Nike, Inc.

Other

Tetra Plastics, Inc.

Paul H Mitchell

Henry W Bonk

David J Goldwasser

James C Sell, Jr

DeWayne R Hartlerood

Erwin C Shepard

Described is a membrane comprising a microlayer polymeric composite having at least about 10 microlayers. The microlayers are each individually up to about 100 microns thick and alternate between at least one gas barrier material and at least one elastomeric material. The membrane can be formed into a pressurized bladder or cushioning device for many applications, including footwear and hydropneumatic accumulators.

Flexible membranes

The present invention relates to laminated membranes formed by multi-layer processing techniques including alternating layers of thermoplastic urethane and a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl alcohol. The membranes are characterized in that hydrogen bonds are formed between the layers of thermoplastic urethane and the copolymer of ethylene and vinyl alcohol. The membranes are characterized in that hydrogen bonds are formed between the layers of thermoplastic urethane and the copolymer of ethylene and vinyl alcohol.

Laminated resilient flexible barrier membranes

Described is a membrane comprising a microlayer polymeric composite having at least about 10 microlayers. The microlayers are each individually up to about 100 microns thick and alternate between at least one fluid barrier material and at least one elastomeric material. The membrane can be formed into a pressurized bladder or cushioning device for many applications, including footwear and hydropneumatic accumulators.

Products in the form of cushioning devices made from flexible membranes employing at least one layer including thermoplastic urethane and at least one layer of a copolymer of ethylene and vinyl alcohol are inflatable to a relatively high pressure. The cushioning devices maintain the internal inflatant pressure for extended periods of time by employing a phenomenon referred to in the industry as diffusion pumping. Ideally, the cushioning devices of the present invention can be permanently inflated with gases such as nitrogen or air.

Cushioning device with improved flexible barrier membrane

The invention provides amembrane that includes as a gas-barrier component a polyester polyol-modified polyurethane, the polyester polyol portion having repeating units in which the total number of carbon atoms is about eight or less. The membrane has a gas transmission rate of 15.0 or less for nitrogen gas.

Fluid barrier membranes

The present invention relates to barrier membranes including a barrier layer which includes one or more thermoplastic urethane formed from polyester polyols. More particularly, the membranes include a barrier layer including blends of one or more polyester polyol based thermoplastic urethanes and one or more copolymers of ethylene and vinyl alcohol. The barrier membranes can be employed in a variety of applications and can be used as either monolayers or multi-layered laminates.

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Portland, OR, United States of America

Paul H Mitchell