EP0227423A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical thin film flakes, replicated optical coatings and coatings and inks incorporating the same and method
Assignee: Flex Products Inc
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Filing: 1986-12-16
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-12-16
Abstract
Abstract Articles and methods for forming optically variable thin film flakes and replicated coatings having preselected optical properties. The articles are formed by coating a flexible web of material (20l) with an optically variable thin film coating (202) on one surface of the web. The optically variable coating is then separated (203) from the web to form optically variable thin film flakes. The flakes are disposed in ink and paint vehicles to provide optically variable inks, paints and the like.
Inventors
- 👤 Roger W. Phillips
- 👤 Thomas Mayer
- 👤 Gary S. Ash
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 01:35
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09D; C09D11/00; C09D11/50; B; B05; B05D; B05D5/00; B05D5/06; B41; B41M; B41M3/00; B41M3/14; C03; C03C; C03C17/00; C09C; C09C1/00; C09C1/0015; C09C1/0078; F; F24; F24S; F24S70/00; F24S70/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
In an optically variable ink for obtaining a color shift between two distinct colors at first and second angles of incident light, an ink vehicle and optically variable flakes disposed in the ink vehicle, each of the optically variable flakes being comprised of a multilayer thin film structure having first and second planar surfaces, and a thickness which is measured in a direction perpendicular to the layers of the thin film structure and having an aspect ratio of at least 2 to l, respectively for the first and second planar surfaces parallel to the planes of the layers of the thin film structure and surfaces perpendicular to the planes of the layers and a substantially transparent blocking pigment dispersed in the ink vehicle for blocking out undesired colors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
In an optically variable ink for obtaining a color shift between two distinct colors at first and second angles of incident light, an ink vehicle and optically variable flakes disposed in the ink vehicle, each of the optically variable flakes being comprised of a multilayer thin film structure having first and second planar surfaces, and a thickness which is measured in a direction perpendicular to the layers of the thin film structure and having an aspect ratio of at least 2 to l, respectively for the first and second planar surfaces parallel to the planes of the layers of the thin film structure and surfaces perpendicular to the planes of the layers and a substantially transparent blocking pigment dispersed in the ink vehicle for blocking out undesired colors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
An ink as in Claim l wherein the blocking pigment blocks out undesired colors between the first and second angles of incident light.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
An ink as in Claim l wherein the blocking pigment blocks out undesired colors at angles of incidence higher than the first and second angles of incident light.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
An ink as in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the flakes have a maximum dimension ranging from approximately 2 to 20 microns.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
An ink as in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein said optical variable flakes constitute from l5 to 50% by weight of the ink.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
An ink as in any of claims 1 to 5 wherein said multilayer thin film structure provides a gold to green color shift and wherein the blocking pigment is a yellow pigment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
An ink as in any of claim 1 to 6 wherein said multilayer thin film structure is symmetrical when viewed in reflection from either of the first and second surfaces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
132 words
In a method for producing an optically variable ink, providing a flexible web, depositing a release coat upon the flexible web, depositing an optically variable multilayer coating on the release coat, passing the web containing the release coat and the optically variable multilayer coating thereon into a solvent to dissolve the release coat, removing the optically variable multilayer coating from the web and causing the same to break into flakes, drying the flakes, sizing the flakes, introducing the flakes into a liquid vehicle so that they are disbursed therein and adding a blocking pigment to the liquid vehicle so that the blocking vehicle in conjunction with the optically variable multilayer coating produces two distinct colors at two different angles of incident light and substantially no color at another angle of incident light.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
132 words
In a method for producing an optically variable ink, providing a flexible web, depositing a release coat upon the flexible web, depositing an optically variable multilayer coating on the release coat, passing the web containing the release coat and the optically variable multilayer coating thereon into a solvent to dissolve the release coat, removing the optically variable multilayer coating from the web and causing the same to break into flakes, drying the flakes, sizing the flakes, introducing the flakes into a liquid vehicle so that they are disbursed therein and adding a blocking pigment to the liquid vehicle so that the blocking vehicle in conjunction with the optically variable multilayer coating produces two distinct colors at two different angles of incident light and substantially no color at another angle of incident light.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as in Claim 8 wherein the variable flakes are sized by the use of an air polarizer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
93 words
l0. In an article adapted to be utilized in the production of an optically variable device, a flexible web, a release layer formed on the web, an optically variable multilayer coating disposed on the release coat, said coating having first and second surfaces with the second surface facing the release coat, and subtractive colorant means disposed on the first surface of the coating and serving to provide in combination with the multilayer coating two distinct colors at two different angles of incident light and substantially no color at another angle of incident light.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
93 words
l0. In an article adapted to be utilized in the production of an optically variable device, a flexible web, a release layer formed on the web, an optically variable multilayer coating disposed on the release coat, said coating having first and second surfaces with the second surface facing the release coat, and subtractive colorant means disposed on the first surface of the coating and serving to provide in combination with the multilayer coating two distinct colors at two different angles of incident light and substantially no color at another angle of incident light.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
An article as in Claim l0 wherein said another angle of incident light is between first and second angles of incident light.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
An article as in Claim l0 wherein said another angle is at a higher angle than the first and second angles of incident light.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
An article as in any of claims 10 to 12 wherein said multilayer coating is symmetrical when viewed in reflection from either of said first and second surfaces.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
92 words
In a method for forming an optically variable device by the use of a flexible web of material, depositing a release coat upon the flexible web of material, forming a multilayer thin film optical coating on said release layer, forming subtractive colorant means on the surface of said multilayer coating, separating said flexible web of material from said release coat and securing said multilayer thin film coating with said subtractive colorant means thereon to another surface so that the multilayer interference coating can be viewed by reflection through the subtractive colorant means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
92 words
In a method for forming an optically variable device by the use of a flexible web of material, depositing a release coat upon the flexible web of material, forming a multilayer thin film optical coating on said release layer, forming subtractive colorant means on the surface of said multilayer coating, separating said flexible web of material from said release coat and securing said multilayer thin film coating with said subtractive colorant means thereon to another surface so that the multilayer interference coating can be viewed by reflection through the subtractive colorant means.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
21 words
A method as in Claim l4 wherein said multilayer thin film coating is formed in an inverted manner on said web.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
36 words
A method as in Claim l4 wherein said multilayer thin film coating is formed symmetrically on said web and wherein said subtractive colorant means is provided on both sides of said symmetrical multilayer thin film coating.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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