Self-repairing inflatable articles

• US 8,877,309 B1
• Filed: 02/25/2014
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carolyn M. Dry
• Original Assignee: Carolyn M. Dry
• Inventors: Dry, Carolyn M.
• Primary Examiner(s): JACOBSON, MICHELE LYNN
• Application Number:
  US14/189,698
• Time in Patent Office: 252 Days
• Field of Search: 152/503, 152/504, 152/505, 152/506, 152/507, 428/35.8, 428/912
• US Class Current: 428/35.8
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 73/163 Sealing compositions or agents, e.g. combined with propellant agents
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 73/22 the article containing elements including a sealing composition, e.g. powder being liberated when the article is damaged
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 1/00 Layered products having a non-planar shape
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/085 comprising polyolefins
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/09 comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/03 3 layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/762 Self-repairing, self-healing
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 19/12 Puncture preventing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 19/122 disposed inside of the inner liner
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 19/125 disposed removably on the tyre
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 19/127 for inner tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 2200/12 for bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/912 Puncture healing layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10675 Using flowable coating or composition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10684 On inner surface of tubeless tire
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10693 Sealant in plural layers or plural pockets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10702 within or part of construction of inflating inner tube
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10711 Sealant in plural layers or plural pockets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1355 Elemental metal containing [e.g., substrate, foil, film, coating, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1359 Three or more layers [continuous layer]

Abstract

A self-repairing inflatable article including an inflatable component that includes an interior surface and an exterior surface, a sealed flexible package adjacent to the inflatable component, and a sealant composition disposed in the sealed flexible package. The sealed flexible package is configured to release the sealant composition upon puncture, tearing or other breach of the inflatable component.

Claims

1. A sealed flexible package comprising two or more sealed cells, wherein the package or each cell comprises

a first sheet with one or more edges;

a second sheet with one or more edges;

a sealant composition disposed between the first and second sheets; and

the first and second sheets sealed to each other at the one or more edges, where each sheet is a laminate comprising a metal foil layer between two or more polymer layers that are the same or different.

2. The sealed flexible package of claim 1 configured for use in a pneumatic tire.

3. The sealed flexible package of claim 1, wherein the sealant composition comprises a rubber latex mixed with an adhesive and an anti-freezing agent.

4. The sealed flexible package of claim 3, wherein the anti-freezing agent is glycerin, potassium acetate, or a combination of both.

5. The sealed flexible package of claim 1, wherein the puncture-sealing composition comprises cyanoacrylate, one-part epoxy, polymerizable monomers or polyurethane.

6. The sealed flexible package of claim 1, wherein the sealant composition comprises at least one of an acrylate, alkyl acrylate, methylmethacrylate, cyanoacrylate, acrylic acid, alkyl acrylic acid, olefin, lactone, lactam, styrene, isoprene, butadiene, urethane, dicyclopentadiene, epoxy, rubber cement, or vulcanizing fluid with rubber whiskers.

7. The sealed flexible package of claim 1, wherein the sealant composition comprises a cyanoacrylate.

8. The sealed flexible package of claim 1, wherein the sealant composition comprises one or more of ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate, methyl 2-cyanoacrylate, n-butyl cyanoacrylate, 2-octyl cyanoacrylate, bis-2-cyanoacrylate, fluoroalkyl-2-cyanoacrylate, trimethylsilyl alkyl-2-cyanoacrylate, or alkyl (meth)acrylate.

9. The sealed flexible package of claim 1, wherein the sealant composition comprises vulcanizing fluid with rubber whiskers.

10. The sealed flexible package of claim 1, wherein the sealant composition comprises one or more additives selected from catalysts, initiators, accelerators, solvents, fillers, heat-resistant agents, antioxidants, colorants, thickeners, anti-corrosion agents, surfactants, or biocides.

11. The sealed flexible package of claim 1, wherein the sealant composition comprises one or more additives selected from cyclic organic sulfates, sulfites, sulfoxides, sulfinates, hydroquinone, butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytoluene.

12. The sealed flexible package of claim 1, wherein the sealant composition comprises a stabilized cyanoacrylate adhesive.

13. The sealed flexible package of claim 1 wherein the metal foil is aluminum, tin, steel or an alloy of any one of the foregoing.

14. The sealed flexible package of claim 1 wherein an interior surface of the sealed flexible package is an acid-treated surface.

15. The sealed flexible package of claim 14, wherein the acid-treated surface has been treated with at least one of muriatic acid, maleic acid, or acetic acid.

16. The sealed flexible package of claim 1, wherein at least one polymer layer is selected from nylon, polyolefin, polyester, polycarbonate, polyacrylate, polyarylate, polyamide, polyimide, polyaramide, polyurethane, cellulose, or nitrocellulose.

17. The sealed flexible package of claim 1, wherein at least one polymer layer is selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyethylene and polypropylene.

18. A sealed flexible package comprising two or more sealed cells, wherein the package or each cell comprises

a single sheet having one or more edges, wherein the sheet is folded over on itself and sealed where the edges meet;

a sealant composition disposed within the folded sheet; and

the sheet is a laminate comprising a metal foil layer between two or more polymer layers that are the same or different.

19. The sealed flexible package of claim 18, wherein the sealant composition comprises at least one of an acrylate, alkyl acrylate, methylmethacrylate, cyanoacrylate, acrylic acid, alkyl acrylic acid, olefin, lactone, lactam, styrene, isoprene, butadiene, urethane, dicyclopentadiene, epoxy, rubber cement, or vulcanizing fluid with rubber whiskers.

20. The sealed flexible package of claim 18 wherein an interior surface of the sealed flexible package is an acid-treated surface.