Image bearing resin members

Abstract

Resin members that carry images include a topcoat defining a front surface of the resin member and a substrate defining a body of the resin member. An image is carried internally within the resin member, between the front surface and a rear surface of the body. At least portions of the topcoat and the substrate are integral, with no discernible boundaries existing therebetween. The front surface of the resin member may have a texture defined by a surface on which the topcoat is formed.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A resin member with an image thereon, comprising:
 a topcoat with an outer surface and a rear surface, a texture or a configuration of the outer surface defined by a surface of a table or a mold, the topcoat being rigid enough to substantially retain its shape, but not fully cured;   an image that has been at least partially transferred to the rear surface of topcoat; and   a transfer medium for carrying the image.   
     
     
         2 . The resin member of  claim 1 , wherein the topcoat, the image and the transfer medium are in an environment of substantially ambient temperature and substantially ambient pressure. 
     
     
         3 . The resin member of  claim 1 , wherein the rear surface of the topcoat is tacky. 
     
     
         4 . The resin member of  claim 1 , wherein the transfer medium is on the rear surface of the topcoat, over the image. 
     
     
         5 . The resin member of  claim 1 , wherein the transfer medium is separate from the rear surface of the topcoat and the image. 
     
     
         6 . A resin member carrying an image, comprising:
 a substrate defining a rear surface of the resin member;   a topcoat defining an outer surface of the resin member, the outer surface having a texture defined by a surface on which the topcoat was defined, at least portions of the topcoat being integral with corresponding portions of the substrate; and   an image residing between the topcoat and the substrate.   
     
     
         7 . The resin member of  claim 6 , lacking a discernible boundary between at least portions of the topcoat and the substrate. 
     
     
         8 . The resin member of  claim 7 , lacking a discernible boundary between all adjacent areas of the topcoat and the substrate. 
     
     
         9 . The resin member of  claim 8 , lacking a discernible boundary between the topcoat and the substrate at all locations laterally beyond a peripheral extent of each visible portion of the image. 
     
     
         10 . The resin member of  claim 8 , lacking a discernible boundary between the topcoat and the substrate at all locations laterally beyond a peripheral extent of each portion of the image. 
     
     
         11 . The resin member of  claim 6 , wherein the outer surface of the topcoat has a rough texture. 
     
     
         12 . The resin member of  claim 6 , wherein the outer surface of the topcoat has a smooth texture. 
     
     
         13 . The resin member of  claim 6 , lacking a discernible boundary between the image and the topcoat. 
     
     
         14 . The resin member of  claim 13 , lacking a discernible boundary between the image and the substrate. 
     
     
         15 . A system for forming a resin member with an image, comprising:
 a pre-determined amount of liquid resin sufficient to form a topcoat of the resin member;   a surface for receiving the liquid resin to define an outer surface of the topcoat of the resin member;   a transfer medium having a front side and a back side;   an image on the front side of the transfer medium, the image to be disposed in contact with a rear surface of the topcoat, opposite from the outer surface of the topcoat; and   a smoothing element for contacting the back side of the transfer medium to establish contact between the image on the front side of the transfer medium and the rear surface of the topcoat while resin of the topcoat has partially cured sufficient to retain its shape, but the resin of the topcoat has not fully cured.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 means for removing the transfer medium after the image has been substantially transferred to the rear surface of the topcoat and before the resin of the topcoat has fully cured.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the surface, the liquid resin, the transfer medium, the image and the smoothing element are in an environment of substantially ambient pressure. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the surface, the liquid resin, the transfer medium, the image and the smoothing element are in an environment of substantially ambient temperature. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the surface, the liquid resin, the transfer medium, the image and the smoothing element are in an environment of substantially ambient temperature. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein none of the surface, the liquid resin, the transfer medium or the image receives above-ambient external heat or above-ambient external pressure.