PROTECTIVE IMPACT ABSORBING STRUCTURES WITH INTERNAL REINFORCEMENT AND MATERIALS THEREFOR
Disclosed herein are conformable protection pads with a reinforcing layer.
1 . A cushioning material section for a stretchable, conformable impact absorbing pad structure, comprising a foam layer disposed between opposing first and second barrier layers, which first and second barrier layers are stretchable and conformable and a reinforcing layer disposed between the second barrier layer and the foam layer.
2 . The cushioning material section of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing layer is porous.
3 . The cushioning material section of claim 2 , which is sufficiently porous to allow flow through its pores or interstices of a foam layer precursor during formation.
4 . The cushioning material section of claim 3 , wherein the reinforcing layer is flexible.
5 . The cushioning material section of claim 4 , wherein the reinforcing layer is a non-woven fabric.
6 . The cushioning material section of claim 5 , wherein the reinforcing layer is a hydro-entangled nonwoven.
7 . The cushioning material section of claim 5 , wherein the first and second barrier layers are first and second thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) layers.
8 . The cushioning material section of claim 7 , further comprising a first fabric layer disposed adjacent to the first TPE layer, opposite the foam layer,
9 . The cushioning material section of claim 7 , further comprising a second fabric layer disposed adjacent to the second TPE layer, opposite the reinforcing layer.
10 . The cushioning material section of claim 8 , further comprising a second fabric layer disposed adjacent to the second TPE layer, opposite the reinforcing layer.
11 . The cushioning material section of claim 7 , further comprising a first fabric layer disposed adjacent to the first TPE layer, opposite the foam layer, and a second fabric layer disposed adjacent to the second TPE layer, opposite the reinforcing layer.
12 . The cushioning material section of claim 1 , comprising one or more cushioning regions which comprise a foam layer disposed between opposing first and second barrier layers, which first and second barrier layers are stretchable and conformable and a reinforcing layer disposed between the second barrier layer and the foam layer, the one or more cushioning regions having a first thickness and which further comprises one or more hinge regions which comprise opposing first and second barrier layers, which first and second barrier layers are stretchable and conformable, and a reinforcing layer disposed between the first and second barrier layers with a foam layer disposed between the first barrier layer and the reinforcing layer, the one or more hinge regions having a second thickness being less than the first thickness.
13 . The cushioning material section of claim 1 , further comprising a stretchable and conformable impact absorbing pad structure.
14 . The cushioning material section of claim 12 , which is integrated into a garment of stretchable and conformable material.
15 . The cushioning material section of claim 12 , which is integrated into a sleeve or case for an electronic device whereby the sleeve or case may stretch or conform to the shape of the device.