Patent Application
20110119974
The present invention relates to method and apparatus for wrapping a vehicle with a sheet of material carrying an advertisement, such as one or more images and/or text for the advertisement, wherein there are provided electroluminescent portions of the advertisement.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In the drawings, like numerals describe substantially similar components throughout the several views. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments may be utilized and structural, logical, electrical changes, etc. may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
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Power and control unit 150 is housed in a wiring or electrical compartment 160 on the train 100, and is connected to a master power source, such as a 110 volt power supply or any suitable master power supply. Cable bundle 151 runs from the unit 150 through an aperture in the floor of the compartment and to the underside of the train and runs along the side edge on the bottom of the train undercarriage, for example held in place with fasteners 154 that may be attached to any suitable portion of the undercarriage.
According to still another example embodiment, the power and control unit 150 is shown in more detail in
According to one example embodiment, suitable materials for use as the film 120 include various sheets, preferably comprised of thermoplastic or thermosetting polymeric materials, such as films, providing a substrate to carry the advertising indicia 110, in this example an advertisement for a camera. Further, such films may, in one example embodiment, be low surface energy substrates. “Low surface energy” refers to materials having a surface tension of less than about 50 dynes/cm (also equivalent to 50 milliNewtons/meter). The polymeric substrates are typically nonporous. However, microporous, apertured, as well as materials further comprising water-absorbing particles such as silica and/or super-absorbent polymers, may also be employed provided the substrate does not deteriorate or delaminate upon expose to water and temperature extremes, as previously described. Other suitable substrates include woven and nonwoven fabrics, particularly those comprised of synthetic fibers such as polyester, nylon, and polyolefins. The substrates as well as the imaged article (e.g., sheets, films, polymeric materials) may be clear, translucent, or opaque. Further, the substrate and imaged article may be colorless, comprise a solid color or comprise a pattern of colors. Additionally, the substrate and imaged articles (e.g. films) may be transmissive, reflective, or retroreflective.
Representative examples of polymeric materials (e.g. sheet, films) for use as the substrate 120 include single and multi-layer constructions of acrylic-containing films (e.g. poly(methyl) methacrylate [PMMA]), poly(vinyl chloride)-containing films, (e.g., vinyl, polymeric materialized vinyl, reinforced vinyl, vinyl/acrylic blends), poly(vinyl fluoride) containing films, urethane-containing films, melamine-containing films, polyvinyl butyral-containing films, polyolefin-containing films, polyester-containing films (e.g. polyethylene terephthalate) and polycarbonate-containing films. Further, the substrate may comprise copolymers of such polymeric species. Other particular films for use as the substrate according to the inventive subject matter include multi-layered films having an image reception layer comprising an acid- or acid/acrylate modified ethylene vinyl acetate resin, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,721,086 (Emslander et al.). The image reception layer comprises a polymer comprising at least two monoethylenically unsaturated monomeric units, wherein one monomeric unit comprises a substituted alkene where each branch comprises from 0 to about 8 carbon atoms and wherein one other monomeric unit comprises a (meth)acrylic acid ester of a nontertiary alkyl alcohol in which the alkyl group contains from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms and can include heteroatoms in the alkyl chain and in which the alcohol can be linear, branched, or cyclic in nature. A preferred film for increased tear resistance includes multi-layer polyester/copolyester films, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,591,530 and 5,422,189. Depending of the choice of polymeric material and thickness of the substrate, the substrate (e.g., sheets, films) may be rigid or flexible. Preferred primer and ink compositions are preferably at least as flexible as the substrate. “Flexible” refers to the physical property wherein imaged primer layer having a thickness of 50 microns can be creased at 25 C. without any visible cracks in the imaged primer layer.
Commercially available films include a multitude of films typically used for signage and commercial graphic uses, such as available from 3M under the trade designations “Panaflex”, “Nomad”, “Scotchcal”, “Scotchlite”, “Controltac”, and “Controltac Plus”. According to one example embodiment, the train 100 may be wrapped with 3M™ Controltac™ Plus Graphic Film with Comply™ Performance IJ180C-10, printed on roll having, for example, a width of 54 in and a length of 50 yd. This 2 mil, opaque film to produces high quality, long-term graphics with selected piezo ink jet printers. The film 120 may pressure-activated adhesive and 3M Comply™ Performance for easier installation of large fleet graphics, signs, emblems and more. In another embodiment, the film 120 may be 3M Scotchcal™ Luster Overlaminate 8519, 2 mil with PSA, 54 in×300 ft.
Primer compositions and optional barrier compositions applied to substrate 120 are made by mixing together the desired ingredients using any suitable technique. For example, in a one step approach, all of the ingredients are combined and blended, stiffed, milled, or otherwise mixed to form a homogeneous composition. As another alternative, some of the components may be blended together in a first step. Then, in one or more additional steps, the remaining constituents of the component if any, and one or more additives may be incorporated into the composition via blending, milling, or other mixing technique. During the manufacture of the substrate 120, the primer composition may be applied to a surface of the substrate or to the optional barrier layer. The primer may be applied with any suitable coating technique including screen printing, spraying, ink jetting, extrusion-die coating, flexographic printing, offset printing, gravure coating, knife coating, brushing, curtain coating, wire-wound rod coating, bar coating and the like. The primer is typically applied directly to the substrate. Alternatively, the primer may be coated onto a release liner and transfer coated onto the substrate. However, for embodiments wherein the primer surface is exposed and thus is non-tacky, additional bonding layers may be required. After being coated, the solvent-based primer compositions and optional barrier compositions are dried. The coated substrates are preferably dried at room temperature for at least 24 hours. Alternatively the coated substrates may be dried in a heated oven ranging in temperature from about 40° C. to about 70° C. for about 5 to about 20 minutes followed by room temperature drying for about 1 to 3 hours. For embodiments wherein a barrier layer is employed, it is preferred to employ a minimal thickness of primer to minimize the drying time.
The imaged, polymeric sheets may be a finished product or an intermediate and are useful for a variety of articles including signage and commercial graphics films. The commercial graphic films as for example shown in
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement which is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Combinations of the above embodiments and other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention includes any other applications in which the above structures and fabrication methods are used. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
This patent application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/441,336, filed on Mar. 13, 2009, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING TRAIN WITH ADVERTISEMENT INCLUDING ELECTROLUMINESCENT LIGHTING,” which is a U.S. National Stage Filing under 35 U.S.C. 371 from International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US2007/019936, filed Sep. 13, 2007, and published on Mar. 20, 2008, as WO 2008/033470, which claims priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/825,552, filed Sep. 13, 2006, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WRAPPING TRAIN WITH ADVERTISEMENT INCLUDING ELECTROLUMINESCENT LIGHTING”; which applications and publication are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and made a part hereof.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60825552 | Sep 2006 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 12441336 | Mar 2009 | US |
| Child | 13014258 | US |
