Anti-microbial balanced weave wearable undergarment and process therefore

• US 9,956,123 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2016
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alpha1 Engineering Technology Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alpha1 Engineering Technology Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Dan-Jumbo, Eugene
• Primary Examiner(s): STEPHENS, JACQUELINE F
• Application Number:
  US15/058,925
• Publication Number:
  US 20170252224A1
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 604361, 604367, 604385101, 604384, 604378, 604396
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/42 with wetness indicator or alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49007 Form-fitting, self-adjusting disposable diapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/495 with faecal cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/496 in the form of pants or briefs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/51121 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/5116 being formed of multiple layers A61F13/5123 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/58 Adhesive tab fastener elements A61F13/5611, A61F13/5616, A61F13/66 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/8405 Additives, e.g. for odour, disinfectant or pH control
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/422 the alarm being a colour change
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/51139 being woven or knitted fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/586 on lateral flaps
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/8414 with anti-microbic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/8426 with metallic salts
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/404 Biocides, antimicrobial agents, antiseptic agents

Abstract

In an embodiment, a garment, such as a smart pull-up, includes at least one outer section and a midsection attached to the outer section. The midsection includes a first antimicrobial membrane patch layer configured to contact a wearer'"'"'s body, a second antimicrobial membrane patch layer disposed adjacent to the first antimicrobial patch layer, and an air gap disposed between the first patch and second antimicrobial patch layers. The first and second antimicrobial patch layers each are formed from respective balanced warp big tows and fill tows in a plain-weave pattern, and each layer include copper filaments disposed in a plurality of the tows, each of the copper filaments including at least Cu⁺/Cu⁺⁺⁺ ions. Such a smart pull-up may be suitable for either adult who cannot use the toilet, or child, or healthy adult and, therefore, may urinate and defecate himself/herself.

Claims

1. A manufacture that comprises:

at least one outer section;

a midsection attached to the at least one outer section such that the midsection comprises;

a first antimicrobial layer configured to contact a wearer'"'"'s body, such that the first antimicrobial layer comprises a center sublayer between two outer sublayers, such that each outer sublayer comprises a respective core that comprises a micro foam, and the center sublayer comprises;

a balance plain weave pattern such that a plurality of first warp tows in the first antimicrobial layer each respectively comprise a first 1 to 3 filaments such that a spacing between adjacent first warp tows in the plurality of first warp tows remains within 1/16 of an inch, and each filament in the first 1 to 3 filaments respectively consists of a cross section on an order of 0.00004 to 0.006 inches and a first copper that comprises a at least one of first Cu+ ions or first Cu+++ ions; and

a plurality of first fill tows such that a spacing between adjacent first fill tows in the plurality of first fill tows remains within 1/16 of an inch, and each fill tow in the plurality of first fill tows respectively comprises a first nanomaterial that consists of a second copper that comprises 0.0005 to 15% of material that comprises the first fill tows and at least one of second Cu+ ions or second Cu+++ ions, such that each first warp tow and each first fill tow comprise a width in a range of approximately at least one of;

0.015 to 0.020 inches, or 0.00015 to 0.0020 inches; and

a second antimicrobial layer disposed adjacent to the first antimicrobial layer, such that the second antimicrobial layer comprises;

a balance plain weave pattern such that a plurality of second warp tows in the second antimicrobial layer comprise a spacing between adjacent second warp tows in the plurality of second warp tows that remains within 1/16 of an inch, and each second warp tow in the plurality of second warp tows respectively comprises a second 1 to 3 filaments such that each filament in the second 1 to 3 elements respectively consists of a cross section on an order of 0.00004 to 0.006 inches and a third copper that comprises at least one of third Cu+ ions or third Cu+++ ions; and

a plurality of second fill tows such that a spacing between adjacent second fill tows in the plurality of second fill tows remains within 1/16 of an inch, and such that each second fill tow in the plurality of second fill tows respectively comprises a second nanomaterial that consists of a fourth copper that comprises at least one of fourth Cu+ ions or fourth Cu+++ ions, such that each second warp tow and each second fill tow comprise a width in a range of approximately at least one of;

0.015 to 0.020 inches, or 0.00015 to 0.0020 inches; and

a gap disposed between the first and the second antimicrobial layers, such that the gap consists of air.

