US5529830A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Two-way stretchable fabric laminate and articles made from it
Assignee: W.L. Gore and Associates Inc
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Filing: 1994-05-25
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Granted: 1996-06-25
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Expires: 2014-05-25
Abstract
Abstract The invention is a stretchable layered fabric laminate which is air impermeable and waterproof while being permeable to water vapor. The stretchable fabric laminate includes a stretchable composite material layer consisting of a hydrophobic protective layer of a porous polymeric material on each side of a layer of hydrophilic water-vapor-permeable synthetic polymer. The composite material layer is laminated to at least one layer of stretchable fabric. The stretchable layered fabric laminate has excellent stretch and recovery properties in both machine and transverse directions, and is useful for the manufacture of form-fitting articles of protective clothing and other end uses.
Inventors
- 👤 Anita Dutta
- 👤 Edward J. Daniel
- 👤 Robert C. Willmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 00:40
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B27/00; B32B27/12; A; A41; A41D; A41D31/00; A41D31/04; A41D31/10; A41D31/102; A41D31/18; A41D31/185; B32B27/06; B32B27/065; B32B27/08; B32B27/28; B32B27/285; B32B27/286; B32B27/32; B32B27/34; B32B27/36; B32B27/40; B32B37/00; B32B37/14; B32B37/144; B32B5/00; B32B5/02; B32B5/022; B32B5/024; B32B5/026; B32B5/18; B32B5/22; B32B5/24; B32B5/245; B32B7/00; B32B7/04; B32B7/12; B32B2250/00; B32B2250/40; B32B2305/00; B32B2305/02; B32B2305/026; B32B2305/07; B32B2305/073; B32B2307/00; B32B2307/50; B32B2307/51; B32B2307/70; B32B2307/724; B32B2307/7242; B32B2307/726; B32B2307/7265; B32B2323/00; B32B2327/00; B32B2327/12; B32B2327/18; B32B2367/00; B32B2371/00; B32B2375/00; B32B2377/00; B32B2437/00; B32B2437/02; B32B2437/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24355; Y10T428/24446; Y10T428/24628; Y10T428/24636; Y10T428/24645; Y10T428/24669; Y10T428/24694; Y10T428/24802; Y10T428/24826; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/249953; Y10T428/249955; Y10T428/249975; Y10T428/249978; Y10T428/24998; Y10T428/249981; Y10T428/249982; Y10T428/249987; Y10T428/249991; Y10T428/249992; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/30; Y10T442/3008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A stretchable layered fabric laminate stretchable in both the machine and transverse directions comprising: (a) a composite layer stretchable in the transverse direction comprising two layers of a microporous hydrophobic polymeric membrane material that can be elongated at least 50% in the transverse direction, and which is partially impregnated with and bonded together by a continuous non-porous layer of an elastomeric hydrophilic water-vapor permeable polymer to form said composite layer having a non-porous internal region and two microporous surfaces; (b) said composite layer being laminated on at least one side to a layer of an elastic fabric by an adhesive distributed in a non-continuous pattern such that the composite layer is bunched together in folds in the machine direction and is substantially planar in the transverse direction; said fabric laminate being capable of stretching at least 10% and recovering at least 80% of the amount stretched when the stretching force is removed in both machine and transverse directions; and said fabric laminate being air and liquid water impermeable and being water vapor permeable to the extent of having a water vapor transmission rate of at least 2000 gm/m 2 /24 hrs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
A stretchable layered fabric laminate stretchable in both the machine and transverse directions comprising: (a) a composite layer stretchable in the transverse direction comprising two layers of a microporous hydrophobic polymeric membrane material that can be elongated at least 50% in the transverse direction, and which is partially impregnated with and bonded together by a continuous non-porous layer of an elastomeric hydrophilic water-vapor permeable polymer to form said composite layer having a non-porous internal region and two microporous surfaces; (b) said composite layer being laminated on at least one side to a layer of an elastic fabric by an adhesive distributed in a non-continuous pattern such that the composite layer is bunched together in folds in the machine direction and is substantially planar in the transverse direction; said fabric laminate being capable of stretching at least 10% and recovering at least 80% of the amount stretched when the stretching force is removed in both machine and transverse directions; and said fabric laminate being air and liquid water impermeable and being water vapor permeable to the extent of having a water vapor transmission rate of at least 2000 gm/m 2 /24 hrs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The stretchable layered fabric laminate of claim 1 wherein an elastic fabric layer is laminated to each side of the composite layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The stretchable layered fabric laminate of claims 1 or 2, wherein the porous hydrophobic layer of the composite layer is a microporous polymeric membrane having a structure of open interconnecting voids.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The stretchable layered fabric laminate of claim 3 wherein the microporous polymeric membrane is a polymer selected from the class consisting of fluoropolymer, polyolefin, polyester, polyamide, polysulfone,and polyetheretherketone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The stretchable layered fabric laminate of claim 4 wherein the microporous polymeric membrane is polytetrafiuoroethylene.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The stretchable layered fabric laminate of claim 3 wherein the microporous polymeric membrane is an elastomeric polymer selected from the class consisting of polyurethane, copolyetherester, and copolyetheramide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The stretchable layered fabric laminate of claims 1 or 2 wherein the elastic fabric is a knitted fabric, a woven fabric, or a non-woven fabric.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
An article of clothing incorporating the stretchable layered fabric laminate of claims 1 or 2.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The stretchable layered fabric laminate of claim 1 wherein said laminate is capable of stretching at least 40% in the machine direction and recovering at least 80% of the amount stretched when the stretching force is removed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The stretchable layered fabric laminate of claim 1 wherein said laminate is capable of stretching at least 40% in the transverse direction and recovering at least 80% of the amount stretched when the stretching force is removed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The stretchable layered fabric laminate of claims 1, 2, 9, or 10, having a water-vapor-transmission rate of 5000 g/m 2 /24 hrs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The stretchable layered fabric laminate of claim 1 wherein the continuous non-porous layer of elastomeric hydrophilic water-vapor permeable polymer is selected from the class consisting of hydrophilic polyurethane, hydrophilic copolyetherester, and hydrophilic copolyetheresteramide.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The stretchable layered fabric laminate of claim 12 wherein the continuous non-porous layer of elastomeric hydrophilic water-vapor permeable polymer is poly(oxyethylene) polyurethane.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The stretchable layered fabric laminate of claim 1 wherein the adhesive is a reactive heat-curing solvent-free polyurethane.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The stretchable layered fabric laminate of claim 1 wherein the adhesive is a reactive moisture-curing polyurethane hot-melt adhesive.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
A medical dressing incorporating the stretchable layered fabric laminate of claim 1.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
A form-fitting article which comprises the stretchable layered fabric laminate of claim 1, said fabric laminate being joined together along the periphery thereof to form a configuration corresponding to the contour of a desired object, leaving at least one unjoined open portion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of claim 17 in the form of a sock, hose, stocking, glove, sleeve, hat, or mitten.
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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) | 1999-06-25 | 1999-12-25 | 2000-06-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-06-25 | 2003-12-25 | 2004-06-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-06-25 | 2007-12-25 | 2008-06-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |