DISPLAY ASSEMBLIES AND METHODS FOR APPLYING THE SAME TO VULCANIZED RUBBER ARTICLES

• US 20170001480A1
• Filed: 04/26/2016
• Published: 01/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jason Michael Busch, Keith George Ferry
• Original Assignee: Jason Michael Busch, Keith George Ferry
• Inventors: Ferry, Keith George, Busch, Jason Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,137,741 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/52 characterised by the way of applying the adhesive B29C65/50 takes precedence; apparatus for applying liquids in general B05C; processes for applying liquids in general B05D
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/02245 Abrading, e.g. grinding, sanding, sandblasting or scraping
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/5326 said single elements being substantially flat
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 2030/728 Decorating or marking the sidewalls after tyre vulcanization protecting, decorating, marking tyre sidewalls B60C13/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 30/72 Side-walls
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2030/00 Pneumatic or solid tyres or parts thereof conveyor belts B29L2031/7092; drive belts B29L2031/7094; fourdrinier belts B29L2031/733
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/042 of natural rubber or synthetic rubber
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• CPC Class Codes: B44C 1/162 Decalcomanias with a transfer layer comprising indicia with definite outlines such as letters and with means facilitating the desired fitting to the permanent base
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 13/001 Decorating, marking or the like

Abstract

Display assemblies as disclosed herein are configured for attachment with a vulcanized rubber article and are provided in the form of different material layers. Display assemblies generally comprise one or more display layers of elastomeric material configured to provide a desired display indicia, an intermediate layer formed from an elastomeric material different from that of the one or more display layers, and an adhesive layer wherein the intermediate layer is interposed between the adhesive layer and the one or more display layers. The one more display layers may be configured to act together or separately to provide a desired display indicia to provide a desired visual display or feature on the surface of the vulcanized rubber article, which may be a sidewall surface of a tire.

Claims

1. A display assembly for attachment with a vulcanized rubber article comprising:

one or more display layers of elastomeric material configured to provide a display indicia;

an intermediate layer formed from an elastomeric material that is different from that of the one or more display layers; and

an adhesive layer, wherein the intermediate layer is interposed between the adhesive layer and the one or more display layers, the adhesive layer being formed from a material capable of chemically bonding with a surface of a vulcanized rubber article.

2. The display assembly as recited in claim 1 comprising a first display layer and a second display layer disposed beneath the first display layer.

3. The display assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein the first display layer is colored differently from the second display layer.

4. The display assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising an intermediate adhesive layer interposed between the one or more display layers and the intermediate layer.

5. The display assembly as recited in claim 2 further comprising an intermediate adhesive layer interposed between the second display layer and the intermediate layer.

6. The display assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising a protective layer disposed over the one or more display layers and forming an outermost surface of the display assembly, the protective layer formed from an optically transparent material.

7. The display assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising a cavity disposed therein.

8. The display assembly as recited in claim 7 further comprising an element disposed within the cavity.

9. The display assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein the cavity is disposed beneath the one or more display layers.

10. The display assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein he first display layer include one or more openings therethrough, and wherein the second display layer is visible through the one or more openings.

11. A method for attaching a display assembly to a surface of a vulcanized rubber article comprising the steps of;

preparing a surface of a vulcanized rubber article by cleaning the surface;

applying an adhesive material to form an adhesive layer;

placing a display assembly into contact the surface with the adhesive layer interposed therebetween to form a bond between the display assembly and surface, the display assembly comprising;

one or more display layers of elastomeric material constructed to provide a display indicia; and

an intermediate layer formed from an elastomeric material that is different from that of the one or more display layers;

wherein the intermediate layer is interposed between the adhesive layer and the one or more display layers, the adhesive layer being formed from a material capable of chemically bonding the display assembly to the surface of the vulcanized rubber article.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising treating the surface to roughen the surface before the step of placing.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising applying a template to the surface before the step of applying the adhesive material, wherein the template has a cut out section and wherein, during the step of applying, the adhesive material is applied to the surface exposed through the cut out section.

14. The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising applying pressure to the display assembly after the step of placing.

15. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein further comprising the step of heating the adhesive material after the step of applying.

16. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the display assembly comprises a transfer carrier disposed on the one or more display layers and, wherein after the step of placing, the transfer carrier is removed from the display assembly.

17. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein after the step of placing, a further display layer is placed onto the one or more display assembly display layers and an adhesive layer is interposed between the further display layer and the display assembly.

18. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the vulcanized rubber article is tire, and wherein the surface is a sidewall surface of the tire.

19. A vulcanized rubber tire comprising:

a target surface disposed along a portion of the rubber tire;

a display assembly disposed onto the target surface and comprising;

a display layer of elastomeric material;

an intermediate layer formed from an elastomeric material different from that of the one or more display layers; and

an adhesive layer interposed between the target surface and the intermediate layer bonding the display assembly to the target surface.

20. The rubber tire as recited in claim 19 wherein the display layer comprises two display layers, and wherein the two display layers are configured within the assembly to provide a desired display indicia.