Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Composite – Of silicon containing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-13
2002-10-01
Dawson, Robert (Department: 1712)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Composite
Of silicon containing
C428S331000, C428S336000, C428S407000, C428S409000, C428S412000, C428S446000, C252S582000, C252S589000, C252S600000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06458462
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to sporting goods articles that are coated for abrasion resistance or for both abrasion resistance and a high gloss appearance. More specifically, the invention relates to sporting goods article comprising a substrate, and a coating provided on at least a portion of a surface of said substrate, wherein said portion of said surface of said substrate has at least an outer layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of polymers, woods, metals, non-polymeric inks, non-polymeric colorants, non-polymeric dyes, and combinations thereof, wherein said coating comprises a cured ceramer composition that is derived from ingredients comprising inorganic oxide particles and a curable organic matrix, and wherein said curable organic matrix comprises at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer and at least one organofunctional silane monomer coupling agent.
BACKGROUND
Sporting goods, by virtue of their use, are subject to rough treatment. For instance, sporting goods are subject to abrasion from many different sources. In order to maintain the high performance and appearance of such sporting goods, it is desirable to protect them from damage by abrasion. In addition, it is desirable to protect the graphics, or their appearance, on such sporting goods from abrasion.
To protect the surfaces of other articles from abrasion and scratching, a ceramer layer has been coated onto one or more portions of the surfaces of such articles. One particularly excellent ceramer composition is described in WO 99/38034 (Bilkadi et al.).
Ceramers have been used on articles for abrasion resistance and/or a high gloss appearance. Some examples include traffic signs, pavement markers, lenses for glasses, and microwave oven doors.
Currently, some sporting goods are coated with materials, other than ceramers, to protect their surfaces from abrasion. For example, the outer surface of some skis are protected with a polyamide or polyester polymeric layer. Sporting goods can also be coated with lacquers, which enhance their appearance and offer some protection. However, the coatings currently used on sporting goods do not perform as necessary to resist most types of abrasion normally observed under normal usage.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present inventors have recognized a need for a coating on sporting goods articles that will effectively protect the articles from abrasion, and additionally, if desired, provide a high gloss appearance. The present invention is a sporting goods article including a coating that provides effective abrasion resistance and a high gloss appearance if desired. The coating may also may protect graphics that are part of the sporting goods article.
The present invention relates to, in its simplest embodiment, a sporting goods article comprising a substrate, and a coating provided on at least a portion of a surface of said substrate, wherein said portion of said surface of said substrate has at least an outer layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of polymers, woods, metals, non-polymeric inks, non-polymeric colorants, non-polymeric dyes, and combinations thereof, wherein said coating comprises a cured ceramer composition that is derived from ingredients comprising inorganic oxide particles and a curable organic matrix, and wherein said curable organic matrix comprises at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer and at least one organofunctional silane monomer coupling agent.
The coating of said cured ceramer composition is effective to improve the abrasion resistance of said portion of said surface of said substrate that is coated with said cured ceramer composition. In addition, said coating is effective to enhance the gloss of said portion of said surface of said substrate.
The inorganic oxide particles may comprise silica particles. The particles may also comprise particles selected from the group consisting of silica, titania, zirconia, ceria, antimony, and combinations thereof.
The organofunctional silane monomer coupling agent may comprise a hydrolyzable organofunctional silane.
The ethylenically unsaturated monomer may comprise at least one multifunctional unsaturated monomer. Alternatively, there may be another, or second, ethylenically unsaturated monomer that may be at least one monofunctional ethylenically unsaturated monomer.
The most preferred cured ceramer composition is derived from the following ingredients: pentaeryritol triacrylate (the multifunctional ethylenically unsaturated monomer), N-vinyl caprolactam (the monofunctional ethylenically unsaturated monomer), (meth)acryloxypropyl methoxysilane (the coupling agent), and silica (inorganic oxides particles).
The thickness of the coating of the cured ceramer composition is not limited, except that it must be thick enough to be effective in resisting abrasion, for example. The thickness of the coating is, however, preferably about 1 to about 40 microns, and most preferably about 2 to about 10 microns.
Another embodiment is a sporting goods article comprising a substrate, and a coating provided on at least a portion of a surface of said substrate, wherein said portion of said surface of said substrate has at least an outer layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of polymers, woods, metals, non-polymeric inks, non-polymeric colorants, non-polymeric dyes, and combinations thereof, wherein said coating comprises a cured ceramer composition that is derived from ingredients comprising inorganic oxide particles and a curable organic matrix, and wherein said curable organic matrix comprises at least one multifunctional ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and at least one organofunctional silane monomer coupling agent. The curable organic matrix of the sporting goods article may further comprise at least one monofunctional ethylenically unsaturated monomer.
Another embodiment is a sporting goods article comprising a substrate, graphics, and a coating provided on at least a portion of a surface of said substrate, wherein said portion of said surface of said substrate has at least an outer layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of polymers, woods, metals, non-polymeric inks, non-polymeric colorants, non-polymeric dyes, wherein said coating comprises a cured ceramer composition that is derived from ingredients comprising inorganic oxide particles and a curable organic matrix, and wherein said curable organic matrix comprises at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer and at least one organofunctional silane monomer coupling agent.
Yet another embodiment is a ski comprising a substrate having a top surface, and a coating on at least a portion of said top surface, wherein said portion of said top surface of said substrate has at least an outer layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of polymers, woods, metals, non-polymeric inks, non-polymeric colorants, non-polymeric dyes, and combinations thereof, wherein said coating comprises a cured ceramer composition that is derived from ingredients comprising inorganic oxide particles and a curable organic matrix, and wherein said curable organic matrix comprises at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer and at least one organofunctional silane monomer coupling agent.
A further embodiment is a golf club comprising a shaft and a head, and a coating provided on at least a portion of a surface of said shaft, wherein said portion of said surface of said shaft has at least an outer layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of polymers, woods, metals, non-polymeric inks, non-polymeric colorants, non-polymeric dyes, and combinations thereof, wherein said coating comprises a cured ceramer composition that is derived from ingredients comprising inorganic oxide particles and a curable organic matrix, and wherein said curable organic matrix comprises at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer and at least one organofunctional silane monomer coupling agent.
An additional embodiment is a golf club comprising a shaft and a head, a
Kang Soonkun
Martin Steven J.
Norquist Scott G.
Rouser Forrest J.
Rowen Susan K.
3M Innovative Properties Company
Dawson Robert
Fagan Lisa M.
Keehan Christopher M.
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