Transparent Tinted Appliance Panel Coating With Visible Pattern

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional coatings for metallic kitchen appliance panels are either expensive and uneven when applied by physical vapor deposition (PVD) for aesthetics or opaque and utilitarian for safety, failing to provide a transparent, fingerprint-resistant finish that showcases the panel's surface pattern.

Innovation Solution

A transparent tinted coating composition, specifically a thermosetting polyester-based organic paint, is applied using a reverse rolling mechanism to create a partially translucent and fingerprint-resistant finish, allowing the surface pattern to be visible while adding color, thus enhancing both aesthetics and safety without the limitations of PVD.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If physical vapor deposition (PVD) is used to apply aesthetic coatings, then the coating provides aesthetic enhancement, but the coating becomes expensive and uneven

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaesthetic enhancementVSAvoidcoating uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive PVD coatings with a more economical liquid coating composition that can be applied through conventional spraying or dipping methods. The coating uses organic pigments and binders that are significantly cheaper than PVD materials while achieving comparable aesthetic effects through color and transparency variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state of the coating material from vapor (PVD) to liquid form, allowing for more uniform application through conventional methods. The liquid composition can be precisely controlled in terms of viscosity, pigment concentration, and transparency to achieve even coating distribution across the panel surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If opaque safety coatings are applied to metal panels, then electrical conductivity is prevented, but the surface pattern becomes invisible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical conductivity preventionVSAvoidsurface pattern visibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different transparency characteristics to different regions or layers of the coating. The coating composition includes transparent and translucent variants that can be selectively applied to areas where surface pattern visibility is prioritized, while maintaining electrical insulation properties through the inherent non-conductive nature of the organic coating materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite coating system that combines transparent organic binders with non-conductive pigment particles. This composite structure maintains the electrical insulation properties of traditional safety coatings while allowing light transmission to reveal the underlying surface pattern, effectively merging the benefits of both transparent and opaque coatings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Illumination intensity

If conventional coatings are applied to show surface patterns, then transparency is achieved, but fingerprint resistance is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurface pattern transparencyVSAvoidfingerprint resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates self-cleaning and fingerprint-resistant properties directly into the coating composition through hydrophobic additives and surface-modifying agents. The coating automatically repels fingerprints and smudges without requiring additional maintenance or treatment, while maintaining its transparent or translucent appearance to showcase the surface pattern.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides a cost-effective, even, and aesthetically pleasing finish that is both fingerprint-resistant and transparent, allowing the surface pattern to be visible while offering improved safety by preventing electrical conductivity, thus addressing the shortcomings of existing coatings.

Implementation Method 1

The coating layer includes a predetermined tint that filters a predetermined wavelength of visible light that passes through the coating layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

A reverse rolling mechanism is utilized to apply the coating composition to the metallic substrate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRolling deposition: Roller

Data Source

PatentUS9534830B2Transparent tinted coating for appliance exterior panels to allow for tinted surface patterns and a process for application of coating

Publication Date: 2017.01.03 WHIRLPOOL CORP

AI summary

An exterior panel for a kitchen appliance includes a metallic substrate having a predetermined surface pattern on at least one side of the metallic substrate, wherein the metallic substrate is formed to include a predetermined contour. A coating layer is an organic paint coating composition on the at least one side of the metallic substrate, the coating layer including a predetermined color and a fingerprint resistive surface, wherein the coating layer is at least partially translucent such that the predetermined surface pattern is visible with the naked eye through the coating layer, and wherein the predetermined surface pattern is modified by the coating layer to reflect the combination of the predetermined surface pattern and the predetermined color of the coating layer.