Patent Publication Number: US-2021177169-A1

Title: Blanket

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/053,024 filed on Aug. 2, 2018. The above referenced application is incorporated in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure generally relates to blankets having a waterproof layer. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Blankets have a variety of uses, such as being used in bedding, picnics, and in stadiums at sporting events. In general, they are used to keep people warm or protect them from the elements. The use of waterproof blankets not only helps to keep warm, but also offers an extra level of protection from moisture. However, sometimes waterproof blankets can be uncomfortable and sometimes do not provide a sufficient moisture barrier. In addition, blankets formed from a layered construction may separate such that the bottom layer may move relative to the top layer, which can cause the blanket to be uncomfortable as well as lead to durability issues from the relative movement. A blanket that is both waterproof and resists relative movement between the layers may be desirable. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. The Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     Some aspects of this disclosure may relate to a blanket comprising a fabric layer having a top edge, a bottom edge opposite the top edge, a left edge extending from the top edge to the bottom edge and a right edge extending from the top edge to the bottom edge opposite the left edge, a base layer comprising a waterproof layer connected the fabric layer, a plurality of corner utility loops where a first end of each corner utility loop is attached to the fabric layer at a first edge and a second end of each corner utility loop is attached to the fabric layer at a second edge adjacent the first edge, and at least one side utility loop attached to the fabric layer on at least one side. The base layer may have the waterproof coating on a first side of the base layer, where the first side of the base layer is oriented towards the fabric layer. The blanket may also include an insulation layer and an adhesive scrim layer positioned between the fabric layer and the base layer. In addition, a stitched layered member may be formed by stitching together the insulation layer and the adhesive scrim layer to the fabric layer using a quilted pattern, where the quilted pattern may be arranged in a diamond pattern. The base layer may be attached to the stitched layered member by an adhesive, and may also further be attached to the stitched layered member using a first stitching near a perimeter edge of the blanket, where the first stitching extends through the stitched layered member once and the base layer once. The base layer may be further attached to the stitched layered member using a second stitching near the perimeter edge of the blanket, where the second stitching extends through the stitched layered member twice and also extends through the base layer twice, where the second stitching is spaced further inward from the perimeter edge of the blanket than the first stitching. 
     Still other aspects of this disclosure may relate to a blanket having at least one corner utility loop of the plurality of corner utility loops being attached between a folded portion of the fabric layer and a folded portion of the base layer, and where the at least one corner utility loop of the plurality of corner utility loops may extend equal to or less than 50 mm from a corner of the base layer. The blanket may have a peel strength within a range of 4 kilograms-force and 7 kilograms-force as determined by a peel strength test method, where the peel strength test method comprises an upper jaw of a tensile test machine moving away from a lower jaw of the tensile test machine at a rate of 100 millimeters per minute. Also, the blanket may have a waterproof rating within a range of 20,000 mm and 40,000 mm column pressure when tested with a hydrostatic test. The blanket may also have an interlayer strength within a range of 42 kilograms-force and 46 kilograms-force as determined by an interlayer strength test method, where the interlayer strength test method comprises an upper jaw of a tensile test machine moving away from a lower jaw of the tensile test machine at a rate of 100 millimeters per minute. 
     Yet other aspects of this disclosure may relate to a method of forming a blanket comprising placing a fabric layer onto an insulation layer and an adhesive mesh scrim layer underneath the insulation layer; stitching together the fabric layer, the insulation layer, and the adhesive mesh scrim layer to form a stitched layered member, where the stitched layered member is stitched together across an entire surface using a quilted pattern; placing a base layer onto the fabric layer, where the base layer has a first side having a waterproof coating and a second side opposite the first side, and where the first side the waterproof coating is facing an exterior surface of the fabric layer. The method may further comprise stitching together the base layer to the stitched layered member using a first stitching along at least three perimeter edges of the base layer to form a blanket sub-assembly; turning the blanket sub-assembly such that the exterior surface of the fabric layer is exposed and the second side of the base layer is exposed, laminating the blanket sub-assembly to adhere the first side of the base layer to the adhesive mesh scrim layer. Laminating the blanket sub-assembly may comprise applying heat and pressure. The method may still further comprise placing at least one utility loop between the stitched layered member and the base layer and stitching the at least one utility loop to the stitched layered member and the base layer. The method may also include comprising a step of folding a portion of the stitched layered member inward to form a folded portion of the stitched layered member and folding a portion of the base layer inward to form folded portion of the base layer, and then stitching the folded portion of the stitched layered member to the folded portion of the base layer with a second stitching, wherein the second stitching is positioned inward of the first stitching. Additionally, the adhesive mesh scrim layer may comprise a polyester material and a polyolefin based adhesive. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limited in the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a blanket according to one or more aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the blanket of  FIG. 1  according to one or more aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the blanket of  FIG. 1  according to one or more aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the blanket of  FIG. 1  according to one or more aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 5  is a partial view of a cross-section of the blanket of  FIG. 2  according to one or more aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 6  is a partial view of the blanket of  FIG. 3  according to one or more aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 7  is a partial view of the blanket of  FIG. 3  according to one or more aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 8  is a partial cross-sectional view of the blanket of  FIG. 7  according to one or more aspects described herein. 
         FIGS. 9A-9D  are partial cross-sectional views of the manufacturing process of the blanket of  FIG. 1  according to one or more aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 10  is a partial enlarged perspective view of one of the layers of the blanket according to one or more aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 11  is a side schematic view of a peel strength test of a portion of the blanket according to one or more aspects described herein. 
         FIG. 12  is a side schematic view of an interlayer strength test of a portion of the blanket according to one or more aspects described herein. 
     
    
    
     Further, it is to be understood that the drawings may represent the scale of different components of one single embodiment; however, the disclosed embodiments are not limited to that particular scale. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description of various example structures according to the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration various example devices, systems, and environments in which aspects of the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other specific arrangements of parts, example devices, systems, and environments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Also, while the terms “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “side,” “rear,” and the like may be used in this specification to describe various example features and elements of the invention, these terms are used herein as a matter of convenience, e.g., based on the example orientations shown in the figures or the orientation during typical use. Additionally, the term “plurality,” as used herein, indicates any number greater than one, either disjunctively or conjunctively, as necessary, up to an infinite number. Nothing in this specification should be construed as requiring a specific three dimensional orientation of structures in order to fall within the scope of this invention. 
     In general, aspects of this disclosure relate to a blanket, in particular a blanket  100  with at least one waterproof layer. The blanket  100  may have a top surface  102 , a bottom surface  104 , along with a top edge  106 , a bottom edge  108  opposite the top edge  106 , a left edge  110  extending from the top edge  106  to the bottom edge  108  and a right edge  112  extending from the top edge  106  to the bottom edge  108  opposite the left edge  110 . In addition, corner edges  114  may connect the adjacent edges. As shown in the exemplary embodiment in  FIGS. 1-8 , the corner edges  114  may comprise curved edges while alternatively, the corner edges  114  could be straight lines that give the appearance of chamfered corners, or as another option, the plurality of edges  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112  may extend and contact one another without a corner edge. These edges  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112  along with the optional corner edges  114  may form the perimeter edges  116  of the blanket  100 . 
     The blanket  100  may comprise a plurality of layers such that it may comprise a fabric layer  118 , a base layer  120 , an insulation layer  122  and an adhesive scrim layer  124 . The edges of the fabric layer  118  may have edges that are consistent with the edges  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112 ,  114  of the blanket  100  that may be formed along a fold or crease of fabric layer  118  of the blanket  100 . The plurality of layers may be arranged in a manner that the fabric layer  118  is positioned as the top layer with the base layer  120  positioned as the bottom layer with the insulation layer  122  and adhesive scrim layer  124  positioned between the fabric layer  118  and the base layer  120 . More specifically, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the fabric layer  118  may be adjacent to or on top of the insulation layer  122 , the adhesive scrim layer  124  may be between the insulation layer  122  and the base layer  120 , and the base layer  120  may be the bottom layer. The base layer  120  may have a first side having a waterproof coating and a second side opposite the first side. The first side  136  of the base layer  120  may be oriented as the interior surface of the base layer  120  such that the first side  136  that includes the waterproof coating is oriented to face towards the fabric layer  118  and the second side  138  arranged as the exterior surface. The fabric layer  118  may have an exterior surface  126  that is exposed and an interior surface  128  that is in contact with the insulation layer  122 . Each of the layers  118 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124  may be the same size when viewed from a top view with each layer having the same surface area. 
