Use of metallized films to create half-mirrored parts
The present invention provides half-mirrored parts and methods for creating half-mirrored parts. A half-mirrored part according to one particular embodiment of the present includes: a formable reflective layer and a formable transparent or translucent layer, wherein the formable reflective layer is on one side of the transparent or translucent layer.
1. A half-mirrored part, comprising:
a formable reflective layer and a formable transparent or translucent layer, wherein:
the formable reflective layer is on one side of the transparent or translucent layer;
the half-mirrored part appears to be a metallic part when observed from a first side and is transparent or translucent when observed from a side opposite the first side;
the formable reflective layer comprises:
a formable clear coat film; and
a discontinuous layer of metal islands deposited on the formable clear coat film.
2. The half-mirrored part of claim 1 , wherein the transparent or translucent layer comprises a thermoplastic material.
3. The half-mirrored part of claim 1 , wherein the transparent or translucent layer has a thickness ranging between about 0.5 and 15 millimeters.
4. The half-mirrored part of claim 1 , wherein the discontinuous layer of metal islands is deposited directly on the formable clear coat film and the metal islands include indium islands.
5. The half-mirrored part of claim 1 , wherein the formable reflective layer further comprises a clear coat leveling layer disposed between the discontinuous layer of metal islands and the formable clear coat film.
6. The half-mirrored part of claim 5 , wherein the formable reflective layer comprises a primer layer disposed between the formable clear coat film and the clear coat leveling layer.
7. The half-mirrored part of claim 1 , wherein the half-mirrored part has an appearance of chrome when observed from a first side and appears transparent or translucent when observed from a side opposite the first side.
8. A motor vehicle comprising the half-mirrored part of claim 1 and a windshield, wherein the half-mirrored part is disposed so that the half-mirrored part overhangs at least a top portion of the windshield, and wherein at least a portion of the light passing through said top portion of the windshield is filtered by the half-mirrored part.
9. The motor vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the transparent or translucent layer has a thickness ranging between about 0.5 and 15 millimeters.
10. The motor vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the discontinuous layer of metal islands is deposited directly on the formable clear coat film and the transparent or translucent layer comprises a thermoplastic material.
11. The motor vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the formable reflective layer further comprises a clear coat leveling layer disposed between the discontinuous layer of metal islands and the formable clear coat film.
12. The motor vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the formable reflective layer comprises a primer layer disposed between the formable clear coat film and the clear coat leveling layer.
13. A head covering comprising a head covering portion and the half-mirrored part of claim 1 , wherein the half-mirrored part is connected to the head covering portion and functions as a sun visor.
14. The head covering of claim 13 , wherein the head covering portion is in the shape of a cap and the half-mirrored part is in the shape of a sun visor.
15. A motor vehicle comprising the half-mirrored part of claim 1 and a side window, wherein the half-mirrored part is disposed so that the half-mirrored part overhangs at least a top portion of the side window, and wherein at least a portion of the light passing through said top portion of the side window is filtered by the half-mirrored part.
16. A motor vehicle comprising a window, wherein the window is formed from the half-mirrored part of claim 1 .
17. A motor vehicle comprising an interior sun visor, wherein the interior sun visor comprises a half-mirrored according to claim 1 .
18. A method for making a half-mirrored part, comprising:
obtaining a formable transparent or translucent backing sheet;
laminating a formable reflective film to one side of the backing sheet to create a laminated structure; and
forming the laminated structure into a predetermined shape, wherein the half-mirrored part has an appearance of a metallic part when observed from a first side and appears transparent or translucent when observed from a side opposite the first side.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the step of forming the laminated structure into the predetermined shape comprises using a thermoforming process to form the laminated structure into the predetermined shape.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the backing sheet comprises a thermoplastic material.
21. The method of claim 18 , wherein the backing sheet has a thickness ranging between about 0.5 and 15 millimeters.
22. The method of claim 18 , wherein the formable reflective film comprises a formable clear coat film and a discontinuous layer of metal islands deposited on the formable clear coat film.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the discontinuous layer of metal islands is deposited directly on the formable clear coat film.
24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the discontinuous layer of metal islands comprises indium islands.
25. The method of claim 22 , wherein the formable reflective film further comprises a clear coat leveling layer disposed between the discontinuous layer of metal islands and the formable clear coat film.
26. A half-mirrored part, comprising:
a formable reflective layer and a transparent or translucent layer, wherein:
the formable reflective layer is on one side of the transparent or translucent layer;
the half-mirrored part appears to be a metallic part when looked at from a first side and is transparent or translucent when looked at from a side opposite the first side; and
the formable reflective layer comprises indium islands.