2. The manufacture of claim 1, further comprising:

the micro foam comprising a cellulose configured to absorb and hold a liquid; and

the at least one outer section comprises a third layer that comprises a balance of third warp tows and third fill tows in a plain-weave pattern.

3. The manufacture of claim 1, wherein the outer section comprises:

a third layer that comprises a balance of third warp tows and third fill tows in a plain-weave pattern; and

a third 1 to 3 filaments respectively disposed in a plurality of third warp tows, such that each of the second 1 to 3 filaments consist of a third copper that comprises at least one of a third Cu+ ions or a third Cu+++ ions.

4. The manufacture of claim 1, wherein the outer section comprises adhesive flaperons.

5. The manufacture of claim 1, further comprising the first and the second antimicrobial layers each configured to absorb moisture.

6. The manufacture of claim 1, wherein each of the first and the second antimicrobial layers comprise:

nanomaterial that consists of copper, such that the nanomaterial and the second 1 to 3 filaments, form at least one nano-copper sensor configured to detect excrement.

7. The manufacture of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and the second antimicrobial layers comprises a respective sublayer of foam-like substance disposed over at least one side of the first or second warp tows or the first or second fill tows.

8. The manufacture of claim 1, wherein each of the first and of the second 1 to 3 filaments comprises Cu+++ ions configured to kill bacteria and virus located down to 0.004 inches below a surface of a skin.

9. The manufacture of claim 1, further comprising the gap configured to hold excrement propagated through the first antimicrobial layer of the midsection.

10. The manufacture of claim 1, further comprising a third layer disposed adjacent to a side of the second antimicrobial layer opposite to the gap and configured to impede an excrement leak from the second antimicrobial layer.

11. The manufacture of claim 1, further comprising:

a first nano-copper sensor disposed adjacent to the first antimicrobial layer and configured to detect excrement; and

a second nano-copper sensor disposed adjacent the second antimicrobial layer and configured to detect excrement.

12. The manufacture of claim 11, wherein the first and the second nano-copper sensor each comprises respectively:

nanomaterial and each filament configured such that a space exists between the nanomaterial and the filament.

13. The manufacture of claim 11, wherein the first and the second nano-copper sensor each comprise respectively:

a warp tow that comprises one of a nanomaterial and a micro filament of a copper that comprises at least Cu+ ions; and

a fill tow that comprises the other of the nanomaterial and the micro filament and configured such that a space exists between the nanomaterial and the micro filament.

14. The manufacture of claim 11, wherein the first and the second nano-copper sensor are disposed in the first and the second antimicrobial layers, respectively.

15. The manufacture of claim 11, further comprising a third nano-copper sensor disposed on the second antimicrobial layer.

16. A nano-copper sensor configured to sense at least one of:

a load, a strain, or a liquid, via a configuration that comprises;

rows of nanofibers spaced apart from one another, such that the nanofibers consist of copper; and

filaments spaced apart from each other and from the rows of nanofibers, and disposed substantially perpendicular to the rows of nanofibers, such that each filament in the filaments consists of a continuous filament that consists of a cross section on an order of 0.00004 to 0.006 inches and a copper that comprises at least one of;

Cu+ ions or Cu+++ ions.

17. The nano-copper sensor-of claim 16, further comprising the rows of nanofibers and the filaments being interwoven.

18. The nano-copper sensor-of claim 16, further comprising:

warp tows that comprise the filaments; and

fill tows that comprise the rows of nanofibers.

19. The nano-copper sensor of claim 16, further comprising:

a substrate that comprises sides, wherein the rows of nanofibers are disposed on one side of the substrate, and wherein the filaments are disposed on another side of the substrate.

20. The nano-copper sensor-of claim 16, wherein the filaments comprise the Cu+ ions configured to kill bacteria and virus located down to 0.004 inches below a surface of a skin.

21. The nano-copper sensor-of claim 16, wherein the filaments comprise the Cu+ and the Cu+++ ions configured to kill bacteria and virus located down to 0.004 inches below a surface of a skin.

22. A process for indicating excrement, the process comprising:

sensing excrement via sensing at least one of;

a load, a strain, or a liquid, via a nano-copper sensor comprising rows of nanofibers spaced apart from one another, and copper filaments spaced apart from the rows of nanofibers and from one another and disposed substantially perpendicular to the rows of the nanofibers, the nanofibers consisting of copper, and each filament in the filaments consisting of a continuous filament consisting of a cross section on an order of 0.00004 to 0.006 inches and a copper comprising at least one of;

second Cu+ ions or second Cu+++ ions; and

generating, in response to sensing the excrement, an excrement indication via the nano-copper sensor.

23. The process of claim 22, further comprising generating the excrement indication via causing the nano-copper sensor to change color.

24. The process of claim 22, further comprising generating, in response to sensing the excrement for longer than a threshold period of time, an excrement-persistence indication via the nano-copper sensor.

25. The process of claim 22, further comprising:

causing the nano-copper sensor to change to a first color; and

causing the nano-copper sensor to change from the first color to a second color in response to the nano-copper sensor-sensing the excrement for longer than a threshold period of time.

26. A process of forming a wearable weave, the process comprising:

attaching a first outer section of a wearable weave to a first end of a midsection of the wearable weave, the midsection comprising;

a first antimicrobial layer configured to contact a wearer'"'"'s body, the first antimicrobial layer comprising a center sublayer between two outer sublayers, each outer sublayer comprising a respective core comprising a micro foam, the center sublayer comprising;

a balance plain weave pattern such that a spacing between adjacent first warp tows in a plurality of first warp tows remains within 1/16 of an inch, and such that the plurality of first warp tows in the first antimicrobial layer each respectively comprise a first 1 to 3 filaments, each filament in the first 1 to 3 elements respectively consisting of a cross section on an order of 0.00004 to 0.006 inches, and a first copper comprising at least one of first Cu+ ions or first Cu+++ ions; and

a plurality of first fill tows such that a spacing between adjacent first fill tows in the plurality of first fill tows remains within 1/16 of an inch, and such that each first fill tow in the plurality of first fill tows respectively comprises a first nanomaterial consisting of a second copper comprising 0.0005 to 15% of material comprising the first fill tows and at least one of second Cu+ ions or second Cu+++ ions, each first warp tow and each first fill tow comprising a width in a range of approximately at least one of;

0.015 to 0.020 inches or 0.00015 to 0.0020 inches;

a second antimicrobial layer disposed adjacent to the first antimicrobial layer, the second antimicrobial layer comprising;

a balance plain weave pattern such that a plurality of second warp tows in the second antimicrobial layer comprise a spacing between adjacent second warp tows in the plurality of second warp tows that remains within 1/16 of an inch, and each second warp tow in the plurality of second warp tows each respectively comprise a second 1 to 3 filaments, such that each filament in the second 1 to 3 elements respectively consists of a cross section on an order of 0.00004 to 0.006 inches and a third copper comprising at least one of third Cu+ ions or third Cu+++ ions; and

a plurality of second fill tows such that a spacing between adjacent second fill tows in the plurality of second fill tows remains within 1/16 of an inch, and such that each second fill tow in the plurality of second fill tows comprises a second nanomaterial consisting of a fourth copper comprising at least one of fourth Cu+ ions or fourth Cu+++ ions, each second warp tow and each second fill tow comprising a width in a range of approximately at least one of;

0.015 to 0.020 inches or 0.00015 to 0.0020 inches; and

a gap disposed between the first and the second antimicrobial layers such that the gap consists of air; and

attaching a second outer section of the wearable weave to a second end of the midsection of the wearable weave.

27. The process of claim 26, further comprising:

the micro foam comprising a cellulose for absorbing and holding a liquid;

stitching the first outer section to the first end of the midsection; and

stitching the second outer section to the second end of the midsection.

28. The process of claim 26, further comprising:

adhering the first outer section to the first end of the midsection; and

adhering the second outer section to the second end of the midsection.