Label with luminescence inside

• US 6,658,773 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2002
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Glow Keys
• Original Assignee: Dennis Rohne, Scott Beatty
• Inventors: Beatty, Scott, Rohne, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoge, Gary
• Application Number:
  US10/094,303
• Publication Number:
  US 20030167669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 405/94, 405/95, 403/37, 406/38, 406/75, 362/24, 362/34, 400/493, 400/490, 283/81
• US Class Current: 40/542
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/20 with luminescent surfaces or parts luminescent compositions C09K11/00; light sources using luminescence F21K2/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/02 Forms or constructions layered products B32B
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/10 by an adhesive layer

Abstract

A fluorescent label for a computer keyboard key. The label is adhesive backed, having two layers of plastic vinyl such as Mylar and is rectangular and corresponds with the size of the key face and the character or message on the key. A kit is a sheet, having a set of labels for the various sizes of keys of a computer keyboard and the character or message thereon removable from the. The first layer of plastic vinyl has adhesive for attachment to a key face having a peel off paper backing and having a printed luminescent paint or ink on its upper side. An indicia is printed on the background corresponding to the key. A second layer of transparent plastic vinyl covers the luminescent layer.

Claims

1. A luminescent label as applied, covering a keyboard key comprising:

a lower sheet having an underside and an upper side;

a layer of adhesive on said underside for adhering said lower sheet to the face of a keyboard key;

a layer of luminescent material on said upper side, said layer of luminescent material printed with two parts luminescent powder to 3 parts white ink; and

an opaque character or message located on said luminescent material layer;

whereby said luminescent material allows the user the ability to see said label as applied to a keyboard key in dark conditions for up to 20 hours after said luminescent material is exposed to light for at least 10 minutes.

2. The luminescent label of claim 1, further comprising an upper transparent layer applied to said layer of luminescent material and covering said opaque character or message for protection of said layer of luminescent material from wear during use of said keyboard key.

3. The luminescent label of claim 2, wherein said lower sheet and said upper layer are coextensive sheets of vinyl plastic.

4. The luminescent label of claim 1, wherein said luminescent layer is printed on said lower sheet.

5. The luminescent label of claim 4, wherein said character or message is printed on said luminescent layer.

6. The luminescent label of claim 5, wherein said luminescent layer exhibits substantial properties of photophosphorescence.

7. The luminescent label of claim 6, wherein said luminescent layer comprises a powdered luminescent material known as Nightlight 20.

8. The luminescent label of claim 6, wherein said luminescent layer is cream colored in ambient light and green colored in the dark.

9. The luminescent label of claim 2, wherein said upper transparent layer is applied by heat and pressure.

10. The luminescent label of claim 1, wherein said adhesive layer has a peel-off backing which is removed before application of said label to said keyboard key.

13. A kit providing a set of luminescent labels according to claim 10 for covering corresponding keys on a computer keyboard comprising a sheet of label material, said sheet of label material displaying a plurality of discreet characters and messages corresponding to those of a computer keyboard, said sheet of label material being die cut around each of said discreet character and messages to form a label having dimensions corresponding to the face of the computer keyboard key corresponding to the character or message displayed on said sheet of label material, said die cut being such that said labels are retained in said sheet form, but are easily removed from said sheet for use.

11. An article of manufacture comprising:

a lower sheet of vinyl plastic having an underside and a upper side and so sized as to cover the face of a computer keyboard key;

a layer of adhesive located on said lower side;

a peel-off paper backing located underneath said layer of adhesive for removal before application of said label;

a luminescent layer printed on said upper side of said lower sheet with a layer of luminescent ink, said luminescent ink comprises 2 parts Nightlight 20 powder and 3 parts white ink;

a character or message printed upon said layer of luminescent ink; and

an upper cover sheet of transparent vinyl plastic located upon said luminescent layer.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 11, wherein said label appears cream color under ambient light and appears green in the dark.

14. A luminescent label as applied, covering a keyboard key comprising:

a lower sheet having an underside and an upper side;

a layer of adhesive on said underside for adhering said lower sheet to the face of a keyboard key;

a layer of luminescent material on said upper side, said layer of luminescent material printed with luminescent ink comprising 2 parts Nightlight 20 powder and 3 parts white ink and

an opaque character or message located on said luminescent material layer;

whereby said luminescent material allows the user the ability to see said label as applied to a keyboard key in dark conditions for up to 20 hours after said luminescent material is exposed to light for at least 10 minutes.

15. The luminescent label of claim 14, wherein said label appears cream color under ambient light and appears green in the dark.