Coated display pieces and method of producing same

• US 20070048528A1
• Filed: 08/24/2006
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Auld Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: The Auld Company
• Inventors: Bree, Charles, Auld, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 7,722,924 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/426
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10018 comprising only one glass sheet
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/1077 containing polyurethane
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10908 in liquid form
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/28 with organic material C03C17/34, C03C17/44 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/32 with synthetic or natural resins C03C17/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/322 Polyurethanes or polyisocyanates
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2218/116 by spin-coating, centrifugation
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 27/10 with the aid of adhesive specially adapted for that purpose
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31612 As silicone, silane or siloxane
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31641 Next to natural rubber, gum, oil, rosin, wax, bituminous or tarry residue

Abstract

Coated display pieces. Display pieces for electronic and mechanical displays are coated with a coating material coating. The coating helps to reduce or prevent breakage or shattering and/or to improve light transmission. Methods of making the coated display pieces are also described.

Claims

1. A coated display piece for an electronic or mechanical device comprising:

a display piece; and

a coating material on the display piece, the coating material being free of an adhesion promoter.

2. The coated display piece of claim 1 wherein the coating material is selected from polyurethanes, epoxies, silicones, adhesives, rubber, or acrylics.

3. The coated display piece of claim 1 wherein the coating material comprises a polyurethane made from a two part polyurethane composition.

4. The coated display piece of claim 3 wherein the display piece is glass and the coating improves a light transmission of the display piece.

5. The coated display piece of claim 1 wherein the coating material comprises a polyurethane made from a single component polyurethane.

6. The coated display piece of claim 1 wherein the display piece is made of a material selected from glass, plastic, or ceramic.

7. The coated display piece of claim 1 wherein the display piece is planar.

8. The coated display piece of claim 1 wherein the display piece is curved.

9. The coated display piece of claim 1 wherein the coating material forms a dome on the display piece.

16. The method of claim 8 further comprising leveling the flowable coating material on the display piece before curing the flowable coating material.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising heating the display piece while leveling the flowable coating material.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising spinning the display piece while leveling the flowable coating material.

10. A method of coating a display piece for an electronic or mechanical device comprising;

providing a display piece for an electronic or mechanical device;

depositing a flowable coating material on the display piece;

spinning the display piece on a vertical axis; and

curing the flowable coating material to form the coated display piece for the electronic or mechanical device.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the flowable coating material is deposited on the display piece before spinning the display piece.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the flowable coating material is deposited on the display piece while spinning the display piece.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising pre-conditioning the display piece before depositing the flowable coating material on the display piece.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising heating the display piece while curing the flowable coating material.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein heating the display piece while curing the flowable coating material comprises varying a temperature of heating.

19. The method of claim 10 further comprising spinning the display piece while curing the flowable coating material.

20. The method of claim 10 wherein the display piece is rotated at speeds in a range of about 500 RPM to about 3000 RPM.

21. The method of claim 10 further comprising applying a primer to the display piece before depositing the flowable coating material.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the primer is a silane.

23. The coated display piece of claim 22 wherein the coating material is selected from polyurethanes, epoxies, silicones, adhesives, rubber, or acrylics.

24. The coated display piece of claim 22 wherein the coating material comprises a polyurethane made from a two part polyurethane composition.

25. The coated display piece of claim 24 wherein the display piece is glass and the coating improves the light transmission of the display piece.

26. The coated display piece of claim 22 wherein the coating material comprises a polyurethane made from a single component polyurethane.

27. The coated display piece of claim 22 wherein the display piece is made of a material selected from glass, plastic, or ceramic.

28. The coated display piece of claim 22 wherein the display piece is planar.

29. The coated display piece of claim 22 wherein the display piece is curved.

30. The coated display piece of claim 22 wherein the coating material forms a dome on the display piece.

22-1. A coated display piece for an electronic or mechanical device comprising:

a display piece; and

a unitary coating material on an upper surface and an edge of the display piece.

31. A method of coating an upper surface and an edge of a display piece for an electronic or mechanical device comprising;

providing a display piece for an electronic or mechanical device;

depositing a flowable coating material on an upper surface of the display piece;

spinning the display piece on a vertical axis so that the flowable coating material flows from the upper surface onto an edge of the display piece; and

curing the flowable coating material to form a unitary coating on the upper surface and the edge of the display piece for the electronic or mechanical device.