# US 12,006,453 B2 · Gel elastomer fastening device

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- Number: US 12,006,453 B2
- Document ID: US12006453B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/369,118
- Filed: 2021-07-07
- Published: 2023-01-19
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2021-07-07
- Assignees: Pittsburgh Plastics Manufacturing, Inc.
- Applicants: Pittsburgh Plastics Manufacturing, Inc.
- Inventors: Casey Carr; Tanner Jack Kennedy; George A Paleos; Jeffrey Allen Sleigher
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12006453B2

## CPC

- C09J 7/20: characterised by their carriers
- C09J 7/29: Laminated material (metallised plastics C09J7/22)
- A61F 5/3776: {by means of a blanket or belts (to chairs only A61F5/3792)}
- A61G 13/121: {Head or neck}
- A61G 13/1235: {Arms}
- A61G 13/1245: {Knees, upper or lower legs}
- A61G 13/126: {with specific supporting surface}
- B32B 3/26: characterised by a particular shape of the outline of the cross-section of a continuous layer; characterised by a layer with cavities or internal voids {(foam layer B32B5/18; layer of synthetic resin characterised by fillers that create voids or cavities B32B27/205); characterised by an apertured layer}
- B32B 5/18: characterised by features of a layer {of} foamed material
- B32B 7/06: permitting easy separation
- B32B 7/12: using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
- B32B 27/065: {of foam}
- B32B 27/08: of synthetic resin
- B32B 27/308: {comprising acrylic (co)polymers}
- B32B 27/40: comprising polyurethanes
- C09J 7/40: characterised by release liners
- A61G 13/12: Rests specially adapted therefor; Arrangements of patient-supporting surfaces {(rests for the surgeon A61B90/60; restraining devices A61F5/37)}
- B32B 2266/0278: Polyurethane
- B32B 2266/12: Gel
- B32B 2307/748: Releasability
- B32B 2405/00: Adhesive articles, e.g. adhesive tapes
- C09J 2203/37: for repositionable or removable tapes
- C09J 2301/122: the adhesive layer being present only on one side of the carrier, e.g. single-sided adhesive tape
- C09J 2301/162: the carrier being a laminate constituted by plastic layers only
- C09J 2301/302: the adhesive being pressure-sensitive, i.e. tacky at temperatures inferior to 30°C
- C09J 2400/243: in the substrate
- C09J 2421/006: in the substrate
- C09J 2433/00: Presence of (meth)acrylic polymer
- C09J 2475/006: in the substrate
- C09J: ADHESIVES; NON-MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF ADHESIVE PROCESSES IN GENERAL; ADHESIVE PROCESSES NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; USE OF MATERIALS AS ADHESIVES (preparation of glue or gelatine C09H)
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00)
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM

## Abstract

A user positioning apparatus is provided including a malleable pad including a first gel elastomer. The first gel elastomer is releasably connectable to the second gel elastomer, and an adhesive layer is connected to the second gel elastomer. Further provided is a user positioning method. The user positioning method includes providing a malleable pad including a first gel elastomer, providing a platform, connecting the malleable pad to the platform via the first gel elastomer, providing a user, and positioning a body part of the user on the malleable pad. Further provided are a releasable fastening system, a releasable band, and a method for connecting a user to a platform. Further provided is a user positioning device including a malleable pad including a gel elastomer, the gel elastomer including a reaction product of a composition including an isocyanate prepolymer and a polyether polyol.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A user positioning apparatus comprising:
a malleable pad comprising a first gel elastomer;
a second gel elastomer releasably connectable to the malleable pad via the first gel elastomer; and
a first adhesive layer connected to the second gel elastomer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a film releasably connected to the first adhesive layer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the malleable pad forms a channel.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the malleable pad forms a U shape.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the malleable pad forms a rectangular prism.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, the malleable pad further comprising foam connected to the first gel elastomer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6, the foam comprising polyurethane foam.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:
the foam is formed as a channel; and
the first gel elastomer comprises a sheet connected to the channel.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:
the foam is formed as a U shape; and
the first gel elastomer comprises a sheet connected to the U Shape.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:
the foam is formed as a rectangular prism; and
the first gel elastomer comprises a sheet connected to the rectangular prism.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the foam is connected to the first gel elastomer via a second adhesive layer.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second adhesive layer comprises an acrylic adhesive.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first adhesive layer comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive (“PSA”).

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first gel elastomer and the second gel elastomer each comprise a polyurethane gel elastomer.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first gel elastomer and the second gel elastomer each comprise a silicone gel elastomer.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first gel elastomer or the second gel elastomer comprise a reaction product of a composition comprising an A-side comprising an isocyanate prepolymer and a B-side comprising a polyether polyol.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the A-side comprises between 5% and 45% of the weight of the composition.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the A-side comprises between 20% and 40% of the weight of the composition.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first gel elastomer or the second gel elastomer comprises a reaction product of a composition comprising an isocyanate prepolymer and a polyether polyol.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the isocyanate prepolymer comprises a methylene diphenyl isocyanate (“MDI”) prepolymer.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the polyether polyol comprises a polyoxypropylene triol modified with ethylene oxide and having a molecular weight between 4650 and 5000.

### Claim 22 (depends on 19)

The apparatus of claim 19, wherein a free NCO content in the isocyanate prepolymer ranges from 2% to 20%.

### Claim 23 (depends on 19)

The apparatus of claim 19, wherein a free NCO content in the isocyanate prepolymer ranges from 2.4% to 4.9%.

### Claim 24 (depends on 19)

The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the composition further comprises at least one catalyst.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the at least one catalyst comprises at least one of a tertiary amine or an organometallic compound.

### Claim 26 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first gel elastomer and the second gel elastomer are identically formulated polyurethane gel elastomers.

### Claim 27 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first gel elastomer or the second gel elastomer comprises a reaction product of a composition comprising an isocyanate prepolymer and a polyester polyol, wherein the isocyanate prepolymer comprises an MDI prepolymer.

### Claim 28 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, the first gel elastomer and the second gel elastomer comprising a reaction product of a composition comprising an isocyanate prepolymer and a polyether polyol.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The apparatus of claim 28, wherein:
the isocyanate prepolymer comprises a methylene diphenyl isocyanate (“MDI”) prepolymer having a free NCO content that ranges from 2.4% to 4.9%; and
the polyether polyol comprises a polyoxypropylene triol modified with ethylene oxide and having a molecular weight between 4650 and 5000.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The apparatus of claim 29, wherein:
the isocyanate prepolymer comprises between 20% by weight and 40% by weight of the composition; and
the polyether polyol comprises between 80% by weight and 60% by weight of the composition.

### Claim 31

A user positioning method comprising:
providing an apparatus comprising a malleable pad comprising a first gel elastomer, a second gel elastomer releasably connectable to the first malleable pad via the first gel elastomer, and a first adhesive layer connected to the second gel elastomer;
providing a platform;
connecting the second gel elastomer to the platform via the first adhesive layer;
connecting the first gel elastomer to the second gel elastomer to connect the malleable pad to the platform;
providing a user; and
positioning a body part of the user on the malleable pad.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, further comprising:
providing a film releasably connected to the first adhesive layer; and
removing the film to expose the first adhesive layer prior to connecting the second gel elastomer to the platform.

### Claim 33 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31, further comprising:
providing a first film releasably connected to the first adhesive laver and a second film releasably connected to a surface of the second gel elastomer;
removing the first film to expose the first adhesive layer prior to connecting the second elastomer to the platform; and
removing the second film to expose the second gel elastomer prior to connecting the first gel elastomer to the second gel elastomer.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The method of claim 33, further comprising:
providing a third film releasably connected to a surface of the first gel elastomer; and
removing the third film to expose the first gel elastomer prior to connecting the first gel elastomer to the second gel elastomer.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The method of claim 34, wherein providing the malleable pad comprising the first gel elastomer comprises:
providing a second adhesive layer connected to the first gel elastomer;
providing a fourth film releasably connected to the second adhesive layer;
providing a foam form;
removing the fourth film to expose the second adhesive layer; and
connecting the first gel elastomer to the foam form via the second adhesive laver.