Method for manufacturing an identification plate

Abstract

A method of manufacture of an identification plate: comprises advancing a transparent sheet material having a opaque material in contact with one major surface thereof to a printing station, printing indicia in reverse on the other major surface of the sheet material, and securing the printed sheet material to a substrate having a retro-reflective surface such that the printed surface is in contact with, or at lease adjacent to, the retro-reflective surface.

1 . A vehicle identification plate comprising a relatively thick supporting substrate having an entire retro-reflective major surface and a relatively thin transparent sheet material having indicia printed thereon, the transparent sheet material being adhered to the retro-reflective major surface such that the indicia are located in contact with, or at least adjacent, the retro-reflective major surface, the substrate comprising a cavity or recess.  
   
   
       2 . An identification plate comprising a relatively thick supporting substrate having a retro-reflective major surface and a relatively thin transparent sheet material an entire major surface of which having marking material applied thereto, the marking material comprising indicia, the relatively thin transparent sheet material being adhered to the retro-reflective major surface such that the marking material is in contact with, or at least adjacent, the retro-reflective major surface.  
   
   
       3 . The plate according to  claim 1 , wherein the retro-reflective major surface of the relatively thick substrate comprises a retro-reflective sheet material.  
   
   
       4 . The plate according to  claim 2 , wherein the retro-reflective major surface of the relatively thick substrate comprises a retro-reflective sheet material.  
   
   
       5 . The plate according to  claim 1 , wherein the relatively thick substrate comprises a plurality of reflective particles retained within a plastics matrix, the retro-reflective major surface being retro-reflective by virtue of at least some of the particles being located at and/or protruding from that surface.  
   
   
       6 . An identification plate comprising a laminate of a rigid relatively thick plastics substrate and a relatively thin transparent sheet material having indicia printed on a major surface thereof, the rigid relatively thick plastics substrate having a plurality of reflective particles retained therein, wherein the indicia are in contact with, or are at least adjacent to, a major surface of the substrate and the transparent sheet material provides a lens for the reflective particles at that major surface, thereby providing the plate with a retro-reflective character.  
   
   
       7 . The plate according to  claim 5 , wherein the reflective particles are uniformly distributed throughout the substrate.  
   
   
       8 . The plate according to  claim 6 , wherein the reflective particles are uniformly distributed throughout the substrate.  
   
   
       9 . The plate according to  claim 6 , wherein the reflective particles are preferentially distributed at or towards the first major surface of the substrate, thereby imparting a retro-reflective characteristic.  
   
   
       10 . The plate according to  claim 6 , wherein the reflective particles are formed from one of glass, a mineral or a plastics material.  
   
   
       11 . The plate according to  claim 2 , wherein the substrate comprises one of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyethylene, Nylon (RTM) or other hard-wearing, impact and/or bend resistance plastics materials.  
   
   
       12 . The plate according to  claim 6 , wherein the substrate comprises one of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyethylene, Nylon (RTM) or other hard-wearing, impact and/or bend resistance plastics materials.  
   
   
       13 . The plate according to  claim 2 , wherein the support substrate comprises a metal or a metal alloy.  
   
   
       14 . The plate according to  claim 2 , wherein the transparent sheet material is a polymer.  
   
   
       15 . The plate according to  claim 6 , wherein the transparent sheet material is a polymer selected from one of polyvinyl chloride, polyester, polypropylene or polyethylene.  
   
   
       16 . The plate according to  claim 2 , wherein the transparent sheet material is less than 150 μm thick.  
   
   
       17 . The plate according to  claim 2  wherein the plate has a main body for primary indicia and an extended portion for further indicia.  
   
   
       18 . The plate according to  claim 17 , wherein the plate has a pair of longer sides and a pair of shorter sides and the extended portion extends from one of the longer sides of the plate.  
   
   
       19 . The plate according to  claim 2 , wherein the transparent sheet material has marking material applied over some or all of the printed surface thereof.  
   
   
       20 . The plate according to  claim 2 , having one or more lines of weakness formed in the substrate.  
   
   
       21 . The plate according to  claim 2 , having a cavity in an intended rear face thereof for location of an electrical or electronic device.  
   
   
       22 . The plate according to  claim 6 , wherein the transparent sheet material is less than 150 μm thick.  
   
   
       23 . The plate according to  claim 6  wherein the plate has a main body for primary indicia and an extended portion for further indicia.  
   
   
       24 . The plate according to  claim 23 , wherein the plate has a pair of longer sides and a pair of shorter sides and the extended portion extends from one of the longer sides of the plate.  
   
   
       25 . The plate according to  claim 6 , wherein the transparent sheet material has marking material applied over some or all of the printed surface thereof.  
   
   
       26 . The plate according to  claim 6 , having one or more lines of weakness formed in the substrate.  
   
   
       27 . The plate according to  claim 6 , having a cavity in an intended rear face thereof for location of an electrical or electronic device.  
   
   
       28 . A medium to bear indicia for use in an identification plate, the medium comprising a transparent plastics film carrying a silicone material on a first major face thereof and an opaque liner carrying a pressure sensitive adhesive on a major face thereof; a second major face of the transparent plastics film being printable to, wherein the silicone layer and adhesive layer are in contact and the opaque liner and transparent film are separable and re-attachable by virtue of the releasable interaction between silicone layer and adhesive layer.  
   
   
       29 . The medium according to  claim 28 , wherein the transparent plastics film is formed of a plastics material selected from one of polyester, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene or polyethylene.  
   
   
       30 . The medium according to  claim 28 , wherein the opaque liner is polypropylene.  
   
   
       31 . The plate according to  claim 1 , wherein the recess or cavity comprises a line of weakness formed in the substrate.  
   
   
       32 . The plate according to  claim 1 , wherein the recess or cavity is sized and dimensioned for the reception of an electrical or electronic device.  
   
   
       33 . The plate according to  claim 1 , wherein the recess or cavity contains an electronic or electrical device.