# US 8,542,361 B2 · Color matching device and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,542,361 B2 - Document ID: US8542361B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/397,249 - Filed: 2012-02-15 - Published: 2012-08-16 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2011-02-16 - Assignees: The Sherwin-Williams Company - Applicants: Louisa Meijer - Inventors: Louisa Meijer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8542361B2 ## CPC - G01J 3/463: {Colour matching} - G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N) ## Abstract A color matching device including a flexible template having at least three windows extending from a front face through a back face of the template, the windows sized to allow visual comparison of colors located in the windows, wherein at least a first separation distance between first and second windows is different than a second separation distance between the second and third windows. A method for evaluating colors utilizing the device is also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A color matching device, comprising: a flexible template having at least three substantially same size windows, the windows extending from a front face through a back face of the template and adapted to allow a visual comparison of a color appearing through each of the windows, wherein a first spacer defining a first separation distance is present between and solely separates the first window and the second window, wherein a second spacer defining a second separation distance is present between and solely separates the second window and third window, and wherein the second separation distance is greater than the first separation distance. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The color matching device according to claim 1, wherein the second separation distance is at least two times greater than the first separation distance. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The color matching device according to claim 2, wherein a second separation distance is at least five times greater than the first separation distance. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The color matching device according to claim 1, wherein the first separation distance is from about 1 mm to less than 9 mm, and wherein the second separation distance is from about 20 mm to about 30 mm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The color matching device according to claim 4, wherein the first separation distance is from about 2.5 mm to about 7.5 mm, and wherein the second separation distance is from about 22 mm to about 28 mm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The color matching device according to claim 4, wherein the windows are substantially rectangular and arranged along a longitudinal axis. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The color matching device according to claim 4, wherein the template has a border extending around the windows having a width measured from a perimeter of the template to an edge of a window of at least 15 mm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The color matching device according to claim 1, wherein the front face is a neutral color. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The color matching device according to claim 1, wherein the back face includes one or more of a magnetic material and an adhesive. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The color matching device according to claim 1, wherein a first spacer having edges is present between the first window and the second window and a second spacer having edges is present between the second window and the third window, and wherein the first and second spacer edges are substantially parallel along a majority of a length of the spacer edges. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The color matching device according to claim 10, wherein the first and second spacer edges are parallel along at least 50% of the length of the spacer edges. ### Claim 12 A method for evaluating a color match between a proposed color and a target color, comprising the steps of: obtaining a color matching device comprising a flexible template having at least three windows, the windows extending from a front face through a back face of the template and adapted to allow a visual comparison of a color appearing through each of the windows, wherein a first separation distance is present between the first window and the second window, wherein a second separation distance is present between the second window and third window, and wherein the second separation distance is greater than the first separation distance; locating a color matching sample having a proposed color within the second window; locating a substrate having a target color to be matched within each of the first and third windows; and visually evaluating a color difference between a) the proposed color in the second window and the target color in the first window and b) the proposed color in the second window and the target color in the third window. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, further including the step of determining if the color match between the proposed color and one of the target colors is acceptable. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the first separation distance is from about 1 mm to less than 9 mm, wherein the second separation distance is from about 20 mm to about 30 mm, and wherein the method further includes the step of applying paint to an area of the substrate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the visual evaluation includes evaluating the color difference at more than one angle by altering a user's line of sight relative to a plane of the template. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, further including the step of releasably attaching the template to the substrate utilizing one or more of a magnetic material and an adhesive. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the first separation distance is from about 2.5 mm to about 7.5 mm, and wherein the second separation distance is from about 22 mm to about 28 mm. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein locating the substrate within the first and third windows includes placing the template on a painted surface of a vehicle such that the target color is located in the first and third windows. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the template includes a first spacer having edges between the first window and the second window and a second spacer having edges between the second window and the third window, and wherein the first and second spacer edges are substantially parallel along a majority of a length of the spacer edges. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method according to claim 19, further including the step of determining if the color match between the proposed color and one of the target colors is acceptable.