Method of manufacturing luminescent tiles and products made therefrom

• US 20070022911A1
• Filed: 08/01/2005
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: C.L. Industries Inc. (Consolidated Minerals Inc.)
• Original Assignee: C.L. Industries Inc. (Consolidated Minerals Inc.)
• Inventors: Horton, Fred, Kari, Robert
• Application Number:
  US11/194,174
• Publication Number:
  US 20070022911A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 106/602
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 14/06 Quartz; Sand
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 14/10 Clay sepiolite C04B14/042; grog C04B18/025
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 14/106 Kaolin
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 14/28 of calcium
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2103/54 Pigments; Dyes
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2103/605 UV-stabilising agents
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2111/74 Underwater applications
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2111/807 Luminescent or fluorescent materials
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 22/064 of the alkaline-earth metals
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 2235/9661 Colour
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 24/283 Polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 26/18 Polyesters; Polycarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 28/02 containing hydraulic cements other than calcium sulfates
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 28/26 Silicates of the alkali metals
• CPC Class Codes: C04B 40/00 Processes, in general, for influencing or modifying the properties of mortars, concrete or artificial stone compositions, e.g. their setting or hardening ability active ingredients C04B22/00 - C04B24/00; hardening of a well-defined composition C04B26/00 - C04B28/00; making porous, cellular or lightening C04B38/00; mechanical aspects B28, e.g. conditioning the materials prior to shaping B28B17/02
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/025 non-luminescent particle coatings or suspension media
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 11/08 containing inorganic luminescent materials

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a luminescent tile for use in an aqueous environment includes admixing a luminescent pigment capable of being illuminated by an external light source, a forming material, and a catalyst to create a luminescent mixture. Casting the luminescent mixture into a mold and allowing said mixture to substantially harden thereby creating a luminescent tile. The forming material permits luminescence from the luminescent pigment upon excitation by an external light source, such as, a blacklight, while allowing the luminescent pigment to be safely used in an aqueous environment, such as a pool, spa, or the like.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a luminescent tile comprising:

admixing a forming material, a luminescent pigment and a catalyst to create a luminescent mixture;

casting said mixture into a shaped mold; and

allowing said mixture to harden to create a luminescent tile comprising the shape of said mold.

2. The method of manufacturing a luminescent tile of claim 1, wherein said luminescent mixture further comprises at least one colored pigment.

3. The method of manufacturing a luminescent tile of claim 1, wherein said mixture further comprises a UV stabilizer.

4. The method of manufacturing a luminescent tile of claim 1, wherein said tile is usable in an aqueous environment.

5. The method of manufacturing a luminescent tile of claim 4, wherein said aqueous environment is a pool, a spa an aquarium, a fountain, or a pond.

6. The method of manufacturing a luminescent tile of claim 1, wherein said luminescent pigment emits light upon excitation by light in the UV range of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum.

7. The method of manufacturing a luminescent tile of claim 6, wherein said UV light is produced by a blacklight.

8. The method of manufacturing a luminescent tile of claim 1, wherein said forming material is selected from resins, silicates, glass, quartz, or a combination thereof.

9. A tile having luminescent characteristics formed by admixing a forming material, a luminescent pigment and a catalyst to create a luminescent mixture;

casting said mixture into a shaped mold; and

allowing said mixture to harden to create a luminescent tile comprising the shape of said mold.

10. The tile of claim 9, wherein said luminescent mixture further comprises at least one colored pigment.

11. The tile of claim 9, wherein said mixture further comprises a UV stabilizer.

12. The tile of claim 9, wherein said tile is usable in an aqueous environment.

13. The tile of claim 12, wherein said aqueous environment is a pool, a spa, an aquarium, a fountain, or a pond.

14. The tile of claim 9, wherein said luminescent pigment emits light upon excitation by light in the UV range of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum.

15. The tile of claim 14, wherein said UV light is produced by a blacklight.

16. The tile of claim 9, wherein said forming material is selected from resins, silicates, glass, quartz, or a combination thereof.

17. The tile of claim 9, wherein said luminescent mixture is substantially homogeneous.

18. A method of using a luminescent tile in an aqueous environment comprising:

obtaining a luminescent tile;

obtaining a substrate material; and

forming a substrate by adhering said tile and said substrate material to a surface where said tile is visible within said substrate material.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said luminescent tile comprises a UV stabilizer.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said luminescent tile comprises a color substantially similar to the color of the surrounding substrate material.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein said luminescent tile is colored.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein said tile and substrate material are substantially flush.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein said tile is raised above the surface of said substrate material.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein said tile is locatable in an aqueous environment.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said aqueous environment is selected from the group consisting of:

a pool;

a spa;

an aquarium;

a fountain and a pond.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein said luminescent pigment emits light upon excitation by light in the UV range of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said UV light is produced by a blacklight.

28. The method of claim 18, wherein said substrate material is comprised of cement and at least one other material selected from the group consisting of:

lime;

sand;

marble;

rock;

clay;

kaolin;

silica;

calcium;

magnesium;

polyester;

polyethylene, or any combination thereof.