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AssigneeKimberly-Clark Corporation
InventorsWayman R. Spence, Peter Gardiner
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In accordance with the invention, compositions of matter are provided for forming visco-elastic materials to simulate the physical feel of natural human soft tissue, such as fat or breast tissue. The compositions preferred are formed from a major portion of plasticizer and a minor portion of a resin. In a preferred embodiment, about 1100 parts by weight of a dialkyl phthalate plasticizer are thoroughly mixed with about 100 parts by weight of a polyvinyl chloride resin at an elevated temperature to form the visco-elastic material of the present invention. Included in the preferred composition are minor amounts of an epoxidized soybean oil stabilizer and a metallic salt stabilizer. A method is provided for producing visco-elastic materials and for producing pad structures comprising, preferably, an outer unattached covering of an elastic closed cell neoprene material and a core of said visco-elastic material.
A pad structure comprising an unattached outer covering of an elastic closed-cell neoprene material and a core of visco-elastic material, said core imparting to the pad structure the physical feel of natural soft tissue characterized by an ability to flow under forces exceeding gravity with sufficient elasticity to resume its original shape upon removal of such force, said core material comprising, in a major portion, a plasticizer and in minor portion a resin material compatible with said plasticizer, said ratio of plasticizer to resin in said visco-elastic material is at least about 10:1 by weight.
The method for forming pad structures having visco-elastic core materials comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.