Yarn product with combined fluorescent-phosphorescent appearance and method

Claim 1

A decorative composite laminated yarn product offering a combined phosphorescent and fluorescent decorative appearance, said yarn product comprising one or more filaments prepared from a composite laminate, said composite laminate consisting essentially of: A. paired outer layers of a thermoplastic resin, each of said outer layers having a thickness of up to about 1 mil; and B. a decorative layer disposed between said outer layers, said decorative layer having a thickness of up to about 4 mil and prepared from a composition consisting of; i. a colorant component, and ii. a resin binder material, iii. said colorant component present in a amount weight of up to 50% of the total weight of said composition, iv. said colorant component consisting of a phosphorescent colorant consisting essentially of an inorganic pigment in particulate form having a particle size ranging from about 4 microns to about 10 microns said inorganic pigment based on zinc sulfide, and a fluorescent colorant, said fluorescent colorant having a particule size ranging from about 3 microns to about 50 microns and comprising a fluorescing organic dye disposed in a thermoplastic resin material, and said phosphorescent colorant and said fluorescent colorant are present in a weight ratio with respect to each other that ranges from 1:1 to 19:1, and v. said resin binder material selected from the group consisting of polyester resins, polyurethan resins, acrylic polymers and copolymers, polyolefins, elastomers, and mixture thereof.

Claim 8

A method for preparing a decorative composite article offering a combined phosphorescent and fluorescent decorative appearance, consisting essentially of: A. providing a length of a thermoplastic resinous film having a thickness of up to about 1 mil; B. coating the thermoplastic resinous film with a composition consisting of i. a colorant component, and ii. a resin binder material, iii. said colorant component present in an amount by weight of up to 50% of the total weight of said composition, iv. said colorant component consisting of a phosphorescent colorant consisting essentially of an inorganic pigment in particulate form having a particle size ranging from about 4 microns to about 10 microns, said inorganic pigment based on zinc sulfide, and a fluorescent colorant having a particle size ranging from about 3 microns to about 50 microns and comprising a fluorescing organic dye disposed in a thermoplastic resin material, and said phorphorescent colorant and said fluorescent colorant are present in a weight ration with respect to each other, that ranges 1:1 to 19:1, v. said resin binder material selected from the group consisting of polyester resins, polyurethane resins, acrylic polymers and copolymers, polyolefins, elastomers, and mixtures thereof, vi. said composition having a viscosity of 23 seconds as measured with a No. 3 Zahn cup, and vii. wherein said composition is applied to said thermoplastic film to a thickness of up to about 2 mil and at a controlled velocity to prevent non uniform dispersion of said phosphorescent pigment when said composition impacts said film; C. drying the film coating in accordance with Step B above; D. preparing a second indefinite length of a coated film in accordance with the procedures outlined in Steps A-C above; E. laminating the coated films prepared in Steps A-D above to each other along their coated surfaces, by passing said films together through heated pressure rollers; and F. longitudinally slitting the composite laminate product prepared in Step E to form a plurality of filaments of said yarn product.

Claim 9

A method for preparing a decorative composite article offering a combined phosphorescent and fluorescent decorative appearance, consisting essentially of: A. providing a length of a thermoplastic resinous film having a thickness of up to about 1 mil; B. coating the thermoplastic resinous film with a composition consisting of i. a colorant component, and ii. a resin binder material, iii. said colorant component present in an amount by weight of up to 50% of the total weight of said composition, iv. said colorant component consisting of a phosphorescent colorant consisting essentially of an inorganic pigment in particulate form having a particle size ranging from about 4 microns to about 10 microns, said inorganic pigment based on zinc sulfide, and a fluorescent colorant having a particle size ranging from about 3 microns to about 50 microns and comprising a fluorescing organic dye disposed in a thermoplastic resin material, and said phorphorescent colorant and said fluorescent colorant are present in a weight ration with respect to each other, that ranges 1:1 to 19:1, v. said resin binder material selected from the group consisting of polyester resins, polyurethane resins, acrylic polymers and copolymers, polyolefins, elastomers, and mixtures thereof, vi. said composition having a viscosity of 23 seconds as measured with a No. 3 Zahn cup, and vii. wherein said composition is applied to said thermoplastic film to a thickness of up to about 2 mil and at a controlled velocity to prevent non uniform dispersion of said phosphorescent pigment when said composition impacts said film; C. drying the film coating in accordance with Step B above; D. preparing a second indefinite length of a coated film in accordance with the procedures outlined in Steps A-C above; E. laminating the coated films prepared in Steps A-D above to each other along their coated surfaces, by passing said films together through heated pressure rollers; and F. longitudinally slitting the composite laminate product prepared in Step E to form a plurality of filaments of said yarn product.