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US 9,333,688 B2Granted
Decorated thermoplastic film and methods for making the same
OwnerJonathan Drakeinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to variably decorative thermoplastic films having a graphic design saturated into a laminate or coated substrate, which can be pre-formed using heat and pressure and then placed in injection molds for product molding without impacting the quality of the graphics.
Claims20
A decorated thermoplastic film comprising:
- (i) a substrate having a first surface and a second surface located opposite the first surface,
- wherein the substrate has a dye-based graphic saturated into the first surface;
- and
- (ii) a thermoplastic composition in contact with the second surface of the substrate,
- wherein the second surface of the substrate maintains separation between the thermoplastic composition and the dye-based graphic, and
- wherein the thermoplastic composition does not contact the first surface of the substrate.
3 more elements
A method for making a decorated thermoplastic film, the method comprising:
- (i) rendering a dye-based graphic into a substrate, the substrate having a first surface and a second surface located opposite of the first surface,
- wherein the graphic is rendered into the first surface of the substrate;
- (ii) placing the substrate in a mold, wherein the first surface of the substrate is positioned to be in contact with the mold;
- and
- (iii) injecting a thermoplastic composition into the mold onto the second surface,
- wherein the second surface of the substrate maintains separation between the thermoplastic composition and the dye-based graphic, and
- wherein the thermoplastic composition does not contact the first surface of the substrate.
4 more elements
A method for making a decorated thermoplastic film, the method comprising:
- (i) printing a dye-based graphic onto a surface of transfer paper;
- (ii) transferring the dye-based graphic by sublimation into a top layer of a substrate;
- (iii) forming the substrate with the dye-based graphic to attain a three-dimension substrate;
- (iv) placing the three-dimensional substrate with the dye-based graphic in a mold, wherein the dye-based graphic is in contact with the inside of the mold;
- and
- (v) injecting a thermoplastic composition into the mold,
- wherein the substrate maintains separation between the thermoplastic composition and the top layer of the substrate, and
- wherein the thermoplastic composition does not contact the top layer of the substrate.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.