Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to reflective surface and, more particularly to a mirrored surface with structural support for preventing creep when under long-term tension.
2. Related Art
There are many different reflective film products that are commercially available from various manufacturers. For example, one manufacturer is ReflecTech, Inc., and another is The 3M Company. An example of a reflective film product that is commercially available may consist of five layers: an acrylic layer for protection from the physical environment, a silver layer for reflectance, a copper layer for strength, an adhesive layer to assist in applying the film to a solid object (these four layers collectively referred to as “reflective film”), and a polyester film for peeling off and the preventing of premature contact with an unintended solid object. In use, the polyester film is peeled off, and the reflective film is applied to a solid object such as sheet metal. Other commercially available reflective film products may use a different number of layers, and may use a metal other than silver for reflectance (such aluminum) sandwiched between various polymer layers, which may or may not include UV light inhibiting or UV light blocking layers. Common to all reflective film products is that the product is in the form of a sheet roll that is glued to a solid such as sheet metal or glass.
The present invention is a reflective film with structural support. The structural support is a layer of adhesive applied to a reflective film, a polymer film attached to the applied adhesive layer, a second adhesive layer applied to the other side of the polymer film, and a fiber layer applied to the second layer of adhesive. A UV light blocker may be sprayed onto the fiber layer.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.
Polymer layer 20 is used to protect the adhesive layer 18 before the intended use of reflective film 22. In use, polymer layer 20 is peeled away from reflective film 22. Then, reflective film 22 is applied to a solid object such as sheet metal, by placing newly exposed adhesive layer 18 in physical contact with the solid object.
The adhesive layer 18′ is different from the adhesive layer 18 of the prior art. Adhesive layer 18′ permanently bonds reflective film layer 22′ to polymer layer 20′ such that polymer layer 20′ cannot be peeled or separated from reflective film layer 22′. It is important that polymer layer 20′ remain bonded. The difference between polymer layer 20 (
It is possible that if the commercial product is initially used, in an alternative embodiment of the present invention, another adhesive layer 18′ may be applied over the existing adhesive layer 18. In such a situation, reflective product 10′ of the alternative embodiment of the present invention has two adhesive layers, 18 and 18′ instead of a single adhesive layer 18′ as shown in
Fiber layer 26 is any fiber material that resists creep (permanent stretch) under long-term tension. Therefore, cloths made from materials such as cotton, fiberglass, or nylon are suitable. In addition, newer engineered materials such as fiber-reinforced composites (E-glass, glass, carbon fiber, Kevlar carbon, basalt fiber, etc.) are also suitable. At present, the preference is for cloths made from long fibers that run parallel to the direction of the intended applied tension. As a result, the most preferred embodiment at present is a unidirectional fiberglass cloth. A unidirectional fiberglass cloth allows some elastic stretch, but resists creep. This allows the resulting reflective product 10′ to hold a tension stretch without significant permanent lengthening. As shown in
Further shown in
The resulting reflective product 10′ of the present invention is flexible, but strong enough to be placed under tension. In use, the reflective product 10′ of the present invention may be used in tension about a structural frame, and still retain film-like flexibility for wrapping or bending about a structural frame, without need of any continuous sheet metal support. The prior art reflective product 10 shown in
As various modifications could be made to the exemplary embodiments, as described above with reference to the corresponding illustrations, without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61602747 | Feb 2012 | US |