Antimicrobial ultra-microfiber cloth

Abstract

An antimicrobial material comprising at least one yarn comprising fine fiber of 1.0 denier or less and at least one yarn comprising antimicrobial fiber that are engaged with each other, wherein the antimicrobial fibers impart an antimicrobial property to the entire material. In a preferred embodiment, the yarns of fine fiber and yarns of antimicrobial fiber are woven or knitted together. It is further preferred that the fine fiber be less than 0.3 denier, have a diameter of approximately 3 microns, and have a generally triangular cross-section with sharp edges, therefore allowing the fine fiber to substantially remove bacteria, fungi and other microbes from a surface. It is also preferred that the antimicrobial fibers comprise an acetate fiber spun together with polyester to give the antimicrobial fiber added strength.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An antimicrobial material comprising: 
 at least one yarn comprising fine fiber of 1.0 denier or less; and    at least one yarn comprising antimicrobial fiber engaged with said yarn comprising fine fiber.    
     
     
         2 . The material of    claim 1   , wherein said material is woven.  
     
     
         3 . The material of    claim 1   , wherein said material is knitted.  
     
     
         4 . The material of    claim 1   , wherein said fine fiber is capable of removing microbes from a surface.  
     
     
         5 . The material of    claim 1   , wherein said antimicrobial fiber comprises an acetate fiber spun together with a synthetic fiber, said antimicrobial fiber imparting an antimicrobial property to the entire material.  
     
     
         6 . The material of    claim 5   , wherein said synthetic fiber is polyester.  
     
     
         7 . The material of    claim 1   , wherein said fine fiber is less than 4 microns in diameter.  
     
     
         8 . The material of    claim 1   , wherein said fine fiber comprises polyamide and imparts an overall cationic charge to said material.  
     
     
         9 . The material of    claim 1   , wherein said fine fiber is 0.5 denier or less.  
     
     
         10 . The material of    claim 1   , wherein said fine fiber is 0.3 denier or less.  
     
     
         11 . A cleaning cloth comprising: 
 at least one yarn comprising fine fiber of 1.0 denier or less;    at least one yarn comprising antimicrobial fiber engaged with said yarn of fine fiber, said antimicrobial fiber comprising an acetate fiber spun together with a synthetic fiber, wherein said antimicrobial fiber imparts an antimicrobial property to the entire cloth and said fine fibers are capable of removing microbes from a surface.    
     
     
         12 . The cleaning cloth of    claim 11   , wherein said cleaning cloth is woven.  
     
     
         13 . The cleaning cloth of    claim 12   , wherein said cleaning cloth is knitted.  
     
     
         14 . The cleaning cloth of    claim 11   , wherein said synthetic fiber is polyester.  
     
     
         15 . The cleaning cloth of    claim 11   , wherein said fine fiber is 0.5 denier or less.  
     
     
         16 . The cleaning cloth of    claim 11   , wherein said fine fiber is 0.3 denier or less.  
     
     
         17 . The cleaning cloth of    claim 16   , wherein said fine fiber has a diameter of less than 4 microns.  
     
     
         18 . The cleaning cloth of    claim 11   , wherein said fine fiber comprises polyamide and impart a cationic charge to said cleaning cloth.  
     
     
         19 . An antimicrobial cleaning cloth comprising: 
 at least one yarn comprising fine fiber of 0.3 denier or less;    at least one yarn comprising antimicrobial fiber engaged with said yarn comprising fine fiber;    wherein said fine fiber is capable of removing microbes from a surface, and said antimicrobial fibers impart an antimicrobial property to the entire cloth.    
     
     
         20 . The cleaning cloth of    claim 19   , wherein said cleaning cloth is woven.  
     
     
         21 . The cleaning cloth according to    claim 19   , wherein said cleaning cloth is knitted.  
     
     
         22 . The cleaning cloth of    claim 19   , wherein said antimicrobial fiber comprises an acetate fiber spun together with polyester.  
     
     
         23 . The cleaning cloth of    claim 19   , wherein said fine fiber is less than 4 microns in diameter.  
     
     
         24 . The cleaning cloth of    claim 19   , wherein said fine fiber comprises polyamide and imparts a cationic charge to the entire cloth.  
     
     
         25 . The cleaning cloth of    claim 19   , wherein said antimicrobial fiber further comprises the antimicrobial agent triclosan.  
     
     
         26 . An antimicrobial material comprising: 
 at least one yarn comprising antimicrobial fiber and fine fiber of less than 1.0 denier.    
     
     
         27 . The material of    claim 26   , wherein said material is woven.  
     
     
         28 . The material of    claim 26   , wherein said material is knitted.