Tear resistant gels, composites, and cushion articles

• US 7,222,380 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2003
• Issued: 05/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Applied Elastomerics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Applied Elastomerics Incorporated
• Inventors: Chen, John Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lilling; Herbert J.
• Application Number:
  US10/420,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20040249056A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,499 Days
• Field of Search: 565/2, 565/59, 572/4, 521/50, 521/54, 521/139, 521/140, 521/148, 428/301.4, 428/308.4, 428/319.7, 524/270, 524/505, 524/571, 525/8, 525/89, 264/53, 264/113, 264/122
• US Class Current: 5/652
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/7843 Inflatable bladders
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/02 Organic macromolecular compounds, natural resins, waxes or and bituminous materials
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/04 Macromolecular compounds according to groups C08L7/00 - C08L49/00, or C08L55/00 - C08L57/00; Derivatives thereof
• 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: Y10T 428/249952 At least one thermosetting synthetic polymeric material layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249958 Void-containing component is synthetic resin or natural rubbers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249992 Linear or thermoplastic

Abstract

SEEPS gel and gel foam molded shape articles for use in medical and sport health care, such use include therapeutic hand exercising grips, dental floss, crutch cushions, cervical pillows, bed wedge pillows, leg rest, cushions, mattress, bed pads, elbow padding, dermal pads, wheelchair cushions, helmet liner, cold and hot packs, exercise weight belts, traction pads and belts, cushions for splints, slings, and braces, cushions for the hand, wrist, finger, fore, knee, leg, clavicle, shoulder, foot, ankle, back, rib, soles for orthopedic shoes, and the like.

Claims

1. A shaped article comprising a gelatinous elastomer composition and a foam of:

(i) 100 parts by weight of one or more of a hydrogenated styrene isoprene/butadiene styrene block copolymer(s) selected from a hydrogenated styrene block polymer with hydrogenated elastomer midblocks of poly(2-methyl-1,3-butadiene) and poly(1,3-butadiene), a hydrogenated styrene block polymer with hydrogenated elastomer midblocks of poly(2-methyl-1,3-butadiene and 1,3-butadiene), a poly(styrene-ethylene-ethylene-propylene-styrene), and a poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene/styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene), from

(ii) about 300 to about 1,600 parts by weight of a plasticizing oil, and

(iii) one or more foam(s);

in combination with or without

(iv) a selected amount of one or more polymers or copolymers of poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene), poly(styrene-butadiene)_n, poly(styrene-isoprene-styrene)_n, poly(styrene-isoprene)_n, poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene), poly(ethylene-styrene) interpolymer, poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene/styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene), poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene), poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene)_n, poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene)_n, polystyrene, polybutylene, poly(ethylene-propylene), poly(ethylene-butylene), polypropylene, or polyethylene, wherein said selected copolymer is a linear, radial, star-shaped, branched or multiarm copolymer.

5. A shaped article of claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein said shaped article is a cushions for one or more parts of a human body, including a hand, a wrist, a finger, a forearm, a knee, a leg, a clavicle, a shoulder, a foot, or an ankle.

6. A shaped article of claim 1 or 4, wherein said shaped article is a cushion, a pillow, a bed, a mattress, a pad, and a liner for one or more parts of a human body.

7. A shaped article of claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein said shaped article being a hand exercising grips, crutch cushions, cervical pillows, bed wedge pillows, leg rest, cushions, mattress, bed pads, elbow padding, dermal pads, wheelchair cushions, helmet liner, cold and hot packs, exercise weight belts, traction pads and belts, cushions for splints, slings, and braces, cushions for the hand, wrist, finger, fore, knee, leg, clavicle, shoulder, foot, ankle, back, rib, soles for orthopedic shoes.

12. A shaped article according to claims 1, 2, 3, or 11 having a shape useful as a cushion, a mattress, a bedding, a pillow, and a pad for one or more parts of a human body.

2. A shaped article comprising a gelatinous elastomer composition and a foam of:

(i) 100 parts by weight of one or more of a hydrogenated styrene isoprene/butadiene styrene block copolymer(s) selected from a hydrogenated styrene block polymer with hydrogenated elastomer midblocks of poly(2-methyl-1,3-butadiene) and poly(1,3-butadiene), a hydrogenated styrene block polymer with hydrogenated elastomer midblocks of poly(2-methyl-1,3-butadiene and 1,3-butadiene), a poly(styrene-ethylene-ethylene-propylene-styrene), and a poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene/styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene); and

(ii) about 300 to about 1,600 parts by weight of a plasticizing oil, and

(iii) one or more foam(s);

in combination with or without

(iv) a selected amount of one or more polymers or copolymers of poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene), poly(styrene-butadiene)_n, poly(styrene-isoprene-styrene)_n, poly(styrene-isoprene)_n, poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene), poly(ethylene-styrene) interpolymer, poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene/styrene-ethylene-butylene-Styrene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene), poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene), poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene)_n, poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene)_n, polystyrene, polybutylene, poly(ethylene-propylene), poly(ethylene-butylene), polypropylene, or polyethylene, wherein said selected copolymer is a linear, radial, star-shaped, branched or multiarm copolymer;

wherein said one or more foam(s) surrounds one or more shaped said gelatinous elastomer composition(s).

8. A shaped article of claim 2 or 3 wherein said shaped article being useful as a cushion, a mattress, a bedding, a pillow, and a pad for one or more parts of a human body.

3. A shaped article comprising a gelatinous elastomer composition and a foam of:

(i) 100 parts by weight of one or more of a hydrogenated styrene isoprene/butadiene styrene block copolymer(s) selected from a hydrogenated styrene block polymer with hydrogenated elastomer midblocks of poly(2-methyl-1,3-butadiene) and poly(1,3-butadiene), a hydrogenated styrene block polymer with hydrogenated elastomer midblocks of poly(2-methyl-1,3-butadiene and 1,3-butadiene), a poly(styrene-ethylene-ethylene-propylene-styrene), and a poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene/styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene); and

(ii) about 300 to about 1,600 parts by weight of a plasticizing oil, and

(iii) one or more foam(s);

in combination with or without

(iv) a selected amount of one or more polymers or copolymers of poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene), poly(styrene-butadiene)_n, poly(styrene-Isoprene-styrene)_r, poly(styrene-isoprene)_n, poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene), poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene), poly(ethylene-styrene) interpolymer, poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene/styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene), poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene)_n, poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene)_n, polystyrene, polybutylene, poly(ethylene-propylene), poly(ethylene-butylene), polypropylene, or polyethylene, wherein said selected copolymer is a linear, radial, star-shaped, branched or multiarm copolymer.

4. A composite article comprising a gelatinous elastomer and a foam of:

(i) 100 parts by weight of one or more of a hydrogenated styrene isoprene/butadiene styrene block copolymer(s) selected from a hydrogenated styrene block polymer with hydrogenated elastomer midblocks of poly(2-methyl-1,3-butadiene) and poly(1,3-butadiene), a hydrogenated styrene block polymer with hydrogenated elastomer midblocks of poly(2-methyl-1,3-butadiene and 1,3-butadiene), a poly(styrene-ethylene-ethylene-propylene-styrene) and a poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene/styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene);

wherein at least one of said block copolymer is a high viscosity copolymer having a viscosity value at 5 weight percent solution in toluene at 30°

C. of about 90 cps and higher which corresponds to a viscosity at 10 weight percent of about 5800 cps and higher which corresponds to a viscosity at 20 weight percent solids solution in toluene at 25°

C. of at about 80,000 cps and higher, and

(ii) about 300 to about 1,600 parts by weight of a plasticizing oil, wherein at least one of said M being

(iii) one or more shaped foam(s);

in combination with or without

(iv) a selected amount of one or more polymers or copolymers of poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene), poly(styrene-butadiene), poly(styrene-isoprene-styrene), poly(styrene-isoprene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene), poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene), poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene)_n, poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene)_n, polystyrene, polybutylene, poly(ethylene-styrene) interpolymer, poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene/styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene), poly(ethylene-propylene), poly(ethylene-butylene), polypropylene, or polyethylene, wherein said selected copolymer is a linear, branched, radial, star-shaped, or multiarm copolymer; and

n is an integer greater than one;

wherein said composite formed from the combination G_nG_n, G_nM_n, G_nM_nG_n, M_nG_nM_n, G_nG_nM_n, M_nM_nM_nG_n, M_nM_nM_nG_nM_n, M_nG_nG_nM_n, G_nM_nG_nG_n, G_nM_nM_nG_n, G_nG_nM_nM_n, G_nG_nM_nG_nM_n, G_nM_nG_nM_nM_n, M_nG_nM_nG_nM_nG_n, G_nG_nM_nM_nG_n, G_nG_nM_nG_nM_nG_n, a sequential addition or a permutation of one or more of said G_n with M_n, wherein when n is a subscript of M, n is the same or different selected from the group consisting of foam, plastic, fabric, synthetic resin, or synthetic fibers; and

wherein when n is a subscript of G, n denotes the same or a different gel rigidity.

9. A shaped article comprising a gelatinous elastomer composition, G, in contact with one or more of a selected substrate material, M, said gelatinous elastomer composition comprising:

(i) 100 parts by weight of one or more of a hydrogenated styrene isoprene/butadiene styrene block copolymer(s) selected from a hydrogenated styrene block polymer with hydrogenated elastomer midblocks of poly(2-methyl-1,3-butadiene) and poly(1,3-butadiene), a hydrogenated styrene block polymer with hydrogenated elastomer midblocks of poly(2-methyl-1,3-butadiene and 1,3-butadiene), a poly(styrene-ethylene-ethylene-propylene-styrene), and a poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene/styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene); and

(ii) about 300 to about 1,600 parts by weight of a plasticizing oil, said shaped article comprising

(iii) one or more foam(s);

in combination with or without

(iv) a selected amount of one or more polymers or copolymers of poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene), poly(styrene-butadiene)_n, poly(styrene-isoprene-styrene)_n, poly(styrene-isoprene)_n, poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene), poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene), poly(ethylene-styrene) interpolymer, poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene/styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene), poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene)_n, poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene)_n, polystyrene, polybutylene, poly(ethylene-propylene), poly(ethylene-butylene), polypropylene, or polyethylene, wherein said selected copolymer is a linear, radial, star-shaped, branched or multiarm copolymer, wherein n is greater than one;

wherein said one or more foam(s) being surrounded by one or more shaped said gelatinous elastomer composition(s).

10. A shaped article comprising a gelatinous elastomer composition and expanded foam of:

(i) 100 parts by weight of one or more of a hydrogenated styrene isoprene/butadiene styrene block copolymer(s) selected from a hydrogenated styrene block polymer with hydrogenated elastomer midblocks of poly(2-methyl-1,3-butadiene) and poly(1,3-butadiene), a hydrogenated styrene block polymer with hydrogenated elastomer midblocks of poly(2-methyl-1,3-butadiene and 1,3-butadiene), a poly(styrene-ethylene-ethylene-propylene-styrene), and a poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene/styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene); and

(ii) from about 300 to about 1,600 parts by weight of an plasticizing oil, and

(iii) one or more foam(s);

in combination with or without

(iv) said shaped article being a hand exercising grips, crutch cushions, cervical pillows, bed wedge pillows, leg rest, cushions, mattress, bed pads, elbow padding, dermal pads, wheelchair cushions, helmet liner, cold and hot packs, exercise weight belts, traction pads and belts, cushions for splints, slings, and braces, cushions for the hand, wrist, finger, fore, knee, leg, clavicle, shoulder, foot, ankle, back, rib, soles for orthopedic shoes.

11. A shaped article comprising a gelatinous elastomer composition of:

(i) 100 parts by weight of one or more of a hydrogenated styrene isoprene/butadiene styrene block copolymer(s) selected from a hydrogenated styrene block polymer with hydrogenated elastomer midblocks of poly(2-methyl-1,3-butadiene) and poly(1,3-butadiene), a hydrogenated styrene block polymer with hydrogenated elastomer midblocks of poly(2-methyl-1,3-butadiene and 1,3-butadiene), a poly(styrene-ethylene-ethylene-propylene-styrene), and a poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene/styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene);

(ii) about 300 to about 1,600 parts by weight of a plasticizing oil, and

(iii) one or more shaped foam(s);

in combination with or without

(iv) a selected amount of one or more polymers or copolymers of poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene), poly(styrene-butadiene)_n, poly(styrene-isoprene-styrene)_n, poly(styrene-isoprene)_n, poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene), poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene), poly(ethylene-styrene) interpolymer, poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene)_n, poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene)_n, polystyrene, polybutylene, poly(ethylene-propylene), poly(ethylene-butylene), polypropylene, or polyethylene, wherein said selected copolymer is a linear, radial, star-shaped, branched or multiarm copolymer, wherein n is greater than one;

wherein said gelatinous elastomer composition characterized by a gel rigidity of from about 20 to about 800 gram Bloom;

wherein said shaped article being selected from one or more shaped foam(s) surrounding one or more said gelatinous elastomer composition(s), one or more shaped foam(s) surrounded by one or more said gelatinous elastomer composition(s), and one or more shaped foam(s) in combination with one or more said gelatinous elastomer composition(s).