US-12622848-B2 - Particulate aerogel material kit for grip enhancement

Abstract

Particulate aerogel material kit for grip enhancement, and related systems and methods, are generally described. Certain embodiments are related to interfaces comprising human skin, a layer of particulate aerogel material, and a solid surface. Methods of creating such interfaces, packaging the particulate aerogel material, and applications thereof (including kits for grip enhancement) are also described.

Inventors

• David G. Pope
• James M. Pidhurney
• Stephen A. Steiner, III
• Moriah C. Buckwalter
• Ryan T. Nelson

Assignees

• CHALKLESS, INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20230413

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A kit for hand grip enhancement kit, comprising: a plurality of aerogel particles; and a container containing the aerogel particles and adapted to apply a portion of the plurality of aerogel particles to a user's hands; wherein the plurality of aerogel particles are not dispersed in a liquid; wherein the plurality of aerogel particles have been rendered hydrophobic by reaction with a hydrophobe; and wherein when the skin of the user's hand is treated with the portion of the plurality of aerogel particles, a coefficient of friction between the skin and a solid surface increases by at least 1%.
2. 2 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the container is adapted to apply a portion of the plurality of aerogel particles by shaking.
3. 3 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the container is adapted to apply a portion of the plurality of aerogel particles by squeezing.
4. 4 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the container is adapted to apply a portion of the plurality of aerogel particles by rubbing.
5. 5 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the container is adapted to allow a portion of the plurality of aerogel particles to pass through at least one opening when the container is inverted.
6. 6 . The kit of claim 5 , wherein the at least one opening comprises a plurality of openings.
7. 7 . The kit of claim 6 , wherein a portion of the plurality of aerogel particles can pass through the plurality of openings when a pressure of less than 100 N/cm2 is applied to the container.
8. 8 . The kit of claim 1 , further comprising written instructions for at least one of the use, application, administration, or storage of the kit.
9. 9 . The kit of claim 8 , wherein the written instructions comprise one of a bar code or a quick response code.
10. 10 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein, when the skin of a user's hand is treated with the portion of the plurality of aerogel particles, the coefficient friction of between the skin and a solid surface increases by at least 5%.
11. 11 . A grip enhancement kit, comprising: a plurality of hydrophobic aerogel particles not dispersed in a liquid; and a container containing the plurality of hydrophobic aerogel particles; and wherein at least 50 vol % of the plurality of hydrophobic aerogel particles have a maximum cross-sectional dimension greater than or equal to 50 nanometers and less than or equal to 1 centimeter.
12. 12 . The kit of claim 11 , wherein the container comprises a plurality of openings through which a portion of the plurality of hydrophobic aerogel particles can pass through.
13. 13 . The kit of claim 11 , wherein the container comprises a flexible container.
14. 14 . The kit of claim 13 , wherein the container is adapted to allow the application of a crushing force to at least a portion of the plurality of hydrophobic aerogel particles within the container.
15. 15 . The kit of claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of a boundary of the container is porous and permits transport of a portion of the plurality of hydrophobic aerogel particles through the porous boundary upon application of force to the flexible container.
16. 16 . The kit of claim 11 , wherein the container comprises at least one of fabric, paper, plastic, or rubber.
17. 17 . The kit of claim 16 , wherein the container is adapted to be opened by puncturing, ripping, or tearing a wall of the container.
18. 18 . The kit of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of hydrophobic aerogel particles comprise inorganic oxide aerogel.
19. 19 . The kit of claim 18 , wherein the inorganic oxide aerogel comprises an oxide of silicon, aluminum, titanium, hafnium, zirconium, chromium, niobium, tantalum, iron, vanadium, neodymium, samarium, holmium, zinc, magnesium, calcium, and/or erbium.
20. 20 . The kit of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of hydrophobic aerogel particles exhibit a BET surface area of greater than or equal to 5 m2/g and less than or equal to 4000 m2/g.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/810,356 filed Jul. 1, 2022, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent App. No. 63/217,686 entitled “Particulate Aerogel Material for Grip Enhancement” and filed on Jul. 1, 2021, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. TECHNICAL FIELD Particulate aerogel material for grip enhancement, and related systems and methods, are generally described. SUMMARY Particulate aerogel material for grip enhancement, and related systems and methods, are generally described. Certain embodiments are related to interfaces comprising human skin, a layer of particulate aerogel material, and a solid surface. Methods of creating such interfaces, packaging the particulate aerogel material, and applications thereof (including grip enhancement) are also described. The subject matter of the present disclosure involves, in some cases, interrelated products, alternative solutions to a particular problem, and/or a plurality of different uses of one or more systems and/or articles. In some embodiments, a method is provided. The method comprises, in some embodiments, establishing direct contact and/or indirect solid contact between human skin, a particulate aerogel material, and a solid surface, wherein the particulate aerogel material is between the human skin and the solid surface. In certain embodiments, an article is provided. In some embodiments, the article comprises a flexible container; and a particulate aerogel material within the container. In some embodiments, at least a portion of a boundary of the container is porous and permits transport of the particulate aerogel through the porous boundary upon application of force to the flexible container. In certain embodiments, the article comprises a container; and particulate aerogel material within the container; wherein the container comprises a plurality of openings through which the particulate hydrophobic aerogel material can be transported. In some embodiments, the article comprises a fibrous matrix; and particulate aerogel material associated with the fibrous matrix: wherein the combination of the fibrous matrix and the particulate aerogel material is in the form of a sheet. In some embodiments, the article comprises a container; and a plurality of sheets within the container: wherein each of the sheets comprises a fibrous matrix; and particulate aerogel material associated with the fibrous matrix. In certain embodiments, a material is provided. In some embodiments, the material comprises a liquid; and particulate aerogel material dispersed within the liquid. In certain embodiments, a kit is provided. In some embodiments, the kit comprises a liquid; and particulate aerogel material: wherein, when the liquid and the particulate aerogel material are combined, the particulate aerogel material and the liquid form a combination that enhances friction between human skin and solid surfaces. In certain embodiments, a combination is provided. The combination comprises, in some embodiments, human skin; particulate aerogel material in contact with the human skin; and a solid surface in contact with the particulate aerogel material. Other advantages and novel features of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description of various non-limiting embodiments of the disclosure when considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures. In cases where the present specification and a document incorporated by reference include conflicting and/or inconsistent disclosure, the present specification shall control. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures, which are schematic and are not intended to be drawn to scale unless otherwise indicated. In the figures, each identical or nearly identical component illustrated is typically represented by a single numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component is labeled in every figure, nor is every component of each embodiment of the disclosure shown where illustration is not necessary to allow those of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosure. FIG. 1 depicts a magnified view of an aerogel particle, according to certain embodiments. FIG. 2 depicts particulate aerogel material of varying size and shape, according to certain embodiments. FIG. 3 depicts a porous flexible container containing particulate aerogel material, according to certain embodiments. FIG. 4 depicts a container containing particulate aerogel material and comprising a removable lid with a plurality of openings, according to certain embodiments. FIG. 5 depicts a sheet comprising a combination of a fibrous matrix and associated particulate aerogel material, according to certain embodiments. FIG. 6 depicts a roll of the fibrous sheet fro