IP Library Granted Patent US 8,479,472
Granted Patent B1
US 8,479,472 · App. 13/163,361 · Granted Jul 9, 2013

Interior surface system and method

Inventors: Travis A. LeFever (Greensboro, NC); Daniel Melvin Cook (Jamestown, NC)
Assignee: Crossway Coatings, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,479,472
App. No.
13/163,361
Granted
Jul 9, 2013
Kind
B1
Abstract

A method and composition for reconditioning the inner surfaces of a facility. After removing loose material, corrosion and rust by abrading the surface, repairs are made to the surface. Gaps, cracks, and pits are filled and transitions from one surface material to another are smoothed with putties; holes and complex areas of the surface are filled with expanding foams and shaped to contour; and sheet metal is added where corrosion and rust have left extensive weakened areas in the surface. A corrosion inhibitor such as aluminum flakes or micaceous iron oxide is applied to the shaped surface followed by a structural coating of polyurea or elastomeric urethane and top coat of moisture cured urethane or polyaspartic acid that adds an additional water barrier and increases that surface shaping to shed water. The combination of these layers results in a surface with improved robustness against frequent cleaning.

Claims (52)

1. A method for improving the robustness of an interior surface of a building to frequent cleaning, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) abrading said surface of a building to remove loose material;

(b) wiping said abraded surface clean with a solvent before applying said polymer coating;

(c) applying in layers a polymeric coating to said surface to make said surface smooth and continuous, thicker in corners and transitional areas so as to increase the radius of curvature of corners and transitional areas; and

(d) as soon as said polymeric coating is dry to the touch, applying a top layer to said polymeric coating, said top layer being resistant to water.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said polymeric coating is a polyurea.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said polymeric coating is an elastomeric urethane.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said top layer is resistant to water heated to at least 140° F.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said top layer is resistant to detergent.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said top layer is resistant to chlorine.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said top layer is resistant to ultraviolet light.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said top layer is a moisture-cured urethane.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said top layer is polyaspartic acid.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising the step of applying a corrosion-inhibiting compound to said surface before applying said polymeric coating.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein said corrosion inhibitor is aluminum flakes.

12. The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein said corrosion inhibitor is micaceous iron oxide.

13. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising the step of filling gaps and topographic transitions in said surface to cover said gaps and smooth said topographic transitions.

14. The method as recited in claim 13 , wherein said filling step further comprises the steps of:

(a) applying an expanding foam to said gaps; and

(b) after said foam cures, shaping said foam to transition smoothly from adjacent surfaces.

15. The method as recited in claim 13 , wherein said filling step further comprises the step of applying putty to said topographic transitions in said surface.

16. The method as recited in claim 13 , wherein said filling step further comprises the step of applying sheet metal to said gaps.

17. A method for improving the robustness of an interior surface of a building to frequent cleaning, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) filling gaps and smoothing transitions in said surface;

(b) applying in layers a polymeric coating to said surface to make said surface smooth and continuous, applying said coating thicker in corners and transitional areas so as to increase the radius of curvature of corners and transitional areas; and

(c) as soon as said polymeric coating is dry to the touch, applying a top layer to said polymeric coating, said top layer being resistant to water.

18. The method as recited in claim 17 , wherein said filling step further comprises the steps of:

(a) applying an expanding foam to said gaps; and

(b) after said foam cures, shaping said foam to transition smoothly to adjacent surfaces.

19. The method as recited in claim 17 , wherein said filling step further comprises the step of applying putty to said topographic transitions in said surface.

20. The method as recited in claim 17 , wherein said filling step further comprises the step of securing sheet metal to said surface.

21. The method as recited in claim 17 , wherein said applying step further comprises the step of applying said polymer coating in a thickness that ranges from 40 mils to 250 mils.

22. A method for reconditioning a building interior surface, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) abrading the interior surface of a building to remove loose material;

(b) wiping said abraded surface clean;

(c) filling gaps and transition areas in said wiped surface to provide a continuous surface;

(d) applying a corrosion inhibiting compound to said smooth continuous surface;

(e) as soon as said adhesion promoting compound is applied, applying in layers a polymeric coating to said surface to make said surface smooth and continuous, thicker in corners and transitional areas to increase the radius of curvature of corners and transitional areas; and

(f) as soon as said polymeric coating is dry to the touch, applying a top layer to said polymeric coating, said top layer resistant to water.

23. The method as recited in claim 22 , wherein said polymeric coating is a polyurea or elastomeric urethane.

24. The method as recited in claim 22 , wherein said top layer is resistant to detergent.

25. The method as recited in claim 22 , wherein said top layer is resistant to chlorine.

26. The method as recited in claim 22 , wherein said top layer is resistant to ultraviolet light.

27. The method as recited in claim 22 , wherein said top layer is polyaspartic acid, aliphatic polyurea or a moisture-cured urethane.

28. The method as recited in claim 22 , wherein said gap filling step further comprises the step of securing sheet metal to said surface.

29. The method as recited in claim 22 , wherein said corrosion inhibitor is aluminum flakes or micaceous iron oxide.

30. The method as recited in claim 22 , wherein said wiping step further comprises wiping said surface with a solvent.

31. The method as recited in claim 22 , wherein said polymer coating ranges in thickness from 40 mils to 250 mils.

32. The method as recited in claim 22 , wherein said filling step further comprises the steps of:

(a) applying an expanding foam to said gaps; and

(b) after said foam cures, shaping said foam to transition smoothly from adjacent surfaces.

33. The method as recited in claim 22 , wherein said filling step further comprises the step of applying putty to said topographic transitions in said surface.

Assignments (8)
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Recorded Dec 29, 2021
From: PINNACLE BANK
To: FIXXUS INDUSTRIAL HOLDINGS COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 058570/0260 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Dec 29, 2021
From: PINNACLE BANK (AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST BANK OF NORTH CAROLINA)
To: FIXXUS INDUSTRIAL HOLDINGS COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 058665/0452 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 28, 2021
From: FIXXUS INDUSTRIAL HOLDINGS COMPANY, LLC
To: FREEPORT FINANCIAL PARTNERS LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 058492/0796 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2018
From: FIXXUS INDUSTRIAL HOLDINGS COMPANY, LLC
To: PINNACLE BANK
Reel/Frame 045820/0266 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 15, 2016
From: FIXXUS INDUSTRIAL HOLDINGS COMPANY, LLC
To: BANK OF NORTH CAROLINA
Reel/Frame 040965/0697 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 15, 2016
From: CROSSWAY COATING, INC.
To: FIXXUS INDUSTRIAL HOLDINGS COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 040988/0289 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 22, 2011
From: LEFEVER, TRAVIS A., MR.; COOK, DANIEL MELVIN, MR.
To: CROSSWAY COATINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 026503/0321 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 17, 2011
From: LEFEVER, TRAVIS A., MR.; COOK, DANIEL MELVIN, MR.
To: CROSSWAY COATINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 026457/0823 →
Continuity (1)
Provisional Application 61476108 · Apr 15, 2011