Multi-layer impact resistant bumper

Abstract

An elongated strip of polymer material having a cross-section comprising: a first inner core layer of a first polymer material having a selected configuration along the cross-section of the strip; a second outer layer of a second polymer material bonded to an outer surface of the first inner core layer having a second selected configuration along the cross-section; wherein the first polymer material has a softness or durometer selected to be manually bendable and compressible; and wherein the second polymer material has a durometer or hardness greater than the durometer or hardness of the first polymer material.

1 . An elongated strip of polymer material having a cross-section comprising: 
 a first inner core layer of a first polymer material having a selected configuration along the cross-section of the strip;    a second outer layer of a second polymer material bonded to an outer surface of the first inner core layer having a second selected configuration along the cross-section;    wherein the first polymer material has a softness or durometer selected to be manually bendable and compressible; and,    wherein the second polymer material has a durometer greater than the durometer of the first polymer material.    
   
   
       2 . The elongated strip of  claim 1  wherein the first and second layers are co-extruded simultaneously through a die and bonded during their simultaneous co-extrusion.  
   
   
       3 . The elongated strip of  claim 2  wherein the second polymer material comprises a meltable polymer material that is first melted during the co-extrusion.  
   
   
       4 . The elongated strip of  claim 2  wherein the first polymer material comprises a meltable polymer material that has been melted at least one once prior to the co-extrusion.  
   
   
       5 . The elongated strip of  claim 1  wherein the second polymer material contains at least one selected dye.  
   
   
       6 . The elongated strip of  claim 1  wherein the first polymer material contains at least two selected dyes.  
   
   
       7 . The elongated strip of  claim 2  wherein the second polymer material contains at least one selected dye.  
   
   
       8 . The elongated strip of  claim 2  wherein the first polymer material contains at least two selected dyes.  
   
   
       9 . The elongated strip of  claim 2  wherein the second polymer material comprises a meltable polymer material that is first melted during the co-extrusion and wherein the first polymer material comprises a meltable polymer material that has been melted at least one once prior to the co-extrusion.  
   
   
       10 . The elongated strip of  claim 9  wherein the second polymer material contains at least one selected dye.  
   
   
       11 . The elongated strip of  claim 9  wherein the first polymer material contains at least two selected dyes.  
   
   
       12 . The elongated strip of  claim 1  further comprising a third layer of a polymeric material bonded to an inner surface of the first layer.  
   
   
       13 . The elongated strip of  claim 12  wherein the first, second and third layers are co-extruded simultaneously through a die and bonded during their simultaneous co-extrusion.  
   
   
       14 . The elongated strip of  claim 13  wherein the third layer comprises a polymeric material that is first melted during the co-extrusion.  
   
   
       15 . An elongated strip of polymer material extruded in an extrusion cycle having a cross-section comprising: 
 a first inner core layer of a first polymer material having a selected configuration along the cross-section of the strip;    a second outer layer of a second polymer material bonded to an outer surface of the first inner core layer having a second selected configuration along the cross-section;    wherein the second polymer material is first melted during the extrusion cycle; and,    wherein the first polymer material has been melted at least once prior to the extrusion cycle.    
   
   
       16 . The elongated strip of  claim 15  wherein the first and second layers are co-extruded simultaneously through a die and bonded during the extrusion cycle.  
   
   
       17 . The elongated strip of  claim 15  wherein the first polymer material has a softness or durometer selected to be manually bendable and compressible; and, 
 wherein the second polymer material has a durometer greater than the durometer of the first polymer material.    
   
   
       18 . The elongated strip of  claim 15  wherein the second polymer material contains at least one selected dye.  
   
   
       19 . The elongated strip of  claim 15  wherein the first polymer material contains at least two selected dyes.  
   
   
       20 . The elongated strip of  claim 17  wherein second polymer material contains at least one selected dye.  
   
   
       21 . The elongated strip of  claim 17  wherein the first polymer material contains at least two selected dyes.  
   
   
       22 . The elongated strip of  claim 15  further comprising a third layer of a polymeric material bonded to an inner surface of the first layer.  
   
   
       23 . The elongated strip of  claim 22  wherein the first, second and third layers are co-extruded simultaneously through a die and bonded during the extrusion cycle.  
   
   
       24 . The elongated strip of  claim 23  wherein the third layer comprises a polymeric material that is first melted during the extrusion cycle.  
   
   
       25 . An elongated strip of polymer material extruded in an extrusion cycle having a cross-section comprising: 
 a first inner core layer of a first polymer material having a selected configuration along the cross-section of the strip;    a second outer layer of a second polymer material bonded to an outer surface of the first inner core layer having a second selected configuration along the cross-section;    wherein the second polymer material contains a dye; and,    wherein the first polymer material contains two or more dyes and has been melted at least once prior to the extrusion cycle.    
   
   
       26 . A method of producing a structural body of two or more layers of polymeric material, the method comprising: 
 selecting a first polymer material that has been melted and cooled to solid form;    selecting a second polymer material that has not been melted;    extruding the first and second polymer materials simultaneously in molten form through a selected mold or die in first and second strips;    layering the simultaneously extruded first and second strips into contact with each other in their molten form upon exiting the selected mold or die in a configuration wherein the first strip is formed has an outer surface and the second strip is deposited on the outer surface of the first strip.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the step of selecting the first polymer material includes selecting a polymer material that contains a dye material and has been melted.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the step of selecting the first polymer material includes selecting a mixture of two or more polymer materials that have been melted and cooled to solid form.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 26  wherein: 
 the step of extruding comprises forming the first polymeric material upon exiting the mold or die into a strip form having an outer visible surface and an undersurface and wherein,    the step of layering comprises layering the second extruded polymer onto the outer visible surface of the second polymer material.    
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 26  wherein: 
 the step of selecting the second polymer material comprises selecting a predetermined first polymer material having a first durometer, hardness, bendability or molecular weight wherein the predetermined polymer material converts upon melting and cooling to a converted state having a second durometer, hardness, bendablity or molecular weight that is less than the first durometer, hardness, bendability or molecular weight; and wherein,    the step of selecting the first polymer material comprises selecting the predetermined polymer material in the converted state.    
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 26  wherein: 
 the step of selecting the second polymer material comprises selecting a predetermined second polymer material; and wherein,    the step of selecting the first polymer material comprises selecting a mixture of two or more polymer materials each being comprised of the predetermined second polymer material and each containing a dye.    
   
   
       32 . A method of producing a structural body of two or more layers of polymeric material, the method comprising: 
 selecting a first polymer material that has been melted and cooled to solid form;    selecting a second polymer material that has not been melted;    extruding the first and second polymer materials simultaneously in molten form through a selected mold or die in first, second and third strips;    layering the simultaneously extruded first, second and third strips into contact with each other in their molten form upon exiting the selected mold or die;    wherein the first strip is comprised of the first polymer material and the second and third strips are comprised of the second polymer material; and,    wherein the first strip is sandwiched between the second strip and the third strip.    
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein: 
 the step of selecting the second polymer material comprises selecting a predetermined polymer material having a first durometer, hardness, bendability or molecular weight wherein the predetermined polymer material converts upon melting and cooling to a converted state having a second durometer, hardness, bendablity or molecular weight that is less than the first durometer, hardness, bendability or molecular weight; and wherein,    the step of selecting the first polymer material comprises selecting the predetermined polymer material in the converted state.    
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 32  wherein: 
 the step of selecting the second polymer material comprises selecting a predetermined second polymer material; and wherein,    the step of selecting the first polymer material comprises selecting a mixture of two or more polymer materials each being comprised of the predetermined second polymer material and each containing a dye.