Adsorbent textile product

Claim 2

An adsorbent textile product comprising a compressed nonwoven unitary batt of textile staple fibers, a cured binder disposed substantially throughout said batt, and an adsorbent material disposed substantially within the confines of said batt, and wherein (a) said binder serves to hold the batt in its compressed condition, (b) the density of said compressed batt is of a magnitude relative to the size of said adsorbent material such that said adsorbent material is retained within the confines of said batt and (c) the outer surfaces of said adsorbent material are effectively free of said binder such that the adsorptive qualities of said adsorbent material are preserved.

Claim 3

An adsorbent textile product according to claim 1 wherein said fibers are selected from a group consisting of synthetic fibers and natural fibers.

Claim 4

An adsorbent textile product according to claim 1 wherein said batt comprises fibers having a relatively small denier and fibers having a relatively larger denier.

Claim 5

An adsorbent textile product according to claim 3 wherein said relatively larger denier is at least about twice said relatively small denier.

Claim 6

An adsorbent textile product according to claim 3 wherein said batt further comprises an upper region thereof having a greater concentration of said relatively small denier fibers than other portions of the batt, and a lower region thereof having a greater concentration of said relatively larger denier fibers than other portions of the batt.

Claim 7

An adsorbent textile product according to claim 3 wherein said relatively larger denier fibers are concentrated in upper regions of said batt.

Claim 8

An adsorbent textile product according to claim 5 further comprising a retaining layer of thermally-responsive fibers, wherein said retaining layer is thermally bonded to the surface of said batt adjacent the upper regions thereof to further entrap said adsorbent material within the confines of said batt.

Claim 9

An adsorbent textile product according to claim 1 comprising three or more different denier of fibers.

Claim 10

An adsorbent textile product according to claim 8 wherein each successive denier in said batt is at least twice the next smallest denier.

Claim 11

An adsorbent textile product according to claim 1 wherein said fibers comprise about 25% by weight of 15 denier×11/2 inch fibers, about 25% by weight of 6 denier×2 inch fibers, and about 50% by weight of 3 denier×2 inch fibers.

Claim 12

An adsorbent textile product according to claim 1 wherein said fibers are three-dimensionally arranged within the batt.

Claim 13

An adsorbent textile product according to claim 1 wherein said adsorbent material is selected from the group consisting of natural zeolites, synthetic zeolites, ion exchange resins, natural carbonaceous materials, synthetic carbonaceous materials, and electrets.

Claim 14

An adsorbent textile product according to claim 1, wherein said product is a garment.

Claim 15

An adsorbent textile product according to claim 1, wherein said product is a filter.

Claim 16

An adsorbent textile product comprising a compressed nonwoven unitary batt of at least two different denier of textile staple fibers, a cured binder disposed substantially throughout said batt, and an adsorbent material disposed substantially within the confines of said batt, and wherein (a) said batt has an upper region characterized by a greater concentration of fibers having the largest denier of said fibers in said batt, (b) said batt has a lower region characterized by a greater concentration of fibers having the smallest denier of said fibers in said batt, (c) said binder serves to hold the batt in its compressed condition, (d) the density of said compressed batt is of a magnitude relative to the size of said adsorbent material such that said adsorbent material is retained within the confines of said batt and (e) the outer surfaces of said adsorbent material are effectively free of said binder such that the adsorptive qualities of said adsorbent material are preserved.

Claim 17

An adsorbent textile product comprising a compressed nonwoven unitary batt of at least two different denier of textile staple fibers, a cured binder disposed substantially throughout said batt, and an adsorbent material disposed substantially within the confines of said batt, and wherein (a) said batt has an upper region characterized by a greater concentration of fibers having the largest denier of said fibers in said batt, (b) said batt has a lower region characterized by a greater concentration of fibers having the smallest denier of said fibers in said batt, (c) said binder serves to hold the batt in its compressed condition, (d) the density of said compressed batt is of a magnitude relative to the size of said adsorbent material such that said adsorbent material is retained within the confines of said batt and (e) the outer surfaces of said adsorbent material are effectively free of said binder such that the adsorptive qualities of said adsorbent material are preserved.

Claim 18

An adsorbent textile product according to claim 15 wherein one of said upper and lower regions comprises natural fibers.

Claim 19

An adsorbent textile product according to claim 15 wherein said batt comprises small denier fibers and larger denier fibers and said larger denier fibers are at least twice the denier of said small denier fibers.

Claim 20

An adsorbent textile product according to claim 15 wherein said upper region has a greater concentration of 15 denier fibers than other portions of the batt, and said lower region has a greater concentration of 3 denier fibers than other portions of the batt.

Claim 21

An adsorbent textile product according to claim 15 comprising three or more different denier of fibers.

Claim 22

An adsorbent textile product according to claim 19 wherein each successive denier in said batt is at least twice the next smallest denier.

Claim 23

An adsorbent textile product according to claim 15 wherein said fibers of different denier comprise about 25% by weight of 15 denier×11/2 inch fibers, about 25% by weight of 6 denier×2 inch fibers, and about 50% by weight of 3 denier×2 inch fibers.

Claim 24

An adsorbent textile product according to claim 15 wherein said fibers are three-dimensionally arranged within the batt.

Claim 25

An adsorbent textile product according to claim 15 wherein said adsorbent material is selected from the group consisting of natural zeolites, synthetic zeolites, ion exchange resins, natural carbonaceous materials, synthetic carbonaceous materials, and electrets.

Claim 26

An adsorbent textile product according to claim 15, wherein said product is a garment.

Claim 27

An adsorbent textile product according to claim 14, wherein said product is a filter.

Claim 28

An adsorbent textile product according to claim 15 further comprising a retaining layer of thermally-responsive fibers, wherein said retaining layer is thermally bonded to the surface of said batt adjacent the upper region thereof to further entrap said adsorbent material within the confines of said batt.