Coated Display Pieces And Method Of Producing Same

Abstract

Display pieces for electronic and mechanical displays are coated with a coating material coating. The coating helps to reduce or prevent breakage or shattering and/or to improve light transmission. Methods of making the coated display pieces are also described.

1 . A method of coating a display piece for an electronic or mechanical device comprising;
 providing a glass display piece for an electronic or mechanical device;   spin coating a flowable coating material on the display piece, wherein the flowable coating material is deposited on an upper surface of the display piece and flows from the upper surface onto an edge of the display piece during spin coating, the flowable coating material selected from polyurethanes, epoxies, silicones, adhesives, rubbers, and acrylics, the spinning being on a vertical axis; and   curing the flowable coating material to form the coated display piece for the electronic or mechanical device wherein the cured coating material forms a unitary coating on the upper surface and the edge of the display piece.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the flowable coating material is deposited on the display piece before spinning the display piece. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the flowable coating material is deposited on the display piece while spinning the display piece. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising pre-conditioning the display piece before depositing the flowable coating material on the display piece. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising heating the display piece while curing the flowable coating material. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein heating the display piece while curing the flowable coating material comprises varying a temperature of heating. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising leveling the flowable coating material on the display piece before curing the flowable coating material. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising heating the display piece while leveling the flowable coating material. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising spinning the display piece while leveling the flowable coating material. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising spinning the display piece while curing the flowable coating material. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the display piece is rotated at speeds in a range of about 500 RPM to about 3000 RPM. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the display piece has a curved portion. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a thickness of the flowable coating material is between about 0.0001 inch and about 0.15 inch. 
     
     
         14 . A method of coating an upper surface and an edge of a display piece for an electronic or mechanical device comprising;
 providing a glass display piece for an electronic or mechanical device;   spin coating a flowable coating material on an upper surface of the display piece, wherein the flowable coating material is deposited on an upper surface of the display piece and flows from the upper surface onto an edge of the display piece during spin coating, the flowable coating material selected from polyurethanes, epoxies, silicones, adhesives, rubbers, and acrylics, the spinning being on a vertical axis, wherein the display pieces are alternately rotated and stopped; and   curing the flowable coating material to form a unitary coating on the upper surface and the edge of the display piece for the electronic or mechanical device wherein the cured coating material forms a unitary coating on the upper surface and the edge of the display piece.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the flowable coating material is deposited on the display piece before spinning the display piece. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the flowable coating material is deposited on the display piece while spinning the display piece. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising pre-conditioning the display piece before depositing the flowable coating material on the display piece. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising heating the display piece while curing the flowable coating material. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein heating the display piece while curing the flowable coating material comprises varying a temperature of heating. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising leveling the flowable coating material on the display piece before curing the flowable coating material.