Thermochromatic temperature marking for outdoor surfaces

• US 20080060242A1
• Filed: 09/13/2006
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flint Acquisition Corp.
• Original Assignee: Flint Trading, Inc.
• Inventors: Greer, Robert W., Cady, Alexander F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,465,693 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 40/612
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/22 Advertising or display means on roads, walls or similar surfaces, e.g. illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/228 Ground signs, i.e. display signs fixed on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1471 Protective layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1486 Ornamental, decorative, pattern, or indicia

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system, method, and composition for a thermochromatic, color indicative sheet or device that is bonded to an article such as a concrete or asphalt surface, a traffic sign, a plate of a guidepost and on which is indicated a surface temperature near or below the freezing point of water. The invention can also utilize an adhesive system including a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) and/or thermal sensitive adhesive sheet for adhering sheets of preformed thermoplastic with the thermochromatic color indicative sheet to concrete, asphalt, wood or composite material surfaces. The invention includes methods of applying the product allowing for immediate use in a traffic area upon completion of the application to any appropriate outdoor surface.

Claims

1. A roadway marker with a thermochromatic surface comprising;

at least two preformed thermoplastic sections that include top sides and bottom sides wherein said thermochromatic surface is attached to said top sides and wherein said bottom side either includes an adhesive layer or no adhesive layer on a bottom side of said bottom sides thermoplastic sections, and wherein said sheeting is subsequently attached to a substrate.

2. The marker of claim 1, wherein said thermochromatic surface temperature is near or below the freezing point of water.

3. The marker of claim 1, wherein preformed thermochromatic road marking material is used for said thermochromatic sheet, wherein said sheet is color indicating and comprises a thermochromatic black pigment with a color transition at zero degrees Celsius, therein producing a color change near or below the freezing point of water.

4. The marker of claim 3, wherein said thermochromatic pigment is used in concentrations of 1% to 20%, and most preferably at 4%.

5. The marker of claim 1, wherein said marker comprises more than one preformed thermoplastic section which can be matched with at least one other preformed thermoplastic section such that said thermochromatic surface layer provides a desired pattern.

6. A method for providing a roadway marker with a thermochromatic surface comprising;

at least two preformed thermoplastic sections that include top sides and bottom sides wherein said thermochromatic surface is attached to said top sides and wherein said bottom side either includes an adhesive layer or no adhesive layer on a bottom side of said bottom sides thermoplastic sections, and wherein attaching said sheeting to a substrate is accomplished by pressure, heat, or any useful form and combination of heat and or pressure.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said thermochromatic surface temperature is near or below the freezing point of water.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein using preformed thermochromatic road marking material for said thermochromatic sheet is accomplished and wherein said sheet is color indicating and comprises a thermochromatic black pigment with a color transition at zero degrees Celsius, therein producing a color change near or below the freezing point of water.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said thermochromatic pigment is used in concentrations of 1% to 20%, and most preferably at 4%.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein said marker comprises more than one preformed thermoplastic section matching with at least one other preformed thermoplastic section thereby providing thermochromatic surface layers with a desired pattern.

11. A system for coating or bonding or both coating and bonding a first underlying substrate, wherein a second substrate comprises a curable composition which is bonded to said first underlying substrate and wherein said curable composition includes a top surface with a thermochromatic thermoplastic sheet wherein said first and second substrate are further subjected to heating.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein said first underlying substrate comprises uncured concrete.

13. A system according to claim 11, wherein said uncured concrete has been previously shaped and formed within about 24 hours to about 2 weeks.

14. A system according to claim 11, wherein said uncured concrete provides a moist, damp, or wet surface.

15. A system according to claim 11, wherein said first underlying substrate requires no laitance removal.

16. A system according to claim 11, wherein said first underlying substrate requires no preheating.

17. A system according to claim 11, wherein said first underlying substrate is any traffic surface.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein said traffic surface is for pedestrian, motorized vehicles, aircraft, human powered conveyances, programmable robotics and the like.

19. A system according to claim 11, wherein said second substrate composition is comprised primarily of any curable epoxy including moisture curable epoxy.

