Color shifting film glitter

• US 6,475,609 B1
• Filed: 07/05/2000
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Scanlan, Thomas J., Ouderkirk, Andrew J., Whitney, Leland R.
• Primary Examiner(s): KILIMAN, LESZEK B
• Application Number:
  US09/582,932
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 428/402, 428/403, 428/407, 428/212, 428/323
• US Class Current: 428/212
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 17/04 Antipruritics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 23/02 Local anaesthetics
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/001 Toy-moulding appliances; Toy moulding
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 37/00 Jokes; Confetti, streamers, or other dance favours ; Cracker bonbons or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/023 Optical properties
• 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 comprises color shifting 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 glycerol, to hard, rigid materials such as plastics, particle board, and fiberglass. Examples of other matrix materials include putties or molding clays, rubbers, and adhesives.

Claims

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

2. The glitter particles according to claim 1, wherein said glitter particles have at least one transmission band in the visible region of the spectrum and at least one reflection band in the visible region of the spectrum.

3. The glitter particles according to claim 2, wherein said reflection band has a peak reflectivity of at least about 70%.

4. The glitter particles according to claim 2, wherein said reflection band has a peak reflectivity of at least about 85%.

5. The glitter particles according to claim 2, wherein said reflection band has a peak reflectivity of at least about 95%.

6. The glitter particles according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second polymeric materials is negatively birefringent.

7. The glitter particles according to claim 1, wherein the difference in indices of refraction of said first and second polymeric materials for visible light polarized along first and second axes in the plane of the layers is Δ

x and Δ

y, respectively, wherein the difference in indices of refraction of said first and second polymeric materials for visible light polarized along a third axis mutually orthogonal to said first and second axes is Δ

z, and wherein the absolute value of Δ

z is less than about one half the larger of the absolute value of Δ

x and the absolute value of Δ

y.

8. The glitter particles according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second materials is a strain hardening polyester.

9. The glitter particles according to claim 1, wherein said first polymeric material is a naphthalene dicarboxylic acid polyester.

10. The glitter particles according to claim 1, wherein said second polymeric material is a methacrylic acid polyester.

11. The glitter particles according to claim 1, wherein said first polymeric material is polyethylene naphthalate and said second polymeric material is polymethylmethacrylate.

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

13. 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.

14. The glitter particles according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said glitter particles 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.

15. The glitter particles according to according to claim 1 wherein said glitter particles comprised of said film include irregularly shaped particles.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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.

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

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

21. 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.

22. The glitter particles according to claim 1 wherein said glitter particles are in loose form.

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

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

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

49. A cosmetic composition according to claim 48, said cosmetic composition being a powder adapted for application to the hair or skin.

50. A cosmetic composition according to claim 48, said cosmetic composition being a liquid adapted for application to the hair or skin.

51. A cosmetic composition according to claim 48, said cosmetic composition being a cream adapted for application to the hair or skin.

52. A cosmetic composition according to claim 48, said cosmetic composition being a semi-solid adapted for application to the hair or skin.

53. A cosmetic composition according to claim 48, said cosmetic composition being a gel adapted for application to the hair or skin.

54. 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.

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

56. The topical medicament composition of claim 55, said composition comprising an anti-itching medicament.

57. The topical medicament composition of claim 55, said composition comprising a topical pain relief medicament.

58. 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.

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

26. The article according to claim 25 wherein at least a portion of said glitter particles comprised of said film have particle sizes less than 10 mm.

27. The article according to claim 26 wherein at least a portion of said glitter particles are randomly oriented on said substrate surface.

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

29. The composite article according to claim 28 wherein at least a portion of said glitter particles comprised of said film have particle sizes less than 10 mm.

30. The composite article according to claim 29 wherein said matrix is transparent.

31. The composite article according to claim 29 wherein said matrix material comprises at least one cured polymer selected from the group consisting of acrylics, polyurethanes, and vinyls.

32. The composite article according to claim 28 further comprising a pigment.

33. The composite article according to claim 28 wherein said glitter particles are non-uniformly distributed throughout said matrix material.

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

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

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

37. The dispersion according to claim 36 wherein at least a portion of said glitter particles comprised of said film have particle sizes less than 10 mm.

38. The dispersion according to claim 37 further comprising binder precursor material.

39. The dispersion according to claim 38 which is finger nail polish.

40. The dispersion according to claim 38 which is paint.

41. The dispersion according to claim 37 further comprising curable binder material.

42. The dispersion according to claim 37 wherein said liquid medium includes water.

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

44. The molding compound according to claim 43 which includes glycerol.

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

46. The injection moldable composition according to claim 45 wherein said polymer material is in the form of pellets.

47. 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 alternating layers of at least a first and second polymeric material, wherein at least one of said first or second polymeric materials is birefringent, wherein the difference in indices of refraction of said first and second polymeric materials for visible light polarized along first and second axes in the plane of the layers is at least about 0.05, and wherein the difference in indices of refraction of said first and second polymeric materials for visible light polarized along a third axis mutually orthogonal to said first and second axes is less than about 0.05.