Visible mirror film glitter

• US 6,455,140 B1
• Filed: 07/05/2000
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Ouderkirk, Andrew J., Whitney, Leland R.
• Primary Examiner(s): KILIMAN, LESZEK B
• Application Number:
  US09/582,928
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 428/402, 428/403, 428/407, 428/212, 428/323
• US Class Current: 428/212
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2800/436 Interference pigments, e.g. Iridescent, Pearlescent
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/02 characterised by special physical form
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/042 Gels
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/8117 Homopolymers or copolymers of aromatic olefines, e.g. polystyrene; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/8152 Homopolymers or copolymers of esters, e.g. (meth)acrylic acid esters; Compositions of derivatives of such polymers
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/85 Polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 1/02 Preparations containing skin colorants, e.g. pigments preparations in powder form A61Q1/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 1/04 for lips
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 1/06 Lipsticks
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 1/10 for eyes, e.g. eyeliner, mascara
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 1/12 Face or body powders for grooming, adorning or absorbing
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 19/00 Preparations for care of the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 3/02 Nail coatings
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 5/06 Preparations for styling the hair, e.g. by temporary shaping or colouring
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/023 Optical properties
• CPC Class Codes: B44C 5/00 Processes for producing special ornamental bodies
• CPC Class Codes: C09B 67/0098 Organic pigments exhibiting interference colours, e.g. nacrous pigments
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 5/36 Pearl essence, e.g. coatings containing platelet-like pigments for pearl lustre
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3083 Birefringent or phase retarding elements G02B5/3008, G02B5/3016 take precedence; systems for polarisation control G02B27/286; manufacturing phase modulating patterns by lithographic processes G03F7/001
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24372 Particulate matter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24942 : including components having same physical characteristic in differing degree
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/25 : Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and including a second component containing structurally defined particles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2982 : Particulate matter [e.g., sphere, flake, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2991 : Coated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2998 : including synthetic resin or polymer

Abstract

Glitter, at least a portion of which, comprise visible mirror film. The glitter is useful in any of a variety of ways, including in loose form, attached to the surface of a substrate, in a dispersible combination, or present in a matrix material ranging, for example, from liquids, such as water and alcohols, to gels, such as silicone and glycenol, to hard, rigid materials such as plastics, particle board and fiberglass.

Claims

1. Glitter particles comprising film comprising a plurality of alternating layers of at least a first and second polymeric material, wherein at least one of the first or second polymeric materials is birefringent, and wherein the difference in indices of refraction of the first and second polymeric materials for visible light polarized along both mutually orthogonal in-plane axes of the film is at least 0.05, and wherein the difference in indices of refraction of the first and second polymeric materials for visible light polarized along a third axis normal to the plane of the film is less than about 0.05.

2. The glitter particles according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said glitter particles comprised of said film have particle sizes less than about 10 mm.

3. The glitter particles according to claim 1 wherein said glitter particles comprised of said film have particle sizes in the range from about 50 micrometers to about 3 mm.

4. The glitter particles according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said glitter particles comprised of said film have a shape selected from the group consisting of a circle, a square, a rectangle, a triangle, a diamond, a star, an alphanumeric, and mixtures thereof.

5. The glitter particles according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said glitter particles comprised of said film include irregularly shaped particles.

6. The glitter particles according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said glitter particles comprised of said film include an abrasion resistant coating.

7. The glitter particles according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said glitter particles comprised of said film include an anti-static coating.

8. The glitter particles according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said glitter particles comprised of said film include an ultra-violet light-absorbing coating.

9. The glitter particles according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said glitter particles comprised of said film include an adhesive material.

10. The glitter particles according to claim 1 wherein said glitter particles comprised of said film have particle sizes less than 3 mm.

11. The glitter particles according to claim 1 wherein said glitter particles comprised of said film have particle sizes in the range from about 50 micrometers to about 3 mm.

12. The glitter particles according to claim 1 wherein said glitter particles comprised of said film are in loose form.

13. The glitter particles according to claim 1 wherein said film has a thickness less than about 125 micrometers.

14. The glitter particles according to claim 1 wherein said film has a thickness in the range from about 15 micrometers to about 50 micrometers.

37. A cosmetic composition comprising the glitter of claim 1, said cosmetic composition being adapted for application to the hair or skin.

38. A cosmetic composition according to claim 37, said cosmetic composition being a powder adapted for application to the hair or skin.

39. A cosmetic composition according to claim 37, said cosmetic composition being a liquid adapted for application to the hair or skin.

40. A cosmetic composition according to claim 37, said cosmetic composition being a cream adapted for application to the hair or skin.

41. A cosmetic composition according to claim 37, said cosmetic composition being a semi-solid adapted for application to the hair or skin.

42. A cosmetic composition according to claim 37, said cosmetic composition being a gel adapted for application to the hair or skin.

43. A cosmetic composition comprising the glitter of claim 1, said cosmetic composition being selected from the group consisting of hair spray, hair gel, hair mousse, lipstick, lipgloss, face powder, liquid cosmetic foundation, body paint, body powder, fingernail polish, eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara, cosmetics that may be applied to the teeth, moustache wax, rouge and massage oil.

44. A topical medicament composition comprising the glitter of claim 1, said topical medicament composition being adapted for application to the hair or skin.

45. The topical medicament composition of claim 44, said composition comprising an anti-itching medicament.

46. The topical medicament composition of claim 44 said composition comprising a topical pain relief medicament.

47. A composition comprising the glitter of claim 1, said composition being adapted for application to the hair or skin, said composition being a suncreen composition comprising at least one UV absorbing component.

