Pressurizable envelope and method
AssigneeRobert C. Bogert
InventorMarion F. Rudy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An internally pressurizable lightweight high tensile strength multi-layered envelope is provided. An outer barrier layer of elastomeric semi-permeable material is mechanically bonded at a multiplicity of cites where substantially the entire distal surfaces of a double-walled drop thread linked fabric. The composite structure defines a substantially flat thin lightweight product which is capable of withstanding very substantial pressures.
Claims41
An inflated and pressurized flexible insert construction for articles of footwear wherein said insert is subjected to long term compression, cyclic and impact fatigue loads and operates to cushion such loads resiliently and return at least some of the energy of an impact load, comprising an outer sealed envelope of a semi-permeable elastomeric material which is substantially impervious to large molecule size gasses and permeable to oxygen, said envelope including an outer upper and lower surface at least a portion of which outer surfaces are in a flat and parallel relative orientation and an inner surface, at least a portion of said envelope including a peripheral seal formed between facing portions of the inner surface of said envelope, a fabric including first and second spaced fabric layers each including an outer surface, means for bonding said outer surfaces of said first and second fabric layers to said inner surface of said envelope, the bond between said outer surfaces of said first and second fabric layers to said inner surface of said envelope being at least about 20 pounds per linear inch, flexible means extending between said spaced fabric layers for restraining the movement of said fabric layers away from one another beyond a predetermined distance thereby maintaining the relatively flat orientation of said portions of said outer upper and lower surface portions of said envelope, said flexible means being incapable in itself of cushioning compressive loads and impact loads to which said insert is exposed during use, at least one gas present in said envelope to pressurize said envelope such that substantially all of the resistance of said envelope to compression is provided by the gas within said envelope, and said peripheral seal being essentially free of fabric material that would allow transport of said at least one pressurizing gas through said peripheral seal.
An internally pressurized multi-layered envelope capable of withstanding long term compression, cyclic and impact fatigue loads to provide cushioning in response to such loads, comprising:
- a hermetically sealed outer covering defining a pressurized chamber, said outer covering including an inner surface and comprising a semi-permeable elastomeric material which is substantially impervious to large molecule size gasses and slightly permeable to oxygen;
- a compressible fabric structure within said chamber, said compressible structure being substantially coextensive with said chamber and comprising a first fabric layer, a second fabric layer normally spaced from said first layer, and compressible means for restraining said fabric layers from separating more than a predetermined distance;
- said compressible means being incapable of providing compression resistance to said envelope;
- said first and second fabric layers each including an outer surface portion which is in facing relation with and in contact with the inner surface of said outer covering,
- said sealed outer covering including at least a portion which forms a peripheral seal provided between the facing inner surfaces of said outer covering;
- means for forming a substantially continuous mechanical bond between said outer covering and said first and second fabric layers and a bonding agent which is impregnated into said fabric layers to a depth which is less than their thickness;
- said means for forming said bond including a multiplicity of tendrils and/or loops extending from the outer surface of each of said first and second fabric layers,
- a large molecule sized gas in said chamber, said envelope being pressurized to a pressure of at least 2 pounds per square inch whereby substantially all of the resistance of said envelope to compression is provided by the gas pressure within said chamber, and
- said peripheral seal being essentially free of fabric material of said compressible structure to prevent loss of gas through said peripheral seal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.