Controlled release anti-microbial hard surface wiper

• US 6,734,157 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Anderson, Ralph L., Radwanski, Fred R., Clark, James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Douyon, Lorna M.
• Application Number:
  US09/746,720
• Publication Number:
  US 20020006887A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 510/439, 510/380, 510/382, 510/391, 510/109, 428/323, 442/285
• US Class Current: 510/439
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 13/17 containing cleaning agents A47L13/19 takes precedence ; chemical compositions C11D17/049
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/18 Liquid substances or solutions comprising solids or dissolved gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/238 Metals or alloys, e.g. oligodynamic metals
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0223 Vinyl resin fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0253 Polyolefin fibres vinyl or acrylic copolymers B32B2262/0223 or B32B2262/0246
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/067 Wood fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2305/20 in the form of a non-woven mat
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2305/30 Fillers, e.g. particles, powders, beads, flakes, spheres, chips
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/7145 Rot proof, resistant to bacteria, mildew, mould, fungi
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/718 Weight, e.g. weight per square meter
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/726 Permeability to liquids, absorption
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/73 Hydrophobic
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2432/00 Cleaning articles, e.g. mops, wipes personal care B32B2555/00
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/26 another layer next to it also being fibrous or filamentary relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/28 impregnated with or embedded in a plastic substance not used
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 17/049 Cleaning or scouring pads; Wipes
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/3953 Inorganic bleaching agents C11D3/3951 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/48 Medical, disinfecting agents, disinfecting, antibacterial, germicidal or antimicrobial compositions
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 16/00 Biochemical treatment of fibres, threads, yarns, fabrics, or fibrous goods made from such materials, e.g. enzymatic
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 17/00 Producing multi-layer textile fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 23/02 : Processes in which the treating agent is releasably affixed or incorporated into a dispensing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/25 : Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and including a second component containing structurally defined particles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3846 : Including particulate material other than fiber

Abstract

A wiper that provides a controlled release anti-microbial agent has a substrate layer to which the anti-microbial agent is adhered. In addition, the wiper will have one or more laminate layers, at least one of which will be absorbent. Various anti-microbial agents such as silver containing additives, calcium hypochlorite, and chlorine dioxide generating compounds may be employed. The substrate layer may be a poly(ethylene vinyl acetate) meltblown web and the laminate layer may be a hydroentangled composite absorbent fabric.

Claims

1. A wiper for disinfecting hard surfaces comprising:

a fibrous laminate layer, said fibrous laminate layer being capable of absorbing a liquid when contacted therewith;

a fibrous substrate layer having fibers therein with individually exposed surfaces thereon, said fibrous substrate layer being adhered to said fibrous laminate layer; and

an anti-microbial agent distributed within the fibrous substrate layer and adhered to the individually exposed surfaces of the fibers in the fibrous substrate layer, said anti-microbial agent being capable of activation when contacted with a liquid, said activation including the release of a portion of said anti-microbial agent into said liquid that is contained within the wiper such that an anti-microbial solution forms therefrom, the anti-microbial agent being adapted to provide that the rate of said release is sufficient to ensure that an anti-microbial solution is formed in the liquid within the wiper after said wiper has been subjected to at least five rinsing; and

said wiper being able to withstand at least 10 rinse cycles without substantially losing its ability to cause the liquid within the wiper after a rinse cycle to become an anti-microbial solution.

2. A wiper as defined in claim 1, wherein said anti-microbial agent comprises hypochlorite particles.

3. A wiper as defined in claim 2, wherein said hypochlorite particles are at least partially encapsulated to provide further control over said release into said liquid.

4. A wiper as defined in claim 2, wherein said hypochlorite particles are at least partially coated with a polymer to provide further control over said release into said liquid.

5. A wiper as defined in claim 2, wherein said hypochlorite particles comprise calcium hypochlorite.

6. A wiper as defined in claim 1, further including anti-microbial agents in the form of particles, wherein said particles have different particle sizes such that release of said anti-microbial agent is controlled by the presence of different sizes of anti-microbial agent particles.

7. A wiper as defined in claim 1, wherein the fibrous substrate layer comprises a hydrophobic material.

8. A wiper as defined in claim 1, wherein said fibrous substrate layer comprises a meltblown material selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene vinyl acetate), polyester polypropylene and polyethylene.

9. A wiper as defined in claim 1, wherein said fibrous laminate layer comprises a nonwoven fabric.

10. A wiper as defined in claim 9, wherein said nonwoven fabric includes pulp fibers.

11. A wiper as defined in claim 1, wherein said anti-microbial agent comprises a chlorine dioxide-generating formulation.

12. A wiper as defined in claim 11, wherein said anti-microbial agent comprises sodium chlorate and an acid moiety.

13. A wiper as defined in claim 1, wherein said anti-microbial agent comprises a silver-containing additive.

14. A wiper as defined in claim 13, wherein said anti-microbial agent comprises silver zeolite.

15. A wiper as defined in claim 1, wherein said anti-microbial agent comprises quaternary amines.

16. A wiper as defined in claim 1, wherein said anti-microbial agent comprises a peroxide.

17. A wiper as defined in claim 1, wherein said anti-microbial agent is at least partially encapsulated to provide further control over the release of said anti-microbial agent.

18. A wiper as defined in claim 1, wherein said anti-microbial agent is at least partially polymer-encapsulated to provide further control over the release of said anti-microbial agent.

19. A wiper as defined in claim 1, wherein said wiper further comprises a surfactant.

20. A wiper as defined in claim 1, wherein said wiper further comprises a saponin.

21. A wiper as defined in claim 1, wherein said wiper further comprises a visual sensor to detect the exhaustion of said anti-microbial agent.

22. A wiper as defined in claim 1, comprising an additional fibrous laminate layer adhered to said fibrous substrate layer such that said fibrous substrate layer is positioned between two fibrous laminate layers.

23. A wiper as defined in claim 1, wherein said fibrous laminate layer has a basis weight of more than about 10 grams per square meter.

24. A wiper as defined in claim 1, wherein said substrate layer is self-adhered to said laminate layer.

25. A wiper as defined in claim 1 that will withstand at least 20 rinse cycles without substantially losing its ability to cause the liquid within the wiper after a rinse cycle to become an anti-microbial solution.

26. A wiper for disinfecting hard surfaces comprising:

a first fibrous laminate layer, said first fibrous laminate layer being capable of absorbing a liquid when contacted therewith, said first fibrous laminate layer being made from a nonwoven fabric having a basis weight of more than about 10 grams per square meter;

a second fibrous laminate layer, said second fibrous laminate layer being capable of absorbing a liquid when contacted therewith, said second fibrous laminate layer being made from a nonwoven fabric having a basis weight of more than about 10 grams per square meter;

a fibrous substrate layer having fibers therein with individually exposed surfaces thereon, said fibrous substrate layer being positioned between and adhered to said first fibrous laminate layer and said second fibrous laminate layer, said fibrous substrate layer being hydrophobic; and

an anti-microbial agent distributed within the fibrous substrate layer and adhered to the individually exposed surfaces of the fibers in the fibrous substrate layer, and incorporated in a stabilized solid state within said fibrous substrate layer, said anti-microbial agent being capable of activation when contacted with water, said activation including the release of a portion of said anti-microbial agent into said liquid that is contained within the wiper such that an anti-microbial solution forms therefrom, the anti-microbial agent being adapted to provide that the rate of said release is such that said anti-microbial agent is released into said liquid in an amount sufficient to form an anti-microbial solution of the liquid within the wiper after said wiper has been repeatedly contacted with water; and

said wiper being able to withstand at least 10 rinse cycles without substantially losing its ability to cause the liquid within the wiper after a rinse cycle to become an anti-microbial solution.

27. A wiper as defined in claim 26, wherein said fibrous substrate layer comprises meltblown poly(ethylene vinyl acetate).

28. A wiper as defined in claim 26, wherein said anti-microbial agent comprises calcium hypochlorite.

29. A wiper having at least two layers, one of said layers being a fibrous hydrophobic sheet comprising fibers having individually exposed surfaces thereon, said sheet having an anti-microbial agent distributed within the fibrous hydrophobic sheet and adhered to the individually exposed surfaces of the fibers in the sheet with sufficient adhesion so that said anti-microbial agent will remain substantially bonded within said sheet until contacted repeatedly with a liquid, the other of said layers being an absorbent fibrous sheet laminated to said fibrous hydrophobic sheet, and said wiper being able to withstand at least 10 rinse cycles without substantially losing its ability to cause the liquid within the wiper after a rinse cycle to become an anti-microbial solution.

