US3294611A - Indicia and method of applying the same - Google Patents

Description

Dec.

J- B. VOMELA INDICIA AND METHOD OF APPLYING THE SAME Filed Jan. 5, 1963 INVENTOR JOHN B. VOMELA BY M ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,294,611 INDICIA AND METHOD OF APPLYING THE SAME John B. Vomela, St. Paul, Minn, assignor to Vomela Specialty Company, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed Jan. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 249,182 7 Claims. (Cl. 156-230) This invention relates to a method and apparatus for applying indicia to a generally fiat surface.

For numerous years, letters, numerals, and the like have been produced for sale for use in forming a display sign or the like. For example, letters and numerals have been produced provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive covered with a protective covering. Upon removal of this covering, the letter or numeral can be applied to a surface to provide a book display. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved device of this general type.

Letters and numerals of the type described are usually used by persons incapable of inscribin-g the letter or numeral upon the surface with a brush. As a result, the letters and numerals are not readily aligned and not readily spaced with the proper spacing. It is a purpose of the present invention to provide a structure of the type described in which the letters and numerals are mounted upon rectangular mounting sheets so that, by placing these mounting sheets in side by side relation, the letters or figures are properly aligned and properly spaced one from another.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a simple and effective means of locating the letters and figures prior to the application thereof to the surface in question. In accomplishing this result, the letters or figures which are provided with a pressure sensitive surface are sandwiched between a backing panel and a covering panel, neither of which is effectively adhered to the figure, or letter. The covering panel is preferably out along a line exteriorly of the letter or figure so that a portion of this covering panel may be removed, and the letter or figure with its covering panel may be applied in proper relation to a surface. When properly located, the covering panel may be removed, and the pressure sensitive surface of the letter or figure may be applied to the surface, in proper relation to other letters or figures.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a series of elements which have varying degrees of adhesive qualities. The backing sheet preferably includes an outer non-adhesive surface, and an inner surface which is coated with a material repellent to pressure sensitive adhesive, such as a coating of a silicone. The cut-out letter or figure is provided with a pressure sensitive surface capable of retaining the letter or figure on a flat or generally fiat surface for an indefinite period. This adhesively coated surface is normally in face contact with the adhesive repellent surface. An outer covering sheet contiguous with the inner covering sheet has an outer nonaclhesive surface, and an inner surface which is coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive which is midly adhesive relative to the surface on the cut out figure. As a result, the covering sheets may be readily removed from the cut out figure, one prior to the adhesion of the cut out figure to the surface on which it it to be applied, and the other Patented Dec. 27, 1966 of which is removable after the cut-out figure has been applied.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the fact that the covering sheet which overlies the adhesively coated surface of the figure is split along a line parallel to an edge of the rectangular covering sheet and outside of the figure. The covering sheet is split at a predetermined distance from the periphery of the letter or figure, and the edges of the covering sheets are properly spaced from the periphery of the figure or letter to properly space the indici-a when the figures or letters are applied with the edges of the covering sheets in abutting relation and the slits in the backing sheets of the various letters or figures are aligned.

An added feature of the present invention resides in the fact that the same method of application may be used in conjunction with signs embodying a series of letters rather than applying the single letters separately.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification;

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of one of the numbers in its original form.

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevational view of the number shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view through the number, on an enlarged scale, the position of the section being indicated by the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 illustrates the first step of applying the number to a surface, and in which a portion of the backing sheet is being removed to expose a portion of the rear surface of the covering sheet.

FIGURES shows the manner in which the letters or figures may be mounted in side by side relation, the view indicating the manner in which the remainder of the backing sheet may be removed.

FIGURE 6 illustrates diagrammatically the final step of the application of the figures or letters to the surface, the step indicating the covering sheet being removed.

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic view of a composite sign in which the letters are prearranged betweenthe backing sheet and the covering sheet.

The letters and figures, indicated in general by the letter A, may be formed of plastic or other similar material as indicated by thenumeral 10. The letters ornumerals 10 in the following specification, will be described as cut-out figures, it being understood that these figures could either be numerals or letters or other indicia of any type desired. The letters or numerals are provided with a pressure sensitive surface which is in face contact with abacking sheet 11. Thebacking sheet 11 is preferably rectangular in form, and includes amajor portion 12 which overlies the figure 10 and a separatelyremovable portion 13, the twoportions 12 and 13 being separated by aslit 14. As is indicated in the drawings, theslit 14 is located externally of the outline of the figure 1t and is located in a predetermined relation to the figure 10. For example, if the figures 10 are all of the same size, theslit 14 is spaced an equal distance from the periphery of the figure. Characters such as hyphens, punctuation marks and the same may be located at different distances from theslit 14, but the arrangement is such that when theslits 14 of the various figures are aligned, the cut-out figures, whatever their nature, will be in proper relative relation. Theside edges 15 of the backing sheet are also so related to the periphery of the cut out figures so that when the backing sheets are in edge abutting relation, the cut out figures are properly spaced one from the other.

Acovering sheet 16 which is also rectangular and contiguous with thebacking sheet 11 encloses the forward surface of the cut out figure 10. The covering sheet is coated upon its inner surface with a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive which is relatively mild as compared to the adhesives on the cut-out figures. In other words, the covering sheet is weakly adherent to the backing sheet as well as to the forward surfaces of the cut out figures. Thebacking sheet 11 is coated with a repellent material such as a coating of silicone, so that neither the relatively strong adhesive characters of the cut out figure 10 or the relatively mild adhesive quality of the coveringsheet 16 will provide a firm bond therewith.

In other words, the composite numerals comprise one or more out out figures having a strongly adhesive pressure sensitive back surface which are sandwiched between a backing sheet and a covering sheet which are preferably rectangular and contiguous in form. Neither the covering sheet or backing sheet are strongly adhered to the cut out figure so that both sheets may be readily stripped from the cut-out figure. The slits which divide the backing sheet are parallel to an edge thereof, the edge being preferably at the top of the cut-out figure and in predetermined spaced relation thereto.

The cut out figure or figures may be applied in the following manner. In the first place, thestrip 13 which is located between theslit 14 and theadjacent edge 17 of the covering sheet is stripped away. This can most easily be accomplished by bending the covering sheet forwardly as indicated in FIGURE 4 of the drawings so that thestrip 13 may be easily engaged and withdrawn. The cut out figure may then be applied to a desired area of a generally fiat surface by merely adhering the exposed rear surface of thecovering sheet 16 to this surface. During this process, the cut-out figures 10 may remain sandwiched between thebody portion 12 of thebacking sheet 11 and thecovering sheet 16.

When the various figures or letters are adhered in place, in side by side relation as indicated in FIGURE of the drawings, thebody portion 12 of each unit may be removed by swinging the lower portion of the unit forwardly and stripping theportion 12 from the adhesively coated areas of the covering sheet and cut-out figure. Once thebacking sheet portion 12 has been removed, the cut out figures supported by the covering sheet may be swung back down into position and the cut-out figures may be pressed against the surface on which they are to be mounted. The cut out figures will adhere strongly to the surface due to the nature of the pressure sensitive adhesive applied to the rear surface thereof. Once the cut-out figures have been applied to the surface, the front covering sheet is stripped out of place in the manner shown in FIGURE 6 due to the fact that the pressure sensitive adhesive on the rear of the covering sheet is much milder or less adhesive than the coating on the rear surface of the cut-out figure.

While much of the advantage of the structure described relates to the proper alignment of the cut-out figures when individually formed, the same process may be followed where a series of predetermined cut out letters or figures are sandwiched between a front covering sheet and a rear backing sheet as indicated at B in FIGURE 7. As in the previous structure, the backing sheet is slit along theline 30 so that the upper portion of the backing sheet may be removed to properly locate the letters on the desired mounting surface. After the sign has been mounted in a desired position, the lower portion of the backing sheet may be removed in the same manner as indicated in FIGURE 5 of the drawings, the sign may be applied to the surface, and the front covering sheet may then be stripped from the surface of the sign, leaving the letters, numerals, or the like forming the sign firmly adhered to the surface.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my improvement in method and apparatus for applying indicia, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A sign forming structure including, in combination,

a covering panel of predetermined outline,

a cut-out figure of smaller dimensions than said covering panel lightly adhered to said covering panel in spaced relation to the edges thereof,

a backing panel resistant to adhesion lightly adhered to said covering panel and underlying said figure to sandwich said figure between said covering panel and said backing panel,

a pressure sensitive adhesive covering the surface of said cut-out figure in face contact to said backing panel, and

said backing panel being divided into two separate portions by a out line located at a predetermined distance from said cut-out figure.

2. A sign forming element including, in combination,

a flat cut-out flexible figure having a pressure sensitive adhesive surface on one side thereof,

a backing panel on one side of said figure in contact with said figure and including a surface resistant to the pressure sensitive adhesive, the backing panel extending beyond the periphery of said figure,

a covering panel on the other side of said figure contiguous with said backing panel and lightly adhered to said backing panel,

said backing panel being divided into two parts by a line of separation located outwardly of said figure.

3. A sign forming element including,

a generally rectangular covering sheet having a pressure sensitive adhesive surface thereon,

a cut-out figure having a non-adhesively coated surface lightly adhered to said surface of said covering sheet in spaced relation to at least one edge thereof,

an adhesively coated surface on the side of said figure opposite to said non-adhesively coated surface and which has greater adhesive bonding characteristics than the adhesive surface of said covering sheet,

a backing sheet generally contiguous with said covering sheet and including a coating substantially repellent to said adhesively coated surfaces but to which said adhesively coated surfaces are attached with sufficient adhesion to hold the parts assembled, and

said backing sheet including a slit parallel to said one edge thereof and between the periphery of said cutout figure and said one edge.

4. The structure ofclaim 3 and in which the substantially repellent coating includes a silicone.

5. A method of applying a cut-out figure to a flat surface, the cut-out figure including a pressure sensitive adhesive surface, and being sandwiched between a pair of contiguous generally rectangular sheets, which extend beyond the margins of said figure one of which includes an adhesive repellent surface in face contact with the pressure sensitive surface and the other of which includes an adhesive pressure sensitive surface having substantially less adhesive bonding characteristics than the adhesive surface of said cut-out figure adhered to the other surface of said cut-out figure, and to said adhesive repellent surface of said one sheet, said one sheet being slit along a line parallel to an edge of said one sheet and exteriorly of said cut-out figure, the method consisting in removing the portion of said one sheet between said slit and said one edge,

adhering the exposed area of the other sheet to the said flat surface locating the cut-out figure in the desired position,

removing the remainder of the said one sheet to expose the pressure sensitive surface of the cut-out figure,

adhering the cut-out figure to the flat surface, and

removing the second sheet from the cut-out figure.

6. The method of claim 5 and including the step of applying a series of said cut-out figures in side by side 1 relation while at least the other of said sheets is attached thereto.

7. The structure ofclaim 3 and in which said slit is located a predetermined distance from the periphery of said cut-out figure.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,985,554 5/1961 Dickard 161-406 X 3,035,957 5/1962 Morgan 161406 X 3,094,451 6/1963 Wagner 156-249 EARL M. BERGERT, Primary Examiner.

M. L. KATZ, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. 5. A METHOD OF APPLYING A CUT-OUT FIGURE TO A FLAR SURFACE, THE CUT-OUT FIGURE INCLUDING A PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE SURFACE AND BEING SANDWICHED BETWEEN A PAIR OF CONTIGUOUS GENERALLY RECTANGULAR SHEETS, WHICH EXTEND BEYOND THE MARGINS OF SAID FIGURE ONE OF WHHICH INCLUDES AN ADHESIVE REPELLENT SURFACE IN ACE CONTACT WITH THE PRESSURE SENSITIVE SURFACE AND THE OTHER OF WHICH INCLUDES AN ADHESIVE PRESSURE SENSITIVE SURFACE HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY LESS ADHESIVE BONDNG CHARACTERISTICS THAN THE ADHESIVE SURFACE OF SAID CUT-OUT FIGURE ADHERED TO THE OTHER SURFACE OF SAID CUT-OUT FIGURE, AND TO SAID ADHESIVE REPELLANT SURFACE OF SAID ONE SHEET, SAID ONE SHEET BEING SLIT ALONG A LINE PARALLEL TO AN EDGE OF SAID ONE SHEET AND EXTERIORLY OF SAID CUT-OUT FIGURE, THE METHOD CONSISTING IN REMOVING THE PORTION OF SAID ONE SHEET BETWEEN SAID SLIT AND SAID ONE EDGE, ADHERING THE EXPOSED AREA OF THE OTHER SHEET TO BE SAID FLAT SURFACE LOCATNG THE CUT-OUT FIGURE IN THE DESIRED POSITION, REMOVING THE REMAINDER OF THE SAID ONE SHEET TO EXPOSE THE PRESSURE SENSITIVE SURFACE OF THE CUT-OUT FIGURE, ADHERING THE CUT-OUT FIGURE TO THE FLAT SURFACE, AND REMOVING THE SECOND SHEET FROM THE CUT-OUT FIGURE.

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