Patent Publication Number: US-8110290-B2

Title: Surface coating method

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to methods for coating a surface of a body. In particular, the invention relates to a method for forming a multilayer structure on a body surface. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Labels are typically used for marking products. Some labels are formed as a piece of tag that is attached to an exterior surface of the products. Other labels are printed directly onto a surface of the products. 
     Conventional labels are visible under daylight. However, many conventional labels are not visible when natural light is unavailable or insufficient. Some of the conventional labels use backlighting to provide illumination so that the labels are visible when there is an absence of natural light. 
     However, many conventional labels that use backlighting are not prominently illuminated because the backlighting is neither able to provide sufficient light for illumination the labels nor is directed onto the labels. Increasing the luminance of the backlighting to enable the label to be visually discernable would result in the backlighting being too glaring. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for displaying a label formed on a surface of a product with an appropriate amount of light for illuminating the label when natural light is unavailable. 
     SUMMARY 
     A preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed herein provides a method for forming a multilayer structure on a surface. Additionally, the preferred embodiment of the invention are suitable for displaying a mark on a surface of a product prominently in the absence of natural light with an appropriate amount of illumination. 
     In accordance to a first aspect of the invention, a method for forming a multilayer structure on a surface is disclosed. The method comprises forming a body having a surface. The body is substantially light permeable. The method further comprises forming a first layer on the surface of the body. The first layer is substantially light absorbing and has a mark formed therein for permeating light therethrough. The method yet further comprises forming a second layer on the first layer. The second layer is substantially light permeable. More specifically, the mark is illuminatable by light permeating through the body towards the first layer. 
     In accordance to a second aspect of the invention, a multilayer structure formable on a surface is disclosed. The multilayer structure comprises a body having a surface. The body is substantially light permeable. The multilayer structure further comprises a first layer formed on the surface of the body. The first layer is substantially light absorbing and has a mark formed therein for permeating light therethrough. The multilayer structure yet further comprises a second layer formed on the first layer. The second layer is substantially light permeable. More specifically, the mark is illuminatable by light permeating through the body towards the first layer. 
     In accordance to a third aspect of the invention, a peripheral device is disclosed. The peripheral device comprises a body having a surface and an illuminator contained in the body. At least a portion of the surface outwardly opposes the illuminator. The peripheral device further comprises a first layer formed on the surface of the body. The first layer is substantially light absorbing and has a mark formed therein for permeating light therethrough. The peripheral device yet further comprises a second layer formed on the first layer. The second layer is substantially light permeable. More specifically, the mark is illuminatable by light permeating through the body towards the first layer, the light being generatable by the illuminator. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A preferred embodiment of the invention is described hereinafter with reference to the drawings, in which: 
         FIGS. 1A to 1D  are cross-sectional views that illustrate processing steps for fabricating a multilayer structure according to the preferred embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the multilayer structure upon completion of the processing steps of  FIGS. 1A to 1D . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to the drawings, a multilayer structure according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed for forming a multilayer structure on a surface. Additionally, the preferred embodiment is suitable for displaying a mark on a surface of a product prominently in the absence of natural light with an appropriate amount of illumination. 
     Various conventional methods for displaying a mark on a surface of a product in the absence of natural light have been previously proposed. Many of these conventional methods are unable to provide sufficient light for illumination the labels. 
     For purposes of brevity and clarity, the description of the invention is limited hereinafter to forming a multilayer structure on a surface of a body. This however does not preclude the preferred embodiment of the invention from other applications that require similar method of forming the multilayer structure. The functional principles fundamental to the preferred embodiment of the invention remain the same throughout the variations. 
     In the detailed description provided hereinafter and  FIGS. 1A to 2  of the drawings, like elements are identified with like reference numerals. 
     The preferred embodiment of the invention is described in greater detail hereinafter for a multilayer structure formable on a body surface. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1A , a peripheral device  100 , such as a computer mouse having a body  102  with a surface  104  is shown. The body  102  is preferably light permeable so as to allow light from underneath the body  102  to pass therethrough. 
     The light is preferably generated by an illuminator (not shown), such as a light emitting diode (LED) contained in the body  102  of the peripheral device  100 . Specifically, at least a portion of the surface  104  of the body  102  is outwardly opposing or facing away from the illuminator. The body  102  is preferably manufactured from any translucent or transparent material. As an example, a suitable material for manufacturing the body  102  is acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic. 
     The body  102  is preferably formed as a unitary structure using an injection molding process. More specifically, the injection molding process involves injecting the ABS plastics into a mold that has a shaped of the body  102 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 1B , a first layer  106  is preferably formed on the surface  104  of the body  102  through a spray coating process. The spray coating process involves spraying a layer of paint for coating the surface  104  of the body  102 . Preferably, the entire exterior of the body  102  is coated with the first layer. Alternatively, the first layer  106  is formed by other suitable methodologies other than the spray coating process. 
     The first layer  106  is made of light absorbing material, such as a black or dark coloured paint. The light absorbing material preferably substantially absorbs the light generated by the illuminator and blocks the light from passing through the surface  104  of the body  102 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 1C , a portion of the first layer  106  is removed to form a mark  108 . The mark  108  is preferably formed through the first layer  106  in order to expose a portion of the surface  104  of the body  102 . In this manner, the light generated from underneath the surface  104  is able to pass through the surface  104  and the mark  108 . 
     The mark  108  is preferably formed using a laser etching process. The laser etching process preferably involves a laser etching machine for engraving the first layer  106  in order to form the mark  108 . Alternatively, the mark  108  is formed by other suitable processes for removing a portion of the first layer  106 . The mark  108  depicts a pattern or word that is illuminated by the light radiated from beneath the surface  104  of the body  102 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 1D , a second layer  110  is formed on the first layer  106 . The second layer  110  is preferably formed on the first layer  106  through a coating process. The coating process involves coating a layer of translucent material onto the first layer  106 , which is preferably different from the translucent or transparent material used for manufacturing the body  102 . An example of a suitable material for forming the second layer  110  is rubberized translucent paint. The second layer  110  is preferably formed to enclose and provide a protective covering over the first layer  106  and the body  102 . 
     The second layer  110  is preferably light permeable and is hydrophobic so as to form a moisture barrier over the first layer  106  and the body  102 . For example, a suitable material for forming the second layer  110  is polyurethane (PU). Additionally, the second layer  110  provides better tactile sensation to a user and advantageously improves a user&#39;s grip on the body  102  during use of the periphery device  100 . 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the multilayer structure upon completion of the processing steps of  FIGS. 1A to 1D . The body, first and second layers  104 ,  106 ,  110  collectively form a three-layer structure  200  for illuminating the mark  108  with light  112  generated from beneath the surface  104 . 
     Although only a preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed, it becomes apparent to one skilled in the art in view of this disclosure that numerous changes or modification can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, although laser etch is used in the etching process in the forgoing embodiment, the etching process may be efficiently used if the laser etch is substituted by chemical etch or the like.