US 12,420,522 B2
Multilayered supported elastomeric foams and processes for making same
John C. Gardner, Wilmington, DE (US); and Steven Speck, Newark, DE (US)
Assigned to W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Newark, DE (US)
Appl. No. 18/039,016
Filed by W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., Newark, DE (US)
PCT Filed Nov. 30, 2021, PCT No. PCT/IB2021/061136
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 26, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/118196, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 9, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/119,942, filed on Dec. 1, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0208178 A1, Jun. 27, 2024
Int. Cl. B32B 5/32 (2006.01); B32B 7/12 (2006.01); B32B 27/06 (2006.01); B32B 27/32 (2006.01)
CPC B32B 5/32 (2013.01) [B32B 7/12 (2013.01); B32B 27/065 (2013.01); B32B 27/322 (2013.01); B32B 2305/022 (2013.01); B32B 2305/026 (2013.01); B32B 2305/073 (2013.01); B32B 2305/08 (2013.01); B32B 2307/7376 (2023.05)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A supported elastomeric foam comprising:
an elastomeric matrix comprising an elastomer, and comprising:
a first foamed region comprising a plurality of gas filled cells defined by the elastomer, the first foamed region having first and second sides positioned opposite one another;
a first reinforcement region comprising a first porous layer having an interconnected network of pores at least partially imbibed with the elastomer on the first side of the first foamed region;
a first surface region oriented on the second side of the first foamed region, wherein the first surface region is a non-porous surface layer; and
one or more stiffening regions positioned adjacent to the first reinforcement region; and
said supported elastomeric foam further comprising:
a second foamed region, the second foamed region comprising a plurality of gas filled cells defined by the elastomer, the second foamed region having first and second sides positioned opposite one another;
a second reinforcement region comprising a second porous layer having an interconnected network of pores at least partially imbibed with the elastomer on the second side of the second foamed region;
wherein said first and second foamed regions are separated by the first reinforcement region, the one or more stiffening regions, and the second reinforcement region;
wherein the one or more stiffening regions are located between first reinforcement region and the second reinforcement region;
wherein the first and second porous layers independently comprise one of a woven material, a fibrous material or a porous film; and
wherein the one or more stiffening regions is selected from a metal, a non-porous stiff polymer including modified tetrafluoroethylene polymers (TFM), and a porous stiff polymer including polyether ether ketone (PEEK).