Acoustic protective cover assembly containing a retracted membrane material
AssigneeW. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
InventorsScott Zero, Zachary Lampert, Theresa Tonge
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An acoustic protective cover assembly can include a retracted membrane material traversing across an acoustic pathway defined by an opening in a housing. The retracted membrane material can include a fibril structure characterized by serpentine fibrils.
Claims20
A sound-transmissive cover for an acoustic device, the sound-transmissive cover configured to connect to the acoustic device, the sound-transmissive cover comprising:
- a retracted membrane material,
- wherein the retracted membrane material has an acoustic insertion loss of less than 6 dB at 1 kHz and a water entry pressure (WEP) of at least 9.8 kPa,
- wherein the retracted membrane material has a microstructure,
- wherein the microstructure includes serpentine fibrils,
- wherein the serpentine fibrils are obtainable by a retraction process which reduces an area ratio, wherein the retraction process is a separate process from an expansion process,
- wherein the serpentine fibrils comprise S-shaped regions that are curved in more than one direction, and
- wherein the serpentine fibrils have a width of 1 micron or less.
A protective cover assembly for an acoustic device, the protective cover assembly configured to connect to the acoustic device, the protective cover assembly comprising:
- a housing,
- wherein the housing has an opening configured to pass acoustic waves between an exterior of the housing and an acoustic cavity therein;
- and
- a retracted membrane,
- wherein the retracted membrane has an acoustic insertion loss of less than 6 dB at 1 kHz and a water entry pressure (WEP) of at least 9.8 kPa,
- wherein the retracted membrane material has a microstructure,
- wherein the microstructure includes serpentine fibrils,
- wherein the serpentine fibrils are obtainable by a retraction process which reduces an area ratio, wherein the retraction process is a separate process from an expansion process,
- wherein the serpentine fibrils comprise S-shaped regions that are curved in more than one direction, and
- wherein the serpentine fibrils have a width of 1 micron or less.
A sound-transmissive cover for an acoustic device, the sound-transmissive cover configured to connect to the acoustic device, the sound-transmissive cover comprising:
- an expanded fluoropolymer membrane,
- wherein the expanded fluoropolymer membrane comprises a retracted membrane material,
- wherein the retracted membrane material has a microstructure,
- wherein the microstructure includes serpentine fibrils,
- wherein the serpentine fibrils are obtainable by a retraction process which reduces an area ratio,
- wherein the retraction process is a separate process from an expansion process,
- wherein the serpentine fibrils comprise S-shaped regions that are curved in more than one direction;
- and
- wherein the retracted membrane material has an acoustic insertion loss of less than 6 dB at 1 kHz, and a water entry pressure (WEP) of at least 9.8 kPa, and
- wherein the retracted membrane material has an area ratio of less than 0.75:1 relative to an initial area of a precursor membrane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.