The subject matter hereof relates to gels formed into a three-dimensional pattern or alternating pattern gel such that it is useful as a cushion or as part of a cushioning device.
Various three-dimensionally patterned gel cushions, alternating patterned gels, materials and methods for making the same are disclosed.
Gel
The subject matter hereof relates to cushions which use gel or any other elastomer as all or part of the cushions. By gel, we mean an elastomeric gel such as a solid elastomer extended by at least 20 parts plasticizer per 100 parts solid elastomer by weight (20:100). The elastomer could be a SEEPS or SEBS or SEPS elastomer, or other elastomer, as desired. In some instances, the solid elastomer is extended to at least 50:100 and most preferably by at least 100:100. Some acceptable gels are described by Tony Pearce's several patents on gel (such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,994,450 which is hereby incorporated by reference, and which describe multi-block copolymers with a variety of plasticizers, typically mineral oil). A useful gel is KRATON® E1830 elastomer made by Kraton Polymers, Inc., extended by white food grade mineral oil such as CARNATION® Oil. Another useful gel is SEPTON® 4055 elastomer made by Septon USA and Kuraray, extended by Carnation Oil or other white food grade mineral oil. Other useful gels include polyurethane-based gels, silicone-based gels, PVC-based gels, acrylic-based gels, and many others.
The products and processes herein can also utilize non-gel elastomers in place of the gel elastomers described, but in many cases describe the product as including gel by way of example and for simplicity, but not by way of limitation of the bounds of the invention. For example, instead of gel elastomer, the elastomer can be any of the following: Rubber, thermoplastic elastomer, PVC, synthetic rubber, polyurethane, polyurethane film, polyurethane foam, polyurethane memory foam, foamed gel, latex rubber, synthetic latex rubber, latex foam rubber, latex foam, polyolefin, foamed polyolefin (including but not limited to foamed polyethylene), or any other flexible or elastic material. We have discovered that the optional addition of hollow microspheres not only lightens the gel and reduces cost, but also can aid the manufacturing process by changing the characteristics of the gel in the melted or liquid phase. We have discovered that foaming the gel (open cell or closed cell foam) can also be advantageous in reducing weight and/or material cost.
We have discovered that an alternating patterned gel makes an excellent cushion, for example for a layer within a mattress. By alternating patterned gel we mean gel that has one pattern on a first side of a cushioning element, and a like or unlike pattern on the second side, with the most protruding parts of the pattern on the first side being aligned more or less with the least protruding (or most recessed) parts of the pattern on the second side.
Alternating Pattern Gel Configurations
For example, see the cross section of a cushioning element in
While the appearance of the device in
One valuable part of our invention is that it can be stacked for even more significant pressure relief, or deeper pressure relief. As an example,
The pattern of the alternating pattern gel need not be uniform. It can be variegated to be more pleasing to the eye, or can be made different in different areas (“zoned”) to fill different cushioning needs. For example, the pattern can be denser (the ‘bumps’ closer together) in areas of a mattress (such as under the torso) to firm it up (for example to provide additional back support), or the pattern can be less dense (the ‘bumps’ spaced farther apart) under the hips and shoulders to provide additional pressure relief. The same can be done in different areas of a shoe insole or midsole, for example to provide more support under the arch and more pressure relief under the ball of the foot. Zoning can be done by varying the gel thickness, by any type of configuration differentiation, or even by varying gel formulation in different parts of the cushion. The overall thickness of the cushion (the distance between the upward protrusions and the downward protrusions) can vary within the same cushion.
The pattern of the alternating pattern gel can be any depicted in the figures or described herein, from the list as follows, or any other conceivable pattern that will perform a cushioning function: Sine waves, Straight-sided, Curvy-sided, Waves of any other shape (including straight-sided and Curvy-sided), Square patterns, Rectangular patterns, Circular patterns, Oval patterns, Polygon patterns of even-length sides, Polygon patterns with sides of uneven lengths, Combinations of these shapes or other shapes including: Combined shape in each alternating pattern, for example a square morphing into a circle; and Cushion that is zoned with some patterns of one shape and some of another, like sine waves in one area of the cushion and square patterns in another part, or big sine waves in one part and smaller amplitude sine waves in another part.
We have found that the alternating pattern gel is exceptionally good in many cushioning applications, including when used in conjunction with other cushioning elements. There is a synergism that is created when the cushion is properly designed from this combination. Below are some non-limiting examples: alternating pattern gel on top of mattress innersprings; a gel alternating pattern cushion on top of mattress latex foam rubber; alternating pattern gel on top of furniture cushion polyurethane foam; a polyurethane foam alternating pattern cushion on top of a solid slab of mattress polyurethane foam; alternating pattern gel on top of mattress polyurethane foam; 1″ of latex foam rubber on top of alternating pattern gel which is in turn on top of 3″ of memory foam in a mattress; 1″ of polyurethane foam on top of alternating pattern gel which is in turn on top of 3″ of pocketed coil springs in a sofa cushion; alternating pattern gel on top of a slab of polyurethane foam within a cover as a wheelchair cushion; and so on. The properties of the alternating pattern gel cushion should be designed with the properties of the other cushion(s) used in conjunction to yield the optimum blend of cost, ease of manufacture, and situationally-effective cushioning properties.
Possible Products
Without limitation, three-dimensionally patterned gels can be used in the following products: Sleeping Pads, Mattresses, Toppers, Pillows (bed, sofa, positioners), Shoe & Boot (footwear), insoles, sock liners (ankle cushion, cuff cushion), Futons, Zabutans, Furniture (sofa, -loveseat, recliner, ottoman, upholstered chairs, office chairs, medical chairs), theater seating, side chairs, patio & lawn furniture, Stadium seats, wheelchair cushions (seat, back, arm, knee, head support), Massage tables, Exam tables, Carpet pads, Strap Cushions (backpack, fanny pack, golf bag, purse, bra, luggage, briefcase, computer case, aftermarket/generic), Saddle straps, straps of various kinds (Horses, climbing, parachute, safety/industrial), Automotive & Motorcycle/ATV (seating, trim, headliners, panels) Boats (seating, trim, headliners, panels), Aircraft (seating, trim, headliners, panels), Tool handles, Appliance handles, Packaging, Top of saddle seat cushion, Saddle blankets, Hoof pads, Cushions (neck, seat, knee, between knee, knee pads, back, lumbar), Tumbling/Vault pads, Other Athletic pads (yoga, martial arts, trampoline border pads) Protective equipment (sparring, shin, shoulder, wrist, ankle, knee, elbow, hip, helmet, neck, kidney, gloves), Medical Positioners (surgical positioners, medical positioning cushions, orthotics, braces, slings), Pads for casts for broken bones and other immobilization purposes, Floor cushion for standing, Bicycle (seat cushion, handle bar, gloves, saddles, shorts), Martial Arts Mannequins, Computer (mouse pad, keyboard/wrist), Equip. Protective bags and cases for computers, cameras, and other equipment, Livestock pads (barn, trailer), Pet beds, Shock absorption, Vibration Attenuation, Gurney, Stretcher, Hammock, Toys, Baby Products (highchair, crib, carrier, car seat, teething, stroller, bassinet), Tree collars, any automotive, equipment, boating or recreational vehicle cushions or padding, shipping containers for fragile products, all bedding, furniture and footwear products, infant goods which contact the infant, any medical products that contact the human body, and sporting goods of all types, and any other products requiring cushioning characteristics including without limitation pressure relief, shock absorption or vibration attenuation.
Manufacturing Methods.
There a many ways to manufacture an alternating patterned gel, some of which are also our inventions. For example, the gel may be compression molded (use of a flat sheet of gel compressed between shaped hot platens). The methods below are considered useful in making alternating pattern gel.
Method #1: Obtain or make a flat sheet of gel (with or without microspheres and/or other advantageous additives, such as anti-oxidants, colorant, flame retardants and non-tack additives, and with or without being foamed). An open-faced mold is made with the pattern into which the gel is to be formed, and the mold is heated to a temperature in which the gel will melt or partially melt or soften or flow. The flat sheet of gel is placed on the heated open-faced mold, and the sheet melts or partially melts or softens or flows, and assumes the shape of the pattern. Gravity may be used to encourage such flow. The flat sheet of gel material drapes to form to the pattern shape, then is cooled (which solidifies it and makes it so it can be handled) and it is then pulled off the mold. An alternating pattern gel is the result. The mold is then reheated, and a new sheet is placed on it and the process is repeated. In an alternative, a heat source can be applied to the top of the sheet of gel to help it drape or flow, and air flow or fluid flow can be exposed to the gel sheet to encourage it to conform to the shape of the mold.
Method #2: An open-faced mold (which may be room temperature or heated above or cooled below room temperature, depending on the materials used) is put in motion relative to the molten gel coming out of an extrusion flat-sheet die onto the mold (the mold having the desired pattern). The material is allowed to cool and is removed from the mold. An alternating pattern gel results.
By way of example, the open faced mold may be aluminum, steel or other material, and may be at a temperature which is sufficiently less than the melt temperature of the gel (when the thermal masses of the mold and the gel are taken into account) to ‘freeze’ the gel (cool it until it is solid and removable), such as 90 degrees F. The stationary extrusion sheet die may for example extrude a ⅛″ inch thick, 60″ wide sheet of molten KRATON® E1830/oil gel, which exits the extruder at 375 degrees F. The mold is conducted so that the molten sheet of gel extrudes onto the moving mold, drapes into the pattern of the mold, and then freezes by reducing in temperature to 100 degrees F. and is removed by pulling either by hand or by machine. This process can be made continuous, with the mold pattern being on a continuous belt or on the surface of a rotating cylinder or in discrete pieces that are rotated through the process to fit end to end so that there is always a ‘fresh’ mold face moving beneath the melted gel exiting the extrusion die. As an alternative, a heat source can be applied to the top of the sheet of gel to help it drape or flow. Optionally, a source of pressure can be applied at any of a number of temperatures to help the sheet of gel to drape into the mold recesses. For example, a hard or soft material can be used as a pusher, for example a wheel with hard or soft (e.g., elastomeric or foam) bumps can continuous rotate to push the molten gel sheet into the recesses. The bumps on the wheel can be any temperature. As another example, air or gas or liquid of any temperature can be blown onto the surface of the molten sheet of gel to push it into the recesses of the open face mold. In another alternative, the mold is much hotter than will allow the gel to freeze, then after the gel drapes the mold is cooled so that the gel freezes, for example by spraying water on the underside of the mold, or on the surface of the gel, or both, to cool the gel.
Method #3: This is similar to #2 except that the mold is convoluted (or otherwise patterned) foam. The molten gel material is allowed to cool to room temperature, and can be left on the foam (such as in the example of
Method #4: This is similar to method #2 or #3, except that instead of extruding a sheet of molten gel onto the patterned mold, it is applied by other means, including but not limited to spraying or pouring of the molten gel onto the mold. The gel is then removed after it cools sufficiently, or if the mold is made of a foam the gel may be left in place. The gel may be sprayed with a variety of means, including but not limited to the type of spray equipment that is made to spray hot melt adhesive.
Method #5: Referring to
Instead of using two opposing rollers, this manufacturing process could also be performed using one lower roller and having an upper, sliding peg mechanism. This mechanism would press, slide along with the roller to reduce deformation, retract from the part and repeat the process. This mechanism is timed to the roller so that there are not peg on peg collisions and to create the desired part. This particular method could also be performed with two sliding and pressing platens that have the spaced and aligned pegs instead of using one roller. Additionally, the upper mechanism can be the above described sliding and pressing platen and the lower piece could be a discreet platen that is timed as it slides or is pulled under the extrusion device but is stopped and removed when a single part is completed.
At least some of the above methods can employ mechanisms with aligned and oriented pegs. The patterned gel can also be made using a mold base (flat or in roller configuration) that is contoured to the shape of the desired final part instead of using spaced pegs. This contoured piece could then run (with careful timing) under an extrusion outlet and a thin film of material can be placed on the mold. At this point, an operator or mechanism can push the film down into the contoured mold cavity using a compliant peg until the film is against the mold surface. The compliance of the molding peg or set of pegs allows the material to stretch evenly as it conforms to the shape of the contoured mold.
Some of the above methods allow for continuous molded parts while others are more suited for discrete parts. Continuously molded parts will allow, generally, for higher production rates and lower part cost while the discrete parts may allow for more adapted or customized parts. These parts could be ones that are zoned with different arrangements of the pegs or adding detail like company logo or product name.
While the present gel cushions, materials and methods for making the same have been described and illustrated in conjunction with a number of specific configurations, those skilled in the art will appreciate that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the principles herein illustrated, described, and claimed. The present invention, as defined by the appended claims, may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The configurations described herein are to be considered in all respects as only illustrative, and not restrictive. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
This patent application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/966,122 filed on Aug. 23, 2007; U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/977,300 filed on Oct. 2, 2007; and U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/004,460 filed on Nov. 27, 2007, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60966122 | Aug 2007 | US | |
60977300 | Oct 2007 | US | |
61004460 | Nov 2007 | US |