Method of producing dyed polymer-coated articles

Claim 1

A method of forming a colored slide fastener having textile stringer tapes and a metal slider comprising the steps of treating the slider in a process selected from a chromate process or a phosphoric process to form an adherent surface on the slider, electrostatically forming on the slider a first coating of a powdered nylon resin having an average particle size less than about 200 microns and including a white pigment, heating the first coating of powdered nylon resin to form a coherent first white film on the slider, electrostatically depositing a second coating of powdered nylon resin having an average particle size less than 200 microns, said second powdered nylon resin being absent of pigment and containing proton acceptor groups which are subject to irreversible transformation by heating above about 205° C., heating the second coating sufficiently to convert the coating into a coherent clear polymer film, said heating being less than about 205° C. and for less than a predetermined duration to allow a substantial quantity of the proton acceptor groups to remain untransformed, assembling the slider on fastener elements of the stringer tapes which are formed from a nylon textile material, and dyeing the slider and pair of stringer tapes to form a colored slide fastener.

Claim 2

A method of forming a colored slide fastener having textile stringer tapes and a metal slider comprising the steps of treating the slider in a process selected from a chromate process or a phosphoric process to form an adherent surface on the slider, electrostatically forming on the slider a first coating of a powdered nylon resin having an average particle size less than about 200 microns and including a white pigment, heating the first coating of powdered nylon resin to form a coherent first white film on the slider, electrostatically depositing a second coating of powdered nylon resin having an average particle size less than 200 microns, said second powdered nylon resin being absent of pigment and containing proton acceptor groups which are subject to irreversible transformation by heating above about 205° C., heating the second coating sufficiently to convert the coating into a coherent clear polymer film, said heating being less than about 205° C. and for less than a predetermined duration to allow a substantial quantity of the proton acceptor groups to remain untransformed, assembling the slider on fastener elements of the stringer tapes which are formed from a nylon textile material, and dyeing the slider and pair of stringer tapes to form a colored slide fastener.

Claim 3

A method of forming a colored coating on a metal article comprising steps of forming a first coherent layer of white polymer on the article; forming a second coherent layer of clear polymer on the first layer, said clear polymer being dyeable; said forming the second layer including (a) depositing on the first layer a coating of powdered solid polymer resin containing a substantial quantity of active proton acceptor groups which are subject to irreversible transformation by heating above a predetermined temperature, (b) heating the coating to a temperature sufficient to convert the coating into a coherent polymer film and below the predetermined temperature of irreversible transformation, and (c) maintaining a substantial quantity of active proton acceptor groups untransformed in the coherent polymer film; and dyeing the second coherent layer of clear polymer with an aqueous dye solution to form a colored coating on the article.

Claim 4

A method of forming a colored coating on a metal article comprising steps of forming a first coherent layer of white polymer on the article; forming a second coherent layer of clear polymer on the first layer, said clear polymer being dyeable; said forming the second layer including (a) depositing on the first layer a coating of powdered solid polymer resin containing a substantial quantity of active proton acceptor groups which are subject to irreversible transformation by heating above a predetermined temperature, (b) heating the coating to a temperature sufficient to convert the coating into a coherent polymer film and below the predetermined temperature of irreversible transformation, and (c) maintaining a substantial quantity of active proton acceptor groups untransformed in the coherent polymer film; and dyeing the second coherent layer of clear polymer with an aqueous dye solution to form a colored coating on the article.