US5298694A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Acoustical insulating web
Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1993-01-21
•
Granted: 1994-03-29
•
Expires: 2013-01-21
Abstract
Abstract A method for attenuating sound waves passing from a source area to a receiving area comprises the steps of providing a nonwoven acoustical insulation web comprising thermoplastic fibers, the web having an average effective fiber diameter of less than about 15 microns, a density of less than about 50 kg/m 3 , and an air pressure drop across the web of at least about 1 Mm water at a flow rate of about 32 liters/min.; and positioning the web between the source area and the receiving area such that a major face of the web intercepts and thereby attenuates sound waves passing from the source area to the receiving area. Also, a laminate adapted to be applied to the inner panel of a vehicle door comprises the web and a second layer, such as a scrim, nonwoven fabric, film, or foil, laminated thereto. The laminate can be applied to the inner panel of a vehicle door so that the second layer provides water barrier protection and the web provides acoustical insulation. Also, a nonwoven acoustical insulation web comprising thermoplastic fibers, the web having an average effective fiber diameter of less than about 15 microns, a density of less than about 20 kg/m 3 , and a pressure drop of at least about 1 mm water at a flow rate of about 32 liters/min. The web typically comprises melt-blown microfibers and crimped bulking fibers in a weight percent ratio of about 40:60 to about 95:5, respectively.
Inventors
- 👤 Delton R. Thompson
- 👤 Joseph A. Stroh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 13:15
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B5/00; B32B5/02; B32B27/00; B32B27/12; B32B27/32; B32B5/022; B32B5/22; B32B5/24; B32B5/26; B60; B60J; B60J5/00; B60J5/04; B60J5/0412; B60J5/0418; B60R; B60R13/00; B60R13/08; B60R13/0815; G; G10; G10K; G10K11/00; G10K11/16; G10K11/162; B29; B29C; B29C43/00; B29C43/32; B29C43/36; B29C43/361; B29C2043/3613; B29C43/006; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/30; B29L2031/3005; B29L2031/3041; B32B2307/00; B32B2307/10; B32B2307/102; B60R11/00; B60R11/02; B60R11/0217; B60R13/02; B60R13/0206; B60R13/0892; B60R2011/0001; B60R2011/0003; B60R2011/0019; B60R2011/0021; B60R2013/0287; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/903; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/249924; Y10T428/249933; Y10T428/249939; Y10T428/24994; Y10T428/249942; Y10T428/249943; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/10; Y10T442/184; Y10T442/197; Y10T442/60; Y10T442/608; Y10T442/614; Y10T442/621; Y10T442/654; Y10T442/656; Y10T442/674; Y10T442/678
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 58
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for attenuating sound waves passing from a source area to a receiving area, comprising the steps of: a) providing a nonwoven acoustical insulation web comprising thermoplastic fibers, said web having an average effective fiber diameter of less than about 15 microns, a thickness of at least about 0.5 cm, a density of less than about 50 kg/m 3 , and a pressure drop of at least about 1 mm water at a flow rate of about 32 liters/min.; and b) positioning said web between the source area and the receiving area such that a major face of said web intercepts and thereby attenuates sound waves passing from the source area to the receiving area.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for attenuating sound waves passing from a source area to a receiving area, comprising the steps of: a) providing a nonwoven acoustical insulation web comprising thermoplastic fibers, said web having an average effective fiber diameter of less than about 15 microns, a thickness of at least about 0.5 cm, a density of less than about 50 kg/m 3 , and a pressure drop of at least about 1 mm water at a flow rate of about 32 liters/min.; and b) positioning said web between the source area and the receiving area such that a major face of said web intercepts and thereby attenuates sound waves passing from the source area to the receiving area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the average effective fiber diameter of said web is about 5 to about 10 microns.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the density of said web is less than about 20 kg/m 3 .
