ANTIMICROBIAL MULTICOMPONENT FILTRATION MEDIUM
First Claim
1. A nonwoven filtration medium comprising substantially continuous multicomponent filaments arranged to form an open, porous, fluid permeable nonwoven fabric, the filaments comprising first and second polymer components arranged in substantially constantly positioned distinct zones across the cross section of the filament and extending continuously along the length of the filaments, the first polymer component being present on at least a portion of the surface of the filament and having a melting temperature less than the melting temperature of the second polymer component and being selected from the group consisting of low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, and polylactic acid polymers and copolymers, said first polymer component including an organic antimicrobial agent incorporated therein, and a multiplicity of bond sites distributed uniformly throughout the fabric and defined by regions where the lower-melting sheath component has softened and flowed together at filament cross-over locations, with the individual filaments being spaced apart from one another except at the filament cross-over locations.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, a nonwoven filtration medium is provided comprising substantially continuous sheath/core bicomponent filaments arranged to form an open, porous, fluid permeable spunbond nonwoven fabric. The core component of the filaments comprises polyester or polypropylene and the sheath component comprises polyethylene having a melting temperature less than the melting temperature of the core component and including an organic antimicrobial agent incorporated therein. A multiplicity of bond sites are distributed uniformly throughout the fabric and defined by regions where the lower-melting sheath component has softened and flowed together at filament cross-over locations, with the individual being filaments spaced apart from one another except at the filament cross-over locations. The spunbond nonwoven fabric preferably has a thickness of about 10 to 40 mils and an air permeability from 150 to 270 cfm/ft2/min.
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Citations
27 Claims
- 1. A nonwoven filtration medium comprising substantially continuous multicomponent filaments arranged to form an open, porous, fluid permeable nonwoven fabric, the filaments comprising first and second polymer components arranged in substantially constantly positioned distinct zones across the cross section of the filament and extending continuously along the length of the filaments, the first polymer component being present on at least a portion of the surface of the filament and having a melting temperature less than the melting temperature of the second polymer component and being selected from the group consisting of low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, and polylactic acid polymers and copolymers, said first polymer component including an organic antimicrobial agent incorporated therein, and a multiplicity of bond sites distributed uniformly throughout the fabric and defined by regions where the lower-melting sheath component has softened and flowed together at filament cross-over locations, with the individual filaments being spaced apart from one another except at the filament cross-over locations.
- 16. A nonwoven filtration medium comprising substantially continuous sheath/core bicomponent filaments arranged to form an open, porous, fluid permeable spunbond nonwoven fabric, the core component comprising polyester or polypropylene and the sheath component comprising polyethylene having a melting temperature less than the melting temperature of the core component and including an organic antimicrobial agent incorporated therein, and a multiplicity of bond sites distributed uniformly throughout the fabric and defined by regions where the lower-melting sheath component has softened and flowed together at filament cross-over locations, with the individual being filaments spaced apart from one another except at the filament cross-over locations.
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27. A filter element for pools or spas comprising a nonwoven filtration medium pleated along parallel pleat lines and formed into a generally cylindrical configuration about a central axis with the pleat lines extending parallel to said axis, said filtration medium having a thickness of 10 to 40 mils, an air permeability of 150 to 270 cfm/ft2/min., and a Handle-O-Meter stiffness of at least 35 grams, said filtration medium comprising a nonwoven fabric comprised of substantially continuous sheath/core bicomponent filaments, the core component comprising polyester or polypropylene and the sheath component comprising polyethylene having a melting temperature less than the melting temperature of the core component and including an organic antimicrobial agent incorporated therein, and a multiplicity of bond sites distributed uniformly throughout the fabric and defined by regions where the lower-melting sheath component has softened and flowed together at filament cross-over locations, with the individual being filaments spaced apart from one another except at the filament cross-over locations.
Specification