Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Hollow or container type article
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-24
2001-04-10
Pianalto, Bernard (Department: 1762)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Hollow or container type article
C427S165000, C427S261000, C427S269000, C427S282000, C427S287000, C427S379000, C427S385500, C427S386000, C427S389700, C427S398100, C427S407200, C427S443200, C427S510000, C427S518000, C427S558000, C427S559000, C428S034400, C428S034700, C428S035700, C428S038000, C428S046000, C428S142000, C428S156000, C428S195100, C428S441000, C428S542200, C428S542600, C428S500000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06214424
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally concerned with providing an article having a three-dimensional decorative appearance, particularly in producing an article having a continuous or discontinuous pattern simulating a reproducible natural ice crystal formation for use in the decorative glass industry, and most particularly for use on doors and windows.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Frosting articles, particularly those made of glass or plastic, for aesthetic reasons, has long been known and used in many diverse industries. These industries include architecture/construction, packaging, display systems and furniture making. Conventional frosting of these substrates is achieved either chemically by an etching liquid such as an acid solution, or mechanically by abrading such as by sandblasting. Another method known in the prior art which is utilized to provide a textured surface on glass and plastic articles, comprises the steps of applying animal hide glue to the surface of the glass which has been sandblasted, then heating the glue and allowing it to dry. This causes the glue to pull chips from the surface, thereby producing a random frosting pattern with an overabundance of fern-like surface patterns. For these reasons, the conventional glue chip process does not yield an ice crystal formation which closely simulates a natural pattern. Such a process is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,631,057 to Carter, which is directed to yet another method of providing a decorative appearance that involves adhering appliques to the surface of the glass.
The aforementioned methods produce articles that are primarily decorative or advertising in nature, are frequently unique and are difficult to reproduce in exactly the same pattern on a commercial scale. In attempting to reproduce an intricate pattern such as natural ice formation, the problem is magnified. The use of a natural ice crystal formation pattern for imparting the illusion of a very cold environment for beverage dispensing machines and other refrigerated products that are displayed and merchandised behind glass in various refrigerated commercial equipment is very desirable from a marketing standpoint.
None of the prior art techniques discussed above provides a satisfactory three dimensional ice crystal effect on two dimensional optically transparent substrates, which can be duplicated in high volumes. Therefore, there exists a need in the decorative glass industry to provide a process which produces a translucent three-dimensional optical effect which closely simulates natural ice crystal formation on a suitable substrate, wherein the pattern can be reproduced in large quantities.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In its broadest aspect, the present invention provides a three-dimensional optical effect simulating the appearance of a natural ice formation on the surface of substrates, such as a glass or a plastic. It is preferred that the substrate is optically transparent, although translucent and opaque substrates can be used. The ice crystal formation produced by the present process closely resembles ice crystal formations found in nature by substantially reducing the fern-like surface patterns associated with the prior art methods discussed. In accordance with the present invention in its broadest aspect, the process for producing an article having a three dimensional optical effect pattern comprises the steps of:
a. applying a screen pattern of the ice crystal formation onto a substrate;
b. screen printing a polymer coating composition on the substrate; and
c. curing the polymer coating composition to provide a three dimensional translucent simulated ice crystal formation having from 0 to 50 percent of the surface area within said formation containing a fern-like surface pattern;
The polymer coating composition is selected from synthetic thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers, which can be cured by thermally initiated polymerization or by photo-initiated polymerization or by a combination of these processes.
The process yields an article of manufacture which possess high standards of quality control regarding the reproducibility of the ice crystal formation.
It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a simulated ice crystal formation which has a three dimensional appearance on a substrate, such as a glass or a plastic material.
Another object of this invention is to provide a clear substrate with a simulated ice crystal formation that more closely resembles a natural ice crystal formation by controlling the amount and the configuration of the fern-like pattern formation and that is reproducible in a commercial process.
Another related object of this invention is to provide a decorative ice crystal effect on optically transparent substrates.
A more particular object of this invention is to provide a process which imparts a translucent three-dimensional simulated ice crystal formation on transparent substrates, such as doors and panels of refrigerated units.
An associated particular object of this invention is to provide a process which produces a three-dimensional simulated translucent ice crystal formation on translucent and opaque substrates such as drinking glasses, mugs, panels and bottles.
A further particular object of this invention is to provide a three dimensional appearance simulating a natural ice crystal formation on a suitable substrate wherein the pattern is continuous.
Yet another particular object of this invention is to provide a three dimensional appearance simulating a natural ice crystal formation on a suitable substrate wherein the pattern is discontinuous.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4451329 (1984-05-01), Batchelor et al.
patent: 4781968 (1988-11-01), Kellerman
patent: 3329599 (1985-03-01), None
patent: 3-224708 (1991-10-01), None
patent: 6-24119 (1994-02-01), None
Chubb Richard A.
Grant Thomas
John Lezdey & Assoc
Pianalto Bernard
Thermoseal Glass Corporation
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