Translucent Tinted Coating for Appliance Panels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional coatings for metallic panels, whether for aesthetics or safety, face issues of high cost, uneven application, and lack of transparency, making them either expensive or ineffective in showcasing surface patterns.

Innovation Solution

A transparent tinted coating composition, specifically a thermosetting polyester-based organic paint, is applied to metallic panels using a reverse rolling mechanism, providing a translucent finish that showcases surface patterns while being fingerprint resistant and available in various colors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

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

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoidcoating uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the complex PVD mechanical system with a simple liquid paint application system. The liquid paint is applied by conventional painting or spraying methods, eliminating the need for expensive PVD equipment while achieving uniform coverage and aesthetic appearance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state of the coating material from solid (in PVD) to liquid form. This allows the coating to be applied using simple liquid application methods rather than complex vapor deposition processes, achieving both uniformity and cost-effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If electrically inhibitive coatings are applied to metal panels for safety purposes, then electricity transmission is prevented, but the coating becomes opaque and dark

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical safetyVSAvoidvisibility of surface pattern

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite coating system consisting of a clear base coat providing electrical isolation, followed by a translucent decorative tint layer. This layered composite structure maintains the electrical safety function while adding aesthetic value and preserving surface pattern visibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies translucent tints in various colors over the clear base coat. These tints provide aesthetic customization while maintaining transparency, allowing the underlying metallic surface pattern to remain visible unlike opaque conventional safety coatings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

3Reliability

If conventional coatings are applied to metallic panels, then protection is provided, but the coating does not resist fingerprints

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveprotectionVSAvoidfingerprint visibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates fingerprint-resistant additives within the paint composition itself, enabling the coating to inherently resist fingerprints without requiring separate treatment steps. The coating self-provides this functionality through its formulated composition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite paint formulation combining clear protective base coat, translucent decorative tint, and fingerprint-resistant additives. This multi-functional composite material simultaneously provides protection, aesthetics, and fingerprint resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 offers a cost-effective, evenly applied, and aesthetically pleasing coating that allows surface patterns to be visible through the translucent finish, enhancing the appearance of kitchen appliances while maintaining resistance to fingerprints.

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 filtering: Filter (optical)

Data Source

PatentUS10052655B2Transparent tinted coating for appliance exterior panels to allow for tinted surface patterns and a process for application of coating

Publication Date: 2018.08.21 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.