     The fabric layer  118 , the insulation layer  122 , and the adhesive scrim layer  124  may be stitched together across the entire surface of blanket with a quilted pattern  140  to form a stitched layered member  150 . For example, as shown in the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 1-8 , the quilted pattern  140  may be formed by the rows of stitching  142 ,  144  being arranged as a plurality of diamond shapes extending across the exterior surface  126  of the fabric layer  118 . The quilted pattern  140  may have a first set of multiple rows of parallel stitching  142  oriented at an angle to the top edge  106  and positioned approximately 8 inches (approximately 203 mm) apart or within a range of 6 inches (154 mm) and 10 inches (254 mm) and a second set of multiple rows of similarly spaced parallel stitching  144  oriented at an angle, preferably a right angle, to the first set of stitching  142 . The multiple rows of stitching in both sets  142 ,  144  may be evenly spaced apart. Alternatively or optionally, the quilted pattern  140  may be an arrangement of any geometric shapes, such as but not limited to squares, rectangles, hexagons, or other polygonal shapes. 
     As described in more detail below, the stitched layered member  150  may be laminated to the base layer  120  such that after the lamination process, the stitched layered member  150  and the base layer  120  may generally move together with little to no separation between the layers when subjected to tensile and/or shear forces pulling on the blanket  100 . In other words, the blanket  100  generally moves and functions like a single layer or unitary member while still providing the benefit of the multi-layer construction of a comfortable fabric layer  118  and a waterproof base layer  120 . In addition, by combining the stitched layered member  150  with an adhesively joined base layer  120 , the overall strength of the blanket  100  is increased. For example, the blanket  100  may have a peel strength, meaning the layers of the blanket  100  do not separate or tear when subjected to a force of approximately 5 kilogram-force (kgf), or a force within a range of 4 kgf and 7 kgf, or under a force within a range of 4 kgf and 10 kgf. To test the peel strength of the blanket  100 , a portion of the blanket  100 A is pulled using a peel strength test method as described below.  FIG. 11  illustrates an exemplary peel strength test method of the blanket  100 . To determine the peel strength, a blanket test region  100 A is cut from the blanket  100 . For example, the blanket test region  100 A has a length of approximately 150 mm and a width of approximately 50 mm. A slight delamination at one of the joined edges along one of the 50 mm long edges may be formed to provide enough material to clamp the stitched layered member  150  into an upper jaw  22  of a tensile test machine  20  and to clamp the base layer  120  into a lower jaw  24  of the tensile test machine  20 . The peel strength test method may be performed using the tensile test machine  20  to administer a force by moving the upper jaw  22  away from the lower jaw  24  at a predetermined rate. The predetermined rate is generally a constant rate of 100 millimeters per minute (mm/minute). As the jaws  22 ,  24  are moved away from each other, a strain front may be created along the edge of the blanket test region  100 A which causes the layers to slowly separate. The force exerted by the tensile test machine to move the jaws is measured as the layers are separated. The test is completed when the exerted force causes a failure in the blanket test region  100 A either in one of the layers  118 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124  of the blanket  100 , in the adhesive, or in the stitching such that the failure extends across the entire width of the test region  100 A and that the length of the blanket test region  100 A has been pulled completely apart. For instance, the length of the sample is approximately 150 mm long so when the test region  100 A fails, the jaws  22 ,  24  may be approximately 300 mm apart. For instance, failure may consist of a tear in one of the layers, a separation of the adhesive between the base layer  120 , or some combination of the layers and adhesive failing. Furthermore, the stitching  142 ,  144  between the layers  118 ,  120 ,  122  may fail before the adhesive between the base layer  120  and the stitched layered member  150  fails, while in other embodiments, the adhesive between the base layer  120  and the stitched layered member  150  may fail before the stitching  142 ,  144  between the layers  118 ,  120 ,  122 . The peel strength may be determined as the average force recorded during the test to pull the blanket test region  100 A to failure. 
     As another example of the strength of the blanket  100  is the blanket&#39;s interlayer strength. 
     The blanket may have an interlayer strength of approximately 44 kgf, or within a range of 42 kgf and 46 kgf, or within a range of 40 kgf and 50 kgf. To test the interlayer strength of the blanket  100 , the blanket  100  may be pulled to failure using a tensile test machine  20  using an interlayer strength test method as described below.  FIG. 12  illustrates an exemplary interlayer strength test of the blanket  100 . The portion of the blanket  100  gripped within the jaws  22 ,  24  may be folded as shown in  FIG. 12 , such that each jaw  22 ,  24  pinches a portion of the blanket  100  from opposite sides. The fabric layer  118  may be clamped in an upper jaw  22  and the base layer  120  may be clamped in the lower jaw  24 . The tensile test machine  20  may exert a force on the blanket  100  by moving the upper jaw  22  away from the lower jaw  24  at a predetermined rate. The predetermined rate is generally a constant rate of 100 millimeters per minute (mm/minute). As the jaws  22 ,  24  are moved away from each other, the exerted force required to move the jaws is measured. The upper jaw  22  may grip a plurality of layers of the blanket  100 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the upper jaw  22  grips both the fabric layer  118  and the insulation layer  122 . Additionally, the lower jaw  24  may grip a plurality of layers of the blanket  100 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the lower jaw  24  grips both the base layer  120  and the scrim layer  124 . The jaws  22 ,  24  may have a width of approximately 63.6 mm and as such the width of the portion of the blanket  100  gripped within the jaws may have the same width of the jaws  22 ,  24  of approximately 63.6 mm. The portion of the blanket  100  gripped within the jaws  22 ,  24  may be biased toward a stitched side of one the geometric shapes of the quilted pattern  140 . For example, the portion of the blanket  100  gripped within the jaws  22 ,  24  may be spaced approximately 65 mm from a line of stitching  142 ,  144  that form the geometric shapes of the quilted pattern  140 , where the jaws  22 ,  24  are oriented generally parallel to one of the rows of stitching  142 ,  144 . The test is completed when the exerted force from the tensile test machine causes a failure in the blanket  100  either in one of the layers  118 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124  of the blanket  100 , in the adhesive, or in the stitching such that the failure extends across the entire width of the gripped portion of the blanket  100 . For instance, the failure may be that a line of stitching  142 ,  144  nearest portion of the blanket  100  pinched in the jaws  22 ,  24  that tears loose. The interlayer strength may be determined as the average force recorded during the test to pull the gripped portion of the blanket  100  to failure. 
     The blanket  100  may be generally rectangular in shape, but may be any shape such as square, round, elliptical, or other polygonal shape. As in the exemplary embodiment, the top and bottom edges  106 ,  108  may be longer than the right and left edges  110 ,  112 . 
     In addition, a plurality of utility loops  130  may be attached near the perimeter edges  116  of the blanket  100 . The utility loops  130  may be used to attach the blanket to a variety of items, may be used as handles, or may be used in other functions as a user might require. Corner utility loops  130 A may be positioned at the corners of the blanket  100  as well as side utility loops  130 B may be positioned along the sides. For instance, the exemplary embodiment of blanket  100  shown in  FIGS. 1-8  comprises a corner utility loop  130 A at each corner and a single side utility loop  130 B positioned proximate the center of both the top edge  106  and the bottom edge  108 . Alternatively, or optionally, each edge  106 ,  108 ,  110 ,  112  may have multiple utility loops  130  attached, where the utility loops  130  may be evenly spaced along the edges of the blanket  100 . Each utility loop  130  may be attached to the blanket  100  between a folded portion of the fabric layer  118  and a folded portion of the base layer  120 . Webbing stitching  146  may secure the utility loop  130  to the blanket  100 . The stitching  146  may extend through each end  132 ,  134  of the utility loop as well as through the fabric layer  118  and the base layer  120  as shown in  FIG. 8 . In addition, the stitching  146  attaching the plurality of utility loop  130  may extend through each layer including the fabric layer  118 , the base layer  120 , the insulation layer  122 , and the adhesive scrim layer  124 . The stitching  146  may also be substantially collocated or collinear with the second perimeter stitching  156  that joins the stitched layered member  150  and the base layer  120  that is described in more detail below. 