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the density of said web is less than about 10 kg/m 3 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the pressure drop is about 3 mm water to about 10 mm water at a flow rate of about 32 liters/min.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said fibers comprise melt-blown microfibers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said fibers comprise a mixture of melt-blown microfibers and crimped bulking fibers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said melt-blown microfibers and crimped bulking fibers are present in a weight percent ratio of about 40:60 to about 95:5, respectively.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said web comprises very fine denier staple fibers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said very fine denier staple fibers have a denier of about 2 or less.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said web further comprises additional staple fibers selected from the group consisting of binder fibers and static discharge is fibers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said very fine denier staple fibers comprise at least about 85 weight percent of said web.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of laminating a second layer to said web to form a laminate prior to said web positioning step.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said second layer is selected from the group consisting of scrim, nonwoven fabric, film, and foil.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said second layer comprises a thermoplastic film.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said web is oriented during said web positioning step so that a major face of said web faces the source area and said second layer faces the receiving area.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said fibers comprise melt-blown microfibers and crimped bulking fibers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 17 wherein said melt-blown microfibers and crimped bulking fibers are present in a weight percent ratio of about 40:60 to about 95:5, respectively.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the average effective fiber diameter of said web is about 5 to about 10 microns.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said web comprises microfiber microwebs.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
84 words
A laminate comprising: a) a nonwoven acoustical insulation web comprising thermoplastic fibers, said web having an average effective fiber diameter of less than about 15 microns, a thickness of at least about 0.5 cm, a density of less than about 50 kg/m 3 , and a pressure drop of at least about 1 mm water at a flow rate of about 32 liters/min.; and b) a second layer laminated to said web, said laminate being applied to the inner panel of a vehicle door.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
84 words
A laminate comprising: a) a nonwoven acoustical insulation web comprising thermoplastic fibers, said web having an average effective fiber diameter of less than about 15 microns, a thickness of at least about 0.5 cm, a density of less than about 50 kg/m 3 , and a pressure drop of at least about 1 mm water at a flow rate of about 32 liters/min.; and b) a second layer laminated to said web, said laminate being applied to the inner panel of a vehicle door.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The laminate of claim 21 wherein said second layer is selected from the group consisting of scrim, nonwoven fabric, film, and foil.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The laminate of claim 22 wherein said second layer comprises a thermoplastic film.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The laminate of claim 21 wherein the average effective fiber diameter of said is about 5 to about 10 microns.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The laminate of claim 21 wherein the density of said web is less than about 20 kg/m 3 .
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The laminate of claim 21 wherein the density of said web is less than about 10 kg/m 3 .
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
The laminate of claim 21 wherein the pressure drop is about 3 Mm water to about 10 Mm water at a flow rate of about 32 liters/min.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
11 words
The laminate of claim 21 wherein said fibers comprise melt-blown microfibers.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The laminate of claim 21 wherein said fibers comprise a mixture of melt-blow microfibers and crimped bulking fibers.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
The laminate of claim 29 wherein said meltblown microfibers and crimped bulking fibers are present in a weight percent ratio of about 40:60 to about 95:5, respectively.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The laminate of claim 21 wherein said web comprises very fine denier staple fibers.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
The laminate of claim 31 wherein said very fine denier staple fibers have a denier of about 2 or less.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
The laminate of claim 31 wherein said web further comprises additional staple fibers selected from the group consisting of binder fibers and static discharge fibers.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
The laminate of claim 31 wherein said very fine denier staple fibers comprise about 85 weight percent of said web.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
11 words
The laminate of claim 21 wherein said web comprises microfiber microwebs.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
33 words
The laminate of claim 21 wherein said laminate comprises pressure molded reduced thickness areas along its outer periphery, said reduced thickness areas having a thin gauge relative to other portions of said laminate.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
22 words
The laminate of claim 36 wherein said second layer is selected from the group consisting of scrim, nonwoven fabric, film, and foil.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
13 words
