The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 16, 2002
Filed:
May. 08, 2000
Chris Keeney, Troy, MI (US);
Mark Clements, Lapeer, MI (US);
Jim Hawkins, Cookeville, TN (US);
Steve Yollick, Troy, MI (US);
Joe Fader, Brighton, MI (US);
Meritor Light Vehicle Technology, Inc., Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
A coating for an article includes coating encapsulated micro-spheres which maintain the coating in a fluid state. The coating encapsulated micro-spheres are retained in the coating to form a matrix of hardened coating and coating encapsulated micro-spheres. Damage to the coating form a fissure which breaks open the coating encapsulated micro-spheres adjacent the fissure. The broken coating encapsulated micro-spheres release the fluid coating material contained therein. Because the coating encapsulated micro-spheres release the encapsulated coating material in the fluid state the coating material flows into the fissure to coat the exposed substrate. This provides a “self-healing” ability to the coating which protects the substrate even after the coating is damaged.