Windshield Interlayer Having a Gradient Region Having a White Coloration

• US 20080014414A1
• Filed: 07/13/2006
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Solutia Incorporated (Eastman Chemical Company)
• Original Assignee: Solutia Incorporated (Eastman Chemical Company)
• Inventors: Yacovone, Vincent James
• Application Number:
  US11/457,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20080014414A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/195.1
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10005 laminated safety glass or glazing
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10247 Laminated safety glass or glazing containing decorations or patterns for aesthetic reasons containing metal wires for aesthetic reasons B32B17/10422
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10339 Specific parts of the laminated safety glass or glazing being colored or tinted tinted glass sheet B32B17/1011; tinted interlayer B32B17/10651
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10623 Whitening agents reflecting visible light
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/1066 imparting a tint in certain regions only, i.e. shade band
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10761 containing vinyl acetal
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2367/00 Polyesters, e.g. PET, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/5218 characterised by inorganic additives, e.g. pigments, clays
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]

Abstract

The present invention includes windshields and windshield interlayers comprising a gradient region having a white coloration adjacent to which an image has been printed. The incorporation of a gradient region having a white coloration into a windshield provides a background that improves the color perception and quality of the printed image.

Claims

1. A windshield interlayer, comprising:

a polymer sheet;

wherein said interlayer comprises a gradient region having a white coloration, and wherein an image is printed on said gradient region or on a region of a layer within said interlayer corresponding to said gradient region.

2. The interlayer of claim 1, wherein said white coloration is formed on said polymer sheet.

3. The interlayer of claim 1, wherein said white coloration is formed within said polymer sheet.

4. The interlayer of claim 1, wherein said interlayer further comprises a second polymer sheet and wherein said white coloration is formed within said polymer sheet or said second polymer sheet.

5. The interlayer of claim 1, wherein said interlayer further comprises a polymer film and said white coloration is formed on said polymer film.

6. The interlayer of claim 1, wherein said white coloration is formed in a subregion of said gradient region.

7. The interlayer of claim 1, wherein said gradient region has a height of less than 18 centimeters.

8. The interlayer of claim 1, wherein said white coloration comprises titanium dioxide.

9. The interlayer of claim 1, wherein said image is printed directly on said gradient region.

10. The interlayer of claim 1, wherein said white coloration has a CIELAB color space L value of greater than 70.

11. A windshield, comprising:

an interlayer comprising a polymer sheet;

wherein said interlayer comprises a gradient region having a white coloration, and wherein an image is printed on said gradient region or on a region of a layer within said interlayer corresponding to said gradient region.

12. The windshield of claim 11, wherein said white coloration is formed on said polymer sheet.

13. The windshield of claim 11, wherein said white coloration is formed within said polymer sheet.

14. The windshield of claim 11, wherein said interlayer further comprises a second polymer sheet and wherein said white coloration is formed within said polymer sheet or said second polymer sheet.

15. The windshield of claim 11, wherein said interlayer further comprises a polymer film and said white coloration is formed on said polymer film.

16. The windshield of claim 11, wherein said white coloration is formed in a subregion of said gradient region.

17. The windshield of claim 11, wherein said gradient region has a height of less than 18 centimeters.

18. The windshield of claim 11, wherein said white coloration comprises titanium dioxide.

19. The interlayer of claim 11, wherein said image is printed directly on said gradient region.

20. The interlayer of claim 12, wherein said white coloration has a CIELAB color space L value of greater than 70.