Protective article comprising an elastic gel

• US 4,643,924 A
• Filed: 05/02/1985
• Issued: 02/17/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: Raychem Corporation (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Dubrow, Robert S., Uken, William D.
• Primary Examiner(s): VAN BALEN, WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US06/730,699
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 428/36, 428/215, 428/220, 428/222, 428/260, 428/261, 428/272, 428/290, 428/304.4, 428/320.2, 428/322.7, 428/339, 428/377, 428/423.3, 428/447, 428/35
• US Class Current: 428/35.7
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/36 one sheet or blank being recessed and the other formed of relatively stiff flat sheet material, e.g. blister packages , the recess or recesses being preformed B65D73/0057, B65D73/0092 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 58/18 specially adapted for pipe fittings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4447 with divided shells G02B6/4448 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5216 characterised by the sealing material, e.g. gels or resins
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/70 Insulation of connections end caps H01R4/22
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/72 using a heat shrinking insulating sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/005 for making dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof connection, coupling, or casing
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/003 Filling materials, e.g. solid or fluid insulation
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 15/18 protected by sleeves, e.g. for communication cable two-part covers H02G15/10 ; preforms having internal stresses B29C61/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1352 Polymer or resin containing [i.e., natural or synthetic]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1386 Natural or synthetic rubber or rubber-like compound containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249994 Composite having a component wherein a constituent is liquid or is contained within preformed walls [e.g., impregnant-filled, previously void containing component, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31554 Next to second layer of polyamidoester
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31663 As siloxane, silicone or silane

Abstract

An article for protecting a substrate includes a preshaped member having a shape similar to that of the substrate being protected, the article having a thin layer of gel disposed in intimate contact with an inner surface of the member such that the gel is disposed in intimate contact with the substrate when the member is disposed therearound. Preferably, the gel comprises an open looped three-dimensional network, the gel being relatively soft, elastic, and having an ultimate elongation in excess of 100%.

Claims

1. An article for protecting a substrate, comprising:

a first preshaped member having an internal surface shape shaped similr to an outer surface shape of at least part of the substrate to be protected, the member having an open side; and

a thin layer of gel secured to the member for protecting the substrate when the member is disposed over the substrate, the gel being elastic and having a cone penetration between 150 and 350 (10^-1 mm) and an ultimate elongation in excess of 100%, a volume of the gel being substantially less than a volume enclosed by the internal surface shape and the open side of the member, the gel being cured prior to coming into contact with any part of the substrate.

2. The article as claimed in claim 1, the thin layer of gel being secured to the member so as to be disposed across the open side of the member so as to form an open cavity between the gel and the internal surface shape of the member.

3. The article as claimed in claim 2, an internal surface shape of the preshaped member being substantially a mirror image of at least part of the outer surface shape of the substrate.

4. The article as claimed in claim 2, an internal surface shape of the article being substantially the same as at least part of the outer surface shape of the substrate.

5. The article as claimed in claim 2, the volume enclosed by the internal surface shape and the open side of the preshaped member being slightly smaller than a volume defined by the at least part of the outer surface shape of the substrate.

6. The article as claimed in claim 2, the volume enclosed by the internal surface shape and the open side of the preshaped member being substantially the same as a volume defined by at least part of the outer surface shape of the substrate.

7. The article as claimed in claim 2, the gel being secured about a perimeter of the preshaped member by an adhesive, the gel being a polysiloxane material, and the adhesive being a silicone pressure sensitive adhesive.

8. The article as claimed in claim 2, the gel being secured about a perimeter of the preshaped member by a mechanical clamp.

9. The article as claimed in claim 2, the member being disposed around the substrate and being sized so as to urge the gel into intimate contact with the substrate to protect the substrate.

10. The article as claimed in claim 2, the gel comprising a material having a cone penetration between 200 and 300 (10^-1 mm).

11. The article as claimed in claim 10, the gel comprising a material having a cone penetration between 260 and 280 (10^-1 mm).

12. The article as claimed in claim 10, the gel comprising a material having an ultimate elongation in excess of 200%.

13. The article as claimed in claim 12, the gel comprising a material having an ultimate elongation in excess of 400%.

14. The article as claimed in claim 10, the gel being disposed in a flexible matrix.

15. The article as claimed in claim 14, the flexible matrix comprising a material having a plurality of open interstices having an average volume of less than 0.01 inch³, the gel including a plurality of interconnected segments which lie within the interstices of the matrix.

16. The article as claimed in claim 15, the matrix and the impregnant being such that when the gel and the matrix are stretched, the matrix reaches its ultimate elongation before the gel reaches its ultimate elongation.

17. The article as claimed in claim 16, an outer surface of the gel being tacky and being covered by a release sheet.

18. The article as claimed in claim 2, further comprising means for keeping the member around the substrate.

19. The article as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a second preshaped member having an internal surface shape shaped similar to another part of the external surface shape of the substrate and having an open side;

a second thin layer of gel disposed across the open side of the second member, a volume of the second thin layer of gel being substantially less than a volume enclosed by the internal surface shape and the open side of the second member, and means for securing the first and second members together.

20. The article as claimed in claim 2, the internal surface shape of the member corresponding to a shape of an outer surface of a bolt and nut.

21. The article as claimed in claim 2, the internal surface shape of the member corresponding to part of a shape of tube-like members interconnected by a fitting.

22. The article as claimed in claim 2, the member having a hole through an otherwise closed surface thereof for allowing communication between the cavity and an atmosphere.

23. The article as claimed in claim 2, the member and thin layer of gel together forming a completely closed surface.

24. The article as claimed in claim 2, the thickness of the thin layer of gel being less than 10 mm.

25. The article as claimed in claim 24, the thickness being less than 1 mm.

26. The article as claimed in claim 24, the thickness being less than 1 mm.

27. The article as claimed in claim 18, the internal surface shape of the member having ridges and recesses which correspond respectively to similar recesses and ridges on the substrate to aid in maintaining the member on the substrate.

28. The article as claimed in claim 1, the thin layer of gel being disposed in contact with at least a major portion of the inner surface shape of the member such that a volume defined by the gel on the internal surface shape and the open side of the member forms an open cavity.

29. The article as claimed in claim 28, the internal surface shape of the preshaped member and a shape of the thin layer of gel being substantially a mirror image of the outer surface shape of the substrate.

30. The article as claimed in claim 28, the internal surface shape of the member and a shape of the gel being substantially the same as the outer surface shape of the substrate.

31. The article as claimed in claim 28, the gel being secured to substantially the entire inner surface of the member.

32. The article as claimed in claim 31, further comprising means for securing the gel to the inner surface of the member.

33. The article as claimed in claim 32, the securing means comprising an adhesive.

34. The article as claimed in claim 33, the gel being a polysiloxane material, and the adhesive being a silicone pressure sensitive adhesive.

35. The article as claimed in claim 31, the gel being secured to the substrate by crosslinks.

36. The article as claimed in claim 35, the crosslinks being chemically produced.

37. The article as claimed in claim 35, the crosslinks being produced by radiation.

38. The article as claimed in claim 37, the radiation being beta particles or ultraviolet radiation.

39. The article as claimed in claim 28, the volume defined by the gel and the open side of the member being substantially the same as a volume defined by the at least part of the outer surface shape of the substrate.

40. The article as claimed in claim 28, the volume defined by the gel and the open side of the member being slightly smaller than a volume defined by the at least part of the outer surface shape of the substrate.

41. The article as claimed in claim 28, the gel comprising a material having a cone penetration between 200 and 300 (10^-1 mm).

42. The article as claimed in claim 41, the cone penetration being between 260 and 280.

43. The article as claimed in claim 41, the ultimate elongation being in excess of 400%.

44. The article as claimed in claim 43, the ultimate elongation being in excess of 200%.

45. The article as claimed in claim 41, the gel being disposed in a flexible matrix.

46. The article as claimed in claim 45, the flexible matrix comprising a material having a plurality of open interstices having an average volume of less than 0.01 inch³, the gel including a plurality of interconnected segments which lie within the interstices of the matrix.

47. The article as claimed in claim 46, the matrix and the gel being such that when the gel and the matrix are stretched, the matrix reaches its ultimate elongation before the gel reaches its ultimate elongation.

48. The article as claimed in claim 47, an outer surface of the gel being tacky, and further comprising a release sheet disposed across the open side of the member.

49. The article as claimed in claim 47, an outer surface of the gel being tacky, and further comprising a release sheet disposed in contact with a substantial porton of an upper surface of the deformed gel.

50. The article as claimed in claim 28, further comprising:

a second preshaped member having an internal surface shape shaped similar to another part of the external surface shape of the substrate;

a second thin layer of gel disposed across the internal surface shape of the second member; and

means for securing the first and second members together around the substrate.