# US 9,038,773 B2 · Acoustic cover assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,038,773 B2 - Document ID: US9038773B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/589,711 - Filed: 2012-08-20 - Published: 2014-02-20 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2012-08-20 - Assignees: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. - Applicants: Chad Banter - Inventors: Chad Banter - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038773B2 ## CPC - G10K 11/002: {Devices for damping, suppressing, obstructing or conducting sound in acoustic devices (G10K1/06 - G10K1/10 take precedence; for electro-mechanical transducers for communication H04R3/002)} - G10K 11/18: Methods or devices for transmitting, conducting or directing sound (G10K11/02, G10K11/36 take precedence) - H04R 1/023: {Screens for loudspeakers} - H04R 1/086: {Protective screens, e.g. all weather or wind screens} - H04R 25/654: {Ear wax retarders} - Y10T 156/10: Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor - G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An acoustic protective cover assembly comprising a porous membrane and an acoustic gasket is disclosed. The porous membrane is bonded to the acoustic gasket at a peripheral region, the membrane is left unhanded at a central region. The acoustic gasket comprises a composite of a porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) polymer matrix of polymeric nodes interconnected by fibrils, resilient expandable microspheres embedded within the matrix. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An acoustic protective cover assembly comprising: a. an acoustic gasket comprising a composite of a porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) polymer matrix having polymeric nodes interconnected by fibrils and resilient expandable microspheres within the matrix, and b. cover material bonded to said acoustic gasket at a peripheral region of the cover and unbonded at a central region of the cover. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The acoustic cover assembly of claim 1 wherein the cover material comprises a membrane. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The acoustic cover assembly of claim 2 wherein the cover material comprises porous expanded PTFE. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The acoustic cover assembly of claim 1 wherein the cover material is oleophobic. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The acoustic cover assembly of claim 1 wherein the cover material is selected from the group consisting of non-porous films, woven fabrics and non-woven materials. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The acoustic protective cover assembly of claim 1, wherein the acoustic gasket further comprises an elastomer disposed within the matrix. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The acoustic protective cover assembly of claim 6 in which the elastomer comprises silicone. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The acoustic protective cover assembly of claim 1 in which the gasket material and cover material are bonded together with a double-sided pressure sensitive adhesive at the perimeter of the cover material. ### Claim 9 An acoustic protective cover assembly comprising: a. an acoustic gasket consisting of: i. a porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) polymer matrix having polymeric nodes interconnected by fibrils, ii. resilient expandable microspheres embedded within the matrix, and iii. elastomer disposed within the matrix b. a cover material adjacent to the acoustic gasket such that the gasket contacts a peripheral portion of the cover material. ### Claim 10 An acoustic device having an acoustic transducer, an aperture for the passage of acoustic energy and an acoustic cover assembly covering the aperture, the acoustic cover assembly comprising: a. an acoustic gasket surrounding the aperture, the gasket comprising a composite of a porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) polymer matrix of polymeric nodes interconnected by fibrils and resilient expandable microspheres within the matrix and b. a cover material bonded to said acoustic gasket and covering the aperture. ### Claim 11 A method of covering an aperture of an acoustic device comprising a. surrounding the aperture with an acoustic gasket, the acoustic gasket comprising a composite of a porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) polymer matrix of nodes interconnected by fibrils and resilient expandable microspheres within the matrix, and b. bonding a cover material to the acoustic gasket wherein the cover material covers the aperture. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The acoustic protective cover assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the resilient expandable microspheres comprises a body of resinous materials encapsulating a volatile fluid. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The acoustic protective cover assembly of claim 9, wherein each of the resilient expandable microspheres comprises a body of resinous materials encapsulating a volatile fluid. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The acoustic device of claim 10, wherein each of the resilient expandable microspheres comprises a body of resinous materials encapsulating a volatile fluid. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein each of the resilient expandable microspheres comprises a body of resinous materials encapsulating a volatile fluid.