     Each utility loop  130  may comprise a webbing, or strap, that is attached to the blanket  100  at a first end  132  and at a second end  134  opposite the first end  132  with a strap portion  133  extending between the first end  132  and the second end  134 . Each utility loop  130 , both corner utility loops  130 A and side utility loops  130 B, may extend inwardly a distance equal to or less than 50 mm from the nearest perimeter edge  116  of the blanket  100  when folded onto the base layer  120 . The utility loops  130  may have a width within a range of 12.7 mm and 19.1 mm, or within a range of 9.5 mm and 25.4 mm. In addition, the corner utility loops  130 A may have a larger width than the side utility loops  130 B. As an example, the corner utility loops  130 A may have a width of approximately 19.1 mm while the side utility loops  130 B may have a width of approximately 12.7 mm. In addition, the utility loops  130  may have a thickness of approximately 1 mm or within a range of 0.5 mm and 2 mm. The utility loops  130  may be formed from a polyester webbing or other types of woven fabric known to one skilled in the art. Alternatively or optionally, the utility loops  130  may comprise any kind of buckle, toggle, snap, button, or other fastening means to enable a user to attach the blanket to a variety of items. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9A-9D , the blanket  100  may be assembled from multiple layers. First, the fabric layer  118  may be placed on top of the insulation layer  122  with the adhesive mesh “scrim” layer  124  underneath the insulation layer  122  to form a layered member  148 . Next, the layered member  148  may be stitched together across its entire surface using a quilted pattern  140  as described above to form a stitched layered member  150 . Then, the base layer  120  may be placed with the first side  136  having the waterproof coating facing the exterior surface  126  of the fabric layer  118 , such that the orientation of the fabric layer  118  and the base layer  120  is in an inside out configuration of the final blanket  100 . The base layer  120  may then may be stitched to the stitched layered member  150  proximate at least three of the perimeter edges to form a blanket sub-assembly  152 . This first perimeter stitching  154  proximate the perimeter edges of the blanket sub-assembly  152  may extend through each layer of the stitched layered member  150  at least once as well as the base layer  120  at least once. 
     After the base layer  120  is stitched to the stitched layered member  150  on at least three sides, the blanket sub-assembly  152  may then be turned from the inside out configuration such that the exterior surface  126  of the fabric layer  118  is exposed as the top surface and the second side  138  of the base layer  120  is exposed as the bottom surface such that the fabric layer  118  and the base layer  120  are in the proper orientation for the blanket  100 . The first perimeter stitching  154  may be completed proximate the previously unstitched perimeter edge of the blanket sub-assembly  152 . Once in this proper orientation, the blanket sub-assembly  152  may undergo a second stitching process proximate the perimeter edges  116  where the base layer  120  is attached to the stitched layered member  150  using a second perimeter stitching  156  proximate the perimeter of the blanket sub-assembly  152 , where the second perimeter stitching  156  may extend through the stitched layered member  150  twice and the base layer  120  twice. For example, a portion of the stitched layered member  150  and a portion of the base layer  120  may be folded inward to allow for the second perimeter stitching  156  to extend through the stitched layered member  150  and the base layer  120  twice as shown in  FIG. 9C . Furthermore, this second perimeter stitching  156  may be located inward of the first perimeter stitching  154 . 
     Next, the blanket sub-assembly  152  may be put through a lamination process as known to one skilled in the art that applies both heat and/or heat and pressure across the blanket sub-assembly  160  to activate the adhesive on the adhesive scrim layer  124  to adhere and adhesively attach the first side  136  of the base layer  120  to the adhesive scrim layer  124 . The lamination process may comprise placing the blanket sub-assembly  152  across a flat surface and then applying a heated platen onto the entire surface area of the base layer  120 . This combination of heat and pressure from the platen may activate the adhesive on the scrim layer  124 . Once activated, the adhesive on the scrim layer may form a bond with the waterproof coating of the base layer  120  while also encapsulating the scrim layer  124  within the adhesive. In addition, the adhesive of the scrim layer  124  may also bond with the insulation layer  122 . This process helps to unite the blanket  100  to prevent any movement or separation between the layers  118 ,  120 ,  122 ,  124 . The platen may only have contact with the base layer  120  of the blanket  100  for a few minutes. The adhesive may then continue to cure for 3 to 7 days, before obtaining maximum strength as the polymer based adhesive cross-links during the curing process. As another option, the heat and pressure may be applied using a lamination process comprising a heated roller moving across the base layer  120 . Still as another option, the adhesive on the adhesive scrim layer  124  may be activated using an RF welding technique 
     As discussed above, the blanket  100  may be waterproof such the blanket  100  prevents ingress of water from below even when a weight and profile of an average adult person is placed onto the fabric layer  118  while the base layer  120  is placed onto a wet surface. For instance, the blanket  100  may withstand a hydrostatic pressure of approximately 30 m (30,000 mm) column pressure, or within a range of approximately 30 m (30,000 mm) column pressure or approximately 35 m (35,000 mm) column pressure, or within a range of approximately 20 m (20,000 mm) column pressure or approximately 40 m (40,000 mm) column pressure when tested using under a Mullen Hydrostatic Test method or similar hydrostatic test method per ASTMD751-06 Procedure A or equivalent method. 
     As described above, the blanket  100  may be formed from multiple layers. For instance, the fabric layer  118  may be formed from a material that provides a soft feel and a sufficient amount of stretch and movement for the blanket  100 , such as a polyester rayon spandex twill material, or similar material. The insulation layer  122  may be formed from a material to provide both cushion and insulation, such as a polyester material. The fabric weight of the insulation layer  122  may be approximately 180 grams per square meter (gsm), or within a range of 160 gsm and 200 gsm, or within a range of 100 gsm and 200 gsm, or within a range of 100 gsm and 300 gsm. The adhesive scrim layer  124  may comprise a woven polyester mesh material infused with an adhesive. The adhesive on the scrim layer  124  may be a polymer based adhesive, such as a polyolefin, a thermoplastic polyurethane based adhesive, or other similar adhesive known to one skilled in the art. The adhesive on the scrim layer  124  may be heat activated and may be capable of bonding to both the insulation layer  122  and the base layer  120 . While a polymer based adhesive is used on the blanket  100  of the exemplary embodiment, one skilled in the art may choose a different adhesive depending upon the materials of the various layers. Additionally,  FIG. 10  illustrates an enlarged portion of the scrim  124  layer. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the scrim layer  124  may be a mesh like material with the adhesive applied along with mesh in a plurality of locations that may appear as dots, disks, or drops  158  that line the mesh scrim material such that small spaces along the mesh without adhesive are formed. Thus, the adhesive may not cover the entire surface area of the scrim material which may allow the adhesive to flow during the curing process. 
     The base layer  120  may be formed from a polyester material or similar type material with the waterproof coating on the first side  136 . For example, the base layer  120  may be formed from a 600D polyester material, although one skilled in the art may select the proper materials based on the durability and the feel desired to provide for the user. The waterproof coating may be a polyurethane based coating and may be applied using an extrusion lamination process during the manufacturing of the base layer  120 . This enhances the waterproof characteristics of the base layer. For instance, the base layer  120  may withstand a hydrostatic pressure of approximately 30 m (30,000 mm) column pressure, or within a range of approximately 30 m (30,000 mm) column pressure or approximately 35 m (35,000 mm) column pressure, or within a range of approximately 20 m (20,000 mm) column pressure or approximately 40 m (40,000 mm) column pressure when tested using under a Mullen Hydrostatic Test method or similar hydrostatic test method per ASTMD751-06 Procedure A or equivalent method. 
     The present disclosure is disclosed above and in the accompanying drawings with reference to a variety of examples. The purpose served by the disclosure, however, is to provide examples of the various features and concepts related to the disclosure, not to limit the scope of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that numerous variations and modifications may be made to the examples described above without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.