US4961985A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fabrics for protective clothing
Assignee: W.L. Gore and Associates Inc
•
Filing: 1988-07-06
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Granted: 1990-10-09
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Expires: 2008-07-06
Abstract
Abstract A coated product is provided that is comprised of a substrate and a coating comprised of a microporous scaffold material having a high void volume and open, interconnecting void microstructure, the scaffold material having a layer of a selected polyurethane thereon which extends in the voids. The coated product has good barrier properties with respect to bacteria, viruses, and air-borne particulate.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L. Henn
- 👤 Dilip J. Sakhpara
- 👤 Christian E. Bailey
- 👤 John J. Bowser
- 👤 Peter L. Brown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 13:42
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/01; A61F13/01008; B; B32; B32B; B32B5/00; B32B5/22; B32B5/24; A41; A41D; A41D31/00; A41D31/04; A41D31/30; A41D31/305; D; D06; D06N; D06N3/00; D06N3/04; D06N3/045; D06N3/12; D06N3/14; D06N3/18; D06N3/183; A61F2013/00089; A61F2013/00246; A61F2013/00263; A61F2013/00272; A61F2013/00361; A61F2013/00727; A61F2013/00731; A61F2013/00744; A61F2013/00855; A61F2013/00876; B32B2266/00; B32B2266/02; B32B2266/0214; B32B2266/025; B32B2305/00; B32B2305/02; B32B2305/026; B32B2307/00; B32B2307/70; B32B2307/724; B32B2307/726; B32B2307/7265; B32B2323/00; B32B2323/04; B32B2323/10; B32B2437/00; B32B2535/00; B32B2553/00; B32B2555/00; B32B2555/02; D06N2209/00; D06N2209/12; D06N2209/121; D06N2209/123; D06N2209/14; D06N2209/141; D06N2209/16; D06N2209/1671; D06N2211/00; D06N2211/10; D06N2211/12; D06N2211/24; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24802; Y10T428/2481; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/249953; Y10T428/249978; Y10T428/24998; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/3154; Y10T428/31544; Y10T428/31551; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/20; Y10T442/2139; Y10T442/2148
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
A coated fabric consisting essentially of: (a) a substrate fabric having a moisture vapor transmission rate of at least 5000 gm/m 2 /24 hrs; and; (b) a continuous coating on at least one side of said fabric comprising a polymeric, porous, scaffold material having a microstructure of open interconnected voids wherein the void volume of the scaffold material is at least 65% of the total scaffold material volume, said scaffold having a weight of between 1 and 10 grams per square meter; said scaffold having a layer of hydrophilic, polyurethane resin on one surface of the scaffold, which extends into a portion of the voids of the scaffold; said polyurethane layer having a weight of between 5 and 25 gm square meters; said article being a microorganism barrier such that it does not permit passage of viruses when challenged by the Virus Barrier Efficiency Test at 4 psig; and said article being an airborne particulate barrier such that is exhibits an air permeability less than 6 cc per minute; said fabric and coating arranged so that the polyurethane resin on the coating is adjacent the fabric.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
A coated fabric consisting essentially of: (a) a substrate fabric having a moisture vapor transmission rate of at least 5000 gm/m 2 /24 hrs; and; (b) a continuous coating on at least one side of said fabric comprising a polymeric, porous, scaffold material having a microstructure of open interconnected voids wherein the void volume of the scaffold material is at least 65% of the total scaffold material volume, said scaffold having a weight of between 1 and 10 grams per square meter; said scaffold having a layer of hydrophilic, polyurethane resin on one surface of the scaffold, which extends into a portion of the voids of the scaffold; said polyurethane layer having a weight of between 5 and 25 gm square meters; said article being a microorganism barrier such that it does not permit passage of viruses when challenged by the Virus Barrier Efficiency Test at 4 psig; and said article being an airborne particulate barrier such that is exhibits an air permeability less than 6 cc per minute; said fabric and coating arranged so that the polyurethane resin on the coating is adjacent the fabric.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The coated fabric of claim 1 wherein the coating and the substrate are attached only at specific elevated points on the substrate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The article of claim 1 in which the scaffold has a void volume of greater than 70%.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The article of claim 1 in which the scaffold has a void volume of greater than 85%.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of claim 1 in which the scaffold material has a thickness of less than 100 microns.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of claim 2 in which the scaffold material has a thickness of less than 100 microns.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of claim 3 in which the scaffold material has a thickness of less than 100 microns.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of claim 4 in which the scaffold material has a thickness of less than 100 microns.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of claim 1 in which the scaffold material has a thickness of less than 35 microns.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of claim 2 in which the scaffold material has a thickness of less than 35 microns.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of claim 3 in which the scaffold material has a thickness of less than 35 microns.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of claim 4 in which the scaffold material has a thickness of less than 35 microns.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of claim 1 in which the scaffold material has a thickness of less than 20 microns.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of claim 2 in which the scaffold material has a thickness of less than 20 microns.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of claim 3 in which the scaffold material has a thickness of less than 20 microns.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of claim 4 in which the scaffold material has a thickness of less than 20 microns.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, in which the scaffold material is expanded PTFE.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
11 words
The article of claim 1 in which the scaffold is polypropylene.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
The article of claim 1 in which the scaffold is polyethylene.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The article of claim 1 in which the scaffold is selected from the group: polyamide, polycarbonate, poly(ethylene terephthalate), polyester, polyacrylate, polystyrene, polysulphone, and polyurethane.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The article of claim 1 in which the fabric is a non-woven fabric.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The article of claim 1 in which the fabric is a woven fabric.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
11 words
The article of claim 1 in which the substrate is paper.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
The use of the article of claim 1 in a waterproof-breathable garment.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The use of the article of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 in a surgical gown.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
12 words
The use of the article of claim 17 in a surgical gown.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
The use of the article of claim 1 in a medical device.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
11 words
The use of the article of claim 1 in packaging materials.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
11 words
The use of the article of claim 1 as a diaper.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
13 words
The use of the article of claim 1 as a feminine hygiene product.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
9 words
A coated fabric of claim 1, in sterilized form.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
10 words
The coated fabric of claim 31 in in garment form.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
9 words
A coated fabric of claim 17 in sterilized form.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
9 words
The coated fabric of claim 33 in garment form.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-10-08 | 1994-04-09 | 1994-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-10-08 | 1998-04-09 | 1998-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-10-08 | 2002-04-09 | 2002-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |