Laminated shower curtains

Abstract

Laminated shower curtains are disclosed having an antimicrobial pre-treated fabric layer comprising a first antimicrobial agent, and an antimicrobial liquid impermeable film layer bonded to the antimicrobial pre-treated fabric layer comprising a polymeric material and a second antimicrobial agent. The antimicrobial pre-treated fabric layer and the antimicrobial pre-treated fabric layer of the laminated shower curtains may be individually produced before being bonded together.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laminated shower curtain comprising:
 an antimicrobial pre-treated fabric layer comprising a first antimicrobial agent; and   an antimicrobial liquid impermeable film layer bonded to the antimicrobial pre-treated fabric layer comprising a polymeric material and a second antimicrobial agent.   
     
     
         2 . The laminated shower curtain of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial pre-treated fabric layer comprises a liquid permeable and gas permeable fabric material. 
     
     
         3 . The laminated shower curtain of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial pre-treated fabric layer comprises woven or knitted fabric material. 
     
     
         4 . The laminated shower curtain of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial pre-treated fabric layer comprises polyester, nylon, cotton, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The laminated shower curtain of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial pre-treated fabric layer has a material weight of from 20 to 200 gsm. 
     
     
         6 . The laminated shower curtain of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial pre-treated fabric layer has a thickness of from 0.01 to 1 millimeter. 
     
     
         7 . The laminated shower curtain of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of the first antimicrobial agent comprises from 1 to 20 weight percent based on the total weight of the fabric of the antimicrobial pre-treated fabric layer and the dry weight of the first antimicrobial agent. 
     
     
         8 . The laminated shower curtain of  claim 1 , wherein the first antimicrobial agent comprises at least one metal, at least one metal compound, at least one organic compound, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The laminated shower curtain of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial liquid impermeable film layer comprises a liquid impermeable and gas impermeable material. 
     
     
         10 . The laminated shower curtain of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial liquid impermeable film layer comprises a coextrusion of the polymeric material and the second antimicrobial agent. 
     
     
         11 . The laminated shower curtain of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric material of the antimicrobial liquid impermeable film layer comprises extruded polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, nylon, polycarbonate, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyurethane, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The laminated shower curtain of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial liquid impermeable film layer has a thickness from 0.05 to 1 millimeter. 
     
     
         13 . The laminated shower curtain of  claim 1 , wherein the second antimicrobial agent may comprise at least one metal, at least one metal compound, at least one organic compound, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The laminated shower curtain of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of the second antimicrobial agent comprises from 1 to 20 weight percent based on the total weight of the polymeric material of the antimicrobial liquid impermeable film layer and the weight of the second antimicrobial agent. 
     
     
         15 . The laminated shower curtain of  claim 1 , wherein the first antimicrobial agent and the second antimicrobial agent comprise different antimicrobial materials. 
     
     
         16 . The laminated shower curtain of  claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial pre-treated fabric layer has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the antimicrobial liquid impermeable film layer. 
     
     
         17 . The laminated shower curtain of  claim 1 , wherein the laminated shower curtain has a width of from 3 to 7 feet, and a height of from 5 to 9 feet. 
     
     
         18 . A method of making a laminated shower curtain material comprising laminating a pre-treated fabric layer comprising a first antimicrobial agent with a liquid impermeable film layer comprising a polymeric material and a second antimicrobial agent to produce the laminated shower curtain material. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the antimicrobial pre-treated fabric layer is produced by contacting the fabric layer with the first antimicrobial agent in a wet bath. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the antimicrobial liquid impermeable film layer is produced by co-extruding a molten mixture of the polymer material and the second antimicrobial agent. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the antimicrobial pre-treated fabric layer and the antimicrobial liquid impermeable film layer are laminated by heating at least one of the antimicrobial pre-treated fabric layer and the antimicrobial liquid impermeable film layer, and applying pressure to the antimicrobial pre-treated fabric layer and the antimicrobial liquid impermeable film layer to thereby bond the antimicrobial pre-treated fabric layer and the antimicrobial liquid impermeable film layer together. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising forming the laminated shower curtain material into a shower curtain having top, bottom and side edges, having a width of from 3 to 7 feet, and having a height of from 5 to 9 feet.