Glass enclosure article with color and pattern decoration, and process preparing thereof

Abstract

A glass enclosure article is provided that includes color and patterned decoration and a process of making thereof. The glass enclosure article has a desired color and appearance and also a durable impact resistance. The glass enclosure article includes a glass enclosure having an inner surface, an outer surface and a rim and a coating. The coating is made of colored thermoplastic elastic material that covers a whole or a part of the inner surface of the glass enclosure.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A glass enclosure article, comprising:
 a glass enclosure having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a rim; and   a coating made of a thermoplastic elastic material covering a whole or a part of the inner surface of the glass enclosure.   
     
     
         2 . The glass enclosure article according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic elastic material is a colored thermoplastic elastic material. 
     
     
         3 . The glass enclosure article according to  claim 1 , wherein the coating covers a whole or a part of the rim. 
     
     
         4 . The glass enclosure article according to  claim 1 , further comprising a notch formed along the rim, wherein the coating extends to and fills the notch. 
     
     
         5 . The glass enclosure article according to  claim 1 , wherein the glass enclosure is a chemically or thermally toughened glass. 
     
     
         6 . The glass enclosure article according to  claim 1 , wherein the glass enclosure is colorless and transparent or translucent. 
     
     
         7 . The glass enclosure article according to  claim 1 , wherein the glass enclosure has a shape selected from the group consisting of a rectangle, a circle, a square, and an irregular shape. 
     
     
         8 . The glass enclosure article according to  claim 1 , wherein the glass enclosure is curved or planar. 
     
     
         9 . The glass enclosure article according to  claim 1 , wherein the glass enclosure has a thickness of 0.2 mm to 5.0 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The glass enclosure article according to  claim 1 , wherein the glass enclosure has a thickness of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The glass enclosure article according to  claim 1 , wherein the glass enclosure comprises a glass selected from the group consisting of soda-lime glass, aluminosilicate glass, and borosilicate glass. 
     
     
         12 . The glass enclosure article according to  claim 2 , wherein the colored thermoplastic elastic material is made of the mixture of pigment and polymer. 
     
     
         13 . The glass enclosure article according to  claim 2 , wherein the colored thermoplastic elastic material is colored with pigment on a boundary surface in contact with the glass enclosure. 
     
     
         14 . The glass enclosure article according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic elastic material is selected from the group consisting of acrylic polymer, polyethylene, polystyrene, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, polyolefin, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The glass enclosure article according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic elastic material has a thickness of 0.02 mm-1.0 mm. 
     
     
         16 . The glass enclosure article according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic elastic material has a thickness of 0.1 mm-0.4 mm. 
     
     
         17 . A process of preparing a glass enclosure article, comprising:
 placing a glass enclosure having a concave inner surface onto a first mold which has surface suitable for covering a convex outer surface of the glass enclosure;   placing a second mold at a position over the glass enclosure which makes a space between the second mold and the glass enclosure; and   injecting a thermoplastic elastic material into the space between the second mold and the glass enclosure.   
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein the second mold is positioned over the glass enclosure so that the space is 0.02 mm-1.0 mm. 
     
     
         19 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein the second mold is positioned over the glass enclosure so that the space is 0.2 mm-0.4 mm. 
     
     
         20 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein the first and second molds are made of a material selected from the group consisting of steel, steel alloy, titanium, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, aluminum oxide, and zirconium oxide. 
     
     
         21 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein the thermoplastic elastic material is selected from the group consisting of acrylic polymer, polyethylene, polystyrene, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, polyolefin, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         22 . A process of preparing a glass enclosure article, comprising:
 printing a solid color or texture or pattern on a film;   placing a glass enclosure having a concave inner surface onto a first mold which has surface suitable for covering a convex outer surface of the glass enclosure;   placing the film onto the glass enclosure so that an unprinted side of the film is brought into contact with the glass enclosure;   placing a second mold at a position over the film to make a space between the second mold and the film;   injecting a thermoplastic elastic material into the space between the second mold and the film to form a shaped thermoplastic elastic material with a printed texture;   detaching the film from the shaped thermoplastic elastic material;   placing the shaped thermoplastic elastic material in the glass enclosure so that the glass enclosure is contacting the printed texture;   pressing the shaped thermoplastic elastic material with the second mold; and   heating the glass enclosure and the shaped thermoplastic elastic material.   
     
     
         23 . The process according to  claim 22 , wherein the thermoplastic elastic material is selected from the group consisting of acrylic polymer, polyethylene, polystyrene, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, polyolefin, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         24 . The process according to  claim 22 , wherein the film is made of a material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyamide, polyester, acrylic resin, polyvinyl chloride, metal foil, aluminum foil, copper foil, and complexes thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The process according to  claim 22 , wherein the film comprises a base film and a release layer coated on a surface of the base film.