Anti-microbial drinking or eating vessel

Abstract

There is provided a drinking or eating vessel comprising an inner surface that defines a volume for receiving liquid or solid food and an outer surface that supports an anti-microbial coating and a decorative layer, wherein the anti-microbial coating comprises a polymer formed at a curing temperature of less than 600 C. and contains anti-microbial particles distributed within said coating, wherein the anti-microbial coating and/or the decorative layer define an outermost surface that is exposed to contact by a user of the vessel, and wherein the anti-microbial particles provide anti-microbial protection across the entire surface of said outermost surface. Also provided are corresponding process for producing the drinking or eating vessel.

Claims

1. A drinking or eating vessel comprising an inner surface that defines a volume for receiving liquid or solid food and an outer surface that supports an anti-microbial coating and a decorative layer, (i) wherein the anti-microbial coating comprises a polymer formed at a curing temperature of less than 600 C. and contains anti-microbial particles distributed within said coating, (ii) wherein the anti-microbial coating defines an outermost surface that is exposed to contact by a user of the vessel, (iii) wherein the anti-microbial particles provide anti-microbial protection across the entire surface of said outermost surface, (iv) wherein the decorative layer forms a diffuse layer within the anti-microbial coating, (v) wherein the drinking or eating vessel comprises a material selected from the group consisting of bone china, porcelain, ceramics, stoneware and glass, and (vi) wherein the anti-microbial particles are not present on the inner surface.

2. The drinking or eating vessel of claim 1, wherein the anti-microbial particles comprise metal oxide particles.

3. The drinking or eating vessel of claim 1, wherein the anti-microbial particles comprise a slow release agent that controls the release of an anti-microbial agent component from the anti-microbial particles.

4. The drinking or eating vessel of claim 1, wherein the anti-microbial particles comprise a silver compound.

5. The drinking or eating vessel of claim 1, wherein the anti-microbial particles comprise metal oxide particles coated with a silver compound.

6. The drinking or eating vessel of claim 1, wherein the anti-microbial coating comprises a polymer formed at a curing temperature of 180-220 C.

7. The drinking or eating vessel of claim 1, wherein said vessel comprises ceramic and/or glass.

8. The drinking or eating vessel of claim 1, wherein the antimicrobial coating comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane, an epoxy, a polyester, an acrylic, and mixtures thereof.

9. The drinking or eating vessel of claim 1, wherein the decorative layer comprises a pattern or an image.

10. The eating or drinking vessel of claim 1, wherein the anti-microbial particles comprise a silver compound or metal oxide particles coated with a silver compound, wherein the anti-microbial coating comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane, an epoxy, a polyester, an acrylic, and mixtures thereof, wherein the polymer is formed at a curing temperature of 180-220 C., and wherein the decorative layer comprises a pattern or an image.

11. A drinking or eating vessel, comprising: an inner surface that defines a volume for receiving liquid or solid food, an outer surface, and a decorative layer on the outer surface, wherein the drinking or eating vessel comprises a material selected from the group consisting of bone china, porcelain, ceramics, stoneware and glass, the decorative layer comprises (i) a polymer, (ii) anti-microbial particles, and (iii) a dye or ink, and the anti-microbial particles are not present on the inner surface.

12. The drinking or eating vessel of claim 11, wherein the anti-microbial particle comprises a silver compound.

13. The drinking or eating vessel of claim 11, wherein the dye or ink comprises an organic dye or an ink-jet ink.

14. A drinking or eating vessel, comprising: an inner surface that defines a volume for receiving liquid or solid food, an outer surface, a dye or ink, on the outer surface anti-microbial particles, on the outer surface, and a polymer, on the outer surface, wherein the drinking or eating vessel comprises a material selected from the group consisting of bone china, porcelain, ceramics, stoneware and glass, and the anti-microbial particles are not present on the inner surface.

15. The drinking or eating vessel of claim 14, wherein the anti-microbial agent comprises a silver compound.

16. The drinking or eating vessel of claim 14, wherein the dye or ink comprises an organic dye or an ink-jet ink.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 illustrates part of a vessel having on its outer surface 1 a coating 3 comprising an anti-microbial agent 4.

