Coating processes – Direct application of electrical – magnetic – wave – or... – Electrostatic charge – field – or force utilized
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-03
2002-06-25
Parker, Fred J. (Department: 1762)
Coating processes
Direct application of electrical, magnetic, wave, or...
Electrostatic charge, field, or force utilized
C427S256000, C427S270000, C427S271000, C427S282000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06410099
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to readily replaceable image graphics.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Image graphics are omnipresent in modern life. Images and data that warn, educate, entertain, advertise, etc. are applied on a variety of interior and exterior, vertical and horizontal surfaces. Nonlimiting examples of image graphics range from posters that advertise the arrival of a new movie to warning signs near the edges of stairways.
Readily replaceable image graphics are needed for those occasions when the length of time the graphic needs to remain at the intended location is limited to a short duration, often with a replacement image graphic substituting for the image graphic to be removed. An example of an expected replacement image graphic is the movie poster identified above.
Readily replaceable image graphics require both the “staying power” when placed on the horizontal or vertical surface and the “leaving ease” when the image graphic is to be removed. Among different kinds of readily replaceable image graphics are films that have an image on one major surface and a field of adhesive on the opposing major surface. Again, movie posters and other bills are often adhered to a surface. If the adhesive is pressure sensitive and capable of being readily removed without leaving adhesive residue, then the poster can be posted with staying power and removed with leaving ease.
However, not all surfaces are not amenable to pressure sensitive adhesives. In these circumstances, the adhesive contact interface with the surface can fail prematurely. Inadequate staying power is worse than inadequate leaving ease. Therefore, pressure sensitive adhesives on films can be formulated to overcompensate for the possibility of inadequate staying power on uneven or low energy surfaces where pressure sensitive adhesives can have the most difficulty remaining adhered for the intended duration.
Mechanical fasteners are also another method of erecting graphic images. Methods such as staples or tacks have limited utility, as many surfaces are not amenable to such fastening techniques, or the underlying surface will become damaged by the fasteners. Other methods such as frames with friction clips (on many transport buses), windowed cases, or poster boards made of natural (i.e., cork) or synthetic materials (i.e., polystyrene foam) can also be used for replacement graphics. However, these approaches have the limitation of requiring a substantial initial investment to place the first graphic. Further, the graphic is limited in size by the mounting method. In the case of a frame, the size of the graphic must be controlled to within a few millimeters, or the frame will not hold the graphic. All of the above methods suffer from the fact that the fastener detracts from the graphic images, and in many cases the fastener detracts from the impact of the graphic.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention solves problems in the art of providing readily replaceable image graphics by avoiding the use of pressure sensitive adhesives on the major surface opposite the image surface yet providing a mating or meshing action with a substrate, i.e., “substrate mating surface”.
The present invention solves problems in the art by providing an image graphic mating web comprising a major surface comprising an imageable area and an opposing major surface comprising a nonadhesive substrate mating surface.
The present invention also solves the problem of traditional mechanical fasteners by hiding the fastening method behind the graphic image.
Nonlimiting examples of substrate mating surfaces include surfaces that employ at least one element of mechanical fasteners in mating systems as are marketed under the brands VELCRO® (Velcro USA, Inc., Manchester, N.H.); SCOTCHMATE® (3M, St. Paul, Minn.); and DUAL LOCK® (3M) and as are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,761,318; 4,973,326; 5,066,289; 5,077,870; 5,196,266; 5,312,387; 5,316,849; 5,537,722; 5,554,146; European Patent Publication 0 426 359; and PCT Patent Publications WO 9603954 and WO 9621413.
Desirably, the invention uses a mechanical fastener element where the head of the element is larger than the stem in at least one direction traverse to the stem. Nonlimiting examples of mechanical fastener elements meeting this description are included in the disclosures and products identified in the paragraph immediately above, and particularly include stem/head mechanical fastener elements such as hooks in the shape of an “inverted J”, a “T”, and other configurations.
Preferably, the invention is comprised of, but not limited to, a flexible polyolefin material that is shaped on the substrate contact surface into capped posts that resemble mushrooms (referred to herein as “mushroom-type hooks”). The imageable surface opposing side is smooth and is capable of being processed to accept an image graphic.
Nonlimiting examples of processing capable of making the major surface imageable include surface modification techniques such as Corona Treatment; liquid coatings dissolved or suspended in either organic solvents or water; or a 100% solids polymeric material that can be extruded or coextruded onto the surface.
The image can be formed by any conventional method. Nonlimiting examples include solvent based inks, 100% solids ultraviolet curable inks, inkjet printing, thermal transfer imaging and electrostatic transfer imaging.
An image graphic mating web of the present invention can then be mated to a substrate that has at least a portion of its surface comprising a companion mating element, whether a companion element to a mechanical fastener or a loop structure that interacts with hooks of the substrate mating surface of the image graphic mating web.
Preferably, the nature of mating described as “hook and loop” systems forms the bond. Nonlimiting examples of such systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,973,326; 5,066,289; 5,077,870; 5,196,266; 5,312,387; 5,316,849; 5,537,722; 5,554,146; European Patent Publication 0 426 359; and PCT Patent Publications WO 9603954 and WO 9621413; and copending, coassigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/611,351 (Johnson et al.); the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.
One advantage of hook and loop systems is that the loop portion of the system can be a conventional material used in a conventional setting, such as carpeting, fabric wall coverings, woven and non-woven materials designed to accept the hook portion of the system. Alternatively, the loop portion can be removably attached to a desired surface.
A further advantage of the loop system is that the higher internal strength of many loop systems compared to most films and paper substrates allows the use of a pressure sensitive with higher “staying power”, while still affording relatively clean and easy removal. In addition, the mating loop can be supplied with any number of pressure sensitive adhesives with various levels of “staying power”, to match the characteristics of the underlying surface. Further, the loop can be fastened by alternative methods such as nails, staples, tacks or even wet adhesives in water and/or organic solvents that can be applied by methods such as brushing, troweling, spraying or self-contained aerosol cans.
The advantage of the “hook and loop” system is that no matter how the loop is attached to the underlying surface, the mating action of the loop with the hook remains unaffected. In practical terms, this means the printer or graphic image producer needs only to stock one type of imageable hook substrate that can be used for a large variety of applications.
An image graphic mating web of the present invention can be mated with a loop portion and later removed, in order to mount a new graphic. This process can be repeated for the life of the webs, which can vary from a few to thousands of applications.
A feature of this invention over the prior art is that the image graphic mating web is designed to be the printable substrate for the graphic. Among the advantages of the invention that flow from this feature are the following:
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3M Innovative Properties Company
Christoff James D.
Parker Fred J.
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