Reinforced Bonded Constructs

• US 20090136718A1
• Filed: 11/28/2007
• Published: 05/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Original Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Inventors: Lack, Craig, Dacey, Paul, Abramowicz, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US11/946,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20090136718A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/188
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/081 of pneumatic type
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/087 with means for connecting opposite sides, e.g. internal ties or strips
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24744 Longitudinal or transverse tubular cavity or cell

Abstract

An article having a bond with increased strength is described. In one embodiment, the article comprises a first material having a thermoplastic polymer, and a second material having an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene laminate joined by a welded bond. A reinforcing component is disposed between the first and second materials to form a reinforcing region.

Claims

1. An article comprising

a first material and a second material joined at a welded seam capable of supporting a tensile load;

the first material comprising a first thermoplastic polymer, and the second material comprising a laminate of an ePTFE membrane and a textile layer; and

a reinforcing component bonded to a portion of the textile layer of the second material to form a reinforcing region, at least a portion of the reinforcing region bonded to the first thermoplastic polymer of the first material to form the welded seam;

wherein the reinforcing region is bonded to the textile layer of the second material in the direction of the tensile load for a distance beyond the welded seam.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein the ePTFE membrane comprises a polyurethane coating.

3. The article of claim 2 wherein the polyurethane coating is on the side of the ePTFE membrane onto which the textile is laminated.

4. The article of claim 1 wherein the reinforcing component is a thermoplastic polymer.

5. The article of claim 1 wherein the reinforcing component substantially penetrates the thickness of the textile layer of the second layer.

6. The article of claim 1 wherein the ratio of the width of the reinforcing region to the width of the welded seam is greater than about 1.

7. The article of claim 1 wherein the ratio of the width of the reinforcing region to the width of the welded seam is greater than about 1.5.

8. The article of claim 1 wherein the first thermoplastic polymer of the first material is a polyurethane.

9. The article of claim 1 wherein the first material further comprises a textile.

10. The article of claim 1 wherein the first thermoplastic polymer of the first material is applied as a coating to a textile layer.

11. The article of claim 1 wherein the first material is a thermoplastic polymer film.

12. The article of claim 1 wherein the laminate of the second material comprising an ePTFE membrane and a textile layer has a weight of less than about 10 oz/yd².

13. The article of claim 12 wherein the first and second materials are bonded together to form a welded seam having a break strength greater than about 20 pli.

14. The article of claim 12 wherein the first and second materials are bonded together to form a welded seam having a break strength greater than about 30 pli.

15. An inflatable article comprising

a first material and a second material, the second material having an average peel strength less than the average peel strength of the first material,

the first material comprising a first thermoplastic polyurethane,

a second material comprising a laminate of an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane and a textile layer;

and

a reinforcing component bonded to a portion of the textile of the second material to form a reinforcing region on the second material,

the first thermoplastic polyurethane of the first material and at least a portion of the reinforcing region are bonded to form a welded seam around peripheries of the first and second materials to form a cavity;

the reinforcing region extending in the direction of the cavity on the textile layer of the second material for a distance beyond the welded seam, and

the cavity being adapted for connection to a gas supply such that the gas flows into the cavity to inflate the article.

16. The inflatable article of claim 15 wherein the ePTFE membrane further comprises a polyurethane coating.

17. The inflatable article of claim 15 wherein the reinforcing component has a thickness of greater than about 4 mil.

18. The inflatable article of claim 15 wherein the ratio of the width of the reinforcing region to the width of the welded seam is greater than about 1.

19. The inflatable article of claim 15 wherein the ratio of the width of the reinforcing region to the width of the welded seam is greater than about 1.5.

20. The inflatable article of claim 15 wherein the first and second materials are bonded together to form a welded seam having a break strength greater than about 20 pli.

21. The inflatable article of claim 15 wherein the first and second materials are bonded together to form a welded seam having a break strength greater than about 30 pli.

22. An article comprising:

a first material and a second material joined at a welded seam;

the first material comprising a first thermoplastic polyurethane,

the second material comprising a laminate of an ePTFE membrane and a textile layer, the laminate having a weight of less than about 10 oz/yd²; and

a reinforcing layer comprising a second thermoplastic polyurethane bonded to a portion of the textile of the second material layer to form a reinforcing region;

wherein the welded seam, formed by bonding the first and second thermoplastic polyurethanes together, having a peel strength greater than about 25 pli.

23. The article of claim 22 wherein the article is an inflatable article.