Tacky allergen trap and filter medium, and method for containing allergens

Abstract

An allergen trap is provided. The allergen trap includes a woven or nonwoven substrate having at least one strata. The trap is impregnated with or otherwise treated with a tacky adhesive by which allergens may be trapped. An example of an allergen is a dust mite. The tacky adhesive, in turn, may be treated with a miticide or activated carbon.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An airlaid unitary multistrata material, comprising:
 a woven or nonwoven multistrata substrate containing:   a top hydrophobic stratum comprising synthetic fibers and, optionally, a binder;   (ii) an intermediate stratum comprising cellulose fibers, synthetic fibers, and tacky adhesive, wherein the tacky adhesive is present in an amount from about 20 gsm to about 300 gsm; and   (iii) a bottom stratum comprising cellulose fibers, synthetic fibers and, optionally, a binder;   
       wherein the intermediate stratum is impregnated with the tacky adhesive and the tacky adhesive is coextensively contiguous with a surface of at least one stratum; 
       wherein the substrate has a density of from about 0.035 g/cm 3  to about 0.10 g/cm 3 ; 
       wherein the caliper of the substrate is from about 3 mm to about 60 mm, 
       wherein the airflow resistance of the substrate is 500-10,000 Rayls (Ns/m 3 ); and 
       wherein the multistrata substrate is an airlaid material. 
     
     
         2 . The unitary multistrata material of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate further comprises a scrim being of a spunbond material, a meltblown material, a wetlaid or airlaid nonwoven material, a textile, a woven or nonwoven synthetic material. 
     
     
         3 . The unitary multistrata material of  claim 1 , wherein the strata of the multistrata substrate are melded together by heat. 
     
     
         4 . The unitary multistrata material of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate has a basis weight of from about 35 gsm to about 500 gsm. 
     
     
         5 . The unitary multistrata material of  claim 4 , wherein the substrate contains from about 30 weight percent to about 95 weight percent fibers and from about 5 weight percent to about 70 weight percent of a binder wherein the weight percentages are based on the total weight of the multi strata substrate. 
     
     
         6 . The unitary multistrata material of  claim 5 , wherein the substrate contains from about 50 weight percent to about 95 weight percent fibers and from about 5 weight percent to about 50 weight percent of a binder. 
     
     
         7 . The unitary multistrata material of  claim 1 , wherein the binder is a latex or other liquid binder, a bicomponent or other fiber binder, a powdered or pelletized synthetic binder, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The unitary multistrata material of  claim 1 , wherein the tacky material has a basis weight of from about 40 gsm to about 1300 gsm. 
     
     
         9 . The unitary multistrata material of  claim 1 , wherein the tacky adhesive is coextensively contiguous with the one or more selected areas of the substrate. 
     
     
         10 . The unitary multistrata material of  claim 1 , wherein the tacky adhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive. 
     
     
         11 . The unitary multistrata material of  claim 10 , wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive is an acrylate, a polyurethane, a poly-alpha-olefin, a silicone, or a self-tacky or tackified natural or synthetic rubber. 
     
     
         12 . The unitary multistrata material of  claim 1 , formed in the shape of a polygon with an edge circumference of from about 30 cm to about 15 meters. 
     
     
         13 . The unitary multistrata material of  claim 12 , wherein the edge circumference is from about 1 meter to about 15 meters. 
     
     
         14 . The unitary multistrata material of  claim 12 , wherein the edge circumference is shaped to cover an upper surface of a mattress. 
     
     
         15 . The unitary multistrata material of  claim 14 , wherein the material has four sides with angles between the sides of about 90°.