THIS PATENT (US5820991) appears to encompass all glass types, all metal foils, and all ceramic-based paints. It covers not only the process, but the final product.
I'm not going to fault the person who holds the patent. If patent law allows this, then I say "GO FOR IT!" My concern is that this patent covers "glass includes one or more of the following principal raw materials, silica, boric oxide, soda, potash, lead oxide, lime, alumina, magnesia, barium oxide, and calcium phosphate". So, all glass, right? Other facets of the patent appear to cover all glass paints, metals, COEs, and so forth.
The ONE thing that seems to be very specific is this text:
What has me shaking my head over this is the basic common sense of the art. Glass can be painted. Metal foils can be sandwiched between glass. Yet the patent office sees this as a unique process with one inventor.INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
The invention has applicability to the ceramic tile industry.
Would this be like trying to patent any and all meat sandwiches?
A layer of glass = bread
A layer of paint = mustard
A layer of metal = ham
A layer of paint = mayo
A layer of glass = bread
AGAIN, I don't harbor any ill will towards the person who had the bright idea to patent this. I'm all for people taking advantage of what they can within the law. Perhaps they had enough of a demand they realized that knock-offs would be a natural result within the ceramic tile industry. They got a patent lawyer and locked out competitors. My problem is with the law itself. In my opinion, sandwiching things between layers of glass is just too basic to patent.