Record receiver having plural interactive leaves or a colorless – Having a colorless color-former – developer therefor – or... – Spatial relationship specified between color-former and...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-29
2001-08-28
Hess, Bruce H. (Department: 1774)
Record receiver having plural interactive leaves or a colorless
Having a colorless color-former, developer therefor, or...
Spatial relationship specified between color-former and...
C427S150000, C427S152000, C428S029000, C503S200000, C503S227000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06281165
ABSTRACT:
The present invention is directed to an improved thermochromatic ink covered article, and particularly, to a thermochromatic ink covered article having an acrylic coating and an image visible on the acrylic coating, and a method of making the same.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known to coat an article such as, for example, a mug, kettle or dish with thermochromatic ink such that when the article undergoes a temperature change by, for example, hot liquid being poured thereinto, an image disposed on the article becomes visible as the thermochromatic ink becomes transparent, and when the article cools, the image “disappears.” Also known are thermochromatic inks that change from opaque to transparent as its temperature changes from hot to cold. With such inks, images can be made to “disappear” when the article is heated.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,958 to Berry describes a well-known article that incorporates thermochromatic ink in an amusement device that is heat activated. Berry's amusement device comprises a supporting substrate, a layer of micro encapsulated thermochromatic liquid crystal material disposed on the substrate and an outer transparent film having a message or visual image thereon. The requirement of a separate layer to carry the image, however, contributes to increased manufacturing costs in terms of both materials and process steps. Moreover, the Berry reference fails to provide any sort of protection for the transparent film. That is, the transparent film easily can be damaged by scratching or the like. Moreover still, an article manufactured in accordance with the disclosure of Berry is deficient in that no protection is afforded when the article is subjected to relatively harsh conditions, such as those presented by an automatic dishwasher.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,625 to Matsunami et al. is similar to Berry and discloses a thermochromatic laminate member having a base layer, a thermochromatic layer, and a thin transparent iridescent film laminated on the thermochromatic layer. Color patterns on the film become visible once the thermochromatic layer becomes clear after heating. An article fabricated in accordance with Matsunami et al., however, like an article made in accordance with Berry, requires a separate transparent film over the thermochromatic ink and, further, is susceptible to harsh conditions, wherein the laminate and even the thermochromatic ink layer can be damaged.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a thermochromatic ink covered article with an image thereon that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and can withstand wear and tear including the wear and tear associated with an automatic dishwasher.
It is a further object of the present invention to simplify the process of manufacturing a thermochromatic ink covered article by eliminating the step of positioning and disposing a transparent film over a thermochromatic ink layer.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a thermochromatic ink covered article having an image disposed thereon via sublimation ink transfer.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a thermochromatic ink covered article includes a substrate such as a mug or glass, a thermochromatic ink layer disposed on the substrate, a protective coating, preferably polymer acrylic, over the thermochromatic ink layer, and a design disposed at least partially in the protective coating so that it is visible when the thermochromatic ink is heated or disappears when cooled.
Preferably, the design is incorporated with the protective layer via sublimation inks and related processes.
To simplify manufacture, both the thermochromatic ink layer and protective layer preferably are sprayed onto the substrate. Further, to enhance the adhering properties of the sprayed thermochromatic ink, a mixture preferably is preliminarily prepared that includes the thermochromatic ink along with a base medium and a catalyst.
A preferred method of manufacturing the thermochromatic ink covered article in accordance with the present invention includes spraying thermochromatic ink on a substrate to produce a thermochromatic ink layer on the substrate, thereafter coating, via spraying, the thermochromatic ink layer with a protective coating that preferably comprises polymer acrylic, and applying a design to the protective coating, preferably via a sublimation transfer process, silk screen or fired ceramic decal.
The method preferably further includes washing, drying and heating the article prior to at least one of the spraying and coating steps, and curing the article after the thermochromatic ink spraying step. Additionally, the method of the present invention includes drying the article after the coating step.
In accordance with the present invention, a durable and relatively simple to manufacture thermochromatic ink covered article is provided; durable because the design is for all practical purposes permanently bonded with the polymer acrylic protective layer thereby making both the thermochromatic ink layer and design “dishwasher safe,” and simple to manufacture because of the relatively simple spraying and sublimation transfer steps.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4156365 (1979-05-01), Heinmets et al.
patent: 4554565 (1985-11-01), Kito et al.
patent: 4716145 (1987-12-01), Hess
patent: 4725462 (1988-02-01), Kimura
patent: 4853256 (1989-08-01), Obringer et al.
patent: 4888219 (1989-12-01), Barnes
patent: 4919983 (1990-04-01), Fremin
patent: 5219625 (1993-06-01), Matsunami et al.
patent: 5223958 (1993-06-01), Berry
patent: 5489567 (1996-02-01), Koshizuka et al.
patent: 5688592 (1997-11-01), Shibahashi et al.
patent: 5809590 (1998-09-01), Williams et al.
patent: 5820951 (1998-10-01), Osborne
patent: WO 98/57760 (1998-12-01), None
Hess Bruce H.
Nixon & Vanderhye PC
Presta Frank P.
World Wide Art Studios
LandOfFree
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