Thermal transfer laminate

Details Thermal transfer laminate Thermal transfer laminate

1998-10-06

2001-05-08

Hess, Bruce H. (Department: 1774)

Stock material or miscellaneous articles

Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or...

Adhesive outermost layer

C428S195100, C428S343000, C428S3550RA, C427S152000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06228486

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to thermal transfer laminates. These thermal transfer laminates are useful in providing pictorial and/or print designs or messages (e.g., labels, decals, etc.) adhered to substrates (e.g., metal, plastic, leather, paper or textile substrates) such as automotive interior surfaces (e.g., seat belts, visors, dashboards, headrests, seat-backs, door panels, and the like).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Thermal transfer laminates are used in automotive interiors to provide instructional and/or warning labels on seat belts, visors, dashboards, and the like. A typical construction for these laminates is illustrated in FIG.
1
. Referring to
FIG. 1
, thermal transfer laminate
10
has a paper carrier
12
and a release coating
14
adhered to one side of the paper carrier
12
. Ink or graphics layer
16
is adhered to the release coating
14
and heat-activatable adhesive layer
18
is adhered to graphics layer
16
. The laminate
10
is placed on substrate
20
(e.g., seat belt, visor, etc.) with the adhesive layer
18
in contact with the substrate
20
. Heat and pressure are applied to the laminate
10
through the paper carrier
12
to heat seal the laminate
10
to the substrate
20
. The paper carrier
12
is then removed from the heat-sealed laminate. The release coating
14
separate with the paper carrier
12
. The ink or graphics layer
16
and adhesive layer
18
remain adhered to the substrate
20
.
These thermal transfer laminates have a number of disadvantages. These include the fact that the ink or graphics layer
16
cannot be seen through the paper carrier
12
during the application of laminate
10
to the substrate
20
. This can result in an imprecise placement of the ink or graphics layer
16
on the substrate
20
. The ink or graphics layer
16
as applied to the substrate
20
tends to conform to the surface contours of the substrate
20
and when the surface is not smooth, (e.g., when the substrate
20
is a foam-backed polyester automotive interior material) the pictorial design and/or print message provided by the ink or graphics layer often appears to be fuzzy or out of focus. Once applied to the substrate
20
, the ink or graphics layer
16
tends to have poor chemical resistance and durability (e.g., poor abrasion resistance) characteristics, and poor opacity. These problems are overcome by the inventive thermal transfer laminates.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a thermal transfer laminate, comprising: a facestock comprising a first layer having an upper surface and a lower surface, and a heat-activatable adhesive layer underlying the lower surface of said first layer; an adhesion-promoting layer overlying the upper surface of said first layer; an abrasion-resistant transparent coating layer overlying said adhesion-promoting layer; and another adhesive layer overlying said abrasion-resistant coating layer. In one embodiment, an ink or graphics layer is positioned between the adhesion-promoting layer and the abrasion-resistant transparent coating layer, and provides a pictorial and/or print design or message. In one embodiment, the laminate is adhered to a carrier sheet. In one embodiment, the laminate is adhered to a substrate such as an automotive interior surface.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4271531 (1981-06-01), Torii et al.
patent: 4426422 (1984-01-01), Daniels
patent: 4704310 (1987-11-01), Tighe et al.
patent: 5104719 (1992-04-01), Kamen et al.
patent: 5284688 (1994-02-01), Hiatt
patent: 5595810 (1997-01-01), Beinert et al.
patent: 5733615 (1998-03-01), Rackovan et al.
SunCure, Clear Coating RCA01302R, date unknown, p. 1.
Hostaphan Polyester Film, Product Bulletin, Oct. 1996, 4 Pages.
Rad-Cure Corp., Rad-Cure UV1008, 1990, 7 Pages.
Sun Chemical Corp., Health and Safety Dept., RCA01303R-UV Coating, Apr. 9, 1998, 8 Pages.
Union Carbide Research Product Technical Bulletin; Date unknown, 1 page.
Chevron Chemical Co., Technical Data Sheet, Sep. 16, 1994, 1 Page.
Ampacet Product Information, date unknown, 1 Page.
Ampacet Product Information, Jul. 28, 1998, 1 Page.
A. Schulman Inc., Polybatch F 20, Jan. 28, 1996.
A. Schulamn Inc., Polybatch PF 92 D, Jan. 29, 1996.
A. Schulman Inc., Polybatch White P8555 SD, Mar. 5, 1996.
Material Safety Data Sheet, A.J. Daw Printing Ink Co., Inc., Apr. 14, 1997, 3 Pages.
Material Safety Data Sheet; A. J. Daw Printing InkCo., Inc., Apr. 14, 1997.
Adhesion and Bond, Enclyopedia of Polymer Science and Engineering vol. 1, p. 476-546, Interscience Publishers, 2nd ed. 1985.
Water Ink Technologies, Inc., Technical Datasheet, Date unknown, 4 pages.
SunChemical, Flexible Packaging, Aug. 1990, 1 page.
SunChemical, Suntex MP, Date unknown, 1 page.
Sun Chemical Corporation, Health and Safety Dept., CLA91598F-Multibond Black, Apr. 9, 1998, 11 Pages.
Sun Chemical Corporation, Health and Safety Dept.,CLB04275F-Prokote Primer, Apr. 9, 1998, 11 Pages.
SunChemical, Prokote Primer, Date Unknown, 1 page.
PCT International Search Report for International Application No. PCT/US99/21351 mailed Dec. 16, 1999.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Thermal transfer laminate does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Thermal transfer laminate, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Thermal transfer laminate will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2557301