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Layered envirochromic materials, applications and methods of preparation thereofRelated Patent Categories: Stock Material Or Miscellaneous Articles, Composite (nonstructural Laminate)Layered envirochromic materials, applications and methods of preparation thereof description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060172135, Layered envirochromic materials, applications and methods of preparation thereof. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/637,535, filed Dec. 20, 2004 (Attorney Docket No. 7044531001), titled, "Layered Envirochromic Materials, Applications and Methods of Preparation Thereof," which is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. FIELD OF THE SUBJECT MATTER [0002] The field of the subject matter disclosed herein is envirochromic materials, specifically layered envirochromic materials, applications of those materials and methods of preparation thereof. BACKGROUND [0003] In the 21.sup.st century, consumers are looking for more information about the products that they buy, and they are also looking for more from those products. Desirable products are those that meet specific needs and in some cases, provide added benefits to the consumer. These added benefits may be additional safety controls or indicators, environmental information indicators, shelf life indicators, authentication & tamper indicators, fashion accessories and/or fun & entertainment options. There are a number of patents in the field of thermochromic and fluorescent materials, however, many if not all of the patents disclosed suffer from certain drawbacks, such as providing entertainment only options, components that break down and deteriorate over time or under certain conditions, and a lack of versatility--from day to night, from rain to shine and from cold to hot, for example. [0004] Thermochromic materials are those materials that change in color as the temperature rises or falls around the material. Reversible thermochromic materials that are negative working, that is, materials that change in color from a colored to a colorless state as temperature increases are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,028,118 and 4,717,770. Positive working thermochromic materials, that is, those materials that change from colorless to colored as the temperature is increased are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,421,560. Solvent-based formulations containing encapsulated thermochromic materials and methods of printing thereof are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,139,779. A disadvantage to utilizing thermochromic materials is that they are prone to photolytic degradation. U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,161 discloses the addition of certain cationic compounds to the thermochromic materials for enhancing their photolytic stability. [0005] Fluorescent photochromic materials are those materials that are activated by light or radiation. Reversible fluorescent photochromic materials that are positive working, that is, materials which are colorless under ambient lighting conditions and colored in daylight (generally activated by ultra violet radiation), are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,562,172; 3,578,602; and 4,215,010. Reverse photochromic materials, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,884,697. Methods for preparing printing inks using such materials are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,869. Photochromic materials are also subject to photolytic degradation causing light fatigue, that is, repeated exposure to light causes these materials to loose their photochromism. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,212,898 and 3,666,352 teaches the use of UV absorbers alongside photochromic materials--the latter advocating the use of UV absorbers such as benzophenone with photochromic mercury thiocarbazonate materials to retard photolytic degradation. [0006] Phosphorescent photochromic materials are often referred to as "glow in the dark" materials. Reversible phosphorescent photochromic materials are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,857,228 and 6,599,444. Such materials have been utilized in several consumer products to provide cosmetic, safety, or informational benefits to the consumer. [0007] There are several patents that describe the use of the thermochromic, fluorescent or phosphorescent materials in various applications. U.S. Pat. No. 6,196,241 describes an umbrella where the fabric is treated with thermochromic or photochromic dyes to provide fashion benefits. For example, the umbrella can change colors during rain or when the sun comes out, depending on the dye utilized. However, there are no specific safety benefits or added environmental information indicators given that would indicate to the user weather conditions in advance of opening the umbrella. [0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,985,381 provides antidetection benefits by providing increased or decreased camouflage on clothing depending on thermal conditions. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,130,760; 6,046,455 and 6,465,791 also disclose safety benefits by utilizing dosimeter embodiment for photochromic dyes. [0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,389,093 describes a diaper product that changes color because of temperature changes in the diaper caused by waste buildup in the diaper. The technology used to monitor the temperature changes in the diaper product is similar to that used in the '241 patent previously mentioned, i.e. the fabric is treated with a thermochromic dye. [0010] The applications cited above have a single layer construction in that the color changing material is applied to the object in question as a single layer. Such embodiments can be rendered to create either a colored to colorless color change, or a colorless to colored color change, or a color change from one color to another. In the latter case, for the single layer embodiment there is a dye or pigment blended with the temperature or photo activated material. These single layer embodiments yield dull and darker colors and consequently lack the brightness to make the color change visually striking. Additionally, a single layer embodiment results in a non-robust image that is subject to scratches abrasion etc. Furthermore, the thermochromic dyes, specifically dyes based on electron donating and electron accepting materials such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,028,118, 4,717,770 cited above, are subject to photolytic degradation. Similarly photochromic materials such as for example those cited in U.S. Pat. No. 3,562,172 are subject to light fatigue. One might consider that blending UV absorbers in with the chromic materials may be beneficial, but realistically blending these components is generally not an effective way to improve photolytic stability. [0011] Based on the state of the art and the problems associated with various compounds and their uses, it would be beneficial to have products which have color changing indicators based on thermochromic, fluroscent photochromic, phosphorescent photochromic compounds or a combination thereof that are constructed from a variey of substrate materials such as PVCacrylics, urethanes polyester, nylon etc. The substrate construction materials may be rigid or flexible. The color changing indicators previously mentioned are hereinafter referred to as "envirochromic materials" and can respond to environmental changes to provide at least one of the following: safety controls or indicators, environmental information indicators, fashion accessories, fun and entertainment options or a combination thereof. [0012] In order to produce these products, one needs to develop a system construction such that the visual impact of the color change is striking, the indicator indicia are robust, the applied images patterns or indicia are photolytically stable and the product is not only durable for the user but also environmentally stable. One also needs to develop products that are desirable and useful to consumers in many fields of use, including food products, entertainment, sports, transportation, weather protection, decorating, indoor and outdoor sanitation or a combination thereof. SUMMARY OF THE SUBJECT MATTER [0013] A layered envirochromic material is described herein that contains at least one substrate or surface material; at least one base layer coupled to the at least one substrate or surface material; and at least one envirochromic layer coupled to the at least one base layer. [0014] Methods of producing the layered envirochromic materials include providing a surface or substrate; applying at least one base layer component on to the surface; curing the at least one base layer component to form a base layer; applying at least one envirochromic layer component on to the surface; and curing the at least one envirochromic layer component to form the envirochromic layer. [0015] Additional methods include providing a surface or substrate; applying at least one base layer component on to the surface; applying at least one envirochromic layer component on to the at least one base layer component; and curing the at least one base layer component and at least one envirochromic layer component to form the layered material. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0016] New products have surprisingly been developed that address the problems associated with various compounds and their uses, including developing products which have color changing indicators based on thermochromic, fluroscent photochromic, phosphorescent photochromic compounds or a combination thereof and that are constructed from a variey of substrate materials such as PVCacrylics, urethanes polyester, nylon etc. The substrate or surface construction materials or components may be rigid or flexible. As mentioned in the Background Section, the color changing indicators disclosed and described herein are hereinafter referred to as "envirochromic materials" and can respond to environmental changes to provide at least one of the following: safety controls or indicators, environmental information indicators, fashion accessories, fun and entertainment options or a combination thereof. [0017] A system construction has also been developed such that the visual impact of the color change is striking, the indicator indicia are robust, the applied images patterns or indicia are photolytically stable and the product is not only durable for the user but also environmentally stable. These new products are also desirable and useful to consumers in many fields of use, including food products, entertainment, sports, transportation, weather protection, decorating, indoor and outdoor sanitation or a combination thereof. [0018] Specifically, in contemplated embodiments, a multilayer system construction or layered material has been designed so as to create a visually striking impact of the color change, to be durable with respect to scratches and abrasions and to have weatherometric robustness, such as photolytic stability and atmospheric stability for the indicator indicia or images. [0019] The multilayered system construction and/or layered material can have at least two functional layers, and in some embodiments three or more functional layers, with each functional layer providing one or more specific functionalities or performing one or more specific functions, as described in detail below. Continue reading about Layered envirochromic materials, applications and methods of preparation thereof... Full patent description for Layered envirochromic materials, applications and methods of preparation thereof Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Layered envirochromic materials, applications and methods of preparation thereof patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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