Vibration and shock attenuating articles and method of attenuating vibrations and shocks therewith
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsGordon G. Johnson, Donald T. Landin, Michael A. Jung, Jeffrey W. McCutcheon
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a vibration attenuating article that has a non-tacky film covering enclosing all or a significant portion of the surface of a vibration attenuating material, wherein at least a portion of the vibration attenuating surface covered by the film covering is a three dimensional surface. A layer of adhesive must be present on at least a portion of the exterior film covering when all of the vibration attenuating material is covered by the exterior film covering.
Claims31
An article comprising:
- (a) a vibration attenuating material, wherein the vibration attenuating material has a storage modulus greater than about 6.9×103 Pascals and a loss factor greater than about 0.01 at 25° C. and 1 Hertz, wherein the vibration attenuating material has a surface and an interior,
- (b) an exterior film covering, wherein the exterior firm covering film has a tensile modulus greater than about 6.9×103 Pascals at 25° C. and 50% relative humidity, wherein the exterior film covering comprises one or more of the following:
- (i) a film;
- (ii) a film segment;
- wherein the vibration attenuating material surface is completely enclosed by the exterior film covering or partially enclosed except for one flat surface by the exterior film covering;
- wherein an inner surface of the exterior film covering conforms to the surface of the vibration attenuating material that it is at least partially enclosing;
- wherein at least a portion of the surface of the enclosed vibration attenuating material has a three dimensional shape;
- and
- wherein the exterior film covering has a thickness of about 0.005 to about 1.25 mm;
- (c) optionally one or more interior film dividers, wherein each interior film divider has a tensile modulus greater than about 6.9×103 Pascals at 25° C. and 50% relative humidity, wherein each interior film divider comprises one or more of the following:
- (i) a film;
- (ii) a film segment;
- wherein each interior film divider separates at least a portion of the vibration attenuating material from another portion of the vibration attenuating material;
- and
- (d) optionally a layer of adhesive coated on one or more of the following:
- (i) at least a portion of a surface of the exterior film covering;
- (ii) at least a portion of a surface of any interior film divider, if present,
- (iii) at least a portion of any vibration attenuating material which is not enclosed by the exterior film covering;
- wherein when the vibration attenuating material is completely enclosed by the exterior firm covering a layer of adhesive must be coated on at least a portion of an outer surface of the exterior film covering;
- and
- wherein the article is capable of being compressed 1-40 percent.
A structure having an attenuating article positioned in relation to the structure such that the attenuating article is capable of attenuating the vibration of the structure in at least one vibrational mode, wherein the article comprises (a) a vibration attenuating material, wherein the vibration attenuating material has a storage modulus greater than about 6.9×103 Pascals and a loss factor greater than about 0.01 at 25° C. and 1 Hertz, wherein the vibration attenuating material has a surface and an interior;
- (b) an exterior film covering, wherein the exterior film covering film has a tensile modulus greater than about 6.9×103 Pascals at 25° C. and 50% relative humidity, wherein the exterior film covering comprises one or more of the following:
- (i) a film;
- (ii) a film segment;
- wherein the vibration attenuating material surface is completely enclosed by the exterior film covering or partially enclosed except for one flat surface by the exterior film covering;
- wherein an inner surface of the exterior film covering substantially conforms to the surface of the vibration attenuating material that it is at least partially enclosing;
- wherein at least a portion of the surface of the enclosed vibration attenuating material has a three dimensional shape;
- and
- wherein the exterior film covering has a thickness of about 0.005 to about 1.25 mm;
- (c) optionally one or more interior film dividers, wherein each interior film divider has a tensile modulus greater than about 6.9×103 Pascals at 25° C. and 50% relative humidity, wherein each interior film divider comprises one or more of the following:
- (i) a film;
- (ii) a film segment;
- wherein each interior film divider separates at least a portion of the vibration damping material from another portion of the vibration damping material;
- and
- (d) optionally a layer of adhesive coated on one or more of the following:
- (i) at least a portion of a surface of the exterior film covering;
- (ii) at least a portion of a surface of any interior film divider, if present;
- (iii) at least a portion of any vibration attenuating material which is not enclosed by the exterior film covering;
- and
- wherein the article is capable of being compressed 1-40 percent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.