Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Layer or component removable to expose adhesive
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-31
2001-07-17
Ahmad, Nasser (Department: 1772)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Layer or component removable to expose adhesive
C040S124080, C040S594000, C040S638000, C040S660000, C283S081000, C428S008000, C428S009000, C428S012000, C428S015000, C428S042100, C428S043000, C428S121000, C428S130000, C428S192000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06261658
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to pressure sensitive stickers having graphic designs and, more particularly, to stickers that are standable on a surface so as to present an erect, three-dimensional perspective of the graphic designs, and stickers that may be either permanently adherable to the surface or removable from and reattachable to the surface.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Stickers have a wide variety of informational, educational and entertaining uses, particularly for children. Conventionally, stickers are effectively two-dimensional from a perspective view in that they lay flat when adhered to a surface. For some purposes such as creating a diorama having depth and perspective, however, it is desirable to present stickers in a three-dimensional manner. That is, there is a need for stickers that have graphic designs printed thereon and are self-standable in a substantially vertical orientation. There is also a need for self-standable stickers that are repositionable on a surface without sacrificing their adherent characteristics. The present invention provides standable, pressure sensitive stickers for permanent or repositionable adherence to a display surface, and methods and apparatus for manufacturing them.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A standable sticker is provided comprising an integral one-piece shape that is divided into a figure portion and a base portion. The base portion is adapted for adherence to a surface, and is coated on one side with a pressure sensitive adhesive. A perforated or scored line defines a boundary between the figure portion and the base portion, and the figure portion is foldable at an angle to the base portion at the defined line. This permits the figure to be presented in a substantially vertical orientation.
In another embodiment, a group of stickers are provided on a liner material or substrate. The stickers are adapted to be released from the liner material and transferred to a coated display surface on which the stickers may be arranged in repositionable configurations.
The present invention also provides processes for manufacturing the stickers described above. In a first process, a length of base material is passed through an adhesive coater to apply one or more pressure sensitive adhesive strips to a first side of the base material, such that the first side has a non-adhesive region adjacent the adhesive strip or strips. A laminate is produced by applying a length of releasable liner material to the first side. The laminate is either passed through a corona treater or chemically treated in a top-coating process, to permit a second side of the base material to accept ink. The laminate is then passed through one or more print decks to create one or more images on the non-adhesive region. The laminate subsequently undergoes a series of finishing steps. A die-cutting station produces outlines on the laminate. Each outline circumscribes an image that defines a figure portion and an area of the adhesive strip that defines a base portion. The same die-cutting station also produces perforated lines along an edge defined between the non-adhesive region and the adhesive strip. Alternatively, a separate scoring station produces scored lines. A sheeting station cuts the length of laminate into discrete sheets.
In a second process for manufacturing standable stickers, a length of base material is either passed through a corona treater or chemically treated in a top-coating process to permit a print side of the base material to accept ink. The base material is passed through one or more print decks to create predetermined images on the print side, each image defining a figure portion. The base material is then passed through a coating station to apply a pattern of pressure sensitive adhesive coating to predetermined regions of a first side of the base material. Each region defines a base portion, and each base portion abuts an edge of a corresponding one of the figure portions. A laminate is produced by applying a length of releasable liner material to the first side. The laminate is passed through a die-cutting station to cut outlines into the base material. Each outline defines a sticker, and each sticker includes one of the figure portions and a corresponding one of the base portions, with pressure sensitive adhesive on the base portion but not on the figure portion. Perforated or scored lines are produced on the laminate as in the first method, each score line being one of demarcation and substantially coincident with a corresponding one of the edges of the figure portions. A sheeting station is then employed to cut the laminate into discrete sheets.
In another process for manufacturing standable stickers, a length of base material is passed through a print deck to print predetermined images on a back side of the base material. Die patterns are then produced on a front side of the base material. The die patterns are in register with corresponding images on the back side. A composite is produced by applying a length of laminate material to the back side of the base material. A pattern of pressure sensitive adhesive regions is applied to the laminate material. A length of releasable liner material is then applied to the laminate material. The composite is passed through a die-cutter to define figure portions and corresponding base portions on the composite. Each figure portion includes at least one of the graphic images, and each base portion includes one of the adhesive regions. A plurality of perforated or scored lines are produced on the composite. Each line defines a boundary between one of the figure portions and a corresponding one of the base portions. The composite is then cut into a finished sheet having a total area less than a total area of the initial sheet.
The present invention is also directed to apparatus employed in the practice of the processes herein described.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the following drawings.
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Ahmad Nasser
Allied Graphics, Inc.
Wallenstein & Wagner
LandOfFree
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