Patent US4657807A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4657807A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bright metalized fabric and method of producing such a fabric
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1986-07-14
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Granted: 1987-04-14
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Expires: 2006-07-14
Abstract
Abstract A bright-finish metal-coated fabric having a metal layer directly deposited on the fabric. A fabric, selected to be capable of flattening or polishing under heat and pressure, is pressed against a heated surface and is then vacuum metalized. In a preferred embodiment, a thermoplastic fabric is flattened against a hot roll in a calender press under high pressure, and aluminum is then vapor-deposited.
Inventors
- 👤 Myron M. Fuerstman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 22:23
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06M; D06M10/00; D06M10/04; D06M10/06; D06M11/00; D06M11/83; D06M11/84; D06Q; D06Q1/00; D06Q1/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/30; Y10T442/3382; Y10T442/3398; Y10T442/40; Y10T442/475
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of producing a fabric having a bright-finish metallic appearance, comprising: (a) providing a fabric comprising fibers which can be flattened by heat or pressure, (b) flattening or polishing a surface of said fabric by pressing it against a smooth heated surface, and (c) then depositing a reflective metal material directly onto the flattened or polished surface.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of producing a fabric having a bright-finish metallic appearance, comprising: (a) providing a fabric comprising fibers which can be flattened by heat or pressure, (b) flattening or polishing a surface of said fabric by pressing it against a smooth heated surface, and (c) then depositing a reflective metal material directly onto the flattened or polished surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said depositing step is a vacuum metalizing step.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said heated surface is a polished metal cylinder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 3, characterized by providing relative motion between said fabric and the heated surface against which it is pressed.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of producing a thermoplastic fabric having a bright-finish metallic appearance, comprising: (a) providing a fabric comprising yarns including a thermoplastic material, (b) heating a hard roll of a calendering press to a temperature sufficient at least slightly to soften a surface of the fabric upon contact with the roll, (c) calendering said fabric under high pressure between said heated hard roll and a second roll of the press, and then (d) depositing a metal layer on the surface of the fabric contacted by said heated roll.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of producing a thermoplastic fabric having a bright-finish metallic appearance, comprising: (a) providing a fabric comprising yarns including a thermoplastic material, (b) heating a hard roll of a calendering press to a temperature sufficient at least slightly to soften a surface of the fabric upon contact with the roll, (c) calendering said fabric under high pressure between said heated hard roll and a second roll of the press, and then (d) depositing a metal layer on the surface of the fabric contacted by said heated roll.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the depositing step is a vacuum metalizing step.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the heated hard roll is a steel roll having a polished surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that said heated hard roll has a mirror-like chromed surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that said heated hard roll has a multiplicity of fine lines engraved in its surface, arranged at an acute angle with the horizontal of the fabric.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that said fabric is selected to be a woven fabric having twisted yarns, said acute angle is approximately 20°, and the lines in said heated hard roll are arranged in the direction of twist of the yarns.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that said heated roll is a metallic roll, and said secondroll is a hard roll having a surface of non-metallic material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that said heated roll is a metallic roll, and said second roll is a metallic roll having a surface of a more resilient material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that said second roll has a cooled surface.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of producing a fabric having a bright-finish metallic appearance, comprising: (a) providing a fabric comprising thermoplastic material, (b) selecting a calendering press having a hard metal first roll and a second roll, (c) heating said first roll to a temperature of at least approximately 250° F., (d) then calendering said fabric between said rolls at a pressure of at least approximately 21/2 tons per foot, and then (e) depositing a reflective metal layer at least on the fabric surface contacted by the first roll.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of producing a fabric having a bright-finish metallic appearance, comprising: (a) providing a fabric comprising thermoplastic material, (b) selecting a calendering press having a hard metal first roll and a second roll, (c) heating said first roll to a temperature of at least approximately 250° F., (d) then calendering said fabric between said rolls at a pressure of at least approximately 21/2 tons per foot, and then (e) depositing a reflective metal layer at least on the fabric surface contacted by the first roll.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that said first roll has a relief pattern formed by raised polished areas and intervening recessed areas, for producing a patterned fabric.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that said press is a friction calender.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that said fabric is selected to consist essentially of polyester yarns, and that the first roll is heated to a temperature between approximately 385° F. and 450° F.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 17, characterized in that the calendering pressure is between approximately 5 and 13 tons per foot.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that said temperature is approximately 425° F. and said pressure is approximately 10 tons per foot.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
A metallic coated fabric, having a glossy shine, produced by the method of claim 1.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in claim 5, comprising the step of subsequently applying a transparent top coating over the metal layer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 21, characterized in that said top coating contains a transparent dye.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 21, characterized in that said top coating comprises a polyurethane material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 23, characterized in that the polyurethane material is applied in a system comprising at least 35% solids.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
A metallic coated fabric, having a colored glossy shine, produced by the method of claim 22.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
A metallic coated fabric, having a glossy shine, produced by the method of claim 5.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
A metallic coated fabric, having a glossy shine, produced by the method of claim 7.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
A metallic coated fabric, having a glossy shine, produced by the method of claim 11.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
A metallic coated fabric, having a glossy shine, produced by the method of claim 14.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
A metallic coated fabric, having a glossy shine, produced by the method of claim 18.
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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) | 1990-04-13 | 1990-10-13 | 1991-04-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-04-13 | 1994-10-13 | 1995-04-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-04-13 | 1998-10-13 | 1999-04-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |