Method of Manufacturing Luminescent Tiles and Products Made Therefrom

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a luminescent tile for use in an aqueous environment includes admixing a luminescent pigment capable of being illuminated by an external light source, a forming material, and a catalyst to create a luminescent mixture. Casting the luminescent mixture into a mold and allowing said mixture to substantially harden thereby creating a luminescent tile. The forming material permits luminescence from the luminescent pigment upon excitation by an external light source, such as, a blacklight, while allowing the luminescent pigment to be safely used in an aqueous environment, such as a pool, spa, or the like.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
   
   
       29 . A method of illuminating an aqueous environment comprising:
 obtaining a luminescent tile having a resin, a catalyst, and a luminescent pigment, wherein the luminescent pigment is a single compound;   obtaining a substrate material;   forming a waterproof substrate by adhering said tile and said substrate material to a surface where said tile is visible within said substrate material; and   applying UV light to the luminescent tile from a blacklight.   
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising providing a UV stabilizer in the luminescent tile. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said luminescent tile comprises a color substantially similar to a color of the surrounding substrate material. 
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said luminescent tile is white. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said tile and substrate material are substantially flush. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said tile is raised above the surface of said substrate material. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said resin is between 83 and 96 percent by weight of said tile. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said catalyst is between 5 and 15 percent by weight of said tile. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said luminescent pigment is a phosphorescent pigment between 11 and 20 percent by weight of the tile. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said UV stabilizer is up to 10 percent by weight of the tile. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said substrate material is comprised of cement and at least one other material selected from the group consisting of: lime; sand; marble; rock; clay; kaolin; silica; calcium compound; magnesium compound; polyester; polyethylene, or any combination thereof. 
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the tile comprises a color pigment between 0.3 and 5 percent by weight of the tile. 
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the tile is substantially homogeneous. 
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the tile comprises one or more of silicates, glass, and quartz. 
   
   
       43 . A method of illuminating an aqueous environment comprising:
 obtaining a luminescent tile having a resin, a catalyst between 5 and 15 percent by weight of said tile, and a luminescent pigment that is a phosphorescent pigment between 11 and 20 percent by weight of the tile, the luminescent pigment being of a single compound;   obtaining a substrate material;   forming a waterproof substrate by adhering said tile and said substrate material to a surface where said tile is visible within said substrate material; and   applying UV light to the luminescent tile from a blacklight.   
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the luminescent pigment is of a single compound. 
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said luminescent tile comprises a UV stabilizer. 
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said UV stabilizer is up to 10 percent by weight of the tile. 
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein said substrate material is comprised of cement and at least one other material selected from the group consisting of: lime; sand; marble; rock; clay; kaolin; silica; calcium compound; magnesium compound; polyester; polyethylene, or any combination thereof. 
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the tile comprises a color pigment between 0.3 and 5 percent by weight of the tile.