	US 12,076,951 B2
	Method of making optical articles having gradient light influencing properties
David John Park, Tuam (IE); Delwin S. Jackson, Clearwater, FL (US); Anil Kumar, Murrysville, PA (US); John S. Ligas, Palm Harbor, FL (US); Philip Miller, Dallas, TX (US); and Brian Smyth, Tuam (IE)
Assigned to Transitions Optical, Inc., Pinellas Park, FL (US)
Appl. No. 15/767,370
Filed by Transitions Optical, Inc., Pinellas Park, FL (US)
PCT Filed Oct. 30, 2015, PCT No. PCT/US2015/058419 § 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 11, 2018, PCT Pub. No. WO2017/074444, PCT Pub. Date May 4, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2018/0290408 A1, Oct. 11, 2018
Int. Cl. B29D 11/00 (2006.01); G02B 5/23 (2006.01); G02B 5/30 (2006.01); G02C 7/02 (2006.01); G02C 7/10 (2006.01); G02C 7/12 (2006.01)

CPC B29D 11/00644 (2013.01) [B29D 11/00653 (2013.01); B29D 11/00903 (2013.01); B29D 11/00923 (2013.01); G02B 5/23 (2013.01); G02B 5/3016 (2013.01); G02B 5/3033 (2013.01); G02B 5/305 (2013.01); G02C 7/022 (2013.01); G02C 7/102 (2013.01); G02C 7/105 (2013.01); G02C 7/12 (2013.01); B29D 11/00865 (2013.01)]

14 Claims

1. A method of making an optical article having a gradient tint and a gradient polarization, comprising:

forming a continuous coating including at least one alignment zone on an optical element, the coating formed from a flowable composition,

cross-linking the flowable composition by curing to form a cross-linked coating, and

contacting one or more dye compositions comprising a photochromic-dichroic dye with the optical element having the cross-linked coating including at least one alignment zone by:

dipping the optical element into a dye solution comprising the dye composition, and

withdrawing the optical element from the dye solution at a rate to provide a predetermined concentration gradient; or

contacting the cross-linked coating with a dye transfer substrate comprising a gradient layer of the dye composition, and

heating the dye transfer substrate to cause at least a portion of the dye composition to diffuse into the cross-linked coating,

wherein at least a portion of the dye composition diffuses into the cross-linked coating at a predetermined concentration gradient along at least a portion of the cross-linked coating.