Patent Application
20090197095
The present invention relates generally to methods for coating a surface of a body. In particular, the invention relates to a method for forming a multilayer structure on a body surface.
Labels are typically used for marking products. Some labels are formed as a piece of tag that is attached to an exterior surface of the products. Other labels are printed directly onto a surface of the products.
Conventional labels are visible under daylight. However, many conventional labels are not visible when natural light is unavailable or insufficient. Some of the conventional labels use backlighting to provide illumination so that the labels are visible when there is an absence of natural light.
However, many conventional labels that use backlighting are not prominently illuminated because the backlighting is neither able to provide sufficient light for illumination the labels nor is directed onto the labels. Increasing the luminance of the backlighting to enable the label to be visually discernable would result in the backlighting being too glaring.
Accordingly, there is a need for displaying a label formed on a surface of a product with an appropriate amount of light for illuminating the label when natural light is unavailable.
A preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed herein provides a method for forming a multilayer structure on a surface. Additionally, the preferred embodiment of the invention are suitable for displaying a mark on a surface of a product prominently in the absence of natural light with an appropriate amount of illumination.
In accordance to a first aspect of the invention, a method for forming a multilayer structure on a surface is disclosed. The method comprises forming a body having a surface. The body is substantially light permeable. The method further comprises forming a first layer on the surface of the body. The first layer is substantially light absorbing and has a mark formed therein for permeating light therethrough. The method yet further comprises forming a second layer on the first layer. The second layer is substantially light permeable. More specifically, the mark is illuminatable by light permeating through the body towards the first layer.
In accordance to a second aspect of the invention, a multilayer structure formable on a surface is disclosed. The multilayer structure comprises a body having a surface. The body is substantially light permeable. The multilayer structure further comprises a first layer formed on the surface of the body. The first layer is substantially light absorbing and has a mark formed therein for permeating light therethrough. The multilayer structure yet further comprises a second layer formed on the first layer. The second layer is substantially light permeable. More specifically, the mark is illuminatable by light permeating through the body towards the first layer.
In accordance to a third aspect of the invention, a peripheral device is disclosed. The peripheral device comprises a body having a surface and an illuminator contained in the body. At least a portion of the surface outwardly opposes the illuminator. The peripheral device further comprises a first layer formed on the surface of the body. The first layer is substantially light absorbing and has a mark formed therein for permeating light therethrough. The peripheral device yet further comprises a second layer formed on the first layer. The second layer is substantially light permeable. More specifically, the mark is illuminatable by light permeating through the body towards the first layer, the light being generatable by the illuminator.
A preferred embodiment of the invention is described hereinafter with reference to the drawings, in which:
With reference to the drawings, a multilayer structure according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed for forming a multilayer structure on a surface. Additionally, the preferred embodiment is suitable for displaying a mark on a surface of a product prominently in the absence of natural light with an appropriate amount of illumination.
Various conventional methods for displaying a mark on a surface of a product in the absence of natural light have been previously proposed. Many of these conventional methods are unable to provide sufficient light for illumination the labels.
For purposes of brevity and clarity, the description of the invention is limited hereinafter to forming a multilayer structure on a surface of a body. This however does not preclude the preferred embodiment of the invention from other applications that require similar method of forming the multilayer structure. The functional principles fundamental to the preferred embodiment of the invention remain the same throughout the variations.
In the detailed description provided hereinafter and
The preferred embodiment of the invention is described in greater detail hereinafter for a multilayer structure formable on a body surface.
With reference to
The light is preferably generated by an illuminator (not shown), such as a light emitting diode (LED) contained in the body 102 of the peripheral device 100. Specifically, at least a portion of the surface 104 of the body 102 is outwardly opposing or facing away from the illuminator. The body 102 is preferably manufactured from any translucent or transparent material. As an example, a suitable material for manufacturing the body 102 is acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic.
The body 102 is preferably formed as a unitary structure using an injection molding process. More specifically, the injection molding process involves injecting the ABS plastics into a mold that has a shaped of the body 102.
With reference to
The first layer 106 is made of light absorbing material, such as a black or dark coloured paint. The light absorbing material preferably substantially absorbs the light generated by the illuminator and blocks the light from passing through the surface 104 of the body 102.
With reference to
The mark 108 is preferably formed using a laser etching process. The laser etching process preferably involves a laser etching machine for engraving the first layer 106 in order to form the mark 108. Alternatively, the mark 108 is formed by other suitable processes for removing a portion of the first layer 106. The mark 108 depicts a pattern or word that is illuminated by the light radiated from beneath the surface 104 of the body 102.
With reference to
The second layer 110 is preferably light permeable and is hydrophobic so as to form a moisture barrier over the first layer 106 and the body 102. For example, a suitable material for forming the second layer 110 is polyurethane (PU). Additionally, the second layer 110 provides better tactile sensation to a user and advantageously improves a user's grip on the body 102 during use of the periphery device 100.
Although only a preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed, it becomes apparent to one skilled in the art in view of this disclosure that numerous changes or modification can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, although laser etch is used in the etching process in the forgoing embodiment, the etching process may be efficiently used if the laser etch is substituted by chemical etch or the like.
