Vibration dampening material and method of making same

Abstract

The material minimizes vibration transmitted through the material that includes shear thickening fluids and magnetorheological fluids, which are generally referred to as “resistive fluids.”

1 . A material adapted to regulate vibration, comprising: 
 first and second elastomer layers; and    a cloth layer disposed between and generally separating the first and second elastomer layers, the cloth layer comprising a resistive fluid.    
     
     
         2 . A composite material adapted to regulate vibration, the composite material having three generally independent and separate layers, comprising: 
 first and second elastomer layers; and    a cloth layer disposed between and generally separating the first and second elastomer layers, the cloth layer comprising a resistive fluid.    
     
     
         3 . A vibration absorbing material, comprising: 
 a first elastomeric layer of vibration absorbing material;    a second elastomeric layer which includes a material disposed on the first elastomeric layer; and    a third elastomeric layer disposed on the second elastomeric layer;    wherein at least one of the elastomeric layers comprises a resistive fluid.    
     
     
         4 . A vibration absorbing material comprising: 
 a first elastomeric layer of vibration absorbing material;    a second elastomeric layer of vibration absorbing material;    wherein at least one of the elastomeric layers comprises a resistive fluid.    
     
     
         5 . A material that regulates vibration by distributing and partially dissipating vibration exerted thereon, the material comprising: 
 an elastomer layer; and    a support structure penetrated by and embedded on and/or within the elastomer layer, the support structure comprising a resistive fluid and supporting the elastomer layer.    
     
     
         6 . A material adapted to regulate vibration by distributing and partially dissipating vibration exerted thereon, the material comprising: 
 a elastomer layer; and    a support structure penetrated by and embedded on and/or within the elastomer layer, the support structure comprising a resistive fluid and supporting the elastomer layer, the support structure having a first plurality of particles therein.    
     
     
         7 . A material adapted to regulate vibration by distributing and partially dissipating vibration exerted thereon, the material comprising: 
 a first elastomer layer; and    a support structure comprising a resistive fluid and formed by a second elastomer layer, the support structure being located and configured to support the first elastomer layer.    
     
     
         8 . An athletic tape for wrapping a portion of a person's body, the athletic tape having a longitudinal axis and being adapted to provide a controlled support for the portion of the person's body, the athletic tape comprising: 
 a tape body being stretchable along the longitudinal axis from a first position to a second position, in which the tape body is elongated by a predetermined amount relative to the first position, the tape body comprising: 
 a first elastomer layer defining a tape length, as measured along the longitudinal axis, of the tape body;  
 a support structure disposed within the elastomer layer generally along the longitudinal axis in an at least partially non linear fashion while the tape body is in the first position so that a length of the support structure, as measured along a surface thereof, is greater than the tape length of the first elastomer layer, the support structure comprising a resistive fluid; and  
 wherein when the tape body is stretched into the second position, the support structure is at least partially straightened so that the support structure is more linear, relative to when the tape body is in the first position, the straightening of the support structure causing energy to be dissipated and generally preventing further elongation of the elastomer layer along the longitudinal axis past the second position, the support structure comprising a plurality of fibers.  
 ***any of the layers has a resistive fluid  
   
     
     
         9 . A vibration-reducing material comprising: 
 first and second high tensile strength material layers, wherein the high tensile strength material layers distribute vibration to facilitate vibration dampening; and    an elastomeric layer configured to absorb vibration and impact energy, located substantially between the first and second high tensile strength material layers;    wherein at least one of the layers comprises a resistive fluid.    
     
     
         10 . The material of  claim 9 , wherein the high tensile strength material has a tensile strength between 6,000 and 24,000 psi.  
     
     
         11 . A vibration-reducing material comprising: 
 a foam material layer;    a material layer that distributes vibration to facilitate vibration dampening; and    a elastomeric material layer configured to absorb vibration;    wherein at least one of the layers comprises a resistive fluid.    
     
     
         12 . A vibration-reducing material comprising: 
 a foam material layer;    a high tensile strength material layer that distributes vibration to facilitate vibration dampening; and    a elastomeric material layer configured to absorb vibration;    wherein at least one of the layers comprises a resistive fluid.