US5225236A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Composite protective drapes
Assignee: Ludlow Corp
•
Filing: 1989-12-14
•
Granted: 1993-07-06
•
Expires: 2009-12-14
Abstract
Abstract The present invention describes a protective drape and methods for using the drape to protect or shield an object against the harmful effects of accidental exposure to optical radiation, electrical discharge, heat, or an open flame. The present invention comprises a flexible solid sheet and a composite scrim and includes methods for predicting/determining the suitability of a chosen metallic component for use in the instant drape.
Inventors
- 👤 Preston Keusch
- 👤 Christine A. Czap
- 👤 Keith A. Murdock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:41
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B7/00; B32B7/02; B32B15/00; B32B15/04; B32B15/08; A; A61; A61B; A61B46/00; A61B46/40; B32B15/043; B32B27/00; B32B27/06; B32B27/065; B32B27/12; B32B5/00; B32B5/18; B32B7/03; B32B7/04; B32B7/12; A61B90/00; A61B90/04; A61B2090/049; B32B2307/00; B32B2307/70; B32B2307/73; B32B2535/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/92; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/249953; Y10T428/249981; Y10T428/249987; Y10T428/24999; Y10T428/249991; Y10T428/249992; Y10T428/249993; Y10T428/249994; Y10T428/249995; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/10; Y10T442/102; Y10T442/109; Y10T442/126; Y10T442/15; Y10T442/152; Y10T442/164
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 63
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A protective drape comprising: (a) at least one flexible solid sheet of a viscoelastic hydrophilic gel comprising a homogeneous mixture of at least about 80% by weight water and a substantially water-insoluble, water-swellable, hydrophilic polymer; and (b) at least one flexible composite scrim comprising a laminate of at least one foil or sheet of a metallic component and at least one film of a hydrophobic polymeric substrate, said scrim being in intimate contact with said flexible solid sheet and which metallic component has a sufficient degree of reflectivity, thermal conductivity, and thickness, to provide a protective drape having top and bottom external surfaces, which drape is capable of effectively dissipating thermal energy associated with an accidentally directed beam of laser light.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
A protective drape comprising: (a) at least one flexible solid sheet of a viscoelastic hydrophilic gel comprising a homogeneous mixture of at least about 80% by weight water and a substantially water-insoluble, water-swellable, hydrophilic polymer; and (b) at least one flexible composite scrim comprising a laminate of at least one foil or sheet of a metallic component and at least one film of a hydrophobic polymeric substrate, said scrim being in intimate contact with said flexible solid sheet and which metallic component has a sufficient degree of reflectivity, thermal conductivity, and thickness, to provide a protective drape having top and bottom external surfaces, which drape is capable of effectively dissipating thermal energy associated with an accidentally directed beam of laser light.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
107 words
A protective drape comprising: (a) at least one flexible solid sheet comprising a porous polymer foam; and (b) at least one flexible composite scrim comprising a laminate of at least one foil or sheet of a metallic component and at least one film of a hydrophobic polymeric substrate, said scrim being in intimate contact with said foam and which metallic component has a sufficient degree of reflectivity, thermal conductivity, and thickness, to provide a protective drape having top and bottom external surfaces, which drape upon wet up by swelling the foam is capable of effectively dissipating thermal energy associated with an accidentally directed beam of laser light.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
107 words
A protective drape comprising: (a) at least one flexible solid sheet comprising a porous polymer foam; and (b) at least one flexible composite scrim comprising a laminate of at least one foil or sheet of a metallic component and at least one film of a hydrophobic polymeric substrate, said scrim being in intimate contact with said foam and which metallic component has a sufficient degree of reflectivity, thermal conductivity, and thickness, to provide a protective drape having top and bottom external surfaces, which drape upon wet up by swelling the foam is capable of effectively dissipating thermal energy associated with an accidentally directed beam of laser light.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The protective drape of claim 1 or 2 in which said foil or sheet of said metallic component of said laminate is oriented toward said top external surface of said drape and said solid sheet is oriented toward said bottom external surface of said drape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The protective drape of claim 1 or 2 in which said composite scrim is substantially enclosed by said solid sheet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The protective drape of claim 1 or 2 in which said composite scrim is interposed between a pair of said solid sheets.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
The protective drape of claim 5 in which the first of said pair of solid sheets is oriented toward the top external surface of said drape and the second of said pair of solid sheets is oriented toward the bottom external surface of said drape, said second solid sheet being thicker than said first solid sheet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The protective drape of claim 1 or 2 in which said composite scrim comprises a trilaminate in which at least one foil or sheet of said metallic component is interposed between a pair of said films of said hydrophobic polymeric substrate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The protective drape of claim 7 in which said trilaminate is oriented toward said top external surface of said drape and said solid sheet is oriented toward said bottom external surface of said drape.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The protective drape of claim 7 in which said trilaminate is substantially enclosed by said solid sheet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The protective drape of claim 7 in which said trilaminate is interposed between a pair of said solid sheets.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
The protective drape of claim 10 in which the first of said pair of solid sheets is oriented toward the top external surface of said drape and the second of said pair of solid sheets is oriented toward the bottom external surface of said drape, said second solid sheet being thicker than said first solid sheet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The protective drape of claim 1 or 2 in which a pair of said composite scrims and a pair of said solid sheets form alternating overlapping layers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
The protective drape of claim 12 in which one of said pair of composite scrims is oriented toward said bottom external surface of said drape and one of said pair of solid sheets is oriented toward said top external surface of said drape.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The protective drape of claim 12 in which at least one of said pair of composite scrims comprises a trilaminate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The protective drape of claim 13 in which at least one of said pair of composite scrims comprises a trilaminate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
66 words
The protective drape of claim 7 in which said trilaminate is asymmetric such that the first of said pair of said hydrophobic polymeric substrate films is oriented toward the top external surface of said drape and the second of said pair of said hydrophobic polymeric substrate films is oriented toward the bottom external surface of said drape, said second film being thicker than said first film.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The protective drape of claim 11 which further comprises a second trilaminate composite scrim in intimate contact with said second solid sheet, at least one of said trilaminates being asymmetric.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
57 words
The protective drape of claim 1 or 2 in which said composite scrim comprises a laminate of two or more foils or sheets of said metallic component, a high-temperature adhesive which is substantially thermally nonconductive and which is interposed between each of said foils or sheets, and at least one film of a first hydrophobic polymeric substrate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The protective drape of claim 18 in which said composite scrim further comprises at least one additional film of a second hydrophobic polymeric substrate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The protective drape of claim 1 or 2 which further comprises at least one backing material in intimate contact with at least one of said external surfaces of said drape.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
47 words
The protective drape of claim 1 or 2 which further comprises a first backing material and a second backing material, the first in intimate contact with said top external surface of said drape and the second in intimate contact with said bottom external surface of said drape.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The protective drape of claim 21 in which said first backing material is nonreflective.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The protective drape of claim 21 in which said first backing material is nonflammable.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The protective drape of claim 20 in which said backing material is derived from a poly(olefin).
