Heat-applied athletic lettering

Abstract

A web is fabricated by coating at least one layer of thermoplastic material, pigmented polyurethane, onto a transparent polyester plastic film. The resulting web can readily be cut by a computer controlled blade to produce virtually any graphic pattern, including intricate or small letters that may be connected or separated from each other, without penetration of the blade through the carrier sheet. The graphic sheet adheres strongly enough to the carrier sheet, with a peel value in the range of 15-30 ounces, to prevent sliding of the graphic sheet relative to the carrier sheet during cutting, yet permitting release of the carrier sheet after attachment of the graphic by the application of heat and pressure. Thus, the present invention provides an "adhesive up" type of web for polyurethane graphics, whereby the graphic can be cut and peeled from the web, and the graphic, while still adhered to the carrier sheet, placed against the fabric. The transparent plastic carrier sheet permits exact placement of the graphics on the fabric, e.g., on or relative to a shirt pocket.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.