VIBRATION DAMPENING MATERIAL AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME
A vibration-reducing material, comprising first and second elastomer layers and a reinforcement layer disposed between and generally separating the first and second elastomer layers. The reinforcement layer comprises a high tensile strength fibrous material. At least one of the first or second elastomer layers is manufactured as a foamed structure.
1 . A vibration-reducing material, comprising:
first and second elastomer layers; and
a reinforcement layer disposed between and generally separating the first and second elastomer layers, the reinforcement layer comprising a high tensile strength fibrous material;
wherein at least one of the first or second elastomer layers is manufactured as a foamed structure.
2 . The vibration-reducing material of claim 1 wherein both the first and second layers are manufactured as a foamed structure.
3 . The vibration-reducing material of claim 1 wherein the foamed structure has an open cell foam structure.
4 . The vibration-reducing material of claim 1 wherein the foamed structure has a closed cell foam structure.
5 . The vibration-reducing material of claim 1 , wherein the high tensile strength fibrous material is a woven sheet.
6 . The vibration-reducing material of claim 1 , wherein the high tensile strength fibrous material generally separates the first and second elastomer layers causing the material to have three generally distinct and separate layers.
7 . The vibration-reducing material of claim 1 , wherein areas of predetermined weakness are formed in the at least one layer having a foamed structure to allow the vibration-reducing material to flex along such areas of predetermined weakness.
8 . The vibration-reducing material of claim 7 , wherein the areas of predetermined weakness are formed by making cuts in the foamed structure.
9 . The vibration-reducing material of claim 7 , wherein the areas of predetermined weakness are formed by compressing portions of the foamed structure layer.
10 . The vibration-reducing material of claim 7 , wherein the areas of predetermined weakness are formed by removing portions of the foamed structure layer.
11 . The vibration-reducing material of claim 7 , wherein the areas of predetermined weakness comprise parallel grooves.
12 . The vibration-reducing material of claim 7 , wherein the areas of predetermined weakness comprise groves that form polygon shapes.
13 . The vibration-reducing material of claim 12 , wherein the polygon shapes are selected from the group consisting of: hexagons, diamonds, octagons, circles, ellipses, and combinations thereof.
14 . The vibration-reducing material of claim 1 , wherein the foamed structure layer is substantially flexible.