Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces – auxiliary compositions – Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing – Heterogeneous arrangement
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-22
2004-05-11
Douyon, Lorna M. (Department: 1751)
Cleaning compositions for solid surfaces, auxiliary compositions
Cleaning compositions or processes of preparing
Heterogeneous arrangement
C510S109000, C510S380000, C510S382000, C510S391000, C428S323000, C442S285000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06734157
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a wiper, such as the type used to disinfect hard surfaces in food service and medical applications. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a wiper having an anti-microbial agent that can be controllably released over an extended period of time and which remains effective after repeated washings and rinsings.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Microbial contamination can have a detrimental effect on any item ordinarily used by consumers or merchants, particularly items used in the medical and food service industries. For example, due to various bacterial outbreaks, there have been at least 200 food poisoning deaths reported in the last 10 years. Moreover, more Americans die from hospital infections each year than from car accidents and homicides combined.
Much of this contamination occurs due to migration of microorganisms from hard surfaces such as table tops or counter tops to food or to the hands of food handlers and, thence, to the food itself. For example, in the food service industry, contamination commonly occurs on stainless steel surfaces used for food preparation. Various food products are prepared on hard surfaces such as counters, tables, and the like. Bacteria from these products will often collect on such surfaces and, if the surface is not disinfected regularly, will transfer from product to product or from a product to the food handler. Numerous studies indicate that cross-contamination occurs as a result of a microorganism coming into contact with a person's hands or a cleaning cloth and thereafter contaminating other items touched by the cloth or hands, such as equipment or other surfaces.
As a result, wipers that contain anti-microbial agents have been employed to prevent such surface and cloth contamination. Currently, most of these anti-microbial wipers are impregnated with anti-microbial agents and are delivered to the user in a premoistened form. With these pre-moistened wipers, however, the disinfecting agent within the wiper is commonly readily exhausted after washing and rinsing of the wiper to remove dirt after a period of use. Thus, it is believed that such premoistened wipers either inhibit growth on the wipers and/or the hard surfaces cleaned only mildly or may only be used for a limited number of wipes.
Some anti-microbial wipers have been developed that are not pre-moistened. For example, one such anti-microbial wiper that can be delivered in a dry condition is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,884 to Fellows. In the Fellows patent, a wiper is described that contains a hot melt adhesive powder mixed with a chlorine release agent. The adhesive powder and chlorine release agents are incorporated into a tissue suitable for use in the disinfection of hard surfaces.
Although the wiper disclosed by Fellows can be delivered in a dry form, it apparently fails to provide sufficient disinfection over an extended period of time—similar to pre-moistened wipers. After being contacted with water, the release of the anti-microbial agent in such wipers capable of being delivered in a dry state occurs readily without control. This prevents the wiper from sustaining its anti-microbial activity after repeated washings and rinsings.
Another anti-microbial wiper has been marketed by Pal International Inc. of England under the name WIPEX. According to sales literature, this wiper contains poly(hexamethylenebiguanide hydrochloride), alkyldimethybenzyl ammonium chloride, and the disodium salt of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (E.D.T.A.). In addition, the wipes include indicator stripes that are stated to fade gradually as the disinfectants in the wiper are depleted. It is believed that U.S. Pat. No. 4,311,479 to Fenn et al. is related to this particular anti-microbial cloth. It is unclear, however, whether these wipes would prove to be very effective in reducing cellular activity. Also, it is believed that they would retain only limited anti-microbial activity after washing and rinsing.
Accordingly, a need currently exists for a more effective wiper that disinfects hard surfaces and inhibits cross-contamination. In particular, a need exists for a wiper that contains an anti-microbial agent that is slowly released when contacted by water, thereby allowing the wiper to provide an anti-microbial solution and to sustain its anti-microbial effectiveness after repeated washing and rinsing operations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a wiper suitable for use in disinfecting hard surfaces.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a wiper containing an anti-microbial agent that can remain effective after repeated washing and rinsing operations.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a wiper containing an anti-microbial agent that can remain effective after repeated washing and rinsing by controlling the release rate of the anti-microbial agent.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a wiper containing a controlled release anti-microbial agent that is incorporated within a fibrous substrate layer.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a wiper containing a controlled release anti-microbial agent incorporated within a hydrophobic substrate layer that adheres to a fibrous substrate material.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by providing a wiper suitable for disinfecting hard surfaces and inhibiting or preventing cross-contamination. A wiper of the present invention generally includes a substrate layer, at least one laminate layer, and an anti-microbial agent which is adhered to the substrate layer.
In accordance with the present invention, any material commonly used in the art to manufacture cleaning cloths, such as wipers, can be used as the substrate material. Commonly, but not restricted to such materials are hydrophobic materials. Generally, the substrate material may have a basis weight of more than about 10 grams per square meter (gsm). In one embodiment of the present invention, the wiper contains a meltblown substrate layer formed from poly(ethylene vinyl acetate) co-polymer (EVA).
In addition to a substrate layer, a wiper of the present invention also contains a laminate layer. In general, a laminate layer of the present invention can include any absorbent material (or if an additional laminate layer is employed, a hydrophobic material) that may be bonded to the substrate layer. For example, in one embodiment, two laminate layers formed from a hydroentangled material sold under the name HYDROKNIT® and having a basis weight of 49 gsm, are bonded to both surfaces of an EVA meltblown substrate layer. HYDROKNIT® is further disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,284,703 to Everhart et al. which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference thereto. In addition, the web can be a co-form material such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,100,324 to Anderson et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,624 to Georger et al., which are incorporated herein in their entireties by reference thereto.
As stated, the substrate layer of the present invention can be hydrophobic. Consequently, such layers can have a substantial effect on water penetration because the layer itself has a thickness. As such, the substrate layer can enhance the ability of a wiper made according to the present invention to operate over an extended period of time after repeated washings and rinsings. In particular, when the substrate layer is hydrophobic, it is believed that the layer can inhibit water from readily migrating out of the wiper, thus providing a longer release time for an anti-microbial agent incorporated therein.
According to the present invention, a subject wiper also includes an anti-microbial agent that can be controllably released over an extended period of time after repeated washing and rinsing. “Repeated washing and rinsing”, for purposes of the present invention, generally refers to at least 5 cycles of rinsing the wiper between wiping applications. As used herein a “rinse cycle
Anderson Ralph L.
Clark James W.
Radwanski Fred R.
Douyon Lorna M.
Kimberly--Clark Worldwide, Inc.
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough
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