Smart padding system utilizing an energy absorbent medium and articles made therefrom

• US 6,701,529 B1
• Filed: 01/21/2000
• Issued: 03/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zb Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: Extrude Hone Corporation
• Inventors: Rhoades, Lawrence J., Matechen, John M., Rosner, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thibodeau, Paul
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bernatz, Kevin M.
• Application Number:
  US09/489,513
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 252/75, 252/78.3, 525/474, 525/477, 528/30, 556/402, 260/375.B, 442/134, 442/135, 2/25, 245/5, 245/6, 245/7, 2 1/6, 245/9, 246/0, 246/1, 246/2, 246/3, 246/4, 246/5, 246/6, 246/7, 246/8, 428/297.4, 428/299.7, 428/372
• US Class Current: 2/2.5
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/285 using layered materials
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 83/14 in which at least two but not all the silicon atoms are connected by linkages other than oxygen atoms C08L83/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 83/16 in which all the silicon atoms are connected by linkages other than oxygen atoms
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 91/06 Waxes
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/30 with solid or semi-solid material, e.g. pasty masses, as damping medium in devices where rotary elements are damped by viscous shear effect only, any throttling effect being immaterial F16F9/12; where members moving with a rotating system are being damped F16F15/16
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24994 Fiber embedded in or on the surface of a polymeric matrix
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249947 Polymeric fiber
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2927 including structurally defined particulate matter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/2623 Ballistic resistant

Abstract

The present invention relates to an energy absorbent medium which is compliant and conformable in the absence of an applied force, and stiffens in response to the rate of an applied force to dissipate energy. The medium comprises a blend of a polymer and a lubricant incompatible with the polymer to produce a conformable absorbent which exhibits dilatant (shear thickening) characteristics under high rates of force or stress. The polymer has reformable sacrificial chemical bonds which are broken under a high rate of deformation and which reform under static conditions. Suitable polymers for the invention include polyborosiloxanes. Applications for the medium include absorbent for sports padding, athletic equipment, motor vehicle seats, bulletproof vests, medical equipment, industrial equipment, weaponry, and playing fields.

Claims

1. An impact energy absorbent medium comprising at least one polymer which has energy absorbing properties and dilatant viscoelastic flow properties, and a lubricant;

wherein the lubricant is present in the amount of at least 20%; and

wherein the at least one polymer and lubricant are selected from the group consisting of;

polyborosiloxane and grease,

polyborosiloxane and fatty acid,

polyborosiloxane and fatty acid salts,

xanthan gum and silicone oil,

guar gum and silicone oil, and

polyvinyl alcohol sodium tetraborate and silicone oil, characterized in that the medium is a highly viscous fluid which does not exhibit flow at room temperature unless a force is applied, and which;

includes a quantity of fibrous filler and further wherein said fibrous filler is a fibrous material wettable by either the polymer or the lubricant or both.

2. The impact energy absorbent medium of claim 1, wherein said polymer is polyborosiloxane.

3. The impact energy absorbent medium of claim 1, wherein said polymer is xanthan gum.

4. The impact energy absorbent medium of claim 1, wherein said polymer is guar gum.

5. The impact energy absorbent medium of claim 1, wherein said polymer is polyvinyl alcohol sodium tetraborate.

6. The impact energy absorbent medium of claim 1, wherein said impact energy absorbent medium is conformable under applied force.

7. The impact energy absorbent medium of claim 1, wherein the polymer content is from about 90 weight % to about 20 weight %, the amount of lubricant is from about 60 weight % to about 20 weight %, and the amount of filler is from about 90 weight % to about 0 weight %, and wherein the sum of polymer, lubricant and filler weight percentages is equal to or less than 100%.

8. The impact energy absorbent medium of claim 1, wherein the polymer and the lubricant are blended.

9. An impact energy absorbent article comprising:

an impact energy absorbent medium according to claim 1 confined by a containment envelope.

10. An impact energy absorbent medium comprising at least one polymer which has energy absorbing properties and dilatant viscoelastic flow properties, and a lubricant;

wherein the medium is a highly viscous fluid which;

does not exhibit flow at room temperature unless a force is applied; and

wherein the at least one polymer and lubricant are selected from the group consisting of;

polyborosiloxane and grease,

polyborosiloxane and fatty acid,

polyborosiloxane and fatty acid salts,

xanthan gum and silicone oil,

guar gum and silicone oil, and

polyvinyl alcohol sodium tetraborate and silicone oil, characterized in that the medium includes a quantity of fibrous filler and further wherein said fibrous filler is a fibrous material wettable by either the polymer or the lubricant or both.

