Multilens star box and method for making same

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6800357
  • Patent Number
    6,800,357
  • Date Filed
    Friday, June 14, 2002
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, October 5, 2004
    21 years ago
Abstract
A metallized film exhibiting a star pattern having an illusion of three-dimensions is provided. Methods for making a star-shaped die to manufacture the metallized film and for making a metallized film-covered container and similar products are also provided.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




Prismatic materials that capture and reflect light in different directions are known to convey the appearance of depth or three-dimensions on a flat surface. Such prismatic materials may utilize a Fresnel lens, which is a thin lens having multiple, stepped setbacks that effectively transform the thin lens into multiple lenses with optical properties associated with a much thicker lens.




More specifically, positive focal length Fresnel lenses are almost universally plano-convex originating from a planar side or face and a curved or aspheric side of a conventional lens. To produce the Fresnel lens, the bulk of material between the sides of the conventional lens is reduced by extracting a set of coaxial annular cylinders of material. The contour of the curved surface of the conventional lens is thus approximated by right circular cylindrical portions intersected by conical portions called “grooves.” Near the center of the standard circular Fresnel lens, these inclined surfaces or “grooves” are nearly parallel to the plane face; toward the outer edge, the grooves become extremely steep. The grooves thus correspond to a respective portion of the original curved or aspheric surface, which are translated into the piano surface and appear as the familiar “jagged” Fresnel lens.




The Fresnel lens is often viewed in a circular shape, and when backed with a silver-colored material, for example, produces an image of a silver ball appearing to have three-dimensions. Prismatic material of this type is available as a repeating Fresnel pattern film laminate under the trademark Multi-Lens™ by Coburn Corporation, Lakewood, N.J. Heretofore, such film laminates have been limited to simple circular shapes, for example, as a function of circular lathes typically used to produce the Fresnel-type dies used to make the film laminates.




BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




By cutting portions of a circular Fresnel lens into star-shaped components and assembling the components into a star-shaped die, the present invention provides a novel star pattern having an optical illusion of three-dimensional (3-D) stars on a flat surface based on optical light reflection and Fresnel lens light diffraction principles.




A star shape requires substantially straight lines depending from a center of the star shape to obtain the proper light reflection for a 3-D illusion, which is explained in greater detail herein. Nevertheless, the present invention utilizes a lathe that rotates and cuts its products in a circular motion based on a cylindrical lathe diamond turning technique. Of course, other lathes may be used to produce products of the present invention.




By disposing relatively small star-shaped components on an outer edge of the cylindrical lathe's cutting surface, multiple cuts are made on the star-shaped components. Due to the relative size of the star-shaped components, the cuts appear as substantially straight, parallel lines next to each other despite being made by the cylindrical lathe.




When fitted together, the star-shaped components form a star-shaped die, which is used to produce metallized film having 3-D stars or star patterns to cover and finish, for example, a decorative tissue box.




Accordingly, in one aspect of the invention, a method is disclosed for forming a star-shaped die to produce a star-shaped pattern exhibiting a three-dimensional (3-D) illusion. The steps of this method include:




providing a plurality of metal portions shaped as parts of a star;




placing the plurality of metal portions on an outer edge of a lathe;




turning the lathe and the plurality of metal portions to cut a plurality of substantially straight grooves in the plurality of metal portions with a cutter; and




removing the plurality of metal portions from the lathe and assembling the plurality of metal portions as a star-shaped die configured to form a master shim.




In this method for forming the star-shaped die, holding tools releasably hold the metal portions on the outer edge of the lathe during the cutting step. The grooves are cut in the metal portions by a diamond chip cutter in a circular motion on an arc of an outer edge of the lathe. Alternatively, a lathe can be used that is specifically designed to create straight line grooves.




In some ways similar to the foregoing aspect, the present invention discloses the star-shaped die itself. As suggested by the previous embodiment, the star-shaped die is configured for forming a star pattern to convey an impression of three-dimensions (3-D) on a flat surface.




The present invention provides in a further aspect a metallized rolled web product including an elastomeric base and a metal layer bonded to the elastomeric base. The metal layer and elastomeric base combine to appear as a metallic film exhibiting a plurality of stars, each of the stars having a plurality of grooves, at least one of the plurality of grooves depending substantially straight from a center of each the stars and the plurality of grooves disposed substantially parallel to each other such that a diffractive light illusion of three-dimensions is provided by the metallic film.




To manufacture the metallized rolled web product with stars, any suitable elastomeric base, polymeric substrate, or dielectric material, i.e. electrically insulating material, can be used to receive a metal. For instance, wood, glass, plastic, reaction injection molded urethane, thermoplastic olefins and urethanes, nylon, rubber and polycarbonates can be suitably used. More specifically, plastic pellets, may be extruded as a film and coated with the desired metal such as aluminum, often via vacuum deposition. Also if desired, a polymeric clear coat may be added to the metal layer using conventional techniques, such as casting or doctor-blade applications.




In another aspect of the invention, a method for forming a container with a metallized surface defining a star pattern having an illusion of three-dimensions includes the steps of:




providing a star-shaped die having a plurality of grooves configured for embossing a “master” or first film;




forming a debossed surface on the first film by contacting the first film with the star-shaped die, the debossed surface complementing the star pattern of the star-shaped die;




forming a metallic plate from a metal bath process by depositing the debossed first film in a metal depositing solution, the metallic plate resulting from the metal bath process having an embossed surface imprinted with the star pattern and configured to be operatively disposed on a pattern roll;




nipping a second film through an embossing nip formed with the metallic plate such that the second film is embossed with the star pattern from the embossed surface;




metallizing the embossed second film in a metallizing chamber;




adhering the metallized embossed second film to a base material; and




forming the carrying material into a container exhibiting a metallized exterior having the illusion of the three-dimensional star pattern.




The container itself is further provided in this invention. The disclosed container has a base layer bonded to a metallized film. Similar to the foregoing embodiment, a plurality of stars are located on the metallized film to exhibit an illusion of three-dimensions (3-D). Each of the stars in this example has five points, each point having a first and a second side depending from a center to a tip of each of the stars. A first plurality of grooves are cut on the first side of a first point and arranged in a direction different from a second plurality of grooves on the second side of the first point. An adjacent plurality of grooves on an adjacent side of an adjacent point are aligned in the direction of the first plurality of grooves. The first plurality of grooves and the adjacent plurality of grooves cooperate to direct ambient light rays relative to the viewer while the second plurality of grooves direct the light rays differently, which contributes to the three-dimensional illusion.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The above and other aspects of the present invention are apparent from the detailed description below and in combination with the drawings in which:





FIG. 1

is a plan view of a circular lathe used to cut apparently straight grooves in star-shaped components that form a star in accordance with an aspect of the invention;





FIG. 2

shows a partial detailed side view taken in a direction of arrow II in

FIG. 1

showing selected light rays reacting upon at least two sides of a point of the star;





FIG. 3

is a perspective view of a star-shaped die in accordance with an aspect of the invention;





FIG. 4

shows a piece of a metallic plate exhibiting the star-shape of the die of

FIG. 3

;





FIG. 5

shows a portion of metallized film in accordance with an aspect of the invention;





FIG. 6

is an embodiment of a carton having the metallized film;





FIG. 7

is a presentation analogous to

FIG. 6

of another embodiment of the carton with metallized film; and





FIG. 8

is a schematic view of a system for performing a method of manufacturing a metallized product in accordance with an aspect of the invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




Detailed reference will now be made to the drawings in which examples embodying the present invention are shown. Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent same or analogous features or elements of the invention.




The drawings and detailed description provide a full and detailed written description of the invention and the manner and process of making and using it, so as to enable one skilled in the pertinent art to make and use it. The drawings and detailed description also provide the best mode of carrying out the invention. However, the examples set forth herein are provided by way of explanation of the invention and are not meant as limitations of the invention. The present invention thus includes modifications and variations of the following examples as come within the scope the appended claims and their equivalents.




In general the present invention is directed to a star-shaped die based on the concept of the plano-convex Fresnel lens. As introduced, the Fresnel lens is usually a single, thin, circular lens having multiple, stepped setbacks that effectively transform the thin lens into multiple lenses having optical properties associated with a much thicker lens.




The present invention “rearranges” the circular Fresnel lens by cutting it into multiple star-shaped portions, which form a multi-lens star-shaped die. The inventive star-shaped die is then used to impart a star or star pattern to a metallized film. The star or star pattern provides an illusion of three-dimensions (3-D). The metallized film can be adhered to a carton, container, dispenser or the like to provide an aesthetic, three-dimensional star pattern.




Referring generally to

FIGS. 1-3

, one embodiment for a star in a star-shaped die is generally indicated by the numeral


10


.




It is to be noted that the terms “star”, “star-die” and “star-shaped die” are used interchangeably in the following discussion noting that a base


10




a


of the star-shaped die


10


is not shown in

FIG. 1

for clarity (see FIG.


3


).




In accordance with the present invention, the star-shaped die


10


is made of multiple, triangular-shaped pieces


12


, two of which are combined to form a point


14


. Each piece


12


has a plurality of grooves


16


inscribed thereon to reflect and/or diffract light as will be discussed in greater detail below.




As seen in

FIG. 1

, when assembled, the pieces


12


form the die


10


having a midpoint


18


and tips


20


corresponding to respective points


14


. In this example, the pieces


12


are brass but can be iron, steel, copper, alloys, or other suitable material.




The star


10


may include ten (10) of the pieces


12


to form a five-pointed star


10


as illustrated in FIG.


1


. However, it should be understood that various other star shapes can be made in accordance with the present invention. For instance, by modifying the triangular shape of pieces


12


, each point


14


can be accordingly shaped and thus, the star die


10


can assume a different shape; e.g., alternating points


14


might be shorter or longer than neighboring points. Moreover, the number of points


14


of the star


10


can be increased or decreased. Additionally, other geometric shapes other than star shapes are contemplated and are within the scope of the invention. For instance, grooves in accordance with the invention may be cut into rectangular pieces, which may then be used to form crosses, letters, and the like.




With reference to

FIG. 1

, a circular or cylindrical lathe


22


is shown having a center


24


and an edge


26


. In this example, the lathe


22


is approximately 40 to 45 inches in diameter. A series of cutting grooves


28


are spaced on the lathe


22


indicating circular or cylindrical cutting paths made by a diamond chip cutter (not shown). Multiple triangular-shaped pieces


12


are shown placed proximate the edge


26


of lathe


22


in a manner in which a distance from the center


24


to ends


12




a,




12




b


of the piece


12


is constant. Stated alternatively, a distance D


1


from end


12




a


to the center


24


is equal to a distance D


2


from end


12




b


to the center


24


.




A method for forming the star-shaped die


10


is also illustrated by

FIG. 1

in which the lathe


22


is turned or rotated as the diamond cutter cuts the plurality of grooves


16


in the pieces


12


. The lathe


22


may utilize holding tools (not shown) to temporarily fix the pieces


12


in position about the edge


26


while cutting the grooves


16


. The grooves


16


are cut at varying angles, e.g., θ


x


, θ


y


, θ


z


, from each other each which will each affect light differently as introduced above (see also FIG.


2


and associated discussion below). The grooves


16


are cut to a depth of between 0.001 mils (0.000001 inches) to about 0.5 mils (0.0005 inches), and more specifically, to a depth of about 0.005 mils (0.000005 inches). Once the grooves


16


have been cut to the desired depth, spacing, and angles described above, the pieces


12


are removed from the lathe


22


and formed into the star-shaped die


10


, including the base


10




a


as shown in FIG.


3


.





FIG. 2

shows an enlarged view of the grooves


16


from a portion of star


10


. In this example, light rays L are illustrated emanating from a light source S indicated by ray traces L


v


, L


n


. For discussion purposes and clarity, only a selected, limited number of light rays L are shown. Additionally for the following discussion, the pieces


12


in

FIG. 2

are assumed to be a transparent media since the star


10


may be used in a process described herein to ultimately emboss a product such as plastic film with a star shape that complements the star


10


; i.e. a “mirror-image” substrate star is made by the brass star


10


. Thus, the plastic film star shape would react to light according to the following description.




In accordance with the laws of geometrical optics, the law of reflection teaches that an angle of incidence θ


I


of light is equal to an angle of reflection θ


r


, expressed as θ


I





r


. The law of refraction (also known as Snell's law) states that the sine of the angle of refraction is directly proportional to the sine of the angle of incidence expressed by the equation:







sin






θ
l



sin






θ
t












In view of these optics laws and as seen in

FIG. 2

, some of the light rays L


v


encounter a surface


16




b


of groove


16


. The rays L


v


are reflected and refracted to be seen by a viewer V instead of being focused on an opposite side of the star


10


from the viewer V. This reflection is due to a reflecting surface A such as aluminum, which is attached to the pieces


12


as will be further described below.




Another light ray L


n


encounters a surface


16




c


in

FIG. 2

but is not seen by the viewer V since light ray L


n


refracts away from viewer V. Stated another way, in this example the viewer V sees light rays L


v


refracting via surface


16




b


since the viewer V is disposed at a viewing angle equal to the angle of refraction θ


t


of light rays L


v


. Conversely, the viewer V does not see the light ray L


n


refracting via surface


16




c


since the viewer V is not disposed on a viewing angle equal to the angle of refraction θ


t


of light ray L


n


.




As introduced above, the plurality of varying angles θ


x


, θ


y


, and θ


z


are configured to each reflect and refract light differently. It can be imagined, therefore, that the viewer V viewing star


10


as a whole will fully see some light rays L, not see other light rays L, and partially see yet others of the light rays L depending on the viewer's position relative to the plurality of angles θ


x


, θ


y


, θ


z


. More specifically, at different viewing positions, the viewer V will have different focal points (not shown) which focus different aspects of the star shape. Thus, the arrangement of grooves


16


seen in

FIG. 2

by example ensures that the viewer V is impressed with an illusion of a three-dimensional star on the flat surface A. It is to be noted that the elements and objects of

FIG. 2

are not drawn to scale and are merely intended for illustration purposes. For instance, angles θ


x


and θ


y


have different inclinations but such detail is not depicted in FIG.


2


.




As shown in

FIG. 3

, the star die


10


is shown relative to a perspective piece P. In this example, the entire die


10


is shown with the base


10




a


, briefly introduced above. Evident from this perspective, the star die


10


is relatively delicate and small. Usually constructed of brass, the star


10


is refined to a mirror-like finish such as approximately {fraction (1/1,000,000)} of an inch (0.000001 mils) and should be handled with gloves to avoid contamination such as by acid on hands. Despite its relative delicacy, the star die


10


can be used to emboss and create multiple master shims, discussed in detail below. Although the star die


10


is made of brass in this example, the pieces


12


, which make up the star


10


, may be selected from a material such as iron, steel, copper or other alloys as required.




A portion of a nickel plate


34


is seen in FIG.


4


. The nickel plate


34


is formed, for instance, by first debossing a substrate or first film


32


by the star


10


, and then immersing the first film


32


in a nickel bath (see FIG.


8


). As known in the art, the debossed first film


32


is known as a “master shim.” Because it has been debossed, i.e., the star


10


has been used to impress its shape into the film


32


, the master shim is known in the industry as an “innie”. In turn, the film


32


or master shim is used to form multiple plates


34


, which exhibit, in this example, an embossed star shape


36


. The embossed star shape


36


“stands up” on the nickel plate


34


and is therefore known as an “outie.” This process is described in greater detail with respect to

FIG. 8

below.




As seen in

FIG. 5

, once the nickel plate


34


is formed, it can be rollably attached, for instance, to a pattern roll


50


(see

FIG. 8

) to make a metallized film


38


. The metallized film


38


defines a metallized side


40


and a side


42


, usually colored and having a plurality of decorative stars


46


disposed thereon. The process for debossing a second film


62


with the nickel plate


34


to make the metallized film


38


will be described in greater detail below. Also described in greater detail herein, the metallized film


38


may be rolled into a metallized plastic film roll


38




a


and shipped to remote sites or placed in storage for future use to be adhered to various products.




Seen by way of example in

FIG. 6

, a tissue box


44


is shown covered with the metallized film


38


. The metallized film


38


is bonded to a base layer (not shown) such as a cartonboard, plastic, polymer, wood, metal, cloth, ceramic, or the like. The plurality of decorative stars


46


disposed on the box


44


exhibit the illusion of three-dimensions as previously described.




Also seen in

FIG. 6

, each of the stars


46


has five points


48


which are bifurcated into a first and a second side


48




a


,


48




b


, respectively. Side


48




a


has a first plurality of grooves


50




a


disposed in a direction different from a second plurality of grooves


50




b


on the second side


48




b


. However, side


48




a


with grooves


50




a


are aligned in the same direction as another side


48




c


with an adjacent plurality of grooves


50




c


to direct ambient light rays relative to the viewer V. As

FIG. 6

shows and as previously described, this arrangement lends itself to an illusion of three-dimensional stars


46


. It should be noted that although a tissue box


44


is shown in

FIG. 6

, the metallized film


38


can be used to cover any number of products


56


such as shipping packages, beverage containers, picture frames, walls, books or other items on which a bondable cover such as metallized plastic film


38


can be adhered.





FIG. 7

shows an alternative embodiment similar to

FIG. 6

in which a pattern of stars


146


is disposed on a metallized film


138


and repeated about a box


144


. In this example, the pattern


146


has a number of stars which are sized relatively different from one another. The pattern


146


is repeated about the box


144


in a manner similar to the star


46


in FIG.


6


. Once again, it is contemplated that box


144


be any number of products capable of covering with the metallized film


138


. Therefore, film


138


should not be construed as being limited only to use on a box shape as shown.





FIG. 8

illustrates a system


54


for carrying out a method for forming metallized products


56


in accordance with an aspect of the invention. The first film


32


, for example, a plastic web, is shown being stamped by the brass star die


10


in which the inventive star or star pattern


46


,


146


as previously described is debossed into the first film


32


. The first film


32


may be a polymer, a non-woven polymer, a cellulosic substance, a plastic, a thermoplastic, a rubber or the like. As described previously and by way of example, if plastic is used as the first film


32


, the plastic is from between 0.15 inches to about 0.5 inches in thickness.




With more specific reference to

FIG. 8

, the star die


10


is used to deboss the first film


32


by heating the brass star die


10


to about 130° Fahrenheit. The heated brass die


10


is then pressed into the film


32


, which acts as a carrier of the debossed star or star pattern


46


,


146


. Alternatively, the plastic film


32


may also be heated and stamped with a die


10


that is at ambient temperature or is also heated. Additionally, the star or star pattern


46


,


146


can be stepped out in a repeated pattern up to 42 inches.




With further reference to

FIG. 8

, once the first film


32


has been debossed with the die


10


, it is then chemically treated (generally, C) on the embossed side (not shown) and inserted into a metal electroplating bath


58


. This bath


58


may be, for instance, a nickel (Ni) bath, which is electrically charged. It should be noted that other processes such as electroless plating processes are suitable to form the metal plate


34


described herein and therefore, the metal bath described above is merely for purposes of providing an enabling disclosure and is not meant as a limitation.




As briefly discussed with respect to

FIG. 4

above, the debossed first film


32


is considered the “innie” with the stars depending into the substrate. Utilizing this arrangement, the chemically treated first film


32


and the nickel bath grow the nickel into the debossment or “innie” over a 6 to 12 hour period, for instance, depending on the desired thickness of the nickel plate


34


. An embossed surface of the nickel plate


34


is usually 1 mil (0.001 inches) to 3 mils (0.003 inches) thick. Following the desired period, the nickel plate


34


is cleaned and peeled away from the first film


32


(generally, W and P, respectively). The nickel plate


34


or “outie”, also described above, is then applied to, for example, a pattern roll


60


for subsequent debossing.




A second film


62


is made, for example, by an extruder E using plastic pellets (not shown). If desired, the second film


62


may be colored or “pigmented” to a desired color during the extrusion step to provide a metallized color aspect to the metallized film


38


as described below. The extruded film


62


is run through a nip N and debossed by the nickel plate


34


disposed on the pattern roll


60


. The film


62


then continues into, for instance, a metallizing chamber


64


in which a metal such as aluminum (generally, A) is vacuum deposited on the film


62


. As known in the art, a spark from a welding type of apparatus vaporizes aluminum rods or aluminum wire A in the chamber


64


such that the aluminum A migrates to the plastic film


62


and metallizes the film


62


.




As introduced, the second film


62


is typically an elastomeric base having a thickness of 2 mils (0.002 inches) to about 4 mils (0.004 inches). However, the second film


62


can also be made of various polymers, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyesters, or polyolefin, or a cellulosic substance, a plastic, a thermoplastic, a rubber, or like. Likewise, the metal utilized for vacuum deposition is typically aluminum, although tin, zinc, and other metals may also be used.




Also previously described, once the film


62


is metallized to form a metallized film


38


, it can be wound and stored or shipped as a metallized plastic film roll


38




a


for future use. Otherwise, the metallized plastic film


38


can be adhesively coated (generally, G) and applied to a cartonboard or other base layer


66


as part of the foregoing process in a conventional manner to produce metallized products such as cartons


56


exhibiting the novel illusion of three-dimensional stars as described herein.




Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the foregoing descriptions are by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the invention as further described in the appended claims. Thus, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, specific shapes, quantities, and arrangements of various elements of the illustrated embodiments may be altered to suit particular applications. Moreover, various embodiments may be interchanged both in whole or in part, and it is intended that the present invention include such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.



