Wet surface indication

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10964236-B2
Application number	US-201716323935-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 19, 2017
Priority date	Aug 10, 2016
Publication date	Mar 30, 2021
Grant date	Mar 30, 2021

Abstract

A product (20) for use on a surface or as part of a surface, the product comprising: a first layer (22) which carries an indication; and a second layer (26) which overlies at least a portion of the first layer (22), the second layer (26) comprising a porous polymer; wherein the second layer (26) is opaque when dry such that the indication is masked and transparent when wet such that the indication is revealed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A product for use on a surface, the product comprising
a first layer which carries an indication; and
a second layer which overlies at least a portion of the first layer, the second layer comprising a porous polymer;
wherein the second layer is opaque when dry such that the indication is masked and transparent when wet such that the indication is revealed; and
a wear layer is located on the second layer, wherein the wear layer covers at least 0.5% of the area of the second layer, or the wear layer comprises a mesh or an arrangement of protrusions, or both.

2. The product of claim 1 , wherein the indication comprises text, a symbol and/or a code.

3. The product of claim 2 , wherein the code comprises a bar code or a QR code.

4. The product of claim 1 , wherein the porous polymer has a refractive index of at least 1.3 and/or no more than 1.8.

5. The product of claim 4 , wherein the porous polymer has a refractive index from 1.3 to 1.7 or from 1.4 to 1.5.

6. The product of claim 1 , wherein the porous polymer comprises an acrylic resin, polyalginate and/or hydroxyl propyl cellulose and/or a fluorinated polymer.

7. The product of claim 1 , wherein the mean size of the pores is from 0.1 to 2 μm.

8. The product of claim 1 , wherein a transparent layer is located between the first and second layers.

9. A surface, a floor, a floor covering, a wall, a wall covering, bedding, a roof or a road surface comprising the product of claim 1 .

10. A method for the manufacture of the product of claim 1 , the method comprising:
providing the first layer carrying an indication;
optionally covering at least a portion of the first layer with a transparent layer;
coating the first layer or the transparent layer with the second layer;
wherein the second layer comprises the porous polymer that is opaque when dry such that the indication is masked and transparent when wet such that the indication is revealed.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second layer is printed onto the first layer or onto the transparent layer when present.

12. A method for monitoring the presence of a liquid comprising:
providing the product of claim 1 in a first location;
taking images of the product using a camera; and
transmitting the images to a second location.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the liquid is an aqueous liquid or an organic liquid, and/or wherein the liquid has a refractive index of at least 1.2.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein an image is taken by the camera and then transmitted at least once every hour.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first location is within a building, vehicle or structure, on an external surface of a building, vehicle or structure, on a roof or on a road.

16. A kit comprising the product of claim 1 , a camera for taking images of the product and means for transmitting the images.

17. A method for maintaining a surface, the method comprising:
providing the product of claim 1 on a surface or as part of a surface; and
observing the product and noting whether the indication is masked or visible.

Assignees

• Univ Oxford Innovation Ltd

Inventors

• Dobson Peter James
• Pincher Leonard

Classifications

• B32B5/00

  Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure {, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts} · CPC title

• B32B15/14

  next to a fibrous or filamentary layer · CPC title

• B32B13/04

  comprising such {water setting} substance as the main or only constituent of a layer, {which is} next to another layer of {the same or of} a {different material (next to a glass layer B32B17/06)} · CPC title

• B32B5/245

  another layer next to it being a foam layer · CPC title

• B32B2307/41

  Opaque · CPC title