Liquid crystal display

• US 5,997,964 A
• Filed: 05/04/1995
• Issued: 12/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprayex LLC
• Original Assignee: Sprayex LLC
• Inventors: Klima, Walter F. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmad, Nasser
• Application Number:
  US08/434,796
• Time in Patent Office: 1,678 Days
• Field of Search: 428/1, 428/195, 428/204, 428/320.2, 428/903, 428/913, 252/299.01, 359/52, 359/103, 349/187, 349/86, 349/122, 374/161, 374/162
• US Class Current: 428/1.54
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2310/0843 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/10 Removing layers, or parts of layers, mechanically or chemically
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/145 Printing
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2323/057 Ester polymer, e.g. polycarbonate, polyacrylate or polyester
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2323/06 Substrate layer characterised by chemical composition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/903 Microfiber, less than 100 micron diameter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/913 Material designed to be responsive to temperature, light, moisture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1062 Prior to assembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/108 Flash, trim or excess removal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1082 Partial cutting bonded sandwich [e.g., grooving or incising]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1084 of continuous or running length bonded web
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1085 One web only
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24876 Intermediate layer contains particulate material [e.g., pigment, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249994 Composite having a component wherein a constituent is liquid or is contained within preformed walls [e.g., impregnant-filled, previously void containing component, etc.]

Abstract

A liquid crystal display and method of making. The display includes a layer of support material stabilizing a layer of liquid crystal material in dimensional thickness and uniformity. The invention is particularly well suit for making heat-sensitive display labels.

Claims

1. A heat-sensitive display for selectively displaying information depending on temperature, said display comprising:

a substantially opaque polyester base layer;

a heat-sensitive layer, said heat-sensitive layer including a support layer made of sheet material stabilizing a heat-sensitive material in dimensional thickness and uniformity, said heat-sensitive layer being configured and made of a heat-sensitive material selected so that said heat-sensitive layer is substantially colored and opaque at a lower temperature and substantially colorless and transparent at a higher temperature; and

an information marking provided on at least one of said base layer and said heat-sensitive layer and positioned behind said heat-sensitive layer so that said information marking is not displayed when said heat-sensitive layer is substantially colored and opaque and displayed when said heat-sensitive layer is substantially colorless and transparent.

2. A display according to claim 1, wherein said support layer is made from a separate piece of sheet material prior to incorporation into the display.

3. A display according to claim 1, wherein said information marking is provided on a back side of said support layer.

4. A display according to claim 1, wherein said information marking is provided on a front side of said base layer.

5. A label according to claim 1, wherein said label information marking is provided on a back side of said support layer.

6. A display according to claim 5, wherein said fiber material is paper.

7. A label according to claim 1, wherein said support layer is made of a material that becomes translucent upon application of liquid crystal material.

8. A display according to claim 7, wherein said support layer is made of paper.

9. A display according to claim 2, wherein said support layer is made of sheet material cut from a web of material.

10. A display according to claim 1, wherein said heat-sensitive material is one selected from the group consisting of a heat-sensitive liquid crystal material and a heat-sensitive dye.

11. A display according to claim 2, wherein said information marking is printed on a front side of said base layer.

12. A display according to claim 2, wherein said information marking is printed on a back side of said support layer.

13. A display according to claim 1, including an adhesive layer provided on a back side of said base layer for attaching the display to items.

15. A display according to claim 5, wherein said fiber material is felt.

16. A display according to claim 5, wherein said fiber material is cloth.

17. A display label according to claim 7, wherein said support layer is made of felt.

18. A display according to claim 7, wherein said support layer is made of cloth.

20. A display according to claim 1, wherein said display is substantially thin for applying to an article as a label.

14. A heat-sensitive display for a microwavable package, said display comprising:

an opaque polyester base layer;

a heat-sensitive layer, said heat-sensitive layer being configured and made of a heat-sensitive material selected so that said heat-sensitive layer is substantially colored and opaque at a lower temperature and substantially colorless and transparent at a higher temperature;

a cover layer, said heat-sensitive layer being layered between said base layer and said cover layer; and

an information marking indicating relative temperature of the microwavable package provided on at least one of said base layer and said heat-sensitive layer and positioned behind said heat-sensitive layer so that said information marking is not displayed when said heat-sensitive layer is substantially colored and opaque and displayed when said liquid crystal layer is substantially colorless and transparent.

19. A display according to claim 14, wherein said information marking indicating relative temperature is a word "HOT".