Coated exterior mirror housing for vehicles and method for making same
First Claim
1. A coated housing for exterior rearview mirrors for vehicles comprising:
- a molded housing having an outside surface and an inside surface, said outside surface being exposed and visible from the vehicle exterior, said housing being adapted to house a reflective rearview mirror element when mounted on a vehicle, said housing being molded from a resinous plastic material of a predetermined color and being unpainted; and
a coating of transparent polymeric material on at least a portion of said outside housing surface, said transparent polymeric material having a refractive index within the range of about 1.35 to about 1.67 measured at the sodium D line and at 20°
C., whereby said coated outside housing surface portion of said exterior rearview mirror has at least one of enhanced scratch resistance, enhanced resistance to surface crazing, increased resistance to ultra-violet (UV) radiation degradation, increased gloss and/or depth of color in appearance as compared to said housing when uncoated with said coating.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A coated housing for exterior rearview mirrors for vehicles provides increased gloss and depth of color in appearance, and enhanced resistance to scratching, surface crazing and ultraviolet radiation degradation. The housing is preferably molded from a resinous plastic material in a predetermined color and has a generally transparent polymeric material such as clear urethane or acrylic applied in a thin coating to the unpainted housing. The generally transparent coating may include a tint or particles of metal or mica to enhance the molded housing color and/or appearance. Optionally, adhesion of the coating to the housing may be increased by mixing an adhesion promoting agent in said resinous plastic material prior to molding, or by treating the housing surface after molding and prior to application of the coating. An ultraviolet radiation absorbing, blocking, screening material may be included in the generally transparent polymeric material. A method for making the coated exterior rearview mirror housing is also disclosed.
13 Citations
48 Claims
-
1. A coated housing for exterior rearview mirrors for vehicles comprising:
-
a molded housing having an outside surface and an inside surface, said outside surface being exposed and visible from the vehicle exterior, said housing being adapted to house a reflective rearview mirror element when mounted on a vehicle, said housing being molded from a resinous plastic material of a predetermined color and being unpainted; and a coating of transparent polymeric material on at least a portion of said outside housing surface, said transparent polymeric material having a refractive index within the range of about 1.35 to about 1.67 measured at the sodium D line and at 20°
C., whereby said coated outside housing surface portion of said exterior rearview mirror has at least one of enhanced scratch resistance, enhanced resistance to surface crazing, increased resistance to ultra-violet (UV) radiation degradation, increased gloss and/or depth of color in appearance as compared to said housing when uncoated with said coating. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. A coated housing for exterior rearview mirrors for vehicles comprising:
-
a molded housing having an outside surface and an inside surface, said outside surface being exposed and visible from the vehicle exterior, said housing being adapted to house a reflective rearview mirror element when mounted on a vehicle, said housing being molded from a resinous plastic material of a predetermined color and being unpainted; and a coating of transparent polymeric material on at least a portion of said outside housing surface whereby said coated outside housing surface portion of said exterior rearview mirror has at least one of enhanced scratch resistance, enhanced resistance to surface crazing, increased resistance to ultra-violet (UV) radiation degradation, increased gloss and/or depth of color in appearance as compared to said housing when uncoated with said coating; said coating being a clear layer selected from the group including urethane or acrylic. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A coated housing for exterior rearview mirrors for vehicles comprising:
-
a molded housing having an outside surface and an inside surface, said outside surface exposed and visible from the vehicle exterior, said housing being adapted to house a reflective rearview mirror element when mounted on a vehicle, said housing being molded from a resinous plastic material of a predetermined color and being unpainted; and a clear coating selected from the group including urethane and acrylic applied to at least a portion of said outside housing surface; said outside housing surface portion being treated and modified after molding and before application of said coating to enhance adhesion of said coating to said outside housing surface portion; whereby said coated outside housing surface portion has at least one of enhanced scratch resistance, enhanced resistance to surface crazing, increased resistance to ultra-violet (UV) radiation degradation, increased gloss and/or depth of color in appearance as compared to said housing when uncoated with said coating.
-
-
26. A coated housing for exterior rearview mirrors for vehicles comprising:
-
a molded housing having an outside surface and an inside surface, said outside surface exposed and visible from the vehicle exterior, said housing being adapted to house a reflective rearview mirror element when mounted on a vehicle, said housing being molded from a resinous plastic material of a predetermined color and being unpainted; and a clear coating selected from the group including clear urethane and acrylic applied to at least a portion of said outside housing surface; said resinous plastic material including an adhesion promoting agent mixed therein prior to molding of said housing, said agent providing increased adhesion of said coating to said housing; whereby said coated outside housing surface portion has at least one of enhanced scratch resistance, enhanced resistance to surface crazing, increased resistance to ultra-violet (UV) radiation degradation, increased gloss and/or depth of color in appearance as compared to said housing when uncoated with said coating.
-
-
27. A method for making a coated housing for exterior rearview mirrors for vehicles, said method comprising:
-
molding a housing in a predetermined configuration from a resinous plastic material of a predetermined color; applying a coating of transparent polymeric material directly to at least a portion of the unpainted, outside surface of said molded housing, said transparent polymeric material having a refractive index within the range of about 1.35 to about 1.67 measured at the sodium D line and at 20°
C.;whereby a coated housing results which includes at least one of enhanced scratch resistance, enhanced resistance to surface crazing, increased resistance to ultra-violet radiation degradation, increased gloss and/or depth of color in appearance as compared to said housing when uncoated with said coating. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
-
Specification