US4101698A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Elastomeric reflective metal surfaces
Assignee: Avery Dennison Corp
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Filing: 1975-07-14
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Granted: 1978-07-18
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Expires: 1995-07-14
Abstract
Abstract An elastomeric transfer laminate for providing decorative reflective metal finishes on the outer surfaces of articles of various shapes includes an effectively transparent elastomeric layer, such as polyurethane film, and a layer of highly reflective metal, such as chromium, bonded to the elastomeric layer. The metal is applied in microscopically discontinuous quantities, but in an amount to form an apparently visually continuous, planar, highly reflective surface. A typical technique is vapor deposition. The elastomeric layer provides an effectively transparent protective outer covering for the reflective metal layer when the laminate is bonded to a substrate. The laminate can be stretched to conform to three-dimensional shapes, and bonded to an elastomeric substrate, such as urethane rubber, to produce an article having a reflective metal surface which can be distorted temporarily during use without disrupting the reflectivity of the metal layer.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard E. Dunning
- 👤 Victor H. Rampelberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 18:10
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B27/00; B32B27/40; B29; B29C; B29C45/00; B29C45/14; B29C45/14778; B29C45/14811; B44; B44C; B44C1/00; B44C1/10; B44C1/14; B44C1/16; B44C1/165; B44C1/17; B44C1/1704; B44C1/1712; B44C1/1716; B44F; B44F1/00; B44F1/02; B44F1/04; B29C45/1418; B29K; B29K2715/00; B29K2715/006; B29L; B29L2009/00; B29L2009/005; B29L2009/008; B32B2255/00; B32B2255/20; B32B2255/205; B32B2307/00; B32B2307/40; B32B2307/412; B32B2307/414; B32B2451/00; B60; B60R; B60R13/00; B60R13/04; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/914; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/14; Y10T428/1438; Y10T428/1443; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24802; Y10T428/24851; Y10T428/24868; Y10T428/24876; Y10T428/24917; Y10T428/28; Y10T428/2804; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31551; Y10T428/31605
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A laminate for transferring a decorative metallized finish to a substrate comprising a substantially transparent, flexible and foldable, self-supporting elastomeric film of polyurethane material; a reflective metal layer bonded to a surface of the elastomeric film in microscopically discontinuous quantities in an amount which forms an apparent optically continuous reflective surface and which is elastically deformable in response to corresponding deformation of the elastomeric film; and an adherence layer on the side of the metal layer opposite the elastomeric film for adherently attaching the metal layer to a substrate so the elastomeric film provides a protective outer covering for the adherently attached reflective metal layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
A laminate for transferring a decorative metallized finish to a substrate comprising a substantially transparent, flexible and foldable, self-supporting elastomeric film of polyurethane material; a reflective metal layer bonded to a surface of the elastomeric film in microscopically discontinuous quantities in an amount which forms an apparent optically continuous reflective surface and which is elastically deformable in response to corresponding deformation of the elastomeric film; and an adherence layer on the side of the metal layer opposite the elastomeric film for adherently attaching the metal layer to a substrate so the elastomeric film provides a protective outer covering for the adherently attached reflective metal layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A laminate according to claim 1 in which the reflective metal layer is selected from the group consisting of chromium and alloys of chromium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
A laminate according to claim 1 in which the reflective metal layer is selected from the group consisting of chromium; nickel; alloys of chromium and nickel; alloys of chromium and iron; alloys of iron, nickel and chromium; aluminum; alloys of aluminum; antimony; tin; magnesium; indium; platinum; silver; rhodium; and palladium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A laminate according to claim 1 including an opaque layer on a side of the reflective metal layer opposite the elastomeric film for reinforcing the opacity of the metal layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A laminate according to claim 4 in which the opaque layer is a substantially elastomeric layer of metal flakes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A laminate according to claim 4 in which the opaque layer includes a stretchable layer of pigment material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A laminate according to claim 4 in which the reflective metal layer is selected from the group consisting of chromium; nickel; alloys of chromium and nickel; alloys of chromium and iron; alloys of iron, nickel and chromium; aluminum; alloys of aluminum; antimony; tin; magnesium; indium; platinum; silver; rhodium; and palladium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
133 words
A laminate for transferring a decorative metallized finish to a substrate comprising a substantially transparent, flexible and foldable, self-supporting elastomeric film of polyurethane material; a reflective metal layer bonded to a surface of the polyurethane film in microscopically discontinuous quantities in an amount which forms an apparent optically continuous reflective surface and which is elastically deformable in response to corresponding deformation of the polyurethane film such that the metal layer retains its continuous, reflective appearance after being deformed; a substantially elastomeric layer of opaque material on a side of the metal layer opposite the polyurethane film for reinforcing the opacity of the metal layer; and a layer for adherently attaching the reflective metal layer to a substrate so the polyurethane film provides a protective outer covering for the adherently attached reflective metal layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
133 words
A laminate for transferring a decorative metallized finish to a substrate comprising a substantially transparent, flexible and foldable, self-supporting elastomeric film of polyurethane material; a reflective metal layer bonded to a surface of the polyurethane film in microscopically discontinuous quantities in an amount which forms an apparent optically continuous reflective surface and which is elastically deformable in response to corresponding deformation of the polyurethane film such that the metal layer retains its continuous, reflective appearance after being deformed; a substantially elastomeric layer of opaque material on a side of the metal layer opposite the polyurethane film for reinforcing the opacity of the metal layer; and a layer for adherently attaching the reflective metal layer to a substrate so the polyurethane film provides a protective outer covering for the adherently attached reflective metal layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
A laminate according to claim 8 in which the reflective metal layer is selected from the group consisting of chromium; nickel; alloys of chromium and nickel; alloys of chromium and iron; alloys of iron, nickel and chromium; aluminum; alloys of aluminum; antimony; tin; magnesium; indium; platinum; silver; rhodium; palladium; and mixtures thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
A laminate according to claim 8 in which the opaque layer comprises metal flakes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
A laminate according to claim 10 in which the metal flakes comprise aluminum pigment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A laminate according to claim 10 in which the adherence layer comprises a flexible layer of adhesive.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-07-17 | 1982-01-16 | 1982-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-07-17 | 1986-01-16 | 1986-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-07-17 | 1990-01-16 | 1990-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |