Composite used for light control or privacy

• US 5,858,139 A
• Filed: 05/19/1997
• Issued: 01/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Company
• Original Assignee: 3M Company
• Inventors: Dunn, Douglas S., Hoyle, Charles D., Serbus, Thomas F., Laine, Tanya M., Windorski, David C., Ouderkirk, Andrew J., McClure, Donald J., Benson, Olester Jr., Miles, Lynette M., Darvell, Wayne K.
• Primary Examiner(s): LONEY, DONALD J
• Application Number:
  US08/858,306
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 428/167, 156/60, 156/277, 156/598, 283/73, 283/94, 283/9.1, 283/9.2, 380/54, 380/55
• US Class Current: 156/60
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/00 Optical elements other than lenses light guides G02B6/00; optical logic elements G02F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/045 Prism arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 2229/8905 Direction sensitive devices for controlled viewing angle
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 2229/8926 Active components, e.g. LCD's, indicators, illuminators and moving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 29/89 Optical or photographic arrangements structurally combined or co-operating with the vessel H01J29/866 and H01J29/868 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 283/901 Concealed data
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/913 Material designed to be responsive to temperature, light, moisture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24364 with transparent or protective coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24521 with component conforming to contour of nonplanar surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24545 Containing metal or metal compound
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2457 Parallel ribs and/or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24612 Composite web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24777 Edge feature

Abstract

A composite including a polymeric film having a first generally planar major surface and an opposite second major surface defined by a multiplicity of elongate parallel contiguous ridge portions. The ridge portions each have a generally triangular cross section and elongate obscured and transmitting second major surface portions intersecting at the apex of the ridge with the obscured second major surface portion being on the side of the ridge generally facing a first end of the sheet and the transmitting second major surface portions being on the side of the ridge portions adjacent a second end of the sheet. The film can provide visual transmission between its first major surface and the transmitting second major surface portions while coatings along the obscured second major surface portions prevent viewing of visual images through the film; whereas the composite can also provide light transmission between the first major surface and the transmitting second major surface portions, while the coatings along the obscured second major surface portions restrict light transmission.

Claims

1. A method for looking at a document bearing confidential indicia along its front surface while restricting viewing of that document by persons looking at the document from predetermined orientations relative to the front surface of the document, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a privacy composite comprising a polymeric film having a first generally planar major surface, an opposite second major surface, first and second opposite ends, a main portion having a generally rectangular cross section and defining said first major surface, and a multiplicity of elongate parallel contiguous ridge portions joined to and projecting less than 2 millimeters from the side of said main portion opposite said first major surface, said ridge portions defining said second major surface, each having a generally triangular cross section with an apex opposite said main portion, and each having elongate obscured and transmitting second major surface portions intersecting at said apex with the obscured second major surface portion being on the side of the ridge generally facing the first end of the sheet and the transmitting second major surface portion being on the side of the ridge generally facing the second end of the sheet, the angle between said transmitting second major surface portion and an imaginary plane parallel to the first major surface and passing through the apexes of the ridge portions being in the range of 25 to 60 degrees, and the included angle between said transmitting and obscured second major surface portions at said apex being in the range of 50 to 130 degrees, said film providing visual transmission between said first major surface and said transmitting second major surface portions, and said privacy composite including means along said obscured second major surface portions for restricting viewing of visual images through said obscured second major surface portion; and

positioning the second surface of the privacy composite over the front surface of the document bearing the confidential indicia; and

viewing the document through the privacy composite from adjacent the second end of the sheet, while the privacy composite restricts viewing of the document by persons at the first end of the privacy composite and along the sides of the privacy composite.

2. A method according to claim 1 further including the step of positioning a sheet-like light source positioned along the side of the document opposite said privacy composite to help illuminate the document.