Barrier membranes including a barrier layer employing aliphatic thermoplastic urethanes
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsHenry W. Bonk, David Goldwasser
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to membranes including a barrier layer which includes a blend of one or more aliphatic thermoplastic urethanes and one or more polar and partially crystalline materials. Under multi-layered embodiments, the barrier layer is laminated to at least one other layer formed from thermoplastic urethane, wherein the membranes are characterized in that hydrogen bonds are formed between the first layer of thermoplastic urethane and the second layer from the blend of aliphatic thermoplastic urethane and a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl alcohol.
Claims66
A barrier membrane having improved resistance to undesired gas permeation, comprising:
- a first layer including a combination of at least one aliphatic thermoplastic urethane and a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl alcohol;
- and
- a second layer including a thermoplastic urethane;
- said membrane being characterized in that reactive contact in the form of hydrogen bonding occurs along a segment of the membrane between the first and second layers.
A barrier membrane having an improved resistance to undesired gas permeation, comprising:
- a first layer including a combination of at least one aliphatic thermoplastic urethane and one or more copolymers of ethylene and vinyl alcohol;
- a second layer including a thermoplastic urethane;
- and
- a third layer including a thermoplastic urethane, wherein said second and third layers sandwich the first layer;
- said membrane being characterized in that reactive contact in the form of hydrogen bonding occurs along a segment of the membrane between the first layer and at least one of said second or third layers.
A method for producing a laminated barrier membrane useful for controlling gas permeation therethrough, comprising the steps of:
- (a) extruding a first layer including a blend of at least one aliphatic thermoplastic urethane and at least one copolymer of ethylene and vinyl alcohol;
- and
- (b) extruding a second layer including a thermoplastic urethane such that said first and second layers are in physical contact;
- said barrier membrane being characterized in that reactive contact in the form of hydrogen bonding occurs along a segment of the membrane between the first and second layers.
A method for producing a laminated barrier membrane having improved resistance to gas permeation, comprising the steps of:
- simultaneously extruding:
- (1) a first layer including at least one aliphatic thermoplastic urethane and at least one copolymer of an ethylene and vinyl alcohol;
- and
- (2) a second layer including a thermoplastic urethane together such that said first and second layers are in physical contact;
- whereby said membrane is characterized in that reactive contact in the form of hydrogen bonding occurs along a segment of the membrane between said first and second layers.
An gas-filled cushioning device, comprising:
- a multi-layer film which is formed into an gas-filled membrane having an interior compartment capable of receiving at least one capture gas constituent, said multi-layer film including an outer layer comprised of a first flexible resilient elastomeric thermoplastic material and a barrier layer comprised of a combination of at least one aliphatic thermoplastic and at least one copolymer of ethylene and vinyl alcohol, said multi-layer film being capable of selectively resisting an outward diffusion of said capture gas constituent and permitting an inward diffusion pumping of at least one mobile gas constituent.
In a shoe having an upper and a sole structure, a gas-filled cushioning device forming part of said sole structure, comprising:
- a multi-layer film which is formed into a gas-filled membrane having an interior compartment capable of receiving at least one capture gas constituent, said multi-layer film including an outer layer comprised of an outer layer of flexible resilient elastomeric thermoplastic material, an inner layer comprised of a second flexible resilient elastomeric thermoplastic material, and a barrier layer comprised of a combination of at least one aliphatic thermoplastic urethane and at least one copolymer of ethylene and vinyl alcohol, said multi-layer film being capable of selectively resisting an outward diffusion of said capture gas constituent and permitting an inward diffusion pumping of at least one mobile gas constituent, said barrier layer being interposed between and in direct contiguous contact with at least a segment of said outer and inner layers.
A barrier membrane having improved resistance to undesired gas generation comprising:
- one layer including a thermoplastic urethane;
- and
- another layer including a blended combination of at least one aliphatic thermoplastic urethane and a polar and partially crystalline material;
- wherein said membrane is characterized in that reactive contact in the form of hydrogen bonding occurs between the layer including a blended combination and the layer including thermoplastic urethane.
A barrier membrane having improved resistance to undesired gas permeation comprising:
- a barrier layer including a combination of at least one aliphatic thermoplastic urethane and at least one copolymer ethylene and vinyl alcohol.
A barrier membrane having improved resistance to undesired gas permeation comprising:
- a barrier layer including a blended combination of at least one aliphatic thermoplastic urethane and a polar and partially crystalline material having gas diffusion properties.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.