Alden Laboratories

Terrence M Drew

Chris A Hanson

Alden B Hanson

Flowable, pressure-compensating material compositions are provided. The compositions are directed toward improving one or more aspects of the flowable material, such as by providing/improving flame retardancy and/or the homogeneity of the composition over time. For instance, one composition includes a liquid, a viscosity-increasing material, and beads having a preselected coating thereon to provide for a coupling interaction with at least one of the liquid and the viscosity-increasing material.

Flowable, pressure-compensating materials

A flame-resistant, flowable, pressure-compensating composition is provided. The composition can include a flame retardant such as boric oxide, boric acid, borax, bicarbonate of soda, epsom salt or mixtures thereof. The remainder of the composition can include silicone oil, glycerin or a wax/oil material.

Flowable, pressure-compensating material and process for producing same

A closure device (10) for closing a flexible retainer (12) holding a flowable material (14) is provided. The retainer (12) comprises a body (18) for retaining the flowable material (14), a sealed slit (26), an opening (24), a neck (20) and mouth (22) between the body (18) and open end (24). The device (10) is closed, thereby substantially preventing flow of the material (14) therethrough, when the neck (20) is folded about a channel (30) and the opening (24) is inserted through the slit (26).

Flexible retainer closure device

A hand padding device comprising a pliable enclosure containing a flowable material. The device is designed to be inserted into a ball glove. Preferably, the padding device includes two convex surfaces.

Hand padding device

A one-way flow device (10) for use in a passageway (18) is provided. The device (10) comprises first (12) and second (14) walls attached together to form a passageway (18). A flexible diaphragm (20) having at least one orifice (24) extends across the passageway (18). The diaphragm (20) flexes between open and closed positions responsive to flow conditions in the passageway (18). In the open position, the orifice (24) is exposed, allowing fluid flow. In the closed position, the orifice (24) is sealed by the first sheet (12), substantially preventing fluid flow.

One way flow device

A self-reinitializing padding device having at least two fluidly connected chambers which contain flowable material for use in applications where it is desirable to reinitialize the padding device for subsequent use in absorbing and/or distributing impact forces. One application for which the padding device is particularly well suited is as a foot padding device in footwear. In this application, the device provides improved absorption and distribution of impact forces generated when the footwear contacts a surface, as well as improved lateral support for the foot. In a preferred embodiment, a primary chamber is positioned under the area to be padded, and a plurality of secondary chambers, each fluidly connected to the primary chamber, are positioned around the padded area. The impact force of the user's foot deforms the primary chamber, thereby forcing some of the flowable material contained therein to flow into the secondary chambers. The rate of deformation of the primary chamber exceeds the flow rate into the secondary chambers, thereby providing a cushioning effect. When the portion of the footwear coinciding with the primary chamber loses contact with the ground, the force is removed from the primary chamber, thereby allowing the secondary chambers to contract and force some of the flowable materials contained therein back into the primary chamber to reinitialize the padding device.

Self-reinitializing padding device

A flowable, pressure-compensating composition is provided comprising a liquid, a material for increasing the viscosity of the liquid and spherical particles. A method for making such composition is also provided. The composition is especially suitable for use in padding devices.

Glycerin-containing flowable, pressure-compensating material and process

A sealing process for producing clean, contamination-free seals. The process includes the step of incorporating a small amount of polar liquid within the material to be sealed between heat-sealable layers. An alternating electromagnetic energy field, such as that produced by a dielectric heating device, is applied to the seal area. The energy vaporizes the polar liquid, thereby cleaning the seal area. Subsequently, the energy causes the resinous layers to seal together, sealing the material within the package. A preferred composition for sealing within the resinous package is also disclosed. The material includes a polar liquid, a surfactant, wax, oil and microbeads. The material is especially suited for producing padding devices.

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Boulder, CO, United States of America

Terrence M Drew