Moldable article, method of making and composition for making moldable articles

Abstract

A moldable article that can be custom-fitted to a particular user. Such an article comprises a thermoplastic material such as ethylene vinyl acetate modified by an antistatic agent selected from the group consisting of polyol amines such as ethoxylated amines, ethoxylated fatty alcohols, phosphoric acid esters, quaternary ammonium salts, and amphoteric compounds such as betaine. The article is heated until the thermoplastic material softens, then pressed against a user's body part. The article is allowed to cool, resulting in a custom-fitted article. Such articles may be repeatedly re-heated and re-molded and may include, e.g., moldable footbeds, racquet handles, shin guards, helmets, and seats.

1 .- 39 . (canceled)  
   
   
       40 . A moldable article including a layer, said layer consisting essentially of foamed ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer and an antistatic agent, wherein said moldable article is a limb protector.  
   
   
       41 . The moldable article of  claim 40 , wherein said limb protector is a shin guard.  
   
   
       42 . The moldable article of  claim 40 , wherein said layer comprises between approximately ten percent and approximately thirty percent antistatic agent.  
   
   
       43 . The moldable article of  claim 40 , wherein said antistatic agent is selected from the group consisting of a polyol amine, an ethoxylated fatty alcohol, a phosphoric acid ester, a quaternary ammonium salt, and an amphoteric compound.  
   
   
       44 . The moldable article of  claim 40 , wherein said antistatic agent is a polyol amine.  
   
   
       45 . The moldable article of  claim 44 , wherein said polyol amine is an ethoxylated amine.  
   
   
       46 . The moldable article of  claim 40 , wherein said antistatic agent is an amine derivative having the formula R1N(R2)2, wherein R1 is a hydrophobic alkyl group and R2 is an alkyl group substituted by at least one hydrophobic moiety selected from OH, CO2H and CO2R3, wherein R3 is an alkyl.  
   
   
       47 . The moldable article of  claim 46 , wherein R2 is a hydroxyalkyl group.  
   
   
       48 . The moldable article of  claim 47 , wherein R2 is hydroxyethyl.  
   
   
       49 . A moldable article having a layer, said layer consisting essentially of: 
 foamed ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, and    an antistatic agent,    wherein said layer is custom-fitted to a portion of a human body.    
   
   
       50 . The moldable article of  claim 49 , wherein said moldable article is a limb protector.  
   
   
       51 . The moldable article of  claim 50 , wherein said limb protector is a shin guard.  
   
   
       52 . The moldable article of  claim 40 , wherein said layer comprises between approximately ten percent and approximately thirty percent antistatic agent.  
   
   
       53 . The moldable article of  claim 40 , wherein said antistatic agent is selected from the group consisting of a polyol amine, an ethoxylated fatty alcohol, a phosphoric acid ester, a quaternary ammonium salt, and an amphoteric compound.  
   
   
       54 . The moldable article of  claim 40 , wherein said antistatic agent is a polyol amine.  
   
   
       55 . The moldable article of  claim 44 , wherein said polyol amine is an ethoxylated amine.  
   
   
       56 . The moldable article of  claim 40 , wherein said antistatic agent is an amine derivative having the formula R1N(R2)2, wherein R1 is a hydrophobic alkyl group and R2 is an alkyl group substituted by at least one hydrophobic moiety selected from OH, CO2H and CO2R3, wherein R3 is an alkyl.  
   
   
       57 . The moldable article of  claim 46 , wherein R2 is a hydroxyalkyl group.  
   
   
       58 . The moldable article of  claim 47 , wherein R2 is hydroxyethyl.  
   
   
       59 . A moldable article having a layer, said layer consisting essentially of: 
 foamed ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, and    an antistatic agent,    wherein said moldable article is selected from a group consisting of: a handle, a shin guard and a seat.