Balloons and wrapping materials
OwnerPhillip E. Langinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Foils is adapted to be marked readily by having a water-soluble, water-based or other surface coating (22) applied thereto. The adapted surface (22) permits ink to mark the foil. Such foil may be used for manufacturing balloons (10) or wrapping materials. A method of manufacturing such a foil comprises the step of spraying onto the surface or otherwise adapting the surface (22) of the foil with a readily markable substance, such as a water-soluble coating, to permit printing of chosen designs (24) onto the foil. A method of imprinting a foil with a design (24) comprises the step of feeding a package (36) containing foil through a printer, the printer being arranged for printing the design (24) onto an adapted surface of the foil exposed by the package (36).
Claims17
The combination of a balloon comprising a foil formed of one a metallic or glossy plastics material, at least part of a surface of said material being provided with an ink retentive markable coating such that a design may be imprinted thereon and a relatively rigid planar member to which the balloon is attached, the planar member acting as a supporting substrate, enabling the balloon to be fed, prior to inflation, through an inkjet printer for printing said design on said markable coating.
The combination of a balloon comprising a one of metallic or glossy plastics foil, at least part of a surface of said foil being provided with an ink retentive markable coating such that a design may be imprinted thereon, and means for supporting the balloon such that the supported balloon may be fed, prior to inflation, through an ink jet printer for printing said design thereon.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.