Collaspible gel articles

• US 20070197949A1
• Filed: 04/12/2007
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Applied Elastomerics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: John Y. Chen
• Inventors: Chen, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,661,164 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 602/41
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/02 Organic macromolecular compounds, natural resins, waxes or and bituminous materials
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/24 Graft or block copolymers according to groups C08L51/00, C08L53/00 or C08L55/02; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 53/02 of vinyl-aromatic monomers and conjugated dienes
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 53/025 modified
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 153/02 Vinyl aromatic monomers and conjugated dienes
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 153/025 modified
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 5/909 Flowable viscous, e.g. gel material containing

Abstract

A tear and fatigue resistant gel article comprising two or more communicating internal volumes like cavities when depressed by external pressure or force is capable of collapsing unto itself in a controllable and directionally preselected manner by venting static air within said internal through openings in said gel article, said gel article is made from gel compositions having rigidity of from about 20 gram Bloom to about 1,800 gram Bloom suitable for cushioning and other uses.

Claims

1. A gel article comprising a soft gelatinous elastomer composition formed from

(I) 100 parts by weight of one or a mixture of two or more block copolymer(s);

and

(II) one or more of a selected plasticizer(s) being in sufficient amounts to achieve a gel rigidity of from about 20 gram Bloom to about 1,800 gram Bloom;

at least one said selected plasticizer(s),

(I) said block copolymers selected from one or more hydrogenated styrene-isoprene/butadiene-styrene block copolymer(s) and one or more a hydrogenated controlled distribution styrene-isoprene/butadiene-styrene block copolymer(s) in combination with or without a selected amount of one or more other polymers or copolymers;

(II) said gel article having one or more internal collapsible cavities.

2. A gel article comprising a soft gelatinous elastomer composition formed from

(I) 100 parts by weight of one or a mixture of two or more block copolymer(s);

and

(II) one or more of a selected plasticizer(s) being in sufficient amounts to achieve a gel rigidity of from about 20 gram Bloom to about 1,800 gram Bloom;

at least one said selected plasticizer(s),

(III) said block copolymers selected from one or more hydrogenated styrene-isoprene/butadiene-styrene block copolymer(s) and one or more a hydrogenated controlled distribution styrene-isoprene/butadiene-styrene block copolymer(s) in combination with or without a selected amount of one or more other polymers or other copolymers;

(IV) said gel article having two or more internal collapsible cavities in connecting communication through one or more openings to an external surface of said gel article.

3. A gel article comprising a soft gelatinous elastomer composition formed from

(I) 100 parts by weight of one or a mixture of two or more block copolymer(s);

and

(II) one or more of a selected plasticizer(s) being in sufficient amounts to achieve a gel rigidity of from about 20 gram Bloom to about 1,800 gram Bloom;

at least one said selected plasticizer(s),

(III) said block copolymers selected from one or more hydrogenated styrene-isoprene/butadiene-styrene block copolymer(s) and one or more a hydrogenated controlled distribution styrene-isoprene/butadiene-styrene block copolymer(s) in combination with or without a selected amount of one or more other polymers or other copolymers;

(IV) said gel article having two or more internal directionally collapsible cavities in connecting communication through one or more openings to an external surface of said gel article.

4. A gel article according to claim 3, wherein said gel article having an array of three or more internal collapsible cavities in connecting communication through one or more openings to an external surface of said gel article.

5. A gel article according to claim 3, wherein said gel article having an array of one or more stacks of internal collapsible cavities in connecting communication through one or more openings to an external surface of said gel article, said stack of collapsible cavities having a first collapsible cavity capable of collapsing unto a second collapsible cavity below said first collapsible cavity of said stack of collapsible cavities;

and said gel article being formed in combination with or without one or more selected substrate.

6. A gel article according to claim 3, wherein said gel article having an array of one or more stacks of internal collapsible cavities in connecting communication through one or more openings to an external surface of said gel article, said stack of collapsible cavities having a first collapsible cavity capable of collapsing unto a second collapsible cavity below said first collapsible cavity of said stack of collapsible cavities;

and said gel article being formed in combination with or without one or more selected substrate.

7. A gel article according to claim 3, wherein said article is selected from a gel hand exercising grip, a gel crutch cushion, a gel pillow, a gel leg rest, a gel neck cushion, a gel mattress, a gel bed pad, a gel elbow pad, a gel seat pad, a gel wheelchair cushion, a gel helmet cushion, a gel exercise cushion, a gel cushion for splints, a gel sling, a gel brace for the hand, wrist, finger, forearm, knee, leg, clavicle, shoulder, foot, ankle, neck, back, rib, a liner, a gel shaped toy article, said gel article made by injection molding, extruding, spinning, casting, or dipping, said gel article being formed in combination with or without one or more selected substrate.

8. A gel article according to claim 3, wherein said gel article is in the formed of a gel liner for lower limb or above the knee amputee prosthesis, wherein said gel is in combination with or without one or more selected fabric substrate.