US5474522A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Microfiber fillers for orthopedic casting tapes
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1994-05-24
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Granted: 1995-12-12
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Expires: 2014-05-24
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides an article, comprising: a fabric sheet; a curable resin coated onto the fabric sheet; and a plurality of microfiber fillers dispersed into the resin. The incorporation of microfiber fillers into the casting materials of the present invention adds substantially to the strength of the cured casting material, particularly when the fabric used therein is a non-fiberglass fabric, while not detracting from the handling properties of the uncured casting tape or bandage. The microfiber fillers useful in this invention are generally characterized as being short fibers having an aspect ratio greater than five to one. Blends of microfibers having different aspect ratios may be utilized in the casting tapes of the present invention. Preferred microfiber fillers or blends have an aspect ratio between 5:1 and 200:1, more preferably, the aspect ratio of the microfiber is between 5:1 and 50:1, and most preferably, the aspect ratio of the microfiber is between 10:1 and 30:1.
Inventors
- 👤 Matthew T. Scholz
- 👤 Worku A. Mindaye
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 16:12
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08K; C08K7/00; C08K7/02; A; A61; A61F; A61F13/00; A61F13/04; A61L; A61L15/00; A61L15/07; A61L15/12; A61L15/14; C08K2201/00; C08K2201/016; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/20; Y10T442/2861; Y10T442/2926; Y10T442/2992
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
33 words
An orthopedic casting material, comprising: a fabric sheet; a water curable liquid resin associated with said fabric sheet; and a microfiber filler, having an aspect ratio at least 5:1, associated with said resin.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
33 words
An orthopedic casting material, comprising: a fabric sheet; a water curable liquid resin associated with said fabric sheet; and a microfiber filler, having an aspect ratio at least 5:1, associated with said resin.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
An orthopedic casting material, as defined in claim 1, wherein said fabric sheet comprises fiberglass fibers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
An orthopedic casting material, as defined in claim 2, wherein said microfiber and said resin are in the form of a suspension prior to application to said fabric, and wherein said suspension has a viscosity less than about 500 Pa s prior to being cured.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
An orthopedic casting material, as defined in claim 1, wherein said microfiber is characterized as having an aspect ratio between 5:1 and 50:1.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
An orthopedic casting material, as defined in claim 3, wherein said micro fiber is characterized as having a mean diameter between approximately 1 and. 60 microns and a mean length between approximately 25 and 1000 microns.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
An orthopedic casting material, as defined in claim 1, wherein said microfiber is selected from the group consisting of carbon/graphite fibers, aramid fibers, boron fibers, potassium titanate fibers, calcium sulfate fibers, asbestos, and calcium metasilicate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
An orthopedic casting material, as defined in claim 3, wherein said microfiber is present in an amount in said resin between about 3 and about 35 percent microfiber based on the weight of resin and microfiber filler and exclusive of the weight of the fabric.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
81 words
An orthopedic casting material, as defined in claim 1, wherein said fabric sheet comprises organic fibers, wherein said microfiber filler is selected from the group consisting of calcium sulfate fibers and calcium metasilicate fibers, wherein said microfiber is characterized as having an aspect ratio between 5:1 and 50:1 and is present in an amount in said resin between about 3 and about 35 percent microfiber based on the weight of resin and microfiber and exclusive of the weight of the fabric.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
An orthopedic casting material, as defined in claim 7, wherein said casting material further comprises a surface treatment agent selected from the group consisting of silanes, titanates, and zirconates.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
An orthopedic casting material, as defined in claim 1, wherein said orthopedic casting material is selected from the group consisting of orthopedic casts, orthopedic splints, braces, supports, protective shields, and orthotics.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
107 words
An orthopedic casting material, comprising: a fiberglass fabric sheet; a water curable liquid resin coated on said fabric sheet; and a microfiber filler associated with said resin selected from the group consisting of calcium sulfate fibers and calcium metasilicate fibers, having an aspect ratio between 5:1 and 50:1, wherein said microfiber filler is present in an amount in said resin between about 3 and about 35 percent microfiber based on the weight of resin and microfiber and exclusive of the weight of the fabric, and wherein said orthopedic casting material is selected from the group consisting of orthopedic casts, orthopedic splints, braces, supports, protective shields, and orthotics.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
107 words
An orthopedic casting material, comprising: a fiberglass fabric sheet; a water curable liquid resin coated on said fabric sheet; and a microfiber filler associated with said resin selected from the group consisting of calcium sulfate fibers and calcium metasilicate fibers, having an aspect ratio between 5:1 and 50:1, wherein said microfiber filler is present in an amount in said resin between about 3 and about 35 percent microfiber based on the weight of resin and microfiber and exclusive of the weight of the fabric, and wherein said orthopedic casting material is selected from the group consisting of orthopedic casts, orthopedic splints, braces, supports, protective shields, and orthotics.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
A water-curable resin system, comprising a water-curable liquid resin; and a microfiber filler, having an aspect ratio of at least 5:1, wherein said microfiber and said resin are in the form of a suspension having a viscosity less than about 500 Pa s prior to being cured.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
A water-curable resin system, comprising a water-curable liquid resin; and a microfiber filler, having an aspect ratio of at least 5:1, wherein said microfiber and said resin are in the form of a suspension having a viscosity less than about 500 Pa s prior to being cured.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A water-curable resin system, as defined in claim 12, wherein said suspension has a viscosity between 5 and 100 Pa s prior to being cured.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
A water-curable resin system, as defined in claim 12, wherein said suspension has a viscosity between 30 and 70 Pa s prior to being cured.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
A water-curable resin system, as defined in claim 12, wherein said microfiber is characterized as having an aspect ratio between 5:1 and 50:1 and is present in an amount in said resin between about 3 and about 35 percent.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A water-curable resin system, as defined in claim 15, wherein said microfiber filler is selected from the group consisting of calcium sulfate fibers and calcium metasilicate fibers, and wherein said water-curable resin comprises isocyanate-functional prepolymers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A water-curable resin system, as defined in claim 12, wherein said water-curable resin comprises a water-reactive liquid organometallic compound and an organic polymer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
A water-curable resin system, as defined in claim 12, wherein said microfiber is selected from the group consisting of carbon/graphite fibers, aramid fibers, boron fibers, potassium titanate fibers, calcium sulfate fibers, asbestos, and calcium metasilicate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
A water-curable resin system, as defined in claim 18, wherein said microfiber is present in an amount in said resin between about 3 and about 35 percent.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
A water-curable resin system, as defined in claim 16, wherein said resin system is coated on a fiberglass fabric and wherein said coated fabric has sufficient strength when said water-curable resin system is cured to function as an orthopedic casting material.
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-12-11 | 1999-06-12 | 1999-12-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-12-11 | 2003-06-12 | 2003-12-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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