Claims
  • 1. A metallized rolled web product comprising:an elastomeric base defining a plurality of stars debossed therein; and a metal layer bonded to the elastomeric base, the metal layer and the elastomeric base forming a metallic film and cooperable to exhibit the plurality of stars, each of the stars having a plurality of grooves, at least one of the plurality of grooves depending substantially straight from a center of each the stars and the plurality of grooves disposed substantially parallel to each other such that a diffractive light illusion of three dimensions is provided by the metallic film.
  • 2. The metallized rolled web product as in claim 1, wherein the elastomeric base is extruded plastic pellets.
  • 3. The metallized rolled web product as in claim 2, wherein the plastic pellets are colored to provide a color aspect to the metallic film.
  • 4. The metallized rolled web product as in claim 1, wherein the elastomeric base defines a thickness of 2 mils (0.002 inches) to about 4 mils (0.004 inches).
  • 5. The metallized rolled web product as in claim 4, wherein the elastomeric base defines a thickness of 3 mils (0.003 inches).
  • 6. The metallized rolled web product as in claim 1, wherein the metal layer consists of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, tin, zinc, and combinations thereof.
  • 7. The metallized rolled web product as in claim 1, wherein the metal layer is vacuum-deposited on the elastomeric base.
  • 8. The metallized rolled web product as in claim 1, further comprising a base layer and an adhesive, the adhesive configured to adhere the metallic film and the base layer together.
  • 9. The metallized rolled web product as in claim 8, wherein the base layer is selected from the group consisting of cartonboard, plastic, polymers, wood, metal, cloth, ceramic and combinations thereof.
  • 10. The metallized rolled web product as in claim 8, wherein the base layer and the metallic film are configured to form a container exhibiting a plurality of stars having an illusion of three-dimensions.
  • 11. The metallized rolled web product as in claim 10, wherein the container is a tissue box configured to dispense a tissue.
  • 12. A metallized rolled web product comprising:a metallic film having an elastomeric base and a metal layer, the elastomeric base defining a plurality of stars debossed therein, the metal layer bonded to the elastomeric base such that the metallic film exhibits an illusion of the plurality of stars in three-dimensions.
  • 13. The metallized rolled web product as in claim 12, further comprising an adhesive, the adhesive configured to adhere the metal film to a container.
  • 14. The metallized rolled web product as in claim 12, wherein each of the stars has five points, each of the points bifurcated into a first and a second side depending from a center to a tip of each of the stars, a first plurality of grooves disposed on the first side of a first point arranged in a direction different from a second plurality of grooves on the second side of the first point such that an adjacent plurality of grooves on an adjacent side of an adjacent point are aligned in the direction of the first plurality of grooves, the first plurality of grooves and the adjacent plurality of grooves cooperable to direct ambient light rays relative to the viewer.
  • 15. The metallized rolled web product as in claim 14, wherein at least one of the first, second, and adjacent plurality of grooves depends substantially straight from the center.
  • 16. The metallized rolled web product as in claim 14, wherein the first plurality of grooves are substantially parallel to each other, the second plurality of grooves are substantially parallel to each other, and the adjacent plurality of grooves are substantially parallel to each other, the first, second, and adjacent plurality of grooves spaced apart from between 0.5 mils (0.0005 inches) to about 50 mils (0.05 inches).
  • 17. The metallized rolled web product as in claim 14, wherein the first, second, and adjacent plurality of grooves are cut to a depth of from between 0.005 mils (0.000005 inches) to about 0.5 mils (0.0005 inches).
  • 18. The metallized rolled web product as in claim 14, wherein the first, second, and adjacent plurality of grooves are cut at a plurality of different angles, the plurality of angles configured to affect light differently from each other.
US Referenced Citations (9)
Number Name Date Kind
2486636 Egle Nov 1949 A
3357772 Rowland Dec 1967 A
3961575 Rodabaugh Jun 1976 A
4138517 Gardner Feb 1979 A
4159677 Smith Jul 1979 A
4386123 Coburn, Jr. May 1983 A
4427733 Pöll et al. Jan 1984 A
5156863 Pricone et al. Oct 1992 A
5856661 Finkelstein et al. Jan 1999 A
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number Date Country
1257043 Dec 1967 DE
0419773 Apr 1991 EP