US5591255A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermochromic ink formulations, nail lacquer and methods of use
Assignee: CHROMATEC TECHNOLOGIES Inc
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Filing: 1994-09-30
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Granted: 1997-01-07
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Expires: 2014-09-30
Abstract
Abstract The present invention comprises a series of discoveries related to the problems associated with formulations that destroy the color change properties of thermochromic encapsulated dyes. One aspect of the present invention is the discovery of a method of correcting these formulations to allow the addition of thermochromic dyes. Certain solvents destroy the dye, therefore any aldehydes, ketones, and diols, and most aromatic compounds should be removed from the formulation and if needed they should be replaced with solvents preferably having a large molecular weight (i.e. greater than 100 and low reactivity). Secondly, the formulation should be adjusted to be neutral (i.e. 6.5-7.5 pH) or have a low acid value. These two adjustments will allow the thermochromic dyes to added to the formulation without a loss of its color change properties.
Inventors
- 👤 Lyle D. Small
- 👤 Gerald Highberger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 08:19
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09D; C09D11/00; C09D11/50; A; A61; A61K; A61K8/00; A61K8/02; A61K8/11; A61K8/18; A61K8/72; A61K8/84; A61K8/85; A61Q; A61Q3/00; A61Q3/02; B; B41; B41M; B41M5/00; B41M5/26; B41M5/28; B41M5/287; C09D11/02; C09D11/03; C09D11/037; A61K2800/00; A61K2800/20; A61K2800/24; A61K2800/40; A61K2800/42; A61K2800/43; A61K2800/438
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
A method of making a solvent based ink formulation including a thermochromic pigment, wherein said thermochromic pigment is formed of microcapsules each containing reversible thermochromic coloring material which exhibits a visible change in color between a first color state and a second color state in response to a change in temperature, comprising: a) drying a slurry including thermochromic pigment to a solids concentration between 80% and 95%; b) mixing said dried slurry in an appropriate mixing base that has an inherent or adjusted acid value lower than 100 and does not include anymore than trace amounts of the following solvents: ketones, diols, aldehydes, amines and aromatic compounds thereby making a base formulation, wherein said mixing base is selected from one or more of the following: 1) mixing varnish, 2) polyester resin vehicle; and 3) colloidal dispersion resin; and c) adding any desired ink components to said base formulation wherein said ink components have an inherent or adjusted acid value that is below 100 and do not include any more than trace amounts of the following solvents: ketones, diols, aldehydes, amines and aromatic compounds.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
183 words
A method of making a solvent based ink formulation including a thermochromic pigment, wherein said thermochromic pigment is formed of microcapsules each containing reversible thermochromic coloring material which exhibits a visible change in color between a first color state and a second color state in response to a change in temperature, comprising: a) drying a slurry including thermochromic pigment to a solids concentration between 80% and 95%; b) mixing said dried slurry in an appropriate mixing base that has an inherent or adjusted acid value lower than 100 and does not include anymore than trace amounts of the following solvents: ketones, diols, aldehydes, amines and aromatic compounds thereby making a base formulation, wherein said mixing base is selected from one or more of the following: 1) mixing varnish, 2) polyester resin vehicle; and 3) colloidal dispersion resin; and c) adding any desired ink components to said base formulation wherein said ink components have an inherent or adjusted acid value that is below 100 and do not include any more than trace amounts of the following solvents: ketones, diols, aldehydes, amines and aromatic compounds.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said slurry of thermochromic material is made by adding thermochromic material in powder form in an appropriate solvent and dispersing said thermochromic material by placing said solvent with said added thermochromic material in an ultrasound bath.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said slurry of thermochromic material is an aqueous slurry.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
A thermochromic ink formulation prepared by the method of claim 1.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of correcting a solvent based ink formulation that would otherwise be harmful to a thermochromic pigment, wherein said thermochromic pigment is formed of microcapsules each containing reversible thermochromic coloring material which exhibits a visible change in color between a first color state and a second color state in response to a change in temperature, comprising: a) removing anymore than trace amounts of the following solvents: ketones, diols, aldehydes, amines and aromatic compounds from said ink; b) adding any desired ink components to said ink formulation wherein said ink components do not include any more than trace amounts of the following solvents: ketones, diols, aldehydes, amines and aromatic compounds; c) adjusting the acid value of said ink formulation such that it is not harmful to said thermochromic pigment; and d) incorporating said thermochromic material into said connected ink formulation.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of correcting a solvent based ink formulation that would otherwise be harmful to a thermochromic pigment, wherein said thermochromic pigment is formed of microcapsules each containing reversible thermochromic coloring material which exhibits a visible change in color between a first color state and a second color state in response to a change in temperature, comprising: a) removing anymore than trace amounts of the following solvents: ketones, diols, aldehydes, amines and aromatic compounds from said ink; b) adding any desired ink components to said ink formulation wherein said ink components do not include any more than trace amounts of the following solvents: ketones, diols, aldehydes, amines and aromatic compounds; c) adjusting the acid value of said ink formulation such that it is not harmful to said thermochromic pigment; and d) incorporating said thermochromic material into said connected ink formulation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
A thermochromic ink formulation prepared by the method of claim 5.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The solvent based thermochromic ink of claim 4 for lithographic printing, wherein said mixing base is an offset ink base and said ink components added to the ink base include the following: 1) a gel vehicle 2) a free flow vehicle, and 3) a drying agent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The solvent based thermochromic ink of claim 7, wherein said ink components also include a lithographic varnish.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The solvent based thermochromic ink of claim 7, wherein said ink components also include an ink wax.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The solvent based thermochromic ink of claim 4 for metal decorating, wherein said mixing base is a polyester vehicle and said ink components added to the ink base is a polyglycol solvent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The solvent based thermochromic ink of claim 10, wherein said ink components also include an ink wax.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The solvent based thermochromic ink of claim 4 for flexographic printing, wherein said mixing base is a colloidal dispersion resin and said ink components added to the ink base include water and a defoamer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said mixing base and said ink components have an inherent or adjusted acid value below 80.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said mixing base and said ink components have an inherent or adjusted acid value below 20.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said mixing base and said ink components have an inherent or adjusted acid value below 80.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said mixing base and said ink components have an inherent or adjusted acid value below 20.
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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) | 2000-01-07 | 2000-07-08 | 2001-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-01-07 | 2004-07-08 | 2005-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-01-07 | 2008-07-08 | 2009-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |