Cushioning device

Abstract

A cushioning device including a layer of styrenic based gel material having top and bottom surfaces, a first layer including: i. layer of maleic anhydride and ii. layer of thermoplastic polyurethane, wherein the first layer has a surface bonded to the top surface of the layer of styrenic based gel material, the second layer has a surface bonded to the bottom of the layer of styrenic based gel material and wherein a pressure sensitive adhesive coating is disposed on at least one of the first and second layers opposite to the layer of styrenic based gel material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cushioning device comprising a layer of styrenic based gel material comprising top and bottom surfaces, a first layer comprising: i. layer of maleic anhydride, and ii. layer of thermoplastic polyurethane, and a second layer comprising: i. layer of maleic anhydride, and ii. layer of thermoplastic polyurethane, wherein the first layer has a surface bonded to the top surface of the layer of styrenic based gel material, and the second layer has a surface bonded to the bottom surface of the layer of styrenic based gel material and wherein a pressure sensitive adhesive coating is disposed on at least one of the first and second layers opposite to the layer of styrenic based gel material. 
     
     
         2 . The cushioning device of  claim 1 , further comprising a release liner on an exposed surface of the pressure sensitive adhesive coating. 
     
     
         3 . The cushioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the styrenic based gel material has a Shore 00 hardness of between about 10 and about 80. 
     
     
         4 . The cushioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the styrenic based gel material has a Shore 00 hardness of between about 30 and about 60. 
     
     
         5 . The cushioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the styrenic based gel material has a Shore 00 hardness of Shore 00 hardness of about 50. 
     
     
         6 . The cushioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the styrenic based gel material has a thickness of between 0.3 mm and 3 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The cushioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the styrenic based gel material comprises styrene copolymers selected from styrene-isoprene-styrene (SIS), styrene-isobutylene-styrene (SIBS), styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS), styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) copolymers, and combinations of two or more thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The cushioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the styrenic based gel material comprises styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS). 
     
     
         9 . The cushioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the i. layer to the ii. layer has a thickness ratio of between 1:3 and 3:1. 
     
     
         10 . The cushioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the ii. layer has a Shore A hardness of between about 40 to about 95. 
     
     
         11 . The cushioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the ii. layer has a thickness of between 0.025 mm and 0.25 mm. 
     
     
         12 . The cushioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the ii. layer has a thickness of at least 0.025 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The cushioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the ii. layer comprises SEBS material. 
     
     
         14 . The cushioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive coating comprises acrylic adhesives, methacrylate adhesives, or rubber-based adhesives. 
     
     
         15 . The cushioning device of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive coating is an adhesive based on styrene copolymers, silicones or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive coating has a thickness of between about 0.0125 mm and about 0.25 mm. 
     
     
         17 . The cushioning device of  claim 1 , wherein probe tack of the pressure sensitive adhesive coating to an adherend conducted in accordance with ASTM D 2979-01 is at least about 300 g. 
     
     
         18 . The cushioning device of  claim 1 , wherein probe tack of the pressure sensitive adhesive coating to an adherend conducted in accordance with ASTM D 2979-01 is at least about 300 g following incubation at 50° C. for at least 3 months. 
     
     
         19 . The cushioning device of  claim 1  which is a heel cushioning device. 
     
     
         20 . The cushioning device of  claim 1 , wherein each i. layer of maleic anhydride independently comprises (i) maleic anhydride grafted linear low density polyethylene, (ii) a terpolymer having ethylene, butyl acrylate, butyl acetate or ethyl acetate, and maleic anhydride, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii). 
     
     
         21 . The cushioning device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second layers further comprises: iii. layer comprising maleic anhydride. 
     
     
         22 . The cushioning device of  claim 21 , wherein the iii. layer comprises (i) maleic anhydride grafted linear low density polyethylene, (ii) a terpolymer comprising ethylene, butyl acrylate, butyl acetate or ethyl acetate, and maleic anhydride, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii). 
     
     
         23 . A method for providing enhanced adhesion performance of a cushioning device in a shoe, comprising providing the cushioning device of  claim 1  wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive is positioned so as to attach the cushioning device inside of the shoe.