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:
Sep. 06, 2011
Filed:
Nov. 02, 2004
Kevin R. Leatherwood, Evansville, IN (US);
Franklin G. Katje, Evansville, IN (US);
David L. Benefiel, Oakland City, IN (US);
David E. Elsner, Newburgh, IN (US);
David M. Lewis, Fort Smith, AR (US);
Kevin R. Leatherwood, Evansville, IN (US);
Franklin G. Katje, Evansville, IN (US);
David L. Benefiel, Oakland City, IN (US);
David E. Elsner, Newburgh, IN (US);
David M. Lewis, Fort Smith, AR (US);
Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (US);
Abstract
An appliance is provided having a panel formed of a magnetizable material and a polyester lamination film adhered to an outer surface of the panel, wherein the polyester lamination film provides a stainless steel appearance to the panel. The polyester lamination film may be a polyester film layer with a backside brushed, a vacuum metallized aluminum layer deposited on the backside of the polyester film layer, and a tinted coating layer provided on a front side of the polyester film layer. The tinted coating layer may be colored to provide a correct color rendition of the metallized aluminum layer as stainless steel, as seen through said polyester lamination film. A strippable film layer may be applied over the polyester lamination film to protect the panel during manufacture. The magnetizable material of the panel may be rolled steel. The panel may have bends in its surface.