Tactile relief films, decals and stickers for indicating object characteristics

• US 8,672,680 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2011
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OAK Novations Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Dmitry Baklanov
• Inventors: Baklanov, Dmitry
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Benjamin
• Application Number:
  US13/310,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20130139952A1
• Time in Patent Office: 836 Days
• Field of Search: 273/DIG.24, 434/113, 434/98
• US Class Current: 434/98
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 21/003 using tactile presentation of the information, e.g. Braille displays
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2003/023 Adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2003/0276 Safety features, e.g. colour, prominent part, logo
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/02 Forms or constructions layered products B32B
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/10 by an adhesive layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1476 Release layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24355 Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or component [e.g., roofing, etc.]

Abstract

A system and method of tactile relief stickers, decals or moldings to indicate object characteristics, for example to indicate object color. The system can include a plurality of stickers. Each sticker can have a first surface with a relief texture and a second surface opposite the first surface. Each sticker can also have a relief texture corresponding to a color according to a predetermined correspondence of one texture to one color. The second surface can have an adhesive applied thereto.

Claims

1. Tactile relief indicators comprising:

a plurality of stickers, each sticker having a first surface with a relief texture and a second surface opposite the first surface,

each sticker having a relief texture corresponding to an object characteristic according to a predetermined correspondence of one texture to one object characteristic, wherein the object characteristic includes one or more of weight, type of an end of the object, and type of hardness, and

the second surface having an adhesive applied thereto.

2. The tactile relief indicators of claim 1, wherein the plurality of stickers are formed of a translucent material.

3. The tactile relief indicators of claim 1, wherein the plurality of stickers is disposed on a single sheet of backing material applied to the adhesive such that the stickers are removable from the backing material and retain adhesive properties after removal from the backing material.

4. The tactile relief indicators of claim 1, wherein the stickers further comprise a material having phosphorescent properties.

5. The tactile relief indicators of claim 1, wherein the adhesive is a reusable adhesive.

6. The tactile relief indicators of claim 1, wherein the tactile relief textures are formed to stimulate an association with known objects.

7. The tactile relief indicators of claim 1, wherein the tactile relief textures are raised textures.

8. The tactile relief indicators of claim 1, wherein the tactile relief textures are recessed textures.

9. A system of sticker for indicating characteristics of objects, the system comprising:

a plurality of stickers, each having a first side with a tactile relief texture and a second side with an adhesive material applied thereto,

wherein the stickers are formed from a flexible and material and each tactile relief texture corresponds to a different characteristic, and

wherein the characteristics are selected from the group consisting of weight, type of the end of the object, and object hardness.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the stickers are formed from a translucent material.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the tactile relief textures are raised textures.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the tactile relief textures are recessed textures.