides an improved medical treatment by increased contact between said pharmaceutical agent coated fibrils and an adjacent skin condition when said garment is worn over a said skin condition.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
107 words
In the method of making garments having improved medical treatment properties including the step of providing a fiber, producing a plurality of individual fibrils from said fiber, forming said fibrils into a yarn and manufacturing a garment from said yarn, the improvement comprising the step of: (i) brushing said yarn with an abrasive device to loosen the ends of said fibrils; and (ii) coating said brushed yarn with a pharmaceutical agent, (iii) whereby said coated fibril containing garment provides an improved medical treatment by increased contact between said pharmaceutical agent coated fibrils and an adjacent skin condition when said garment is worn over a said skin condition.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 14, wherein said pharmaceutical treating agent is selected from the group consisting of steroids and antibiotics.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
119 words
The method of making a puncture-resistant garment including the steps of: (i) providing a first fibril having a high strength and a high modulus of elasticity, said first fibril having a length up to approximately 1.86 inches; (ii) providing a second fibril having an ultra-high modulus of elasticity, said second fibril having a length up to approximately 1 inch; (iii) forming a yarn from said first and said second fibrils, said yarn comprising between 10-50 percent by volume of said second fibril and the balance said first fibril; and (iv) forming a puncture-resistant garment from said yarn, said puncture-resistant garment having improved puncture resistance by said second fibrils having increased capability to absorb and deflect loads from penetrating objects.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
119 words
The method of making a puncture-resistant garment including the steps of: (i) providing a first fibril having a high strength and a high modulus of elasticity, said first fibril having a length up to approximately 1.86 inches; (ii) providing a second fibril having an ultra-high modulus of elasticity, said second fibril having a length up to approximately 1 inch; (iii) forming a yarn from said first and said second fibrils, said yarn comprising between 10-50 percent by volume of said second fibril and the balance said first fibril; and (iv) forming a puncture-resistant garment from said yarn, said puncture-resistant garment having improved puncture resistance by said second fibrils having increased capability to absorb and deflect loads from penetrating objects.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said first fibrils are formed from fibers selected from the group consisting of polyaramids, polyethylenes, polyurethanes, cotton, nylon, fiberglass, scleroproteins, polyesters and combinations thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said second fibrils are formed from fibers selected from the group consisting of graphite and silicon carbide.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
131 words
An improved fabric pattern for puncture-resistant and medicinal treatment comprising: (i) a yarn made from a fiber, said yarn further comprising a plurality of individual fibrils, said yarn having at least a portion of the ends of said individual fibrils loosened by brushing such that said loosened ends project away from the longitudinal axis of said yarn; (ii) said yarn being woven into a plurality of interconnected loops, each loop forming an opening therein, said loosened ends of said fibrils occupying said openings, (iii) whereby said loosened ends of said fibrils enhance engagement of sharp penetrating objects passing through said openings and deter penetration through a garment having said improved fabric pattern and providing increased contact between a garment having said improved fabric pattern and a skin condition requiring medical treatment.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
131 words
An improved fabric pattern for puncture-resistant and medicinal treatment comprising: (i) a yarn made from a fiber, said yarn further comprising a plurality of individual fibrils, said yarn having at least a portion of the ends of said individual fibrils loosened by brushing such that said loosened ends project away from the longitudinal axis of said yarn; (ii) said yarn being woven into a plurality of interconnected loops, each loop forming an opening therein, said loosened ends of said fibrils occupying said openings, (iii) whereby said loosened ends of said fibrils enhance engagement of sharp penetrating objects passing through said openings and deter penetration through a garment having said improved fabric pattern and providing increased contact between a garment having said improved fabric pattern and a skin condition requiring medical treatment.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The invention of claim 19, wherein said fiber is selected from the group consisting of polyaramids, polyethylenes, polyesters, cotton, nylon, fiberglass, scleroproteins, polyurethanes and combinations thereof.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The invention of claim 19, wherein said fibrils include a coating of an abrasive material thereon to further enhance said fibrils engaging a said sharp penetrating object.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 21, wherein said coating further comprises ceramic particles dispersed in a polymeric resin.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention of claim 19, wherein said fibrils include a coating of a disinfecting agent thereon to provide a disinfecting effect on a said sharp penetrating object having infectious fluid thereon.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention of claim 21, wherein said disinfecting agent is selected from the group consisting of a 10% solution of 1-ethenyl-2-pyrrolidinone homopolymer with iodine and 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone polymers in an iodine complex.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
49 words
The invention of claim 19, wherein said fibrils include a coating of a pharmaceutical treating agent thereon, said coated fibrils providing an improved pharmaceutical treating effect by increased contact between a said garment containing loosened ends of said coated fibrils and a skin condition covered by a said garment.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention of claim 25, wherein said coating is selected from the group consisting of steroids and antibiotics.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
9 words
The product produced by the method of claim 1.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
9 words
The product produced by the method of claim 6.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
9 words
The product produced by the method of claim 9.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
9 words
The product produced by the method of claim 11.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
9 words
The product produced by the method of claim 14.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
9 words
The product produced by the method of claim 16.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-02-10 | 1995-08-12 | 1996-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-02-10 | 1999-08-12 | 2000-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-02-10 | 2003-08-12 | 2004-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |