US4011130A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Leather-like waterlaid sheets containing particulate fillers
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1974-09-09
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Granted: 1977-03-08
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Expires: 1994-09-09
Abstract
Abstract Waterlaid sheets comprising essential solids consisting of (I) elastomeric binder, and (II) nonelastomeric solids comprising inflexible, non-fibrous, rounded, particulate fillers and a fibrous reinforcing component. The waterlaid sheets are useful as substitutes for leather in the manufacture of footwear, particularly as the outsole or insole portion of a shoe.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert A. Worden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 05:44
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08G; C08G18/00; C08G18/06; C08G18/08; C08G18/0804; D; D06; D06N; D06N3/00; D06N3/0056; D06N3/0061; D06N3/007; D06N3/0079; D06N3/12; D06N3/14; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/904
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A leather-like, waterlaid sheet comprising a major amount of essential solids consisting of elastomeric binder and nonelastomeric solids comprising particulate filler and reinforcing fiber, said particulate filler comprising about 10 to 60% by weight of said essential solids, the particles of said particulate filler being inflexible, non-fibrous, rounded particles having an average particle size in the range of about 1 to 160 microns, the length of any major axis of the particles being no more than twice the length of any of the other axes, said reinforcing fiber comprising at least 5% by weight of said essential solids and said elastomeric binder being present in an amount sufficient to provide an integral, cohesive sheet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
A leather-like, waterlaid sheet comprising a major amount of essential solids consisting of elastomeric binder and nonelastomeric solids comprising particulate filler and reinforcing fiber, said particulate filler comprising about 10 to 60% by weight of said essential solids, the particles of said particulate filler being inflexible, non-fibrous, rounded particles having an average particle size in the range of about 1 to 160 microns, the length of any major axis of the particles being no more than twice the length of any of the other axes, said reinforcing fiber comprising at least 5% by weight of said essential solids and said elastomeric binder being present in an amount sufficient to provide an integral, cohesive sheet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A sheet according to claim 1 wherein said essential solids comprise at least 75% by weight of the total solids of the sheet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A sheet according to claim 1 wherein said binder is an elastomeric polyurethane binder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A sheet according to claim 1 wherein said particulate filler is vegetable shell flour.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A sheet according to claim 4 wherein said vegetable shell flour is selected from the group consisting of pecan shell, walnut shell, coconut shell, peach pit, apricot pit and cherry pit flours and mixtures thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A sheet according to claim 4 wherein said vegetable shell flour is almond shell flour.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A sheet according to claim 1 wherein said particulate filler is cold-water-insoluble, ungelatinized starch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A sheet according to claim 1 wherein said particulate filler is an inorganic filler.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A sheet according to claim 1 wherein said fibrous component is leather fiber and comprises 5 to 50% by weight of said essential solids.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A sheet according to claim 1 wherein said fibrous component is wood fiber and comprises 5 to 50% by weight of said essential solids.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
A leather-like, waterlaid sheet comprising at least 75% by weight of the total solids of essential solids consisting of 15 to 80% by weight elastomeric polyurethane binder, 10 to 60% by weight particulate filler comprising vegetable shell flour and 5 to 50% by weight fibrous reinforcing component selected from the group consisting of wood, leather, rayon, nylon and asbestos fibers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
A leather-like, waterlaid sheet comprising at least 75% by weight of the total solids of essential solids consisting of 15 to 80% by weight elastomeric polyurethane binder, 10 to 60% by weight particulate filler comprising vegetable shell flour and 5 to 50% by weight fibrous reinforcing component selected from the group consisting of wood, leather, rayon, nylon and asbestos fibers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
101 words
An aqueous slurry for providing a leather-like, waterlaid sheet comprising a major amount of water and slurried solids and having a papermaking consistency, said slurried solids comprising essential solids consisting of 15 to 80% by weight elastomeric binder, 10 to 60% by weight particulate filler, and 5 to 50% by weight fibrous reinforcing component, the particles of said particulate filler being inflexible, non-fibrous, rounded particles having an average particle size in the range of about 1 to 160 microns, the length of any major axis of the particles being no more than twice the length of any of the other axes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
101 words
An aqueous slurry for providing a leather-like, waterlaid sheet comprising a major amount of water and slurried solids and having a papermaking consistency, said slurried solids comprising essential solids consisting of 15 to 80% by weight elastomeric binder, 10 to 60% by weight particulate filler, and 5 to 50% by weight fibrous reinforcing component, the particles of said particulate filler being inflexible, non-fibrous, rounded particles having an average particle size in the range of about 1 to 160 microns, the length of any major axis of the particles being no more than twice the length of any of the other axes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
An aqueous slurry according to claim 12 wherein said essential solids comprise at least 75% by weight of the total solids of the slurry.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
An aqueous slurry according to claim 12 wherein said slurried solids comprise 0.5 to 7% by weight of the total slurry.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
An aqueous slurry according to claim 12 wherein said elastomeric binder is an elastomeric polyurethane binder.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
An aqueous slurry according to claim 12 wherein said fibrous reinforcing component is selected from the group consisting of wood, leather, rayon, nylon and asbestos fibers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
An aqueous slurry according to claim 12 wherein said particulate filler is vegetable shell flour.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
An aqueous slurry according to claim 17 wherein said vegetable shell flour is selected from the group consisting of pecan shell, walnut shell, coconut shell, peach pit, apricot pit and cherry pit flours and mixtures thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
An aqueous slurry according to claim 17 wherein said vegetable shell flour is almond shell flour.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
An aqueous slurry according to claim 12 wherein said particulate filler is cold-water-insoluble, ungelatinized starch.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
An aqueous slurry according to claim 12 wherein said particulate filler is an inorganic filler.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
An aqueous slurry according to claim 12 wherein said elastomeric binder is an elastomeric polyurethane, said particulate filler is vegetable shell flour and said fibrous reinforcing component is selected from the group consisting of leather fiber and wood fiber.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of providing a leather-like, waterlaid sheet comprising a. providing an aqueous slurry comprising water and slurried solids and having a papermaking consistency, said slurried solids comprising a major amount of essential solids consisting of 15 to 80% by weight elastomeric binder, 10 to 60% by weight particulate filler, and 5 to 50% by weight fibrous reinforcing component, the particles of said particulate filler being inflexible, non-fibrous, rounded particles having an average particle size in the range of about 1 to 160 microns, the length of any major axis of the particles being no more than twice the length of any of the other axes, b. depositing said slurry on a supporting surface, c. removing water from the deposited slurry to form a coherent sheet, d. drying said sheet to provide a leather-like sheet.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of providing a leather-like, waterlaid sheet comprising a. providing an aqueous slurry comprising water and slurried solids and having a papermaking consistency, said slurried solids comprising a major amount of essential solids consisting of 15 to 80% by weight elastomeric binder, 10 to 60% by weight particulate filler, and 5 to 50% by weight fibrous reinforcing component, the particles of said particulate filler being inflexible, non-fibrous, rounded particles having an average particle size in the range of about 1 to 160 microns, the length of any major axis of the particles being no more than twice the length of any of the other axes, b. depositing said slurry on a supporting surface, c. removing water from the deposited slurry to form a coherent sheet, d. drying said sheet to provide a leather-like sheet.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method of providing a leather-like sheet according to claim 23 comprising the additional steps of e. heating the sheet obtained from step (d) at an elevated temperature for a time sufficient to cause flow of said elastomeric binder, f. discontinuing said heating prior to flowing together of said elastomeric binder into a continuous phase, whereby a sheet having increased tensile strength over that resulting from step (d) is produced.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
A leather-like, waterlaid sheet according to claim 1 which is free of leather fibers.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
An aqueous slurry according to claim 12 which is free of leather fibers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-03-07 | 1980-09-06 | 1981-03-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-03-07 | 1984-09-06 | 1985-03-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-03-07 | 1988-09-06 | 1989-03-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |