Patent ID: 7204944

Claim:
A process for creating color effects in extrudable material, said process comprising: a) providing a first flow of viscous material of a first color; b) providing a second flow of viscous material of a second color, said second color being different from said first color; c) combining in a predetermined pattern said first flow and said second flow to form a stream of viscous material, said stream comprising a first band of said first color and a second band of said second color, said second band being adjacent to said first band; d) in a static mixer having a predetermined number of elements and a predetermined diameter, applying a predetermined dividing, overturning and combining motion to said stream for a predetermined number of times thereby partially mixing said first band and said second band, such that said first and second bands remain in the stream and said stream further comprises a third band of a third color that is different from said first and second colors, wherein said predetermined dividing, overturning and combining motion is determined by said predetermined number of elements and said predetermined diameter of the static mixer, and wherein said predetermined number of elements and said predetermined diameter are determined by a parameter selected from the type of viscous material, viscosity of said first and second flow of viscous material, the respective rate of flow of said first and second flows, the total rate of flow of said stream, and combinations thereof.