US4931324A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Decorative sheet material simulating the appearance of a base coat/clear coat paint finish
Assignee: Soliant LLC
•
Filing: 1988-09-08
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Granted: 1990-06-05
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Expires: 2008-09-08
Abstract
Abstract A flexible decorative sheet material for use in surfacing automobile body panels and the like is disclosed. The sheet material is characterized by having the appearance of a glossy base coat/clear coat automotive paint finish. The material comprises a substantially transparent outer layer, and a pigmented coating on the undersurface of the outer layer which is visible therethrough. The pigmented coating preferably has reflective flakes uniformly distributed therein to impart to the sheet material the appearance of a base coat/clear coat paint finish. Also disclosed are shaped articles which have such sheet materials adhered to one side thereof, and a method for making such sheet materials.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas M. Ellison
- 👤 Robert A. Winton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:02
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C70/00; B29C70/68; B29C70/78; B29C45/00; B29C45/14; B29C45/14311; B29C45/14778; B29C45/14811; B32; B32B; B32B27/00; B32B27/06; B32B27/08; B44; B44C; B44C5/00; B44C5/04; B44F; B44F1/00; B44F1/02; B44F1/04; B60; B60R; B60R13/00; B60R13/02; B60R13/04; B62; B62D; B62D29/00; B62D29/04; B62D29/043; B29C45/16; B29C45/1657; B29C2045/166; B29C2045/1662; B29K; B29K2715/00; B29K2715/006; B29K2995/00; B29K2995/0018; B29K2995/002; B29K2995/0022; B29K2995/0026; B29K2995/0037; B29K2995/0072; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/722; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/14; Y10T428/1424; Y10T428/1429; Y10T428/1433; Y10T428/16; Y10T428/162; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24802; Y10T428/24893; Y10T428/24909
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A flexible decorative sheet material suitable for use in surfacing panels, such as automobile body panels, said sheet material being characterized by having the appearance of a glossy, base coat/clear coat automotive paint finish, and comprising a flexible outer layer having a smooth, glossy outer surface with a distinctness of image value of 65 percent or greater and formed of a flexible, optically clear weatherable polymer, and a pigmented coating adhered to the opposite surface of said outer layer and visible through the clear outer layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
86 words
A flexible decorative sheet material suitable for use in surfacing panels, such as automobile body panels, said sheet material being characterized by having the appearance of a glossy, base coat/clear coat automotive paint finish, and comprising a flexible outer layer having a smooth, glossy outer surface with a distinctness of image value of 65 percent or greater and formed of a flexible, optically clear weatherable polymer, and a pigmented coating adhered to the opposite surface of said outer layer and visible through the clear outer layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A decorative sheet material as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flexible outer layer has a distinctness of image value of 75 percent or greater.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A decorative sheet material as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer layer has a 2° haze value of 1 percent or less.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A decorative sheet material as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a bonding layer carried by said pigmented coating.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A decorative sheet material as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pigmented coating includes reflective flakes oriented generally parallel to said outer layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
A decorative sheet material as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pigmented coating comprises a first pigmented coating on certain portions of the undersurface of the outer layer and visible therethrough, and a second pigmented coating of a different color on certain other portions of the undersurface of the outer layer, which second pigmented coating is also visible therethrough.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A decorative sheet material as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pigmented coating is of a thickness less than said outer layer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A decorative sheet material as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer layer has a thickness of about 0.5 to 300 mils.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A decorative sheet material as claimed in claim 1, wherein said weatherable polymer is selected from the group consisting of fluoropolymers, acrylate polymers, urethane polymers, vinyl polymers, and blends thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A decorative sheet material as claimed in claim 1, wherein said substantially clear layer comprises a cast, substantially molecularly unoriented film.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
107 words
A flexible decorative sheet material suitable for use in surfacing panels, such as automobile body panels, said sheet material being characterized by having the appearance of a glossy, base coat/clear coat automotive paint finish, and comprising a flexible optically clear outer layer having a smooth outer surface with a distinctness of image value of 65 percent or greater and formed of a cast, substantially molecularly unoriented flexible weatherable polymer selected from the group consisting of fluoropolymers, acrylate polymers, urethane polymers, vinyl polymers, and blends thereof, and a pigmented coating adhered to the opposite surface of said outer layer formed of a flexible polymer with pigments distributed therein.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
107 words
A flexible decorative sheet material suitable for use in surfacing panels, such as automobile body panels, said sheet material being characterized by having the appearance of a glossy, base coat/clear coat automotive paint finish, and comprising a flexible optically clear outer layer having a smooth outer surface with a distinctness of image value of 65 percent or greater and formed of a cast, substantially molecularly unoriented flexible weatherable polymer selected from the group consisting of fluoropolymers, acrylate polymers, urethane polymers, vinyl polymers, and blends thereof, and a pigmented coating adhered to the opposite surface of said outer layer formed of a flexible polymer with pigments distributed therein.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
A decorative sheet material as claimed in claim 11, wherein said pigmented coating has reflective flakes uniformly distributed therein in generally parallel alignment to said film to impart to the sheet material the appearance of a base coat/clear coat paint finish.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A decorative sheet material as claimed in claim 11, wherein the mean angle of inclination of said flakes to said film is less than about 6.5 degrees.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
103 words
A shaped article having a contoured decorative outer surface, comprising a supporting substrate and a decorative sheet material adhered to one side of said substrate and conforming to said contoured surface, said decorative sheet material being characterized by having the appearance of a glossy, base coat/clear coat automotive paint finish, and comprising a flexible outer layer having a smooth outer surface with a distinctness of image value of 65 percent or greater and formed of a flexible, optically clear weatherable polymer, and a pigmented coating adhered to the opposite surface of said outer layer formed of a flexible polymer with pigments distributed therein.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
103 words
A shaped article having a contoured decorative outer surface, comprising a supporting substrate and a decorative sheet material adhered to one side of said substrate and conforming to said contoured surface, said decorative sheet material being characterized by having the appearance of a glossy, base coat/clear coat automotive paint finish, and comprising a flexible outer layer having a smooth outer surface with a distinctness of image value of 65 percent or greater and formed of a flexible, optically clear weatherable polymer, and a pigmented coating adhered to the opposite surface of said outer layer formed of a flexible polymer with pigments distributed therein.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A shaped article as claimed in claim 14, wherein said substantially clear outer layer comprises a substantially molecularly unoriented cast film.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A shaped article as claimed in claim 14, wherein said pigmented coating has reflective flakes uniformly distributed therein.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A shaped article as claimed in claim 14, wherein said supporting substrate is a rigid metal substrate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
A shaped article as claimed in claim 14, wherein said supporting substrate is a molded polymer substrate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
A shaped article as claimed in claim 14, further comprising a bonding layer carried by said pigmented coating and adhered to said supporting substrate.
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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) | 1993-06-04 | 1993-12-04 | 1994-06-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-06-04 | 1997-12-04 | 1998-06-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-06-04 | 2001-12-04 | 2002-06-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |