Metallically decorated sheet and metallically decorated sheet intermediate

• US 7,666,497 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2002
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wavelock Advanced Technology Company Limited (Wavelock Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Japan Wavelock Co., Ltd. (Wavelock Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Takatsuki, Hirotsugu, Akisada, Chikatsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson; Monique R
• Application Number:
  US10/236,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20030190485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,727 Days
• Field of Search: 428/457, 428/458, 428/461, 428/40.1, 428/40.9, 428/41.7, 428/41.8, 428/42.1, 428/343, 428/344
• US Class Current: 428/337
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/00 Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin fibrous or filamentary layer made of a synthetic resin B32B5/02; particulate layer made of a synthetic resin B32B5/16; foamed layer made of a synthetic resin B32B5/18
• CPC Class Codes: B44C 1/10 Applying flat materials, e.g. leaflets, pieces of fabrics paperhanging B44C7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B44C 1/14 Metallic leaves or foils, e.g. gold leaf
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/26 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component, the element or component having a specified physical dimension
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/265 1 mil or less
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/266 of base or substrate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31 Surface property or characteristic of web, sheet or block
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31678 Of metal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31681 Next to polyester, polyamide or polyimide [e.g., alkyd, glue, or nylon, etc.]

Abstract

A metallically decorated sheet is provided, by which the cost down in production is possible, a relatively deep drawing can be carried out without a problem upon molding, the design performances are improved, and good scratch resistance can be attained. The metallically decorated sheet includes in the following sequence: a transparent or translucent surface film layer; a first adhesive layer; a transparent or translucent holding film layer for holding a metallic layer; the metallic layer; a second adhesive layer; and a base film layer.

Claims

1. A metallically decorated sheet for adding metallic appearance to a surface of an article, said sheet comprising in the following sequence:

a transparent or translucent surface film layer;

a first adhesive layer;

a transparent or translucent holding film layer having a metallic layer formed on only one side thereof;

a second adhesive layer; and

a base film layer consisting of thermoplastic resin,

wherein said sheet has a surface hardness expressed by pencil hardness of from F to 2H and the metallic layer has a thickness between 20 nm and 100 nm, wherein the metallic layer is formed on the same side of the holding film layer as the base film layer, wherein the holding film layer consists of a polyester polymer compound having a benzene ring and naphthalene ring in a main chain or a polyester polymer compound having a benzene ring and cyclohexane ring in a main chain.

2. The metallically decorated sheet according to claim 1, wherein the holding film layer is equal to or less than 40 μ

m in thickness.

3. The metallically decorated sheet according to claim 2, wherein the surface film layer consists of acrylic film.

4. The metallically decorated sheet according to claim 1, wherein the surface film layer consists of acrylic film.

5. The metallically decorated sheet according to claim 1, further comprising an article having a surface to which the metallically decorated sheet is attached so as to provide a metallic appearance to the surface.

6. An intermediate molded product of the metallically decorated sheet according to claim 1, wherein the metallically decorated sheet is at least similarly formed in a shape of an inner wall of a molding cavity by heat forming, wherein said intermediate molded product is inserted into a molding cavity as an insert mold to produce a finished product by injection molding so that the intermediate molded product is formed into an integral part of the finished product after said injection molding.

7. A molded finished product having a metallic appearance produced by injection molding, wherein an intermediate molded product is inserted in a molding cavity and subjected to injection molding, said intermediate molded product is formed into at least a similar shape to an inner wall of the molding cavity by heat forming the metallically decorated sheet of claim 1.