US4767584A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process of and apparatus for producing design patterns in materials
Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
•
Filing: 1985-04-03
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Granted: 1988-08-30
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Expires: 2005-04-03
Abstract
Abstract A process and system for providing a design pattern in a material wherein a seleced medium is applied to the material, the material being positioned adjacent a surface of a template which surface has selected surface characteristics either topographical or non-topographical in nature. The material is held against the template surface at a selected pressure and for a selected time period, at least a portion of the medium coming into contact with the template surface. The surface characteristics of the template interact with the material and the medium as the medium comes into contact with the surface to produce the desired pattern.
Inventors
- 👤 Todd L. Siler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 21:21
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06B; D06B11/00; D06B11/0093
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A process for producing a design pattern in a material comprising the steps of applying a selected medium to selected portions of an exposed surface of a material in which said design pattern is to be produced; positioning said material adjacent to a surface of a template having selected surface characteristics either before or after said medium has been applied to said material; and holding said material against said template surface, at a selected pressure provided either by the weight of said material or by an externally applied controllable pressure and for a selected time period, to bring at least a portion of said material and said medium into contact with said template surface, different pressures and time periods being selected so as to produce different design patterns on the surface of said material, which patterns differ from the surface characteristics of said template and wherein said different design patterns are produced as a result of at least said different selected pressures and time periods.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
A process for producing a design pattern in a material comprising the steps of applying a selected medium to selected portions of an exposed surface of a material in which said design pattern is to be produced; positioning said material adjacent to a surface of a template having selected surface characteristics either before or after said medium has been applied to said material; and holding said material against said template surface, at a selected pressure provided either by the weight of said material or by an externally applied controllable pressure and for a selected time period, to bring at least a portion of said material and said medium into contact with said template surface, different pressures and time periods being selected so as to produce different design patterns on the surface of said material, which patterns differ from the surface characteristics of said template and wherein said different design patterns are produced as a result of at least said different selected pressures and time periods.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said material is positioned adjacent said template surface before said medium has been applied to said material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said material is positioned adjacent said template surface after said medium has been applied to said material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said medium is applied in a wet form and further including the step of drying said material when said design pattern has been produced on the surface thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process in accordance with claim 4 wherein said drying step includes applying heated air to said material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said medium is applied in a dry form.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said material is held against said template surface by applying an external force thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said material is held against said template surface by using its own weight to provide said pressure.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
225 words
A system for producing a design pattern in a material, which pattern differs from the surface characteristics of a template means, comprising means for applying a selected medium to selected portions of an exposed surface of a material in which said design pattern is to be produced and which material is to be positioned adjacent to said template means; template means having selected surface characteristics formed on a surface thereof so that, when said material is positioned adjacent to and held against the surface of said template means, patterns can be produced on the surface of said material; means for positioning said material adjacent said surface of said template means either before or after said medium has been applied to said material; and means for holding said material against said template surface, at a selected pressure provided either by the weight of said material or by an externally applied controllable pressure and for a selected time period, to bring at least a portion of said material and said medium into contact with said template surface, different pressures and time periods being selected so as to produce different patterns on the surface of said material, which patterns differ from the surface characteristics of said template means and wherein said different design patterns are produced as a result of at least said selected pressures and time periods.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
225 words
A system for producing a design pattern in a material, which pattern differs from the surface characteristics of a template means, comprising means for applying a selected medium to selected portions of an exposed surface of a material in which said design pattern is to be produced and which material is to be positioned adjacent to said template means; template means having selected surface characteristics formed on a surface thereof so that, when said material is positioned adjacent to and held against the surface of said template means, patterns can be produced on the surface of said material; means for positioning said material adjacent said surface of said template means either before or after said medium has been applied to said material; and means for holding said material against said template surface, at a selected pressure provided either by the weight of said material or by an externally applied controllable pressure and for a selected time period, to bring at least a portion of said material and said medium into contact with said template surface, different pressures and time periods being selected so as to produce different patterns on the surface of said material, which patterns differ from the surface characteristics of said template means and wherein said different design patterns are produced as a result of at least said selected pressures and time periods.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said template surface has topographical surface characteristics.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said topographical surface characteristics include surface characteristics which are random in nature.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said topographical surface characteristics include surface characteristics which are non-random in nature.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system in accordance with claim 12 wherein said non-random topographical surface characteristics include surface characteristics which are abstract in nature.