US5122906A — Thick/very thin multilayer reflective polymeric b…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 167 words

A reflective polymeric body of first and second diverse polymeric materials, the body comprising a sufficient number of alternating layers of said first and second polymeric materials such that at least 30% of light incident on said body is reflected, where the intensity of the reflected light is governed by the equation R=(kr)/1+(k-1)r×100, where R is the amount of reflected light (%), k is the number of thick and very thin film layers, and r=((N 1 -N 2 )/(N 1 +N 2 )) 2 , and N 1 and N 2 are the refractive indices of said polymeric materials at each layer interface, a substantial majority of the individual layers of said body having an optical thickness of not more than 0.09 micrometers or not less than 0.45 micrometers, with at least one of said individual layers having an optical thickness of not more than 0.09 micrometers, and wherein said first and second polymeric materials differ from each other in refractive index by at least about 0.03.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 167 words

A reflective polymeric body of first and second diverse polymeric materials, the body comprising a sufficient number of alternating layers of said first and second polymeric materials such that at least 30% of light incident on said body is reflected, where the intensity of the reflected light is governed by the equation R=(kr)/1+(k-1)r×100, where R is the amount of reflected light (%), k is the number of thick and very thin film layers, and r=((N 1 -N 2 )/(N 1 +N 2 )) 2 , and N 1 and N 2 are the refractive indices of said polymeric materials at each layer interface, a substantial majority of the individual layers of said body having an optical thickness of not more than 0.09 micrometers or not less than 0.45 micrometers, with at least one of said individual layers having an optical thickness of not more than 0.09 micrometers, and wherein said first and second polymeric materials differ from each other in refractive index by at least about 0.03.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 116 words

A reflective polymeric body of at least first and second diverse polymeric materials, the body comprising a sufficient number of alternating layers of said first and second polymeric materials such that at least 30% of light incident on said body is reflected, but such that essentially no visibly perceived iridescence is reflected, a substantial majority of the individual layers of said body having an optical thickness of not more than 0.09 micrometers or not less than 0.45 micrometers, with at least one of said individual layers having an optical thickness of not more than 0.09 micrometers, and wherein said first and second polymeric materials differ from each other in refractive index by at least about 0.03.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 116 words

A reflective polymeric body of at least first and second diverse polymeric materials, the body comprising a sufficient number of alternating layers of said first and second polymeric materials such that at least 30% of light incident on said body is reflected, but such that essentially no visibly perceived iridescence is reflected, a substantial majority of the individual layers of said body having an optical thickness of not more than 0.09 micrometers or not less than 0.45 micrometers, with at least one of said individual layers having an optical thickness of not more than 0.09 micrometers, and wherein said first and second polymeric materials differ from each other in refractive index by at least about 0.03.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 23 words

The reflective polymeric body of claim 2 in which said first polymeric material is polycarbonate and said second polymeric material is polymethyl methacrylate.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 25 words

The reflective polymeric body of claim 2 in which said first polymeric material is a rigid polyurethane and said second polymeric material is polymethyl methacrylate.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 26 words

The reflective polymeric body of claim 2 in which said first polymeric material is a flexible polyurethane and said second polymeric material is a polyether amide.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 16 words

The reflective polymeric body of claim 2 in which said body comprises at least 500 layers.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 14 words

The reflective polymeric body of claim 2 in which said polymeric body is thermoformable.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 21 words

The reflective polymeric body of claim 2 including a coloring agent incorporated into at least one layer of said polymeric body.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 22 words

The reflective polymeric body of claim 8 in which said coloring agent is selected from a group consisting of pigments and dyes.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 24 words

The reflective polymeric body of claim 9 in which said coloring agent is incorporated into at least one surface layer of said polymeric body.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 24 words

The reflective polymeric body of claim 9 in which said coloring agent is incorporated into at least one interior layer of said polymeric body.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 20 words

The reflective polymeric body of claim 2 in which a least one surface layer has a brushed or roughened surface.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 24 words

The reflective polymeric body of claim 2 in which at least one surface layer has been etched to provide a matte or pewter finish.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 17 words

The reflective polymeric body of claim 2 in which at least one surface layer has been embossed.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 17 words

The reflective polymeric body of claim 2 in which said first and second polymeric materials are elastomers.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 52 words

The reflective polymeric body of claim 2 in which a substantial majority of the individual layers of said first polymeric material have an optical thickness of at least 0.45 micrometers and a substantial majority of the individual layers of said second polymeric material have an optical thickness of 0.09 micrometers or less.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 30 words

The reflective polymeric body of claim 16 in which at least 75% of said individual layers of said first polymeric material have an optical thickness of at least 0.45 micrometers.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 30 words

The reflective polymeric body of claim 16 in which at least 75% of said individual layers of said second polymeric material have an optical thickness of 0.09 micrometers or less.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 16 words

The reflective polymeric body of claim 2 in which said body is extruded as a profile.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 18 words

The reflective polymeric body of claim 19 in which said body is in the form of a tube.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 17 words

The reflective polymeric body of claim 2 in which said body is post formed into a profile.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 15 words

The reflective polymeric body of claim 2 in which said body is a blow-molded container.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 23 words

The reflective polymeric body of claim 2 in which said polymeric body is in the form of a sheet having two major surface.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 24 words

The reflective polymeric body of claim 23 in which said body includes a permanent protective skin layer on at least one major surface thereof.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 19 words

The reflective polymeric body of claim 2 which includes a barrier layer as an exterior layer of said body.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 27 words

The reflective polymeric body of claim 2 in which said polymeric body includes first, second, and third diverse polymeric materials of alternating layers in a pattern ABCBA.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 33 words

The reflective polymeric body of claim 26 in which said first polymeric material is polystyrene, said second polymeric material is a styrene hydroxy ethylacrylate copolymer, and said third polymeric material is polymethyl methacrylate.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 19 words

The reflective polymeric body of claim 2 which includes a barrier layer as an interior layer of said body.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 169 words

A reflective polymeric film of at least first and second diverse polymeric materials, the film comprising a sufficient number of alternating layers of said first and second polymeric materials such that at least 30% of light incident on said film is reflected, where the intensity of the reflected light is governed by the equation R=(kr)/(1+(k-1)r)×100, where R is the amount of reflected light (%), k is the number of thick and very thin film layers, and, r=((N 1 -N 2 )/(N 1 +N 2 )) 2 , and N 1 and N 2 are the refractive indices of said polymeric materials at each layer interface, a substantial majority of the individual layers of said film having an optical thickness of not more than 0.09 micrometers or not less than 0.45 micrometers, with at least one of said individual layers having an optical thickness of not more than 0.09 micrometers, and wherein said first and second polymeric materials differ from each other in refractive index by at least about 0.03.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 169 words

A reflective polymeric film of at least first and second diverse polymeric materials, the film comprising a sufficient number of alternating layers of said first and second polymeric materials such that at least 30% of light incident on said film is reflected, where the intensity of the reflected light is governed by the equation R=(kr)/(1+(k-1)r)×100, where R is the amount of reflected light (%), k is the number of thick and very thin film layers, and, r=((N 1 -N 2 )/(N 1 +N 2 )) 2 , and N 1 and N 2 are the refractive indices of said polymeric materials at each layer interface, a substantial majority of the individual layers of said film having an optical thickness of not more than 0.09 micrometers or not less than 0.45 micrometers, with at least one of said individual layers having an optical thickness of not more than 0.09 micrometers, and wherein said first and second polymeric materials differ from each other in refractive index by at least about 0.03.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 116 words

A mirror like polymeric article having at least first and second major surfaces, said article comprising a sufficient number of alternating layers of first and second polymeric materials such that at least 30% of light incident on said body is reflected, a substantial majority of the individual layers of said body having an optical thickness of not more than 0.09 micrometers or not less than 0.45 micrometers, with at least one of said individual layers having an optical thickness of not more than 0.09 micrometers, wherein said first and second polymeric materials differ from each other in refractive index by at least about 0.03, and wherein one of said major surfaces includes a light absorbent layer.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 116 words

A mirror like polymeric article having at least first and second major surfaces, said article comprising a sufficient number of alternating layers of first and second polymeric materials such that at least 30% of light incident on said body is reflected, a substantial majority of the individual layers of said body having an optical thickness of not more than 0.09 micrometers or not less than 0.45 micrometers, with at least one of said individual layers having an optical thickness of not more than 0.09 micrometers, wherein said first and second polymeric materials differ from each other in refractive index by at least about 0.03, and wherein one of said major surfaces includes a light absorbent layer.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 113 words

A mirror like polymeric article having at least first and second major surfaces, said article comprising a sufficient number of alternating layers of first and second polymeric materials such that at least 30% of light incident on said body is reflected, and at least one interior light absorbing layer, a substantial majority of the individual layers of said body having an optical thickness of not more than 0.09 micrometers or not less than 0.45 micrometers, with at least one of said individual layers having an optical thickness of not more than 0.09 micrometers, and wherein said first and second polymeric materials differ from each other in refractive index by at least about 0.03.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 113 words

A mirror like polymeric article having at least first and second major surfaces, said article comprising a sufficient number of alternating layers of first and second polymeric materials such that at least 30% of light incident on said body is reflected, and at least one interior light absorbing layer, a substantial majority of the individual layers of said body having an optical thickness of not more than 0.09 micrometers or not less than 0.45 micrometers, with at least one of said individual layers having an optical thickness of not more than 0.09 micrometers, and wherein said first and second polymeric materials differ from each other in refractive index by at least about 0.03.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 90 words

A birefringent light polarizer which reflects light anisotropically, comprising multiple layers of at least first and second diverse polymeric materials, a substantial majority of the individual layers of said polarizer having an optical thickness of not more than 0.09 micrometers or not less than 0.45 micrometers, with at least one of said individual layers having an optical thickness of not more than 0.09 micrometers, and wherein said first and second polymeric materials differ from each other in refractive index by at least about 0.03 in one plane of the polarizer.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 90 words

A birefringent light polarizer which reflects light anisotropically, comprising multiple layers of at least first and second diverse polymeric materials, a substantial majority of the individual layers of said polarizer having an optical thickness of not more than 0.09 micrometers or not less than 0.45 micrometers, with at least one of said individual layers having an optical thickness of not more than 0.09 micrometers, and wherein said first and second polymeric materials differ from each other in refractive index by at least about 0.03 in one plane of the polarizer.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 36 words

The birefringent light polarizer of claim 32 in which the difference in refractive index between said first and second polymeric materials is caused by stretching said materials in a uniaxial direction to orient said polymeric materials.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1995-06-16	1995-12-16	1996-06-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1999-06-16	1999-12-16	2000-06-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2003-06-16	2003-12-16	2004-06-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Thick/very thin multilayer reflective polymeric body

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