# US 8,541,071 B2 · Image transfer sheet > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,541,071 B2 - Document ID: US8541071B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/447,886 - Filed: 2012-04-16 - Published: 2012-08-09 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2005-02-09 - Assignees: Jodi A. Schwendimann - Applicants: Jodi A. Schwendimann; Nabil F. Nasser - Inventors: Jodi A. Schwendimann; Nabil F. Nasser - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8541071B2 ## CPC - B41M 5/38257: {characterised by the use of an intermediate receptor} - B41M 5/0256: {the transferable ink pattern being obtained by means of a computer driven printer, e.g. an ink jet or laser printer, or by electrographic means} - B41M 5/395: Macromolecular additives, e.g. binders - B44C 1/162: {Decalcomanias with a transfer layer comprising indicia with definite outlines such as letters and with means facilitating the desired fitting to the permanent base} - B44C 1/17: Dry transfer - B44C 1/172: {Decalcomanias provided with a layer being specially adapted to facilitate their release from a temporary carrier} - B41M 2205/10: Post-imaging transfer of imaged layer; transfer of the whole imaged layer - B41M 2205/12: Preparation of material for subsequent imaging, e.g. corona treatment, simultaneous coating, pre-treatments - B41M 2205/38: Intermediate layers; Layers between substrate and imaging layer - Y10S 428/913: Material designed to be responsive to temperature, light, moisture - Y10S 428/914: Transfer or decalcomania - Y10T 428/1486: Ornamental, decorative, pattern, or indicia - Y10T 428/24802: Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.] - Y10T 428/2486: with outer strippable or release layer - Y10T 428/26: Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component, the element or component having a specified physical dimension - Y10T 428/264: Up to 3 mils - Y10T 428/31663: As siloxane, silicone or silane - Y10T 428/31855: Of addition polymer from unsaturated monomers - Y10T 428/31931: Polyene monomer-containing - Y10T 428/31993: Of paper - B41M: PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING, (correction of typographical errors B41J; processes for applying transfer pictures or the like B44C1/16; fluid media for correction of typographical errors by coating C09D10/00; printing textiles D06P) - B44C: PRODUCING DECORATIVE EFFECTS (processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general B05D; shaping of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29C; printing processes to produce transfer pictures B41M3/12; thermographic duplication or marking methods B41M5/00); MOSAICS; TARSIA WORK (imitation of mosaic or tarsia work patterns B44F11/04); PAPERHANGING {(labels G09F; multi-step processes for making paper labels or tags B31D1/02)} - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The present invention includes an article and method for transferring an image from one substrate to another. The method includes providing or obtaining an image transfer sheet that is comprised of a substrate layer, a release layer and an image-imparting layer that may comprise a low density polyethylene or other polymeric component having a melting temperature within a range of about 90 degrees C. to about 700 degrees C. An image is imparted to the low density polyethylene area with an image-imparting medium. A second image receiving substrate can be provided. The second image receiving substrate is contacted to the first image transfer sheet at the polymer, image-imparting layer. Heat is applied to the image transfer sheet so that the low density polyethylene encapsulates the image-imparting medium and transfers the encapsulates to the image receiving substrate, thereby forming a mirror image on the image receiving substrate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image transfer article, comprising: a removable substrate including a first and a second substrate surface, the first substrate surface abutting a release-enhancing coating; and a peel member overlaying, and peelable from, the release-enhancing coating, the peel member including a polymer component configured to carry image indicia to be transferred, wherein a local melting point of the polymer component that is contacted by, or immediately adjacent to, the image indicia is reduced relative to the remaining portions of the polymer component. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image transfer article of claim 1, wherein a surface of the release-enhancing coating abutting the peel member is one or both of corona treated or chemically treated prior to being overlaid with the peel member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image transfer article of claim 1, wherein the release-enhancing coating includes silicone. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image transfer article of claim 1, wherein the release-enhancing coating has a thickness ranging from about 0.1 mils to about 2 mils, inclusive. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The image transfer article of claim 1, wherein the polymer component has a thickness ranging from about 0.5 mils to about 2.8 mils, inclusive, and is configured to receive image-imparting media forming the image indicia from a copying or printing process. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image transfer article of claim 1, wherein the polymer component includes at least one of low density polyethylene, ethylene vinyl acetate, a copolymer of ethylene and acrylic acid, or ethylene acrylic acid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The image transfer article of claim 6, wherein the polymer component includes ethylene acrylic acid having an acrylic acid concentration within a range of 10% to 20% by weight, inclusive, or having a melt index within a range of 60 to 500, inclusive. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The image transfer article of claim 1, further comprising an image-receptive member overlaying the peel member and configured to receive image-imparting media forming the image indicia from a copying or printing process. ### Claim 9 An image transfer article, comprising: a removable substrate including a first and a second substrate surface, the first substrate surface abutting a release-enhancing coating; and a peel member overlaying, and peelable from, the release-enhancing coating, the peel member including a polymer component configured to carry image indicia to be transferred, wherein the polymer component is configured to encapsulate the image indicia and coat discontinuities of an image receiving substrate when heat is applied to the polymer component, the polymer component further configured to solidify about the discontinuities when the application of heat is discontinued. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The image transfer article of claim 9, wherein the discontinuities include fibers of the image receiving substrate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The image transfer article of claim 9, wherein a surface of the release-enhancing coating abutting the peel member is one or both of corona treated or chemically treated prior to being overlaid with the peel member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The image transfer article of claim 9, wherein the polymer component has a thickness ranging from about 0.5 mils to about 2.8 mils, inclusive, and is configured to receive image-imparting media forming the image indicia from a copying or printing process. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The image transfer article of claim 9, wherein the polymer component includes at least one of low density polyethylene, ethylene vinyl acetate, a copolymer of ethylene and acrylic acid, or ethylene acrylic acid. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The image transfer article of claim 9, further comprising an image-receptive member overlaying the peel member and configured to receive image-imparting media forming the image indicia from a copying or printing process. ### Claim 15 An assembly, comprising: an image transfer article, comprising: a removable substrate including a first and a second substrate surface, the first substrate surface abutting a release-enhancing coating; a peel member overlaying, and peelable from, the release-enhancing coating, the peel member including a polymer component; and image indicia imparted to the polymer component; and an image receiving substrate contactable with the peel member; wherein the polymer component is configured to encapsulate the image indicia when heat is applied, and the encapsulated image indicia is bondable to the image receiving substrate, and wherein a local melting point of the polymer component that is contacted by, or immediately adjacent to, the image indicia is reduced relative to the remaining portions of the polymer component. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The assembly of claim 15, wherein the release-enhancing coating includes silicone. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The assembly of claim 15, wherein the release-enhancing coating has a thickness ranging from about 0.1 mils to about 2 mils, inclusive, thereby allowing sufficient heat to reach the peel member for encapsulating the image indicia on the image receiving substrate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The assembly of claim 15, wherein the polymer component has a thickness ranging from about 0.5 mils to about 2.8 mils, inclusive, and is configured to receive image-imparting media forming the image indicia from a copying or printing process. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The assembly of claim 15, wherein the polymer component includes at least one of low density polyethylene, ethylene vinyl acetate, a copolymer of ethylene and acrylic acid, or ethylene acrylic acid. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The assembly of claim 15, wherein the image receiving substrate is a light-colored fabric.