US5366801A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fabric with reversible enhanced thermal properties
Assignee: SOLID WATER HOLDINGS LLC
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Filing: 1992-05-29
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Granted: 1994-11-22
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Expires: 2012-05-29
Abstract
Abstract A coating is adapted to be applied to a fabric in order to enhance the thermal characteristics thereof. The coating includes integral and leak-resistant microcapsules filled with phase change material or plastic crystals that have specific thermal properties at predetermined temperatures.
Inventors
- 👤 Yvonne G. Bryant
- 👤 David P. Colvin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 20:49
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28D; F28D20/00; F28D20/02; F28D20/023; D; D06; D06N; D06N3/00; D06N3/0056; D06N3/0059; D06N3/0061; D06N3/12; D06N3/14; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/14; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/913; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/249953; Y10T428/249954; Y10T428/249971; Y10T428/249972; Y10T428/249994; Y10T428/249995; Y10T428/249997; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/20; Y10T442/259
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
An article having enhanced thermal storage properties and repeatability of thermal response consisting essentially of: a base material selected from the group consisting of fabrics and fibers, and a coating covering at least a portion of the surface of said base material and comprising: a polymeric binder, and a plurality of microcapsules dispersed throughout and submerged within said binder on the surface of said base material so as to be surrounded thereby, said microcapsules containing a temperature stabilizing means selected from the group consisting of phase change materials and plastic crystals, whereby the article exhibits enhanced thermal stability when subjected to heat or cold.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
An article having enhanced thermal storage properties and repeatability of thermal response consisting essentially of: a base material selected from the group consisting of fabrics and fibers, and a coating covering at least a portion of the surface of said base material and comprising: a polymeric binder, and a plurality of microcapsules dispersed throughout and submerged within said binder on the surface of said base material so as to be surrounded thereby, said microcapsules containing a temperature stabilizing means selected from the group consisting of phase change materials and plastic crystals, whereby the article exhibits enhanced thermal stability when subjected to heat or cold.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
An article having enhanced thermal storage properties according to claim 1 wherein said microcapsules are leak resistant, whereby the article may be subjected to repeated mechanical stresses with minimum changes in the thermal characteristics thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
An article with reversible enhanced thermal storage properties according to claim 1 wherein said temperature stabilizing means comprises a phase change material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
An article with reversible enhanced storage properties according to claim 1 wherein said temperature stabilizing means comprises a material selected from the group of paraffinic hydrocarbons.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
An article with reversible enhanced thermal storage properties according to claim 1 wherein said temperature stabilizing means comprises a plastic crystal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
An article with reversible enhanced thermal storage properties according to claim 1 wherein said microcapsules range in diameter from about 0.5 to 1,000 microns.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
An article with reversible enhanced thermal storage properties according to claim 1 wherein the coating includes at least two types of separately encapsulated temperature stabilizing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
An article according to claim 1 wherein said binder is a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyurethene, nitrile rubber, chloroprene rubber, polyvinyl alcohol, silicone, ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer, and acrylic.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The article according to claim 4 wherein the paraffinic hydrocarbon is selected from the group consisting of n-Octacosane, n-Heptacosane, n-Hexacosane, n-Pentacosane, n-Tetracosane, n-Tricosane, n-Docosane, n-Heneicosane, n-Eicosane, n-Nonadecane, n-Octadecane, n-Heptadecane, n-Hexadecane, n-Pentadecane, n-Tetradecane, and n-Tridecane.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The article according to claim 4 wherein the paraffinic hydrocarbon has a melting point between about -5.5 degrees Centigrade and about 61.4 degrees Centigrade.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
86 words
A fabric consisting essentially of, in combination: (a) a base fabric substrate and (b) a flexible polymer directly coating and covering at least a portion of said substrate, a plurality of microcapsules dispersed throughout said coating so as to be covered and surrounded thereby, said microcapsules containing a temperature stabilizing means selected from the group consisting of phase change materials and plastic crystals and being positioned on the surface of said substrate, whereby the coated substrate exhibits enhanced thermal stability when subjected to heat or cold.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
86 words
A fabric consisting essentially of, in combination: (a) a base fabric substrate and (b) a flexible polymer directly coating and covering at least a portion of said substrate, a plurality of microcapsules dispersed throughout said coating so as to be covered and surrounded thereby, said microcapsules containing a temperature stabilizing means selected from the group consisting of phase change materials and plastic crystals and being positioned on the surface of said substrate, whereby the coated substrate exhibits enhanced thermal stability when subjected to heat or cold.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A fabric according to claim 11, wherein said substrate is a tightly woven fabric and said coating covers a portion of the outer surface of thereof forming a continuous layer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
A fabric according to claim 1, wherein said substrate is a loosely woven fabric composed of a plurality of individual fibers and wherein said coating covers the entire circumference of the individual fibers forming a discontinuous layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A fabric with reversible thermal storage properties according to claim 11 wherein said temperature stabilizing means comprises a phase change material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The fabric according to claim 14 wherein the phase change material is selected from the group consisting of n-Octacosane, n-Heptacosane, n-Hexacosane, n-Pentacosane, n-Tetracosane, n-Tricosane, n-Docosane, n-Heneicosane, n-Eicosane, n-Nonadecane, n-Octadecane, n-Heptadecane, n-Hexadecane, n-Pentadecane, n-Tetradecane, and n-Tridecane.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The fabric according to claim 14 wherein the phase change material comprises a paraffinic hydrocarbon having a melting point between about -5.5 degrees Centigrade and about 61.4 degrees Centigrade.
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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) | 1997-11-21 | 1998-05-23 | 1998-11-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-11-21 | 2002-05-23 | 2002-11-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-11-21 | 2006-05-23 | 2006-11-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |