Automotive Emblem Assembly and Method

Abstract

A method of reusing an existing emblem from a vehicle. The method includes the steps of providing the identification of the existing emblem. From there, the dimensional characteristics of the existing emblem can be determined. The determined dimensional characteristics are then turned into a plurality of perforations through an adhesive sheet so that they correspond to the dimensional characteristics of the existing emblem. The existing emblem can then be applied to the adhesive sheet, and in turn, can be attached to a vehicle by way of the adhesive sheet. An entire library of templates corresponding to the dimensional characteristics of a plurality of existing emblems can be created.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of reusing an existing emblem from a vehicle comprising the steps of:
 providing an identification of an existing emblem;   determining the dimensional characteristics of the existing emblem;   providing an adhesive sheet; and   forming a plurality of perforations through the adhesive sheet corresponding to the dimensional characteristics of the existing emblem.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of:
 storing the dimensional characteristics of the existing emblem. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising the step of supplying the adhesive sheet to a user for application onto an existing emblem. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the adhesive sheet in the step of providing an adhesive sheet comprises a sheet having a body with an adhesive applied thereto. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the body comprises a foam material. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the existing emblem further comprises a plurality of separate elements which are spaced apart in a predetermined orientation when positioned on a vehicle, the step of providing an adhesive sheet further comprising the step of:
 maintaining the predetermined orientation of the separate elements while forming a plurality of perforations through the adhesive sheet, to, in turn, position each of the separate elements in the proper configuration on the adhesive sheet. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of forming a plurality of perforations occurs through an automated cutting plotter which is coupled to a computing device for providing the automated cutting plotter the dimensional characteristics of the existing emblem. 
     
     
         8 . A method of creating a library of templates corresponding to existing emblems utilized on vehicles comprising the steps of:
 providing an identification of a plurality of existing emblems;   determining the dimensional characteristics of each of the plurality of existing emblems;   creating a template corresponding to the dimensional characteristics of each of the plurality of existing emblems; and   storing each of the plurality of templates.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the step of creating a template further comprises the step of creating a template using software on a computing device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the step of storing each of the plurality of templates further comprises the step of storing each of the plurality of templates on a computer. 
     
     
         11 . A method of reusing an existing emblem for a vehicle comprising the steps of:
 removing an existing emblem from a vehicle, the existing emblem being applied to the vehicle through an adhesive;   cleaning the adhesive from the existing emblem;   identifying a template corresponding to dimensional characteristics of the existing emblem from a plurality of templates;   obtaining an adhesive sheet having perforations through the adhesive sheet corresponding to the template;   applying the existing emblem in the predetermined, desired orientation on the adhesive sheet; and   adhering the existing emblem to a vehicle in a predetermined orientation with the adhesive sheet.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the step of obtaining an adhesive further comprises the steps of:
 providing the dimensional characteristics to an automated cutting plotter; and 
 cutting the perforations with the automated cutting plotter. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the cutting plotter is located remotely from the user and the step of obtaining further comprises the step of communicating with the cutting plotter through the Internet. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the step of applying the existing emblem further comprises the step of removing portions of the adhesive sheet surrounding the existing emblem. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the existing emblem further includes a plurality of separate elements which are spaced apart in a predetermined orientation, the method further comprising the steps of:
 applying each of the plurality of separate elements to a single adhesive sheet, to, in turn, maintain the spaced apart predetermined orientation.