Method and laminate for applying dye sublimated ink decoration to a surface

Abstract

A method for printing a dye sublimation ink decoration on a surface of a type which is generally incompatible with dye sublimation direct image transfer. The method includes the steps of applying a coating receptive to dye sublimation ink printing to one surface of a release sheet. Applying an adhesive to the exposed surface of the coating. Removing the release sheet from the coating and printing a decoration on the coating using a sublimation heat transfer printing process. Positioning the adhesive against the surface which is to receive the direct image transfer to adhere and support the coating and the release sheet on the surface. In a further embodiment of the invention, a bonding enhancing layer is applied to the dye sublimation ink printing receptive coating, an embossable polyester layer is applied to the bonding enhancing layer, a hologram is applied to the embossable polyester layer and a high refractive index layer is applied to the hologram embossable layer all before the adhesive is positioned against the direct image receiving surface and is adhered thereto.

1 . A laminate for facilitating sublimation dye printing on surfaces which are normally not adaptable to such printing, said laminate including: 
 a release sheet,    a coating receptive to dye sublimated ink printing applied to one surface of said release sheet, and    an adhesive applied to said coating on its surface opposite to said release sheet.    
     
     
         2 . A method for applying a dye sublimation ink decoration to a surface of a type which is generally incompatible with dye sublimation direct image transfer, 
 said method including the steps of:    applying a coating receptive to dye sublimation ink printing on one surface of a release sheet,    applying an adhesive to a surface of said coating opposite to said one surface of said release sheet,    removing said release sheet from said coating,    printing a decoration on said coating using a sublimation heat transfer printing process, and    positioning said adhesive against said generally incompatible surface to adhere and support said coating and said release sheet on said surface.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further including the step of: 
 applying a bonding enhancing coating to said dye sublimation ink printing receptive coating before applying said adhesive.  
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  further including the steps of: 
 applying a bonding enhancing coating to said dye sublimation ink printing receptive coating,  
 applying an embossable polyester coating to said bonding enhancing coating,  
 applying a hologram to said embossable polyester coating,  
 applying a high refractive index coating to said hologram embossable polyester coating,  
 all before applying said adhesive.  
 
     
     
         5 . A laminate including: 
 a layer of a dye sublimation ink printing receptive material,    a bonding enhancing layer applied to such dye sublimation ink printing receptive layer,    an embossable polyester layer applied to said bonding enhancing layer,    a hologram applied to said embossable polyester layer,    a high refractive index layer applied to said hologram embossable polyester layer, and    an adhesive applied to said high refractive index layer.    
     
     
         6 . The laminate of  claim 5  further including a substrate laminated to said adhesive.  
     
     
         7 . The laminate of  claim 6  further including a dye sublimated ink data applied to said dye sublimation ink printing receptive layer.