Water-soluble articles and methods of making and using the same

• US 7,328,463 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2003
• Issued: 02/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microtek Medical Holdings Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Microtek Medical Holdings Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: Steward, John B., Jones, Joan Adell
• Primary Examiner(s): Muromoto, Jr.; Robert H
• Application Number:
  US10/657,359
• Publication Number:
  US 20050050608A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,618 Days
• Field of Search: 245/6, 245/7, 245/8, 2 6/9, 2 4/6, 2 8/1, 222/7, 224/7
• US Class Current: 2/456
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/04 Vests, jerseys, sweaters or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 17/006 against contamination from chemicals, toxic or hostile environments; ABC suits
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 9/001 Decontamination of contaminated objects, apparatus, clothes, food; Preventing contamination thereof

Abstract

Water-soluble articles and methods of making, using and disposing of the water-soluble articles are disclosed.

Claims

1. A vest comprising water-soluble nonwoven fabric material formed from water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol fibers, said vest being shaped and sized so as to fit about a torso of a person, and when fitted about the torso of a person, said vest having (i) a neck opening for a neck of the person and (ii) arm openings for arms of the person, wherein the vest is capable of being washed in an aqueous bath without negatively impacting the structural integrity of the vest.

2. The vest of claim 1, wherein the vest is pre-washed.

3. The vest of claim 1, wherein the vest is capable of being washed in an aqueous bath up to about 20 times without negatively impacting the structural integrity of the vest.

4. The vest of claim 1, wherein the vest consists essentially of water-soluble material.

5. The vest of claim 1, wherein the vest consists of water-soluble material.

6. The vest of claim 1, wherein the vest comprises a closure system.

7. The vest of claim 6, wherein the closure system comprises one or more zippers, drawstrings, snaps, buttons, adhesives, hoop and loop materials, or a combination thereof.

8. The vest of claim 6, wherein the closure system comprises water-soluble material, water-dispersible material, or a combination thereof.

9. The vest of claim 1, wherein the vest comprises two or more nonwoven fabric sheets joined to one another with one or more sheet fastening devices.

10. The vest of claim 9, wherein the one or more sheet fastening devices comprise thread, adhesives, hoop and loop materials, or a combination thereof.

11. The vest of claim 9, wherein the one or more sheet fastening devices comprises water-soluble material, water-dispersible material, or a combination thereof.

12. The vest of claim 9, wherein each nonwoven fabric sheet comprises spunlaced nonwoven fabric formed from polyvinyl alcohol fibers and having a basis weight of about 65 grams per square meter.

13. The vest of claim 1, wherein the vest comprises at least one single ply nonwoven fabric, at least one double ply nonwoven fabric, at least one nonwoven fabric/film laminate, or a combination thereof.

14. The vest of claim 1, wherein the vest comprises one or more pockets.

15. The vest of claim 14, wherein the vest is an ice vest and comprises up to about 6 pockets.

16. The ice vest of claim 15, in combination with one or more pieces of ice or dry ice.

17. The vest of claim 14, wherein the vest is a dosimetry vest and comprises about 5 pockets.

18. The vest of claim 1, wherein the vest comprises pre-shrunk nonwoven fabric having a fabric shrinkage of less than about 5% when exposed to a washing cycle.

19. The vest of claim 1, wherein the vest comprises nonwoven fabric substantially free of lint and static.

20. The vest of claim 1, wherein the vest comprises at least about 70 parts by weight (pbw) of water-soluble material.

21. The vest of claim 1, wherein the vest comprises at least about 90 parts by weight (pbw) of water-soluble material.

22. A vest comprising water-soluble nonwoven fabric material formed from water-soluble fibers, said vest being shaped and sized so as to fit about a torso of a person, and when fitted about the torso of a person, said vest having (i) a neck opening for a neck of the person and (ii) arm openings for arms of the person, wherein the vest is capable of being washed in en aqueous bath without negatively impacting the structural integrity of the vest.

23. The vest of claim 22, wherein the water-soluble fibers comprise water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol fibers.

24. The vest or Claim 22, wherein each water-soluble nonwoven fabric material comprises spunlaced nonwoven fabric formed from polyvinyl alcohol fibers and having a basis weight of about 65 grams per square meter.

25. The vest of claim 22, wherein the vest comprises at least about 70 parts by weight (pbw) of water-soluble material.

26. The vest of claim 22, wherein the vest comprises at least about 90 parts by weight (pbw) of water-soluble material.

27. A vest comprising water-soluble fabric material formed from water-soluble fibers, said vest being shaped and sized so as to fit about a torso of a person, and when fitted about the torso of a person, said vest having (i) a neck opening for a neck of the person and (ii) arm openings for arms of the person wherein the vest is capable of being washed in an aqueous bath without negatively impacting the structural integrity of the vest.

28. The vest of claim 27, wherein the water-soluble fabric material comprises a nonwoven fabric of water-soluble fibers.

29. The vest of claim 28, wherein the water-soluble fibers comprise water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol fibers.

30. The vest of claim 27, wherein each water-soluble fabric material comprises spunlaced nonwoven fabric formed from polyvinyl alcohol fibers and having a basis weight of about 65 grams per square meter.

31. The vest of claim 27, wherein the vest comprises at least about 70 parts by weight (pbw) of water-soluble material.

32. The vest of claim 27, wherein the vest comprises at least about 90 parts by weight (pbw) of water-soluble material.