What is claimed:
1. An additive system for use in a polymeric formulation, the additive system comprising:
a plurality of visually differentiable granules, the visually differentiable granules composed of a pigmented material and having a defined size distribution, the visually differentiable granules composed of at least first and second color groups, each having a pigment shade, wherein the pigment shades of the first and second color groups differ from one another, and wherein the visually differentiable granules have an average planar dimension, a thickness, and an average aspect ratio between the average planar dimension and the thickness of at least 2 and a maximum thickness of no more than 0.020.
2. The additive system of claim 1 wherein the visually differentiable granules possess an aspect ratio of at least 7.
3. The additive system of claim 1 wherein the visually differentiable granules are composed of a film material which includes at least one of Mylar, Rayon, polybutylene terepthalate, aluminum foil, cellophane, mica.
4. The additive system of claim 1 wherein the size distribution of the visually differentiable granules includes at least 80 percent having a size greater than 0.004 inch mean diameter.
5. The additive system of claim 4 wherein at least 90% of the visually differentiable granules are sized between 0.002 inch and 0.2 inches.
6. The additive system of claim 1 further comprising at least one of soluble dyes, resin pigments, and interference pigments.
7. The additive system of claim 1 wherein the visually differentiable granules are composed of at least one of mineral-based materials, thermoplastic resins, thermosetting resins, and biopolymers.
8. The additive system of claim 1 wherein at least one group of granules is itself translucent and not completely opaque.
9. A polymeric utility panel composed of a polymeric sheet, the polymeric sheet comprising:
a polymeric base resin material; and
visually differentiable granules present in situ in the polymeric base resin, the visually differentiable granules composed of a pigmented material and having a defined size distribution, the visually differentiable granules composed of at least a first and a second color group, each color group having a pigment shade, wherein the first and second color groups differ from one another, wherein the visually differentiable granules have an average planar dimension, a thickness, and an average aspect ratio between the average planar dimension and the thickness of at least 2.
10. The polymeric panel of claim 9 wherein the polymeric base material is a resin cast extruded sheet.
11. The polymeric panel of claim 10 wherein the resin cast sheet has a thickness between 0.010 inch and about 0.500 inch.
12. The polymeric sheet of example 10 wherein the media resin is at least 51% thermoplastic in nature.
13. The polymeric panel of claim 10 wherein the thermoplastic resin is an olefin.
14. The polymeric panel of claim 9 wherein the granule size distribution of the visually differentiable granules is such that the are present in a distribution wherein less than 20 percent of the granules have an average size less than 0.004 inch and less than 20 percent of the granules have an average size greater than 0.160 inch.
15. The polymeric panel of claim 13 wherein the size distribution of visually differentiable is such that the granules are present in an average size distribution wherein a first portion has an average size distribution between about 0.0160 to about 0.030 inch and is present in an amount between 10 and 25 percent of the visually differentiable granules; a second portion has an average size distribution between about 0.002 and about 0.004 inch present in an amount less than about 20 percent of the visually differentiable granules; and a third portion has an average size distribution between about 0.004 and about 0.0160 inch, and is present as the balance of the visually differentiable granules.
16. The polymeric panel of claim 9 wherein the polymeric base resin material the visually differentiable granules have a thermal coefficient of expansion and contraction relative to each other of less than 30% differential (That is that a numeral of on less than 0.7 and no more than 1.3 will result when the granule coefficient is the numerator and the media resin coefficient is the denominator is solved to a decimal).
17. The polymeric panel of claim 9 wherein the visually differentiable granules comprise:
a first portion present in an amount between 10 and 25 percent having an average size distribution between greater than about 0.015 inch;
a second portion present in an amount less than 20 percent having an average size distribution less than 0.004 inch; and
a third portion composing the balance, the third portion having an average size distribution between 0.004 and 0.015 inch.
18. The polymeric panel of claim 9 wherein the polymeric base resin is a thermoplastic resin possessing high translucency and the visually differentiable granules are present in an amount from at least 1 percent to about 30 percent by total weight.
19. The polymeric panel of claim 9 wherein the visually differentiable granules are composed of at least one of mineral-based materials, thermoplastic resins, thermosetting resins, and biopolymers.
20. The polymeric panel of claim 19 wherein the polymeric base resin and the visually differentiable granules comprise a first zone-like layer composed of a thermoplastic base resin.
21. The polymeric panel of claim 20 wherein the first zone is connected to a second zone in a substantially permanent manner.
22. The polymeric panel of claim 21 wherein the first zone and the second zone are in coextruded relationship with one another.
23. The polymeric panel of claim 20 wherein the thermoplastic base resin material contains an olefinic material.
24. The polymeric panel of claim 23 wherein the visually differentiable granules comprise cellophane.
25. The polymeric panel of claim 20 further comprising a background pigment material.
26. The polymeric panel of claim 20 wherein the visually differentiable granules comprise:
a first portion present in an amount between 10 and 25 percent having an average size distribution between greater than about 0.015 inch;
a second portion present in an amount less than 20 percent having an average size distribution less than 0.004 inch; and
a third portion composing the balance, the third portion having an average size distribution between 0.004 and 0.015 inch.
27. The polymeric panel of claim 26 further comprising a clear protective layer, the clear protective layer bonded to one side of the polymeric panel in overlying relationship to the polymeric base resin, the clear protective layer composed of a high durometer thermoplastic resin.
28. The polymeric panel of claim 27 wherein the thermoplastic resin of the protective layer contains at least one of polyacrylates, polyvinyl polymers, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers, olefin-modified styrene-acrylonitrile, thermoplastic polyesters, polypropylene.
29. The polymeric panel of claim 23 further comprising at least one groove extending from a back face to a location interior to the panel.
30. The polymeric panel of claim 29 wherein the V-groove extends in at least one of a latitudinal or longitudinal direction relative to the panel, the panel bendable relative to the V groove to contour into at least two planes with a continuous outer surface.
31. The polymeric panel of claim 30 wherein the contoured panel is integrated into a countertop surface.
32. A method for preparing a polymeric article comprising the steps of:
admixing visually differentiable granule material, the visually differentiable granule material including a polymeric film having a thickness between 0.0001 inch and 0.0200 inch, the visually differentiable granule material being composed of granules having at least two colors, the granules having an aspect ratio of at least 2;
integrating the admixed visually differentiable granule material into a polymeric base material; and
forming the polymeric base material with the admixed visually differentiable granule material integrated therein into a polymeric article.
33. The method of claim 32 wherein at least 50 percent of the granules have a mean diameter greater than 0.002 inch and smaller than 0.1 inch.
34. The method of claim 32 wherein less than 20 percent of the visually differentiable granules have a mean diameter less than 0.004 inch and at least 50 percent of the visually differentiable granules between about 0.004 inch and 0.090 inch.
35. The method of claim 32 further comprising the step of integrating a pigment or background dye into the polymeric base material in an amount sufficient to provide a homogeneous background color to the resulting polymeric article.
36. The method of claim 32 wherein the base plastic material containing admixed visually differentiable granules is extruded as a melt-processible.
37. The method of claim 36 wherein the base plastic material containing admixed visually differentiable granules is sprayed onto a substrate material.
38. The method of claim 32 wherein the base plastic material containing admixed visually differentiable granules is cast onto a suitable mold.
39. The method of claim 37 wherein the forming step comprises:
spraying the polymeric material with the visually differentiable granules contained therein into contact with a substrate surface.
40. The method of claim 36 wherein the substrate surface is at least one of a mold surface, a backing surface, a stone surface, a polymeric surface, and a wooden surface.
41. The method of claim 36 wherein the substrate surface is a releasable mold surface and wherein the method further comprises the step of:
introducing at least one additional mold processing material into a cavity containing the mold surface and sprayed material.
42. The method of claim 39 further comprising the step of spraying an essentially clear coat polymeric material into contact with the substrate surface prior to spraying the polymeric material with visually differentiable granules.
43. The method of claim 36 wherein the visually differentiable granules have an aspect ratio of at least 5 and are composed of at least one of pigmented mica, biopolymer, and plastic film.
44. The method of claim 40 wherein at least one of the sprayed essentially clear coat polymeric material and the sprayed polymeric material with visually differentiable granules is at least partially thermosetting and wherein the method further compresses including at least partial cross-linking of at least one thermosetting resin.
45. The method of claim 36 wherein the polymeric base material is a gel coat resin and wherein the visually differentiable granules have an aspect ratio of at least 5.
46. The method of claim 36 wherein the visually differentiable granules have a thermal coefficient, the thermal coefficient being within 30 of that exhibited by the polymeric base resin material.
47. The method of claim 36 wherein the visually differentiable granules further include ingot-derived granules having an aspect ratio less than 2 and wherein the ingot-derived granules are at least 25% of total visually differentiable granules, and at least 0.2% of the visually differentiable granules have an aspect ratio of at least 5 and a thickness of no more than 0.010 inches.
48. A thermoplastic utility panel comprising:
a first planar zone, the first zone composed of a substantially translucent thermoplastic base resin containing a visually differentiable granule material present in an amount between about 1 and about 30 percent by weight of the thermoplastic resin, the granule material having an aspect ratio of at least 2; and
a second planar zone attached to the first zone along one planar surface, the second zone comprised of a thermoplastic base resin.
49. The thermoplastic utility panel of claim 48 wherein the overall thickness is between about 0.025 inch and 5.25 inch.
50. The thermoplastic utility panel of claim 48 wherein the thermoplastic base resin of the first planar zone contains at least one of polyethylene, polypropylene, polysulfone and polycarbonate.
51. The thermoplastic utility panel of claim 50 wherein the visually differentiable granule material is composed of material blended from at least two visibly different substantially opaque color hues.
52. The thermoplastic utility panel of claim 51 wherein the visually differentiable granule material is present in a size distribution wherein less than 20 percent of the granules have an average size less than 0.004 inch and less than 25 percent of the granules have an average size greater than 0.160 inch.
53. The thermoplastic utility of claim 48 further comprising a clear protective layer, the clear protective layer bonded to one side of the panel, the clear protective layer composed of a high durometer thermoplastic resin.
54. The thermoplastic utility panel of claim 48 further comprising at least one groove, the groove extending from an outer face associated with the second zone-like layer to a region proximate to the first zone-like layer.
55. The thermoplastic utility panel of claim 54 further comprising a support substrate, the support substrate bonded to the second zone-like layer.
56. The thermoplastic utility panel of claim 53 wherein the visually differentiable granule material comprises:
a first portion present in an amount between 10 and 25 percent having an average size distribution between greater than about 0.015 inch;
a second portion present in an amount less than 20 percent having an average size distribution less than 0.004 inch; and
a third portion composing the balance, the third portion having an average size distribution between 0.004 and 0.015 inch.
57. A thermoplastic sheet having an upper face and a lower face, the thermoplastic sheet comprising:
a major portion composed of a thermoplastic resin; and
a minor portion composed of a coarse-grade pigment system, wherein the coarse-grade pigment system comprises visually differentiable granule material, the visually differentiable granule material including:
a first portion present in an amount between 10 and 25 percent having an average size distribution between greater than about 0.015 inch;
a second portion present in an amount less than 20 percent having an average size distribution less than 0.004 inch; and
a third portion composing the balance, the third portion having an average size distribution between 0.004 and 0.015 inch.
58. The thermoplastic sheet of claim 57 wherein the thermoplastic resin portion is present in an amount greater than 51 percent of the total composition.
59. The thermoplastic sheet of claim 58 wherein the thermoplastic resin portion contains at least one of polyethylene, polypropylene, polysulfone, and polycarbonate.
60. The thermoplastic sheet of claim 58 wherein the minor portion is present in an amount at least as great as 0.5 percent of the total composition.
61. The thermoplastic sheet of claim 60 wherein at least 0.5 percent of the coarse-grade pigment is located proximate to the upper face of the thermoplastic sheet.
62. The thermoplastic sheet of claim 57 wherein the coarse-grade pigment system comprises:
a first portion present in an amount between 10 and 25 percent having an average size distribution between greater than about 0.015;
a second portion present in an amount less than 20 percent having an average size distribution less than 0.004 inch;
a third portion composing the balance, the third portion having an average size distribution between 0.004 and 0.015 inch.
63. The thermoplastic sheet of claim 62 further comprising a supplemental colorant, the supplemental colorant including at least one of a dispersion dye, and granule material having an average particle size less than 0.004 inch.
64. The thermoplastic sheet of claim 60 wherein the coarse-grade pigment system is composed of material having at least two visually differentiable color hues.
65. The thermoplastic sheet of claim 64 wherein the coarse grade pigment granules have an aspect ratio greater than about 3.
66. The thermoplastic sheet of claim 65 wherein the aspect ratio of the granules is greater than about 7.
67. The thermoplastic sheet of claim 60 wherein the granules in the coarse-grade pigment system contain at least one of mineral granule material coated with an opaque polymeric material.
68. The thermoplastic sheet of claim 57 wherein the granules in the coarse-grade pigment system contain at least one thermoplastic based granule material.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claims which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. (canceled)
2. The method according to claim 21 wherein the vehicle is an aircraft and the monitoring operating performance of the at least one property of the transparency comprises providing the transparency with a sensor to monitor operating performance of the at least one property of the transparency and to provide a signal having operating performance of the at least one property.
3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the signal is a first signal, and further comprising forwarding the first signal to a first monitoring system positioned in the aircraft, and transmitting a second signal to a second monitoring system positioned outside of the aircraft, wherein the second signal comprises information from at least one item from the group of items comprising the first signal, the acceptable operating performance of the at least one property, and combinations thereof.
4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the aircraft is a first aircraft and the second monitoring system also receives information regarding operating performance of a property of a transparency mounted in a second aircraft.
5. The method according to claim 3 wherein the scheduling repair or replacement comprises the second monitoring system monitoring the relationship of acceptable operating limits of the at least one property and the operating performance of the at least one property of the transparency to determine a time period in which repair or replacement of the transparency should be made; designating the geographical work area; arranging for the aircraft, personnel, equipment andor parts to be available at the geographical work area.
6. (canceled)
7. The method according to claim 3 wherein the second signal is transmitted to the second monitoring system by transmitting the second signal from the aircraft to a first receiving and transmitting tower, or to a receiving and transmitting satellite, and transmitting the second signal from the receiving and transmitting tower, or receiving and transmitting satellite, to the second monitoring system.
8. The method according to claim 7 wherein forwarding the schedule comprises providing a third signal transmitting information having at least one of the items selected from the group of items comprising the time period in which the repair to, or replacement of, the transparency should be made; designating the geographic work area; arranging for the aircraft, personnel, equipment andor parts to be available at the geographic work area to repair or replace the transparency, and transmitting the third signal from the second monitoring system to at least one of the following: the aircraft, a third monitoring system, a fourth monitoring system, and combinations thereof.
9. The method according to claim 8 wherein the third signal is transmitted from the second monitoring system to the receiving and transmitting satellite, or to a receiving and transmitting tower, and transmitted from the receiving and transmitting satellite, or transmitting and receiving tower to at least one of the following: the aircraft, the third monitoring system, the fourth monitoring system, and combinations thereof.
10. The method according to claim 8 wherein the third signal is transmitted to the third monitoring system, and further comprising acting on the information provided by the third signal to arrange for the personnel, equipment andor parts to repair or replace the transparency to be available at the geographic work area.
