Self-repairing inflatable articles incorporating an integrated self-repair system

• US 9,694,629 B1
• Filed: 01/10/2014
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carolyn Dry
• Original Assignee: Carolyn Dry
• Inventors: Dry, Carolyn M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wood, Ellen S
• Application Number:
  US14/152,740
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: 152503-507, 428912, 428 358
• 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 1/08 Tubular products
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/06 of natural rubber or synthetic rubber
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/082 comprising vinyl resins; comprising acrylic resins
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/085 comprising polyolefins
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/088 comprising polyamides
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/09 comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/095 comprising polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/18 comprising iron or steel B32B15/011, B32B15/012 and B32B15/013 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/20 comprising aluminium or copper B32B15/016 and B32B15/017 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/02 2 layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/03 3 layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/04 4 layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/05 5 or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/10 on synthetic resin layer or on natural or synthetic rubber layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/102 synthetic resin or rubber layer being a foamed layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/205 Metallic coating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/26 Polymeric coating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0223 : Vinyl resin fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0246 : Acrylic resin fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0253 : Polyolefin fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0261 : Polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0276 : Polyester fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/062 : Cellulose fibres, e.g. cotton
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/101 : Glass fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/103 : Metal fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/106 : Carbon fibres, e.g. graphite fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/14 : Mixture of at least two fibres made of different materials
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2264/102 : Oxide or hydroxide
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2264/108 : Carbon, e.g. graphite particles
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2270/00 : Resin or rubber layer containing a blend of at least two different polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2274/00 : Thermoplastic elastomer material
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 23/04 : comprising such cellulosic plastic substance as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material next to a glass layer B32B17/08
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 23/042 : of metal
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 23/046 : of natural rubber or synthetic rubber
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 23/08 : of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 23/10 : next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/306 : Resistant to heat
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/402 : Coloured
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/7242 : Non-permeable
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/7246 : Water vapor barrier
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/728 : Hydrophilic
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/73 : Hydrophobic
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/732 : Dimensional properties
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/752 : Corrosion inhibitor
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/762 : Self-repairing, self-healing
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2419/00 : Buildings or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2451/00 : Decorative or ornamental articles
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/20 : Displays, e.g. liquid crystal displays, plasma displays
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/02 : with fibres or particles being present as additives in the layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/042 : of natural rubber or synthetic rubber
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/08 : of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/10 : next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/12 : comprising natural rubber
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/16 : comprising polydienes homopolymers or poly-halodienes homopolymers B32B25/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/18 : comprising butyl or halobutyl rubber
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/20 : comprising silicone rubber
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2597/00 : Tubular articles, e.g. hoses, pipes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2605/08 : Cars
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2605/12 : Ships
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2605/18 : Aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 : of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/12 : next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/28 : comprising synthetic resins not wholly covered by any one of the sub-groups B32B27/30 - B32B27/42
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/281 : comprising polyimides
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/304 : comprising vinyl halide (co)polymers, e.g. PVC, PVDC, PVF, PVDF
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/306 : comprising vinyl acetate or vinyl alcohol (co)polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/308 : comprising acrylic (co)polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/32 : comprising polyolefins comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/34 : comprising polyamides
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/36 : comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/40 : comprising polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/02 : characterised by features of form at particular places, e.g. in edge regions non-uniform thickness B32B3/263
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/10 : characterised by a discontinuous layer, i.e. formed of separate pieces of material
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/18 : characterised by an internal layer formed of separate pieces of material which are juxtaposed side-by-side B32B5/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/266 : characterised by an apertured layer, the apertures going through the whole thickness of the layer, e.g. expanded metal, perforated layer, slit layer regular cells B32B3/12
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 33/00 : Layered products characterised by particular properties or particular surface features, e.g. particular surface coatings; Layered products designed for particular purposes not covered by another single class
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/022 : Non-woven fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/024 : Woven fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 : using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 13/002 : Protection against exterior elements
• 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: B60C 9/11 : Woven, braided, or knitted plies
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/20 : inflatable, e.g. shaped, strengthened or supported by fluid pressure
• 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

The present disclosure describes a self-repairing article comprising an inflatable component comprising one or more material layers wherein at least one material layer comprises an elastomer. It also describes a self-repairing article comprising a sealed flexible package disposed within or between material layers of the inflatable component, and a repair composition disposed in the sealed flexible package, wherein the sealed flexible package comprises a metal foil and is configured to release the repair composition upon puncture of the inflatable component.

Claims

1. A self-repairing article comprising:

an inflatable component comprising one or more material layers wherein at least one material layer comprises an elastomer;

a sealed flexible package disposed within or between material layers of the inflatable component, and

a repair composition disposed in the sealed flexible package,

wherein the sealed flexible package comprises;

a first sheet with one or more edges;

a second sheet with one or more edges;

the repair composition is disposed between the first and second sheets;

the first and second sheets are 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; and

the sealed flexible package is configured to release the repair composition upon puncture of the inflatable component.

2. The article of claim 1 comprising a plurality of sealed flexible packages.

3. The article of claim 2 wherein the sealed flexible packages are arranged in a layer conforming to the shape of the inflatable component.

4. The article of claim 2 wherein the sealed flexible packages are arranged in at least two layers conforming to the shape of the inflatable component.

5. The article of claim 4 wherein the layers of sealed flexible packages at least partially overlap.

6. The article of claim 1 wherein the flexible package comprises an elastomeric membrane as its outermost surface or is otherwise surrounded by an elastomeric membrane.

7. The article of claim 6 wherein the elastomeric membrane is a rubber membrane.

8. The article of claim 6 wherein the flexible package has a tube shape or a rectangular shape.

9. The article of claim 1 wherein each sheet is a laminate comprising a polymer layer and a metal foil layer or metalized polymer layer.

10. The article of claim 1 wherein the metal is aluminum, tin, steel or an alloy of anyone of the foregoing.

11. The article of claim 1 wherein the laminate comprises the metal foil layer between two or three polymer layers.

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

13. The article of claim 12, wherein the acid-treated surface has been treated with at least one of muriatic acid, maleic acid, or acetic acid.

14. The article of claim 1, wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyolefin, polyester, polycarbonate, polyacrylate, polyarylate, polyamide, polyimide, polyaramide, polyurethane, cellulose, and nitrocellulose.

15. The article of claim 1, wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyethylene and polypropylene.

16. The article of claim 1 wherein the repair composition comprises one or more of cyanoacrylate, one-part epoxy, polymerizable monomers, polymerizable oligomers, polyurethane, rubber cement, and cold vulcanizing fluid with or without natural rubber whiskers.

17. The article of claim 16, wherein the repair composition comprises one or more of an acrylate, alkyl acrylate, methylmethacrylate, cyanoacrylate, acrylic acid, alkyl acrylic acid, olefin, lactone, lactam, styrene, isoprene, butadiene, urethane, dicyclopentadiene and epoxy.

18. The article of claim 1 wherein the repair composition comprises one or more of ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate, methyl 2-cyanoacrylate, n-butyl cyanoacrylate, 2-octyl cyanoacrylate, alkyl (meth)acrylate, rubber cement, and a mixture of cold vulcanizing fluid and rubber pieces.

19. The article of claim 1 wherein the repair composition comprises cold vulcanizing fluid and rubber whiskers.

20. The article of claim 1 wherein the repair composition comprises a chemical capable of chemically bonding to an elastomeric polymer.

21. The article of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric material is selected from the group consisting of natural rubber and synthetic rubber.

22. The article of claim 21, wherein the article is a pneumatic tire.

23. The article of claim 22, wherein the pneumatic tire is a car tire, truck tire, garbage truck tire, motorcycle tire, trailer tire, military vehicle tire or ATV tire.

24. A wheel comprising the tire of claim 22.

25. The article of claim 1, wherein the inflatable component has the shape of a tube, beam or arch.

26. The article of claim 25, wherein the article comprises a ballistic grade woven web protecting the inflatable component.

27. The article of claim 26, wherein the ballistic grade woven web comprises at least one of fiberglass, nylon fibers, polypropylene fibers, metal fibers, inerga fibers, tegris fibers, para-amide fibers meta-amide fibers, or polyparaphenylene terephthalamide fibers.

28. The article of claim 26, wherein the ballistic grade woven web surrounds the inflatable component.

29. A structure comprising an article of claim 25, wherein the article supports the structure in part or in full.

30. The structure of claim 26 wherein the structure is a tent or building.