Anti-slip sock or shoe cover with antimicrobial action

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a sock or shoe cover having grip features comprising at least one antimicrobial agent. The plurality of grip features are arranged on a plantar surface contact face. Optionally, a plurality of antimicrobial dorsal grip features are arranged about a dorsal face of the sock or shoe cover. In certain embodiments, a sock body of the sock or shoe cover also has antimicrobial qualities. In a second aspect, a method of reducing or eliminating the transportation of microbes from footwear is provided.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A sock or shoe cover comprising:
 a tubular sock body comprising a body forming a perimeter around a foot-receiving cavity, the sock body comprising, when donned, a closed end, an opposing end in communication with the foot-receiving cavity, a dorsal face, and a surface contact face;   a longitudinal axis that extends from the closed end to the opposing end and a transverse axis that extends between a medial side and a lateral side of the sock body, wherein the transverse axis intersects the longitudinal axis,   at least one grip feature presented on at least the surface contact face; and   at least one antimicrobial agent associated with at least some of the at least one grip feature.   
     
     
         2 . The sock or shoe cover of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one grip feature comprises one grip feature or a plurality of grip features. 
     
     
         3 . The sock or shoe cover of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one grip feature presented on the dorsal face. 
     
     
         4 . The sock or shoe cover of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one grip feature is bonded to the surface contact face. 
     
     
         5 . The sock or shoe cover of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one grip feature is presented on at least one of a heel portion, a plantar portion, and a lateral portion of the sock body when donned. 
     
     
         6 . The sock or shoe cover of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one grip feature is presented on the heel portion exceeds the plurality of grip features presented on the plantar portion of the sock body when donned. 
     
     
         7 . The sock or shoe cover of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the at least one antimicrobial agent is a gram positive or gram negative bactericide. 
     
     
         8 . The sock or shoe cover of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the at least one antimicrobial agent is selected from silver, copper, tin, nickel, zinc, sodium, or their cations. 
     
     
         9 . The sock or shoe cover of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the at least one antimicrobial agent comprises a zeolite carrier comprising silver, copper, tin, nickel, zinc, sodium, or their cations. 
     
     
         10 . The sock or shoe cover of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the at least one antimicrobial agent is distributed, dispersed, or dissolved in the at least one grip feature. 
     
     
         11 . The sock or shoe cover of  claim 10 , wherein the grip feature is selected from homopolymers or copolymers comprising poly ethylene vinyl acetate, poly vinyl chloride, polyurethane, synthetic or natural rubber, styrene-butadiene, and isoprene. 
     
     
         12 . The sock or shoe cover of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the at least one antimicrobial agent is a polymer or copolymers consisting of or comprising: 4-amino-N-(5-methyl-3-isoxazoly)benzenesulfonamide, (N-tri-n-butyltin)maleimide, m-acryloylamino-(tri-n-butyltinbenzoate), (benzimidazol-2-yl)thio groups, (5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)thio groups, acrylated quinolone, m-2-benzimidazolecarbamoyl moieties, norfloxacin, 2,4,4′-trichloro-2′-hydroxydiphenyl-ether, acrylated 2,4,4′-trichloro-2′-hydroxydiphenyl-ether, N-halamine derivatives of 1-acryloyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethylimidazolidin-4-one; phosphonium salts, sulfonium salts, methacryloyl-oxy-dodecylpyridinium bromide, 1,4-diazabicyclo-[2.2.2]-octane quaternary ammonium moieties, iodine containing quaternary amine methacrylate, N-halamine siloxane quaternary ammonium salts, and phosphonium salts with quaternary ammonium groups. 
     
     
         13 . The sock or shoe cover of  claim 1 , further comprising a sock body antimicrobial agent, the sock body antimicrobial agent being integral with a material forming the tubular sock body. 
     
     
         14 . A sock or shoe cover comprising:
 a sock body comprising a tubular body forming a perimeter around a foot-receiving cavity, the sock body comprising a toe end, a heel area, and a foot opening in communication with the foot-receiving cavity, the sock body including a longitudinal axis that extends from the toe end to the foot opening and a transverse axis that extends between a medial side and a lateral side of the sock body, wherein the transverse axis intersects the longitudinal axis,   a first grip portion of a plurality of grip features; and   at least one antimicrobial agent associated with at least some of the plurality of grip features.   
     
     
         15 . A method of reducing or eliminating the transportation of microbes, the method comprising:
 providing a sock body comprising a tubular body forming a perimeter around a foot-receiving cavity, the sock body comprising a toe end, a heel area, and a foot opening in communication with the foot-receiving cavity, the sock body including a longitudinal axis that extends from the toe end to the foot opening and a transverse axis that extends between a medial side and a lateral side of the sock body, wherein the transverse axis intersects the longitudinal axis;   providing a plurality of grip features to the sock body, wherein at least at least some of the plurality of grip features comprise at least one antimicrobial agent; and   reducing or eliminating microbe transportation from footwear.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the sock body is a knitted article. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one antimicrobial agent is a polymer or copolymers consisting of or comprising: 4-amino-N-(5-methyl-3-isoxazoly)benzenesulfonamide, (N-tri-n-butyltin)maleimide, m-acryloylamino-(tri-n-butyltinbenzoate), (benzimidazol-2-yl)thio groups, (5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)thio groups, acrylated quinolone, m-2-benzimidazolecarbamoyl moieties, norfloxacin, 2,4,4′-trichloro-2′-hydroxydiphenyl-ether, acrylated 2,4,4′-trichloro-2′-hydroxydiphenyl-ether, N-halamine derivatives of 1-acryloyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethylimidazolidin-4-one; phosphonium salts, sulfonium salts, methacryloyl-oxy-dodecylpyridinium bromide, 1,4-diazabicyclo-[2.2.2]-octane quaternary ammonium moieties, iodine containing quaternary amine methacrylate, N-halamine siloxane quaternary ammonium salts, and phosphonium salts with quaternary ammonium groups. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising topical administration of at least one antimicrobial agent to the sock body and/or the plurality of grip features. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of grip features comprise poly ethylene vinyl acetate, poly vinyl chloride, polyurethane, synthetic or natural rubber, styrene-butadiene, and isoprene. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one grip feature is presented on at least one of a heel portion, a plantar portion, and a lateral portion of the sock body when donned.