Laminated decoration with image in relief

Abstract

A decoration is provided which has a relief image. A laminate is in tight registration with the relief image. The laminate may provide a surface that is compatible with dry erase markers, with a computer mouse, or that is compatible with other functions. There may be reinforcement or filler behind the relief image to prevent it from distorting during use.

1 . A decoration, comprising: 
 a substrate having front and rear surfaces;    an image carried on said substrate;    a first laminate having front and rear surfaces, wherein the rear surface of the first laminate is adhered to the front surface of said substrate, said image being visible through the front surface of said laminate;    wherein the front and rear surfaces of said substrate and the front and rear surfaces of said laminate have a surface contour of varying heights in registration with the image, forming a relief image.    
   
   
       2 . A decoration as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said substrate is made of a thermoplastic material.  
   
   
       3 . A decoration as recited in  claim 2 , and further comprising a base secured to the rear of said substrate.  
   
   
       4 . A decoration as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said base is a soft, non-slip pad.  
   
   
       5 . A decoration as recited in  claim 4 , and further comprising a second laminate between said substrate and said base.  
   
   
       6 . A decoration as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said first laminate is a heat and pressure tolerant clear vinyl.  
   
   
       7 . A decoration as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said base has substantially flat front and rear surfaces, and further comprising a filler between the contoured rear surface of said substrate and the substantially flat front surface of said base.  
   
   
       8 . A decoration as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said filler closely follows at least some of the contours of the contoured rear surface of said substrate.  
   
   
       9 . A decoration as recited in  claim 8 , wherein a space is formed between the contoured rear surface of said substrate and the substantially flat front surface of said base, and said filler substantially fills that space.  
   
   
       10 . A decoration as recited in  claim 7 , and further comprising a reinforcing layer having front and rear surface contours that correspond to the contoured rear surface of said substrate, said reinforcing layer lying behind said substrate.  
   
   
       11 . A decoration as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said first laminate is compatible with dry erase markers.  
   
   
       12 . A decoration as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the front surface of said substrate has at least ⅛ square feet of surface area, and at least three-fourths of the front surface of said substrate is flat.  
   
   
       13 . A decoration as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the front surface of said substrate has at least ⅛ square feet of surface area, and at least three-fourths of the front surface of said substrate is flat.  
   
   
       14 . A decoration as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the front surface of said substrate has at least ⅛ square feet of surface area, and at least three-fourths of the front surface of said substrate is flat.  
   
   
       15 . A method for making a decoration, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a substrate sheet having front and rear surfaces;    applying an image to one of the front and rear surfaces of the substrate sheet, said image being visible from the front surface of the substrate sheet;    applying a first laminate sheet, having front and rear surfaces, to the front surface of the substrate sheet so that said image is visible through the front surface of said laminate sheet; and    applying heat and forming said substrate sheet and said first laminate sheet into a unit having a front and rear surface contour of varying heights in registration with said image, thereby forming a relief image.    
   
   
       16 . A method for making a decoration as recited in  claim 15 , and further comprising the step of providing reinforcement to the rear of said substrate sheet at least in the area of said contour of varying heights.  
   
   
       17 . A method for making a decoration as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said substrate sheet has a front surface area of at least ⅛ square feet, and wherein at least three-fourths of the front surface area of said formed substrate sheet is flat.