Fabric material

Abstract

A fabric material including a plurality of strands of a warp yarn positioned in a warp direction, a plurality of strands of a first filling yarn positioned in a filling direction, each being impregnated by silver ions, and a plurality of strands of a second filling yarn positioned in the filling direction, each being impregnated by copper ions. The strands of said warp yarn are woven with those of the first and second filling yarns to form a face side and a back side, and the strands of the first and second filling yarns are woven alternately relative to one another with the strands of said warp yarn in said filling direction. The fabric material may be a satin, plain or twill pattern, and can be used as a bed sheet having a low coefficient of friction, wickability, absorbency, and “cool to the touch” properties.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 555,581 filed on Nov. 4, 2011 entitled FABRIC FOR BED SHEET, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to fabric material, and, more particularly, to fabric material having antimicrobial and healing properties, as well as a low coefficient of friction.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Products made from fabric materials, such as bed sheets and pillow cases used in hospitals, nursing homes and rehabilitation centers, are a potential source of bacterial colonization, skin irritation, and migration or worsening of skin infections. Bed sheets and pillow cases often produce irritated areas on a patient's skin as a result of friction caused by motion or lack of motion of the patient relative to the bed sheets and pillow cases. This skin irritation contributes to t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]In an embodiment, the silver ion impregnated filling yarn and the copper ion impregnated filling yarn are manufactured separately and inserted alternately in the filling direction of the weave. In an embodiment, the silver and copper ions of the filling yarns provide antimicrobial and healing properties which are effective in combating the 2.5 growth and proliferation of harmful bacteria and fungus. With the silver and copper ions being inherently impregnated, they are resistant to being removed during repeated launderings of the fabric material, which enables the fabric's antimicrobial and healing properties to remain effective.

[0009]In an embodiment, the weave of the fabric material provides a low coefficient of friction on the face-side of the fabric, which inhibits irritation of a user's skin. In an embodiment, the rayon used in the warp direction of the weave possesses a low coefficient of friction that reduces the level of friction experienced by a user (such as a patient on a bed sheet) when he/she moves from side-to-side relative to the fabric. The reduced level of friction inhibits the formation of skin abrasions, which is one of the causes of pressure ulcers. In an embodiment, the fabric material includes a higher coefficient of friction on the back-side thereof versus the coefficient of friction on the face-side thereof. The higher coefficient on the back-side inhibits movement of the fabric material

Problems solved by technology

Products made from fabric materials, such as bed sheets and pillow cases used in hospitals, nursing homes and rehabilitation centers, are a potential source of bacterial colonization, skin irritation, and migration or worsening of skin infections.

Bed sheet

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