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US4889413A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Manufacture of photochromic articles

Assignee: Pilkington Group Ltd
•
Filing: 1988-05-19
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Granted: 1989-12-26
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Expires: 2008-05-19
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Abstract

Abstract A process for producing a polyurethane plastics having photochromic properties, characterized in that the process comprises in a first step incorporating a reversible cleavage photochromic compound into at least one di-isocyanate compound or at least one polyol or a mixture of a di-isocyanate and one or more polyols or into any other component of a mixture which, when polymerized, will yield a polyurethane; combining the mixture from the first step with any other necessary components to enable polymerization to occur; and polymerizing the resultant mixture to form a polyurethane incorporating the said photochromic compound. The photochromic polyurethane plastics of the invention are useful as intermediate layers in glass or plastics laminates for architectural applications or for use in vehicle windows or roof-lights.

Inventors

  • 👤 Mary E. Ormsby
  • 👤 William R. Maltman

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 19:06
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03C; G03C1/00; G03C1/685; G03C1/72; G03C1/73; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S359/00; Y10S359/90

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim 85 words
A process for producing polyurethane plastics having photochromic properties from at least one di-isocyanate compound and at least one polyol, which process comprises selecting at least one di-isocyanate compound together with at least one polyol and a polyurethane polymerisation catalyst, incorporating a reversible cleavage photochromic compound into at least one of the selected at least one di-isocyanate compound and the selected at least one polyol; forming a mixture including the photochromic compound; and polymerising the mixture to form a polyurethane incorporating the said photochromic compound.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 85 words
A process for producing polyurethane plastics having photochromic properties from at least one di-isocyanate compound and at least one polyol, which process comprises selecting at least one di-isocyanate compound together with at least one polyol and a polyurethane polymerisation catalyst, incorporating a reversible cleavage photochromic compound into at least one of the selected at least one di-isocyanate compound and the selected at least one polyol; forming a mixture including the photochromic compound; and polymerising the mixture to form a polyurethane incorporating the said photochromic compound.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 14 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the resultant polyurethane is a thermoset polyurethane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 14 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the resultant polyurethane is a thermoplastic polyurethane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 16 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the resultant polyurethane is an aliphatic or alicyclic polyurethane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 25 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the at least one di-isocyanate compound of the polyurethane is a di-cyclohexylmethane di-isocyanate, toluene di-isocyanate or mixtures thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 28 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the at least one polyol compound of the polyurethane is a polyester derived from caprolactone, a polyetherdiol, trimethylolpropane, or mixtures thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 24 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the photochromic compound is a spiro-pyran, a spiro-oxazine, a chromene, or a heliochrome derived from a fulgide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 89 words
A process according to claim 7, wherein the photochromic compound is a heliochrome compound of formula (I) as defined in Example 1, a chromene compound of formula (II) as defined in Example 2 or of formula (III) as defined in Example 3 or of formula (IV) as defined in Example 4, a spiro-oxazine compound of formula (V) as defined in Example 5 or of formula (VI) as defined in Example 6 or of formula (VII) as defined in Example 7 or of formula (VIII) as defined in Example 8.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 21 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the photochromic compound is dissolved in the at least one polyol of the polyurethane.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 21 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the photochromic compound is dissolved in the at least one di-isocyanate of the polyurethane.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 25 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the polymerisation of the polyurethane mixture is performed between two optically clear sheets thereby to form a laminate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 36 words
A process according to claim 11, wherein one or both of said sheets is replaced by a mould element carrying a mould release agent thereby to form a bi-layer laminate or an unsupported polyurethane sheet respectively.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 28 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the polyurethane mixture is coated onto or impregnated into the surface of an article prior to polymerisation of the polyurethane mixture.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 26 words
A process according to claim 13, wherein a diluent is added to the polyurethane mixture thereby to facilitate coating of the article with the polyurethane mixture.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 125 words
A photochromic polyurethane-containing laminate comprising two outer optically clear sheets of glass or plastics having adhered thereto an intermediate layer of a polyurethane plastics having photochromic properties, the polyurethane being formed by polymerisation of at least one di-isocyanate compound with at least one polyol wherein the laminate has been prepared by a process which comprises selecting at least one di-isocyanate compound together with at least one polyol and a polyurethane polymerisation catalyst, incorporating a reversible cleavage photochromic compound into at least one of the selected at least one di-isocyanate compound and the selected at least one polyol; forming a mixture including the photochromic compound; introducing the mixture into an intermediate space between the said sheets, and polymerising the mixture to form the said intermediate layer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 125 words
A photochromic polyurethane-containing laminate comprising two outer optically clear sheets of glass or plastics having adhered thereto an intermediate layer of a polyurethane plastics having photochromic properties, the polyurethane being formed by polymerisation of at least one di-isocyanate compound with at least one polyol wherein the laminate has been prepared by a process which comprises selecting at least one di-isocyanate compound together with at least one polyol and a polyurethane polymerisation catalyst, incorporating a reversible cleavage photochromic compound into at least one of the selected at least one di-isocyanate compound and the selected at least one polyol; forming a mixture including the photochromic compound; introducing the mixture into an intermediate space between the said sheets, and polymerising the mixture to form the said intermediate layer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 26 words
A photochromic polyurethane-containing laminate according to claim 15, wherein the photochromic compound is a spiro-pyran, a spiro-oxazine, a chromene, or a heliochrome derived from a fulgide.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 91 words
A photochromic polyurethane-containing laminate according to claim 15, wherein the photochromic compound is a heliochrome compound of formula (I) as defined in Example 1, a chromene compound of formula (II) as defined in Example 2 or of formula (III) as defined in Example 3 or of formula (IV) as defined in Example 4, a spiro-oxazine compound of formula (V) as defined in Example 5 or of formula (VI) as defined in Example 6 or of formula (VII) as defined in Example 7 or of formula (VIII) as defined in Example 8.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 14 words
A photochromic polyurethane laminate according to claim 15, wherein the said sheets are flat.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 14 words
A photochromic polyurethane laminate according to claim 15, in the form of a lens.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 21 words
A window for architectural use or for use in a vehicle, the window incorporating a laminate as claimed in claim 15.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 11 words
A vehicle roof-light incorporating a laminate as claimed in claim 15.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 117 words
A reflecting system comprising a reflecting surface such as paper, card or plastics sheet coated with or impregnated with a photochromic polyurethane plastics coating, formed by polymerisation of at least one di-isocyanate compound with at least one polyol, the photochromic polyurethane coating having been prepared by selecting at one least di-isocyanate compound together with at least one polyol and a polyurethane polymerisation catalyst incorporating a reversible cleavage photochromic compound into at least one of the selected at least one di-isocyanate compound and the selected at least one polyol; forming a mixture including the photochromic compound; coating or impregnating the reflecting surface with the mixture and polymerising the said mixture to form the said photochromic polyurethane plastics coating.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 117 words
A reflecting system comprising a reflecting surface such as paper, card or plastics sheet coated with or impregnated with a photochromic polyurethane plastics coating, formed by polymerisation of at least one di-isocyanate compound with at least one polyol, the photochromic polyurethane coating having been prepared by selecting at one least di-isocyanate compound together with at least one polyol and a polyurethane polymerisation catalyst incorporating a reversible cleavage photochromic compound into at least one of the selected at least one di-isocyanate compound and the selected at least one polyol; forming a mixture including the photochromic compound; coating or impregnating the reflecting surface with the mixture and polymerising the said mixture to form the said photochromic polyurethane plastics coating.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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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) 1992-12-25 1993-06-26 1993-12-26 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-12-25 1997-06-26 1997-12-26 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-12-25 2001-06-26 2001-12-26 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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