U.S. patent application number 13/913262 was filed with the patent office on 2013-12-12 for one-way graphics materials and methods.
This patent application is currently assigned to MIND FLOW LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Rodney M. Shields. Invention is credited to Rodney M. Shields.
Application Number | 20130330486 13/913262 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49715506 |
Filed Date | 2013-12-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130330486 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shields; Rodney M. |
December 12, 2013 |
One-Way Graphics Materials and Methods
Abstract
Included herein are base materials and methods for use in
creation of one-way graphics, including a dye-receptive substrate
with a pattern of ink-repellent material over the dye-receptive
substrate. An image may be printed selectively onto the base
material to leave a visual perforation pattern that allows vision
through the printed image under appropriate illumination. Also
disclosed are printing methods involving the application of
variously ordered layers of light-absorbing, light-reflective, and
image mediums to printing substrates with physically raised and
lowered areas to create one-way graphics. The invention also
includes new forms of one-way graphics, including lenticular and
holographic one-way displays, and one-way displays having internal
lighting sources.
Inventors: |
Shields; Rodney M.; (Ukiah,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Shields; Rodney M. |
Ukiah |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
MIND FLOW LLC
San Francisco
CA
|
Family ID: |
49715506 |
Appl. No.: |
13/913262 |
Filed: |
June 7, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61656681 |
Jun 7, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
428/29 ; 101/483;
428/195.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B42D 2035/36 20130101;
B42D 25/324 20141001; B44F 1/06 20130101; G03B 21/60 20130101; G02F
1/16757 20190101; Y10T 428/24802 20150115; B41M 3/003 20130101;
B42D 25/328 20141001; G02F 1/167 20130101; G02B 26/007 20130101;
G02B 26/026 20130101; B41M 5/0047 20130101; G09G 3/2003 20130101;
G09G 3/344 20130101; G09G 3/3453 20130101; B44F 7/00 20130101; G09G
3/34 20130101; G03B 21/28 20130101; B42D 2033/18 20130101; B41M
5/0064 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
428/29 ;
428/195.1; 101/483 |
International
Class: |
B44F 1/10 20060101
B44F001/10; B44F 7/00 20060101 B44F007/00 |
Claims
1. A method of making a one-way graphic panel comprising: selecting
an image medium; applying a layer of substantially transparent
image-medium-repellent material to a substantially transparent
image-medium-receptive substrate to create a non-printable area,
wherein said image-medium-receptive substrate is capable of forming
a durable bond to the selected image medium, and wherein the
image-medium-repellent material prevents the image-medium-receptive
substrate from durably bonding to the image medium within the
non-printable area.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying a layer of
light-absorbing image medium to the image-medium-receptive
substrate.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising applying a layer of
light-absorbing image medium to the image-medium-receptive
substrate;
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising applying a layer of
light-reflective image medium to the image-medium-receptive
substrate;
5. The method of claim 4, further comprising applying image medium
to said image-medium-receptive substrate to create an image layer,
and allowing the image medium to form a durable bond to the
non-perforated substrate; and removing non-bonded image medium that
may have been introduced to the non-printable area from the
non-printable area.
6. The method of claim 6, wherein the image medium is applied using
a method of printing selected from the group consisting of screen
printing, offset printing, lithography, linotype, rotogravure,
inkjet, electrostatic printing, xerography, letter press, web,
flexographic, and intaglio.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying an
electrostatic charge to control printing of image medium, wherein
the image-medium-receptive substrate is conductive and the
image-medium-repellent material is non-conductive, wherein the
differential conductivity is used to define non-printable areas and
printable areas.
8. A method of making a one-way graphic panel comprising: selecting
an image medium; presenting a substrate to a printing apparatus for
application of the image medium, wherein the substrate is
substantially transparent and receptive to the selected image
medium, and wherein the substrate contains conductive elements
capable of generating an electromagnetic force, creating an
electromagnetic force using the conductive elements, and using said
electromagnetic force to define printable and non-printable areas
of said substrate during electrostatic application of the image
medium to the substrate, wherein the non-printable areas defined by
said electromagnetic force are distributed across the area of the
substrate such that the non-printable areas allow substantially
clear visibility through the substrate from at least one side after
image medium has been applied.
9. An apparatus for use as a display panel, said display panel
comprising: a layer of substantially transparent
image-medium-receptive substrate; a layer of substantially
transparent image-medium-repellent material in contact with the
layer of image-medium-repellent substrate, wherein the layer of
image-medium-repellent material forms a non-printable area over the
image-medium-receptive substrate; wherein the non-printable area
defines a complementary printable area, arranged so that the
non-printable area is capable of providing a substantially clear
view through the display panel when the printable area is made
non-transparent.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a layer of
light-absorbing image medium attached to the printable area of the
image-medium-receptive substrate.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a layer of
light-reflective image medium attached to the layer of
light-absorbing image medium, wherein the light-reflective image
medium creates an image layer.
12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a layer of
adhesive covering attached to the image-medium-receptive substrate,
wherein the adhesive layer is situated on the opposite side of said
substrate from the non-printable area, and a removable layer of
non-adhesive backing material attached to the adhesive layer,
wherein the removable layer of non-adhesive backing material is
attached to the substrate by the adhesive layer.
13. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a layer of
adhesive covering attached to the image-medium-receptive substrate,
wherein the adhesive layer is situated on the opposite side of said
substrate from the non-printable area.
14. A one-way vision panel assembly comprising: an image substrate;
a light-absorbing backing layer, comprising at least one area of
light-absorbing material; at least two image layers, each
comprising a plurality of areas of an image medium applied to the
light-absorbing backing layer, each said image layer being
perceptible under conditions of appropriate illumination to convey
an image; a lenticular lens layer, situated parallel to each of the
at least two image layers, such that distinct images of each image
layer are perceptible from different locations relative to the
viewing side of the at least two image layers; a pattern of
transparent areas, wherein the transparent areas extend through
one-way vision panel assembly, and wherein the pattern of
transparent areas is distributed such that the panel assembly is
substantially transparent when viewed from an area of relatively
low illumination looking toward an area of relatively bright
illumination,
15. A panel assembly comprising: an image substrate, comprising a
holographic image; a light-absorbing backing layer, comprising at
least one area of light-absorbing material; a perforation pattern
comprising at least one area of transparency, wherein the
perforation pattern extends through the one-way vision panel
assembly, and wherein the perforation pattern is configured such
that the panel assembly is substantially transparent when viewed
from an area of relatively low illumination looking toward an area
of relatively bright illumination,
16. The panel assembly of claim 15, wherein the perforation pattern
constitutes between 25% and 75% of the area of the one-way vision
panel assembly.
17. The panel assembly of claim 16, wherein the perforation pattern
constitutes approximately 50% of the area of the one-way vision
panel assembly.
18. The panel assembly of claim 15, wherein the perforation pattern
comprises a plurality of physical gaps in the structure of the
one-way
19. The panel assembly of claim 15, wherein the perforation pattern
comprises a transparent solid substrate that forms part of the
structure of the panel assembly.
20. The panel assembly of claim 15, wherein the holographic image
is an embossed hologram.
21. An apparatus for use as a display panel, said display panel
comprising: a layer of substantially transparent substrate; an
image layer bonded to the layer of substantially transparent
substrate and a backing layer comprising a light-absorbing
material; wherein said image layer and said backing layer share an
identical perforation pattern; a light source connected to the
layer of substantially transparent substrate.
22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the light source comprises
fiber optics embedded within the substantially transparent
substrate, said fiber optics distributed throughout the
substantially transparent substrate to deliver light to select
portions of the display panel.
23. A method of making a one-way graphic panel comprising:
presenting a printing substrate having a pattern of raised areas
and a pattern of depressed areas to an image medium transfer unit,
wherein the surface area said pattern of depressed areas comprises
between 25% and 75% of the total surface area of the printing
substrate; wherein said image medium transfer unit is configured to
apply an image medium selectively to the raised portions of the
substantially transparent printing substrate; applying image medium
selectively to the pattern of raised areas on the printing
substrate using the image medium transfer unit to create an image
pattern.
24. The method of claim 23, further comprising applying a layer of
light-absorbing image medium selectively to the raised portions of
the substantially transparent printing substrate using a second
image medium transfer unit.
25. The method of claim 24, further comprising applying a layer of
light-reflective image medium selectively to the raised portions of
the substantially transparent printing substrate using a third
image medium transfer unit.
26. A method of making a one-way graphic panel comprising:
presenting a printing substrate having a pattern of raised areas
and a pattern of depressed areas to an image medium transfer unit,
wherein the surface area said pattern of depressed areas comprises
between 25% and 75% of the total surface area of the printing
substrate; applying a layer of light-absorbing material to the
printing substrate and allowing the light-absorbing material to
collect within the pattern of depressed areas and allowing the
light-absorbing material to cure to form; applying a layer of
light-reflective material to the printing substrate and allowing
the light-absorbing material to collect within the pattern of
depressed areas to form a second layer over the layer of
light-absorbing material and allowing the light-reflective material
to cure; applying at least one image layer to the printing
substrate and allowing the image layer to collect within the
pattern of depressed areas over the layer of light-reflective
material and allowing the light-reflective material to cure;
wherein the pattern of raised areas is left substantially
transparent and allows substantially unobstructed vision through
the one-way graphic panel.
27. The method of claim 26, further comprising physically removing
any image medium that may have collected on the pattern of raised
areas of the transparent substrate between each application of
image medium.
28. The product of the method of claim 26.
29. The product of the method of claim 27.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to materials for one-way graphics and
manufacturing techniques for the production of both those materials
and one-way graphic images. In particular, this invention relates
to novel substrates for one-way graphics, methods of producing
those substrates, and methods of placing images upon them. This
application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.120 of the filing
date for application No. 61/656,681 filed Jun. 7, 2012.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] One-way graphic materials are materials that have an image
on one side, yet permit vision through the material from the other
side. Optical properties are manipulated such that the material
appears opaque from the image side, but appears substantially
transparent when viewed from the non-image side. Generally, one-way
graphic materials are light permeable, with one relatively dark
side and one relatively light side. Images are typically placed on
the light side of the one-way material. People viewing from that
side will see the image. People viewing the material from the back
side of the material do not see the image, but instead see the
environment on the far side of the one-way graphic. Other forms of
one-way graphics use transparent inks and/or retroreflective
materials, and rely on differences in illumination and scale
perception to create the same effect, with the image typically
visible from the brighter, outdoor side of the window, while being
substantially invisible from the darker, inner side of the
window.
[0003] One-way graphics typically use expensive perforated
substrates, upon which an image is printed using digital printers
or silk screening. These substrates are typically films of vinyl or
acrylic polymers. Other methods of production of one-way graphics
involve the application of "print patterns" of bonding material
onto the surface of a transparent, non-bonding substrate, as in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,052 (Hill et al.). Using individually
addressable dots of dye that are deposited using a digital printer,
a design pattern is then digitally printed onto the "print pattern"
with an ink that forms a durable bond to the print pattern, but not
the non-bonding substrate. Ink on areas of non-durable bonds
outside the print pattern can then be substantially removed through
washing, wiping, or selective adhesion. One-way graphics can thus
be made using non-perforated films (e.g., 3M.TM. Scotchcal.TM.
Clear View Graphic Film IJ8150), wherein a print pattern simulating
a perforated surface is used to create unprinted surfaces that
simulate the effect of perforation.
[0004] One-way graphic films are usually constructed with solid
backing attached to the non-image side of the film or substrate.
The backing is typically attached to the one-way film using an
adhesive release layer on the non-image side of the film, and is
made of a material such that the backing can be removed from the
adhesive release layer. The image panel is typically then mounted
to the outer surface of the window, with the adhesive in contact
with the face of the window and the design layer external to the
building as the outermost layer. In other applications, the image
is reverse printed, so that the adhesive layer can be applied to
the inside of the window, and the image viewed from the outside of
the window, with the design layer (i.e., the layer of dye that
comprises the image) situated on the far side of the substrate from
the window.
[0005] The Hill '052 patent also discloses methods in which a
laminate or protective layer is added to the graphic film after the
image has been printed on it, so that the ink or dye layer will be
protected from the elements after external attachment to a window.
Hill does not disclose methods of producing a one-way film that has
a protective layer after application to a window, without requiring
a lamination step after production of the image.
[0006] One-way vision films have been limited by available
production techniques. Typical production methods include digital
printing and silk screening or screen printing.
[0007] Digital Printers are the most common method of printing
one-way graphics. The process is slow and expensive. "Digital
printing" includes methods of electrostatic and thermal deposition
or transfer, including without limitation digital forms of thermal
mass transfer, thermal dye sublimation, direct thermal,
photographic, and ink jet digital printing. Typically, a print
design is fed into a computer, and a rasterizer is used to break up
the image into individual dots of color, each with its own
"address" or location within the print image. Most digital printing
is done using a four color CMYK printing process, although
processes using fewer or more colors are known to those in the art.
For many one-way graphic applications, a layer of white dye, paint,
or ink underneath the actual image dye is desired. This requires
specialized digital printers capable of applying the white dye,
paint, or ink, since normal CMYK printers are not capable of
printing the color white.
[0008] Screen printing, or silk screening, is a stencil method of
print making in which a design is imposed on a screen of polyester
or other fine mesh, with blank areas coated with an impermeable
substance. Ink is forced into the mesh openings by a full blade or
squeegee and onto the printing surface during the blade or squeegee
stroke. Each color is laid as an individual layer over the other
colors, so that the layers of colors joined together into a
finished picture. As a result, this process is very time-consuming
and slow. Because of the labor involved and the time involved in
this process, this process is very expensive when compared to other
methods of printing. Although automated screen printing presses are
available, they are generally designed for production of small
images (e.g., a tee shirt), rather than the larger images often
desired for one-way graphics. Finally, because of the labor
involved, screen printing is generally not economical unless a
minimum number of printed images are being prepared.
[0009] Until now, these are the two main methods of creating
one-way window graphics. Because of this one-way window graphics
have remained very expensive. The methods described above require
special printing substrates and specialized printing machines. It
would be more economical to produce one-way graphics if images
could be printed using mass production techniques such as
lithograph, offset, or web-offset printing processes, and/or using
cheaper, generic printing materials. One-way graphics produced
using the methods above are visually static, in that the image
printed on the graphic does not move in any way. They are also
non-emissive and rely entirely on ambient light.
[0010] It is an object of the invention to introduce cheaper, mass
producible one-way graphics. The invention described below is a
process for making one-way Graphic material through such mass
production techniques. Another object of the invention is to
introduce one-way graphics that allow or simulate dynamic images,
and to introduce forms of one-way graphics that have novel lighting
effects.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] This invention relates to materials for one-way graphics and
manufacturing techniques for the production of both those materials
and one-way graphic images. In particular, this invention relates
to novel substrates for one-way graphics, methods of producing
those substrates, and methods of placing images upon them.
[0012] This document also relates to a series of different
configurations used to modify the perceived vision of light passing
through, refracted or reflected by the one-way graphic material. As
one becomes familiar with the range products after reading these
descriptions, it will become apparent that there are many other
uses for these products. Many of these products are designed to be
selectively light permeable and will also be permeable or
selectively permeable to air or gases, water or other liquids, gels
or other viscous fluids, sound, energy, radiation, magnetism,
granular solids and, or electromagnetic fields. As such, different
products can be designed with the technology herein that combines
several of these functions, for example a product that is permeable
to both light and gases or a product that is permeable to light and
gases yet is not permeable to granular solids. Many of the light
permeable designs herein have so-called one-way vision properties,
where vision from one side of the product is substantially
different from vision from a different side or angle. Many one-way
vision products have the property of allowing vision through the
product in one direction while creating a visual display that is
visible from another direction.
[0013] A first embodiment of the invention is a base material for
use in creation of one-way graphics, wherein the base material is a
dye-receptive substrate, with a pattern of areas of ink-repellent
material layered over the dye-receptive substrate to define a
non-printing area. In a method of printing using this base
material, an image may be printed onto the base material. After a
period of drying or curing, dye may be removed from the
non-printing area by wiping or washing away the dye from the areas
of the panel covered by the dye-repellent layer. Such materials may
be used as actual substrates for one-way graphics, or may be used
as transfer plates for transfer of images to other materials.
Variations on this embodiment can be used depending on whether the
dye is ink, paint, toner, or some other form of dye.
[0014] In another embodiment of the invention, one-way graphics may
be produced using a panel of material comprising a transparent
substrate with a perforated or selectively permeable removable
covering over its face. The perforated or selectively permeable
layer has adhesion properties so it peels off easily and is very
thin. This assembly can be backed with adhesive and a protective
release liner. The printable panel would be constructed so that an
image may be printed on the panel as a whole. Once the printing is
complete, the perforated low tack covering is separated from the
assembly leaving behind a pattern that makes up an image. The
windows or voids in the image necessary for the one-way graphic
effect are created by the removal of the perforated covering. The
panel may then be mounted on a window or other transparent surface
for one-way graphic effect.
[0015] Also disclosed herein are light masks for producing images
for one-way window graphics on electrostatic machines and methods
of using those light masks. This light mask can be a perforated,
opaque material that screens portions of the image to be copied
from the imaging system. The light mask creates a pattern of holes
or voids in the pattern of the image created by the electrostatic
machine. When the image is then printed onto a transparent
substrate, the image has a pattern of holes or voids through which
one can see. Another configuration for a light mask is that of a
pattern printed upon a transparent sheet. This sheet is placed in
between the scanning surface and the image to be copied. The
portions of the image to be copied that are visible to the scanner
or copier are copied while the blocked portions are not. When this
broken up pattern of the image is copied or transferred to a
transparent substrate a one-way graphic can be created. Further
variations on this invention are described below.
[0016] Also disclosed are printing methods involving the
application of variously ordered layers of light-absorbing,
light-reflective, and image mediums to printing substrates with
raised and lowered areas to create one-way graphics. The invention
also includes new forms of one-way graphics, including lenticular
and holographic one-way displays, and one-way displays having
internal lighting sources.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0017] FIG. 1 shows cross sections of one-way graphic material
produced on top of a substrate that repels certain inks or paints
at each step in the process of the material's production.
[0018] FIG. 2 shows a cross section of one-way graphic material in
which an image is printed on a transparent substrate in a pattern
that leaves voids, wherein the print pattern is applied as a
reverse image.
[0019] FIG. 3 shows cross-sectional views of one-way graphic
material that utilizes printing onto a transparent ink-binding
substrate with an ink repellent material to create a non-printable
area on the ink-binding substrate.
[0020] FIG. 4 shows cross-sectional views of reverse-image one-way
graphic material that utilizes printing onto a transparent
ink-binding substrate with an ink repellent material to create a
non-printable area on the ink-binding substrate, with an optional
light reflective layer.
[0021] FIGS. 5A through 5D show one-way graphic materials with the
addition of a protective backing layer (7) and either an adhesive
coating or a surface modified to provide static cling properties
(8).
[0022] FIG. 6 depicts a 6-color printing apparatus and process with
six stations.
[0023] FIG. 7 shows a method and apparatus of printing a one-way
graphic material using and applicator or printer that applies dye
material through a perforated roll.
[0024] FIG. 8 shows a variation of the apparatus of FIG. 89.
[0025] FIG. 9 shows a cross-section of a transfer graphic.
[0026] FIG. 10 shows a cross-section of the application of a
transfer graphic of FIG. 9.
[0027] FIG. 11 shows the elements of FIG. 10 being separated from
one another.
[0028] FIG. 12 shows a cross-section of a transfer graphic in which
the image, light reflective material and light-absorbing material
stay with the perforated membrane and separate from the substrate
and release layer of the transfer graphic material.
[0029] FIG. 13 shows a possible light mask screen for use with
color copiers, scanners, or other such graphic input devices.
[0030] FIGS. 14-16 show different patterns of light mask
screens.
[0031] FIG. 17 shows a palate material for creating one-way
graphics.
[0032] FIGS. 18-19 show cross sections of variations of printing
methods using conductive elements (35) on the back side or the side
opposite the printed surface of the substrate (84).
[0033] FIG. 20 shows a view of the surface of the configuration of
FIG. 19 after an image has been applied.
[0034] FIG. 21 shows a variation of FIG. 95 with the addition of a
conductive strip (89) along one side of the assembly.
[0035] FIGS. 22 and 23 shows a configuration similar to FIG. 96 and
with the exception that the conductive elements are on the same
surface as the subsequently applied charged colorants.
[0036] FIG. 24 shows a view of the surface of the configuration of
FIG. 101 after an image has been applied.
[0037] FIGS. 25 and 26 show printers or copier machines (94) that
apply charged colorants.
[0038] FIGS. 27-29 show formation of a material with permeable
areas.
[0039] FIG. 30 shows a cross section view of a material that has
been processed to have a non-printable area.
[0040] FIG. 31 shows a material similar to that of FIG. 30 where
the areas have a deeper profile.
[0041] FIG. 32-41 shows a transparent substrate (68) which has been
molded, formed, extruded, vacuum formed or otherwise modified to
create raised areas and/or lowered areas, and variations in which
coatings and image layers are printed onto the raised surface.
[0042] FIGS. 42-46 show a transparent substrate (68) which has been
molded, formed, extruded, vacuum formed or otherwise modified to
create raised areas and/or lowered areas, and variations in which
coatings and image layers are printed using materials that
selectively settle into the grooves of the textured surface.
[0043] FIGS. 47-49 shows a forward view of a substrate which has
been modified to create areas that are raised and areas that are
lowered, depicting how the areas of texture may be distributed
across the surface of the printing substrate.
[0044] FIG. 50 shows a cross-section of a variation of a substrate
which has been modified to create areas that are raised and areas
that are lowered.
[0045] FIGS. 51-53 show additional forward views of a substrate
which has been modified to create areas that are raised and areas
that are lowered, depicting how the areas of texture may be
distributed across the surface of the printing substrate.
[0046] FIGS. 54 and 55 show a side view a printing process using
substrates with raised and lowered areas and the product of such
process.
[0047] FIGS. 56-57 show one-way graphic materials utilizing an
internal light source.
[0048] FIGS. 58-61 show one-way graphic materials utilizing
lenticular lenses in conjunction with an image layer and a
silhouette pattern to create one-way lenticular patterns.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0049] As used herein, "one-way graphic materials" refers to
materials that appear essentially opaque and non-transparent from
the image side, but appear substantially transparent when viewed
from the non-image side under appropriate light conditions. The
direction of one-way vision may change with environmental
conditions, such as when night falls and lights are turned on
inside a building. Images are typically placed on the light side of
the one-way material. People viewing from that side will see the
image. People viewing the material from the back side of the
material do not see the image, but instead see the environment on
the far side of the one-way graphic. Generally, one-way graphic
materials are constructed using films or sheets that have multiple
gaps or perforations in their non-transparent surface, thereby
allowing light to permeate through the material.
[0050] "Non-printable area" or "non-bonding area" refers generally
to any area of print medium which does not bond permanently to ink
used during printing, such that any ink on that area may be
physically removed during the printing process, leaving behind a
gap, absence, or perforation in the target image. The non-printable
or non-bonding area may be continuous or discontinuous, and may be
of varying sizes or patterns, including holes, dots, grids,
matrices, lattices, or random patterns.
[0051] "Printing" and "printing processes" include, but are not
limited to, screen printing, offset printing, lithography,
linotype, rotogravure, inkjet, electrostatic printing, xerography,
letter press, web, flexographic, and intaglio or other processes
where an image medium such as paint or ink is applied to a
substrate. This list is not meant to be exclusive or exhaustive,
and those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize additional
forms of printing.
[0052] "Image medium," "ink," and "dye" as used throughout this
document include, but are not limited to inks, paints, dyes,
pigments, electrostatic and thermal toner materials, colored
liquids, pastes, or solids, and any other materials used in various
printing, painting, and/or engraving processes to form and create
an image. This list is not meant to be exclusive or exhaustive, and
those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize additional image
mediums.
[0053] "Perforation" or "void" refers generally to any void or area
of complete transparency in a panel of one-way graphic material. A
perforation may be physical, as in the case of a hole cut through
or from a material, or visual, as in the case where a physically
non-perforated substrate contains areas of transparency.
Perforations may be of varying sizes or patterns, including holes,
dots, grids, matrices, lattices, or random patterns.
[0054] "Perforation pattern" refers to the collective area of
perforations and/or voids in a one-way graphic panel. The
perforation pattern generally constitutes 35% to 75% of the surface
area of a panel, and is usually around 50% of the area. For
example, in commercially available perforated PVC films for one-way
graphics such as SuperVue.TM., ImageVue.TM., and ImageJetVue.TM.
films distributed by Clear Focus Imaging, Inc., and Avery.RTM. HP
MPI 2728 perforated 65/35 film, the perforated area generally
constitutes 50% or 35% of the total surface area of the film.
[0055] The permeable materials as used in the descriptions herein
can be constructed, assembled, manufactured, extended, introduced,
induced, grown, molded, constrained, shaped or otherwise formed by
any one or combination of the following methods; weaving, formed
with holes, capillary action induced, foamed, sintered, crushed,
deposited, optical deposition, thermal deposition, chemical
deposition, electric or magnetic deposition, gas deposition, liquid
deposition, gel out, formed in strips, non-woven mat, printed, foam
sheet or other such method or compositions whereby some portion of
electromagnetic wave, light, liquid, solid, plasma, and or gas can
pass through the material.
[0056] The products, materials and methods described herein can be
constructed, grown, formed, constrained, shaped, molded or
otherwise made to conform to significantly one, two, or
three-dimensional shapes. These shapes can be used as advertising
media, stage props, masks, art, sculpture, medical, filtration,
protective devices, or the like. Many other products, processes and
possibilities will become apparent as one understands the
technology described herein. The descriptions herein or in no way
meant to limit the scope of the technology described herein but
merely to illustrate the potential of the technology in many
different industries.
[0057] Printing of One-Way Graphics Using Offset Methods
[0058] One embodiment of the invention is a process that works on
the same principle that is used in the offset type of printing
press, in which ink adheres to some materials and not to others. A
stencil of the image is created that has areas that attract ink and
other areas that repel the ink. When the stencil is rolled in
contact with an ink roller, the ink having an oil- or grease-type
base does not adhere to the wet areas of the stencil (i.e., those
covered with the repellent) but to the dry areas. The ink and the
ink repellant do not mix. Using multiple plates, it is possible to
deposit successive layers of different colors to create an
image.
[0059] The same principle can be used to create one-way graphics.
The surface of printed piece can be treated to act like a stencil,
to attract the marking material in some areas and to repel the
marking material in other areas. Many different patterns are
possible to give a great choice in the resulting ratio of open
areas (i.e., non-printed areas) around the marked areas and the
texture or grain size of the non-printed pattern.
[0060] In one embodiment of the invention, a repelling compound is
applied to a substrate after a pattern of a first material (e.g.,
an ink-receptive material) is printed onto the substrate. As with
the case of the stencil above, the interaction between the
repelling compound and the previously printed pattern would be such
that the repelling compound would not adhere to the portions of the
substrate covered by the pattern, but would coat all areas not
printed with the pattern of the first material. This would create
an ink-receptive pattern along with a non-printable area of the
repelling material, so that the successive colors printed onto the
substrate would be built up precisely onto the pattern of the first
material.
[0061] Another embodiment of the invention described herein
consists of a substantially clear or transparent base material
capable of bonding with ink, with a pattern deposited upon it of a
material that repels subsequent layers of ink, thereby creating a
non-bonding silhouette area. In this embodiment, the image is
printed onto the clear base material, and ink is subsequently
removed from the non-bonding area using standard means, such as a
washing or physical pressure, leaving behind a printed image.
[0062] In another embodiment of the invention, the base material is
a transfer medium designed so that the image can be transferred
from the base material to another material. The transfer medium or
substrate would be treated with the pattern of a repelling compound
prior to the printing process to create one or more non-printable
areas. The transfer medium then could be printed onto using
standard printing practices. Ink sitting on the non-printable area
of the transfer medium could then be selectively removed, and the
printed area of the transfer medium could be used to transfer the
image to the print surface.
[0063] In these various embodiments, the pattern of the repelling
compound could be used to create a series of voids or windows in
the printed surface. These windows could allow light or vision
through the finished product, which could be either a clear
substrate that is printed onto directly or a clear material that
the image would be transferred onto indirectly. The repelling
compound could be on the transfer medium prior to the printing
process. In other embodiments of a transfer or printing process, it
could be on the clear material before the image is transferred onto
it. The repelling compound could be used to coat embedded foils,
reflectives, semi transparencies, or other effects that would need
to remain substantially print- or ink-free.
[0064] The print-repelling media is formulated so that subsequent
layers (e.g., layers of different color applied during offset
printing) will not transfer over to that portion of the substrate
covered with a pattern of the print repelling compound. The
repelling compound and the subsequent layers can be applied to the
transfer medium by any combination of a printing process, a
transfer process, attraction, deposition, a direct deposit process,
a spray or jet application process, or other comparable means. The
repelling compound may be applied to the medium and be allowed to
dry before the medium is used in the subsequent processes. Or the
repelling compound may still be wet when the medium goes through
the subsequent processes. For example for multi-station printing
processes such as 4,5,6 or more color process, it may be desirable
to print the print repelling pattern onto the medium at the first
station, with the different colors following immediately.
Alternately, a person of skill in the art will recognize that the
above embodiments describe not only methods of printing one-way
graphics, but also substrates that could be distributed as printing
materials for one-way graphics on generic or specially adapted
printing apparatuses.
[0065] Depending on the nature of the subsequent layers used,
different disbursements or repellents maybe used. For example it
may be desirable to use a water-based compound when using oil-based
layers, or oil-based compounds when using water-based inks or
paints. Silicone based compounds may work with both oil-based and
water-based inks and paints.
[0066] The non-printable area created by the repellent surface may
be of any of a variety of patterns, including a pattern of lines,
dots or preferably a random pattern. In one preferred embodiment,
the ink-repelling compound would be printed in a random pattern.
The use of a random pattern will be less noticeable when the eye is
looking out through the material. This is due to the fact the human
perception looks for color and pattern in recognizing shapes color
and objects. With a random pattern one does not see a recognizable
shape, especially if the pattern is of a neutral color.
Alternately, if the base material can accept the ink or paint used
in the printing process, then the initial pattern need only be of a
compound that repels the ink or paint used in the printing process.
If the base material is such that it repels the ink or the paint
used in the printing process, then the initial pattern need only be
of a compound that attracts and bonds to the subsequent layers
and/or colors of ink or paint used in the printing process.
[0067] The printing process described herein could use a modified
source material or modified manufacturing techniques. With the
modified source material, it would use a transparent material that
is pre-printed with an area that repels ink. When the material is
printed using an offset web printing process, it first goes through
a black ink process, next it goes through a white printing process,
and then it goes through a four or six color process as needed.
Each layer and color of ink is bonds only in those areas desired
and not in those areas which repel the ink.
[0068] For the modified manufacturing technique, a new station
would be added which would apply the repelling compound to the
material as it is fed through the web printing process. The
repelling compound would be such that it would adhere to the
material yet the ink would not adhere to it. The areas to be left
clear can be done in a random pattern so that a pattern in not as
discernible.
[0069] FIG. 1 shows a one-way graphic material produced from a
substrate that repels certain inks or paints. In step A, the
transparent or translucent substrate (1) is printed with a bonding
material that is a dark, light-absorbing color (2) in a pattern
that leaves voids. In step B, a material with a light reflective
color (3) is printed, painted or otherwise applied where it bonds
to the light-absorbing material (2) but not to the substrate (1).
Step C shows a monochromatic or multicolor image (4) printed,
painted, or otherwise applied onto the assembly where the image
bonds to the light reflective coating (3) but not to the substrate
of (1). Steps A, B and C may be done one right after the other
within seconds or fractions thereof or they may be done with longer
periods of time between the steps such as days, months or years. A
product of step A or steps A and B may be produced and marketed as
a ready-to-print material. A substrate material prepared in this
way could be printed upon with standard printing equipment through
various different printing methods or combinations thereof, or
could be printed upon using specialized equipment optimized for
printing on the substrate.
[0070] Each of the steps in FIGS. 1 through 5 can be done through
methods such as lithography, web-fed or sheet-fed offset printing,
electrostatic transfer, screen printing, paint jet, inkjet, stamp
process, painting or the like, or through combinations of those
methods. The products of FIGS. 1 through 5 can be produced through
a combination of methods such as lithography, web-fed or sheet-fed
offset printing, electrostatic transfer, screen printing, paint
jet, inkjet or the like.
[0071] FIG. 2 shows a transparent substrate (1) that is printed
with a monochromatic or multicolor image (4) in a pattern that
leaves voids in step A. The image would be applied as a reverse
image so that the image would be correct when viewed through the
transparent substrate. In step B a dark or light-absorbing coating
(2) is then printed, painted or otherwise applied that adheres to
the image pattern but not to the substrate of (1). As with the
product of FIG. 1, the product can be produced through methods such
as lithography, web-fed or sheet-fed offset printing, electrostatic
transfer, paint jet, inkjet or the like.
[0072] It is possible to produce a product with a transparent
substrate that is then coated with a transparent or translucent
bonding material. This bonding material is adhered to the substrate
in a pattern that leaves voids. This assembly is then imaged as in
FIG. 2A, where the ink or paint that makes up the image coating
adheres and bonds to the bonding material, but is repelled from the
surface of the substrate in the areas of the voids. The image would
be applied as a reverse image so that the image would be correct
when viewed through the transparent substrate. The product of this
configuration would have a dark or light-absorbing coating applied
as in FIG. 2B. As with the product of FIG. 1, the product of this
configuration can be produced through methods such as lithography,
web-fed or sheet-fed offset printing, screen printing,
electrostatic transfer, paint jet, inkjet or the like.
[0073] FIG. 3A shows a transparent substrate (5) and a transparent
compound (6) that repels selected inks or paints. The transparent
compound (6) is applied to the substrate with such methods as
lithography, web-fed or sheet-fed offset printing, screen printing,
electrostatic transfer, paint jet, inkjet or the like. The
transparent compound (6) is applied in a pattern to the substrate.
