Adhesive article for and method of applying a decorative finish to a phone

• US 20050022924A1
• Filed: 12/24/2003
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Wrapsol LLC (Otter Products LLC)
• Original Assignee: Wrapsol LLC (Otter Products LLC)
• Inventors: Blackburn, James B.
• Application Number:
  US10/746,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20050022924A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 156/230
• CPC Class Codes: B44C 1/165 for decalcomanias; sheet material therefor apparatus or machines for applying decalcomanias B65C
• CPC Class Codes: B44C 5/00 Processes for producing special ornamental bodies
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1056 Perforating lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1062 Prior to assembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/14 Layer or component removable to expose adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1476 Release layer

Abstract

A surfacing kit for a cellular phone includes a decorative plastic sheet, with an adhesive layer on one side, and a carrier, which includes a release compound on at least one side. The plastic sheet is mounted on the carrier with the adhesive layer and is removable from the carrier and is configured for placement on a portion of a cellular phone to form a decorative surface on the phone wherein the plastic sheet conforms to the cellular phone to appear as though the plastic sheet forms that portion of the cellular phone.

Claims

1. A surfacing kit for a cellular phone, said kit comprising:

a flexible decorative plastic sheet, said plastic sheet including an adhesive layer on one side of said plastic sheet;

a carrier, said carrier including a release compound on a side of said carrier; and

said plastic sheet being mounted on said carrier with said adhesive layer in contact with said side of said carrier, and said plastic sheet being removable from said carrier and being configured for placement on a portion of a cellular phone to form a decorative surface on the phone wherein said plastic sheet conforms to the portion of the cellular phone to appear as though said plastic sheet forms the portion of the cellular phone.

2. The surfacing kit according to claim 1, wherein said plastic sheet includes at least one closed perimeter opening for placement around a portion of the cellular phone that is not to be decorated by said plastic sheet.

3. The surfacing kit according to claim 2, wherein said plastic sheet includes a plurality of closed perimeter openings for placement around portions of the cellular phone that are not to be decorated by said plastic sheet.

4. The surfacing kit according to claim 1, wherein said plastic sheet includes at least one pigment to form a decorative surface on the phone, said pigment comprising a pigment chosen from a color pigment, a metallic pigment, a carbon fiber pigment, an iridescent pigment, and a reflective pigment.

5. The surfacing kit according to claim 1, wherein said plastic sheet includes at least one region having at least one pigment to form one decorative region and at least one other region having at least one other pigment to form another decorative region.

6. The surfacing kit according to claim 5, wherein said regions are arranged in one or more geometric patterns to form a geometric decorative surface on the phone.

7. The surfacing kit according to claim 5, wherein said regions are arranged to form an image chosen from a picture of a person, a picture of a place, and a picture of an object.

8. The surfacing kit according to claim 5, wherein said regions are arranged to create a visual effect comprising at least one chosen from a color shifting effect and a holographic image effect.

9. The surfacing kit according to claim 1, further comprising a second flexible decorative plastic sheet, said second flexible decorative plastic sheet including an adhesive layer on one side of said second flexible decorative plastic sheet, said second flexible decorative plastic sheet being mounted on said carrier, and said second flexible decorative plastic sheet being removable from said carrier and being configured for placement on another portion of the cellular phone to form a second decorative surface on the phone.

10. A method of applying a decorative surface to a housing of a hand-held electronic device, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a flexible adhesive-backed decorative plastic sheet;

shaping the plastic sheet to generally conform to an outline of a first portion of the device;

providing at least one closed perimeter opening in the plastic sheet for aligning with a second portion that is not to be decorated by the plastic sheet within the first portion of the device;

generally aligning the closed perimeter opening of the plastic sheet with the second portion; and

applying the adhesive side of the plastic sheet to the first portion of the device for decorating the device.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said shaping is achieved by cutting.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein said providing comprises cutting said closed perimeter opening into the plastic sheet.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said providing comprises providing a plurality of closed perimeter openings to align with a plurality of portions of the device within the first portion that are not to be decorated with the plastic sheet.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein said providing includes providing at least two adhesive-backed decorative plastic sheets and shaping the plastic sheets to generally conform to outlines of two portions of the device.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein said providing includes providing a flexible adhesive-backed decorative sheet mounted to a backing sheet, further comprising removing the plastic sheet from the backing sheet before said applying.

16. A surfacing kit for a hand-held device, said kit comprising:

a flexible decorative plastic sheet, said plastic sheet including an adhesive layer on one side of said plastic sheet, said sheet having at least one closed perimeter opening;

a carrier, said carrier including a release compound on a side of said carrier; and

said plastic sheet being mounted on said carrier with said adhesive layer in contact with said side of said carrier, and said plastic sheet being removable from said carrier and being configured for placement on a first portion of a cellular phone with said opening aligning with a second portion within the first portion to form a decorative surface on the phone where said plastic sheet conforms to the device to appear as though said plastic sheet forms a portion of the device.

17. The surfacing kit according to claim 16, wherein said plastic sheet includes at least one pigment to form a decorative surface on the phone, said pigment comprising a pigment chosen from a color pigment, a metallic pigment, a carbon fiber pigment, an iridescent pigment, and a reflective pigment.

18. The surfacing kit according to claim 17, wherein said plastic sheet includes at least one region having at least one pigment to form one decorative region and at least one other region having at least one other pigment to form another decorative region.

19. The surfacing kit according to claim 18, wherein said regions are arranged to form at least one chosen from an image and a geometric pattern.

20. The surfacing kit according to claim 16, further comprising a second flexible decorative plastic sheet, said second flexible decorative plastic sheet including an adhesive layer on one side of said second flexible decorative plastic sheet, said second flexible decorative plastic sheet being mounted on said carrier, and said second flexible decorative plastic sheet being removable from said carrier and being configured for placement on another portion of the device to form a second decorative surface on the device.