30. A wiper as defined in claim 29, further comprising an additional sheet laminated to said fibrous hydrophobic sheet.

31. A wiper as defined in claim 30, wherein said additional sheet is absorbent.

32. A wiper as defined in claim 30, wherein said additional sheet is hydrophobic.

33. A wiper for disinfecting hard surfaces comprising:

a fibrous laminate layer, said fibrous laminate layer being capable of absorbing a liquid when contacted therewith;

a fibrous substrate layer having fibers therein with individually exposed surfaces thereon, said fibrous substrate layer being adhered to said fibrous laminate layer;

an anti-microbial agent distributed within the fibrous substrate layer and adhered to the individually exposed surfaces of the fibers in the fibrous substrate layer, said anti-microbial agent being capable of activation when contacted with a liquid, said activation including the release of a portion of said anti-microbial agent into said liquid that is contained within the wiper such that an anti-microbial solution forms therefrom, the anti-microbial agent being adapted to provide that the rate of said release is sufficient to ensure that an anti-microbial solution is formed in the liquid within the wiper after said wiper has been subjected to at least five rinsing cycles; and

a saponin.

34. A wiper for disinfecting hard surfaces comprising:

a fibrous laminate layer, said fibrous laminate layer being capable of absorbing a liquid when contacted therewith;

a fibrous substrate layer having fibers therein with individually exposed surfaces thereon, said fibrous substrate layer being adhered to said fibrous laminate layer; and

an anti-microbial agent distributed within the fibrous substrate layer and adhered to the individually exposed surfaces of the fibers in the fibrous substrate layer, said anti-microbial agent being capable of activation when contacted with a liquid, said activation including the release of a portion of said anti-microbial agent into said liquid that is contained within the wiper such that an anti-microbial solution forms therefrom, the anti-microbial agent being adapted to provide that the rate of said release is sufficient to ensure that an anti-microbial solution is formed in the liquid within the wiper after said wiper has been subjected to at least five rinsing cycles, and said anti-microbial agent being at least partially encapsulated to provide further control over the release of said anti-microbial agent.

35. A wiper as defined in claim 34, wherein said anti-microbial agent is at least partially polymer-encapsulated to provide further control over the release of said anti-microbial agent.

36. A wiper as defined in claim 34, wherein said anti-microbial agent comprises hypochlorite particles.

37. A wiper as defined in claim 34, further including anti-microbial agents in the form of particles, wherein said particles have different particle sizes such that release of said anti-microbial agent is controlled by the presence of different sizes of anti-microbial agent particles.

38. A wiper as defined in claim 34, wherein the fibrous substrate layer comprises a hydrophobic material.

39. A wiper as defined in claim 34, wherein said fibrous substrate layer comprises a meltblown material selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene vinyl acetate), polyester polypropylene and polyethylene.

40. A wiper as defined in claim 34, wherein said fibrous laminate layer comprises a nonwoven fabric.

41. A wiper as defined in claim 40, wherein said nonwoven fabric includes pulp fibers.

42. A wiper as defined in claim 34, wherein said anti-microbial agent comprises a chlorine dioxide-generating formulation.

43. A wiper as defined in claim 34, wherein said anti-microbial agent comprises a silver-containing additive.

44. A wiper as defined in claim 43, wherein said anti-microbial agent comprises silver zeolite.

45. A wiper as defined in claim 34, wherein said anti-microbial agent comprises quaternary amines.

46. A wiper as defined in claim 34, wherein said anti-microbial agent comprises a peroxide.

47. A wiper as defined in claim 34, wherein said wiper further comprises a saponin.

48. A wiper as defined in claim 34, wherein said wiper further comprises a visual sensor to detect the exhaustion of said anti-microbial agent.

49. A wiper as defined in claim 34, comprising an additional fibrous laminate layer adhered to said fibrous substrate layer such that said fibrous substrate layer is positioned between two fibrous laminate layers.

50. A method of forming an anti-microbial wiper for disinfecting hard surfaces, said method comprising the steps of:

providing fibers that are capable of forming a web;

adding an anti-microbial agent to said fibers while said fibers are in an unsolidified state;

allowing said fibers to solidify into a fibrous web, wherein said anti-microbial agent is adhered to said fibrous web, said anti-microbial agent being capable of activation when contacted with water, said activation including the release of a portion of said anti-microbial agent into water contained in said fibrous web such that an anti-microbial solution forms therefrom after a normal rinse cycle, said anti-microbial agent being capable of forming said anti-microbial solution after numerous rinse cycles; and

laminating said fibrous web containing said anti-microbial agent to a laminate layer, wherein said laminate layer is capable of absorbing a liquid when contacted therewith.

51. A method as defined in claim 50, wherein said fibers are hydrophobic.

52. A method as defined in claim 51, wherein said hydrophobic fibers comprise poly(ethylene vinyl acetate).

53. A method as defined in claim 51, wherein said fibrous web comprises meltblown hydrophobic fibers.

54. A method as defined in claim 50, wherein said laminate layer is made from a nonwoven composite fabric, said nonwoven composite fabric comprising pulp fibers.