15. An article comprising a substrate having glitter particles attached to a surface of said substrate, said glitter particles comprising film comprising a plurality of alternating layers of at least a first and second polymeric material, wherein at least one of the first or second polymeric materials is birefringent, and wherein the difference in indices of refraction of the first and second polymeric materials for visible light polarized along both mutually orthogonal in-plane axes of the film is at least 0.05, and wherein the difference in indices of refraction of the first and second polymeric materials for visible light polarized along a third axis normal to the plane of the film is less than about 0.05.

16. The article according to claim 15 wherein at least a portion of said glitter particles comprised of said film have particle sizes less than 10 mm.

17. The article according to claim 16 wherein at least a portion of said glitter particles are randomly oriented on said substrate surface.

18. A composite article comprising glitter particles dispersed within a translucent matrix material, said glitter particles comprising film comprising a plurality of alternating layers of at least a first and second polymeric material, wherein at least one of the first and second polymeric materials is birefringent, and wherein the difference in indices of refraction of the first and second polymeric materials for visible light polarized along both mutually orthogonal in-plane axes of the film is at least 0.05, and wherein the difference in indices of refraction of the first and second polymeric materials for visible light polarized along a third axis normal to the plane of the film is less than about 0.05.

19. The composite article according to claim 18 wherein at least a portion of said glitter particles comprising said film have a particle sizes less than 10 mm.

20. The composite article according to claim 19 wherein said matrix is transparent.

21. The composite article according to claim 19 wherein said matrix material comprises at least one cured polymer selected from the group consisting of acrylics, polyurethanes, and vinyls.

22. The composite article according to claim 18 further comprising a pigment.

23. The composite article according to claim 18 wherein said glitter particles are non-uniformly distributed throughout said matrix material.

24. A composite article comprising glitter particles dispersed within a matrix material, said glitter particles comprising film comprising a plurality of alternating layers of at least a first and second polymeric material, wherein at least one of the first or second polymeric materials is birefringent, and wherein the difference in indices of refraction of the first and second polymeric materials for visible light polarized along both mutually orthogonal in-plane axes of the film is at least 0.05, and wherein the difference in indices of refraction of the first and second polymeric materials for visible light polarized along a third axis normal to the plane of the film is less than about 0.05, and wherein at least a portion of said glitter comprising said film is observable by a viewer of said article.

25. A dispersion comprising liquid medium and glitter particles, said glitter particles comprising film comprising a plurality of alternating layers of at least a first and second polymeric material, wherein at least one of the first or second polymeric materials is birefringent, and wherein the difference in indices of refraction of the first and second polymeric materials for visible light polarized along both mutually orthogonal in-plane axes of the film is at least 0.05, and wherein the difference in indices of refraction of the first and second polymeric materials for visible light polarized along a third axis normal to the plane of the film is less than about 0.05.

26. A dispersible combination comprising liquid medium and glitter particles, said glitter particles comprising film comprising a plurality of alternating layers of at least a first and second polymeric material, wherein at least one of the first or second polymeric materials is birefringent, and wherein the difference in indices of refraction of the first and second polymeric materials for visible light polarized along both mutually orthogonal in-plane axes of the film is at least 0.05, and wherein the difference in indices of refraction of the first and second polymeric materials for visible light polarized along a third axis normal to the plane of the film is less than about 0.05.

27. The dispersion according to claim 26 wherein at least a portion of said glitter particles comprised of said film have a particle sizes less than 10 mm.

28. The dispersion according to claim 27 further comprising binder precursor material.

29. The dispersion according to claim 28 which is finger nail polish.

30. The dispersion according to claim 28 which is paint.

31. The dispersion according to claim 27 further comprising curable binder material.

32. The dispersion according to claim 27 wherein said liquid medium includes water.

33. A molding compound comprising glitter particles dispersed therein, said glitter particles comprising film comprising a plurality of alternating layers of at least a first and second polymeric material, wherein at least one of the first or second polymeric materials is birefringent, and wherein the difference in indices of refraction of the first and second polymeric materials for visible light polarized along both mutually orthogonal in-plane axes of the film is at least 0.05, and wherein the difference in indices of refraction of the first and second polymeric materials for visible light polarized along a third axis normal to the plane of the film is less than about 0.05.

34. An injection moldable composition comprising glitter particles dispersed within an injection moldable polymer material, wherein said glitter particles comprise film comprising a plurality of alternating layers of at least a first and second polymeric material, wherein at least one of the first or second polymeric materials is birefringent, and wherein the difference in indices of refraction of the first and second polymeric materials for visible light polarized along both mutually orthogonal in-plane axes of the film is at least 0.05, and wherein the difference in indices of refraction of the first and second polymeric materials for visible light polarized along a third axis normal to the plane of the film is less than about 0.05.

35. The injection moldable composition according to claim 34 wherein said polymer material is in the form of pellets.

36. A composition, comprising:

a substrate;

a matrix disposed on said substrate; and

a plurality of glitter particles disposed in said matrix wherein said glitter particles comprise film comprising a plurality of alternating layers of at least a first and second polymeric material, wherein at least one of the first or second polymeric materials is birefringent, and wherein the difference in indices of refraction of the first and second polymeric materials for visible light polarized along both mutually orthogonal in-plane axes of the film is at least 0.05, and wherein the difference in indices of refraction of the first and second polymeric materials for visible light polarized along a third axis normal to the plane of the film is less than about 0.05.