11. The method according to claim 10 further comprising transmitting the third signal to the fourth monitoring system wherein the fourth monitoring system is located at the geographic work area.
12. The method according to claim 3 wherein the transparency is an aircraft laminated windshield having two or more glass andor plastic sheets.
13. The method according to claim 12 wherein the sensor is selected from the group of a sensor for detecting moisture; a sensor for detecting impacts to, or vibration of, the windshield; a sensor for detecting a fracture in one of the sheets; a sensor for detecting electric arcing; a sensor for detecting temperature changes of an electrically conductive member, and combinations thereof, wherein the sensor is mounted on a surface of one of the sheets between first and second outer major surfaces of the transparency.
14. (canceled)
15. The system according to claim 21 wherein the vehicle is an aircraft, and the sensor is mounted on the transparency, wherein the first data processing apparatus receives the first signal, and the second data processing apparatus generates the second signal and receives a third signal, wherein the third signal comprises information from at least one item from of the group of items comprising the first signal, acceptable operating performance limit of the property, and combinations thereof.
16. The system according to claim 15 wherein the second data processing apparatus generates the second signal, wherein the second signal includes information selected from the group of time period in which repair or replacement of the transparency should be made; designating a geographic area to make the repair to the transparency or to replace the transparency; arranging for the aircraft, personnel, equipment andor parts to be available at the geographic area.
17. The system according to claim 16 wherein the first data processing apparatus transmits the third signal to a receiving and transmitting tower, or to a receiving and transmitting satellite, and the receiving and transmitting tower, or the receiving and transmitting satellite transmits the third signal to the second data processing apparatus.
18. The system according to claim 17 wherein the second data processing apparatus transmits the second signal to at least one of the following: the aircraft, a third data processing apparatus, a fourth data processing apparatus, and combinations thereof.
19. The system according to claim 18 wherein the second data processing apparatus transmits the second signal to a receiving and transmitting tower, or to a receiving and transmitting satellite, and the receiving and transmitting tower, or the receiving and transmitting satellite transmits the second signal to the at least one of the following: the aircraft, the third data processing apparatus, the fourth data processing apparatus, and combinations thereof.
20. The system according to claim 21 wherein the sensor is selected from the group of a sensor for detecting moisture; a sensor for detecting impacts and vibrations; a sensor for detecting fractures; a sensor for detecting electric arcing; a sensor for measuring temperature of an electrically conductive coating, and combinations thereof.
21. A method of arranging repair or replacement of a transparency mounted in body of a vehicle, the method comprising:
monitoring operating performance of at least one property of the transparency;
monitoring relationship of acceptable operating limits of the at least one property and the operating performance of the at least one property of the transparency;
providing the monitored relationship to personnel within the vehicle to provide real time performance of the at least one property of the transparency;
based on the monitored relationship, scheduling repair or replacement of the transparency at a geographical area when the monitored relationship is at a predetermined monitored relationship; and
forwarding the schedule to the vehicle and to a maintenance location to prepare for the repair or replacement of the transparency at the designated geographical work area when the monitored relationship is at the predetermined relationship.
22. A system for arranging repair to, or replacement of, a transparency when a property of the transparency is operating outside of an acceptable limit, wherein the transparency is mounted in body of a vehicle, the system comprising:
a sensor to monitor operating performance of a property of the transparency, and to generate a first signal providing the operating performance of the property of the transparency, and
first data processing apparatus mounted in the vehicle to receive the information of the first signal, to monitor relationship of acceptable operating limits of the property and operating performance of the property and to generate a second signal scheduling repair or replacement of the transparency at a geographical area when the operating performance as indicated by the first signal is outside an acceptable operating performance limit;
a console positioned in the vehicle to receive the first and the second signals and to display information of the first and the second signals to provide real time performance of the property of the transparency; and
second data processing apparatus positioned outside of the vehicle to receive the first and the second signal to prepare for repair or replacement of the transparency when the monitored relationship is at the predetermined relationship.