Polypropylene card construction

• US 6,555,213 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2000
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Koneripalli, Nagraj, Schulz, Mark F., Jonza, James M., Engle, Lori P.
• Primary Examiner(s): DIXON, MERRICK L
• Application Number:
  US09/591,601
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 428/210, 428/914, 428/195, 428/304.4, 428/318.4, 428/41.7, 428/41.8, 428/42.1, 428/348
• US Class Current: 428/304.4
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2038/042 Punching
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2310/14 Corona, ionisation, electrical discharge, plasma treatment
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2425/00 Cards, e.g. identity cards, credit cards
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/30 comprising vinyl (co)polymers; comprising acrylic (co)polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/32 comprising polyolefins comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/153 at least one layer is extruded and immediately laminated while in semi-molten state
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/0008 Electrical discharge treatment, e.g. corona, plasma treatment; wave energy or particle radiation heat treatment B32B38/0036
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 7/0027 using protective coatings or layers by lamination or by fusion of the coatings or layers
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 2033/00 Structure or construction of identity, credit, cheque or like information-bearing cards
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/00 Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof printing processes to produce identification or security features B41M3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/20 characterised by a particular use or purpose
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/21 for multiple purposes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 353/03 Transparent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/914 Transfer or decalcomania
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1471 Protective layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1476 Release layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1486 Ornamental, decorative, pattern, or indicia
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249953 Composite having voids in a component [e.g., porous, cellular, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2822 Wax containing

Abstract

An image retaining card is disclosed. An image retaining card in accordance with the present invention may be utilized as an identification card, a driver'"'"'s license, a passport, and the like. An image retaining card in accordance with the present invention comprises a substrate structure, a cover, and an image receptive material disposed between the substrate structure and the cover. The substrate structure comprises a substrate layer and a substrate tie layer.

Claims

1. An image retaining card, comprising:

a substrate structure comprising polyolefin or copolymers thereof;

a cover; and

an image receptive material disposed between the cover and the substrate structure, wherein the image receptive material is porous.

2. The image retaining card of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises polypropylene or copolymers thereof.

3. The image retaining card of claim 1, wherein one or more surfaces of the substrate are functionalized.

4. The image retaining card of claim 1, wherein the substrate structure further includes a substrate tie layer and a substrate base layer.

5. The image retaining card of claim 1, wherein the substrate structure further includes a substrate tie layer comprising a tie material and a substrate base layer comprising the tie material blended with polyolefin or copolymers thereof.

6. The image retaining card of claim 1, wherein the cover is optically transparent.

7. The image retaining card of claim 1, further including a printed image disposed proximate the image receptive material.

8. The image retaining card of claim 1, further including a printed image comprising aqueous ink disposed proximate the image receptive material.

9. The image retaining card of claim 1, further including a printed image disposed proximate the image receptive material;

the printed image comprising aqueous ink adapted for use in an inkjet printer.

10. The image retaining card of claim 1, wherein the image receptive material comprises a microporous polymeric film.

11. The image retaining card of claim 1, wherein the image receptive material comprises polyethylene and silica.

12. The image retaining card of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises an ethylene-methacrylic acid ionomer.

13. An image retaining card, comprising:

a substrate structure including a substrate base layer and a substrate tie layer overlaying the substrate base layer;

the substrate base layer comprising polypropylene;

the substrate tie layer comprising functionalized polyolefin;

a cover; and

an image receptive material disposed between the cover and the substrate structure, wherein the image receptive material is porous.

14. The image retaining card of claim 13, wherein the cover is optically transparent.

15. The image retaining card of claim 13, further including a printed image disposed proximate the image receptive material.

16. The image retaining card of claim 13, further including a printed image comprising aqueous ink disposed proximate the image receptive material.

17. The image retaining card of claim 13, further including a printed image disposed proximate the image receptive material;

the printed image comprising aqueous ink adapted for use in an inkjet printer.

18. The image retaining card of claim 13, wherein the image receptive material comprises a microporous polymeric film.

19. The image retaining card of claim 13, wherein the substrate base layer comprises a tie material blended with polyolefin or copolymers thereof.