11. The impact energy absorbent medium of claim 10, wherein said polymer is polyborosiloxane.

12. The impact energy absorbent medium of claim 10, wherein said polymer is xanthan gum.

13. The impact energy absorbent medium of claim 10, wherein said polymer is guar gum.

14. The impact energy absorbent medium of claim 10, wherein said polymer is polyvinyl alcohol sodium tetraborate.

15. The impact energy absorbent medium of claim 10, wherein said impact energy absorbent medium is conformable under applied force.

16. The impact energy absorbent medium of claim 10, wherein the polymer and the lubricant are blended.

17. An impact energy absorbent article comprising:

an impact energy absorbent medium according to claim 10 confined by a containment envelope.

18. An impact energy absorbent medium comprising at least one polymer which has energy absorbing properties and dilatant viscoelastic flow properties, and a lubricant;

wherein the at least one polymer and lubricant are selected from the group consisting of;

polyborosiloxane and grease,

polyborosiloxane and fatty acid,

polyborosiloxane and fatty acid salts,

xanthan gum and silicone oil,

guar gum and silicone oil, and

polyvinyl alcohol sodium tetraborate and silicone oil, characterized in that the medium is a highly viscous fluid which does not exhibit flow at room temperature unless a force is applied, and which includes up to about 90% by weight of a quantity of fibrous filler and further wherein said fibrous filler is a fibrous material wettable by either the polymer or the lubricant or both.

19. The impact energy absorbent medium of claim 18, wherein said polymer is polyborosiloxane.

20. The impact energy absorbent medium of claim 18, wherein said polymer is xanthan gum.

21. The impact energy absorbent medium of claim 18, wherein said polymer is guar gum.

22. The impact energy absorbent medium of claim 18, wherein said polymer is polyvinyl alcohol sodium tetraborate.

23. The impact energy absorbent medium of claim 18, wherein said impact energy absorbent medium is conformable under applied force.

24. The impact energy absorbent medium of claim 18, wherein the polymer and the lubricant are blended.

25. An impact energy absorbent article comprising:

an impact energy absorbent medium according to claim 18 confined by a containment envelope.

26. The impact energy absorbent article of claim 25, wherein the article comprises sports padding.

27. The impact energy absorbent article of claim 25, wherein the article comprises packaging padding.

28. The impact energy absorbent article of claim 25, wherein the article comprises a shock mount.

29. The impact energy absorbent article of claim 25, wherein the article comprises a bulletproof vest.

30. A method for forming an impact energy absorbent medium comprising the step of blending at least one polymer which has energy absorbing properties and dilatant viscoelastic flow properties with a lubricant;

wherein the at least one polymer and lubricant are selected from the group consisting of;

polyborosiloxane and grease,

polyborosiloxane and fatty acid,

polyborosiloxane and fatty acid salts,

xanthan gum and silicone oil,

guar gum and silicone oil, and

polyvinyl alcohol sodium tetraborate and silicone oil, characterized in that the medium is a highly viscous fluid which does not exhibit flow at room temperature unless a force is applied, and which includes up to about 90% by weight of a quantity of fibrous filler and further wherein said fibrous filler is a fibrous material wettable by either the polymer or the lubricant or both.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said polymer is polyborosiloxane.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein said polymer is xanthan gum.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein said polymer is guar gum.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein said polymer is polyvinyl alcohol sodium tetraborate.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein said impact energy absorbent medium is conformable under applied force.

36. The method of claim 30, wherein said impact energy absorbent medium has a polymer content from about 90 weight % to about 20 weight %, a lubricant content from about 60 weight % to about 20 weight %, and a filler content from about 90 weight % to about 0 weight %, and wherein the sum of polymer, lubricant and filler weight percentages is equal to or less than 100%.

37. An impact energy absorbent medium comprising at least one polymer which has energy absorbing properties and dilatant viscoelastic flow properties, and a lubricant;

wherein the medium is a highly viscous fluid which;

does not exhibit flow at room temperature unless a force is applied; and

wherein one of the polymer and the lubricant is an organic substance, and wherein the other of the polymer and the lubricant is a silicone substance, characterized in that the medium includes a quantity of fibrous filler and further wherein said fibrous filler is a fibrous material wettable by either the polymer or the lubricant or both.

38. A padded sports article comprising a containment boundary surrounding an impact energy absorbent article containing an impact energy absorbent medium, said impact energy absorbent medium containing a polymer and a lubricant in admixture, said polymer having energy absorbing properties and dilatant viscoelastic flow properties, said impact energy absorbent medium including a quantity of fibrous filler, further wherein said fibrous filler is a fibrous material wettable by either the polymer or the lubricant or both, and said medium being further characterized in that, notwithstanding the presence of both the polymer and the lubricant, the impact energy absorbent medium is a highly viscous fluid which does not exhibit flow at room temperature unless a force is applied.