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system in accordance with claim 12 wherein said non-random topographical surface characteristics include surface characteristics which are representational in nature.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system in accordance with claim 12 wherein said non-random topographical surface characteristics include surface characteristics which are both abstract and representational in nature.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said template surface has non-topographical characteristics.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system in accordance with claim 16 wherein said non-topographical surface characteristics include surface characteristics which are random in nature.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system in accordance with claim 16 wherein said non-topographical surface characteristics include surface characteristics which are non-random in nature.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system in accordance with claim 18 wherein said non-random non-topographical surface characteristics include surface characteristics which are abstract in nature.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system in accordance with claim 18 wherein said non-random non-topographical surface characteristics include surface characteristics which are representational in nature.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system in accordance with claim 18 wherein said non-random non-topographical surface characteristics include surface characteristics which are both abstract and representational in nature.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
46 words
A system in accordance with claims 10, 15, or 16 wherein said template surface is formed of a selected substance such that, when said material is held against said surface for said interaction, portions of said substance are caused to become permanently bonded to said material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system in accordance with claim 22 wherein said selected substance is a synthetic polymer material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system in accordance with claim 23 wherein said synthetic polymer material is a polyethylene material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system in accordance with claim 23 wherein said synthetic polymer material is a vinyl material.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said medium is selected so as to be in a wet form and said system further includes means for drying said material when said design pattern has been produced thereon.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system in accordance with claim 26 wherein said drying means comprises air circulation means for directing circulating air on to said material.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system in accordance with claim 27 wherein said air circulating means includes means for heating said circulating air.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said medium is selected so as to be in a dry form.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said holding means includes means for providing an external pressure on said material so as to hold it against said template surface at said selected pressure.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
81 words
A system in accordance with claims 9 wherein said template means includes means for retaining magnetized particles capable of motion therein; means for producing a controlled magnetic field operable to move said magnetized particles so as to form a selected pattern thereof in said template means; said medium being magnetized so that when said medium is applied to said material said magnetized particles cause said medium to be attracted to said template surface so as to conform to said selected pattern.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
71 words
A system in accordance with claims 9 wherein said template means includes means for retaining magnetized particles capable of motion therein; means for producing a controlled magnetic field operable to move said magnetized particles so as to form a selected pattern thereof in said template means in contact with a surface of said template means so that said surface forms a topographical pattern conforming to said selected pattern of magnetized particles.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system in accordance with claim 30 wherein said material is held against said template surface by using its own weight to provide said pressure.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system in accordance with claim 31 wherein said material is positioned adjacent said template surface before said medium has been applied to said material.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system in accordance with claim 31 wherein said material is positioned adjacent said template surface after said medium has been applied to said material.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system in accordance with claim 32 wherein said material is positioned adjacent said template surface before said medium has been applied to said material.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system in accordance with claim 32 wherein said material is positioned adjacent said template surface after said medium has been applied to said material.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
81 words
A system in accordance with claim 22 wherein said template means includes means for retaining magnetized particles capable of motion therein; means for producing a controlled magnetic field operable to move said magnetized particles so as to form a selected pattern thereof in said template means; said medium being magnetized so that when said medium is applied to said material said magnetized particles cause said medium to be attracted to said template surface so as to conform to said selected pattern.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
71 words
A system in accordance with claim 22 wherein said template means includes means for retaining magnetized particles capable of motion therein; means for producing a controlled magnetic field operable to move said magnetized particles so as to form a selected pattern thereof in said template means in contact with a surface of said template means so that said surface forms a topographical pattern conforming to said selected pattern of magnetized particles.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system in accordance with claim 38 wherein said material is positioned adjacent said template surface before said medium has been applied to said material.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system in accordance with claim 38 wherein said material is positioned adjacent said template surface after said medium has been applied to said material.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system in accordance with claim 39 wherein said material is positioned adjacent said template surface before said medium has been applied to said material.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system in accordance with claim 39 wherein said material is positioned adjacent said template surface after said medium has been applied to said material.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system in accordance with claim 9 wherein said selected pressure is provided by the weight of said material.
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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) | 1991-08-30 | 1992-02-29 | 1992-08-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-08-30 | 1996-02-29 | 1996-08-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-08-30 | 2000-02-29 | 2000-08-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |