Method for placing a vinyl cling onto an inflatable vinyl surface
OwnerEmily Catherine Vacainventor
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Abstract
The invention is a vinyl cling intended for use with a vinyl inflatable structure, such as an inflatable pool, and innovative placement method thereof. Relocatable placement of the vinyl clings on an inflatable structure allows a user to customize the structure itself for various events. In operation, the user can remove the cling from a backing sheet on which the clings are stored, wet one side of the cling, the space on the structure where the cling is intended to be placed, or both, press the cling onto the structure and again wet the cling and space on the structure around the cling to assure that the cling is secured thereto. The user can then remove the cling and repeat this process over and over without leaving any residue on the structure from an adhesive material.
Claims16
A method for placing a vinyl cling onto an inflatable vinyl surface, comprising the steps of:
- inflating an inflatable structure comprising the inflatable vinyl surface, wherein an inflated configuration of the inflatable structure comprises a three-dimensional nonplanar shape;
- removing the vinyl cling from a backing sheet;
- wetting at least one of an attachment side of the vinyl cling and a space on the inflatable vinyl surface with a first volume of water;
- and
- pressing the attachment side of the vinyl cling onto the space of the inflatable vinyl surface when the inflatable structure is in the inflated configuration, wherein the space comprises the three-dimensional nonplanar shape during the pressing step;
- coating an uncovered side of the vinyl cling opposite the attachment side and an area surrounding the space of the three-dimensional inflatable vinyl surface proximate to the vinyl cling with a second volume of water;
- filling the inflatable structure with a third volume of water prior to wetting the attachment side of the vinyl cling;
- dipping the vinyl cling into the third volume of water to wet the attachment side with the first volume of water;
- and
- collecting the second volume of water from the third volume of water prior to coating the uncovered side and the area surrounding the space with the second volume of water.
A method for placing a vinyl cling onto an inflatable vinyl surface, comprising the steps of:
- providing the vinyl cling having a design on an uncovered side of the vinyl cling with a water-activated ink;
- removing the vinyl cling from a backing sheet;
- wetting at least one of the attachment side of the vinyl cling and a space on the inflatable vinyl surface with a first volume of water;
- filling the inflatable structure with a third volume of water prior to wetting the attachment side of the vinyl cling;
- dipping the vinyl cling into the third volume of water to wet the attachment side and the uncovered side with the first volume of water;
- pressing the attachment side of the vinyl cling onto the space of the inflatable vinyl surface;
- coating the uncovered side of the vinyl cling opposite the attachment side and an area surrounding the space of the three-dimensional inflatable vinyl surface proximate to the vinyl cling with a second volume of water;
- collecting the second volume of water from the third volume of water prior to coating the area surrounding the space with the second volume of water;
- activating the water-activated ink of the design on the uncovered side via the step of coating the uncovered side of the vinyl cling opposite the attachment side with the second volume of water;
- and
- displaying the design on the uncovered side when the water-activated ink is activated.
A method for placing a vinyl cling onto an inflatable vinyl surface, comprising the steps of:
- providing the vinyl cling having a design on each of an uncovered side and an attachment side;
- inflating an inflatable structure made from a transparent material comprising the inflatable vinyl surface, wherein an inflated configuration of the inflatable structure comprises a three-dimensional nonplanar shape;
- removing the vinyl cling from a backing sheet;
- wetting at least one of the attachment side of the vinyl cling and a space on the inflatable vinyl surface with a first volume of water;
- pressing the attachment side of the vinyl cling onto the space of the inflatable vinyl surface when the inflatable structure is in the inflated configuration, wherein the space comprises the three-dimensional nonplanar shape during the pressing step;
- coating the uncovered side of the vinyl cling opposite the attachment side and an area surrounding the space of the three-dimensional inflatable vinyl surface proximate to the vinyl cling with a second volume of water;
- displaying the design on the attachment side of the vinyl cling and the design on the uncovered side of the vinyl cling via the inflatable structure, wherein the design on the attachment side of the vinyl cling is unobstructedly visible through the transparent material
- filling the inflatable structure with a third volume of water prior to wetting the attachment side of the vinyl cling;
- dipping the vinyl cling into the third volume of water to wet the attachment side with the first volume of water;
- and
- collecting the second volume of water from the third volume of water prior to coating the uncovered side and the area surrounding the space with the second volume of water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.