Patent Publication Number: US-2002011188-A1

Title: Glass grip

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention relates to a transparent friction material formed by bonding transparent glass particles with a transparent binder material to the surface of 1 Wood, organic and inorganic materials which may have transparent pressure-sensitive adhesive on the opposite surface.  
       [0003] 2. Prior Art  
       [0004] Skate boarding is a pastime which is rapidly gaining popularity both in the United States and in many foreign countries. The skate board has evolved from a very simple device comprising roller skate wheels fastened to a board to exotic and aesthetically pleasing vehicles designed by engineers and decorated by artists or skilled designers-to provide engineering and artistic marvels, many times costing several hundred dollars each or more. In fact, even the casual skate boarder has a sizable investment in his vehicle which is frequently exotically ornamented by the manufacturer on the bottom surface which is not intended to bear the feet of the user.  
       [0005] It is generally recognized by most skate boarders that it its desirable to have a frictional top or foot-bearing surface of the skate board to facilitate maneuvering and prevent slipping. Many commercially available friction surface sheet materials have been employed for this purpose. A particular useful sheet material is that manufactured and sold on the open market place is griptape. While such a friction surface sheet material provides an adequate degree of frictional resistance, it is only available in embodiments which obscure any decoration or art work which may be present on the surface to which it is applied. The present invention provides a friction material which provides superior frictional resistance yet permits visual observation there through with little or no obscuring any surface decoration on the skate board.  
       [0006] 3. Application  
       [0007] The friction material may be applied by mixing part (A) water base lacquer with the recycled glass fragments at a ratio of 7:3 glass to lacquer.  
       [0008] Thereafter the friction material may be applied to wood, organic or inorganic surfaces by means of brushing or rolling or spraying. The glass particles may also be applied to the make coating by any of a number of known methods such as the methods known in the abrasive making art. The preferred method of coating the glass particles on the backing layer is by drop coating wherein the glass particles are uniformly distributed and permitted to fall through the air onto the freshly coated surface of the backing. Thereafter the make coating may be first cured or the size coating may be applied immediately and both coatings cured simultaneously.  
       [0009] 4. Components  
       [0010] Part A) Glass Oxide Cas 65997-17  
       [0011] Amorphous Silicate (Recycled Glass) 100% post consumer  
       [0012] Part B) High Solid Water-based Lacquer (Poly)  
       [0013] code identification 645-0065  
       [0014] Product class: Waterborne Coating  
       SUMMERY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     
    
    
     [0015] The present invention is a friction material which is capable of being directly coated or adhesively attached to the surface of a substrate such as the foot-bearing surface of a skate board which may contain thereon a surface decoration without significantly obscuring the decoration, when attached or directly coated.  
     [0016] The friction material of the present invention comprises a multitude of glass particles screened no larger than twenty mesh grit and no smaller than eighty mesh grit.  
     [0017] While the friction material has been suggested for use on skate boards, it is intended for use on any other substrate to which it may be applied, whether or not the transparency feature would be a benefit. Examples of use situations where the transparency would be a benefit where the friction surface of the present invention may be used include painted surfaces where the user does not want to obscure the painted surface being coated, for example on the tip portion of a fender of a boat trailer, where that portion is used to step onto the trailer, on diving boards, surf boards, and the like.