The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 02, 1997
Filed:
Feb. 20, 1996
Edward T Kuczynski, Troy, MI (US);
William M Bayko, Flat Rock, MI (US);
Woodbridge Foam Corporation, Mississauga, CA;
Abstract
A polyurethane foam essentially free of organic carbon-based blowing agent, the polyurethane foam comprising a foam core having a density of from about 5 to about 45 pounds per cubic foot and an integral skin consisting of substantially non-cellular, non-porous polyurethane. The presence of the integral skin is characterized by a compression force deflection index of at least about 1.20, the compression force deflection index being defined as the ratio of (i) the compression force deflection orthogonal to a cross-section of the foam to (ii) the compression force deflection of the foam core, the compression force deflection measured according to ASTM 3574C. In a preferred embodiment, the present polyurethane foam is further characterized by a flexural modulus index of at about 1.60. In another preferred embodiment, the present invention is characterized by a density index of at least about 1.60. These additional preferred features of the present polyurethane foam are further characteristics of a foam having a true integral skin. A process for producing a polyurethane foam having an integral skin using a blowing agent essentially free of organic carbon-based compounds is also described. The process comprising the steps of: contacting a polyol mixture, an isocyanate, an aqueous blowing agent, a catalyst and a chain extending agent to produce a reaction mixture, the polyol mixture consisting of a first polyol having an average equivalent weight greater than about 1000 and a second polyol having an average equivalent weight in the range of from about 150 to about 1000; and expanding the reaction mixture to produce the polyurethane foam. The present polyurethane foam can be used in a number of vehicular (e.g. steering wheel covers, arm rests, head rests, etc.) and non-vehicular (e.g. shoe-soling, furniture, toys, etc) applications.