Cushioning medallions, methods of making and methods of using

• US 8,091,963 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2011
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rosenthal & Rosenthal, Inc.
• Original Assignee: G-Form, LLC
• Inventors: Wyner, Daniel M., Cafaro, Thomas F., Fox, Richard B., Bowie, Jeffrey H.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCPARTLIN, SARAH BURNHAM
• Application Number:
  US13/155,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20110233973A1
• Time in Patent Office: 216 Days
• Field of Search: 297/214
• US Class Current: 297/214
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/082 especially for the inner part of the hand
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 31/285 using layered materials
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2043/3422 rollers
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2043/3644 Vacuum bags; Details thereof, e.g. fixing or clamping
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/183 the preformed layer being a lining, e.g. shaped in the mould before compression moulding, or a preformed shell adapted to the shape of the mould
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/184 shaped by the compression of the material during moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/02 by heating, with or without pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/112 Single lapped joints
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/131 Single flanged joints, i.e. one of the parts to be joined being rigid and flanged in the joint area
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/433 Casing-in, i.e. enclosing an element between two sheets by an outlined seam for bookbinding B42C11/06; for packaging B65B; by laminating B32B37/00; enclosing tubular articles between substantially flat elements B29C66/53261
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/53461 joining substantially flat covers and/or substantially flat bottoms to open ends of container bodies
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/729 Textile or other fibrous material made from plastics
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/7294 Non woven mats, e.g. felt
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81241 being porous or sintered
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8322 Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 99/0092 Producing upholstery articles, e.g. cushions, seats B29C63/025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/0002 monomers or prepolymers
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2022/02 Inflatable articles balls B29L2031/54 ; inner tyres B29L2023/245
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3041 Trim panels
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3091 Bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/50 : Footwear, e.g. shoes or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/504 : Soles
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/753 : Medical equipment; Accessories therefor bloodbags, medical bags B29L2031/7148; artificial eyes B29L2011/0008
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/771 : Seats
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 1/26 : Paddings involving other resilient material, e.g. sponge rubber with inflatable compartments
• 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

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to cushioning medallions, methods of making and methods of using, particularly cushioning medallions comprising a relatively low durometer viscoelastic polymer gel, for use on a bicycle seat.

Claims

1. A bicycle seat cushioning medallion comprising:

a first cushioning medallion and a second cushioning medallion constructed and arranged to be disposed in spaced apart relation on the bicycle seat;

a third cushioning medallion disposed over the first cushioning medallion;

each of the first, second and third cushioning medallions comprising a thermoplastic elastomeric (TPE) barrier layer, a polymerized gel layer, a removable stabilizing layer disposed adjacent to the polymerized gel layer and opposite the barrier layer, and a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) disposed between the polymerized gel layer and the stabilizing layer;

wherein the polymeric gel of the third cushioning medallion is adhered to an upper surface of the barrier layer of the first cushioning medallion.

2. The bicycle seat cushioning medallion of claim 1, wherein the TPE barrier layer is selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), silicone, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing.

3. The bicycle seat cushioning medallion of claim 1, wherein the barrier layer comprises a support layer, and the TPE is disposed on the support layer, adjacent to the polymerized gel.

4. The bicycle seat cushioning medallion of claim 1, wherein the PSA is disposed on a support layer.

5. The bicycle seat cushioning medallion of claim 4, wherein the support layer is TPU.

6. The bicycle seat cushioning medallion of claim 1, comprising a release agent disposed on a surface of the stabilizing layer adjacent to the PSA.

7. The bicycle seat cushioning medallion of claim 1, wherein the polymerized gel layer comprises a thermoplastic polyurethane.

8. The bicycle seat cushioning medallion of claim 1, further comprising an active agent disposed in the barrier layer.

9. The bicycle seat cushioning medallion of claim 8, wherein the active agent is selected from the group consisting of silver, tolnaftate, undecenoic acid, allylamines, chlorine, copper, baking soda, sodium omadine, zinc omadine, azoles, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing.

10. The bicycle seat cushioning medallion of claim 1, wherein the polymerized gel layer comprises a hardness ranging from about 30 Shore 000 to about 75 Shore 00.

11. The bicycle seat cushioning medallion of claim 1, further comprising a fourth cushioning medallion disposed over the second cushioning medallion, wherein the polymeric gel of the fourth cushioning medallion is adhered to an upper surface of the barrier layer of the second cushioning medallion.