US4617222A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Process for obtaining areas of distinctive appearance on synthetic coverings and the product derived therefrom
Assignee: Eurofloor SA
•
Filing: 1984-04-25
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Granted: 1986-10-14
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Expires: 2004-04-25
Abstract
Abstract A process and product is presented for obtaining selective areas of distinctive appearance, i.e., matting on synthetic coverings. The process includes, depositing a polymeric coating which contains at least one radiation initiator for polymerization onto at least a first selected area or zone on an expandable or non-expandable support substrate. Next, at least one second coating comprised of a crosslinkable monomer is deposited onto a second selected area on the substrate. This second area or zone may encompass at least a portion of the first area. Thereafter, pre-gelling is performed on the deposited material followed by a graining operation which is carried out over at least a portion of the substrate surface. The synthetic covering in the first zone or area is then polymerized by radiation initiation wherein the particular appearance thereof is fixed to the substrate. Thereafter, gelling is carried out wherein the polymer which has not been fixed by radiation initiation will flow, i.e., fluidize, such that the grained appearance in the second area or zone will disappear, i.e., smooth over. This gelling may also cause some expansion of the polymer on the substrate.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean-Francois Courtoy
- 👤 Daniel Marchal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 08:18
CPC Classifications
B; B44; B44C; B44C1/00; B44C1/20; B44C1/205; D; D06; D06N; D06N7/00; D06N7/0005; D06N7/0007; D06N7/0013; D06N7/0023; D06N7/0028; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24355; Y10T428/24364
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A process of obtaining areas of distinctive appearance on a synthetic covering, the covering including a support layer, including the steps of: depositing at least a first polymeric coating having at least one radiation initiator therein onto a first selected area of said support layer; depositing at least a second polymeric coating onto a second selected area of said support layer, at least a portion of said second polymeric coating comprising a crosslinkable monomer; pre-gelling said deposited coatings; mechanically graining selected areas of said deposited coatings to form a matted surface; polymerizing said first polymeric coating via said radiation initiator wherein said first polymeric coating is fixed to said support layer, and wherein said matted surface on said first polymeric coating is fixed thereon; and gelling said second polymeric coating to cause fluidization of said second polymeric coating thereby smoothing said matted surface thereon.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
A process of obtaining areas of distinctive appearance on a synthetic covering, the covering including a support layer, including the steps of: depositing at least a first polymeric coating having at least one radiation initiator therein onto a first selected area of said support layer; depositing at least a second polymeric coating onto a second selected area of said support layer, at least a portion of said second polymeric coating comprising a crosslinkable monomer; pre-gelling said deposited coatings; mechanically graining selected areas of said deposited coatings to form a matted surface; polymerizing said first polymeric coating via said radiation initiator wherein said first polymeric coating is fixed to said support layer, and wherein said matted surface on said first polymeric coating is fixed thereon; and gelling said second polymeric coating to cause fluidization of said second polymeric coating thereby smoothing said matted surface thereon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said support layer is non-expandable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said support layer is expandable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 3 including: expanding said support layer during gelling.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 including: depositing said second polymeric coating over at least a portion of said first polymeric coating.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein: said radiation initiator is an ultraviolet polymerization initiator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 6 wherein: said ultraviolet initiator is in the form of an ink or an extender.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The process of claim 6 wherein said ultraviolet initiator is at least one of the initiators selected from the group consisting of: benzophenone, 2-chloro-thioxanthone, 2-methyl-thioxanthone, 2-isopropyl-thioxanthone, benzoin, 4,4'-dimethoxybenzoin, benzoin ethyl ether, benzoin isopropyl ether, benzyldimethylketal, 1,1,1-trichloro-acetophenone, 1-phenyl-1,2-propanedione-2-(ethoxycarbonyl)-oxime, diethoxyacetophenone, dibenzosuberone, DAROCUR®1398, (1-(3,4-dimethylbutyl)-2-hydroxy-2-methyl-propan-1-on), DAROCUR®1174, (1-(4-chlorobutyl)-2-hydroxy-2-methyl-propan-1-on), DAROCUR®1020 (1-(4-tertiobutyl)-2-hydroxy-2-methyl-propan-1-on), DAROCUR®1116 (1-(4-isopropylphenyl)-2-hydroxy-2-methyl-propan-1-on) and DAROCUR®1173 (2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenyl-propan-1-on).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 7 wherein: said ink or extender comprises between about 1 to about 50 weight percent of ultraviolet initiator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein: at least one of said first and second polymeric coatings is provided with an expansion inhibitor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 10 wherein: said expansion inhibitor is trimellitic anhydride.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein: said crosslinkable monomer is a monomer having at least two propagation sites.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
92 words
The process of claim 12 wherein said crosslinkable monomer is at least one of the monomers selected from the group consisting of: ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, ethylene glycol diacrylate, diethylene glycol dimethacrylate, diethylene glycol diacrylate, triethylene glycol dimethacrylate, triethylene glycol diacrylate, tetraethylene glycol dimethacrylate, tetraethylene diacrylate, polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate, polyethylene glycol diacrylate, 1,3-butylene glycol dimethacrylate, 1,4-butylene glycol dimethacrylate, 1,3-butylene glycol diacrylate, 1,4-butylene glycol diacrylate, 1,6-hexanediol dimethacrylate, 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate, neopentyl glycol diacrylate, neopentyl glycol dimethacrylate, (ethoxylated) bis-phenol A dimethacrylate, divinylbenzene, divinyltoluene, trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, pentaerythritol triacrylate, glyceryl trimethacrylate, pentaerythritol tetracrylate and pentaerythritol tetramethacrylate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 12 wherein: said crosslinkable monomer also includes monomer compounds having one propagation site.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein: said second coating comprises between about 2 to about 50 weight percent of crosslinkable monomer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 including: depositing plastisol in accordance with a silk-screen printing process to obtain relief.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 7 including: depositing said ink or extender via a technique selected from the group consisting of photogravure, silk screen and flexographic printing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein: said pre-gelling is carried out at a temperature of between about 100 to 160 degrees centigrade.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 1 wherein: said graining is carried out at a temperature of about 100 degrees centigrade and a pressure depending upon the amount of mattness to be effected.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 4 wherein: said expansion is carried out at about 200 degrees centigrade for between about one minute to about two minutes, 30 seconds.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein: said pre-gelling and graining stages are carried out simultaneously using a heated graining roller.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 including: heating said synthetic covering via infrared radiation.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1 including: enhancing said fluidization by use of a mechanical treatment.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 23 wherein said mechanical treatment is selected from the group consisting of a smooth roller and a textured roller.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein: at least two radiation initiators are utilized in the same or different polymeric coatings.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 25 including: triggering each radiation initiator via a physiochemical effect specific to each of said radiation initiators either directly or via a radiation energy transfer agent.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 25 wherein: the polymerization initiation energy provided by radiation in said first coating does not initiate polymerization in said other coatings.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 26 wherein: said radiation initiator is triggered by a physiochemical effect selected from the group consisting of X-rays, electron beam and gamma radiation.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 26 wherein: said radiation energy transfer agent triggers said radiation initiator in a hot oven.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1 wherein: at least a portion of said support layer comprises a plastisol.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1 including: depositing a transparent plastisol coating over said first and second polymeric coatings to act as a wear layer.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
149 words
The synthetic covering derived from a process of obtaining areas of distinctive appearance on a synthetic covering, the covering including a support layer, including the steps of: depositing at least a first polymeric coating having a least one radiation initiator therein onto a first selected area of said support layer; depositing at least a second polymeric coating onto a second selected area of said support layer, at least a portion of said second polymeric coating comprising a crosslinkable monomer; pre-gelling said deposited coatings; mechanically graining selected areas of said deposited coatings to form a matted surface; polymerizing said first polymeric coating via said radiation initiator wherein said first polymeric coating is fixed to said support layer, and wherein said matted surface on said first polymeric coating is fixed thereon; and gelling said second polymeric coating to cause fluidization of said second polymeric coating thereby smoothing said matted surface thereon.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
149 words
The synthetic covering derived from a process of obtaining areas of distinctive appearance on a synthetic covering, the covering including a support layer, including the steps of: depositing at least a first polymeric coating having a least one radiation initiator therein onto a first selected area of said support layer; depositing at least a second polymeric coating onto a second selected area of said support layer, at least a portion of said second polymeric coating comprising a crosslinkable monomer; pre-gelling said deposited coatings; mechanically graining selected areas of said deposited coatings to form a matted surface; polymerizing said first polymeric coating via said radiation initiator wherein said first polymeric coating is fixed to said support layer, and wherein said matted surface on said first polymeric coating is fixed thereon; and gelling said second polymeric coating to cause fluidization of said second polymeric coating thereby smoothing said matted surface thereon.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1 including: providing at least one radiation initiator to said second polymeric coating.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process of claim 33 including: triggering each radiation initiator in said polymeric coatings via a physiochemical effect specific to each of said radiation initiators either directly or via a radiation energy transfer agent.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 33 wherein: the polymerization initiation energy provided by radiation in said first coating does not initiate polymerization in said other coatings.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 34 wherein: said radiation initiators are triggered by a physiochemical effect selected from the group consisting of X-rays, electron beam and gamma radiation.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 35 wherein: said radiation initiators are of the same type.
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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) | 1989-10-13 | 1990-04-14 | 1990-10-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-10-13 | 1994-04-14 | 1994-10-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-10-13 | 1998-04-14 | 1998-10-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |