Marked precoated strings and method of manufacturing same
AssigneeInnovatech, LLC
InventorBruce Nesbitt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coated string for a stringed device which includes a coating applied to the surface of the string. The coating includes a base layer bonded to the surface of the string and an at least partially transparent low-friction top coat applied to the base layer. The base layer includes heat activated pigments that change color when heated above a color shifting temperature. In one embodiment, the color of the pigment in one area contrasts with the color of the pigment in an adjacent area without otherwise affecting the low-friction surface of the coating. The areas of different color created in locations along the length of the low-friction coated string.
Claims37
A method of manufacturing a coated string, said method comprising:
- (a) applying a coating to at least a portion of a surface of a string, said coating including:
- (i) a binder;
- (ii) a pigment;
- and
- (iii) a plurality of particles of a low-friction material;
- (b) curing said applied coating at a designated cure temperature, said curing causing said plurality of low-friction particles to form an at least partially transparent top coat above said pigment;
- and
- (c) heating at least one portion of the cured coating such that said pigment is heated above a color shifting temperature to cause the pigment to change from a first color to a second different color without substantially degrading said low-friction material.
A method of manufacturing a coated string, said method comprising:
- (a) applying a first coating to at least a portion of an outer surface of a string, said first coating including:
- (i) a first binder,
- (ii) a first pigment of a first color, and
- (ii) a plurality of particles of a low-friction material;
- (b) curing said first coating;
- (c) applying a second, different coating to the cured first coating, said second coating including:
- (i) a second binder,
- (ii) a second pigment of a second color, said second color being of a contrasting hue than the first color, and
- (iii) a plurality of particles of the low-friction material;
- (d) curing said second coating;
- and
- (e) heating at least a first portion of the coated outer surface of the string such that said cured second coating is removed to cause at least said first portion of the outer surface of the string to have said first color of the first coating, and at least a second portion of the outer surface of the string to have said second color of the second coating.
A coated string comprising:
- (a) a string including a surface;
- and
- (b) a coating secured to said surface of said string, the coating including:
- (i) an at least partially transparent low-friction top coat, including a low-friction material;
- and
- (ii) a base layer including a binder and a pigment, wherein said pigment is formulated to change from a first color to a second different color when heated above a color shifting temperature, said color shifting temperature being lower than the temperature at which the low-friction material substantially degrades.
A coated string comprising:
- (a) a string including an outer surface;
- (b) a first coating secured to at least a portion of said outer surface of said string, the first coating including:
- (i) a first binder,
- (ii) a first pigment of a first color, and
- (ii) a plurality of particles of a low-friction material;
- and
- (c) a second, different coating secured to the first coating, said second coating:
- (A) including:
- (i) a second binder,
- (ii) a second pigment of a second color, said second color being of a contrasting hue than the first color, and
- (iii) a plurality of particles of the low-friction material, and
- (B) configured to be removed to cause at least a first portion of the outer surface of the string to have said first color of the first coating, and at least a second portion of the outer surface of the string to have said second color of the second coating.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.