Coating processes – Restoring or repairing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-12
2001-11-20
Beck, Shrive P. (Department: 1762)
Coating processes
Restoring or repairing
C427S230000, C427S290000, C427S307000, C427S388100, C427S388200, C427S429000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06319546
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the restoration of surfaces of washing fixtures, such as bathtubs, shower floors and walls, and the like, and more particularly, to an acrylic urethane coating composition and to methods for applying the coating composition to surfaces which contain imperfections to fill and cover imperfections in the surface. 2. Description of Related Art
After a bathtub basin, shower enclosure, or other fixture designed for washing, such as bathing, has been installed and used for some period of time, scratches and cracks and other imperfections often develop on the inside surfaces, particularly if objects are dropped on the surface. Most frequently, the entire fixture is replaced, or a liner provided for the fixture as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,605, or the fixture removed and treated in another location and then reinstalled, in order to maintain fixtures that are aesthetically pleasing. If the fixture surface is to be restored, the restoration usually involves an expensive procedure involving specialized equipment, such as spraying, molding or vacuum equipment. Attempts have been made to fill only the crack or scratch without covering or restoring the entire inside surface of the fixture. Most commonly these attempts result in uneven surfaces which are unsightly, and where epoxies are used as a bonding to the existing surface, the bonded material is often brittle and tends to crack.
The present invention provides a hand-spreadable product and a method of its application for restoring the surface of a bathtub to provide an even, smooth surface without the need for application equipment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a composition and hand-applied method for restoring a surface of a fixture designed for washing.
Another object of the present invention is the provision of a coating composition which can be applied to a surface having imperfections, such as scratches and/or cracks, which after application provides an aesthetically pleasing, durable, substantially smooth and even finish with the imperfections filled and substantially indistinguishable from the remainder of the coated finish.
Another object of this invention is to provide a handspreadable composition for restoring the surface of bathtubs, showering facilities, and the like.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a method of covering an existing surface having surface imperfections, such as scratches and/or cracks, with a resulting finish which is aesthetically pleasing, durable and substantially smooth and even, without the use of spraying, molding, vacuum or curing equipment.
These and other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.
In accordance with the present invention a hand-spreadable urethane surface coating product is provided for filling imperfections in an existing surface of a fixture designed for washing, e.g., a bathtub, a shower stall, and the like. The product comprises two non-aqueous liquid compositions which are to be mixed to form the coating composition. The first non-aqueous composition comprises at least one aliphatic acrylic urethane resin prepolymer, and the second non-aqueous composition comprises a cross-linking agent for the urethane resin prepolymer. Following mixing, and applying the mixed compositions to the surface, and permitting the coating product to dry for a period of several hours, the now-coated, restored surface is substantially smooth and even, with the scratches and/or cracks in the pre-existing surface being filled, and the restored surface being aesthetically pleasing.
Also in accordance with the present invention, a method is provided for covering an existing surface having imperfections therein, such as scratches and/or cracks, which fills such imperfections and provides a substantially smooth surface thereon which is aesthetically pleasing. The method, which does not utilize any equipment, other than cleaning materials and a lintfree cloth, comprises cleaning the existing surface and removing any loose materials thereon; allowing the existing surface following cleaning to dry; preparing a flowable and spreadable surface coating by combining a first non-aqueous composition of at least one aliphatic acrylic resin and a second non-aqueous liquid composition of a crosslinking catalyst for the resin; mixing the mixture; applying the mixture to the surface to be covered; permitting the covered surface to stand without use until coating is dry and hard. The resulting coating is substantially smooth, even and has a like-new gloss and appearance. The restored surface is substantially stain resistant and durable, extending the usable life of the fixture for many years.
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Beck Shrive P.
Calcagni Jennifer
Welsh & Katz Ltd.
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