Method for providing a surface of an article with a decoration or text
US6723479B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 16, 2001 |
| Grant date | Apr 20, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 23, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB29L2031/7224
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The invention relates to a method of providing a decorative coating or text or the like on articles, like shavers, GSM's, cards, etc. The coating comprises a region-wise optically modified (patterned) cholesteric liquid crystalline layer, which is transferred onto a surface of the article by means of a transfer operation. The so-called in-mold decoration technique has been found to be very advantageous for the transfer of decorative (patterned) cholesteric liquid crystalline layers. In this technique the layer is (releasably) deposited on a plastic carrier foil and provided with a layer of adhesive. The assembly is inserted in an injection mold before the injection molding of polymer material starts. In this way decorative coatings (e.g. multi color images) and texts or the like can be even applied onto, non-even and slightly curved substrates.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.