US5652049A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Antibacterial composite non-woven fabric
Assignee: JAPANESE ABSORBENT TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
•
Filing: 1995-12-05
•
Granted: 1997-07-29
•
Expires: 2015-12-05
Abstract
Abstract Composite non-woven fabrics are disclosed. The fabrics comprise at least a first ply that is an antibacterial fibrous web, and a second ply comprising a web of non-woven non-antibacterial fibers serving as a "base structure" providing strength and dimensional stability to the fabric. Each ply adheres strongly to adjacent plies of the fabric by inter-entanglement of the fibers in the respective layers with each other, which defines an intensity gradient of antibacterial property across the thickness dimension of the fabric. The fabrics can be made sufficiently soft and mild for skin contact, and have many uses such as in clothing, medical fabrics, sheets, and the like. The fabrics have the same or a lesser amount of antibacterial fibers than prior-art non-woven antibacterial fabrics without adversely affecting strength, dimensional stability, or antibacterial efficacy.
Inventors
- 👤 Migaku Suzuki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:42
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B5/00; B32B5/22; B32B5/24; B32B5/26; B32B5/02; B32B5/022; D; D04; D04H; D04H1/00; D04H1/40; D04H1/407; D04H1/42; D04H1/425; D04H1/4266; D04H1/44; D04H1/46; D04H1/492; D04H1/498; B32B2262/00; B32B2262/02; B32B2262/06; B32B2262/062; B32B2307/00; B32B2307/70; B32B2307/714; B32B2307/7145; B32B2432/00; B32B2437/00; B32B2535/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/913; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24802; Y10T428/24893; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/60; Y10T442/659; Y10T442/666; Y10T442/696; Y10T442/699
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A composite nonwoven fabric comprising: a first non-woven web layer comprising antibacterial fibers exhibiting a first antibacterial efficacy; and a second non-woven web layer disposed superposedly adjacent the first web layer so as to define a first thickness dimension extending through the first web layer and the second web layer; the fibers of the first and second web layers being hydro-entangled with each other so as to adhere the first and second web layers superposedly together and to define a first gradient of the first antibacterial efficacy through the first thickness dimension, wherein the first gradient profiles a progressive weakening of the first antibacterial efficacy from the first web layer through the first thickness dimension.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
A composite nonwoven fabric comprising: a first non-woven web layer comprising antibacterial fibers exhibiting a first antibacterial efficacy; and a second non-woven web layer disposed superposedly adjacent the first web layer so as to define a first thickness dimension extending through the first web layer and the second web layer; the fibers of the first and second web layers being hydro-entangled with each other so as to adhere the first and second web layers superposedly together and to define a first gradient of the first antibacterial efficacy through the first thickness dimension, wherein the first gradient profiles a progressive weakening of the first antibacterial efficacy from the first web layer through the first thickness dimension.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The composite nonwoven fabric of claim 1, wherein the first web layer comprises synthetic fibers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The composite nonwoven fabric of claim 1, wherein the first web layer comprises cellulosic fibers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The composite nonwoven fabric of claim 1 wherein the second web layer comprises fibers selected from a group consisting of synthetic polymeric and cellulosic fibers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The composition nonwoven fabric of claim 2 wherein the fibers of the first web layer comprise Ag- or Zr-zeolites.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The composite nonwoven fabric of claim 3, wherein the fibers of the first web layer comprise chitosan.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The composite nonwoven fabric of claim 4, wherein the fibers of the second web layer are bonded to each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The composite nonwoven fabric of claim 1, wherein the fibers of the first and second web layers are hydro-entangled with each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The composite nonwoven fabric of claim 1, wherein the second web layer comprises non-antibacterial fibers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The composite nonwoven fabric of claim 1, further comprising a third nonwoven web layer superposedly contacting the second web layer opposite the first web layer so as to define a second thickness dimension extending through the second web layer and the third web layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The composite nonwoven fabric of claim 10, wherein the third nonwoven web layer comprises antibacterial fibers exhibiting a second antibacterial efficacy.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
73 words
The composite nonwoven fabric of claim 11, wherein the fibers of the second and third web layers are hydro-entangled with each other so as to superposedly adhere the second and third web layers together and to define a second gradient of the second antibacterial efficacy through the second thickness dimension, wherein the second gradient profiles a progressive weakening of the second antibacterial efficacy from the third web layer through the second thickness dimension.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The composite nonwoven fabric of claim 12, wherein the fibers of the first and second web layers, and the fibers of the second and third web layers, are hydro-entangled with each other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The composite nonwoven fabric of claim 1 comprising 50% or less of the antibacterial fibers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The composite nonwoven fabric of claim 14 wherein the first layer consists essentially of the antibacterial fibers prior to hydro-entanglement with the second layer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The composite nonwoven fabric of claim 1 having a basis weight of less than 60 g/m 2 .
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The composite nonwoven fabric of claim 16 having a basis weight of about 40 g/m 2 .
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The composite nonwoven fabric of claim 1 wherein, during normal use, the first web layer is in skin contact.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
140 words
A composite nonwoven fabric comprising: a first non-woven web layer comprising antibacterial fibers exhibiting a first antibacterial efficacy; and a second non-woven web layer that is disposed superposedly adjacent the first web layer so as to define a first thickness dimension extending through the first web layer and the second web layer; the fibers of the first and second web layers being hydro-entangled with each other so as to adhere the first and second web layers superposedly together and to define a first gradient of the first antibacterial efficacy through the first thickness dimension, wherein the first gradient profiles a progressive weakening of the first antibacterial efficacy from the first web layer through the first thickness dimension; wherein the composite fabric comprises 50% or less of antibacterial fibers and has a basis weight of less than 60 g/m 2 .
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
140 words
A composite nonwoven fabric comprising: a first non-woven web layer comprising antibacterial fibers exhibiting a first antibacterial efficacy; and a second non-woven web layer that is disposed superposedly adjacent the first web layer so as to define a first thickness dimension extending through the first web layer and the second web layer; the fibers of the first and second web layers being hydro-entangled with each other so as to adhere the first and second web layers superposedly together and to define a first gradient of the first antibacterial efficacy through the first thickness dimension, wherein the first gradient profiles a progressive weakening of the first antibacterial efficacy from the first web layer through the first thickness dimension; wherein the composite fabric comprises 50% or less of antibacterial fibers and has a basis weight of less than 60 g/m 2 .
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2693438A
Cited
US3247058A
Cited
US3732867A
Cited
US3762415A
Cited
US3728213A
Cited
US4537767A
Cited
US3964486A
Cited
US4128686A
Cited
EP0041934A1
Cited
EP0103214A2
Cited
US4525410A
Cited
US4496358A
Cited
US4911898A
Cited
US4911899A
Cited
US4536440A
Cited
US4661101A
Cited
US4699823A
Cited
EP0341951A2
Cited
US5006339A
Cited
WO1990011171A1
Cited
WO1990011181A1
Cited
US5057166A
Cited
WO1990011170A1
Cited
EP0392528A2
Cited
US5089205A
Cited
US5087450A
Cited
US5271883A
Cited
US5079004A
Cited
US5320903A
Cited
US5300167A
Cited
US5308896A
Cited
US5300192A
Cited
WO1994004351A1
Cited
US5290628A
Cited
US5356403A
Cited
US5350625A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-07-28 | 2001-01-27 | 2001-07-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-07-28 | 2005-01-27 | 2005-07-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-07-28 | 2009-01-27 | 2009-07-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |