PRIORITY

[01] The present application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.

62/660,596, filed April 20, 2018, and U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application No. 16/387,685, filed April 18, 2019, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for any and all non-limiting purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[02] This disclosure relates generally to a vehicle interior protective coating suitable for protecting a wide variety of surface materials in transportation vehicles.

BACKGROUND

[03] Vehicle interiors are becoming more complex each year. Original equipment manufacturers (OEM) use many different types of materials to combine luxury with durability characteristics. Vehicle interiors may have a combination of traditional materials, such as rubber, vinyl, fabric, carpeting, metal, metal alloys, chrome and/or leathers with newer materials, such as carbon fiber, aluminum, different grains of wood, dashboard tech screens, and innovative types of plastic.

[04] Programs are sometimes provided by vehicle manufacturers and new vehicle dealerships and/or used vehicle dealerships, wherein protective coatings are applied to interior vehicle surfaces at new vehicle dealerships and/or used vehicle dealerships. Conventional coating products, however, have disadvantages. First, conventional coating products are not suitable to protect all the different types of materials in transportation vehicles. A conventional coating product that may be suitable to protect one type of vehicle interior . i .. material may not be suitable to protect a different vehicle interior material. For example conventional coatings designed to protect porous materials in the interior of a vehicle, e.g., fabric and carpeting materials whether solvent-based or water-based coatings, typically leave streaks and do not suitably protect and enhance the appearance of non- porous materials in the interior of a vehicle, e.g., leather or vinyl materials. Conventional water-based coatings designed to protect non-porous in the interior of a vehicle, e.g., leather or vinyl materials, do not suitably protect or enhance the appearance of porous materials in the interior of a vehicle, e.g., fabric and carpeting materials. Thus, at least two or more coating products are needed to protect all the different types of materials in vehicle interiors. This, in turn, requires those applying protective coatings to vehicle interior materials, e.g., new vehicle dealerships and/or used vehicle dealerships, to stock a sufficient amount of these different coating products.

[05] Second, these different coatings must typically be applied separately from one another so that each coating is applied to the respective vehicle interior material surfaces they are designed to protect and enhance the appearance thereof.

[06] Third, the applying of these different coatings separately from one another typically requires the avoidance of applying the different coatings to vehicle interior materials for which they are not designed to protect and/or enhance the appearance thereof. This may be particularly difficult when different vehicle interior materials requiring different protective coatings are near and/or are adjacent to one another.

[07] What are needed are more protective coating compositions and methods that do not have the limitations and disadvantages of conventional compositions and methods. It would be advantageous to have a protective coating product that is suitable for protecting and enhancing the appearance of the vride variety materials in the interiors of vehicles, including porous and non-porous materials. It would be advantageous to have a protective coating product that is a ready-to-use product, and is also user-friendly.

SUMMARY

[08] In an aspect of the disclosure, a universal vehicle interior protective coating composition and method of application is provided to protect ail surfaces in the interior of a vehicle with the exception of glass. In an aspect, the protective coating comprises a concentrated polymer water system. In an aspect, upon application to and curing of the protective coating composition on all vehicle interior surfaces, excluding glass, the protective coating composition protects those surfaces.

[09] In an aspect, treated surfaces will repel oil, water, and dirt. In an aspect, the bonding of the polymer system is so strong that the treated surfaces will withstand numerous cleanings. In an aspect, the composition, upon application and curing on a vehicle interior surface, is characterized by providing a protective coating and enhancing the appearance of each treated vehicle interior material surface, including rubber, vinyl, fabric, carpeting, metal, metal alloys, chrome, leather, carbon fiber, aluminum, different grains of wood, dashboard tech screens, plastic made from renewable sources, and plastic made from non-renewable sources. In an aspect, the protective coating composition comprises a U. V. molecular compound, which protects against cracking and fading. In an aspect, the protective coating provides a flame retardant.

[10] In an aspect, the coating composition comprises a high viscosity amino functional silicone fluid, a silicone glycol copolymer, an aqueous-based intumescent flame retardant, and an aqueous-based concentrated cationic fluoropolymer system that cures at ambient temperatures.

[11] In an aspect, the coating composition may be applied to interior vehicle surfaces, excluding interior glass. In an embodiment, the interior vehicle surfaces are cleaned and/or vacuumed before applying the coating composition. In an aspect, for treatment of porous surfaces (e.g., fabric upholstery and carpeting), the coating composition is preferably sprayed in a eriss cross pattern to ensure even coverage. In an aspect, for treatment of hard surfaces (e.g., leather and vinyl), the coating composition may be sprayed onto die surfaces and lightly buffed dry with a clean microfiber towel. In an aspect, for the dashboard, the coating composition may be sprayed onto a high quality microfiber towel and wiped directly onto the surface, followed by buffing of excess with a dry microfiber towel.

[12] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following detailed description, including various embodiments thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[13] in an aspect, the coating composition comprises high viscosity amino functional silicone fluid for imparting high gloss on a substrate (e.g., APS-ME355, provided by Advanced Polymer, Inc., of Carlstadt, NJ), a silicone glycol copolymer (e.g., APS-442, provided by Advanced Polymer, Inc., of Carlstadt, NJ), an aqueous-based intumescent flame retardant (e.g., Intumax FR-WC, provided by Broadview Technologies Inc., of Newark, NJ), and an aqueous-based concentrated cationic fluoropolymer system that cures at ambient temperatures (e.g., FS-752G™, provided by Fiber-Shield Industries, Inc.).

[14] hi an aspect, the coating composition may be applied to interior vehicle surfaces, excluding interior glass. In an embodiment, the interior vehicle surfaces a cleaned and/or vacuumed before applying the coating composition. In an aspect, for porous surfaces (e.g., carpeting and fabric upholstery), the coating composition is preferably sprayed in a criss cross pattern to ensure even coverage. In an aspect, for hard surfaces (e.g., leather and vinyl), the coating composition may be sprayed onto the surfaces and lightly buffed dry with a clean microfiber towel In an aspect, for the dashboard, the coating composition may be sprayed onto a high quality microfiber towel and wiped directly onto the surface, followed by huffing of excess with a dry microfiber towel. This prevents any product from getting onto the windshield. The coating composition may be applied with any suitable spray apparatus, including but not limited to the following examples:

1. A spray apparatus comprising a rotatable rotor, e.g., as disclosed in U.S.

9,475,071, See also the TORNADOR© product (provided by Dehn’s Innovations, LLC of Dallas, Texas) - Use tool in a well ventilated area. Add product to fill line. Adjust air supply pressure to 90 psi max. Turn valve up to allow product to mist out. Evenly spray all areas to be treated. P refe ra bly , do not oversaturate surfaces. Wear appropriate personal protection equipment (R R.E ) to prevent health hazards from inhalation of fine mist

2. Pump up Sprayer - Add the coating composition product to fill line. Pump the sprayer 20 times to build pressure inside of container. Adjust spray pattern to finest setting Use overlapping motion to ensure complete coverage. Apply product per directions above. U s e pump sprayer as needed to maintain a consistent spray pattern and output.

3. Trigger bottle spray apparatus - Add the coating composition product to fill line.

Adjust spray pattern to finest setting. Hold trigger 6-8 inches from surface during application. Use overlapping motion to ensure complete coverage.

[15] The coating composition may further comprise additional components, e.g., a fragrance, dye, an antimicrobial agent or microbiocide, and/or UV protective materials. In an embodiment, the composition comprises a UV blocker/absorber, e.g., 3-(2H- Benzotriazoi-2-yi)-5-(l,l-dimethyl ethyl)-4-hydroxybenzenepropanoic acid, C7-9- branehed alkyl esters (Tinuvin® 99, provided by BASF Dispersions & Pigments Division). In an embodiment, the composition comprises a liquid hindered amine light stabilizer, e.g., a stabilizer comprising Bis( 1 ,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl-4-piperidyl) sebacate, CAS No. 41556-26-7, and Methyl l ,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl-4-piperidyl sebacate, CAS No. 82919-37-7 (Tinuvin® 292, provided by Ciba Specialty Chemicals Inc., of Basel, Switzerland, which in 2009 was renamed BASF Performance Products Limited - BASF Group). In an embodiment, the composition comprises a microbiocide, e.g., a microbiocide comprising 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one and 2-methyl-4- isothiazolin-3-one (Acticide© RS, provided by Thor GmbH, of Speyer, Germany, and/or Thor Specialties, Inc., Turnbull, CT).

[16] In some embodiments, the coating composition comprises water. In a preferred embodiment, the water is deionized water.

[17] In a preferred embodiment, the coating composition has a formulation identified in the table below _' .

Table

Totals 100.0000 840.000 [18] Surprisingly, it has been found that a coating composition comprising a suitable relative amount of the high viscosity amino functional silicone fluid, the silicone glycol copolymer, the aqueous-based intumeseent flame retardant, and the aqueous-based concentrated cationic fluoropolymer system that cures at ambient temperatures, protects and enhances the appearance of a wide variety of vehicle interior materials The coatings disclosed in the present disclosure provide surprising results in that they protect and enhance the appearance of porous and non-porous materials (e.g., enhanced gloss and luster), including traditional materials, such as rubber, vinyl, fabric, carpeting, metal, metal alloys, chrome, and/or leathers, and newer materials, such as carbon fiber, aluminum, different grains of wood, dashboard tech screens and innovative types of plastic made from renewable and/or non-renewable sources.

[19] With the benefit of this disclosure, those skilled in the art will recognize that the percentage by weight of the above components may be modified in a manner that still protects and enhances the appearance of a wide variety of vehicle interior materials. Those skilled in the art, having the benefit of this disclosure, will recognize that the percentage by weight of the high viscosity amino functional silicone fluid, the silicone glycol copolymer, the aqueous-based intumeseent flame retardant, and the aqueous-based concentrated cationic fluoropolymer system that cures at ambient temperatures, may be modified in a manner that will still protect and enhance vehicle interior materials made of traditional materials, such as rubber, vinyl, fabric, carpeting, and/or leathers, and newer materials, such as carbon fiber, aluminum, different grains of wood, dashboard tech screens, and innovative types of plastic made from renewable and/or non-renewable sources.

[20] In an aspect of the disclosure, the coating composition is substantially devoid of volatile organic compounds (see e.g., California Code of Regulations Title 17, Article 2, Sections 94509, 94510, OTC (Ozone Transport Commission), LADCO (Lake Michigan Air Directors Consortium), and C ARB’s (California Air Resources Board)). In accordance with the disclosure, substantially devoid of VOCs means sufficiently devoid of VOCs to the extent that the percent of VOCs by weight in the composition is less than about 2%.

[21] The benefits of the compositions and methods of the disclosure are unexpected in that the compositions and methods are more user-friendly than conventional compositions and methods that require use multitude of different protective coating compositions specific for different types of vehicle interior surfaces.

[22] Those of skill in the art will recognize that in accordance with the disclosure any of the features and/or options in one embodiment or example can he combined with any of the features and/or options of another embodiment or example.

[23] The disclosure herein has been described with reference to various embodiments, but it should be understood that the features of the disclosure are susceptible to modification, alteration, changes or substitution without departing significantly from the spirit of the disclosure. Accordingly, the specific embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and the disclosure is not limited except by the following claims and their equivalents.