Method of applying and using viscous liquid rubber composition

Abstract

Viscous liquid rubber compositions are applied to articles by brushing, rolling, pouring, or dipping to repair leaks or to modify the appearance and/or physical properties of the article, such as water-permeability, thermal insulation, shock resistance, vibration resistance, electrical insulation, and the like.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of modifying an article to provide a non-slip surface, thermal insulation, electrical insulation, shock resistance, vibration resistance, or a combination thereof, the method comprising applying a viscous liquid rubber composition to at least a portion of a surface of the article, wherein the viscous liquid rubber composition is applied to the surface or portion thereof by brushing, rolling, pouring, or dipping. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the article is selected from the group consisting of a shoe, boot, hockey stick, golf club, skateboard, baseball bat, javelin, and crochet mallet. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the article is selected from the group consisting of a hammer, screw driver, saw, pliers, wrench, wire cutter, shovel, hoe, and rake. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the article is selected from the group consisting of a ladle, spatula, tongs, fork, knife, and spoon. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the article is a carpet or rug. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the article is a motor vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the article is an electrical wire. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the article is selected from the group consisting of an air conditioning unit, air compressor, water filtration system, and furnace, or a housing therefor. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the article is selected from the group consisting of furniture, countertop, cabinet, hardwood floor, glass, and tile. 
     
     
         10 . A method of waterproofing an article, the method comprising applying a viscous liquid rubber composition to at least a portion of a surface of the article, wherein the viscous liquid rubber composition is applied by brushing, rolling, pouring, or dipping, and wherein the article is selected from the group consisting of a strainer, container, shoe, boot, boat, raft, document, photograph, umbrella, tent, awning, shower, bathtub, laundry tub, sink, pool preform, pond preform, cardboard box, concrete block, paper bag, pipe, hose, metal roof, downspout, and gutter. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the article is a container having at least one hole along a lower portion thereof, and wherein the viscous liquid rubber composition is applied into the at least one hole or onto a portion of a surface surrounding the at least one hole. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising applying a patch to cover the at least one hole, and applying a second layer of the viscous liquid rubber composition to cover at least a portion of the patch. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the article is a strainer and wherein the composition is applied to the strainer or a portion thereof by pouring. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the article is a boat having a hull formed at least partially of wire mesh, wherein the composition is applied to the wire mesh by rolling. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the article is a downspout or pipe and wherein the composition is applied by dipping the downspout or pipe into the composition. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising inserting the downspout or pipe containing the composition into a fitting or junction element to form a seal therebetween. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the article is a pool preform or a pond preform, and wherein the composition is applied to surfaces thereof by rolling. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the article is a concrete block, the method further comprising the steps of forming a crack in the concrete block and pouring the composition into the crack to at least partially fill the crack. 
     
     
         19 . A method of comparing the viscosity of a liquid rubber composition to that of a reference liquid, the method comprising:
 providing a generally horizontally oriented wire screen;   pouring the reference liquid onto a first portion of the wire screen;   pouring the liquid rubber composition onto a second portion of the wire screen; and   determining whether the reference liquid and the liquid rubber composition poured onto the screen drip through the screen.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the reference liquid is latex paint.