Color shifting film articles

• US 6,797,366 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2002
• Issued: 09/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Hanson, Gary B., Wheatley, John A., Ouderkirk, Andrew J., Jonza, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Vivian
• Application Number:
  US10/188,175
• Publication Number:
  US 20030035972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 359/1, 359/2, 359/15, 359/483, 359/485, 359/487, 359/494, 359/500, 359/502, 359/577, 359/580, 359/586, 359/589, 359/590, 359/838, 359/839, 359/884, 428/165, 428/201, 428/203, 428/212, 428/916, 404/27, 404/42
• US Class Current: 428/201
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/08 flexible, e.g. films
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/914 cooling drums
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/9165 Electrostatic pinning
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/416 Reflective
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/023 Optical properties
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• CPC Class Codes: B44F 1/14 Iridescent effects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0841 comprising organic materials, e.g. polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/281 designed for the infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/287 comprising at least one layer of organic material
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/3033 in the form of a thin sheet or foil, e.g. Polaroid
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/305 including organic materials, e.g. polymeric layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/916 Fraud or tamper detecting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12229 Intermediate article [e.g., blank, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1225 Symmetrical
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12278 Same structure at both ends of plural taper
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12313 Arranged to avoid lateral displacement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24851 Intermediate layer is discontinuous or differential
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24868 Translucent outer layer
• 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 428/28 : Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and having an adhesive outermost layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2848 : Three or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/29 : Coated or structually defined flake, particle, cell, strand, strand portion, rod, filament, macroscopic fiber or mass thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31504 : Composite [nonstructural laminate]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31786 : Of polyester [e.g., alkyd, etc.]

Abstract

Multilayer polymeric films and other optical bodies are provided which is useful in making colored mirrors and polarizers. The films are characterized by a change in color as a function of viewing angle.

Claims

1. An article, comprising:

a color shifting film; and

a colored element disposed behind the color shifting film;

wherein the colored element is selectively visible through the color shifting film as a function of viewing angle.

3. The article of claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

a holographic element disposed to alter the appearance of the film.

4. The article of claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

an adhesive layer.

5. The article of claim 4, wherein the adhesive layer comprises at least one additive selected from the group consisting of tackifiers, plasticizers, fillers, antioxidants, stabilizers, pigments, diffusing particles, curatives, and solvents.

6. The article of claim 1 or 2 in combination with a backlight positioned behind the article.

8. The article of claim 1 or 7, wherein the colored element comprises a dye.

9. The article of claim 1 or 7, wherein the colored element comprises indicia.

10. The article of claim 9, wherein the indicia are selectively visible through the film as a function of viewing angle.

11. The article of claim 9, wherein the colored element comprises a fluorescent material.

12. The article of claim 9, wherein the indicia are printed onto at least one surface of the film.

13. The article of claim 9, wherein the indicia are a component of a member that is laminated to the film.

14. The article of claim 9, wherein the indicia convey information selected from the group consisting of product identifications, advertisements, warnings, and decorations.

15. The article of claim 1 or 7, wherein the colored element comprises a fluorescent material.

16. The article of claim 15, wherein the fluorescent material emits visible light.

17. The article of claim 15, wherein the fluorescent material absorbs ultraviolet light.

2. An article, comprising:

a film having a transmission band that shifts with viewing angle; and

a diffusely reflective surface disposed behind the film.

7. The article of claim 2, wherein the diffusely reflective surface comprises a colored element.