Anti-Microbial Strap

Abstract

The invention discussed includes a durable antimicrobial strap made using a polymer material, including plastics or vinyl, or a combination thereof, which have been enhanced through the integration of antimicrobial material adapted to kill microbes. The antimicrobial strap may be used in applications including but not limited to gait belts, helmet harness, and seat belts in child safety seats where the strap controls the level of cross-contamination by killing unwanted microbes that contact the strap and thereby, prevents the spread of disease and infections. A belt such as a child safety restraint made by a method of applying heat to the belt strap ends to form loops between the ends and the belt is also presented.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A belt comprising:
 a first strap containing a first end and a second end;   a second strap containing a third end and a fourth end;   a buckle joining said first end to said third end, and thereby joining said first strap to said second strap;   a first accessory slidably fixed to said second end; and   a second accessory slidably fixed to said, fourth end;   wherein said first and second straps are formed from a flexible non-porous substrate material containing an exposed surface, and an antimicrobial agent integrated within the exposed surface of the non-porous substrate.   
     
     
         2 . The belt of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first loop formed from a fused junction formed between said first end and said belt; and 
 a tri-glide member slidably contained within said first loop for adjusting the length of said belt. 
 
     
     
         3 . The belt of  claim 1  wherein said buckle comprises a male receptacle fixed to said first end, and a female receptacle fixed to said third end and releasably fixed to said male receptacle. 
     
     
         4 . A belt comprising:
 a first strap containing a first end and a second end;   a second strap containing a third end and a fourth end;   a first loop formed by a first fused junction of said first end and said first strap;   a second loop formed by a second fused junction of said second end and said first strap;   a third loop formed by a third fused junction of said third end and said second strap;   a fourth loop formed by a fourth fused junction of said fourth end and said second strap;   a first accessory slidably fixed to said second loop;   a second accessory slidably fixed to said fourth loop; and   a buckle joining said first end to said third end, thereby joining said first strap to said second strap,   wherein said first and second straps are formed from a flexible non-porous substrate material containing an exposed surface, and an antimicrobial agent integrated within the exposed surface of the non-porous substrate.   
     
     
         5 . The belt of  claim 4  further comprising:
 a tri-glide member slidably contained within said first loop for adjusting the length of said belt. 
 
     
     
         6 . The belt of  claim 4  wherein said buckle comprises a male receptacle fixed to said first end, and a female receptacle fixed to said third end and releasably fixed to said male receptacle. 
     
     
         7 . A belt formed by a method comprising the steps of:
 providing a flexible non-porous substrate material containing an exposed surface with an antimicrobial agent integrated within the exposed surface of the non-porous substrate   providing a first strap containing a first end and a second end, the strap formed from the flexible non-porous substrate material;   providing a second strap containing a third end and a fourth end, the strap formed from the flexible non-porous substrate material;   heating said first end and forming a first loop at a first junction of said first end and said first strap;   heating said second end and forming a second loop at a second junction of said second end and said first strap;   heating said third end and forming a third loop at a third junction of said third end and said second strap; and   heating said fourth end and forming a fourth loop at a fourth junction of said fourth end and said second strap.   
     
     
         8 . A product formed by the method of  claim 7 , the method further comprising the steps of:
 fixing a first attachment accessory within the second loop;   fixing a second attachment accessory within the fourth loop;   fixing a male buckle receptacle within the third loop;   and fixing a female buckle receptacle within the fourth loop for attachment to said male buckle receptacle.