# US 7,744,681 B2 · Antimicrobial filtration article

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- Number: US 7,744,681 B2
- Document ID: US7744681B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/401,128
- Filed: 2009-03-10
- Published: 2009-09-17
- Granted: 2010-06-29
- Earliest claimed: 2007-03-22
- Assignees: MVP Textiles & Apparel, Inc.
- Inventors: Ken Marcoon
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744681B2

## CPC

- A62B 23/025: {the filter having substantially the shape of a mask (surgical face masks A41D13/11)}
- B01D 46/0028: {provided with antibacterial or antifungal means}
- B01D 46/10: Particle separators, e.g. dust precipitators, using filter plates, sheets or pads having plane surfaces
- A41D 13/11: Protective face masks, e.g. for surgical use, or for use in foul atmospheres (eye-masks A61F9/04 {; hoods affording protection against heat or harmful chemical agents A62B17/04})
- A41D 13/1192: {with antimicrobial agent}
- A41D 31/305: {using layered materials}
- B01D 2259/4541: for portable use, e.g. gas masks
- Y10S 55/05: Methods of making filter
- Y10T 156/10: Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
- A62B: DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING (valves specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; life-saving devices, apparatus or methods specially adapted for use in water B63C9/00; divers' equipment B63C11/00; specially adopted for use with aircraft, e.g. parachutes, ejector seats, {B64D17/00, B64D25/10}; rescue devices peculiar to mining E21F11/00)
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- A41D: OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a filtration article, such as a protective facemask, a method for using a filtration article, and a method for preparing a filtration article. In particular, the invention relates to a protective facemask that cost-effectively offers a broad spectrum of antimicrobial protection through the use of fibers treated with one or more oligodynamic metal and/or salt of an oligodynamic metal.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of preparing a filtration article comprising:
treating fibers with one or more oligodynamic metal and/or salt of an oligodynamic metal,
incorporating said fibers into an air permeable filtration layer, said filtration layer being operatively associated with an air permeable support layer configured to fit over the nose and mouth of a wearer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more oligodynamic metal is silver, mercury, copper, iron, lead, zinc, bismuth, gold, aluminum, platinum, palladium, iridium, tin, antimony, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein said oligodynamic metal is silver.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said fibers comprise polyesters, polyolefins, polyamides, polypropylenes, acrylics, cotton, cellulose, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said fibers are about 0.3 mm to about 0.7 mm in diameter.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said fibers are about 0.4 mm to about 0.6 mm in diameter.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said fibers are about 0.5 mm in diameter.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said filtration layer comprises a hydrophilic foam into which the oligodynamic metal treated fibers are disbursed.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising treating the fibers with at least one secondary antimicrobial substance.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the secondary antimicrobial substance is an antibacterial agent, an antiviral agent, an anti-mold agent, an anti-yeast agent, an antifungal agent, or any combination thereof.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the filtration article is a facemask.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein said facemask has a cone shape, duckbill shape, or flatfold shape.

### Claim 13

A method of preparing a filtration article comprising:
treating fibers with silver or silver chloride;
incorporating said fibers into an air permeable filtration layer comprising hydrophilic foam, wherein the concentration of said fibers in said filtration layer is between about 100 parts per million to about 2,000 parts per million and said fibers are about 0.5 mm in diameter; and
operatively associating said filtration layer with an air permeable support layer and an attachment element, said support layer configured to fit over the nose and mouth of a wearer and said attachment element configured to secure said filtration article to the wearer.