Gerald G Reafler

US Patent:

6673428, Jan 6, 2004

Filed:

Apr 14, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/549959

Inventors:

Gerald G. Reafler - Rochester NY

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B32B 2700

US Classification:

428216, 428323, 428328, 428332, 428339, 428354, 428355 AC, 4284231, 428480, 428483, 428500

Abstract:

A flexible and stretchable sheet material that is capable of being stretched to conform to a three-dimensional substrate to form a protective and decorative coating thereon is comprised of a thin flexible support having adhered thereto a protective and decorative layer such as a paint layer comprising a colorant incorporated in a film-forming binder. Both the support and the protective and decorative layer are characterized by a very high degree of thickness uniformity and the sheet material exhibits a high level of surface uniformity, an ability to undergo substantial elongation, and a substantially uniform quality and appearance; whereby it can be stretched and bent in the process of bonding it to a substrate and still achieve a defect-free coating of uniformly attractive appearance.

US Patent:

51259940, Jun 30, 1992

Filed:

Nov 1, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/430756

Inventors:

Louis P. Harasta - Webster NY
Newton C. Landis - Penfield NY
Gerald G. Reafler - Rochester NY

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B32B 3120

US Classification:

156160

Abstract:

An adhesive-coated thermoplastic film is stretched and bonded to a three-dimensional substrate by vacuum thermoforming at a lower than normal temperature, at which the film has an elastic modulus of at least 10. sup. 9 dynes/cm. sup. 2, followed by moderate heat treatment of the resulting laminated article. The procedure is especially useful in avoiding air entrapment and peel-back in the thermoforming of a paint-coated film on exterior body panels for automobiles.

US Patent:

51147890, May 19, 1992

Filed:

Dec 20, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/287417

Inventors:

Gerald G. Reafler - Rochester NY

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B32B 516

US Classification:

428328

Abstract:

A protective and decorative sheet material for covering substrates comprises a flexible carrier film, a paint layer adhered to one surface of the carrier film containing light reflective flakes; a transparent polymeric topcoat overlying and adhered to the paint layer having a thickness of at least about 0. 1 millimeter. The sheet material has a substantially unstressed relaxed state and a relaxed area and is heat softenable to a substantially plastic state in which it is extendable to an extended state having an extended area up to at least 50% greater than the relaxed area. The paint and topcoat layers have substantially uniform quality and appearance in both the relaxed and extended states. The thick transparent topcoat provides improved retention of gloss and distinctness of image when the sheet material is stretched. A method of preparing the sheet material comprises the step of extruding in laminar flow a layer of a crosslinkable transparent topcoat composition over the paint layer.

US Patent:

48329916, May 23, 1989

Filed:

May 2, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/189090

Inventors:

Jack Hayward - Hilton NY
Gerald G. Reafler - Rochester NY
James R. Schuler - Brockport NY

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B05D 136
B05D 302
B05D 700

US Classification:

4273935

Abstract:

A process for continuous coating of a reactive clearcoat composition on a painted-coated moving plastic film web by means of a laminar flow extrusion coating hopper wherein the reactive components of the composition are fed continuously to a mixing zone and mixed shortly before the composition is coated on the film surface.

US Patent:

50264486, Jun 25, 1991

Filed:

Apr 3, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/332061

Inventors:

Gerald G. Reafler - Rochester NY
Gordon D. Shattuck - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B32B 3100

US Classification:

156212

Abstract:

A flexible, thermoformable sheet material is bonded to a three-dimensional substrate to form a protective and decorative surface having the appearance of a basecoat-clearcoat automotive finish by a method which includes sequentially thermoforming a thermoplastic paint-coated basecoat sheet and a thermoplastic clearcoat sheet onto the substrate.

US Patent:

49215566, May 1, 1990

Filed:

Nov 17, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/272271

Inventors:

Zbigniew Hakiel - Webster NY
Gerald G. Reafler - Rochester NY
Robert W. Schrader - Rochester NY
James R. Schuler - Brockport NY

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B32B 3108

US Classification:

156164

Abstract:

A protective web is releasably laminated to an adhesive-coated stretchable web by continuously drawing the webs at differential degrees of tensile strain into laminating contact in the nip formed by a resilient and a non-resilient roller.

US Patent:

52865282, Feb 15, 1994

Filed:

Mar 17, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/852635

Inventors:

Gerald G. Reafler - Rochester NY

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

B05D 704

US Classification:

4274121

Abstract:

A protective and decorative sheet material for covering substrates comprises a flexible carrier film, a paint layer adhered to one surface of the carrier film containing light reflective flakes; a transparent polymeric topcoat overlying and adhered to the paint layer having a thickness of at least about 0. 1 millimeter. The sheet material has a substantially unstressed relaxed state and a relaxed area and is heat softenable to a substantially plastic state in which it is extendable to an extended state having an extended area up to at least 50% greater than the relaxed area. The paint and topcoat layers have substantially uniform quality and appearance in both the relaxed and extended states. The thick transparent topcoat provides improved retention of gloss and distinctness of image when the sheet material is stretched. A method of preparing the sheet material comprises the step of extruding in laminar flow a layer of a crosslinkable transparent topcoat composition over the paint layer.

US Patent:

58957448, Apr 20, 1999

Filed:

Feb 28, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/808367

Inventors:

Gerald G. Reafler - Rochester NY
David A. Glocker - West Henrietta NY
Mark M. Romach - Rochester NY
Richard C. Soper - Victor NY
Evelio A. Perez-Albuerne - Rochester NY

Assignee:

Eastman Kodak Company - Rochester NY

International Classification:

G03C 1795
B01J 1908
B05D 314

US Classification:

430533

Abstract:

Method and apparatus for making thermoplastic web from polyester or polyester blends for subsequent aqueous coating without requirement of an undercoat or primer coat for adhesion of subsequent coatings. Feedstock pellets of polymer, such as polyethylene terephthalate or polyethylene naphthalate, are melted in a screw extruder. Molten polymer is extruded from an extrusion die as a thick, high-viscosity ribbon, which is tempered and stretched in both the machine direction and the transverse direction to form a web of biaxially-oriented polymer of the desired width and thickness. The web is heated to a temperature above T. sub. g to set the biaxial orientation and then is glow discharge treated by passing it through an in-line glow discharge apparatus at atmospheric pressure wherein a stable glow discharge is produced in a gas mixture containing helium between two electrodes connected by an alternating power source operating at a voltage between 0. 5 kV and 20 kV at a frequency between 60 Hz and 40 MHz. The web is coated with an aqueous gelatin subbing layer.