Process for printing and securing three-dimensional pattern on non-fibrous substrates and article comprising non-fibrous surface having three-dimensional pattern thereon

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9707799-B2
Application number	US-201414219466-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 19, 2014
Priority date	Mar 19, 2014
Publication date	Jul 18, 2017
Grant date	Jul 18, 2017

Abstract

A process for creating a stable 3D pattern on a non-fibrous substrate comprises depositing a heat-expandable composition on the substrate; causing the disposed composition to expand in volume, thereby forming a 3D pattern having a perimeter; causing the composition to solidify; and applying a varnish coating over the pattern's perimeter and an area of the substrate adjacent thereto such that the varnish covers a sealing region extending at least 0.5 mm from the perimeter on both sides thereof. An article of manufacture comprises a non-fibrous outer surface having a 3D decorative pattern applied thereto and coated with a varnish coating covering a sealing region extending at least 0.5 mm from the pattern's perimeter on both sides thereof.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A process for creating a stable and durable three-dimensional pattern on a non-fibrous substrate, the process comprising:
(a) depositing a heat-expandable composition on a non-fibrous substrate in a predetermined pattern;
(b) causing the disposed heat-expandable composition to expand in volume, thereby forming a three-dimensional pattern of the composition, the three-dimensional pattern having an overall surface area and a perimeter comprising a boundary line between the heat-expandable composition and the non-fibrous substrate;
(c) causing the three-dimensional pattern of the composition to solidify;
(d) applying a varnish coating over the perimeter of the three-dimensional pattern and an area of the non-fibrous substrate adjacent thereto such that the varnish covers a sealing region extending a distance of from about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm from the perimeter of the three-dimensional pattern on both sides thereof, thereby securing the three-dimensional pattern of the composition on the non-fibrous substrate;
wherein the distance the sealing region extends from the perimeter of the three-dimensional pattern is substantially consistent.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein depositing a heat-expandable composition on a non-fibrous substrate comprises printing selected from the group consisting of screen printing and pad printing.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein causing the disposed heat-expandable composition to expand in volume comprises heating the disposed heat-expandable composition to a temperature of 100° C. to 220° C.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein causing the three-dimensional pattern of the composition to solidify comprises cooling the three-dimensional pattern of the composition to less than 40° C.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the varnish coating comprises a varnish selected from a solvent-based composition, a water-based composition, and a UV-curable composition.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the non-fibrous substrate is selected from the group consisting of glass, plastic, and metal.

7. The process of claim 6 , wherein the non-fibrous substrate has a curved surface selected from a convex surface, a concave surface, and an irregularly curved surface.

8. The process of claim 1 , wherein the heat-expandable composition includes heat-expandable microsphere particles comprising hydrocarbon encapsulated by a gas-tight thermoplastic shell having an expanded diameter of 20 to 200 μm.

9. The process of claim 8 , wherein the heat-expandable composition comprises EXPANCEL® particles.

10. The process of claim 1 , wherein applying a varnish coating comprises applying the varnish coating to the sealing region with an inkjet.

11. The process of claim 10 , wherein the sealing region comprises at least 80% of the overall surface area of the three-dimensional pattern.

12. The process of claim 10 , wherein the sealing region comprises at least 90% of the overall surface area of the three-dimensional pattern.

13. The process of claim 12 , wherein the varnish coating comprises acrylate-based UV clear varnish.

14. The process of claim 10 , wherein the sealing region comprises 100% of the overall surface area of the three-dimensional pattern.

Assignees

• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Dalisay Huberto Miel
• Allen Matthew Richard

Classifications

• B41M7/0054

  using protective coatings or film forming compositions cured by thermal means, e.g. infrared radiation, heat · CPC title

• Y10T428/1397

  Single layer [continuous layer] · CPC title

• B44C1/20 Primary

  Applying plastic materials and superficially modelling the surface of these materials · CPC title

• B41M3/16

  Braille printing (typewriters or selective printing mechanisms for Braille printing B41J3/32) · CPC title

• B41M7/0036 Primary

  using protective coatings or layers dried without curing · CPC title