Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Composite – Of quartz or glass
Reexamination Certificate
2001-11-10
2003-09-30
Zacharia, Ramsey (Department: 1773)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Composite
Of quartz or glass
C428S441000, C428S500000, C428S521000, C428S524000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06627318
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the protection of vehicular occupants against harmful radiation, and more particularly, to the protection of automobile occupants against harmful ultraviolet radiation.
Ultraviolet radiation, especially in the A, B and C bands, can be harmful to animals, including humans. In order to protect against this kind of radiation, it is necessary to limit the amount of glass surface commonly found in automotive vehicles. At the same time, it is desirable to expand the glass surface in order to promote visibility.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide protection against the exposure of automotive occupants to harmful radiation while simultaneously not interfering with the desire to increase the amount of light transmittive surface in order to promote automotive visibility.
There have been numerous attempts to provide ultraviolet protection. An illustrative example is provided by U.S. Pat. No. 6,235,271, which issued to Luther et al., on May 22, 2001. Luther et al. disclose a sunprotection agent, which is especially suitable for use in pharmaceutical or cosmetic applications, containing a micronized organic UV absorber, and a non-micronized UV absorber and/or an inorganic-micropigment, together with a polymeric hollow sphere additive and/or xanthan and/or polyvinylpyrrolidone.
Another preparation for ultraviolet protection is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,804,531 which issued to Grollier on Feb. 14, 1989. Grollier discloses a cosmetic screening composition containing a UV screen in combination with a polymer obtained by block polymerization in emulsion and its use for the protection of the human epidermis against ultraviolet radiations.
Still another composition for UV protection is provided by U.S. Pat. No. 4,524,061, which issued to Cho et al. on Jun. 18, 1985. This patent is directed to a polymeric sunscreen agent of interpolymers including an olefinic p-aminobenzoate devoid of hydroxy substitution, N-vinylpyrrolidone, and at least a vinyl lactam monomer.
There also have been numerous attempts to provide ultraviolet protection for glass, but none of these achieve the advantages and simplicity of the invention. The prior art includes the following patents: U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,059, “Method of Coating a UV-fiber With Blocking Layers and Charging the Fiber With Hydrogen Or Deuterium”; U.S. No. 6,159,608,
“Thermoplastic Interlayer Film”; U.S. Pat. No. 6,143,417, “Contamination-Resistant Float Glass”; U.S. Pat. No. 6,138,663, “Cooking Apparatus Containing A Window That Is A Contamination-Resistant Float Glass”; U.S. Pat. No. 6,122,093, “Reduced Ultraviolet Radiation Transmitting, Safety Protected Electrochromic Glazing Assembly”; U.S. Pat. No. 6,121,354, “High Performance Single-Component Sealant”; U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,497, “Solid Surface Modification Method and Apparatus”, U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,624, “Partially Crystallizing Lead-Free Enamel Composition for Automobile Glass”; U.S. No. 5,986,797, “Reduced Ultraviolet Radiation Transmitting, Safety Protected Electrochromic Glazing Assembly”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,972,565, “Flexographic Printing Forms Having Resistance to UV-Hardenable Printing Inks”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,948,594, “Flexographic Printing Forms for UV-Hardenable Printing Inks”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,925,160, “Partially Crystallizing Lead-Free Enamel Composition For Automobile Glass”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,585, “Electrically Conductive Transparent Film And Coating Composition For Forming Such Film”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,864,419, “Near-Infrared Reflecting, Ultraviolet Protected, Safety Protected, Electrochromic Vehicular Glazing”, U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,279, “Process for Producing A Contamination-Resistant Float Glass”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,792,560, “Thermoplastic Interlayer Film”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,783,507, “Partially Crystallizing Lead-Free Enamel Composition For Automobile Glass”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,680,245, “Reduced Ultraviolet Radiation Transmitting, Electrochromic Assembly”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,716, “Glass Production Method Using Ilmenite”; U.S. No. 5,629,365, “UV-Absorbing Polymer Latex”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,610,108, “Reducing Melt Borosilicate Glass Having Improved UV Transmission Properties And Water Resistance And Method of Use”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,578,378, “Anti-Fogging Coating Composition, Product Coated With Said Composition And Method for Preparation of Said Product”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,904, “Borosilicate Glass Having Improved UV Transmission, Thermal and Chemical Properties and Method of Making and Using Same”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,523,877, “Reduced Near-Infrared Radiation Transmitting Ultraviolet Protected, Safety Protected Electrochromic Vehicular Glazing”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,523,263, “Glass Production Method Using Ilmenite”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,480,722, “Ultraviolet Ray Absorbent Glass and Method For Preparing the Same”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,872, “Ultraviolet Absorbing Green Tinted Glass”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,364,433, “Optical Member of Synthetic Quartz Glass For Excimer Lasers and Methods For Producing Same”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,245, “Ultraviolet Protected Electrochemichromic Rearview Mirror”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,076, “Optical Filter Structure”; U.S. No. 5,240,886, “Ultraviolet Absorbing, Green Tinted Glass”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,406, “Near-Infrared Reflecting, Ultraviolet Protected, Safety Protected, Electrochromic Vehicular Glazing”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,214,008, “High visible, Low UV and Low IR Transmittance Green Glass Composition”; U.S. Pat. No. 3,115,346, “anti-Scatter, Ultraviolet Protected, Anti-Misting, Electro-Optical Rearview Mirror; U.S. Pat. No. 5,098,948, “Water-Based Protective Compositions for Coating Films and Preparation Processes Thereof”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,133, “Infrared And Ultraviolet Radiation Absorbing Green Glass Composition”; U.S. Pat. No. 5,045,509, “UV-Transparent Glass”; U.S. Pat. No. 4,792,536, “Transparent Infrared Absorbing Glass And Method of Making”; U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,062, “Ultraviolet Radiation Curable Vehicle For Ceramic Colors, Composition and Method”; U.S. Pat. No. 4,326,214, “Thermal Shock Resistant Package Having an Ultraviolet Light Transmitting Window For a Semiconductor Chip”.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accomplishing the foregoing and related objects, the invention provides a light-transmissive surface which permits unimpeded visual radiation, but simultaneously serves as a protective shield against ultraviolet (UV) radiation, particularly in the UV-A, UV-B and UV-C bands.
The invention functions by absorbing the UV portion of radiation below 315 nanometers (“nm”) of the A, B and C bands, and provides a method for the manufacture of such a light transmissive surface, as well as for the use of such surface as automotive glass.
The light-transmissive medium of the invention includes means for permitting unimpeded visual radiation, and means included for simultaneously serving as a protective shield against ultraviolet radiation.
The light-transmissive medium can include a conjugated double-bond polymer, selected from the class consisting of alkenes and arenes.
The light-transmissive medium can include the conjugated double-bond polymer in another polymeric material comprising an interlayer for glass, such as polyvinyl butyral.
In a method of the invention for providing a light-transmissive surface, the steps include (a) providing a medium that shields ultraviolet radiation; (b) combining the medium with a substance that provides general radiation transmission. The medium can be mixed with the substance and be selected from the class of conjugated multiple-bond polymers.
In the method, the medium can be a salt that absorbs UV radiation, such as cerium aluminate.
In a method of the invention for providing a light-transmissive material, the steps include (a) providing a substance that shields ultraviolet radiation; (b) providing a substance that is generally radiation transmissive; and (c) combining the substances of steps (a) and (b).
The method further includes the step of casting the combined substances into a specified shape, such as automotive glass.
In the method, the substance that shields ultraviolet radiat
Bonis Andrea C.
Bonis Laszlo J.
Kersey George E.
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