Cushioning media including lubricated spherical objects

• US 6,020,055 A
• Filed: 08/06/1996
• Issued: 02/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edizone LC (Edizone)
• Original Assignee: Lc Teksource, Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Pearce, Tony M.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HOA T
• Application Number:
  US08/692,635
• Time in Patent Office: 1,274 Days
• Field of Search: 428/323, 428/331, 428/327, 428/325, 428/338, 428/339, 106/112, 501/32
• US Class Current: 428/323
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/0405 Linings, paddings or insertions; Inner boots
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/086 with fluid-like particles, e.g. filled with beads
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/12 with fibrous inlays, e.g. made of wool, of cotton
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 3/16 of legless type, e.g. with seat directly resting on the floor A47C3/14 takes precedence; detachably mounted on stadium benches A47C1/16; children's chairs mounted on back-rest of chair A47D1/10 , legless beach chairs A47C1/146; inflatable chairs A47C4/54; Hassocks; Pouffes
• CPC Class Codes: B68G 1/00 Loose filling materials for upholstery
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 3/124 Treatment for improving the free-flowing characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 101/02 Petroleum fractions
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 105/14 polyhydroxy
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 143/10 containing aromatic monomer, e.g. styrene
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 143/12 containing conjugated diene
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 169/041 the additives being macromolecular compounds only
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 177/00 Special methods of preparation of lubricating compositions; Chemical modification by after-treatment of components or of the whole of a lubricating composition, not covered by other classes
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2203/1006 used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2203/1025 used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2203/1045 used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2203/1065 used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2203/1085 used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2205/04 containing aromatic monomers, e.g. styrene
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2205/06 containing conjugated dienes
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2207/0225 used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 15/00 : Lubrication with substances other than oil or grease; Lubrication characterised by the use of particular lubricants in particular apparatus or conditions F16N17/00 takes precedence; lubricating compositions, selection of particular substances as lubricants in general C10M
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 5/909 : Flowable viscous, e.g. gel material containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/25 : Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and including a second component containing structurally defined particles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/252 : Glass or ceramic [i.e., fired or glazed clay, cement, etc.] [porcelain, quartz, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/254 : Polymeric or resinous material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/259 : Silicic material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/268 : Monolayer with structurally defined element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/269 : including synthetic resin or polymer layer or component

Abstract

A composite mixture of spherical objects and lubricant useful for its cushioning properties is disclosed and claimed. The composite mixture may be composed of microspheres typically less than 2000 microns in diameter with inert atmospheres sealed within their interiors and any of a variety of lubricants facilitating sliding and rolling movement between microspheres. Typically the composite mixture includes lubricant in a quantity sufficient to substantially coat the exterior surface of essentially all of the spherical objects, but in a quantity less than would cause dispersion of the spherical objects in the lubricant sufficient to physically separate the spherical objects from each other and substantially reduce the sliding and rolling contact of the spherical objects with each other. Low specific gravity, low thermal mass, low coefficient of heat transfer, lack of head pressure, insulative and flotation qualities are provided by the invention. The composite mixture may be contained in fluid-tight confinement within a flexible bladder. The preferred bladder has a stretchable fabric laminated to an impermeable, stretchable film.

Claims

1. A composite mixture comprising:

a) a plurality of spherical objects and

b) a quantity of lubricant on the exterior surface of substantially all of said spherical objects, said lubricant being present in a quantity less than would cause dispersion of said spherical objects in said lubricant sufficient such that said spherical objects would be significantly separated from each other by said lubricant;

wherein said spherical objects and said lubricant are mixed together to form the composite mixture;

wherein said lubricant is lubricous and serves to reduce the coefficient of friction between contacting spherical objects;

wherein said spherical objects within said mixture are movable in sliding and rolling contact with each other in all three dimensions to permit flow and shear of the mixture;

wherein the composite mixture flows and shears in response to a deforming pressure exerted on it, said flow and shear being accomplished by said spherical objects moving in rolling and sliding contact with each other; and

wherein the composite mixture ceases to flow and shear when the deforming pressure is terminated.

2. A composite mixture as recited in claim 1 wherein said spherical objects comprise elastic spherical objects.

3. A composite mixture as recited in claim 1 wherein said composite mixture has a thermal mass less than 0.7 calories per cubic centimeter per degree Celsius.

4. A composite mixture as recited in claim 1 wherein said composite mixture has a coefficient of heat transfer less than 0.25 btu per hour per foot per degree Fahrenheit.

5. A composite mixture comprising:

a) a plurality of microspheres and

b) a quantity of visco-elastic fluid on the exterior surface of substantially all of said microspheres, said visco-elastic fluid being present in a quantity less than would cause dispersion of said microspheres in said visco-elastic fluid sufficient such that said microspheres objects would be significantly separated from each other by said visco-elastic fluid;

wherein said microspheres are movable in sliding and rolling contact with each other in all three dimensions to permit flow and shear of the mixture; and

wherein the mixture flows, shears and deforms in response to a deforming pressure, but ceases to flow, shear and deform after the deforming pressure has been terminated.

6. A composite mixture as recited in claim 5, wherein said visco-elastic fluid comprises a principle molecule and a cross-linking agent.

7. A composite mixture as recited in claim 6 wherein said principle molecule is selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol and glycerol.

8. A composite mixture as recited in claim 6 wherein said cross-linking agent comprises cationic acrylamide.

9. A composite mixture as recited in claim 5, wherein said visco-elastic fluid comprises about 98 weight percent propylene glycol and about 2 weight percent cationic acrylamide cross-linking agent, said weight percentages being based on the total weight of principle molecule and cross-linking agent.

10. A composite mixture as recited in claim 5 wherein said lubricant comprises about 99.8 weight percent glycerin principle molecule and about 0.2 weight percent cationic acrylamide cross-linking agent, said weight percentages being based on the total weight of principle molecule and cross-linking agent.

11. A composite mixture comprising:

spherical objects and

a lubricant comprising coco diethanolamide;

wherein said spherical objects and said lubricant are mixed together to form the composite mixture;

wherein said lubricant is present on the exterior surface of substantially all of said spherical objects, but in a quantity less than would cause dispersion of said spherical objects in said lubricant sufficient to significantly physically separate said spherical objects from each other and thereby reduce the sliding and rolling contact of said spherical objects with each other;

wherein said lubricant facilitates sliding and rolling contact of spherical objects with each other to permit flow and shear of the composite mixture;

wherein said lubricant is lubricous, serves to reduce the coefficient of friction between contacting spherical objects, and does not prevent sliding and rolling of said spherical objects with respect to each other; and

wherein the mixture flows, shears and deforms in response to a deforming pressure, but ceases to flow, shear and deform after the deforming pressure has been terminated.

12. A composite mixture comprising:

spherical objects comprising an outer shell and an inert atmosphere sealed within the outer shell, said spherical objects being less than 2000 microns in diameter, and

lubricant comprising a principle molecule and a cross-linking agent;

wherein said lubricant is lubricous, serves to reduce the coefficient of friction between contacting spherical objects, and does not prevent sliding and rolling of said spherical with respect to each other;

wherein said lubricant is present on the exterior surface of essentially all of said spherical objects, but in a quantity less than would cause dispersion of said spherical objects in said lubricant sufficient to significantly physically separate said spherical objects from each other such that more than a thin film of lubricant is interposed between spherical objects and preventing the sliding and rolling contact of said spherical objects with each other;

wherein said lubricant facilitates sliding and rolling contact of spherical objects with each other to permit flow and shear of the composite mixture;

wherein said spherical objects are made from material selected from the group consisting of plastic, glass, metal, carbon, mineral, and quartz; and

wherein the mixture flows, shears and deforms in response to a deforming pressure, but ceases to flow, shear and deform after the deforming pressure has been terminated.

13. A composite mixture comprising:

a) a plurality of spherical objects and

b) a quantity of visco-elastic fluid on the exterior surface of substantially all of said spherical objects, said visco-elastic fluid being present in a quantity less than would cause dispersion of said spherical objects in said visco-elastic fluid sufficient such that said spherical objects would be separated from each other by more than a thin film of said visco-elastic fluid, and said visco-elastic comprising a principle molecule and a gelling agent;

wherein said visco-elastic fluid comprises a mixture of molecules which are reversibly cross-linked, such that the linkages are easily sheared by a slow mechanical force, and such that new linkages may be reestablished among the molecules of the mixture following cessation of the mechanical force;

wherein said lubricant facilitates sliding and rolling contact of spherical objects with each other to permit flow and shear of the composite mixture;

wherein the composite mixture flows and shears in response to a deforming pressure exerted on it, said flow and shear being accomplished by said spherical objects moving in rolling and sliding contact with each other; and

wherein the composite mixture ceases to flow and shear when the deforming pressure is terminated.