Graphic image fusion
AssigneePinnacle Products Group, Ltd.
InventorsFredric Louis Abrams, Robert Frank Freund
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An in-mold and in-line decorating method is disclosed which, using a single sheet layer, allows the placement of the highest possible quality graphics into the surface of products made from a variety of moldable thermoplastic, thermoset, and vulcanizable materials using a variety of molding processes. The methods also provide new or improved capabilities for product identification, safety, and serialized tracking.
Claims18
An article produced by the steps of:
- introducing a single layer microporous sheet having a first and a second surface and containing a printed and over-coated image on the first surface into a mold, contacting the second surface of said single layer microporous sheet with a thermoplastic polymer, and permanently fusing said single layer microporous sheet into the surface of said polymer during the molding process to produce an in-mold decorated article.
An article produced by the steps of:
- introducing a single layer microporous sheet having a first and a second surface and containing a printed and over-coated image on the first surface into a mold, contacting the second surface of said single layer microporous sheet with a thermosetting or vulcanizable material, and permanently fusing said single layer microporous sheet into the surface of said material during a thermosetting or vulcanization molding process to produce an in-mold decorated article.
An article produced by the steps of:
- providing a silica filled microporous polymer sheet having a first surface and a second surface, applying a metallic material to the first surface of said silica filled microporous polymer sheet, introducing said sheet into a mold or extrusion device, contacting the second surface of said sheet with a polymer, and permanently fusing said sheet into the surface of said polymer during a thermoplastic or thermoset molding process.
An article produced by the steps of:
- introducing a silica filled microporous sheet into a mold, contacting said sheet with a first polymer and permanently fusing said sheet material into the surface of said first polymer during a molding process to produce a surface to which a second and dissimilar polymer can be fused creating a bond between dissimilar polymers.
An article produced by the steps of:
- introducing a silica filled microporous sheet into a mold, contacting said sheet with a polymer, and permanently fusing said sheet into the surface of said polymer during a molding process to produce a molded surface capable of accepting adhesives for attachment of other materials to the molded surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.