Flexible membranes

• US 6,082,025 A
• Filed: 09/11/1998
• Issued: 07/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nike International Ltd. (Nike, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Goldwasser, David J., Mitchell, Paul H., Bonk, Henry W.
• Primary Examiner(s): DYE, RENA
• Application Number:
  US09/151,837
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 428/35.2, 428/36.6, 428/36.7, 428/212, 428/220, 428/339, 428/216, 428/336, 428/423.1, 428/423.5, 428/423.7, 428/424.2, 428/424.4, 428/424.7 , 428/424.8, 428/476.1, 428/476.9, 428/483, 428/518, 428/520, 428/521, 428/423.3, 428/475.2, 36/29, 36/28, 473/609, 138/26, 138/30, 152/511
• US Class Current: 36/29
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0045 made at least partially of deodorant means
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/20 Pneumatic soles filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas inflatable linings for skiboots A43B5/0407
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/04 comprising rubber 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 layer of a particular substance B32B9/043; next to a bituminous or tarry layer B32B11/044; next to a water setting substance layer B32B13/042; next to a metal layer B32B15/06; next to a glass layer B32B17/063; next to a layer formed of natural mineral fibres or particles B32B19/043; next to a wood layer B32B21/045; next to a cellulosic plastic layer B32B23/046
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1334 Nonself-supporting tubular film or bag [e.g., pouch, envelope, packet, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1383 Vapor or gas barrier, polymer derived from vinyl chloride or vinylidene chloride, or polymer containing a vinyl alcohol unit is sandwiched between layers [continuous layer]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24975 No layer or component greater than 5 mils thick
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/265 1 mil or less
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31554 Next to second layer of polyamidoester
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31562 Next to polyamide [nylon, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31565 Next to polyester [polyethylene terephthalate, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31573 Next to addition polymer of ethylenically unsaturated monomer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31576 Ester monomer type [polyvinylacetate, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31583 Nitrile monomer type [polyacrylonitrile, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31587 Hydrocarbon polymer [polyethylene, polybutadiene, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31736 Next to polyester
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31746 Polymer of monoethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31757 Polymer of monoethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31797 Next to addition polymer from unsaturated monomers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/3192 Next to vinyl or vinylidene chloride polymer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31928 Ester, halide or nitrile of addition polymer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31931 : Polyene monomer-containing

Abstract

Described is a membrane comprising a microlayer polymeric composite having at least about 10 microlayers. The microlayers are each individually up to about 100 microns thick and alternate between at least one gas barrier material and at least one elastomeric material. The membrane can be formed into a pressurized bladder or cushioning device for many applications, including footwear and hydropneumatic accumulators.

Claims

1. A pressurized bladder, comprising an elastomeric barrier membrane enclosing an inflationary gas, wherein:

said membrane comprises a microlayer polymeric composite having an average thickness of at least about 50 microns, wherein said microlayer polymeric composite includes at least about 10 microlayers, each microlayer individually up to about 100 microns thick, said microlayers alternating between at least one gas barrier material and at least one elastomeric material; and

further wherein said membrane has a gas transmission rate toward the inflationary gas of about 10 cc/m² ·

atm·

day or less.

2. A bladder according to claim 1, wherein said elastomeric material includes a member selected from the group consisting of polyurethane elastomers, flexible polyolefins, styrenic thermoplastic elastomers, polyamide elastomers, polyamide-ether elastomers, ester-ether elastomers, ester-ester elastomer, flexible ionomers, thermoplastic vulcanizates, flexible poly(vinyl chloride) homopolymers and copolymers, flexible acrylic polymers, and combinations thereof.

3. A bladder according to claim 1, wherein said elastomeric material includes a polyurethane elastomer.

4. A bladder according to claim 1, wherein said elastomeric material includes a member of the group consisting of thermoplastic polyester diol-based polyurethanes, thermoplastic polyether diol-based polyurethanes, thermoplastic polycaprolactone diol-based polyurethanes, thermoplastic polytetrahydrofuran diol-based polyurethanes, thermoplastic polycarbonate diol-based polyurethanes, and combinations thereof.

5. A bladder according to claim 4, wherein the elastomeric material includes a thermoplastic polyester diol-based polyurethane.

6. A bladder according to claim 5, wherein the polyester diol of said polyurethane is a reaction product of at least one dicarboxylic acid and at least one diol.

7. A bladder according to claim 6, wherein the dicarboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of adipic acid, glutaric acid, succinic acid, malonic acid, oxalic acid, and mixtures thereof.

8. A bladder according to claim 6, wherein the diol is selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, tripropylene glycol, tetrapropylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, neopentyl glycol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, and mixtures thereof.

9. A bladder according to claim 6, wherein the carboxylic acid includes adipic acid and the diol includes 1,4-butanediol.

10. A bladder according to claim 5, wherein the polyurethane is polymerized using at least one extender compound selected from the group consisting of diols and diamines.

11. A bladder according to claim 10, wherein the extender is selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, tripropylene glycol, tetrapropylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, and mixtures thereof.

12. A bladder according to claim 10, wherein the ratio of equivalents of polyester diol to equivalents of extender is from about 1:

1 to about 1;

8.

13. A bladder according to claim 1, wherein the fluid barrier material includes a member selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymers, polyvinylidene chloride, acrylonitrile copolymers, polyethylene terephthalate, polyamides, crystalline polymers, polyurethane engineering thermoplastics, and combinations thereof.

14. A bladder according to claim 1, wherein the fluid barrier material comprises an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer.

15. A bladder according to claim 14, wherein the ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer has an ethylene copolymer ratio of from about 25 mole percent to about 50 mole percent.

16. A bladder according to claim 14, wherein the ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer has an ethylene copolymer ratio of from about 25 mole percent to about 40 mole percent.

17. A bladder according to claim 1, wherein said microlayer polymeric composite includes at least about 50 microlayers.

18. A bladder according to claim 1, wherein said microlayer polymeric composite includes from about 10 microlayers to about 1000 microlayers.

19. A bladder according to claim 1, wherein said microlayer polymeric composite includes from about 50 microlayers to about 500 microlayers.

20. A bladder according to claim 1, wherein the average thickness of each fluid barrier material microlayer is independently up to about 2.5 microns thick.

21. A bladder according to claim 1, wherein the average thickness of each fluid barrier material microlayer is independently from about 0.01 micron to about 2.5 microns thick.

22. A bladder according to claim 1, wherein the average thickness of the microlayer polymeric composite is from about 75 microns to about 0.5 centimeter.

23. A bladder according to claim 1, wherein the average thickness of the microlayer polymeric composite is from about 75 microns to about 0.1 centimeter.

24. A bladder according to claim 1, wherein said membrane is a laminate comprising at least one layer A including an elastomeric polyurethane and at least one layer B including said microlayer polymeric composite.

25. A bladder according to claim 23, wherein said laminate comprises layers A-B-A.

26. A bladder according to claim 23, wherein said laminate comprises layers A-B-A-B-A.

27. A bladder according to claim 1, wherein the microlayer polymeric composite is formed with an outer protective boundary layer.

28. A bladder according to claim 24, wherein said laminate has an average thickness of up to about 0.5 centimeter.

29. A bladder according to claim 24, wherein said layer B has an average thickness of from about 6.35 microns to about 2600 microns.

30. A bladder according to claim 1, wherein said membrane has a nitrogen gas transmission rate of less than about 3 cc/m² ·

atm·

day.

31. A bladder according to claim 1, wherein said membrane has a nitrogen gas transmission rate of less than about 2 cc/m² ·

atm·

day.

32. A bladder according to claim 1, wherein inflationary gas is at a pressure of at least about 3 psi.

33. A bladder according to claim 1, wherein inflationary gas is at a pressure of from about 3 to about 50.

34. A bladder according to claim 1, wherein inflationary gas is nitrogen.

35. A shoe, comprising at least one pressurized bladder according to claim 32.

36. A shoe according to claim 35, wherein the bladder is incorporated as a portion of said sole.

37. A shoe according to claim 35, wherein said bladder forms at least a part of an outer surface of said shoe.