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The protective drape of claim 1 or 2 which further comprises a dense wire mesh in intimate contact with said metallic component of said laminate.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The protective drape of claim 1 or 2 which further comprises a dense wire mesh in intimate contact with said top external surface of said drape.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
The protective drape of claim 7 which further comprises a dense wire mesh in intimate contact with said trilaminate, in which said mesh is oriented toward the top external surface of said drape.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The protective drape of claim 1 in which said flexible solid sheet is an aquagel comprising a viscoelastic hydrophilic gel having a liquid center.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
45 words
The protective drape of claim 1 in which said composite scrim is interposed between a pair of said flexible solid sheets, at least one of said solid sheets, preferably that one which is oriented toward the top external surface of said drape, is an aquagel.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
The protective drape of claim 1 in which said hydrophilic polymer has an initial average molecular weight of at least about 0.1×10 6 Daltons.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
34 words
The protective drape of claim 1 in which said hydrophilic polymer is a mixture of polymers having an initial average molecular weight in the range of about 0.1×10 6 to about 10×10 6 Daltons.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
30 words
The protective drape of claim 1 in which said hydrophilic polymer is an initially water-soluble polymer crosslinked by a process selected from the group consisting of chemical and irradiation crosslinking.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
50 words
The protective drape of claim 1 in which said hydrophilic polymer is an initially water-soluble polymer made water-insoluble by crosslinking, which initially water-soluble polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene oxide), hydrolyzed or partially hydrolyzed acrylonirite, hydroxy-modified celluloses, polyacrylamide, poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), poly(vinyl alcohol), mixtures, blends, and copolymers thereof.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
The protective drape of claim 1 in which said hydrophilic polymer is an irradiation crosslinked poly(ethylene oxide).
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
74 words
The protective drape of claim 1 in which said viscoelastic hydrophilic gel is comprised of a homogeneous mixture of water and about 2 to about 20 weight percent of the total mixture of poly(ethylene oxide) having an average molecular weight of about 0.1×10 6 to about 10×10 6 Daltons, said mixture having been exposed to a dosage of high energy radiation of about 0.2 to about 4 Mrads, sufficient to crosslink said poly(ethylene oxide).
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
35 words
The protective drape of claim 1 in which said viscoelastic hydrophilic gel further comprises an additive selected from the group consisting of pigments, refractive particles, fire retardants, stabilizers, electrolytes, preservatives, biocides, dyes, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
41 words
The protective drape of claim 1 in which said viscoelastic hydrophilic gel further comprises finely-divided particles of a metal oxide selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide, zirconium dioxide, silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, molybdenum oxide, zinc oxide, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
18 words
The protective drape of claim 2 in which said porous polymer foam is derived from a hydrophilic polymer.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
18 words
The protective drape of claim 2 in which said porous polymer foam is derived from a hydrophobic polymer.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
19 words
The protective drape of claim 39 in which said porous polymer foam has been modified to provide water-wettable surfaces.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
33 words
The protective drape of claim 2 in which said porous polymer foam is derived from a hydrophilic polymer selected from the group consisting of foamable hydrophilic polyurethanes, polyurethanes, cellulose acetate, and cellulosic sponges.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
38 words
The protective drape of claim 1 or 2 in which said metallic component may, alternatively, be in a form selected from the group consisting of a dense wire mesh, interconnected plates, densely packed finely-divided particles, and combinations thereof.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
26 words
The protective drape of claim 1 or 2 in which said metallic component is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, copper, gold, silver, and brass.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
17 words
The protective drape of claim 1 or 2 in which said metallic component is derived from aluminum.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
17 words
The protective drape of claim 1 or 2 in which said metallic component is derived from copper.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
44 words
The protective drape of claim 1 or 2 in which said hydrophobic polymeric substrate is a polymer selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate, polyamide, polyester, polyolefin, poly(vinyl chloride), poly(4-methylpentene), polyacetylene, polyimide, fluoropolymer, polyvinylidene fluoride, polysulfone, polyether ether ketone, mixtures, blends, and copolymers thereof.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
34 words
The protective drape of claim 1 or 2 in which said composite scrim is a laminate comprising at least one foil or a sheet of aluminum and at least one film of poly(ethylene terpthalate).
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
22 words
A protective drape of claim 18 in which said high-temperature adhesive is selected from the group consisting of acrylics and poly(ethyleneterpthalate) adhesives.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
127 words
A protective drape comprising: (a) at least one flexible solid sheet of a viscoelastic hydrophilic gel comprising a homogeneous mixture of at least about 80% by weight water and a substantially water-insoluble, water-swellable, hydrophilic polymer; and (b) at least one flexible composite scrim comprising a laminate of at least one foil or sheet of a metallic component selected from the group consisting of aluminum, copper, gold, silver, and brass and at least one film of a hydrophobic polymeric substrate, said scrim being in intimate contact with said flexible solid sheet and which metallic component has a sufficient thickness, to provide a protective drape having top and bottom external surfaces, which drape is capable of effectively dissipating thermal energy associated with an accidentally directed beam of laser light.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
127 words
A protective drape comprising: (a) at least one flexible solid sheet of a viscoelastic hydrophilic gel comprising a homogeneous mixture of at least about 80% by weight water and a substantially water-insoluble, water-swellable, hydrophilic polymer; and (b) at least one flexible composite scrim comprising a laminate of at least one foil or sheet of a metallic component selected from the group consisting of aluminum, copper, gold, silver, and brass and at least one film of a hydrophobic polymeric substrate, said scrim being in intimate contact with said flexible solid sheet and which metallic component has a sufficient thickness, to provide a protective drape having top and bottom external surfaces, which drape is capable of effectively dissipating thermal energy associated with an accidentally directed beam of laser light.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
113 words
A protective drape comprising: (a) at least one flexible solid sheet comprising a porous polymer foam; and (b) at least one flexible composite scrim comprising a laminate of at least one foil or sheet of a metallic component selected from the group consisting of aluminum, copper, gold, silver, and brass and at least one film of a hydrophobic polymeric substrate, said scrim being in intimate contact with said foam and which metallic component has a sufficient thickness, to provide a protective drape having top and bottom external surfaces, which drape upon wet up by swelling the foam is capable of effectively dissipating thermal energy associated with an accidentally directed beam of laser light.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
113 words
A protective drape comprising: (a) at least one flexible solid sheet comprising a porous polymer foam; and (b) at least one flexible composite scrim comprising a laminate of at least one foil or sheet of a metallic component selected from the group consisting of aluminum, copper, gold, silver, and brass and at least one film of a hydrophobic polymeric substrate, said scrim being in intimate contact with said foam and which metallic component has a sufficient thickness, to provide a protective drape having top and bottom external surfaces, which drape upon wet up by swelling the foam is capable of effectively dissipating thermal energy associated with an accidentally directed beam of laser light.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
19 words
The protective drape of claim 1 in which said homogeneous mixture is at least about 90% by weight water.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
9 words
The protective drape of claim 1 which is electroconductive.
Claim 57
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of shielding an object from harmful optical radiation, electrical discharge, heat, or flame which comprises interposing at least one protective drape between the source of said harmful optical radiation, electrical discharge, heat, or flame and said object, said protective drape being in intimate contact with said object and which drape comprises: (a) at least one flexible solid sheet of a viscoelastic hydrophilic gel comprising a homogeneous mixture of at least about 80% by weight water and a substantially water-insoluble, water-swellable, hydrophilic polymer; and (b) at least one flexible composite scrim comprising a laminate of at least one foil or sheet of a metallic component and at least one film of a hydrophobic polymeric substrate, said scrim being in intimate contact with said flexible solid sheet and which metallic component has a sufficient degree of reflectivity, thermal conductivity, and thickness, to provide a protective drape which is capable of effectively dissipating said harmful optical radiation, electrical discharge, heat, or flame which has accidentally been directed toward said object.
Claim 58
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of shielding an object from harmful optical radiation, electrical discharge, heat, or flame which comprises interposing at least one protective drape between the source of said harmful optical radiation, electrical discharge, heat, or flame and said object, said protective drape being in intimate contact with said object and which drape comprises: (a) at least one flexible solid sheet of a viscoelastic hydrophilic gel comprising a homogeneous mixture of at least about 80% by weight water and a substantially water-insoluble, water-swellable, hydrophilic polymer; and (b) at least one flexible composite scrim comprising a laminate of at least one foil or sheet of a metallic component and at least one film of a hydrophobic polymeric substrate, said scrim being in intimate contact with said flexible solid sheet and which metallic component has a sufficient degree of reflectivity, thermal conductivity, and thickness, to provide a protective drape which is capable of effectively dissipating said harmful optical radiation, electrical discharge, heat, or flame which has accidentally been directed toward said object.
Claim 59
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of shielding an object from harmful optical radiation, electrical discharge, heat, or flame which comprises interposing at least one protective drape between the source of said harmful optical radiation, electrical discharge, heat, or flame and said object, said protective drape being in intimate contact with said object and which drape comprises: (a) at least one flexible solid sheet comprising a porous polymer foam; and (b) at least one flexible composite scrim comprising a laminate of at least one foil or sheet of a metallic component and at least one film of a hydrophobic polymeric substrate, said scrim being in intimate contact with said foam and which metallic component has a sufficient degree of reflectivity, thermal conductivity, and thickness, to provide a protective drape which upon wet up by swelling the foam is capable of effectively dissipating said harmful optical radiation, electrical discharge, heat, or flame which has accidentally been directed toward said object.
Claim 60
Independent Claim
155 words
A method of shielding an object from harmful optical radiation, electrical discharge, heat, or flame which comprises interposing at least one protective drape between the source of said harmful optical radiation, electrical discharge, heat, or flame and said object, said protective drape being in intimate contact with said object and which drape comprises: (a) at least one flexible solid sheet comprising a porous polymer foam; and (b) at least one flexible composite scrim comprising a laminate of at least one foil or sheet of a metallic component and at least one film of a hydrophobic polymeric substrate, said scrim being in intimate contact with said foam and which metallic component has a sufficient degree of reflectivity, thermal conductivity, and thickness, to provide a protective drape which upon wet up by swelling the foam is capable of effectively dissipating said harmful optical radiation, electrical discharge, heat, or flame which has accidentally been directed toward said object.
Claim 61
Independent Claim
161 words
A method for retarding the ignition of a combustible material due to exposure to nonfocused laser light which comprises interposing at least one protective drape between the source of said nonfocused laser light and said combustible material, said protective drape being in intimate contact with said combustible material and which protective drape comprises: (a) at least one flexible solid sheet of a viscoelastic hydrophilic gel comprising a homogeneous mixture of at least about 80% by weight water and a substantially water-insoluble, water-swellable, hydrophilic polymer; and (b) at least one flexible composite scrim comprising a laminate of at least one foil or sheet of a metallic component and at least one film of a hydrophobic polymeric substrate, said scrim being in intimate contact with said flexible solid sheet and which metallic component has a sufficient degree of reflectivity, thermal conductivity, and thickness, to provide a protective drape which is capable of effectively dissipating thermal energy associated with exposure to nonfocused laser light.
Claim 62
Independent Claim
161 words
A method for retarding the ignition of a combustible material due to exposure to nonfocused laser light which comprises interposing at least one protective drape between the source of said nonfocused laser light and said combustible material, said protective drape being in intimate contact with said combustible material and which protective drape comprises: (a) at least one flexible solid sheet of a viscoelastic hydrophilic gel comprising a homogeneous mixture of at least about 80% by weight water and a substantially water-insoluble, water-swellable, hydrophilic polymer; and (b) at least one flexible composite scrim comprising a laminate of at least one foil or sheet of a metallic component and at least one film of a hydrophobic polymeric substrate, said scrim being in intimate contact with said flexible solid sheet and which metallic component has a sufficient degree of reflectivity, thermal conductivity, and thickness, to provide a protective drape which is capable of effectively dissipating thermal energy associated with exposure to nonfocused laser light.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 55 in which said viscoelastic hydrophilic gel comprises a mixture of at least about 90% by weight water and a substantially water-insoluble, water-swellable hydrophilic polymer.
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