20. A system according to claim 19, wherein said curable epoxy comprises a one part or multiple part composition or mixture and said mixture is optionally a isocyanate-functional prepolymer, an effective amount of terpene-phenolic resin, and an effective amount of a silane compound.

21. A system according to claim 19, wherein said curable epoxy comprises a one or two part epoxy, multi-component polyurethane, silicone adhesive, UV/EB curable adhesive, UV/EB curable resins, and combinations therereof.

22. A system according to claim 19, wherein said curable epoxy comprises a viscosity of about 10 centipoise to about 500 centipoise.

23. A system according to claim 19, wherein application of said curable epoxy is by brush, roller, sprayer or the like.

24. A system according to claim 19, wherein said curable epoxy remains uncured from about 1 minute to about 60 minutes.

25. A roadway marker with a thermochromatic adhesive backed sheeting comprising;

at least two preformed thermoplastic sections of said sheeting that includes top sides and bottom sides with an adhesive layer on said bottom sides of said thermoplastic sections;

and;

a protective sheet covering said adhesive layer on said bottom sides;

wherein said bottom sides and said protective sheets covering said adhesive layer of said bottom sides may be subsequently adhered to any suitable outdoor surface using at least pressure to provide adequate bond strength to ensure a proper permanent or semi-permanent or temporary surface covering said suitable outdoor surface and wherein the chemical composition of said adhesive is alkyl or butyl-based and wherein said top side is a thermochromatic, color indicative sheet or device that is bonded to a concrete or asphalt surface, a traffic sign, or a plate of a guidepost and upon which is indicated a surface temperature.

and;

a protective sheet for pressure sensitive adhesive only that covers said adhesive layer on said bottom sides.

26. The marker of claim 25, wherein said marker comprises a protective sheet and said protective sheet is preferably comprised of primarily a silicone elastomer or other silicone based thermoplastic.

27. The marker of claim 25, wherein said marker comprises more than one preformed thermoplastic section which can be matched with at least one other preformed thermoplastic section such that said a thermochromatic surface layer provides a desired pattern.

28. A method for providing a thermochromatic adhesive backed sheeting comprising;

at least two preformed thermoplastic sections of said sheeting that includes top sides and bottom sides with an adhesive layer on said bottom sides of said thermoplastic sections;

and;

a protective sheet covering said adhesive layer on said bottom sides;

wherein said bottom sides and said protective sheets covering said adhesive layer of said bottom sides may be subsequently adhered to any suitable outdoor surface using at least pressure to provide adequate bond strength to ensure a proper permanent or semi-permanent or temporary surface covering said suitable outdoor surface and wherein the chemical composition of said adhesive is alkyl or butyl-based and wherein said top side is a thermochromatic, color indicative sheet or device that is bonded to a concrete or asphalt surface, a traffic sign, or a plate of a guidepost and upon which is indicated a surface temperature.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said marker comprises a protective sheet and said protective sheet is preferably comprised of primarily a silicone elastomer or other silicone based thermoplastic.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said marker comprises more than one preformed thermoplastic section which can be matched with at least one other preformed thermoplastic section such that said a thermochromatic surface layer provides a desired pattern.

31. A system comprising providing an adhesive backed thermochromatic sheeting comprising;

at least two preformed thermoplastic sections of said sheeting that includes top sides and bottom sides with an adhesive layer on said bottom sides of said thermoplastic sections;

and;

a protective sheet covering said adhesive layer on said bottom sides;

wherein said bottom sides and said protective sheets covering said adhesive layer of said bottom sides may be subsequently adhered to any suitable outdoor surface using at least pressure to provide adequate bond strength to ensure a proper permanent or semi-permanent or temporary surface covering said suitable outdoor surface and wherein the chemical composition of said adhesive is alkyl or butyl-based and wherein said top side is a thermochromatic, color indicative sheet or device that is bonded to a concrete or asphalt surface, a traffic sign, or a plate of a guidepost and upon which is indicated a surface temperature.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein said sheeting comprises said protective sheet and said protective sheet is preferably comprised of primarily a silicone elastomer or other silicone based thermoplastic.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein said sheeting comprises more than one preformed thermoplastic section which can be matched with at least one other preformed thermoplastic section such that said a thermochromatic surface layer provides a desired pattern.