Antimicrobial adhesive films for aircraft fixtures

Abstract

Described are self-cleaning films that can be removably attached to passenger cabin furnishings to prevent the spread of pathogens. A self-cleaning film can include an adherable element having an adhesive layer ( 407, 507 ), an antimicrobial material connected with the adhesive layer ( 407, 507 ) to sanitize the adhesive self-cleaning antimicrobial element ( 627 ), and an abrasion-resistant surface that resists damage to the self-cleaning film during repeated washings. The self-cleaning element is sized to conform to a exposed surface of a passenger seat ( 101 ).

1 . A passenger seating assembly, comprising:
 a passenger seat frame configured to attach to a floor of a passenger compartment;   a passenger seat mounted to the passenger seat frame;   an exposed surface connected with the passenger seat; and   an adhesive self-cleaning antimicrobial element removably adhered to the exposed surface, the adhesive self-cleaning antimicrobial element comprising:
 an adhesive layer; 
 a polymeric layer; 
 an antimicrobial material connected with the adhesive layer and configured to sanitize the adhesive self-cleaning antimicrobial element; and 
 a machine-readable indicium containing information indicative of an installation date or an effectiveness date of the antimicrobial material. 
   
     
     
         2 . The passenger seating assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive layer comprises a tacky inferior surface configured to allow repeated attachment and detachment of the adhesive self-cleaning antimicrobial element. 
     
     
         3 . The passenger seating assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial material comprises a virucidal metallic or metallic oxide mesh. 
     
     
         4 . The passenger seating assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial material comprises virucidal metallic nanoparticles embedded in an abrasion-resistant surface. 
     
     
         5 . The passenger seating assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial material is antiviral and antibacterial. 
     
     
         6 . The passenger seating assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial material comprises silver nanoparticles embedded in an abrasion-resistant surface. 
     
     
         7 . The passenger seating assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the exposed surface to which the adhesive self-cleaning antimicrobial element is removably adhered is an armrest of the passenger seat. 
     
     
         8 . The passenger seating assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the exposed surface to which the adhesive self-cleaning antimicrobial element is removably adhered is a tray table. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . An adhesive self-cleaning antimicrobial element, comprising:
 an adhesive layer;   a polymeric support layer connected with the adhesive layer;   an antimicrobial layer connected with the polymeric support layer and configured to sanitize the adhesive self-cleaning antimicrobial element, wherein the antimicrobial layer comprises an antimicrobial material, and wherein the adhesive self-cleaning antimicrobial element is sized to conform to an exposed surface of a passenger seat and   a machine-readable indicium containing information indicative of an installation date or an effectiveness date of the antimicrobial material.   
     
     
         11 . The adhesive self-cleaning antimicrobial element of  claim 10 , wherein the adhesive layer comprises a tacky inferior surface configured to allow repeated attachment and detachment of the adhesive self-cleaning antimicrobial element to the exposed surface of the passenger seat. 
     
     
         12 . The adhesive self-cleaning antimicrobial element of  claim 10 , wherein the antimicrobial material comprises a virucidal metallic or metallic oxide mesh. 
     
     
         13 . The adhesive self-cleaning antimicrobial element of  claim 10 , wherein the antimicrobial material comprises virucidal metallic or metallic oxide particles. 
     
     
         14 . The adhesive self-cleaning antimicrobial element of  claim 10 , wherein the antimicrobial material comprises silver nanoparticles. 
     
     
         15 . The adhesive self-cleaning antimicrobial element of  claim 10 , wherein the exposed surface to which the adhesive self-cleaning antimicrobial element is removably adhered is an armrest of the passenger seat. 
     
     
         16 . The adhesive self-cleaning antimicrobial element  claim 10 , wherein the exposed surface to which the adhesive self-cleaning antimicrobial element is removably adhered is a tray table. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A method for equipping a passenger seating assembly with an antimicrobial surface, the method comprising:
 removably adhering an adhesive self-cleaning antimicrobial element to a exposed surface connected with the passenger seat, wherein the adhesive self-cleaning antimicrobial element comprises an adhesive layer, a polymeric support layer connected with the adhesive layer, and an antimicrobial layer comprising an antimicrobial material connected with the polymeric support layer and configured to sanitize the adhesive self-cleaning antimicrobial element; and   printing or attaching a machine-readable indicium to the adhesive self-cleaning antimicrobial element that communicates one of an installation date or an expiration date of the adhesive self-cleaning antimicrobial element.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 removing an expired adhesive self-cleaning antimicrobial element from the exposed surface connected with the passenger seat prior to removably attaching the adhesive self-cleaning antimicrobial element.   
     
     
         20 . (canceled)