The pattern of the transparent compound (6) applied to the
substrate (S) is one that leaves voids in the pattern. A
light-absorbing ink or paint (2) is then applied to the assembly of
FIG. 3B that is repelled from the areas of the transparent compound
pattern, yet bonds to the areas of the substrate (5) devoid of the
transparent compound (6). An optional light reflective compound (3)
is then applied to the assembly in step 3C such that the light
reflective compound (3) adheres to the light-absorbing compound (2)
but is repelled from the transparent compound (6). In step 3D the
image is applied to the assembly where it adheres to the optional
light reflective coating (3) or the light-absorbing compound (2)
but is repelled from the transparent compound (6).
[0074] FIG. 4A shows a transparent substrate (S) and a transparent
compound (6) that repels selected inks or paints. The transparent
compound (6) is applied to the substrate with such methods as
lithography, web-fed or sheet-fed offset printing, screen printing,
electrostatic transfer, paint jet, inkjet or the like. The
transparent compound (6) is applied in a pattern to the substrate.
The pattern of the transparent compound (6) applied to the
substrate (5) is one that leaves voids in the pattern. An image (4)
is then applied to the assembly of FIG. 4B that is repelled from
the areas of the transparent compound pattern (6), yet bonds to the
areas of the substrate (S) devoid of the transparent compound (6).
The image would be applied as a reverse image so that the image
would be correct when viewed through the transparent substrate. An
optional light reflective compound (3) is then applied to the
assembly in step 4C such that the light reflective compound (3)
adheres to the image (4) but is repelled from the transparent
compound (6). In step 4D a light-absorbing material is applied to
the assembly where it adheres to the optional light reflective
coating (3) or the image (4) but is repelled from the transparent
compound (6).
[0075] FIGS. 5A through D show the previously mentioned
configurations with the addition of a protective backing layer (7)
and either an adhesive coating or a surface modified to provide
static cling properties (8). FIG. 5A shows the product of FIG. 1C
as number (9) with the addition of a protective backing layer (7)
and either an adhesive coating or a surface modified to provide
static cling properties (8). FIG. 5B shows the product of FIG. 2B
as number (10) with the addition of a protective backing layer (7)
and either an adhesive coating or a surface modified to provide
static cling properties (8). FIG. 5C shows the product of FIG. 3D
as number (11) with the addition of a protective backing layer (7)
and either an adhesive coating or a surface modified to provide
static cling properties (8). FIG. 5D shows the product of FIG. 4D
as number (12) with the addition of a protective backing layer (7)
and either an adhesive coating or a surface modified to provide
static cling properties (8). Virtually all of the different
configurations described herein may have the addition of layers or
panels (7) and (8). FIG. 6 shows a diagram of a printing apparatus
and process with six stations. Such a printing process is commonly
known as six color process printing. The print drum (13) transfers
the print medium, transparent compound, ink or paint (14) onto the
substrate (16) which is to be printed upon. The print medium,
transparent compound, ink or paint (14) is stored in a reservoir
that supplies the desired substance to the feed roller (15).
[0076] Six similar stations are shown as 6A through 6F. For the
production of the assembly of FIG. 1 by means of offset process or
the like, the first station (6A) would apply a light-absorbing
coating that bonds to the desired substrate, the second (6B) would
apply a light reflective coating. The stations 6C through 6F would
apply the desired inks, paints or compounds to complete the desired
image. The compounds applied bond to the previously applied
compounds and not to the substrate. More or fewer stations can be
used as desired or as required for any particular application. Each
of the steps can be done in a continuous manner or can be done at
different times and/or be done at different locations as
desired.
[0077] For the production of the assembly of FIG. 2 by means of
offset process or the like the first stations would apply the
desired colors and a light reflective coating if also desired. The
last station would apply the light-absorbing coating. Alternately,
the last station could (6F) could apply a protective coating to the
assembly. More or fewer stations can be used as desired or as
required for any particular application. Each of the steps can be
done in a continuous manner or can be done at different times
and/or be done at different locations as desired.
[0078] For the production of the assembly of FIG. 3 by means of
offset process or the like the first station (6A) would apply the
repelling compound. The second (6B) would apply the light-absorbing
coating that bonds to the areas of the substrate devoid of the
repelling compound but are repelled from the areas coated by the
repelling compound. The remaining stations would apply the desired
colors and a light reflective coating if also desired. The last
station could apply a protective coating to the assembly. More or
fewer stations can be used as desired or as required for any
particular application. As with the other configurations, each of
the steps can be done in a continuous manner or can be done at
different times and/or be done at different locations as
desired.
[0079] For the production of the assembly of FIG. 4 by means of
offset process or the like the first station (6A) would apply the
repelling compound. The second (6B) would apply the light
reflective coating that bonds to the areas of the substrate devoid
of the repelling compound but are repelled from the areas coated by
the repelling compound. The remaining stations would apply the
desired colors and finally a light-absorbing coating. The last
station could apply a protective coating to the assembly. More or
fewer stations can be used as desired or as required for any
particular application. As with the other configurations, each of
the steps can be done in a continuous manner or can be done at
different times and/or be done at different locations as
desired.
[0080] The following is a set of steps for the production of one
configuration of a base material by means of offset process or the
like for use with inkjet, painting or paint jet, or other such
imaging processes. The first station (6A) would apply the repelling
compound to the desired substrate. The second (6B) would apply a
light-absorbing coating that bonds to the areas of the substrate
devoid of the repelling compound but are repelled from the areas
coated by the repelling compound. The next station would apply a
light reflective coating if also desired. The last station could
apply a protective coating to the assembly. More or fewer stations
can be used as desired or as required for any particular
application. As with the other configurations, each of the steps
can be done in a continuous manner or can be done at different
times and/or be done at different locations as desired.
[0081] In subsequent steps the assembly above is then imaged with
such means a painting, inkjet, paint jet, or the like, where the
applied compounds bond to the light reflective coating areas but
not to the areas of the assembly with the repelling compound.
[0082] The following is a set of steps for the production of
another configuration of a base material by means of offset process
or the like for use with inkjet, processes using charged toner
particles, transfer processes, painting or paint jet, or other such
imaging processes. This configuration would use a substrate with
inherent repelling properties. The first station (6A) would apply a
light-absorbing coating that bonds to the substrate. The next
station (6B) would apply a light reflective coating if also desired
that bonds to the light-absorbing coating but is repelled from the
areas of the substrate that are devoid of the light-absorbing
coating. More or fewer stations can be used as desired or as
required for any particular application. As with the other
configurations, each of the steps can be done in a continuous
manner or can be done at different times and/or be done at
different locations as desired.
[0083] In subsequent steps the assembly above is then imaged with
such means a painting, inkjet, paint jet, or the like, where the
applied compounds bond to the light reflective coating areas but
not to the areas of the repelling substrate that are uncovered by
the bonding light-absorbing coating and the light reflective
coating.
[0084] Another configuration for a one-way graphic base material
for imaging through such processes as inkjet, painting or paint
jet, processes using charged toner particles, transfer processes,
or other such imaging processes can be produced by means of offset
process or the like. This configuration would use transparent
substrate or one that transmits a portion of light. The first
station (6A) would apply a repelling compound to areas of the
substrate. In subsequent steps the assembly above is then imaged
with such means a painting, inkjet, paint jet, or the like, where
the applied compounds bond to the substrate in the areas that are
free of the repelling compound. The image is printed in reverse and
then covered with an optional light reflective coating and then a
light-absorbing coating, both of which bonds to the substrate but
not to the repelling compound.
[0085] Alternately, the light-absorbing coating and the light
reflective coating can be applied to the assembly of the substrate
and the repelling compound as shown in FIG. 3A. Next the assembly
is coated with a light-absorbing coating and then a light
reflective coating.
[0086] Then the image is produced through painting, inkjet, paint
jet or the like. Each of the coatings applied after the repelling
compound is repelled from those areas of the substrate that are
coated by the repelling compound.
[0087] A base material that can be transparent, translucent or
opaque that will hold an image can be coated with a pattern of
repelling material in the first station 6A. This assembly can then
be imaged and coated with a light-absorbing material and an
optional light reflective material between the image and the
light-reflecting layer. These coatings temporarily adhere to the
substrate in the areas without the repelling compound and are
repelled from the areas with the repelling compound. The
combination of image, optional light-reflecting layer and
light-absorbing area can then be transferred to a transparent
material to create a one-way graphic material. The order of the
image, optional light reflective layer and light-absorbing areas
may be changed if desired to create a one-way graphic material with
a different orientation. Alternately, a substrate with repelling
properties may be coated with a temporary bonding material in a
pattern and then be coated and processed as above with materials
that transfer to a transparent material.
[0088] Other printing or painting processes can be used to apply
the various compounds and substances as outlined here.
[0089] For the web process production or other continuous printing
production of any of the configurations the substrate (4) could be
supplied by roll material in a continuous manner. After going
through one or more of the steps 6A through 6F, the assembly would
then be cut to the desired size. This could create a one-way
graphic feed stock or base material for other printing
processes.
[0090] Inkjet Printing
[0091] One-way materials can also be produced through an inkjet
printing process. Since many base materials naturally repel the
inkjet printing liquid it would be easy to apply the principles
outlined here for the production of inkjet-printed one-way graphic
materials. For inkjet-printed one-way graphic materials, a clear
substrate with inkjet liquid repelling properties is printed with a
bonding material capable of bonding to both the clear substrate and
to the inkjet liquid in a pattern that contains voids. This bonding
material can be of a black or dark color that is then over-printed
with a white compound. This one-way material would be produced for
mounting the graphic material with the image visible on the outside
of the transparent surface on which the material would be mounted.
Shaped or three dimensional products can be similarly constructed
with the structure of the material being deposited as desired. Such
products can be constructed by any of the deposition methods.
[0092] To create an inkjet base material for mounting the graphic
to enable viewing it through the glass, the bonding material would
be transparent or translucent. Colors are printed using different
colored inks, which attract to and bond to the areas of the
substrate with the bonding material, but are repelled from areas of
the substrate without the bonding material. Once all of the colors
are printed then the remaining areas of the bonding material
pattern are printed with white inkjet liquid. The final stage is
the over-printing of all colors, including the white, with black
inkjet liquid. Of course this sequence can be reversed so that the
image is visible on the opposite side of the assembly.
[0093] Equipment modifications to the inkjet printer may be
required to accomplish the necessary steps. Alternately, one can
run the graphic through the printer one or more times after
changing the inkjet color cartridge.
[0094] For printing, forming, constructing, growing, developing, or
deposition processes using particulate matter, a pattern of
particulate receptive areas and particulate areas can be printed or
otherwise deposited onto or created on a clear substrate or onto a
transfer medium. The particulate matter in subsequent operations is
attracted or transferred to the receptive areas and rejected from
the repelling areas, which are transparent. The pattern created
allows light passages through the area of the repelling compound.
Both the receptive and the repelling compounds can be printed,
formed, constructed, grown, developed, deposited or copied onto a
clear medium or transferred onto a clear medium or substrate. The
patterns created could have the image broken up into blocks or
pixels with the light passages around the individual pixels. The
areas around the pattern can create voids, holes, or windows in the
pattern, which become the light passages.
[0095] Different variations are possible with this theme. For
example, receptive areas may be created on a substrate with natural
repelling properties, or repelling areas may be created on a
substrate that can attract and hold the particles. If the particles
are deposited onto a transfer material, the transfer material may
have areas with receptive areas or repelling areas. The receptive
and/or attractive areas of any of the products described herein can
have these properties through the use of chemical, mechanical,
thermal, electrical, or magnetic manipulation, or any combination
thereof. The transfer material may have natural repelling
properties and be made to have a pattern of receptive areas, or the
transfer material may have natural attracting properties and be
made to have a pattern of repelling areas. Additionally it is
possible that a typical or unmodified transfer material that has
been printed or otherwise imaged transfer the image onto a
substrate with receptive areas or repelling areas as described
above.
[0096] The repelling areas may be areas with an inherent charge of
the same polarity as the particles. Or the repelling areas may be
created through conductive inks that dissipate the charges that are
applied to the print medium during the process in order to attract
the charged particles. If this charge is dissipated on areas on the
medium during the process, the particles are not attracted to those
areas. These areas become the light passages or windows that create
the one-way graphic effect.
[0097] The substrate may be constructed of a number of stacked
elements one or more of which is a dielectric coating or material
and one or more of which is an electrically conductive coating or
material. One or more of the conductive layers can have a pattern
which can either attract or repel the layers into specific patterns
when charged electrostatically with the charge the same or
different polarity than that of the inherent charge of the
particles
[0098] Four or more color processes can be built up side-by-side or
one on top of the other in order to achieve different effects. For
the creation of directly imaged one-way graphics, the electrostatic
copier or printer could be directed to print a continuous layer of
neutral dark color which would be broken up into a pattern by the
attraction or the repulsion of the particles. This is accomplished
by the charge that is present in the conductive layers of the
substrate. Conversely, the conductive layers of the substrate may
fail to attract the particles. The other layers that make up the
image are deposited on to the pattern as needed to achieve the
desired image. Voids in the image are created by the pattern of
attracted or repelled particles which when copied or printed onto a
clear substrate with clear dielectric ink conductive coatings, or
when transferred onto a clear substrate, permit the passage of
light and the ability to see through the assembly, through the
voids.
[0099] FIG. 7 shows a method of printing a one-way graphic material
onto a transparent substrate (5) through such processes as inkjet
printing, paint jet printing, processes using sprayed inks,
processes using sprayed paints, processes using sprayed particles,
processes using sprayed toner particles, processes using sprayed
powders, or the like. The applicator or printer (80) is inside a
perforated roll or tube (82) and can move back and forth inside the
tube. Conversely the printer may be stationary while the tube (82)
and a substrate (5) move back and forth. The applicator or printer
(80) sprays or otherwise applies the desired colorant onto the
substrate (5) through the perforations of the perforated tube (82).
The perforated tube can be in contact with the substrate (5) so
that the desired material is sprayed or otherwise applied cleanly
through the perforations. Multiple spray heads or applicators on
the printer or applicator (80) can apply many different colors or
types of material in a single pass. As areas of the substrate are
printed or coated as desired the substrate moves as indicated, the
perforated tube or roll (82) rolls on the surface of the substrate
and rotates through an optional cleaning station (81). The
substrate, in addition to various different plastic materials, may
be a glass substrate. Additionally, the applied colorant may be
fusing powders that fuse to the substrate in the presence of energy
for example heat, directed energy, ultraviolet light, radiation,
microwaves, magnetic field, electrical field, electrostatic field,
laser light, or other such energies source.
[0100] FIG. 8 shows a configuration similar to that of FIG. 89
without the optional cleaning station (81), which is not needed if
the perforated roll or tube is constructed of or coated with a
material that sheds were repels the applied materials. The product
of FIG. 90 is also oriented differently with the image applied
first and then light reflective coatings and light-absorbing
coatings applied. FIG. 89 showed the light-absorbing coatings
applied first.
[0101] Transparent Substrate with Perforated Covering
[0102] Another method of producing one-way graphic material is to
use a transparent substrate with a perforated or selectively
permeable covering over its face. The perforated or permeable layer
has adhesion properties so it peels off easily and is very thin.
This assembly can be backed with adhesive and a protective release
liner, using electrostatic static cling properties, magnetic, gas
pressure or other such methods designed to keep the permeable layer
in close proximity to the substrate. This assembly can be packaged
for use with various different imaging methods. In practice for an
exterior amount one-way window graphic material, a dark
light-absorbing coating would be printed or applied first, next an
optional light-reflecting coating may be applied, then the image is
printed. Once the printing is complete the perforated low tack
covering is separated from the assembly leaving behind a pattern
that makes up an image. The windows or voids in the image necessary
for the one-way graphic effect are created by the removal of the
perforated covering.
[0103] An interior mounted one-way window graphic material would
have the image printed first in reverse followed by an optional
light reflective coating, then a dark light-absorbing coating. This
configuration would also have the low tack perforated covering
separated from the assembly after imaging, creating voids in the
image. The view through these voids is from the side opposite where
the image is visible. Any ink or paint that is applied to the low
tack perforated covering is removed from the assembly along with
the low tack perforated covering. If this low tack perforated
covering is thin enough virtually any type of printing process may
be used to create one-way window graphics.
[0104] Since the one-way graphic effect is dependent on two primary
factors, the first being perception and the other being lighting, a
random pattern works best on fooling perception. Human perception
works by recognizing colors and shape patterns. When a random
pattern is used and overprinted with a dark ink or paint, the human
eye does not see the color or the pattern on the surface of the
one-way graphic, so the eye looks beyond to where there is color
and pattern. On the opposite side, the color and patterns are
printed on the graphic surface so the eye stops at the surface and
generally does not see beyond the surface. The one-way effect works
best when the lighting is greater on the side of the graphic image
and not behind the graphic surface.
[0105] In addition to an image being printed onto the graphic
surface, an image can be projected onto a one-way surface. In this
configuration a panel with a black or dark surface on one side has
a light colored surface that can have embedded light reflective
components on the opposite side. This assembly is light permeable
so that light and vision passes selectively through the assembly.
Printing a black or light-absorbing pattern on a transparent sheet,
and then printing a white or light-reflecting coating on top of the
light-absorbing layer is another method of producing a projection
one-way screen. When a transparent substrate with ultraviolet
screening properties is used, the printed portion of the screen is
protected by ultraviolet light coming through the screen. This
protects the screen image from fading in bright sunlight. The
screen would show a pattern of light reflective material on one
side of the screen and voids in the pattern through which one can
see. The opposite side would show a dark, light-absorbing pattern
with voids through which one can see.
[0106] Alternately, the light reflective coating can be printed
first which is then overlaid with a dark layer of printing. The
substrate material can be various different materials that have a
clear adhesive layer on the backside that is protected by a release
layer. The release layer is peeled away from the substrate to
expose the adhesive layer prior to the installation of the one-way
projection screen to the glass surface. The substrate may also be a
material with static cling properties; materials with an embedded
electrostatic charge that is attracted to the window or glass
surface through electrostatic attraction.
[0107] FIG. 9 shows a substrate (36) that contains a release layer
(78) a light-absorbing material (2) and optional light reflective
material (3) and an image (4) that as an assembly is referred to as
the transfer graphic. The transfer graphic can be mass-produced
with or without the layers (2), (3), and (4). These layers can be
added at later times. An assembly consisting of (36), (78), (2) and
(3) can produce a material ready for imaging. A perforated membrane
(79) is between the above described assembly and a transparent
substrate (5).
[0108] FIG. 10 shows the elements and assemblies of FIG. 85 pressed
together. Under pressure and/or heat the image (4) is pressed
through the holes of the perforated membrane (79) to contact and
bond with the substrate (5).
[0109] FIG. 11 shows the elements of FIG. 10 being separated from
one another. Stacked elements consisting of image layer, light
reflective material, and light-absorbing material bond to the
substrate (5) in the areas through the holes of the membrane (79)
FIG. 87 shows that it is possible that portions of the image, light
reflective material in the light-absorbing material that were
prevented from transferring to the substrate by the perforated
membrane remained on the transfer graphic.
[0110] FIG. 12 is similar to FIG. 11 with the exception that the
image, light reflective material and light-absorbing material stay
with the perforated membrane and separate from the substrate and
release layer of the transfer graphic material.
[0111] Light Mask One-Way Graphics
[0112] Images for one-way window graphics can be produced on
electrostatic machines with the use of a light mask. This light
mask can be a perforated, opaque material that screens portions of
the image to be copied from the imaging system. Such electrostatic
machines use a roller or plate that is electrostatically charged.
Light reflected onto the roller or plate modifies the charge
according to the image to be copied. When the light is interrupted
and broken into a pattern by the light mask the image on the roller
or plate is similarly broken into a pattern. When the image is then
printed onto a transparent substrate, the image has a pattern of
holes or voids through which one can see. Another configuration for
a light mask is that of a pattern printed upon a transparent sheet.
This sheet is placed in between the scanning surface and the image
to be copied. The portions of the image to be copied that are
visible to the scanner or copier are copied while the blocked
portions are not. When this broken up pattern of the image is
copied or transferred to a transparent substrate a one-way graphic
can be created.
[0113] Alternately, the roller or plate mechanism of the
electrostatic copier can be modified so that areas of the roller or
plate are unaffected by either the charging process or the
modification by the light.
[0114] Inks or paints that settle or separate during the drying and
curing process can produce one-way graphic materials. These inks or
paints would be printed onto a transparent substrate and could work
in either of two ways. The first way is that once the image is
printed in a series of dots a dark color moves to the bottom of the
dot which is in contact with the surface of the substrate while the
different colors migrate to or stay at the surface of the dot. From
the printed surface one sees the different colors in a pattern with
voids that make up an image. From the reverse, one looks through
the transparent substrate to see a dark pattern with voids. Since
one does not see color or a recognizable pattern in the black
pattern one sees through the voids to where there is color and
pattern.
[0115] The second method of producing a one-way graphic material
through separating inks, dyes or paints uses inks, dyes or paints
that separate with the dark color rising to the surface of the
printed pattern, while the color moves to the bottom of the printed
pattern which is in contact with the transparent substrate.
[0116] The motive force for the separation of the different colors
can be such forces as electrostatic attraction/repulsion, magnetic
attraction/repulsion, gravity, centrifugal force, laser, microwave,
particle beam, electron beam, or other such energy source.
[0117] It is possible to create one-way graphics through the use of
inks or paints in which the surface changes color when exposed to
energy sources such as electrostatic attraction/repulsion, magnetic
attraction/repulsion, gravity, centrifugal force, laser, microwave,
particle beam, electron beam, heat, cold, or other such energy
source. The graphic would be applied to a transparent material in a
pattern that would leave voids for the transmission of light.
Energy would be directed to the ink or paint which would change the
color of the inks or paint's surface. The energy could darken the
pattern uniformly on the surface, yet the color and pattern when
viewed form the opposite side (through the transparent material)
would appear unaffected. An observer would see a pattern of dark
areas on the surface of a transparent material from one side, and
would see a graphic image from the reverse when looking through the
transparent material.
[0118] Alternately, the graphic image can be exposed to energy
through the transparent material that changes the color of the ink
or paint layer that is in contact with the transparent material.
The exposed surface of the ink or paint would appear unaffected. An
observer with this configuration would see a graphic image when
looking at the side of the transparent material with the ink or
paint. From the opposite side the observer would see the pattern,
changed by the energy, through the transparent material.
[0119] Similar products can be produced through the use of inks or
paints that change colors when exposed to other elements,
compounds, solvents, chemicals, gases, or the like. The surface of
the ink or paint in this configuration can be changed by such means
or the layer of ink or paint that comes in contact with the
transparent material can change due to contact with the transparent
material or a substance applied to the transparent substrate.
Materials that change properties when exposed to temperature
variations, external force, radiation, stress, electromagnetic
fields, magnetic or electrical fields or charges, electromagnetic
radiation, field effects or the like can be used in many different
products described herein for different effects.
[0120] FIG. 13 shows a possible light mask screen for use with
color copiers, scanners, or other such graphic input devices. The
light mask screen consists of a transparent substrate (5) which has
been printed with a white or a light reflective coating (83) in
FIG. 13 the great areas are transparent areas, devoid of the white
or light reflective coating of (83). Although the screen type of
pattern is shown in FIG. 13, virtually any type of pattern can be
used for the light mask screen. The light mask screen could also be
constructed of a white material that has been perforated. The
purpose of the light mask screen is to break up a solid original
graphic into a duplicate graphic with holes or voids creating light
passages for a one-way graphic effect. There are many different
ways such a light mask screen can be used to create one-way graphic
materials. One-way is through the use of a black and white or color
copying machine. The light mask is placed on the scanning surface
and then the desired image is placed upon the light mask. The light
mask is in between the scanning surface and the desired image. When
the desired image is copied onto a transparent substrate there are
holes or voids in the pattern of the image on the copy. A one-way
graphic effect is created when the either the first or the last
color applied to the transparent substrate is that of a dark
light-absorbing material. Other uses for the light screen in
creating one-way graphics is to screen stencils, photo-emulsion
materials, scanned images, or other processes that copy, scan,
duplicate, digitize, or otherwise make replications of graphic
images.
[0121] FIGS. 14, 15, and 16 show some of the limitless different
patterns possible for the light mask screen.
[0122] Toner Receptive One-Way Graphic Material
[0123] A one-way graphic material may be created from a transparent
medium that has areas that can attract and hold toner particles
and/or areas which repel or do not attract toner particles. A
pattern of transparent conductive material printed, painted or
otherwise applied to the surface of the transparent material could
be used for such purposes. The conductive areas could dissipate any
charges that would attract and hold the charged particles of the
toner. Additionally, the conductive areas may be charged either
directly or through such methods as induction of a charge that
would actively repel the toner particles. The transparent medium
could be covered with a pattern of a material that has an inherent
charge that repels the toner particles. Many such materials and
compounds are well known in the prior art, however their use for
creating such a one-way graphic medium is novel and unknown.
[0124] It is also possible to use a transparent substrate that has
dielectric properties, that is the ability to insulate and not
transmit or dissipate electrical charges. Prior to imaging the
graphic through an electrostatic process, the substrate may have
areas of its surface charged with a pattern of electrostatic
charge. The toner particles with their inherent charges would then
be attracted or repelled from the areas of the substrate with
electrostatic charges depending on the respective polarities of the
charges.
[0125] Often short runs of graphic materials are produced through
such means as an electrostatic plotter. Often the output of the
electrostatic plotter is that of an image on transfer paper. This
transfer paper is constructed so that its surface will accept an
image from the electrostatic plotter, yet when the image side of
the transfer paper is placed in contact with other media trough
pressure and heat, the image bonds to and is transferred to the
other media.
[0126] A one-way graphic transfer media may be created for such
printing methods as electrostatic plotters, inkjet printers, paint
jet printers, electrostatic copiers of other such imaging
processes. The one-way graphic transfer media would be constructed
of a base material such as paper, plastic, or other such media that
is coated with a light-absorbing coating and a light reflective
coating both of which are made to release form the substrate and
transfer to another media. An image is applied to the light
reflective coating of the one-way graphic transfer media through
such means as mentioned above or any other means as may be
developed. The portions of the image, the light-absorbing coating
and the light reflective coating are transferred to a transparent
media through such means as heat and/or pressure.
[0127] There are many different ways to limit the areas that are
transferred. One method is to place a screen between the
transparent media and the one-way graphic transfer media. The
transfer to the transparent media is only made where the
transparent media makes contact through the screen with the one-way
graphic transfer medium.
[0128] Additionally, one or more rollers which supply heat and/or
pressure may have a pattern of raised or lowered areas so that
certain areas of the roller produce the heat and/or the pressure
required for the transfer. The roller may even have holes or voids
that draw up a portion of either the one-way graphic transfer
medium or the transparent media through gravity, positive or
negative air pressure, electrostatic, magnetic, or other such
force. Any of these methods and other as well can transfer the
image, the light-absorbing coating and the light reflective coating
to the transparent media while leaving portions or areas void for
the transmission of light and/or vision.
[0129] Additionally either the transparent media or the one-way
graphic media after imaging may be coated with a pattern that
either assists or hinders the transfer process in order that the
finished product would have holes or voids in the graphic to allow
light transmittance.
[0130] Alternately, the transparent substrate can have areas of
embedded charge, which repel the toner particles. This substrate
can be used for all printing processes that use charged particles
or inks such as electrostatic printers, color electrostatic
printers and electrostatic plotters.
[0131] Often a greater degree of one-way effect is desired, for
greater security. Or, the application may require installation
where the image side of the graphic has a lower light level than
the see through side of the one-way graphic. One-way graphics with
a transparent substrate allow too much light through for the
one-way effect to be properly perceived. In installations such as
these a tinted or a semi-reflective substrate material may be
substituted for the transparent substrate. A tinted or a
semi-reflective substrate may be used for all embodiments where
there is a transparent substrate.
[0132] FIG. 17 shows a palate material for creating one-way
graphics through the use of different processes using charged
particles, charged droplets, charged fluids, charged slurries, or
other such charged materials. FIG. 17 shows a substrate (84) with a
series of conductive elements (35). The conductive elements can be
made of a transparent conductive material, be extremely fine so as
to appear invisible, or may be thicker and visible, depending on
the use of the palate material, whether it is to be used as a
finished product or if it is to be used as a transfer material. For
use as a finished product the substrate (84) should be transparent
and either be a dielectric material or be coated with a dielectric
material, and the conductive elements should be transparent or so
thin that they appear nearly invisible. The conductive elements may
be covered or coated with a dielectric material as desired as long
as a charging pathway is maintained. A palate material for the
transfer of charged colorant can have a transparent or opaque
substrate and/or transparent, thin or visible conductive elements
as desired. The graphic itself, consisting of layers of charged
colorant materials on the substrate (84), would be transferred to a
second, transparent substrate.
[0133] FIG. 18 shows a cross section view with the conductive
elements (35) on the back side or the side opposite the printed
surface of the substrate (84). The image or light reflective
coating (86) has been applied first and then a light-absorbing (85)
coating has been applied. When the conductive elements are charged
with an electrostatic charge the same as the charged colorant
materials, the charged colorant materials are repelled from the
areas of the substrate closest to the conductive elements. This
process creates holes or voids in the image, the light reflective
coating, and the light-absorbing coating, creating a one-way
graphic material.
[0134] FIG. 19 shows a configuration similar to FIG. 18 with the
exception that the order of application of the image or light
reflective coating (86) and the light-absorbing coating (85) has
been reversed. FIG. 19 can be pre-made as a base material for quick
and easy printing. Such a base material would have a light
reflective coating without an image. The image would be applied
onto the surface in one or more subsequent steps.
[0135] FIG. 20 shows a view of the surface of the configuration of
FIG. 19 after an image has been applied. The charged colorants that
make up the graphic have been repelled from the areas of the
charged conductive elements. Although FIGS. 17-23 show the
conductive elements as straight lines in a grid pattern, many other
patterns are possible, especially through the use of such materials
and processes as conductive appliques, conductive inks and paints,
conductive films, conductive polymers, or the like. Additionally,
any of all of the products of FIGS. 17-23 can be constructed with a
conductive substrate which has been coated or covered with a
dielectric material with a pattern of holes or voids.
[0136] FIG. 21 shows a configuration similar to FIG. 17 with the
addition of a conductive strip (89) along one side of the
assembly.
[0137] FIGS. 22 and 23 shows a configuration similar to FIG. 96 and
with the exception that the conductive elements are on the same
surface as the subsequently applied charged colorants.
[0138] FIG. 24 shows a view of the surface of the configuration of
FIG. 23 after an image has been applied. The charged colorants that
make up the graphic have been repelled from the areas of the
charged conductive elements.
[0139] This charged grid in each of the FIGS. 17 through 24 can be
a part of the assembly, or it can be a separate unit that is placed
adjacent to the base material. Additionally the charged grid can be
in the shape of a continuous grid in the shape of a drum similar to
the perforated drum of FIGS. 13 and 14.
[0140] FIGS. 25 and 26 show printers (94) that apply charged
colorants. The material of FIG. 17, 18, 19, or 20 can be in roll
form as shown by (91). A charging unit (93) that is shown below the
material in FIG. 25 and above the material in 26 charges the
conductive elements in the material. The printer applies the
charged colorants as desired. The imaged product emerges from the
other side (92). A person of skill in the art will recognize that
this method and apparatus are adaptable to create a copier as well.
The imaged product can be the product of FIGS. 18-24, or any of the
other products described in this section. The product can be a
transfer material in which the image is transferred onto a
transparent image, or the product can contain a transparent
substrate to create a one-way graphic medium.
[0141] Permeable Materials for One-Way Graphics
[0142] The permeable materials as used in the descriptions herein
can be constructed, assembled, manufactured, extended, introduced,
induced, grown, molded, constrained, shaped or otherwise formed by
any one or combination of the following methods; weaving, formed
with holes, capillary action induced, foamed, sintered, crushed,
deposited, optical deposition, thermal deposition, chemical
deposition, electric or magnetic deposition, gas deposition, liquid
deposition, gel out, formed in strips, non-woven mat, printed, foam
sheet or other such method or compositions whereby some portion of
electromagnetic wave, light, liquid, solid, plasma, and or gas can
pass through the material.
[0143] Below is a list of light permeable materials suitable for
the construction of one-way graphic vision materials. Each of these
materials would be constructed so that an image is visible on one
side of the assembly and yet one can see through the assembly when
viewing from the side opposite the image. Each of these materials
could also have an adhesive material applied and or a protective
layer applied to protect the adhesive or assembly. Also additional
protective layers could be applied to the image side of the
assembly to protect the image from environmental factors such as
weather, cleaning agents or processes, light degradation, soiling,
UV exposure, etc.
[0144] Materials may be constructed as woven materials, where
strips or threads of substrate are woven so that light may pass
through the assembly. The woven material could then be pressed flat
to minimize the surface variations caused by the warp and weave of
the weaving process. The flattening process could also bond the
material together, thereby increasing strength.
[0145] Foamed materials that are thin and permit light to pass
through may be imaged, printed or painted to create one-way graphic
materials. Foamed materials may also be pressed flat to minimize
the surface variations.
[0146] One-way graphics may be constructed from light permeable
non-woven materials. As with other materials the non-woven material
may be pressed flat to minimize surface variations or the non-woven
material may be made upon a flat surface so that the resulting
material is substantially flat enough to readily be imaged through
many different printing processes. These materials could be
monofilaments, threads, strings, fibers or the like.
[0147] Upright pins on a form into which a material is formed could
create a light permeable material suitable for one-way graphics. A
granular, fluid or plastic material would be poured, spread or
otherwise placed on the form where pins would create voids in the
finished product, creating a light permeable material.
[0148] One-way graphic materials could be constructed through a
fractured method, where two dissimilar materials, one transparent
and the other opaque are bonded together and then the opaque
material fractures, leaving voids or open areas. These voids or
open areas expose areas of the transparent material creating light
permeability. This could be accomplished by use of a transparent
material that expands relative to the opaque material causing the
opaque material to fracture, or by use of an opaque material the
fractures and shrinks relative to the transparent material or both.
