Vibration dampening material and method of making same

Abstract

A panel formed by a reinforced elastomer material that regulates and dissipates vibration.

1 . An insert for footwear, comprising: 
 an insert body having a generally elongated shape with an outer perimeter configured to substantially conform to a sole of the footwear so that the insert body extends along an inner surface of the footwear from a location proximate to a heel of the footwear to a toe of the footwear, the insert body being generally planar and formed by a reinforced elastomer material that regulates and dissipates vibration, the insert body having first and second major surfaces, the reinforced elastomer material comprising:    first and second elastomer layers; and    a reinforcement layer disposed between and generally separating the first and second elastomer layers, the reinforcement layer comprising a layer of a high tensile strength fibrous material, the high tensile strength fibrous material being generally connected to the first and second elastomer layers generally uniformly throughout within the outer perimeter to provide substantially complete coverage between the first and second elastomer layers, the high tensile strength fibrous material being generally compliant only in a direction generally perpendicular to the first major surface so as to be generally non energy storing in the direction, wherein the high tensile strength fibrous material generally distributes impact energy parallel to the first major surface and into the first and second elastomer layers.    
   
   
       2 . The insert of  claim 1 , wherein the high tensile strength fibrous material is woven to prevent substantial elongation of the insert in a second direction parallel to the first major surface when impact energy is received thereon.  
   
   
       3 . The insert of  claim 2 , wherein the reinforcement layer is generally interlocked in and generally held in position by the first and second elastomer layers.  
   
   
       4 . The insert of  claim 2 , wherein the high tensile strength material is pressed to form a sheet that is generally held in position by the first and second elastomer layers.  
   
   
       5 . The insert of  claim 2 , wherein the high tensile strength material forms a cloth that is generally held in position by the first and second elastomer layers.  
   
   
       6 . An article of footwear having a panel of vibration dissipating material, comprising: 
 a panel body having an outer perimeter and being formed by a reinforced elastomer material that regulates and dissipates vibration, the panel body having first and second major surfaces, the reinforced elastomer material comprising:    first and second elastomer layers; and    a reinforcement layer disposed between and generally separating the first and second elastomer layers, the reinforcement layer comprising a layer of a high tensile strength fibrous material, the high tensile strength fibrous material being generally connected to the first and second elastomer layers generally uniformly throughout within the outer perimeter to provide substantially complete coverage between the first and second elastomer layers, the high tensile strength fibrous material being generally compliant only in a direction generally perpendicular to the first major surface so as to be generally non energy storing in the direction, wherein the high tensile strength fibrous material generally distributes impact energy parallel to the first major surface and into the first and second elastomer layers and generally prevents elongation of the panel body in a second direction parallel to the first major surface.    
   
   
       7 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the panel forms at least a portion of a sole of a shoe.  
   
   
       8 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the panel forms at least a portion of a mid-sole of a shoe.  
   
   
       9 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the panel forms at least a portion of a shoe sidewall.  
   
   
       10 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the panel forms at least a portion of a shoe tongue.  
   
   
       11 . A panel, comprising: 
 a panel body defining an outer perimeter and being formed by a reinforced elastomer material that regulates and dissipates vibration, the panel body having first and second major surfaces, the reinforced elastomer material comprising:    first and second elastomer layers; and    a reinforcement layer disposed between and generally separating the first and second elastomer layers, the reinforcement layer comprising a layer of a high tensile strength fibrous material, the high tensile strength fibrous material being generally connected to the first and second elastomer layers generally uniformly throughout within the outer perimeter to provide substantially complete coverage between the first and second elastomer layers, the high tensile strength fibrous material being generally compliant only in a direction generally perpendicular to the first major surface so as to be generally non energy storing in the direction, wherein the high tensile strength fibrous material generally distributes impact energy parallel to the first major surface and into the first and second elastomer layers and generally prevents elongation of the panel body in a second direction generally parallel to the first major surface.    
   
   
       12 . The panel of  claim 11 , wherein that panel is generally planar and the reinforcement layer is generally parallel to the first major surface.  
   
   
       13 . The panel of  claim 11 , wherein the reinforcement layer is generally interlocked in and generally held in position by the first and second elastomer layers.  
   
   
       14 . The panel of  claim 13 , wherein the panel forms a shoe insert body having a generally elongated shape with the outer perimeter configured to substantially conform to a sole of the shoe so that the shoe insert body extends along an inner surface of the shoe from a location proximate to a heel of the shoe to a toe of the shoe, the shoe insert body being generally planar and generally dampening energy away from an associated foot during use.  
   
   
       17 . The panel of  claim 13 , wherein the panel forms at least a portion of a sole of a shoe.  
   
   
       18 . The panel of  claim 13 , wherein the panel forms at least a portion of a shoe sidewall.  
   
   
       19 . The panel of  claim 11 , wherein the panel forms at least a portion of a shoe tongue.  
   
   
       20 . The panel of  claim 11 , wherein the high tensile strength fibrous material is woven to prevent substantial elongation of the panel in a second direction parallel to the first major surface when impact energy is received thereon.  
   
   
       21 . The panel of  claim 20 , wherein the reinforcement layer is generally interlocked in and generally held in position by the first and second elastomer layers.  
   
   
       22 . The panel of  claim 11 , wherein the high tensile strength material is pressed to form a sheet that is generally held in position by the first and second elastomer layers.  
   
   
       23 . The panel of  claim 11 , wherein the high tensile strength material forms a cloth that is generally held in position by the first and second elastomer layers.