Dampening device and method of reducing or dampening vibrations in an object

Abstract

A dampening device includes a first layer comprising neoprene and a second layer bonded to the first layer, wherein the second layer comprises a bubble infused tacky polyurethane cast elastomer having a thickness of at least 0.125 inches. Another dampening device comprises a first layer including a sponge rubber, and a second layer bonded to the first layer, wherein the second layer includes a bubble infused tacky polyurethane cast elastomer, and wherein the bubbles are formed by shredding a curable liquid urethane polymer at a speed of at least about 2,400 rpm. A method of reducing or dampening vibrations in an object includes applying the dampening device to the object.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dampening device comprising:
 a first layer comprising neoprene; and   a second layer bonded to the first layer, wherein the second layer comprises a bubble infused tacky polyurethane cast elastomer having a thickness of at least 0.125 inches.   
     
     
         2 . The dampening device of  claim 1 , wherein the bubble infused tacky polyurethane cast elastomer is the reaction product of a prepolymer comprising 4,4′-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) and a curing agent comprising polyether polyols and a tertiary amine catalyst. 
     
     
         3 . The dampening device of  claim 1  having a thickness of about 0.2 inches to about 0.4 inches. 
     
     
         4 . The dampening device of  claim 1 , wherein the bubbles are formed by shredding a curable liquid urethane polymer at a speed of at least about 2,400 rpm. 
     
     
         5 . The dampening device of  claim 1 , wherein the dampening device includes a circular conformation having a diameter of about one to two inches. 
     
     
         6 . A dampening device, comprising:
 a first layer including a sponge rubber; and   a second layer bonded to the first layer, wherein the second layer includes a bubble infused tacky polyurethane cast elastomer, and wherein the bubbles are formed by shredding a curable liquid urethane polymer at a speed of at least about 2,400 rpm.   
     
     
         7 . The dampening device of  claim 6 , wherein the dampening device includes a thickness of about 0.2 inches to about 0.4 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The dampening device of  claim 6 , wherein the first layer includes a thickness of about 0.125 inches to about 0.3 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The dampening device of  claim 6 , wherein the second layer includes a thickness of about 0.125 inches to about 0.3 inches. 
     
     
         10 . The dampening device of  claim 6 , wherein the first layer comprises neoprene. 
     
     
         11 . The dampening device of  claim 6 , wherein the tacky polyurethane cast elastomer is formed from a combination including an isocyanate-base prepolymer and a polyol base curing agent. 
     
     
         12 . The dampening device of  claim 11 , wherein the combination includes a weight ratio of the isocyanate-base prepolymer to the polyol base curing agent that is at least 1:9.22. 
     
     
         13 . The dampening device of  claim 12 , wherein the weight ratio of the isocyanate-base prepolymer to the polyol base curing agent is about 1:9.29. 
     
     
         14 . The dampening device of  claim 11 , wherein the isocyanate-base prepolymer includes 4,4′-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate. 
     
     
         15 . The dampening device of  claim 11 , wherein the polyol base curing agent comprises polyether polyols and a tertiary amine catalyst. 
     
     
         16 . The dampening device of  claim 6 , wherein the dampening device includes a foam gasket material on an outside perimeter of the first layer. 
     
     
         17 . The dampening device of  claim 6 , wherein the dampening device includes a circular conformation. 
     
     
         18 . The dampening device of  claim 6 , wherein the dampening device includes a diameter of about one to two inches. 
     
     
         19 . A method of reducing or dampening vibrations in an object, comprising applying a dampening device to the object, wherein the dampening device includes:
 a first layer including a sponge rubber; and   a second layer bonded to the first layer, wherein the second layer includes a bubble infused tacky polyurethane cast elastomer, and wherein the bubbles are formed by shredding a curable liquid urethane polymer at a speed of at least about 2,400 rpm.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the object is selected from the group consisting of large machinery, a windmill, a musical instrument, a percussion musical instrument, a drum, a cymbal, a cowbell, a block, a xylophone, a vibraphone, a glockenspiel, a tubular bell, a sports implement, an archery bow, a baseball bat, an aluminum baseball bat, a golf club, and a tennis racquet.