Thermochromatic temperature marking for outdoor surfaces

• US 7,465,693 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2006
• Issued: 12/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Flint Acquisition Corp. (Nouryon BV)
• Original Assignee: Flint Trading, Inc. (Nouryon BV)
• Inventors: Cady, Alexander F., Greer, Robert F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess; Bruce H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Joy; David J
• Application Number:
  US11/520,237
• Publication Number:
  US 20080060242A1
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 503/200, 503/201, 427/146, 428/41.7, 428/42.1, 404/9, 404/12, 404/14
• US Class Current: 503/200
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/22 Advertising or display means on roads, walls or similar surfaces, e.g. illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/228 Ground signs, i.e. display signs fixed on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1471 Protective layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1486 Ornamental, decorative, pattern, or indicia

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system, method, and composition for a thermochromatic, color indicative sheet or device that is bonded to an article such as a concrete or asphalt surface, a traffic sign, a plate of a guidepost and on which is indicated a surface temperature near or below the freezing point of water. The invention can also utilize an adhesive system including a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) and/or thermal sensitive adhesive sheet for adhering sheets of preformed thermoplastic with the thermochromatic color indicative sheet to concrete, asphalt, wood or composite material surfaces. The invention includes methods of applying the product allowing for immediate use in a traffic area upon completion of the application to any appropriate outdoor surface.

Claims

1. A roadway marker with a thermochromatic surface comprising;

at least two preformed thermoplastic segment(s) that include top sides and bottom sides wherein said thermochromatic surface is attached to said top sides and wherein said bottom side either includes an adhesive layer or no adhesive layer on a bottom side of said thermoplastic segment(s), and wherein said sheeting is subsequently attached to a substrate.

2. The marker of claim 1, wherein said thermochromatic surface has a visible detectable image when the temperature is near or below the freezing point of water.

3. The marker of claim 1, wherein preformed thermochromatic road marking material is used for said thermochromatic sheet, wherein said sheet is color indicating and comprises a thermochromatic pigment with a color transition at zero degrees Celsius, therein producing a color change near or below the freezing point of water.

4. The marker of claim 3, wherein said thermochromatic pigment is used in concentrations of 1% to 20%.

5. The marker of claim 4, wherein said thermochromatic pigment is used at a concentration of 4%.

6. The marker of claim 1, wherein said marker comprises more than one preformed thermoplastic segment which can be matched with at least one other preformed thermoplastic segment such that said thermochromatic surface layer provides a desired pattern.

7. A method for providing a roadway marker with a thermochromatic surface comprising;

providing at least two preformed thermoplastic segment(s) that include top sides and bottom sides wherein said thermochromatic surface is attached to said top sides and wherein said bottom side either includes an adhesive layer or no adhesive layer on a bottom side of said thermoplastic segment(s), and wherein attaching said sheeting to a substrate is accomplished by pressure, heat, or any useful form and combination of heat and or pressure.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a detectable image is visualized within said thermochromatic surface when the temperature is near or below the freezing point of water.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said thermochromatic sheet indicates a tone, hue or color and comprises a thermochromatic pigment with a color transition at zero degrees Celsius, therein producing a color change near or below the freezing point of water.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said thermochromatic sheet contains pigment in concentrations of 1% to 20%.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said thermochromatic sheet contains pigment at a concentration of 4%.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein producing said roadway marker comprises more than one preformed thermoplastic segment(s) matching with at least one other preformed thermoplastic segment(s) thereby providing thermochromatic surface layers with a desired pattern.

13. A roadway marker with a thermochromatic adhesive backed sheeting comprising;

at least two preformed thermoplastic segments of said sheeting that includes top sides and bottom sides with an adhesive layer on said bottom sides of said thermoplastic segments;

and;

a protective sheet covering said adhesive layer on said bottom sides;

wherein said bottom sides and said protective sheets covering said adhesive layer of said bottom sides may be subsequently adhered to any suitable outdoor surface using at least pressure to provide adequate bond strength to ensure a proper permanent or semi-permanent or temporary surface covering said suitable outdoor surface and wherein the chemical composition of said adhesive is alkyl or butyl-based and wherein said top side is a thermochromatic, color indicative sheet or device that is bonded to a concrete or asphalt surface, a traffic sign, or a plate of a guidepost and upon which is indicated a surface temperature

and;

a protective sheet for pressure sensitive adhesive only that covers said adhesive layer on said bottom sides.

14. The marker of claim 13, wherein said marker comprises a protective sheet covering and said protective sheet covering is comprised of primarily a silicone elastomer or other silicone based thermoplastic.

15. The marker of claim 13, wherein said marker comprises more than one preformed thermoplastic segments which can be matched with at least one other preformed thermoplastic segments such that said a thermochromatic surface layer provides a desired pattern.

16. A method for providing a thermochromatic adhesive backed sheeting comprising;

providing at least two preformed thermoplastic segments of said sheeting that includes top sides and bottom sides with an adhesive layer on said bottom sides of said thermoplastic segments;

and;

a protective sheet covering said adhesive layer on said bottom sides;

wherein said bottom sides and said protective sheets covering said adhesive layer of said bottom sides may be subsequently adhered to any suitable outdoor surface using at least pressure to provide adequate bond strength to ensure a proper permanent or semi-permanent or temporary surface covering said suitable outdoor surface and wherein the chemical composition of said adhesive is alkyl or butyl-based and wherein said top side is a thermochromatic, color indicative sheet or device that is bonded to a concrete or asphalt surface, a traffic sign, or a plate of a guidepost and upon which is indicated a surface temperature.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said marker provided comprises a protective sheet and said protective sheet is comprised of primarily a silicone elastomer or other silicone based thermoplastic.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said marker comprises more than one preformed thermoplastic segment which can be matched with at least one other preformed thermoplastic segment such that said a thermochromatic surface layer provides a desired pattern.

19. A system comprising providing an adhesive backed thermochromatic sheeting comprising;

at least two preformed thermoplastic segments of said sheeting that includes top sides and bottom sides with an adhesive layer on said bottom sides of said thermoplastic segments;

and;

a protective sheet covering said adhesive layer on said bottom sides;

wherein said bottom sides and said protective sheets covering said adhesive layer of said bottom sides may be subsequently adhered to any suitable outdoor surface using at least pressure to provide adequate bond strength to ensure a proper permanent or semi-permanent or temporary surface covering said suitable outdoor surface and wherein the chemical composition of said adhesive is alkyl or butyl-based and wherein said top side is a thermochromatic, color indicative sheet or device that is bonded to a concrete or asphalt surface, a traffic sign, or a plate of a guidepost and upon which is indicated a surface temperature.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said thermochromatic sheeting comprises said protective sheet covering and said protective sheet covering is comprised of primarily a silicone elastomer or other silicone based thermoplastic.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein said thermochromatic sheeting comprises more than one preformed thermoplastic segment which can be matched with at least one other preformed thermoplastic segment such that said thermochromatic sheeting provides a desired pattern.