US 11,986,990 B2
Wood-grained polymer substrate
Andrew Stephens, Aurora, IL (US); Francisco Morales, Plano, IL (US); and Tadeusz Rybka, Streamwood, IL (US)
Assigned to TANGENT TECHNOLOGIES LLC, Aurora, IL (US)
Filed by Tangent Technologies LLC, Aurora, IL (US)
Filed on Oct. 19, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/505,091.
Application 17/505,091 is a continuation of application No. 16/678,400, filed on Nov. 8, 2019, granted, now 11,173,643.
Application 16/678,400 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/245,948, filed on Aug. 24, 2016, granted, now 10,981,350, issued on Apr. 20, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/208,928, filed on Aug. 24, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2022/0032526 A1, Feb. 3, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B32B 27/08 (2006.01); B29C 48/18 (2019.01); B29C 48/49 (2019.01); B29C 48/695 (2019.01); B32B 3/26 (2006.01); B32B 27/20 (2006.01); B32B 27/32 (2006.01); B29K 23/00 (2006.01); B29L 31/10 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 48/695 (2019.02) [B29C 48/18 (2019.02); B29C 48/49 (2019.02); B32B 3/263 (2013.01); B32B 27/08 (2013.01); B32B 27/20 (2013.01); B32B 27/32 (2013.01); B29K 2023/065 (2013.01); B29K 2995/002 (2013.01); B29L 2031/10 (2013.01); B32B 2250/24 (2013.01); B32B 2307/4026 (2013.01); B32B 2419/00 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A polymer substrate that simulates natural wood extending along a first direction, the polymer substrate having a first side and a second side spaced apart from the first side along a second direction different than the first direction, the first and the second sides defining a width of the substrate, the first and the second sides extending along the first direction, the substrate comprising:
a first set of polymer layers extending along the first direction and containing a first colorant, a plurality of the first set of polymer layers being substantially continuous along the first direction;
a second set of polymer layers extending along the first direction and containing a second colorant different than the first colorant, a plurality of the second set of polymer layers being substantially continuous along the first direction;
the substrate extending between the first and the second sides and along the first direction, the substrate comprising a wood-grained pattern formed of the first set of polymer layers and the second set of polymer layers, wherein individual layers of the first and the second set of polymer layers are interspersed within the substrate to form the wood-grained pattern, wherein a plurality of individual layers of at least one of the first and the second sets of polymer layers extend along a substantially curvilinear path in the second direction originating proximate the first side and terminating proximate the second side; and
a cross-section of the substrate exposing the wood-grained pattern.