Patents by Inventor Richard C. Eisfeller
Richard C. Eisfeller has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 6361854Abstract: A process for manufacturing a metallized substrate using the island coating method, includes depositing a coating layer containing a radiation curable non-volatile film former. The coated part is then vacuum metallized to form the metal islands of the present invention. A layer of clear resinous protective dielectric topcoat containing a radiation curable non-volatile film former is then deposited to completely cover the layer of metal islands while maintaining the aesthetic properties of the metallizing island coating system at a reduced cost and with minimal variability among parts.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2001Date of Patent: March 26, 2002Assignee: Textron Automotive CompanyInventors: Maureen M. Lein, Ellen Lord, Richard C. Eisfeller, Mark E. Dukeshire, Richard W. Finch, Alfred T. Poliquin, Gerard L. Vachon, John B. Clark, Stephen P. McLaughlin, Robert D. Sparling
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Publication number: 20010009713Abstract: A process for manufacturing a metallized substrate using the island coating method, includes depositing a coating layer containing a radiation curable non-volatile film former. The coated part is then vacuum metallized to form the metal islands of the present invention. A layer of clear resinous protective dielectric topcoat containing a radiation curable non-volatile film former is then deposited to completely cover the layer of metal islands while maintaining the aesthetic properties of the metallizing island coating system at a reduced cost and with minimal variability among parts.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2001Publication date: July 26, 2001Inventors: Maureen M. Lein, Ellen M. Lord, Richard C. Eisfeller, Mark E. Dukeshire, Richard W. Finch, Alfred T. Poliquin, Gerard L. Vachon, John B. Clark, Stephen P. McLaughlin, Robert D. Sparling
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Patent number: 6238776Abstract: A process for manufacturing a metallized substrate using the island coating method, includes depositing a coating layer containing a radiation curable non-volatile film former. The coated part is then vacuum metallized to form the metal islands of the present invention. A layer of clear resinous protective dielectric topcoat containing a radiation curable non-volatile film former is then deposited to completely cover the layer of metal islands while maintaining the aesthetic properties of the metallizing island coating system at a reduced cost and with minimal variability among parts.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 1999Date of Patent: May 29, 2001Assignee: Davidson Textron Inc.Inventors: Maureen M. Lein, Ellen Lord, Richard C. Eisfeller, Mark E. Dukeshire, Richard W. Finch, Alfred T. Poliquin, Gerard L. Vachon, John B. Clark, Stephen P. McLaughlin, Robert D. Sparling
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Patent number: 5468518Abstract: A process for manufacturing a metallized part comprises the following steps. A part is provided made from a substrate material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic urethane (TPU), TPU alloys, polyester alloys, nylon, thermoplastic olefins (TPO) and aluminum. A single protective layer (combined primer/basecoat) is spray deposited, flashed and cured over the substrate. Over the combined primer/basecoat layer, a layer of corrosion prone metal is vacuum deposited to form a discontinuous film covering the combined primer/basecoat layer. A layer of clear resinous protective dielectric topcoat is spray deposited and cured to completely cover the layer of vacuum deposited corrosion prone metal material and fill channels formed in the discontinuous film layer.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 1994Date of Patent: November 21, 1995Assignee: Davidson Textron Inc.Inventors: Maureen M. Lein, Richard C. Eisfeller, Alfred T. Poliquin, Mark Burns, John T. Russell
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Patent number: 5384161Abstract: An aluminum object is manufactured by a process including chromate conversion coating of the aluminum object; sequentially applying a primer coat to the outer surface and thereafter applying a dielectric substrate basecoat; vacuum metallizing a corrosion prone metal, namely indium, on the dielectric substrate basecoat to form "islands" of the indium that are top coated with a clear resinous layer to encapsulate and insulate the islands, one from another. The indium islands are less than one thousand angstroms thick and have an average diameter of less than three thousand angstroms. The island structure is etched following the growth of the metal as it is deposited between the nucleation stage and the stage of channelization of formation of an electrically conductive film. The etchant is selected to clear channels between island structures to improve adhesion of a dielectric resinous top coat to the dielectric substrate by order of magnitude to adhesion to the islands.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 1994Date of Patent: January 24, 1995Assignee: Davidson Textron Inc.Inventors: Richard C. Eisfeller, John Clark
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Patent number: 5320869Abstract: A high gloss color finish for a plastic article is formed by coating and curing a colored primer layer (12) onto a plastic substrate (10). A light transmissive basecoat (14) is applied and cured onto the primer layer (12) to form a substrate (10) with a colored surface. Indium islands (20) are vacuum deposited onto the basecoat (12) to a thickness up to 100 Angstroms to form a visually macroscopically continuous layer (21). The island layer (21) is etched to remove smaller sized islands. A transparent topcoat (24) is applied onto the basecoat and indium islands and cured in place.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 1992Date of Patent: June 14, 1994Assignee: Davidson Textron Inc.Inventors: Richard C. Eisfeller, Gerard Vachon
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Patent number: 5290625Abstract: An aluminum object is manufactured by a process including chromate conversion coating of the aluminum object; sequentially applying a primer coat to the outer surface and thereafter applying a dielectric substrate basecoat; vacuum metallizing a corrosion prone metal, namely indium, on the dielectric substrate basecoat to form "islands" of the indium that are top coated with a clear resinous layer to encapsulate and insulate the islands, one from another. The indium islands are less than one thousand angstroms thick and have an average diameter of less than three thousand angstroms. The island structure is etched following the growth of the metal as it is deposited between the nucleation stage and the stage of channelization of formation of an electrically conductive film. The etchant is selected to clear channels between island structures to improve adhesion of a dielectric resinous top coat to the dielectric substrate by order of magnitude to adhesion to the islands.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 1992Date of Patent: March 1, 1994Assignee: Davidson Textron Inc.Inventors: Richard C. Eisfeller, John Clark
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Patent number: 5198272Abstract: Vacuum metallizing substrates having both vertical and horizontal surfaces occurs by directing metal from two remote sources by thermal evaporation. One source is connected horizontally below the object to depose metal vertically toward the object to the horizontal surface thereof. The second source is connected vertically to the object to depose metal horizontally toward the object to the vertical surface thereof. A vacuum chamber contains a rotating carousel supporting the objects with the sources located fixedly within the chamber to perform the thermal evaporation.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 1992Date of Patent: March 30, 1993Assignee: Davidson Textron Inc.Inventor: Richard C. Eisfeller
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Patent number: 4713143Abstract: A plastic object is manufactured by a process including vacuum metallizing with a corrosion prone metal, namely indium, a dielectric substrate to form "islands" of the indium top coated with a clear resinous layer which encapsulates and insulates the islands, one from another. The indium islands are less than one thousand angstroms thick and have an average diameter of less than three thousand angstroms. The island structure is etched following the growth of the metal as it is deposited between the nucleation stage and the stage of channelization of formation of an electrically conductive film. The etchant is selected to clear channels between island structures to improve adhesion of a dielectric resinous top coat to the dielectric substrate by order of magnitude to adhesion to the islands.A preferred application of this invention is the manufacture of exterior automobile trim components the base structure of which is a flexible elastomer such as a thermoplastic urethane.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 1987Date of Patent: December 15, 1987Assignee: Davidson Textron Inc.Inventor: Richard C. Eisfeller
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Patent number: 4431711Abstract: A surprisingly corrosion and abuse resistant plastic object vacuum-metallized with a corrosion prone metal, namely indium, on a dielectric substrate consists of minute specular electrically-discrete "islands" of the indium topcoated with a clear resinous layer which encapsulates and insulates the islands, one from another. The indium islands are less than one thousand angstroms thick and have an average diameter of less than three thousand angstroms. This island structure is secured by stopping the growth of the metal as it is deposited between the nucleation stage and the stage of channelization or formation of an electrically conductive film. The island structure permits the dielectric resinous topcoat to penetrate in, about and under the metal islands encapsulating and securely bonding them to the substrate.The vacuum deposited indium gives a bright sheeny appearance which, when properly topcoated, very closely duplicates the appearance of electrodeposited chrome.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 1981Date of Patent: February 14, 1984Assignee: Ex-Cell-O CorporationInventor: Richard C. Eisfeller
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Patent number: 4407871Abstract: A surprisingly corrosion and abuse resistant plastic object vacuum-metallized with a corrosion prone metal, on a dielectric substrate consists of minute specular electrically-discrete "islands" of the metal topcoated with a clear resinous layer which encapsulates and insulates the islands, one from another. The metal islands are less than one thousand angstroms thick and have an average diameter of less than three thousand angstroms. This island structure is secured by stopping the growth of the metal as it is deposited between the nucleation stage and the stage of channelization or formation of an electrically conductive film. The island structure permits the dielectric resinous topcoat to penetrate in, about and under the metal islands encapsulating and securely bonding them to the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 1981Date of Patent: October 4, 1983Assignee: Ex-Cell-O CorporationInventor: Richard C. Eisfeller