US6165594A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multilayer, temperature resistant, composite label
Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co
•
Filing: 1998-01-15
•
Granted: 2000-12-26
•
Expires: 2018-01-15
Abstract
Abstract A composite material suitable for labeling a substrate. The composite material, which is preferably a ceramic composite, comprises a fired ceramic body and a layer thereon. The fired ceramic body includes a base layer that comprising a glassy phase and a refractory phase, the glassy phase being capable of wetting a substrate at an application temperature. There is sufficient color contrast between the top layer and the fired ceramic body such that a code pattern (e.g., a bar code) present (or formed) is optically discernible. Methods of making and using the same are also taught.
Inventors
- 👤 Kyung H. Moh
- 👤 Daniel Lacave
- 👤 Bernardus M. Sueoss
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 14:16
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F3/00; G09F3/02; C; C03; C03C; C03C3/00; C03C3/04; C03C3/076; C03C3/102; C03C3/105; C03C3/12; C03C3/16; C03C8/00; C03C8/02; C03C8/04; C03C8/08; C03C8/14; C03C8/16; C03C8/20; C03C8/22; G09F2003/023; G09F2003/0232; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1052; Y10T156/1082; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24802; Y10T428/24893; Y10T428/24901; Y10T428/24926; Y10T428/25; Y10T428/252; Y10T428/256; Y10T428/257; Y10T428/258; Y10T428/259
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A composite ceramic suitable for labeling a substrate, comprising: (a) a fired ceramic body comprising a base layer, said base layer including: (i) a first glassy phase; (ii) a first refractory phase interspersed with said first glassy phase, said first glassy phase being capable of wetting a substrate at an application temperature; and (b) a top layer provided on said fired ceramic body, said top layer comprising a second glassy phase and a second refractory phase interdispersed within said second glassy phase wherein there is sufficient color contrast between said top layer and said fired ceramic body such that a code pattern is optically discernible, and wherein said composite ceramic includes said code pattern.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
A composite ceramic suitable for labeling a substrate, comprising: (a) a fired ceramic body comprising a base layer, said base layer including: (i) a first glassy phase; (ii) a first refractory phase interspersed with said first glassy phase, said first glassy phase being capable of wetting a substrate at an application temperature; and (b) a top layer provided on said fired ceramic body, said top layer comprising a second glassy phase and a second refractory phase interdispersed within said second glassy phase wherein there is sufficient color contrast between said top layer and said fired ceramic body such that a code pattern is optically discernible, and wherein said composite ceramic includes said code pattern.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The composite ceramic of claim 1, wherein said code pattern comprises a bar code pattern.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The composite ceramic of claim 1, wherein the application temperature is a temperature in the range from about 400° C. to about 1000° C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The composite ceramic of claim 1, wherein said first refractory phase comprises a first plurality of refractory particles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The composite ceramic of claim 4, wherein said base layer comprises 10 to 50 volume percent of said first glassy phase and 50 to 90 volume percent of said first refractory phase.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
The composite ceramic of claim 5, wherein said first glassy phase comprises, on a theoretical oxide basis, in the range from about 20 to about 40 percent by weight SnO, in the range from about 20 to about 35 percent by weight ZnO, and in the range from about 35 to about 45 percent by weight P 2 O 5 , based on the total weight of said first glassy phase.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The composite ceramic of claim 1, wherein said base layer comprises 10 to 50 volume percent of said first glassy phase and 50 to 90 volume percent of said first refractory phase.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
The composite ceramic of claim 7, wherein said first glassy phase comprises, on a theoretical oxide basis, in the range from about 20 to about 40 percent by weight SnO, in the range from about 20 to about 35 percent by weight ZnO, and in the range from about 35 to about 45 percent by weight P 2 O 5 , based on the total weight of said first glassy phase.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The composite ceramic of claim 1 further comprising a transparent coating over said top layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The composite ceramic of claim 1, wherein said label is substantially free of any heavy metal atoms of Pb, Cd, As, Hg, Co, and Cr(VI).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The composite ceramic of claim 1, wherein one of said top layer or said base layer is substantially black, and the other of said layers is substantially white.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The composite ceramic of claim 1, wherein said composite ceramic has a total thickness in the range from about 100 micrometers to about 2 mm, and wherein said top layer has a thickness in the range from about 5 micrometers to about 80 micrometers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
82 words
The composite ceramic of claim 1, wherein said first refractory phase comprises a first plurality of refractory particles; wherein said second refractory phase comprises a second plurality of refractory particles, and wherein one of said first or second plurality of refractory particles is selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, titanium carbide, zirconium carbide, graphite, and combinations thereof, and wherein the other plurality of refractory particles is selected from the group consisting of alumina, zirconia, zircon, mullite, titania, and combinations thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
The composite ceramic of claim 1, wherein said second refractory phase comprises a second plurality of refractory particles; and wherein said top layer comprises 10 to 50 parts by weight of said second plurality refractory particles based upon 100 parts by weight of said second glassy phase.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The composite ceramic of claim 1, wherein said first and second glassy phases each has a first and second softening temperature, respectively, and wherein said second softening temperature is greater than said first softening temperature.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The composite ceramic of claim 15, wherein said second softening temperature is from about 5° C. to about 50° C. higher than said first softening temperature.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The composite ceramic of claim 1, wherein the fired ceramic body further comprises an intermediate layer interposed between said base layer and said top layer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The composite ceramic of claim 17, wherein said intermediate layer comprises (a) a third glassy phase; and (b) a third plurality of refractory particles dispersed in said third glassy phase.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
68 words
The composite ceramic of claim 18, wherein said second refractory phase comprises a second plurality of refractory particles; wherein one of said second or third plurality of refractory particles is selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide, titanium carbide, zirconium carbide, graphite, and combinations thereof, and wherein the other plurality of refractory particles is selected from the group consisting of alumina, zirconia, mullite, titania, and combinations thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The composite ceramic of claim 1, wherein said top layer and said ceramic body independently consist essentially of at least two ceramic oxides.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4327283A
Cited
US4271210A
Cited
US5262628A
Cited
US4515867A
Cited
US4672600A
Cited
US4775786A
Cited
US4888475A
Cited
US4861620A
Cited
US5434113A
Cited
US4971858A
Cited
US4983555A
Cited
US5008151A
Cited
US5204163A
Cited
US5027151A
Cited
JPH03125182A
Cited
US5042925A
Cited
US5268562A
Cited
US5521371A
Cited
US5446338A
Cited
JPH04137438A
Cited
US5407474A
Cited
US5273798A
Cited
WO1993007844A1
Cited
US5326627A
Cited
US5366682A
Cited
US5362554A
Cited
US5521709A
Cited
US5484099A
Cited
US5465780A
Cited
JPH07249090A
Cited
US5780142A
Cited
IES67365B2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-12-26 | 2004-06-26 | 2004-12-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-12-26 | 2008-06-26 | 2008-12-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-12-26 | 2012-06-26 | 2012-12-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |