Acoustic shock wave attenuating assembly

• US 8,316,752 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2003
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Blastgard Technologies, Inc. (HighCom Global Security, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Blastgard Technologies, Inc. (HighCom Global Security, Inc.)
• Inventors: Waddell, John L. Jr., Gordon, James F.
• Primary Examiner(s): JOHNSON, STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US10/630,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20070006723A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,407 Days
• Field of Search: 89/360.2, 624/572, 624/574, 86/50
• US Class Current: 89/36.02
• CPC Class Codes: F42D 5/045 Detonation-wave absorbing or damping means
• CPC Class Codes: F42D 5/05 Blasting mats

Abstract

An assembly for attenuating shock waves is made of two flexible sheets arranged one over the other and joined by a plurality of seams, the flexible sheets being confined to form cells or recessed when joined together. The seams are arranged so as to surround the cells or recesses in the sheets, and the cells or recesses are filled with a shock attenuating material.

Claims

1. A shock-attenuating assembly that is sufficiently flexible to wrap around any shaped structure, said assembly comprising, in combination,

(a) a first film of flexible resin material, wherein said first film of flexible resin material is optionally water-impermeable or is optionally coated with a water-impermeable material;

(b) a second film of flexible resin material, wherein said second film of flexible resin material is optionally water-impermeable or is optionally coated with a water-impermeable material, wherein said second film of flexible resin material has attached pockets spaced from each other along the second film;

(c) the first film is attached to the second film via a plurality of seams, wherein the seams surround each of the spaced pockets in such a manner as to make the assembly sufficiently flexible to surround a structure of any shape;

(d) each of the pockets is filled with a flowable shock wave attenuating material selected from the group consisting of volcanic foam glasses, perlite, vermiculite and pumice; and

(e) wherein both the first film and the second film are sufficiently porous with respect to acoustic or shock waves or gas to allow the acoustic or shock wave to penetrate the film to reach the flowable shock wave attenuating material.

2. The flexible shock-attenuating assembly according to claim 1 wherein the shock attenuating material is perlite.

3. The flexible shock-attenuating assembly according to claim 1 further including within the pockets at least one material selected from the group consisting of fireproofing materials, heat insulating materials, intumescent materials, and radiating insulating materials.

4. The flexible shock-attenuating assembly according to claim 1 further including within the pockets a fire retarding material.

5. The flexible shock-attenuating assembly according to claim 1 wherein the assembly is adapted and constructed so that the assembly can be cut along the seams so that shock attenuating material remains confined in the pockets.

6. The flexible shock-attenuating assembly according to claim 1 wherein the flexible sheets are water-impermeable.

7. A carrier for shock-attenuating material, which carrier is sufficiently flexible to wrap around a structure of any shape structure, said carrier and shock attenuating material comprising, in combination,

(a) a first film of flexible resin material, wherein said first film of flexible resin material is optionally water-impermeable or is optionally coated with a water-impermeable material;

(b) a second film of flexible resin material, wherein said second film of flexible resin material is optionally water-impermeable or is optionally coated with a water-impermeable material, wherein said second film of flexible resin material has attached pockets spaced from each other along the second film;

(c) the first film is attached to the second film via a plurality of seams, wherein the seams surround each of the spaced pockets in such a manner as to make the carrier sufficiently flexible to surround any shaped structure;

(d) each of the pockets is filled with a shock wave attenuating material selected from the group consisting of volcanic foam glasses, perlite, vermiculite, and pumice; and

(e) wherein both the first film and the second film are sufficiently porous with respect to acoustic or shock waves to allow the acoustic or shock wave to penetrate the film to reach the flowable shock wave attenuating material.

8. The carrier according to claim 7 wherein the shock wave attenuating material is perlite.

9. The carrier according to claim 7 further including within the pockets at least one material selected from the group consisting of fireproofing materials, heat insulating materials, intumescent materials, and radiating insulating materials.

10. The carrier according to claim 7 further including within the pockets a fire retarding material.

11. The carrier according to claim 7 wherein the carrier is adapted and constructed so that the carrier can be cut along the seams so that shock attenuating material remains confined in the pockets.

12. The carrier according to claim 7 wherein the flexible sheets are water-impermeable.