# US 6,461,712 B1 · Foam sign

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- Number: US 6,461,712 B1
- Document ID: US6461712B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 09/669,931
- Filed: 2000-09-26
- Granted: 2002-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 1999-08-06
- Assignees: Storeimage Programs Inc.
- Inventors: Adrian W. Pynenburg; Martin S. Cross
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6461712B1

## CPC

- B32B 3/08: characterised by added members at particular parts {(layer formed of separate pieces of material which are juxtaposed side-by-side B32B3/14, B32B3/18)}
- B32B 3/30: characterised by a layer formed with recesses or projections, e.g. {hollows, grooves, protuberances, ribs (apertured layer B32B3/266; layer with cavities or internal voids B32B3/26)}
- B32B 5/18: characterised by features of a layer {of} foamed material
- B32B 27/065: {of foam}
- B32B 2266/0278: Polyurethane
- B32B 2307/75: Printability
- B32B 2590/00: Signboards, advertising panels, road signs
- Y10T 428/22: Nonparticulate element embedded or inlaid in substrate and visible
- Y10T 428/249953: Composite having voids in a component [e.g., porous, cellular, etc.]
- Y10T 428/249987: With nonvoid component of specified composition
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A foam sign made from a laminated substrate and several cuts outs die cut from the substrate. The laminated substrate contains a foam layer with a thickness of from about 0.5 to about 3.0 inches, wherein the foam has a density of from about 1.2 to about 2.0 pounds per square foot; the substrate also contains plastic sheets adhesively joined to the top and the bottom of the foam layers, wherein the plastic sheets have a thickness of from about 0.007 to about 0.03 inches; and the laminated substrate also has several cavities designed to receive the cut outs. The cut outs are disposed within such cavities such that the top surfaces of the cut outs are either above or below the top surfaces of the laminated substrate.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A foam sign comprised of a laminated substrate and a multiplicity of laminated cut outs attached to and disposed within said laminated substrate, wherein:
(a) said laminated substrate is comprised of a first foam substrate with a first top surface and a second top surface, a first plastic sheet with a third top surface adhesively joined to said first top surface of said first foam substrate, and a second plastic sheet with a fourth top surface adhesively joined to said second top surface of said first foam substrate, wherein:
1. said first foam substrate has a thickness of from about 0.5 to about 3.0 inches and a density of from about 1.2 to about 2.0 pounds per cubic foot,
2. said first plastic sheet has a thickness of from about 0.007 to about to about 0.03 inches,
3. the ratio of said thickness of said first foam substrate to said thickness of said first plastic sheet is at least about 15/1,
4. said second plastic sheet has a thickness of from about 0.007 to about to about 0.03 inches, and
5. the ratio of said thickness of said first foam substrate to said thickness of said second plastic sheet is at least about 15/1,
(b) each of said laminated cut outs is comprised of a second foam substrate adhesively joined to a third plastic sheet with a fifth top surface, wherein:
1. the foam in said second foam substrate is identical to the foam in said first foam substrate,
2. the thickness of said second foam substrate is identical to the thickness of said first foam substrate,
3. the plastic in said third plastic sheet is identical to the plastic in said first plastic sheet, and
4. the thickness of said third plastic sheet is identical to the thickness of said first plastic sheet,
(c) said laminated substrate is comprised of a multiplicity of cavities, and
(d) each of said laminated cut outs is disposed within one of said cavities such that there is a distance between said first top surface of said first plastic sheet and said fifth top surface of said third plastic sheet which is from about 10 to about 90 percent of said thickness of said second foam substrate, provided that at least about 0.2 inches of said thickness of said laminated cutout is disposed within said cavity.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The foam sign as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said cutouts is snugly disposed within said laminated substrate such that, when a source of light is contacted with one surface of said foam sign, it is not perceived at the opposite surface of said foam sign.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The foam sign as recited in claim 1, wherein said first foam substrate consists essentially of polyurethane foam.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The foam sign as recited in claim 1, wherein said polyurethane foam has a density of from about 1.3 to about 1.8 pounds per cubic foot.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The foam sign as recited in claim 4, wherein said polyurethane foam has an indentation force rating of from about 25 to about 50 pounds per 50 square inches, a modulus of at least about 1.8, a tensile strength of at least about 12 pounds per square inch, a tear resistance of at least about 1.7 pounds per square inch, an elongation of at least about 150 percent, and a compression set of less than 10 percent.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The foam sign as recited in claim 4, wherein said first plastic sheet is printable.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The foam sign as recited in claim 6, wherein said third top surface of said third plastic sheet is disposed above said first top surface of said first plastic sheet.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The foam sign as recited in claim 7, wherein a spacer is disposed within said cavity beneath each of said laminated cut outs.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The foam sign as recited in claim 8, wherein said spacer is contiguous with said laminated cut out.