Color-matching article

• US 20040067350A1
• Filed: 10/02/2002
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Janssen, Jeffrey R., Moszer, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,982,108 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/212
• CPC Class Codes: B44F 1/06 produced by transmitted light, e.g. transparencies, imitations of glass paintings
• CPC Class Codes: B44F 1/08 characterised by colour effects
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/463 Colour matching
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/52 using colour charts
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/528 using colour harmony theory
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1486 Ornamental, decorative, pattern, or indicia
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2486 with outer strippable or release layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24901 including coloring matter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24942 including components having same physical characteristic in differing degree
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2848 Three or more layers

Abstract

The present invention relates to color-matching articles used to color-match paint formulations to target substrates.

Claims

1. A color-matching article comprising:

(a) a color-matching film comprising;

a transparent base film having a first major surface and a second major surface; and

a colored layer adhered to at least one major surface of the base film, the colored layer including a plurality of transparent colored regions; and

(b) an index that associates at least one of the colored regions with at least one mixing base color.

2. The color-matching article of claim 1, wherein the colored layer is adhered to the second major surface of the base film and further including an adhesive layer applied over the colored layer.

3. The color-matching article of claim 2, wherein the adhesive layer comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive.

4. The color-matching article of claim 3, further including a low-adhesion backsize layer adhered to the first major surface of the base film.

5. The color-matching article of claim 1, wherein the colored layer is adhered to the first major surface of the base film and wherein the color-matching article further includes a transparent top layer adhered to the colored layer.

6. The color-matching article of claim 5, further including an adhesive layer adhered to the second major surface of the base film.

7. The color-matching article of claim 1, wherein the color-matching article includes at least one uncolored region.

8. The color-matching article of claim 1, wherein the colored layer comprises from 2 to 100 colored regions.

9. The color-matching article of claim 1, wherein the colored layer comprises from 10 to 30 colored regions.

10. The color-matching article of claim 1, wherein each of the colored regions is a different color.

11. The color-matching article of claim 1, wherein at least two of the colored regions have a Δ

E_ab* of 0.2 or greater.

12. The color-matching article of claim 1, wherein any two of the colored regions have a Δ

E_abof 0.2 or greater.

13. The color-matching article of claim 1, wherein adjacent colored regions have a Δ

E_ab* of about 0.2 or greater.

14. The color-matching article of claim 1, wherein the transparent base film layer is selected from the group consisting of polyester, polycarbonate, acrylic, polyurethane, polyolefin, ethylene vinyl acetate, biaxially oriented polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, urethane acrylate, epoxy, epoxy acrylate, and blends thereof.

15. The color-matching article of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of colored regions are separated from an adjacent colored region by a line of demarcation.

16. The color-matching article of claim 1, further including a protective overlay sheet releasably attached to the transparent base film.

17. The color-matching article of claim 1, wherein the index comprises a listing of at least one mixing base color printed inside or proximate each colored region.

18. The color-matching article of claim 1, wherein the index comprises:

(a) a unique symbol identifying each of the plurality of colored regions; and

(b) a document listing at least one mixing base color for each symbol.

19. The color-matching article of claim 1, wherein the index comprises a pictorial representation of the colored regions of the color-matching article.

22. A kit for color-matching a paint formulation to a target substrate comprising:

(i) a color-matching article comprising;

(a) a color-matching film comprising;

a transparent base film having a first major surface and a second major surface; and

a colored layer adhered to at least one major surface of the base film, the colored layer including a plurality of transparent colored regions; and

(b) an index that associates at least one of the colored regions with at least one mixing base color;

(ii) a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive; and

(iii) a spray-out card.

23. The kit for color-matching of claim 22, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive layer is applied over at least a portion of the colored layer.

24. The kit for color-matching of claim 22, wherein the color-matching film is provided in the form of a roll.

25. The kit for color-matching of claim 22, further including a laminator.

26. A color-matching article comprising:

(a) a color-matching film comprising;

a transparent base film having a first major surface and a second major surface; and

a colored layer adhered to at least one major surface of the base film, the colored layer including 2 to 100 transparent colored regions; and

at least one transparent uncolored region;

a pressure sensitive adhesive layer applied over the colored layer; and

(b) an index that associates at least one of the transparent colored regions with at least one mixing base color.