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US4246302A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Multi-band liquid crystal film laminate

Assignee: BELL JAMES R MR JR
•
Filing: 1979-06-27
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Granted: 1981-01-20
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Expires: 1999-06-27
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Abstract

Abstract A multi-band liquid crystal film for visual observation of two or more patterns is prepared by laminating at least two polyurethane films, each containing discrete aggregates of liquid crystals against a black film such that the visual response of the liquid crystals of each succeeding polyurethane film is different than that of the liquid crystals in the other film or films.

Inventors

  • 👤 William J. Benton
  • 👤 Joseph R. Quigley

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 23:04
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/01; A61B5/015; B; B32; B32B; B32B27/00; B32B27/06; B32B27/08; B32B27/18; B32B27/36; B32B27/40; G; G01; G01K; G01K11/00; G01K11/12; G01K11/16; G01K11/165; B32B2305/00; B32B2305/55; C; C09; C09K; C09K2323/00; C09K2323/02; C09K2323/025; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/913; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31551; Y10T428/31565

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 70 words
A multi-band liquid crystal laminate comprising (a) a black base film; (b) a first polyurethane film containing discrete aggregates of temperature-responsive liquid crystals having a selected response; (c) a transparent barrier applied to said first polyurethane film; (d) a second polyurethane film containing discrete aggregates of temperature-responsive liquid crystals having a response different from that of said first polyurethane film; (e) a transparent barrier applied to said second polyurethane film.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 70 words
A multi-band liquid crystal laminate comprising (a) a black base film; (b) a first polyurethane film containing discrete aggregates of temperature-responsive liquid crystals having a selected response; (c) a transparent barrier applied to said first polyurethane film; (d) a second polyurethane film containing discrete aggregates of temperature-responsive liquid crystals having a response different from that of said first polyurethane film; (e) a transparent barrier applied to said second polyurethane film.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 20 words
The laminate of claim 1 wherein the discrete aggregates of liquid crystals have particle sizes from 0.1 to 20 microns.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 18 words
The laminate of claim 1 wherein the said polyurethane films have a thickness of 5 to 100 microns.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 14 words
A laminate according to claim 1 wherein the said barrier film is polyethylene terephthalate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 53 words
The laminate of claim 1 wherein all of the said liquid crystals are temperature-responsive and the said laminate contains additional polyurethane films, each separated from the previous film by means of a transparent impervious film and wherein the response temperature of each succeeding film is lower than that of the previously applied film.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 20 words
The laminate of claim 1 wherein each polyurethane film has a liquid crystal content from 5 to 50 weight percent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 71 words
A multi-band thermographic laminate comprising (a) a black base film; (b) a first polyurethane film containing discrete aggregates of temperature-responsive liquid crystals having a selected response temperature; (c) a transparent barrier applied to said first polyurethane film; (d) a second polyurethane film containing discrete aggregates of temperature-responsive liquid crystals having a response temperature lower than that of said first polyurethane film; (e) a transparent barrier applied to said second polyurethane film.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 71 words
A multi-band thermographic laminate comprising (a) a black base film; (b) a first polyurethane film containing discrete aggregates of temperature-responsive liquid crystals having a selected response temperature; (c) a transparent barrier applied to said first polyurethane film; (d) a second polyurethane film containing discrete aggregates of temperature-responsive liquid crystals having a response temperature lower than that of said first polyurethane film; (e) a transparent barrier applied to said second polyurethane film.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 79 words
A multi-band liquid crystal film laminate comprising: (a) a base film; (b) a first polyurethane film containing discrete aggregates of thermally stabilized liquid crystals having a selected color response; (c) a transparent barrier film applied to the said first polyurethane film; (d) a second polyurethane film containing discrete aggregates of thermally stabilized liquid crystals having a selected color response differing from that of the said first polyurethane film; (e) a transparent barrier applied to the said second polyurethane film.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 79 words
A multi-band liquid crystal film laminate comprising: (a) a base film; (b) a first polyurethane film containing discrete aggregates of thermally stabilized liquid crystals having a selected color response; (c) a transparent barrier film applied to the said first polyurethane film; (d) a second polyurethane film containing discrete aggregates of thermally stabilized liquid crystals having a selected color response differing from that of the said first polyurethane film; (e) a transparent barrier applied to the said second polyurethane film.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 60 words
A multi-band liquid crystal film laminate as defined in claim 8 including: a third polyurethane film containing discrete aggregates of thermally stabilized liquid crystals having a selected color response differing from that of the said first polyurethane film and also differing from that of the said second polyurethane film; and a transparent barrier applied to the said third polyurethane film.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 28 words
A method for generating circularly polarized light which comprises reflecting a beam of light against a multi-band liquid crystal laminate as defined in claim 8 or claim 9.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 28 words
A method for generating circularly polarized light which comprises transmitting a beam of light through a liquid crystal film laminate as defined in claim 8 or claim 9.
Claim 15
Independent Claim 87 words
A method for determining the size, shape and location of void spaces in a metal article which comprises: (a) applying a multi-band thermographic film laminate to a surface of the said metal article; (b) changing the temperature of the said metal article through a range which includes the response temperature of at least one band of the said multi-band thermographic film laminate; (c) generating a visible color response of the said multi-band thermographic film laminate corresponding to the size, shape and location of the said void spaces.
Claim 16
Independent Claim 87 words
A method for determining the size, shape and location of void spaces in a metal article which comprises: (a) applying a multi-band thermographic film laminate to a surface of the said metal article; (b) changing the temperature of the said metal article through a range which includes the response temperature of at least one band of the said multi-band thermographic film laminate; (c) generating a visible color response of the said multi-band thermographic film laminate corresponding to the size, shape and location of the said void spaces.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 53 words
A method for determining the size, shape and location of heat sources beneath a surface which comprises: (a) applying a multi-band thermographic film laminate to the said surface; (b) generating a visible color response of the said multi-band thermographic film laminate corresponding to the size, shape and location of the said heat sources.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 53 words
A method for determining the size, shape and location of heat sources beneath a surface which comprises: (a) applying a multi-band thermographic film laminate to the said surface; (b) generating a visible color response of the said multi-band thermographic film laminate corresponding to the size, shape and location of the said heat sources.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3886014A Cited
US3872050A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1984-01-20 1984-07-21 1985-01-20 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1988-01-20 1988-07-21 1989-01-20 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1992-01-20 1992-07-21 1993-01-20 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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