Patent Application
20110142898
This invention relates to an article and/or a device with an antibacterial/microbe-resistant fiber layer for treating and preventing skin disorders.
In recent years consumers have growing concerns about exposing their skins to hazards of microorganisms, which may cause various types of skin issues such as acne and allergies. Some attempt to battle these skin disorders by regularly washing faces or applying medications topically to reduce infections. These attempts, however, are significantly counterbalanced when the human skin stays in contact during sleeping hours with conventionally-made bedding items such as pillowcases and bedding sheets. Those bedding items are oftentimes breeding grounds for germs, bacteria, and other foreign substances harmful to the skin.
The skin disorders caused by microorganisms are usually aggravated if the bedding cloth is not cleaned frequently. Human's dead skin cells, grease, sweat, and other excretions accumulated on the cloth surface serve as ideal food supply for the microorganisms. Over time, the contaminated bedding fabrics will repeatedly infect the human skin despite other efforts to treat the skin ailments.
In addition. consumers are often misled to believe that the higher thread count represents better quality for the bedding textile, From the perspective of dermatology, however, the higher thread count impedes ventilation of the fabric, thus blocking skin cells breathing functionalities. Certain skin syndromes such as acne eruptions/vulgaris, rashes and pustules could be caused or aggravated by fabrics with exceedingly high thread counts.
Given the above deficiencies of prior art, a need remains for a fabrics article, especially bedding items, to effectively prevent and treat skin disorders, The present invention satisfies such a need by providing a fabrics article that ensures the healthy condition of the user by greatly reducing incidences of exposure to germs, bacteria, or pathogens so often associated with certain skin issues.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a layer of fabrics having antibacterial/microbe-resistant properties is designed for contacting with the human skin. The fabric layer can be disposed, directly or indirectly, onto a pillowcase, pillow, comforter, comforter cover, head support, bed cloth, sleeping bag, mattress, cushion, blanket, and garment. The antibacterial/microbe-resistant properties may come from natural attributes of the fabrics, such as bamboo fibers. Alternatively, the layer of fabrics has antibacterial/microbe-resistant agent adhered thereto such as silver ion, silver element, and silver composite.
In another aspect, the present invention further comprises an indicator thereupon for indicating the grease level contained in the layer. In some embodiments, the indicator can show passage of time. A label can be included to inform a user of how to use the antibacterial/microbe-resistant pillowcase, for example.
The thread count of the fabrics layer advantageously ranges between 150 and 350.
The pillowcase 100 provides antibacterial and/or microbe-resistant effect for killing and removing microorganisms (including e.g., germs, bacteria, fungi, and virus), that may cause various skin infections and conditions. The pillowcase 100 is particularly suitable for acne sufferers and places where the beds are frequently used by various people, such as hospitals, hotels, and hostels.
In some embodiments, the pillowcase 100 is made of textiles with inherent antibacterial/microbe-resistant attributes such as bamboo fibers and synthetic fabrics such as polyester, acetate, and acrylic.
As to fibers lacking inherent antibacterial/microbe-resistant attributes, substances with such properties can be added onto those fibers to achieve the same effect. By way of example, the antibacterial/microbe-resistant agent can be delivered during the process of making a synthetic fiber; in addition, fibers can acquire those properties through applying antibacterial/microbe-resistant materials thereon or using binders to adhere compositions thereto.
Antibacterial/microbe-resistant substances include metals known for their anti-microbial properties, such as silver, copper and zinc. Preferably, the yarn of the pillowcase 100 contains nano-silver particles with diameters ranging from 1 nm to 100 nm, The silver adhered to the fabrics is preferably 0.2% to 1.5% of the total weight of the yarn. The ions of those metals and combinations thereof also can be held to yarns that are woven or knit into the pillowcase 100. Well-known examples include Ag+, AgNo3, silver halide, and other silver salts.
The pillowcase 100 can be made of various textiles, including natural fibers such as cotton, linen, silk, wool, etc.; synthetic fabrics such as nylon, polyester, acrylic, urethane fiber, etc.; and a blend of the afore-mentioned fabrics. Preferably, the textile employed for the pillowcase 100 has a refreshing smell and pleasant scent.
Aside from pillowcases, the foregoing fabrics with either inherent or added antibacterial/microbe-resistant attributes can be used in various articles that may come into contact with the human skin: head support for airplanes, coaches, trains, ships, cars, and other transport vehicles; bedding items such as pillows, bed cloth, comforter and comforter covers, blankets, cushions, mattresses, sleeping bag, etc.; and garments such as hat, underwear, robes and scarf.
Referring to
The indicator 140 and 150 is capable of detecting how much oil or grease is contained in the pillowcase 100 and reacts by showing a change, such as color variations or indices. By way of example, when the oil contained in the pillowcase 100 has reached the saturation level, the indicator 140 and 150 turns red or displays a reminder “FLIP” as shown in
Preferably, the indicator 140 and 150 is a label with designations or marks thereon to inform the user of when to flip or launder the pillowcase 110, By way of example, one label with designations Mon/Tue/Wed may be attached to the front side 110, pointing out to the user that the front side is for use on only Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, while a label with designations Thurs/Fri/Sat is affixed to the back side 120, signifying that the back side should be used only on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The thread count of fabrics that compose the pillowcase 100 is an important factor in determining the fabric's permeability/breathability and consequently affects the pillow's curing properties. Superior permeability/breathability creates cooler temperature and appropriate moisture to inhibit the growth of microorganisms. When the thread count increases, the permeability/breathability deteriorates. This is because the space 230, which is defined by warp and weft threads, greatly reduces in size with increasing thread counts. Air flow through the space 230 is therefore hindered, resulting in heightened temperature and moisture. The resulting heat and humidity provides a suitable environment for microorganisms, which in turn aggravate the skin ailments.
On the other hand, an overly low thread count could also lessen the curing effect of the pillowcase 100. As depicted in
An optimal range of the thread count according to the present invention is 150 to 350, which can be applied in pillowcases as well as other articles such as bedding items and those set forth above.
Having now described the invention in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in the art will understand how to make changes and modifications in the present disclosure to meet their specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
