Multi-layered films for use in airbags and footwear

Abstract

Airsoles or bladders for articles of footwear comprising multi-layered films are provided herein. In one aspect, the airsoles or bladders comprise a first sheet and a second sheet, wherein a first side of the first sheet faces a second side of the second sheet, wherein the first sheet and the second sheet are bonded together to form an internal cavity in a space between the first side of the first sheet and the second side of the second sheet, forming a bladder capable of retaining a gas in the internal cavity at a pressure above atmospheric pressure, at atmospheric pressure, or below atmospheric pressure; and wherein each of the first sheet and the second sheet comprise a multi-layered film comprising: a core region comprising at least 20 gas-barrier layers and a plurality of elastomeric layers, wherein the gas-barrier layers alternate with the elastomeric layers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an upper for an article of footwear; and   a sole structure, wherein the upper, the sole structure, or both the upper and the sole structure comprise a bladder, the bladder comprising
 a first film secured to a second film to define a sealed internal cavity; and 
 a fluid disposed within the sealed internal cavity at a pressure of one atmosphere (101 kilopascals) or greater; 
 wherein the first film, or the second film, or each of the first film and the second film is a multi-layered film including a core region comprising at least 20 gas-barrier layers and a plurality of elastomeric layers, wherein the gas-barrier layers alternate with the elastomeric layers, wherein each of the gas-barrier layers comprises at least one gas-barrier material, and wherein each of the elastomeric layers comprises at least one elastomeric material, and wherein the core region has a total thickness less than 200 micrometers. 
   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the bladder is disposed in at least a heel region of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the article of footwear further comprises a chassis secured to the upper. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the sole structure further comprises an outsole, optionally wherein the outsole is secured to the bladder. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 4 , wherein the bladder is disposed between the chassis and the outsole. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein each of the gas-barrier layers of the multi-layered film has an average thickness in a range of from about 0.01 micrometers to about 0.75 micrometers. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein each of the elastomeric layers of the multi-layered film has an average thickness ranging from about 2 micrometers to about 8 micrometers. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the average total thickness of the core region of the multi-layered film ranges from about 125 micrometers to about 200 micrometers, and, optionally, wherein the multi-layered film further comprises
 a first structural layer secured to a first side of the core region, wherein the first structural layer has an average thickness ranging from about 900 micrometers to about 1990 micrometers; and   a second structural layer secured to a second side of the core region that is opposing to the first side of the core region, wherein the second structural layer has an average thickness ranging from about 900 micrometers to about 1990 micrometers.   
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the internal cavity has an initial internal pressure of from about 20 pounds per square inch (137.9 kilopascals) to about 22 pounds per square inch (151.7 kilopascals). 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the core region of the multi-layered film comprises at least 50 layers. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the gas-barrier material of the multi-layered film comprises or consists essentially of one or more gas-barrier polymers. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more gas-barrier polymers comprise or consist essentially of one or more thermoplastic vinylidene chloride polymers, one or more thermoplastic acrylonitrile polymers or copolymers, one or more thermoplastic polyamides, one or more thermoplastic epoxy resins, one or more thermoplastic amine polymers or copolymers, or one or more thermoplastic polyolefin homopolymers or copolymers. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more thermoplastic polyolefin homopolymers or copolymers comprise or consist essentially of one or more thermoplastic polyethylene copolymers. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more thermoplastic polyolefin homopolymers or copolymers comprise or consist essentially of one or more thermoplastic ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more thermoplastic ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers include from about 28 mole percent to about 44 mole percent ethylene content. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric material of the multi-layered film comprises or consists essentially of one or more thermoplastic elastomeric polymers, and the one or more thermoplastic elastomeric polymers comprise or consist essentially of one or more thermoplastic elastomeric polyolefin homopolymers or copolymers, one or more thermoplastic elastomeric polyamide homopolymers or copolymers, one or more thermoplastic elastomeric polyester homopolymers or copolymers, one or more thermoplastic elastomeric polyurethane homopolymers or copolymers, one or more thermoplastic elastomeric styrenic homopolymers or copolymers, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 16 , wherein the elastomeric material comprises or consists essentially of one or more thermoplastic elastomeric polyurethane homopolymers or copolymers. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the bladder does not exhibit cracking after at least 350,000 KIM cycles, or at least 400,000 KIM cycles. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the bladder has a nitrogen gas transmission rate of no more than 120 percent of an original nitrogen gas transmission rate after 320,000 KIM cycles. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the bladder has a nitrogen gas transmission rate of from about 0.5 to about 2 cubic centimeters per square meter per day measured at 23 degrees Celsius and 0 percent relative humidity for a structure having a thickness of from about 72 micrometers to about 320 micrometers after from about 0 KIM cycles to about 320,000 KIM cycles.