Antimicrobial articles for textiles

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an article comprising an antimicrobial-containing polymer fiber, yarn, or ply to inhibit the growth of live pathogens for the prevention of cross-contamination when touching a surface or object that would have had live pathogens on it and thus to prevent or reduce infection therefrom. The article may be used in combination with a textile such as a shoe, scrubs, bag, sweater, pants, or any other clothing and/or accessory to reduce the risk of infection and/or cross-contamination from handling such articles. The method of preventing or reducing contamination or cross-contamination and infection by employing these articles to secure textiles about a user is also disclosed.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An article comprising:
 a knitted, a braided, or a woven natural or synthetic polymeric yarn having an elongated length, the elongated length having a first end and a second end, a width, and a surface; and   the knitted, braided or woven natural or synthetic polymeric yarn presenting at least one antimicrobial agent on the surface.   
     
     
         2 . The article according to  claim 1 , wherein the article is selected from one or more footwear, laces for footwear, a drawstring, a lanyard strap, a belt, and a bag-strap. 
     
     
         3 . The article according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one antimicrobial agent comprises at least one melt processable organic antimicrobial agent. 
     
     
         4 . The article according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one melt processable organic antimicrobial agent is selected from the group consisting of triclosan, zinc pyrithione, chitosan, and poly(hexamethylene biguanide). 
     
     
         5 . The article according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one antimicrobial agent comprises at least one inorganic antimicrobial agent selected from at least one of a metal, a metal salt, or a metal oxide comprising copper, silver, or zinc. 
     
     
         6 . The article according to  claim 1 , wherein the knitted, the braided, or the woven synthetic polymeric yarn is comprised of a multicomponent fiber, wherein the multicomponent fiber comprises both antimicrobial-containing fiber and non-antimicrobial-containing fiber. 
     
     
         7 . The article according to  claim 1 , wherein the article comprises an elastic yarn. 
     
     
         8 . An article comprising a knitted, braided, or a woven natural or synthetic polymeric yarn having an elongated length, the elongated length having a first end and a second end, a width, and a surface, wherein the surface is coated with at least one antimicrobial agent. 
     
     
         9 . The article according to  claim 8 , wherein the article is selected from the group consisting of one or more laces for footwear, a drawstring, a lanyard strap, a belt, and a bag-strap. 
     
     
         10 . The article according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one antimicrobial agent comprises at least one melt processable organic antimicrobial agent selected from the group consisting of triclosan, hexachlorophene, zinc pyrithione, chitosan, and poly(hexamethylene biguanide). 
     
     
         11 . The article according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one antimicrobial agent comprises at least one inorganic antimicrobial agent selected from at least one of a metal, a metal salt, and a metal oxide comprising copper, silver, or zinc. 
     
     
         12 . A method of preventing or reducing contamination or cross-contamination by a live pathogenic microbe of at least a portion of a textile worn by a user, the method comprising:
 providing an article associated with a textile, wherein the article is configured to secure, bind, or tighten the textile about the user, the article comprising:
 an elongated length having a first end and a second end, a width, and a surface; 
 a woven, a braided, or a knitted natural or synthetic polymeric yarn presenting at least one antimicrobial agent presented on the surface; wherein the article susceptible to receive one or more live pathogenic microbes on the surface; and 
   preventing or reducing the one or more live pathogenic microbe contamination of the surface.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one antimicrobial agent comprises at least one melt processable organic antimicrobial agent selected from the group consisting of triclosan, hexachlorophene, zinc pyrithione, chitosan, and poly(hexamethylene biguanide). 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one antimicrobial agent comprises a metal, a metal salt, or a metal oxide comprising copper, silver, or zinc. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the live pathogenic microbe is selected from the group consisting of bacteria, virus, and fungus. 
     
     
         16 . A method of preventing or reducing infection by a live pathogenic microbe, the method comprising:
 providing an article associated with a textile, wherein the article is configured to secure, bind, or tighten the textile about a user, the article comprising:
 an elongated length having a first end and a second end, a width, and a surface; 
 a woven, a braided, or a knitted natural or synthetic polymeric yarn presenting at least one antimicrobial agent on the surface; wherein the article is susceptible to receiving one or more pathogenic microbes on the surface; and 
   preventing or reducing infection by the live pathogenic microbe.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one antimicrobial agent comprises at least one melt processable organic antimicrobial agent selected from the group consisting of triclosan, hexachlorophene, zinc pyrithione, chitosan, and poly(hexamethylene biguanide). 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one antimicrobial agent comprises at least one inorganic antimicrobial agent comprising a metal, a metal salt, or a metal oxide comprising copper, silver, or zinc. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the live pathogenic microbe is selected from the group consisting of bacteria, virus, and fungus. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the article is selected from one or more footwear, laces for footwear, a drawstring, a lanyard strap, a belt, and a bag-strap.