Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
A thermoplastic article having a high-relief, molded or embossed surface obtained by contacting a laminate comprising a first sheet material and a second sheet material with heat and pressure using a heated element which results in the simultaneous bonding of the sheet material and the production of a decorative texture or design on the surface of at least one of the sheets; wherein the first and second sheet materials are formed from a copolyester having an inherent viscosity of 0.5 to 1.2 dL/g, when measured at 25° C. using 0.50 grams of polymer per 100 mL of a solvent consisting of 60 weight percent phenol and 40 weight percent tetrachloroethane, comprising: (i) diacid residues comprising at least 80 mole percent terephthalic acid residues; and (ii) diol residues comprising from 98 to 1 mole percent ethylene glycol residues and from 2 to 99 mole percent residues derived from 1,3- or, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol in which the ethylene glycol and cyclohexanedimethanol residues constitute at least 80 mole percent of the diol residues.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
A thermoplastic article having a high-relief, molded or embossed surface obtained by contacting a laminate comprising a first sheet material and a second sheet material with heat and pressure using a heated element which results in the simultaneous bonding of the sheet material and the production of a decorative texture or design on the surface of at least one of the sheets; wherein the first and second sheet materials are formed from a copolyester having an inherent viscosity of 0.5 to 1.2 dL/g, when measured at 25° C. using 0.50 grams of polymer per 100 mL of a solvent consisting of 60 weight percent phenol and 40 weight percent tetrachloroethane, comprising: (i) diacid residues comprising at least 80 mole percent terephthalic acid residues; and (ii) diol residues comprising from 98 to 1 mole percent ethylene glycol residues and from 2 to 99 mole percent residues derived from 1,3- or, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol in which the ethylene glycol and cyclohexanedimethanol residues constitute at least 80 mole percent of the diol residues.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A thermoplastic article according to claim 1 wherein the upper and lower sheet materials have a thickness in the range of about 0.76 to 6.4 mm and the relief of the decorative texture or design is about 0.25 to 13 mm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
92 words
A thermoplastic article according to claim 1 wherein the upper sheet material has a thickness in the range of about 0.4 to 3.2 mm, the mole ratio of ethylene glycol residues:1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol residues is about 60:40 to about 80:20, and the copolyester has an inherent viscosity of 0.6 to 0.9 dL/g, when measured at 25° C. using 0.50 grams of polymer per 100 mL of a solvent consisting of 60 weight percent phenol and 40 weight percent tetrachloroethane and the relief of the decorative texture or design is about 5 to 13 mm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A thermoplastic article according to claim 3 wherein the article includes an abrasion-resistant coating on one or both of the outside surfaces of the article.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A thermoplastic article according to claim 4 wherein the abrasion resistant coating is provided as a film having a thickness in the range of about 0.0127 to 0.254 mm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A thermoplastic article according to claim 4 wherein the abrasion resistant film is provided as a fluorinated hydrocarbon, poly(perfluoroethylene), acrylic or oriented poly(ethylene terephthalate) film having a thickness in the range of about 0.0127 to 0.254 mm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A thermoplastic article according to claim 4 wherein the abrasion resistant coating is a heat-, ultraviolet- or electron beam-cured material on a film of poly(vinyl chloride), PETG copolyester, poly(ethylene terephthalate), poly(methyl methacrylate) or polycarbonate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A thermoplastic article according to claim 6 wherein the film has a thickness of 0.0127 to 0.254 mm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
A thermoplastic article according to claim 7 wherein the abrasion resistant coating is a heat-cured silicone, polyurethane or fluorinated polyurethane or a ultraviolet- or electron beam-cured material selected from modified acrylates containing polyurethane, fluorinated polyurethane, silicone, epoxy, polyester, polyether or caprolactone residues.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A thermoplastic article according to claim 2 wherein the upper sheet material is transparent and the lower sheet material is translucent or opaque.