Glove packaging having antimicrobial barrier

Abstract

A glove packaging comprises a container for holding the gloves and a barrier positioned to cover at least a portion of an opening in the container. The barrier protects the gloves from airborne particles and other materials or contaminants that may contaminate the gloves prior to removal from the packaging. The barrier also includes an antimicrobial material for protecting the gloves from microorganisms, pathogens or other materials or contaminants that come in contact with the barrier to further reduce the possibility of contamination.

1 . A packaging for gloves, the packaging comprising:
 a container having a cavity for holding the gloves, the container having an opening for removing the gloves from the container; and   a barrier positioned to cover at least a portion of the opening of the container, the barrier including an antimicrobial material.   
   
   
       2 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier comprises a film. 
   
   
       3 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier comprises at least two overlapping films. 
   
   
       4 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier comprises polypropylene, polystyrene, polyester, polyamide, polyvinylchloride, polyethylene, polyvinylidene chloride, regenerated cellulose, cellulose acetate and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       5 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial material comprises silver-based antimicrobial materials, copper-based antimicrobial materials, chlorhexidene gluconate, benzalkonium chloride, monoquaternary and polyquaternary ammonium salt-based antimicrobial materials, biguanide-based antimicrobials such as polyhexamethylene biguanide, triclosan, zinc pyrithione, isothiazolinone-based antimicrobials, 10,10′-oxybisphenoxarsine-based antimicrobials, peptide-based antimicrobials, natural antimicrobials such as hops extract, honey and chitosan-based antimicrobials, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       6 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial material is added to the barrier by spraying, coating or mixing with the barrier before extrusion. 
   
   
       7 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier has a thickness of less than about 10 mils. 
   
   
       8 . The packaging of  claim 7 , wherein the barrier has a thickness of from about 1 mil to about 6 mils. 
   
   
       9 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier is embossed. 
   
   
       10 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier includes a film with a second material. 
   
   
       11 . The packaging of  claim 10 , wherein the second material is paper. 
   
   
       12 . The packaging of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier is patterned. 
   
   
       13 . The packaging if  claim 1 , wherein the gloves are disposable gloves. 
   
   
       14 . A method for making a packaging for gloves, the method comprising:
 providing a container having a cavity for holding the gloves, the container having an opening for removing the gloves from the container;   providing at least a first barrier having an antimicrobial material; and   attaching the first barrier to the container such that the barrier at least partially covers a portion of the opening of the container.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising providing at least a second barrier having the same or different antimicrobial material as the first barrier. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising attaching the second barrier to the container such that the second barrier covers a different portion of the opening of the container. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first barrier is adjacent to and at least partially overlaps the second barrier. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first barrier and the second barrier form a slit from which the disposable gloves may be removed. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the antimicrobial material comprises silver-based antimicrobial materials, copper-based antimicrobial materials, chlorhexidene gluconate, benzalkonium chloride, monoquaternary and polyquaternary ammonium salt-based antimicrobial materials, biguanide-based antimicrobials such as polyhexamethylene biguanide, triclosan, zinc pyrithione, isothiazolinone-based antimicrobials, 10, 10′-oxybisphenoxarsine-based antimicrobials, peptide-based antimicrobials, natural antimicrobials such as hops extract, honey and chitosan-based antimicrobials, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the antimicrobial material is added to the first barrier by spraying, coating or mixing with the first barrier before extrusion. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the gloves are disposable gloves. 
   
   
       22 . A container for holding a plurality of gloves, the container having a body portion and an opening, the opening having an antimicrobial film covering the opening, the antimicrobial film including an aperture to facilitate removal of the gloves from the opening of the container. 
   
   
       23 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the antimicrobial film comprises silver-based antimicrobial materials, copper-based antimicrobial materials, chlorhexidene gluconate, benzalkonium chloride, monoquaternary and polyquaternary ammonium salt-based antimicrobial materials, biguanide-based antimicrobials such as polyhexamethylene biguanide, triclosan, zinc pyrithione, isothiazolinone-based antimicrobials, 10,10′-oxybisphenoxarsine-based antimicrobials, peptide-based antimicrobials, natural antimicrobials such as hops extract, honey and chitosan-based antimicrobials, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       24 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the antimicrobial film is multi-layered. 
   
   
       25 . The container of  claim 22 , wherein the gloves are disposable gloves.