Laminated bodies and windows using them

• US 6,020,989 A
• Filed: 02/11/1998
• Issued: 02/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Affinity Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Affinity Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Watanabe, Haruo
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): LETENDRE, SUZANNE M
• Application Number:
  US09/021,876
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 359/288, 359/289, 359/237, 359/238, 359/240
• US Class Current: 359/288
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/069 of intumescent material B32B17/10311 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0147 based on thermo-optic effects G02F1/132 takes precedence

Abstract

A laminated body comprising an aqueous solution, in which molecules dissolved in water aggregate upon increasing temperature to demonstrate cloudy light-scattering resulting in decrease in light transmittance, sealed between two substrates which are at least partially transparent to allow direct visibility of said aqueous solution, wherein said aqueous solution comprises 0.5 to 45 parts by weight of an amphipathic substance which exhibits a clouding point, is an oil at room temperature and dissolves uniformly in water at room temperature, dissolved in 100 parts by weight of a solution of 0.5 to 40 parts by weight of an ionic water-soluble polymer or a vinyl-based non-ionic water-soluble polymer exhibiting no clouding point at a temperature of not higher than about 45° C. in 100 parts by weight of water, and said aqueous solution undergoes a temperature-dependent reversible sol-emulsion phase transition, as well as a window employing it.

Claims

1. A laminated body comprising an aqueous solution, in which molecules dissolved in water aggregate upon increasing temperature to demonstrate cloudy light-scattering resulting in decrease in light transmittance, sealed between two substrates which are at least partially transparent to allow direct visibility of said aqueous solution, wherein said aqueous solution comprises 0.5 to 45 parts by weight of an amphipathic substance which exhibits a clouding point, is an oil at room temperature and dissolves uniformly in water at room temperature, dissolved in 100 parts by weight of a solution of 0.5 to 40 parts by weight of an ionic water-soluble polymer or a vinyl-based non-ionic water-soluble polymer exhibiting no clouding point at a temperature of not higher than about 45°

C. in 100 parts by weight of water, and said aqueous solution undergoes a temperature-dependent reversible sol-emulsion phase transition.

2. A laminated body according to claim 1, wherein the ionic water-soluble polymer is sodium carboxymethyl cellulose.

3. A laminated body according to claim 1, wherein the vinyl-based non-ionic water-soluble polymer is polyvinyl alcohol.

4. A laminated body according to claim 3, wherein 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of a neutral inorganic salt is added to 100 parts by weight of the water.

5. A laminated body according to claim 1, wherein the amphipathic substance contains at least oxypropylene groups.

6. A laminated body according to claim 5, wherein the amphipathic substance is modified dimethylpolysiloxane with addition of hydroxyethylene and hydroxypropylene.

7. A laminated body according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which comprises a combination of different aqueous solutions or a combination of an aqueous solution and a transparent liquid.

8. A laminated body according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which is provided with at least a heating element capable of heating.

9. A window employing a laminated body comprising an aqueous solution, in which molecules dissolved in water aggregate upon increasing temperature to demonstrate cloudy light-scattering resulting in a decrease in light transmittance, sealed between two substrates which are at least partially transparent to allow direct visibility of said aqueous solution, wherein said aqueous solution comprises 0.5 to 45 parts by weight of an amphipathic substance which exhibits a clouding point, is an oil at room temperature and dissolves uniformly in water at room temperature, dissolved in 100 parts by weight of a solution of 0.5 to 40 parts by weight of an ionic water-soluble polymer or a vinyl-based non-ionic water-soluble polymer exhibiting no clouding point at a temperature of not higher than about 45°

C. in 100 parts by weight of water, and said aqueous solution undergoes a temperature-dependent reversible sol-emulsion phase transition.

10. A window according to claim 9, wherein the ionic water-soluble polymer is sodium carboxymethyl cellulose.

11. A window according to claim 9, wherein the vinyl-based non-ionic water-soluble polymer is polyvinyl alcohol.

12. A window according to claim 11, wherein 0.1 to 10 parts by weight of a neutral inorganic salt is added to 100 parts by weight of the water.

13. A window according to claim 9, wherein the amphipathic substance contains at least oxypropylene groups.

14. A window according to any one of claims 9 to 13, which comprises a combination of different aqueous solutions or a combination of an aqueous solution and a transparent liquid.

15. A window according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein at least one of the substrates is ultraviolet absorbing glass, and the ultraviolet absorbing glass is facing outward.

16. A window according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein at least one of the substrates is multilayered glass.

17. A window according to any one of claims 9 to 13, which is provided with at least a heating element capable of heating.

18. A window according to any one of claims 9 to 13, which is constructed into a unit comprising a combination of the laminated body with a construction material sash or vehicle frame.