Vibration dampening material and method of making same
View Patent ↗A material adapted to regulate vibration by distributing and partially dissipating vibration exerted thereon.
1. A material adapted to regulate vibration by distributing and partially dissipating vibration exerted thereon, the material comprising:
a first elastomer layer; and
a support structure embedded within the first elastomer layer, the support structure comprising a second elastomer layer different from the first elastomer layer and having a first plurality of particles therein that distribute vibration within the material, the support structure having a greater rigidity than the first elastomer layer, the support structure comprising a plurality of passageways, the passageways comprising areas where portions of the second elastomer layer and portions of the plurality of particles have been removed from the support structure, the first elastomer layer penetrating the plurality of passageways in the support structure such that a portion of the first elastomer layer is positioned on opposed sides of the support structure;
wherein the material is substantially free of voids.
2. The material of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of particles include a plurality of fibers.
3. The material of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of fibers include aramid fibers.
4. The material of claim 1 , wherein the first elastomer layer includes a second plurality of particles and the first elastomer layer is selected from the group consisting of elastomers not including open cell foams.
5. The material of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the first and second plurality of particles includes gel particles.
6. The material of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the first and second plurality of particles includes sand particles.
7. The material of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the first and second plurality of particles includes glass beads.
8. The material of claim 4 , wherein the material is configured and adapted to form a grip for a tennis racquet having a handle and a proximal end, the material is adapted to enclose a portion of the handle and to enclose the proximal end of the tennis racquet.
9. The material of claim 4 , wherein the material is configured and adapted to form a grip for an implement having a handle and a proximal end, the material is adapted to enclose a portion of the handle and to enclose the proximal end of the implement.
10. The material of claim 4 , wherein the material is configured and adapted to form an insert for a shoe, the material being adapted to extend along an inner surface of the shoe from a location proximate to a heel of the shoe to a toe of the shoe.
11. A material adapted to regulate vibration by distributing and partially dissipating vibration exerted thereon, the material comprising:
a first elastomer layer; and
a semi-rigid support structure formed by a second elastomer layer different from the first elastomer layer and embedded within the first elastomer layer, the support structure having a greater rigidity than the first elastomer layer, the support structure comprising a plurality of passageways, the passageways comprising areas where portions of the second elastomer layer have been removed from the support structure, the first elastomer layer penetrating the plurality of passageways in the support structure such that a portion of the first elastomer layer is positioned on opposed sides of the support structure;
wherein the material is substantially free of voids.
12. The material of claim 11 , wherein the support structure comprises a cloth layer.
13. The material of claim 12 , wherein the support structure comprises a plurality of cloth layers.
14. The material of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the plurality of cloth layers is formed of aramid fibers.
15. The material of claim 11 , wherein the support structure includes a first plurality of particles therein and the first elastomer layer is selected from the group consisting of elastomers not including open cell foams.
16. The material of claim 14 , wherein the first elastomer layer includes a second plurality of particles and the first elastomer layer is selected from the group consisting of elastomers not including open cell foams.
17. The material of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first and second plurality of particles includes gel particles.
18. The material of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first and second plurality of particles includes sand particles.
19. The material of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first and second plurality of particles includes glass beads.
20. The material of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first and second plurality of particles includes chopped fibers.
21. The material of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first and second plurality of particles includes metal particles.
22. The material of claim 17 , wherein at least one of the first and second plurality of particles includes foam particles.
23. The material of claim 15 , wherein the support structure includes a first plurality of fibers.
24. The material of claim 15 , wherein the support structure comprises a cloth layer.
25. The material of claim 15 , wherein the support structure comprises a plurality of cloth layers.
26. The material of claim 11 , wherein the first elastomer layer includes a second plurality of particles.
27. The material of claim 26 , wherein the first elastomer layer comprises a plurality of fibers.
28. The material of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the first and second plurality of particles includes plastic particles.
29. The material of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the first and second plurality of particles includes ceramic particles.
30. The material of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the first and second plurality of particles includes aramid particles.
31. The material of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the first and second plurality of particles includes glass particles.
32. The material of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of fibers include metal fibers.
33. The material of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of fibers include ceramic fibers.
34. The material of claim 1 , wherein the first elastomer layer is a thermoset plastic.
35. The material of claim 1 , wherein the first elastomer layer is a thermoset plastic.