Apparatus for applying glass elements to a substrate

Details Apparatus for applying glass elements to a substrate Apparatus for applying glass elements to a substrate

2002-08-07

2004-09-14

Watkins III, William P. (Department: 1772)

Stock material or miscellaneous articles

Structurally defined web or sheet

Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or...

C428S143000, C428S101000, C428S325000, C063S001160, C063S014900, C063S038000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06790513

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an apparatus for applying glass elements with a non-mirrored rear side to, in particular, a textile substrate, wherein the predominant proportion of the glass elements is in the form of balls, at least 5% of the glass elements have flat boundary surfaces, and the glass elements are applied to the front side of a foil to form a surface.
If a pattern is to be formed with faceted stones, it is the usual practice for the stones to be connected to a carrier foil at the front side thereof in the form of that pattern. Apparatuses of that kind for applying patterns, in particular comprising small cut glass stones, to textiles, have long been known (see AT 360 627 B). The essential aspect in regard to the process for the production thereof is the step of coating the decorative elements with a hot melt adhesive. For the coating procedure the elements are fixed on a carrier band and coated jointly with liquid hot melt adhesive by means of a coating roller. After the adhesive cools down, the stones can be individually manipulated and can be connected to a carrier foil in the pattern form. After a protective foil which covers the adhesive surfaces during transportation has been pulled off, the carrier foil together with the elements fixed thereto is laid onto the substrate in such a way that the rear side of the elements, which is provided with the adhesive, bears against the substrate. The adhesive is activated and joined to the substrate by the application of heat and pressure, usually by ironing.
The glass elements used are usually mirrored or reflective at their rear side, for example by vapour deposition thereon with an aluminium layer which can be covered by a protective layer of chromium. Provided between the mirroring and the hot melt adhesive, which is transparent in itself, is an opaque adhesive primer for effecting bonding between the hot melt adhesive and the protective layer. AT 003 268 U1 however already describes that, when using glass elements with a non-mirrored rear side, it is possible to achieve combination effects between the color of the textile background and the refractive properties or color of the glass elements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention, while retaining that advantage, is to cover entire surface regions with glass elements which are non-mirrored at the rear side. In carrying that concept into effect, it is appropriate for the glass elements no longer to be individually provided with an adhesive, but for fixing of the stones on the substrate to be implemented by means of a foil, at the front side of which the stones are pressed in.
WO 97/16754 (Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company) discloses a foil which is coated with a mixture of glass balls and glass fragments or splinters. In that respect the presence of the glass fragments is a consequence, which in itself is unwanted, of the manufacturing process. Even if a positive effect on the appearance of the foil is attributed to the fragments, it is on the other hand nonetheless recognized that they worsen the mechanical properties of the product, in particular if they project further above the surface than the balls. In comparison therewith the object of the invention is to achieve the glitter effect produced by reflective flat surfaces without adversely affecting the mechanical homogeneity of the surface of the product. In particular the increase in the coefficient of friction, which is caused by irregular fragments, is avoided if it is provided that at least a part of the glass elements comprises balls provided with facets.
In contrast to glass fragments or splinters, balls provided with facets alter the surface properties of the product only slightly in comparison with a foil which is only occupied by balls. That apples in particular if it is provided that fewer than 25% of the glass elements comprise facetted balls.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3377184 (1968-04-01), Kukoff
patent: 4328274 (1982-05-01), Tarbutton et al.
patent: 4849265 (1989-07-01), Ueda et al.
patent: 6472039 (2002-10-01), Amen-Ra A
patent: 003268 (1999-12-01), None
patent: 1013476 (2000-06-01), None
patent: 2001-146691 (2001-05-01), None
patent: 97/16754 (1997-05-01), None

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