(2) FIG. 2 illustrates part of a vessel having on its outer surface 1 a coating 2 comprising and anti-microbial agent 4.

(3) FIG. 3 illustrates part of a vessel having on its outer surface 1 a decorative layer 2, which is a screen/pad printed image on the mug surface 1, and a coating 3, which is Transparent Stoving Finish, in which coating 3 contains an anti-microbial agent 4.

(4) FIG. 4 illustrates part of a vessel having on its outer surface 1 a coating 2 (which in this example is Transparent Stoving Finish), in which coating 2 contains an anti-microbial agent 4.

(5) FIG. 5 illustrates part of a vessel having on its outer surface 1 a decorative layer, which comprises a water-based stoving finish 2 which has been mixed with a thermochromic ink 3, and a coating comprising an integral decorative layer is provided, which comprises a Transparent Stoving Finish 5 mixed with anti-microbial agent 6 and a dye sublimation decoration 4 dyed into the Transparent Stoving Finish.

(6) FIG. 6 illustrates part of a vessel having on its outer surface 1, a decorative layer 2 which comprises a decal transfer, and on top of said decorative layer 2 a coating 3 is provided, which comprises Transparent Stoving Finish, which contains an anti- microbial agent 4.

(7) Photo Mug:

(8) Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown part of a vessel having on its outer surface 1 a coating 3 comprising an anti-microbial agent 4. The coating has been formed by providing a coating mixture (such as that which produces a DuraGlaze coating) and mixing with it an anti-microbial agent. Said coating mixture has then been applied to the vessel by spraying (or dipping), before heat curing at a temperature below a temperature which will lead to reduced efficacy of the anti-microbial agent. The coating 3 has, as an integral part, a decorative layer 2, which has been formed by a dye sublimation image which has permanently dyed the coating 3. Said dye sublimation image has been applied to the coated vessel and subjected to a further heating process, causing the inks to permanently dye the coating.

(9) ColourCoat Mug:

(10) Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown part of a vessel having on its outer surface 1 a coating 2 comprising and anti-microbial agent 4. The coating may comprise Transparent Stoving Finish into which has been mixed Neogene inks to provide colour, and which has further been mixed with ant-microbial agent 4.

(11) Screen Print Mugs (Types 1 & 2):

(12) Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown part of a vessel having on its outer surface 1 a decorative layer 2, which is a screen/pad printed image on the mug surface 1, and a coating 3, which is Transparent Stoving Finish, in which coating 3 is distributed an anti-microbial agent 4.

(13) Screen Print Mugs (Type 3):

(14) Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown part of a vessel having on its outer surface 1 a coating 2 (which in this example is Transparent Stoving Finish), in which coating 2 is distributed an anti-microbial agent 4. Said coating 2 has also had mixed within a coloured inks, thus providing an integral decorative layer 3. On top of coating 2 is provided a further decorative layer 5, which comprises screen print inks which have been mixed with anti-microbial agent.

(15) WoW Mug:

(16) Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown part of a vessel having on its outer surface 1 a decorative layer, which comprises a water-based stoving finish 2 which has been mixed with a thermochromic ink 3. A coating comprising an integral decorative layer is provided, which comprises a Transparent Stoving Finish 5 mixed with anti-microbial agent 6 and a dye sublimation decoration 4 dyed into the Transparent Stoving Finish.

(17) Decal Mugs:

(18) Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown part of a vessel having on its outer surface 1 a decorative layer 2 which comprises a decal transfer. On top of said decorative layer 2 is provided a coating 3, which comprises Transparent Stoving Finish, into which is distributed anti-microbial agent 4.

(19) It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected.

EXAMPLES

(20) Photo Mugs

(21) DuraGlaze is mixed with the anti-microbial agent at a rate of 0.3% to 0.5% by weight. This lacquer/paint is then sprayed onto a blank mug and cured in the range of 180 C. to 220 C.

(22) Sublimation papers are then printed using inks from Sawgrass, Sensient or other suitable brands known to those skilled in the art. They are cut to shape and tightly wrapped round the cured DuraGlaze mug and heated in a mug oven in the range of 180 C. to 220 C. During the heating process the inks become gaseous and permanently dye the DuraGlaze coating (or any other coating described above). (see FIG. 1.).

(23) Colour Coat Mugs

(24) The Transparent Stoving Finish is mixed with coloured inks from Neogene to produce whatever colour is desired (e.g. a corporate colour). Those coloured coatings then have the anti-microbial agent mixed in at a rate of 0.3% to 0.5% by weight. The coating is then sprayed onto blank mugs and cured in the range of 180 C. to 220 C. and cooled (see FIG. 2.).

(25) Screen Print Mugs (Type 1)

(26) Using Screen Printing inks from Pad Print Ltd. These inks can be Screen Printed or Pad Printed onto a plain mug with no coating. They are cured at 110 C. (or Air Cured) and then sprayed with the Transparent Stoving Finish which contains the anti-microbial agent mixed at 0.3% to 0.5% by weight. They are cured at 180 C. to 190 C. and although this is a higher curing temperature than the inks it does not affect those inks (see FIG. 3.).

(27) Screen Print Mugs (Type 2)

(28) Using Screen Printing inks manufacture by, e.g. Dove Services, or Johnson Matthey. These inks can be Screen Printed onto a plain mug with no coating. They are cured in the range of 800 C. to 850 C. and after cooling they are sprayed with the Transparent Stoving Finish which contains the anti-microbial agent mixed at 0.3% to 0.5% by weight. They are then cured in the range of 180 C. to 190 C. (see FIG. 3.).

(29) Screen Print Mugs (Type 3)

(30) Using Screen Printing inks from Pad Print Limited to be Screen Printed onto a ColourCoat mug that already contains the anti-microbial agent (see ColourCoat Mugs). The inks are mixed with the anti-microbial agent at 0.3% to 0.5% by weight. They are then screen printed onto a ColourCoat mug and cured at 110 C. or air cured (see FIG. 4.).

(31) WoW Mugs

(32) A blank mug is sprayed with a water based (or solvent based) stoving finish mixed with a coloured thermochromic ink (for example, manufactured by Matsui, Japan) and cured in the range of 180 C. to 220 C. This produces a coloured WoW mug that has a matt finish. A Transparent Stoving Finish is then sprayed onto the matt surface to give a gloss finish, this Transparent Stoving Finish contains the anti-microbial agent mixed at 0.3% to 0.5% by weight and cured at 180 C. to 220 C.

(33) If a Dye Sublimation decoration is desired then the same steps as Photo Mugs are taken. (see FIG. 5.).

(34) Decal Mugs

(35) Decal Inks from Dove Services are printed onto a specialist paper known as Waterslide Decal Paper. When dry they are cut to the design shape and transferred, by hand, onto a mug using warm water. The Transparent Stoving Finish is then mixed with the anti-microbial agent at a rate of 0.3% to 0.5% by weight and sprayed onto the mug (see FIG. 6.).

(36) Anti-Microbial Efficacy

(37) The anti-microbial properties of coated vessels of the present invention were tested in comparison to control samples lacking any anti-microbial particles. Results are presented as CFU cm.sup.2. The anti-microbial agent in each case is silver chloride, as described above.

(38) TABLE-US-00001 Contact time Reduction (control) Sample Species 0 hrs 24 hrs Log 10 % Polystyrene E. coli 1.1E+04 3.5E+05 Treated E. coli 1.1E+04 1.1E+03 99.68 blue mug Ceramic MRSA 1.6E+04 2.5E+04 Treated MRSA 1.6E+04 7.7E+02 2.7 99.82 blue mug Treated MRSA 1.6E+04 <25.00 2.99 99.90 white mug Polystyrene E. coli 1.1E+04 3.5E+05 Treated E. coli 1.1E+04 <25.00 4.15 99.99 white mug

(39) In each case, a significant and pronounced anti-microbial effect is demonstrated, with a reduction in bacterial contamination of the drinking vessel of greater than 99% as compared to a control.