Flowable cushioning media including lubricated spherical objects
DCFirst Claim
1. A composite mixture comprising:
- a) a plurality of spherical objects and b) a quantity of lubricant on the exterior surface of a number of said spherical objects, said lubricant being present in a quantity less than would cause dispersion of said spherical objects in said lubricant sufficient such that said spherical objects would be significantly separated from each other by said lubricant;
wherein the composite mixture flows and shears in response to a deforming pressure exerted on it, said flow and shear being accomplished by said spherical objects moving in rolling and sliding contact with each other;
wherein the composite mixture ceases to flow when the deforming pressure is terminated.
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Abstract
A composite mixture of spherical objects and lubricant useful for its cushioning properties is disclosed and claimed. The composite mixture may be composed of microspheres typically less than 2000 microns in diameter with inert atmospheres sealed within their interiors and any of a variety of lubricants facilitating sliding and rolling movement between microspheres. Typically the composite mixture includes lubricant in a quantity sufficient to substantially coat the exterior surface of essentially all of the spherical objects, but in a quantity less than would cause dispersion of the spherical objects in the lubricant sufficient to physically separate the spherical objects from each other and substantially reduce the sliding and rolling contact of the spherical objects with each other. The preferred lubricant is a visco-elastic fluid that has a principle molecule and a cross-linking agent. Low specific gravity, low thermal mass, low coefficient of heat transfer, lack of head pressure, insulative and flotation qualities are provided by the invention. The composite mixture may be contained in fluid-tight confinement within a flexible bladder. The preferred bladder has a stretchable fabric laminated to an impermeable, stretchable film.
178 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A composite mixture comprising:
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a) a plurality of spherical objects and b) a quantity of lubricant on the exterior surface of a number of said spherical objects, said lubricant being present in a quantity less than would cause dispersion of said spherical objects in said lubricant sufficient such that said spherical objects would be significantly separated from each other by said lubricant;
wherein the composite mixture flows and shears in response to a deforming pressure exerted on it, said flow and shear being accomplished by said spherical objects moving in rolling and sliding contact with each other;
wherein the composite mixture ceases to flow when the deforming pressure is terminated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A composite mixture comprising:
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a) a plurality of microspheres, and b) a quantity of visco-elastic fluid on the exterior surface of a number of said microspheres, said visco-elastic fluid being present in a quantity less than would cause dispersion of said microspheres in said visco-elastic fluid sufficient such that said microspheres objects would be significantly separated from each other by said visco-elastic fluid;
wherein said visco-elastic fluid includes an elastomeric polymer and wherein said elastomeric polymer is a triblock copolymer. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A composite mixture comprising:
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spherical objects; and
a lubricant including white mineral oil and an elastomeric polymer, said lubricant being present in a quantity less than would cause dispersion of said spherical objects in said lubricant sufficient such that said spherical objects would be separated from each other by more than a thin film of said lubricant;
wherein said lubricant is lubricous, serves to reduce the coefficient of friction between contacting spherical objects, and does not prevent sliding and rolling of said spherical objects with respect to each other. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A composite mixture comprising:
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spherical objects including an outer shell and an inert atmosphere sealed within the outer shell, said spherical objects being less than 2000 microns in diameter, and lubricant including a principle molecule and an elastomeric polymer, said lubricant being present in a quantity less than would cause dispersion of said spherical objects in said lubricant sufficient that said spherical objects would be separated from each other by more than a thin film of said lubricant;
wherein said spherical objects are made from material selected from the group consisting of plastic, glass, metal, carbon, mineral, and quartz; and
wherein said lubricant is lubricous, serves to reduce the coefficient of friction between contacting spherical objects, and does not prevent sliding and rolling of said spherical with respect to each other.
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22. A composite mixture comprising:
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a) a plurality of microspheres, and b) a quantity of visco-elastic fluid including a principle molecule and an elastomeric polymer, said visco-elastic fluid being present on the exterior surface of substantially all of said microspheres, said visco-elastic fluid being present in a quantity less than would cause dispersion of said microspheres in said visco-elastic fluid sufficient such that said microspheres objects would be significantly separated from each other by said visco-elastic fluid;
wherein said elastomeric polymer comprises less than about one weight percent of said visco-elastic fluid. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method for forming a composite mixture comprising:
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providing a quantity of a lubricant;
providing a quantity of a plurality of spherical objects;
mixing said quantity of said lubricant with said quantity of said spherical objects to form the composite mixture;
wherein said lubricant is present on the exterior surface of substantially all of said microspheres, said lubricant being present in a quantity less than would cause dispersion of said spherical objects in said lubricant sufficient such that said spherical objects would be significantly separated from each other by said lubricant. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
wherein the ratio of said first quantity to said second quantity is about three gallons of said lubricant to about one kilogram of said spherical objects and wherein the composite mixture has a specific gravity of about 0.12. -
41. A method for forming a composite mixture as recited in claim 40, wherein said lubricant is a visco-elastic fluid.
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42. A method for forming a composite mixture as recited in claim 41, wherein said visco-elastic fluid further comprises white mineral oil having a density of about 0.86 grams per cubic centimeter.
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Specification