CUSTOM DECORATING CONFIGURE-TO-ORDER SYSTEM AND CUSTOM DECORATING PROCESS

• US 20080030937A1
• Filed: 03/29/2007
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kim, Jerry J., Russo, Christopher D., Hood, Jonathan D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,680,008 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/681
• CPC Class Codes: D06P 5/004 using subliming dyes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce

Abstract

A system for customizing a notebook computer cover is provided. A user station provides a user interface to select at least one image and to transmit the at least one image. A server receives the at least one image from the user station and formats the at least one selected image to fit a shape of the notebook computer cover. A printer prints the at least one image onto a predetermined fabric. A heat chamber heats the notebook computer cover in response to the predetermined fabric being placed on the notebook computer cover to vaporize the image from the predetermined fabric into a clear layer of the notebook computer cover

Claims

1. A method of customizing a notebook computer cover, comprising:

receiving at least one selected image from a user;

printing the at least one selected image onto a predetermined fabric;

wrapping the predetermined fabric over the notebook computer cover; and

heating the notebook computer cover to vaporize the image from the predetermined fabric into a clear layer of the notebook computer cover.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising formatting the at least one selected image to fit a shape of the notebook computer cover.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding a white layer onto a magnesium base layer of the notebook computer cover and subsequently adding the clear layer onto the white layer.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising heating the white layer and the magnesium base layer to cure the white layer onto the magnesium base layer, and subsequently heating the clear layer and the white layer to cure the clear layer onto the white layer.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the magnesium base layer is treated with at least one of a phosphate wash, acetone, and alcohol prior to applying the white layer.

6. The method of claim 1, where the heating of the notebook computer cover is performed as a batch process during which multiple additional notebook computer covers are heated.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting, by the user, the at least one selected image from among customized images and a set of pre-stored images.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one selected image comprises a first selected image and a second selected image.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected image is selected by the user from a plurality of pre-stored images.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected image is uploaded by the user.

11. A system for customizing a notebook computer cover, comprising:

a user station to provide a user interface to select at least one image and to transmit the at least one image;

a server to receive the at least one image from the user station and format the at least one selected image to fit a shape of the notebook computer cover;

a printer to print the at least one image onto a predetermined fabric; and

a heat chamber to heat the notebook computer cover in response to the predetermined fabric being placed on the notebook computer cover to vaporize the image from the predetermined fabric into a clear layer of the notebook computer cover.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the chamber is adapted to heat the notebook computer cover for about 10 minutes at a temperature of about 375°

F.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the printer comprises a color X-Y plotter.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one image comprises a digital photograph.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the notebook computer cover comprises a base layer, a white layer, and a clear layer, the system further comprising at least one hose to spray a white resin onto the base layer to form the white layer and to spray a clear resin onto the white layer to form the clear layer.

17. The customizable notebook computer cover of claim 14, wherein the base layer is formed of a high temperature material.

18. The customizable notebook cover of claim 17, wherein the high temperature material is magnesium.

19. The customizable notebook computer cover of claim 14, wherein the white layer is formed of at least one of a cured white resin and a cured neutral color resin.

20. The customizable notebook computer cover of claim 14, wherein the clear layer is formed of a cured clear resin.

16. A customizable notebook computer cover, comprising:

a base layer forming a bottom portion of the notebook computer cover;

a white layer disposed on top of the base layer;

a clear layer disposed on top of the white layer, wherein the clear layer comprises an image formed therein of a sublimable ink, the image being selected by a user.