The opaque material would carry the image.
[0149] FIG. 27 shows a material that is formed into a material with
permeable areas. In this illustration, a material (95) as depicted
at is made up of bits, foam, strips, chunks, fibers, monofilaments,
pieces, or other bits of material that are pressed into a material
that has permeable areas (96). Such material can be a product that
is woven of formable materials, including but not limited to
thermoformable and thermoset materials. Although rollers (94) are
show in this illustration, other types of means may be used
including adhesion, thermal, mechanical, radiation, or other such
forces, or combination of forces. The material may be formed,
shaped or otherwise constructed into shapes of multiple dimensions
if so desired. This shaping or forming can be done at this stage or
before or after this stage. This process can be used to create
materials with both two and three dimensional elements.
[0150] FIG. 28 illustrates a permeable material at (100) that is
formed from bits, strands, strips, filaments, monofilaments foam,
or other such material (98) that is deposited, sprayed, extruded,
or otherwise formed and then subsequently bonded together using
adhesion, thermal, mechanical, radiation, or other such forces, or
combination of forces. Although the illustration depicts a roller
(99) being used to apply heat and or pressure other bonding means
may be used.
[0151] FIG. 29 shows that a permeable material can be formed from
strands, strips, filaments, monofilaments or other such material
that is formed, grown, constructed, or otherwise made to conform to
a multidimensional shape. In this illustration a mold or form (102)
serves as the constraining medium for the material (101). The
material (101) may be bits, foam, strips, chunks, fibers,
monofilaments, pieces, or other bits of material may be adhered
together or otherwise bonded together to create a three dimensional
material that has permeable areas.
[0152] FIG. 30 shows a cross section view of a material that has
undergone a process that creates different areas on a substrate.
Some areas (104) are textured, crazed, crackled, embossed, etched
eroded, stressed, machined, nanomachined, grown, ablated, molded,
formed, foamed, or otherwise created so that the surface or the
interior structure of the material is modified. Such modification
can be used to attract (105) or repel (104) subsequent layers,
coatings or operations. The modification can change the optical
qualities of the substrate such that some areas are substantially
transparent (103) while other areas are substantially not
transparent (104). The areas that are substantially transparent are
left substantially un-obstructed buy subsequent operations. The
areas that are textured, crazed, crackled, embossed, etched eroded,
stressed, machined, nanomachined, grown, ablated, molded, formed,
foamed, or otherwise created can have layers, coatings, paint, ink,
markings, graphics, decoration or other such decoration or design
so that the decoration is visible under certain conditions while a
vision through the assembly is possible under other conditions. As
with all of the other configurations described herein this assembly
may be formed into planar and/or complex shapes. Further, each or
the configurations described herein may be provided with adhesive
means. Such adhesive means may take the form of an adhesive layer
protected by a removably-attached protective layer. Layers or
coatings (111) may be applied to surfaces that are at different
levels than other areas of the material.
[0153] FIG. 31 shows a material similar to that of FIG. 30 where
the areas have a deeper profile. The configurations of either FIG.
30 or 31 can be created with these different areas in different
patterns,
[0154] Mass-Printing Materials with Raised/Lowered Surfaces
[0155] FIG. 32 shows a transparent substrate (68) which has been
molded, formed, extruded, vacuum formed or otherwise modified to
create raised areas and/or lowered areas. One or more of these
processes may be done prior to the printing process in order to
create a print ready medium, or it may be done during the printing
process. The substrate may be a material with ink or paint
repelling properties to which different bonding materials are
applied to desired areas, a material to which certain inks or
paints will bond and yet other inks or paints will be repelled, or
a material to which repelling materials are applied to certain
areas. This transparent substrate which has been molded, formed,
extruded, vacuum formed or otherwise modified can be processed
similarly to the product of FIGS. 1-6.
[0156] FIG. 33 shows a light-absorbing coating (2) that is repelled
from areas of the substrate and settles into the depressions of the
substrate.
[0157] FIG. 34 shows a light-reflecting coating or an image coating
(4) which bonds to the previously applied light-absorbing
coating.
[0158] FIG. 35 shows a to light-reflecting coating or an image
coating which is printed in reverse (4) that is repelled from areas
of the substrate and settles into the depressions of the
substrate.
[0159] FIG. 36 shows a light-absorbing coating which bonds to the
previously applied light-reflecting coating or image coating.
[0160] FIG. 37 shows a transparent substrate (68) which has been
molded, formed, extruded, vacuum formed or otherwise modified to
create raised areas and/or lowered areas. As with FIG. 32, one or
more of these processes may be done prior to the printing process
in order to create a print ready medium, or it may be done during
the printing process.
[0161] FIG. 38 shows the application of a light-absorbing coating
(2) that is applied to the raised areas of the transparent
substrate. Many different printing processes may be used where the
ink, paints, toner particles, or others such print material comes
in contact with the raised areas of the substrate but not with the
lowered areas.
[0162] FIG. 39 shows the application of a light-reflecting coating
and/or an image coating which bonds to the previously applied
light-absorbing coating.
[0163] FIG. 40 shows the application of an image printed in reverse
and/or a light-reflecting coating that is applied to the raised
areas of the transparent substrate.
[0164] FIG. 41 shows the application of a light-absorbing coating
which bonds to the previously applied light-reflecting coating
and/or image coating.
[0165] FIG. 42 shows a transparent substrate which has been molded,
formed, extruded, and vacuum formed or otherwise modified to create
raised areas and/or lowered areas.
[0166] FIG. 43 shows a light-absorbing coating that settles in to
the lowered areas of the substrate and/or is wiped, or otherwise
removed from the areas of the transparent substrate which are
raised.
[0167] FIG. 44 shows a light-reflecting coating and/or an image
coating that bonds to the previously applied light-absorbing
coating. The light-reflecting coating and/or image coating settle
into the lowered areas of the substrate and/or is wiped or
otherwise removed from the areas of the transparent substrate which
are raised.
[0168] FIG. 45 shows a light-reflecting coating and/or an image
coating that settles in to the lowered areas of the substrate
and/or is wiped or otherwise removed from the areas of the
transparent substrate that are raised.
[0169] FIG. 46 shows a light-absorbing coating applied to the
previously applied light-reflecting coating and/or image coating
that settles into the lowered areas of the substrate and/or is
wiped or otherwise removed from the areas of the transparent
substrate that are raised.
[0170] FIG. 47 shows one possible configuration of a substrate with
the areas which has been molded, formed, extruded, vacuum formed or
otherwise modified to create areas that are raised (70) and areas
that are lowered (69). From the opposite side of this panel the
areas (69) would signify areas that are raised while (70) would
show areas that are lowered.
[0171] FIG. 48 shows a different possible configuration of a
substrate with areas that are raised and areas that are lowered.
This configuration shows that it is possible to have raised bands
and lowered bands that may be oriented in any direction.
[0172] FIG. 49 shows a different possible configuration of a
substrate with areas that are raised and areas that are lowered in
a more random pattern.
[0173] FIG. 50 is a cross-section view of a transparent substrate
with raised areas and lowered areas (71). A light-absorbing coating
(2) is applied to the substrate that settles into the lowered areas
of the substrate and/or is wiped or otherwise removed from the
areas of the transparent substrate that are raised. A light
reflective coating (4) and/or an image coating is applied to the
previously applied light-absorbing coating (2). The light
reflective/image coat (4) settles into the lowered areas of the
substrate and/or is wiped or otherwise removed from the areas of
the transparent substrate that are raised.
[0174] FIG. 51 shows a possible configuration for the cross-section
view of FIG. 75. FIG. 76 shows a series of ridges or troughs.
[0175] FIG. 52 shows another possible configuration for the
cross-section view of FIG. 50. FIG. 52 shows a random pattern of
either raised or lowered areas.
[0176] FIG. 53 to shows another possible configuration for the
cross-section view of FIG. 50. FIG. 53 shows an ordered pattern of
either raised order lowered areas. FIGS. 51-53 show three possible
configurations for a panel with raised sections and lowered
sections the possibilities for other configurations and other
patterns are raised and lowered sections are virtually limitless.
These three drawings are not intended to limit the numerous
configurations that are possible.
[0177] FIG. 54 shows a side view of a substrate (5) which has
stacked elements consisting of a light-absorbing material (2) and a
light reflective material (3) which protruding from the surface of
the substrate (5). A print roller (75) with a pattern or image in
ink or paint transfers said image (76) onto the assembly where the
ink or paint bonds to the tops of the stacked elements, leaving an
image on the tops of the stacked elements (4). A product similar to
the configuration consisting of (5), (2), and (3) can be printed
upon using many different methods, including, without limitation,
an image transfer method, a stamping method, a platen press, an
offset process, or any other painting or printing method capable of
transferring an image.
[0178] FIG. 55 shows a head-on view of printing on a substrate (71)
described in FIGS. 50-52. The substrate (71) is printed upon
through contact with a roller (75) which prints the desired
coatings on the raised surfaces of the substrate. These coatings
may be configured for an interior or exterior mounted one-way
graphic. The desired coatings may be printed in different orders as
desired. As with other assemblies outlined in this document the
configurations in FIGS. 54 and 55 may have additional adhesive
layers, static-cling layers, and/or protective removable backing
layers.
[0179] In other embodiments, different levels can be achieved by
adhering, bonding, placing, forming, growing or otherwise creating
raised sections (125). These raised sections can then be imaged
(124) by any suitable means. The raised sections (125) can be
created by attracting discs, particles, bits, pieces, or other such
matter through the use of electrostatic or magnetic forces. Areas
of the substrate (126) are left substantially transparent.
[0180] In yet another embodiment, raised areas of the assembly can
be a detachable or removable assembly consisting of one or more of
the following: substantially transparent substrate, adhesive layer,
and an image or pattern formed on one or more areas or levels of
the assembly. In this configuration a protective backing assembly
is provided to protect the adhesive layer or coating.
[0181] In other embodiments, the materials described herein may
have different levels as in the configuration of FIGS. 32 through
53. In some embodiments, there may be raised sections on both sides
of the substrate. This configuration is ideally suited for mass
production printing methods where the printed image is in contact
with the raised sections of the substrate and the lower sections
are substantially transparent.
[0182] As with the other configurations described herein the raised
sections and or the lower sections may be produced by any means
including but not limited to, forming, stamping, molding, growing,
nonwoven, bonding, constructing, fabricating, made, etching,
developing, ablating, building up, etching, developing, foaming,
inflating, expanding, shaving, imprinting, embossing, or otherwise
made, formed or constructed so that the product has sections at
different levels. As with other methods described herein, the
surfaces of each of the different levels may have properties that
attract and/or repel subsequent coatings, layers or operations.
[0183] One-Way Materials with Internal Light Sources
[0184] One-way graphic materials can be created that have internal
lighting. FIG. 56 shows a configuration that uses a light source
(113) that is transmitted through a substantially transparent
material or substrate, a coating, layer or other such material
(117) modifies the amount of light transmitted or perceived from
side B. Holes, perforations, substantially transparent areas, or
other permeable areas (115) allow the passage or modification of
light passing through the assembly. The perceived view from side B
is substantially through the assembly, through gaps or permeable
areas in the coating, layer or other such material of (117). The
coating, layer or other such material of (117) may have light
reflective or light refractive properties on the side facing the
material, or substrate. A coating, layer or other such material
(114) may be placed on the other side of the assembly, in this case
side A. This coating, layer or other such material (114) may be
substantially translucent or opaque and may also have a decorative
effect. Areas of the substrate that are not permeable (116) may be
left uncoated or uncovered by the coating, layer or other such
material of (114) to allow the passage of light from the light
source (113). Alternately, the non-permeable areas (116) may be
tinted, painted, colored or otherwise modified so that the light
coming from those areas have the appearance of being different
colors.
[0185] FIG. 57 illustrates a product similar to that of 56 in that
a light source is used to internally light the product. In this
embodiment, the substrate is composed of different elements that
combine to form a permeable material. This permeable material can
be formed from strands, strips, bits, pieces, filaments,
monofilaments or other such material that is formed, grown, woven,
nonwoven, bonded, constructed, or otherwise made to conform to a
multidimensional shape. This shows a configuration that uses a
light source (113) that is transmitted through a substantially
transparent material or substrate (119), a coating, layer or other
such material (119) modifies the amount of light transmitted or
perceived from side B. Holes, perforations, gaps between strands,
strips, bits, pieces, filaments, monofilaments or other such
material that is formed, grown, woven, nonwoven, bonded,
constructed, or otherwise formed, substantially transparent areas,
or other permeable areas allow the passage or modification of light
passing through the assembly.
[0186] The perceived view from side B is substantially through the
assembly, through gaps or permeable areas in the coating, layer or
other such material of (120). The coating, layer or other such
material of (120) may have light reflective or light refractive
properties on the side facing the material, or substrate. A
coating, layer or other such material (118) may be placed on the
other side of the assembly, in this case side A. This coating,
layer or other such material (118) may be substantially translucent
or opaque and may also have a decorative effect.
[0187] Areas of the substrate that are not permeable (121) may be
left uncoated or uncovered by the coating, layer or other such
material of (118) to allow the passage of light from the light
source (113). Alternately, the non-permeable areas (121) may be
tinted, painted, colored or otherwise modified so that the light
coming from those areas have the appearance of being different
colors.
[0188] As shown in FIG. 57, the products of this configuration can
be made into three dimensional shapes. Although not illustrated the
lighting source can be behind, in front of, beside, adjacent to,
inside, or otherwise near the assembly so that similar effects are
achieved. Additionally the light may be transmitted through such
means as fiber optics, light pipes or other such means.
Additionally one or more of the materials used may be of such a
material that gives off light.
[0189] Lenticular and Holographic One-Way Graphics
[0190] As noted above, one-way graphics are generally static,
consisting of a single image that looks essentially the same
wherever it is visible from. A 3D effect for one way vision can be
obtained through the use of lenticular lens graphic assemblies. The
lenticular lens assembly acts as a series of tiny prisms where the
image visible to one eye is different from the image supplied to
the other eye. The graphic image for 3D one way vision can include
such methods outlined in this document such as inkjet printing,
lithography, web printing, electrostatic micro spheres and the
like. The assembly containing a lenticular lens and a corresponding
graphic can be perforated and backed with a light-absorbing layer
to achieve a one way 3D graphic effect.
[0191] Another configuration calls for a lenticular lens sheet
where an area of several lenses alternates with flat transparent
areas. The image would then be broken up into stripes and placed
behind the areas of lenticular lenses. The backside of the image
stripes would have a light absorbing color. The areas between the
stacked lenticular lenses and image stripes would be transparent
and clear. When one looks through the medium from the reverse he
would see through the assembly between the areas of stacked lenses,
image and light absorbing material.
[0192] FIG. 58 is a cross-section view of a lenticular type of
graphic display that has been modified to create a one-way graphic
assembly. The lenticular lens (72) is backed by a segmented graphic
(73) that in turn is backed by a light absorbing coating (2). An
assembly silhouette pattern, such as holes or perforations, permits
the one-way graphic effect. The lenticular lens assembly bends the
light so that certain segments of the segmented graphic are
visible. As the viewer of a lenticular type of graphic display
moves different segments of the segmented graphics are visible. The
lenticular effect is enabled by the fact that the segmented graphic
(73) consists of at least two interlineated images, each image
located at a distinct focal point in relation to the lenticular
lens. This is often used to create a three-dimensional effect or
movement effect. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,084,713; 6,227,232;
and 6,781,761, which are hereby incorporated by reference.
[0193] FIG. 59 is a face-on view of the assembly of FIG. 59. The
lenticular lens assembly (72) and contains a pattern of holes (74)
through the assembly. Many different patterns of holes, sizes of
holes, shapes of holes are possible. This assembly as with most
configurations described herein may have an adhesive layer, a
static cling layer and or a protective removable backing layer.
These adhesive layers, static cling layers and or protective
removable backing layers may be placed on either of the face or the
backing as desired.
[0194] FIG. 60 is a cross-section view of a one-way lenticular lens
assembly for creation of three-dimensional one-way graphics. FIG.
60 shows an assembly similar to FIG. 58, but instead of physical
holes (74) FIG. 60 has windows (56). These windows may be flat
concave, convex, or other shapes or cross-sections as desired. The
lenticular lens assembly (72) is situated to focus the viewers'
perception on at least two distinct images, each contained within
the segmented graphic (73). Although FIG. 60 shows the lens
assembly having windows and the segmented graphic having physical
gaps, different types of perforation or silhouette patterns could
be used to practice the invention.
[0195] The lenticular lens assembly can use many different patterns
of windows. FIG. 61 shows a face-on view of one possible
configuration of the assembly of FIG. 60, with window elements (56)
in strips. The window elements may be round as shown by the hole
pattern of FIG. 58. Although FIG. 61 only shows windows in the
shape of strips virtually any shape of window is possible.
[0196] In yet another embodiment of the invention, holograms may be
perforated and backed with a light-absorbing layer to create one
way hologram graphic displays. This assembly may be provided with
an adhesive means and a protective backing is so desired.
[0197] According to Holography Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia
copyright 1993-1997 Microsoft Corporation: [0198] "A hologram
differs essentially from an ordinary photograph in that it records
not only the intensity distribution of reflected light but also the
phase distribution. That is, the film distinguishes between waves
that reach the light-sensitive surface while they are at maximum
wave amplitude, and those that reach the surface at minimum wave
amplitude. This ability to discriminate between waves with
different phases is obtained by having a so-called reference beam
interfere with the reflected waves. [0199] "Thus, in one method of
obtaining a hologram, the object is illuminated by a beam of
coherent light--a beam in which all the waves are traveling in
phase with one another. Such a beam is produced by a laser.
Essentially, the shape of the object determines the form of the
wave fronts--that is, the phase at which the reflected light
arrives on each point of the photographic plate. Simultaneously, a
portion of the same laser beam is reflected by a mirror or prism
and directed toward the photographic plate; this beam is called the
reference beam. The wave fronts of this latter beam, not having
been reflected from the object, remain plane-parallel and produce
an interference pattern with the wave fronts of the light reflected
by the object. If the object is a point, for example, the wave
fronts of the reflected beam will be spherical; the interference
pattern produced on the film will then consist of concentric
circles, the space between circles decreasing with increasing
radius. [0200] "The interference pattern produced by a more
complicated object will be much more complicated, so mere
inspection of the resulting hologram will reveal only an intricate
pattern of dark and light structures that bear no apparent
relationship to the original object. When the hologram is viewed in
coherent light, however, the recorded object becomes visible; and
when the hologram is viewed from different angles, the object is
also seen from different angles. The three-dimensional effect is
obtained because the hologram reconstructs in space the wave fronts
that originally were produced by the object. [0201] "How this
happens can be understood by again using the example of the
hologram of the point. Coherent light arriving at the concentric
circles on the hologram is diffracted on a diffraction grating. The
diffraction angle of the beam increases with the distance from the
center of the concentric rings, thus reconstructing the spherical
wave fronts, and the viewer sees the point at the same relative
place where the real point was when the hologram was made. The wave
fronts of more complicated objects are reconstructed in the same
way. The intensity distribution of the reflected light is recorded
in the degree of blackening of the interference patterns on the
film."
[0202] In one embodiment of the invention, a hologram is perforated
and backed with a light-absorbing layer to create a three
dimensional graphic image for a one way effect. The perforations
may be done in a number of different patterns, configurations, hole
sizes, hole shapes, and percentages of open area versus solid
area.
[0203] Additionally, portions of the holographic display may be
backed with a light absorbing adhesive coating, or a light
absorbing coating that is backed with either a transparent,
translucent or a light absorbing adhesive. The portions of the
holographic display with the adhesive are adhered to a transparent
substrate in a way that leaves voids on the transparent substrate.
The transparent substrate may be such materials as glass, vinyl,
ceramic, plastic compounds, composite materials, or the like. This
transparent substrate may be coated with an adhesive for adhesion
to another transparent substrate such as a window, wind screen,
wind break, door, glass unit, plastic unit or the like. The
adhesive used could also include such means of adhesion as
adhesives, glues, epoxy compound(s), mucilage, cements, or static
cling. This adhesive may also be protected by means of a removable
membrane or cover. Alternately, the adhesive may be applied to
either the graphic assembly or the second transparent substrate,
namely the window, wind screen, wind break, door, glass unit,
plastic unit or the like.
[0204] The portions of the holographic display may be in many
different shapes, sizes, patterns and configurations. They may be
produced through such well known means as cutting, slitting,
molding, die cutting, kiss cutting, or cutting by laser, water jet,
or any other method of cutting materials that may apply.
[0205] In yet another embodiment, interesting graphics can be
produced with portions of the graphic display containing one-way
graphic elements and stereograms or "Magic Eye" graphic effects.
Stereograms or "Magic Eye" types of graphics are well known in the
prior art. They are created when a pattern has elements or shapes
that are "cut out" of the pattern and then shifted or moved
horizontally. Typically they are "cut out" through use of computer
graphic software. The space or spaces left uncovered after this
shift are filled in with additional pattern. When one focuses his
eyes beyond the plane of the "Magic Eye" graphic he can see the
shapes in a 3D effect. Although interesting and captivating 3D
graphics can be created by this method, it is difficult for many
people to unfocus their eyes to look beyond the surface to where
the elements coalesce into recognizable shapes. When combined with
such visual effects as "Magic Eye" 3D graphics, the visual effect
can be startling and dramatic. "Magic Eye" type of graphics are
created when seemingly random patterns appear on the graphics when
looks at the surface, yet when one focuses his eyes beyond the
surface, to a point beyond the surface, elements of the seemingly
random pattern coalesce into recognizable 3D shapes
[0206] When "Magic Eye" type graphics are combined with one-way
graphics, one's visual perception can be drawn through the graphic
to elements behind the one-way stereogram or "Magic Eye" graphic.
When the eyes focus on the elements beyond the surface of the
graphic the eyes also focus on the elements of the "Magic Eye"
graphic. The effect can be quite startling and dramatic; the 3D
"Magic Eye" image seems to pop out of nowhere.
[0207] This effect can be used for any number of applications such
as storefronts, windows, display cases, and packaging. When used
for packaging, the "Magic Eye" elements can be placed around a
window, opening or view port. When one looks through said opening
to look at the product displayed, the eyes focus on the "Magic Eye"
elements. Variable lighting effect can intensify this type of
display.
[0208] Often a greater degree of one way effect is desired, for
greater security. Or, the application may require installation
where the image side of the graphic has a lower light level than
the see through side of the one way graphic. One way graphics with
a transparent substrate allow too much light through for the one
way effect to be properly perceived. In installations such as these
a tinted or a semi-reflective substrate material may be substituted
for the transparent substrate. A tinted or a semi-reflective
substrate may be used for all embodiments where there is a
transparent substrate.
* * * * *