Decorative decal and adhesive system for application to vulcanized rubber articles

A decorative decal and adhesive system for application of a decal image to an exterior surface of a vulcanized rubber article, the system comprising:

• a. a carrier sheet having a support surface and an opposed exterior surface;
• b. at least one elastomeric, vulcanizable ink defining the decal image, the decal image having perimeter edges and a display area extending between the perimeter edges, and the vulcanizable ink decal image being vulcanized upon the support surface of the carrier sheet;
• c. a heat-activated adhesive layer overlying the display area of the decal image, and the heat-activated adhesive layer being partially activated to the display area of the decal image;
• and,
• d. the carrier sheet, decal image and heat-activated adhesive layer being formulated for thermal transfer of the decal image onto the exterior surface of the vulcanized rubber article by activation of the adhesive layer onto the vulcanized rubber layer and removal of the carrier sheet from the decal image.