Method of transferring metal leaf to a substrate

• US 5,900,096 A
• Filed: 09/03/1996
• Issued: 05/04/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard Zemel
• Original Assignee: Richard Zemel
• Inventors: Zemel, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Mayes, Curtis
• Application Number:
  US08/707,061
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 156/230, 156/235, 156/236, 156/233, 156/241, 156/277, 156/234, 427/208.4, 427/208.6, 427/146
• US Class Current: 156/233
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 3/12 Transfer pictures or the like, e.g. decalcomanias processes for producing decorative surface effects B44C1/00; B41M5/0256 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 7/00 After-treatment of prints, e.g. heating, irradiating, setting of the ink, protection of the printed stock pre-treatment or treatment during printing B41M5/0011; printers for treating or overcoating copy materials before, during or after printing B41J11/0015
• CPC Class Codes: B44C 1/14 Metallic leaves or foils, e.g. gold leaf
• CPC Class Codes: B44C 1/1733 Decalcomanias applied under pressure only, e.g. provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: B44C 1/175 Transfer using solvent
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/048 using a lift-off resist pattern or a release layer pattern

Abstract

A method of transferring metal leaf, such as gold leaf, to a substrate is disclosed. The method includes the steps of creating a transfer graphic design. After the transfer graphic design is created, a pressure sensitive adhesive design in the shape of the transfer graphic design is formed on a transfer sheet having paper backing and a release layer. The transfer sheet may be a dry transfer sheet or a water release decal type transfer sheet. The transfer sheet containing the pressure sensitive adhesive design is then placed on a substrate to which the pressure sensitive adhesive design is transferred by removing the transfer sheet so that the pressure sensitive adhesive design adheres to the substrate. Metal leaf is then applied to the pressure sensitive adhesive design.

Claims

1. A method of transferring metal leaf to a substrate, comprising the steps of:

creating a transfer graphic design;

forming on a water release decal type transfer sheet, the transfer sheet having a backing and a release layer, a pressure sensitive adhesive design in the shape of said transfer graphic design;

placing said transfer sheet containing said pressure sensitive adhesive design on a substrate;

transferring said pressure sensitive adhesive design by removing said transfer sheet so that said pressure sensitive adhesive design adheres to said substrate; and

applying metal leaf to said pressure sensitive adhesive design on said substrate.

2. The method of transferring metal leaf to a substrate as recited in claim 1, wherein said metal leaf is gold leaf.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said pressure sensitive adhesive is colored with a water suluble pigment.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said transfer sheet is a water release decal type transfer sheet.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said metal leaf is gold leaf.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said template is porous thus allowing the pressure sensitive adhesive to be applied through said template and onto said transfer sheet.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein said pressure sensitive adhesive is silk screened through said template and onto said transfer sheet.

3. A method of transferring metal leaf to a substrate, comprising the steps of:

creating a transfer graphic design;

forming on a transfer sheet, having a backing and a release layer, a pressure sensitive adhesive design in the shape of said transfer graphic design by placing a burned-in silk screen template in a silk screen unit, placing the transfer sheet below said burned-in silk screen template, placing a pressure sensitive adhesive on top of the burned-in silk screen template, and silk screening said transfer sheet by allowing said pressure sensitive adhesive to flow through small holes in the burned-in silk screen templates;

placing said transfer sheet containing said pressure sensitive adhesive design on a substrate;

transferring said pressure sensitive adhesive design by removing said transfer sheet so that said pressure sensitive adhesive design adheres to said substrate; and

applying metal leaf to said pressure sensitive adhesive design on said substrate.

4. A method of creating a graphic design, comprising the steps of:

creating a graphic design on a computer system;

creating the computer graphic design or a template;

forming on a transfer sheet having a backing and a release layer a pressure sensitive adhesive design in the shape of said graphic design on said template so that when said transfer sheet containing said pressure sensitive adhesive design is placed on a substrate, said pressure sensitive adhesive design is transferred by removing said transfer sheet so that said pressure sensitive adhesive design adheres to said substrate thereby allowing the application of metal leaf to said pressure sensitive adhesive design on said substrate.