Encapsulated signage and method of production

A method for enhancing and extending the integrity and useful life of an article of manufacture, said article being in the form of a sign or label, said sign or label comprising a substrate formed on a substantially planar surface area having any one of a plurality of shapes, thicknesses, and sizes, said method comprising:

• forming a design layer with inks or similar materials which are applied to said substrate in a pre-determined pattern, so as to convey visual information to a viewer, with said substrate supporting said inks and design layer thereupon;
• forming within said sign or label at least one mounting hole, comprising an opening for the use of one or more screws, bolts, or other connection means for mounting said article of manufacture to a post, wall, or other supporting structure;
• when applying said inks to said substrate so as to form said design layer, refraining from applying any of said inks to adjacent sides or edges which form a periphery around said mounting hole, so as to form an opening bare border;
• applying a protective encapsulant over said inks forming said design layer, so as to provide a protective cover to said inks and to said substrate under said inks;
• continuing the application of said encapsulant so that said encapsulant fully covers not only said design layer, but also said opening bare border formed on said substrate where the developer has refrained from applying said inks, with said border forming the periphery of said mounting hole then being an opening encapsulation border.

A method for enhancing and extending the integrity and useful life of an article of manufacture, said article being in the form of a label having a pressure sensitive adhesive backing, and comprising a substrate formed on a substantially planar surface area having any one of a plurality of shapes, thicknesses, and sizes, said method comprising:

• forming a design layer with inks or similar materials which are applied to said substrate in a predetermined pattern so as to convey visual information to a viewer, with said substrate supporting said inks thereupon;
• when applying said inks to said substrate, refraining from applying any of said inks to sides or edges which form a periphery of said label;
• applying a protective encapsulant over said design layer so as to provide a protective cover to said design layer and to said substrate under said design layer;
• continuing the application of said encapsulant, so that said encapsulant fully covers not only said design layer, but also said edge borders formed on said label where the developer has refrained from applying said inks.

An article of manufacture in the form of a sign or label, said sign or label comprising a substrate formed on a substantially planar surface having any one of a plurality of shapes, thicknesses and sizes, said article of manufacture comprising:

• a design layer formed with inks or similar materials applied to said substrate in a predetermined pattern, so as to convey visual information to a viewer;
• said substrate supporting said inks thereupon;
• said substrate having one or more edges formed around a periphery of said sign or label, said one or more edges forming a bare edge border;
• said inks applied to said substrate are absent from said bare edge border;
• said article of manufacture further comprising a protective encapsulant formed over said inks so as to provide a protective cover to said inks and to said substrate under said inks;
• and
• said encapsulant fully covers not only said design layer, but also said edge borders formed on said substrate where a developer has refrained from applying said inks.