Decorative laminates including thermoplastic ink layers and related methods
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsJason W. Drexler, John Christopher Wilde
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Decorative laminates including thermoplastic ink layers and related methods are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a reinforcing layer to provide a rigidity to a decorative laminate, thermoplastic ink applied to the reinforcing layer to form a decorative pattern of the decorative laminate, and a film layer coupled to the thermoplastic ink to form the decorative laminate. The film layer is to preserve the decorative pattern. The thermoplastic ink is solidified when the film layer is coupled to the thermoplastic ink.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- applying thermoplastic ink to a reinforcing layer, the reinforcing layer to provide a rigidity to a decorative laminate, the thermoplastic ink to form a decorative pattern of the decorative laminate;
- applying heat, via an oven, to partially solidify the thermoplastic ink applied to the reinforcing layer;
- coupling a film layer to the thermoplastic ink to form the decorative laminate, the film layer to preserve the decorative pattern of the decorative laminate, the thermoplastic ink to remain partially solidified during coupling of the film layer to the thermoplastic ink;
- contacting a heated press to the film layer;
- embossing, via the heated press, the decorative laminate to define an embossed shape of the decorative laminate, wherein the decorative laminate is to be heated to a temperature of at least about 300 degrees Fahrenheit by the heated press during the embossing to set the embossed shape of the decorative laminate;
- and
- fully solidifying, via the heated press, the partially solidified thermoplastic ink during the embossing of the decorate laminate.
A method of forming a decorative laminate, the method comprising:
- providing a reinforcing layer having a rigid film that defines a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface;
- forming a decorative pattern of the decorative laminate by applying a thermoplastic ink layer to the first surface of the reinforcing layer;
- applying heat, via an oven, to partially solidify the thermoplastic ink layer applied to the first surface;
- coupling a film layer to the thermoplastic ink layer, the film layer to protect the decorative pattern formed by the thermoplastic ink layer, the thermoplastic ink layer to remain partially solidified during coupling of the film layer to the thermoplastic ink layer;
- contacting a heated press to the film layer;
- embossing, via the heated press, the decorative laminate-to define an embossed shape of the decorative laminate, wherein the decorative laminate is to be heated by the heated press to a temperature of at least about 300 degrees Fahrenheit to set the embossed shape of the decorative laminate;
- and
- fully solidifying, via the heated press, the partially solidified thermoplastic ink layer during the embossing of the decorate laminate.
A method of forming a decorative laminate, the method comprising:
- unwinding a roll of a reinforcing layer;
- applying a thermoplastic ink layer to an unwound portion of the reinforcing layer to form a decorative image;
- applying heat, via an oven, to partially solidify the thermoplastic ink layer;
- coupling a film layer to the thermoplastic ink layer, the thermoplastic ink layer to remain partially solidified during coupling of the film layer to the thermoplastic ink layer;
- contacting a heated press to the film layer;
- embossing, via the heated press, the decorative laminate to define an embossed shape of the decorative laminate while heating the decorative laminate, via the heated press, to a temperature of at least about 300 degrees Fahrenheit to set the embossed shape of the decorative laminate;
- and
- fully solidifying, via the heated press, the partially solidified thermoplastic ink layer during the embossing of the decorate laminate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.