The laminate of claim 36 wherein said second layer comprises a thermoplastic film.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for preventing sound and water from entering a vehicle interior, comprising the steps of: a) providing a laminate comprising a nonwoven acoustical insulation web and a second layer laminated to said web, said web comprising thermoplastic fibers and having an average effective fiber diameter of less than about 15 microns, a thickness of at least about 0.5 cm, a density of less than about 50 kg/m 3 , and a pressure drop of at least about 1 mm water at a flow rate of about 32 liters/min.; and b) securing said laminate to a panel of a vehicle to attenuate sound waves which contact a major face of said web of said laminate and prevent the passage of water through the panel and into the vehicle interior.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for preventing sound and water from entering a vehicle interior, comprising the steps of: a) providing a laminate comprising a nonwoven acoustical insulation web and a second layer laminated to said web, said web comprising thermoplastic fibers and having an average effective fiber diameter of less than about 15 microns, a thickness of at least about 0.5 cm, a density of less than about 50 kg/m 3 , and a pressure drop of at least about 1 mm water at a flow rate of about 32 liters/min.; and b) securing said laminate to a panel of a vehicle to attenuate sound waves which contact a major face of said web of said laminate and prevent the passage of water through the panel and into the vehicle interior.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
155 words
A process for manufacturing a vehicle door, comprising the steps of: a) providing a vehicle door having outer and inner panels secured together with a space therebetween for accommodating various mechanisms, the inner panel comprising a recessed area comprising at least one opening; b) providing a laminate comprising a nonwoven acoustical insulation web and a second layer laminated to said web, said web comprising thermoplastic fibers and having an average effective fiber diameter of less than about 15 microns, a thickness of at least about 0.5 cm, a density of less than about 50 kg/m 3 , and a pressure drop of at least about 1 mm water at a flow rate of about 32 liters/min.; and c) securing said laminate to the inner panel with said second layer of said laminate disposed adjacent to the inner panel so that said second layer can provide water barrier protection and said web can provide acoustical insulation.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
155 words
A process for manufacturing a vehicle door, comprising the steps of: a) providing a vehicle door having outer and inner panels secured together with a space therebetween for accommodating various mechanisms, the inner panel comprising a recessed area comprising at least one opening; b) providing a laminate comprising a nonwoven acoustical insulation web and a second layer laminated to said web, said web comprising thermoplastic fibers and having an average effective fiber diameter of less than about 15 microns, a thickness of at least about 0.5 cm, a density of less than about 50 kg/m 3 , and a pressure drop of at least about 1 mm water at a flow rate of about 32 liters/min.; and c) securing said laminate to the inner panel with said second layer of said laminate disposed adjacent to the inner panel so that said second layer can provide water barrier protection and said web can provide acoustical insulation.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 40 wherein said second layer is a thermoplastic film.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
59 words
A nonwoven acoustical insulation web comprising thermoplastic fibers, said web having an average effective fiber diameter of less than about 15 microns, a thickness of at least about 0.5 cm, a density of less than about 20 kg/m 3 , and a pressure drop of at least about 1 mm water at a flow rate of about 32 liters/min.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
59 words
A nonwoven acoustical insulation web comprising thermoplastic fibers, said web having an average effective fiber diameter of less than about 15 microns, a thickness of at least about 0.5 cm, a density of less than about 20 kg/m 3 , and a pressure drop of at least about 1 mm water at a flow rate of about 32 liters/min.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
21 words
The web of claim 42 wherein the average effective fiber diameter of said web is about 5 to about 10 microns.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
19 words
The web of claim 42 wherein the density of said web is less than about 10 kg/m 3 .
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
27 words
The web of claim 42 wherein the pressure drop is about 3 mm water to about 10 mm water at a flow rate of about 32 liters/min.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
11 words
The web of claim 42 wherein said fibers comprise melt-blown microfibers.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
18 words
The web of claim 42 wherein said fibers comprise a mixture of melt-blown microfibers and crimped bulking fibers.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
28 words
The web of claim 47 wherein said melt-blown microfibers and crimped bulking fibers are present in a weight percent ratio of about 40:60 to about 95:5, is respectively.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
14 words
The web of claim 42 wherein said web comprises very fine denier staple fibers.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
20 words
The web of claim 47 wherein said very fine denier staple fibers have a denier of about 2 or less.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
22 words
The web of claim 50 further comprising additional staple fibers selected from the group consisting of binder fibers and static discharge fibers.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
22 words
The web of claim 51 wherein said very fine denier staple fibers comprise at least about 85 weight percent of said web.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
11 words
The web of claim 40 wherein said web comprises microfiber microwebs.
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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) | 1997-03-28 | 1997-09-27 | 1998-03-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-03-28 | 2001-09-27 | 2002-03-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-03-28 | 2005-09-27 | 2006-03-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |