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US 10,071,593 B2Granted
Full graphics electronic in-mold label and applications thereof
AssigneeImageWorks Interactive
InventorThomas W. Becker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electronic in-mold label includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface. The substrate includes an electronics mounting area on the second surface and an electronic circuit positioned in the electronics mounting area. When the electronic in-mold label is molded on to, or into, a plastic product, the electronic circuit is molded into the plastic product and is operable to perform a function.
Claims16
An electronic in-mold label comprises:
- a non-opaque substrate having a first surface on one side of the substrate and a second surface on an opposite side of the substrate, in which the first surface faces away with respect to a plastic product to be molded and the second surface faces toward the plastic product to be molded, wherein a mounting area is located on the second surface, wherein the product is composed of styrene acrylonitrile (SANS), and wherein the substrate is composed of one or more of styrene, SANS, and a styrene mix;
- a first portion of an electronic circuit positioned in a mounting area of the second surface;
- and
- a second portion of the electronic circuit positioned in the mounting area of the first surface;
- and
- a full graphics area located on the second surface and overlying the mounting area where ink is applied in the graphics area and over the electronic circuit to produce a full color or single color graphics image, wherein, when the second surface is subjected to material used for molding the plastic product and the first surface is subjected to a molding tool for molding the plastic product, the first portion of the electronic circuit and an image from the graphics area are molded on to or into the plastic product along with the substrate.
3 more elements
A finished plastic product comprises:
- a plastic product that is composed of styrene acrylonitrile (SANS);
- and
- an electronic in-mold label that is formed from a single-layer substrate having a first surface on one side of the substrate and a second surface on an opposite side of the substrate, in which the first surface faces away with respect to the plastic product to be molded and the second surface faces toward the plastic product to be molded when placed in a molding tool to mold the plastic product, and in which the substrate has a mounting area located on the second surface, wherein the electronic in-mold label is formed by subjecting the second surface to material used for molding the plastic product;
- and
- a first portion of an electronic circuit positioned in the mounting area prior to placing the substrate in the molding tool;
- and
- a second portion of the electronic circuit positioned in a mounting area of the first surface;
- and
- a full color or single color graphics image printed in a graphics area that is located on the second surface of the substrate and overlying the mounting area, in which ink is applied in the graphics area, wherein, when the second surface is subjected to a material used for molding the plastic product and the first surface is subjected to the molding tool, the first portion of the electronic circuit and the image from the graphics are molded on to or into the plastic product and the electronic circuit is operable to perform a function.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.