Windshield Interlayer Having a Gradient Region Having a White Coloration
The present invention includes windshields and windshield interlayers comprising a gradient region having a white coloration adjacent to which an image has been printed. The incorporation of a gradient region having a white coloration into a windshield provides a background that improves the color perception and quality of the printed image.
1 . A windshield interlayer, comprising:
a polymer sheet;
wherein said interlayer comprises a gradient region having a white coloration, and wherein an image is printed on said gradient region or on a region of a layer within said interlayer corresponding to said gradient region.
2 . The interlayer of claim 1 , wherein said white coloration is formed on said polymer sheet.
3 . The interlayer of claim 1 , wherein said white coloration is formed within said polymer sheet.
4 . The interlayer of claim 1 , wherein said interlayer further comprises a second polymer sheet and wherein said white coloration is formed within said polymer sheet or said second polymer sheet.
5 . The interlayer of claim 1 , wherein said interlayer further comprises a polymer film and said white coloration is formed on said polymer film.
6 . The interlayer of claim 1 , wherein said white coloration is formed in a subregion of said gradient region.
7 . The interlayer of claim 1 , wherein said gradient region has a height of less than 18 centimeters.
8 . The interlayer of claim 1 , wherein said white coloration comprises titanium dioxide.
9 . The interlayer of claim 1 , wherein said image is printed directly on said gradient region.
10 . The interlayer of claim 1 , wherein said white coloration has a CIELAB color space L value of greater than 70.
11 . A windshield, comprising:
an interlayer comprising a polymer sheet;
wherein said interlayer comprises a gradient region having a white coloration, and wherein an image is printed on said gradient region or on a region of a layer within said interlayer corresponding to said gradient region.
12 . The windshield of claim 11 , wherein said white coloration is formed on said polymer sheet.
13 . The windshield of claim 11 , wherein said white coloration is formed within said polymer sheet.
14 . The windshield of claim 11 , wherein said interlayer further comprises a second polymer sheet and wherein said white coloration is formed within said polymer sheet or said second polymer sheet.
15 . The windshield of claim 11 , wherein said interlayer further comprises a polymer film and said white coloration is formed on said polymer film.
16 . The windshield of claim 11 , wherein said white coloration is formed in a subregion of said gradient region.
17 . The windshield of claim 11 , wherein said gradient region has a height of less than 18 centimeters.
18 . The windshield of claim 11 , wherein said white coloration comprises titanium dioxide.
19 . The interlayer of claim 11 , wherein said image is printed directly on said gradient region.
20 . The interlayer of claim 12 , wherein said white coloration has a CIELAB color space L value of greater than 70.