Devices for coating contoured surfaces

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11235349-B2
Application number	US-201816137928-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2018
Priority date	Jun 25, 2012
Publication date	Feb 1, 2022
Grant date	Feb 1, 2022

Abstract

Provided are devices for coating a contoured surface or a three-dimensional structure, and methods of making and using the same. The devices have geometries that are in point contact with the contoured surface. The geometries are substantially rigid and are provided by a flexible applicator. In this way, the flexible applicator permits conformance to the surface contours, along with rigid point contact that provides uniform and consistent coverage of liquid material. Specifically, the devices comprise a handle and an applicator pliantly affixed to the handle, the applicator comprising a plurality of spaced geometries. The devices meter film-forming coating liquids onto contoured surfaces or three-dimensional structures to form uniform coatings and resulting uniform films.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for coating a contoured surface, the method comprising:
providing a device comprising a handle and an applicator pliantly affixed to the handle, the applicator comprising a plurality of spaced geometries; and
using the device to apply a film-forming coating liquid to the contoured surface, wherein the geometries are in point contact with the contoured surface, and
wherein the geometries are rigid such that they retain their shape upon contact with the contoured surface.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the geometries are effective to meter a uniform layer of the film-forming coating liquid onto the contoured surface.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the geometries are effective to avoid marring the contoured surface.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the applicator comprises a flexible microreplicated material that comprises the plurality of geometries.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the geometries are selected from the group consisting of pins, posts, cones, cylinders, pyramids, mushroom heads, cube corners, and J-hooks.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the geometries have a height in the range of 50 to 2000 microns.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the geometries have a base diameter or width in the range of 100 to 2000 microns.

8. The method of claim 4 , wherein the geometries are on the flexible microreplicated material at a rate in the range of 50-2000 geometries per square inch.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the applicator comprises a spring and the geometries comprise coils of the spring.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the spring is coated to provide a non-scratch surface.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the device further comprises a biaser.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the device further comprises a tensioner that is effective to vary coil-to-coil distance of the spring.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein upon contact with the contoured surface, the geometries are effective to meter a substantially uniform layer of a film-forming coating liquid onto the contoured surface.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the geometries are effective to avoid marring the contoured surface.

15. The method of claim 4 , wherein the flexible microreplicated material is on a non-rigid backing comprising a foamed pad and the microreplicated flexible material is pliantly affixed to the handle by the non-rigid backing.

16. The method of claim 4 , wherein the flexible microreplicated material is on a non-rigid backing comprising a spring and the microreplicated flexible material is pliantly affixed to the handle by the non-rigid backing.

17. A method for forming a uniform film on a three-dimensional structure, the method comprising:
loading a device with a film-forming coating liquid, the device comprising a handle and an applicator pliantly affixed to the handle, the applicator comprising a plurality of spaced geometries;
metering the film-forming coating liquid onto the three-dimensional substrate with the device, wherein the geometries are in point contact with a contoured surface to form a uniform liquid coating, and wherein the geometries are rigid such that they retain their shape upon contact with the contoured surface; and
drying the uniform liquid coating to form a uniform film.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the applicator comprises a microreplicated flexible material on a non-rigid backing, the microreplicated flexible material being pliantly affixed to the handle by the non-rigid backing.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Eliason Kevin M
• Escoto Jr John I
• Hager Patrick J
• Joseph Stephen C P
• Pitera Dominic M
• Raphaelson Steven R
• Schleif Larry A
• Schwab Jeffrey J

Classifications

• B05C17/12 Primary

  Other hand tools for producing patterns · CPC title

• B05C17/00

  Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces ({casings or accessories for storing or handling solid or pasty toilet or cosmetic substances A45D40/00;} brushes A46B; {shoe polish applicators A47L23/05; surgical glue applicators A61B17/00491;} absorbent pads, e.g. swabs, for applying media to the human body A61F13/15; {hand-held applicators for applying or spreading media, e.g. remedies, on the human body A61M35/003; implements for writing or drawing B43K; hand-held desk devices for applying liquid, e.g. adhesive, by contact to surfaces B43M11/06;} implements or apparatus for removing dry paint from surfaces B44D3/16 {; container closures with pads or like contents-applying means B65D47/42}) · CPC title

• B05D1/28

  performed by transfer from the surfaces of elements carrying the liquid or other fluent material, e.g. brushes, pads, rollers · CPC title