Bleaching and dyeing; fluid treatment and chemical modification – Diffusion transfer dyeing process – transfer sheet and product – Dry heat treatment for penetration
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-24
2001-08-21
Einsmann, Margaret (Department: 1751)
Bleaching and dyeing; fluid treatment and chemical modification
Diffusion transfer dyeing process, transfer sheet and product
Dry heat treatment for penetration
Reexamination Certificate
active
06277157
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to the manufacture of an electrical component for mounting with a wall plate, the electrical component containing a first portion of a unitary image that matches a second portion of the unitary image carried by the wall plate.
BACKGROUND
Decorative wall plates used with various electric components such as switches, outlets, etc. are well known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. DES 243,918 shows a decorative wall plate for use with such switches and outlets.
Various technologies have been used to provide an image on a decorative wall plate. For example, the image can be painted onto the plate directly, or preferably, an image can be provided by a transfer printing process.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,354,851 a method for making a decorated, water-resistant rigid panel is described where a flat precoated hard board panel receives a heat transferred image from a transfer sheet containing a sublimation ink decoration.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,142,722, transfer printing of an image to a flat wooden substrate is described. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,824,116, an image is transferred simultaneously to a switch plate and its associated screws which are located in their mounting holes, the combination of screws and the plate providing an essentially flat transfer surface.
In each of these cases, a substantially flat substrate receives a transfer of an image by ink sublimation. The desire for continuous imaging over a switch plate has not carried over to the contained electrical component because it is considered impractical to transfer an image to an item with a complex surface such as a switch toggle, or electrical outlet receptacle. Such electrical components comprise from 10 to 70% of the surface area of the wall plate. As such, they detract significantly from the appearance presented when an imaged decorative wall plate is used. Other than color coordinator, the electrical component itself breaks up the continuous image.
SUMMARY OF THE SWITCH
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for imaging electrical components and wall plates to provide a coordinated unitary image upon assembly.
It is a further object to provide an electrical component and a wall plate, each containing matching portions of a unitary image such that after assembly, the entire unitary image is perceived.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by a method comprising providing at least one electrical component and a wall plate having an opening for receiving the electrical component, providing an image in a digital form, sizing the image to have an outer dimension corresponding to the outer dimension of the wall plate, placing the component in the wall plate opening to produce an assembly, applying a heat transfer sheet containing the sized image on the assembly, and transferring the image by contacting the transfer sheet with collapsible thermally conductive pressing means that adapt to the contours of the assembly surfaces.
In another embodiment, a first portion of the image corresponding to the opening in the plate which receives the electrical component is selected and used to produce a first transfer sheet, and the unselected portion of the image forms a second image portion that is used to produce a second transfer sheet, such that each item can be separately imaged with its related portion. At least the electrical component utilizes the collapsible thermally conductive pressing means.
Preferably, the collapsible pressing means has a raised area that first contacts the transfer sheet, to ease adaption of the pressing means to the contours of the electrical component such that a high quality image is provided over the complex surface geometry typical of such components.
REFERENCES:
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patent: D. 243918 (1977-04-01), Creamer
patent: 1280655 (1918-10-01), Briggs
patent: 1660346 (1928-02-01), Neal
patent: 2043865 (1936-06-01), Place
patent: 4354851 (1982-10-01), Hix et al.
patent: 4355198 (1982-10-01), Gartland, Jr.
patent: 4406662 (1983-09-01), Beran et al.
patent: 5031525 (1991-07-01), Kent et al.
patent: 5142722 (1992-09-01), Kolb
patent: 5296081 (1994-03-01), Morin et al.
patent: 5824116 (1998-10-01), Zutler
Georges Chris
Georges Thomas
Einsmann Margaret
Sapone William J.
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