Decorative decal assembly for a weight plate

Abstract

The decorative decal assembly (20) is configured to be secured within a recessed surface (26) of a weight plate (18) and includes an adhesive layer (36), a printable surface (44) of an adjacent ink protective printing layer (42), and one or more print decals (48) secured to the printable surface (44) and between an upper support surface (40) of the adhesive layer (36) and the ink protective layer (42). The recessed surface (26) defines a display area (56) surrounded on all sides by an expansion zone (58) extending between the display area (56) and the shoulders (30, 32) of the weight plate (18) that define the recessed surface (26) to permit limited expansion of perimeter edges (62A, 62B) of the decal assembly (20) into the expansion zone (58) without contacting the shoulders (30, 32) whenever the weight plate (18) experiences a bounce shock.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A decal assembly for attachment with a flexible substrate, the decal assembly comprising:
 an adhesive layer having a contact surface for bonding with a surface of the flexible substrate; and   a display indicia in contact with a surface of the adhesive layer;   wherein the display indicia is visible when the decal assembly is attached with the flexible substrate.   
     
     
         14 . The decal assembly as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the display indicia comprises an ink material. 
     
     
         15 . The decal assembly as recited in  claim 13  further comprising a protective layer attached thereto, wherein the display indicia is interposed between the adhesive layer and the protective layer. 
     
     
         16 . The decal assembly as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the display indicia is disposed on a surface of the protective layer that interfaces with the adhesive layer. 
     
     
         17 . The decal assembly as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the protective layer is formed from a flexible material. 
     
     
         18 . The decal assembly as recited in  claim 14  further comprising an outer layer disposed on the protective layer, wherein the outer layer is formed from a transparent material. 
     
     
         19 . The decal assembly as recited in  claim 13  further comprising a release liner disposed along the adhesive layer contact surface that is removed prior to attachment with the flexible substrate. 
     
     
         20 . The decal assembly as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the adhesive layer is formed from a material that forms a bond with the flexible substrate when the flexible substrate is in an already-formed state. 
     
     
         21 . A decal assembly attached with a flexible substrate, the decal assembly comprising:
 an adhesive layer that is attached with a surface of the flexible substrate;   a display indicia in contact with a surface of the adhesive layer opposite the flexible substrate; and   a protective layer that is connected with the adhesive layer;   wherein the display indicia is visible upon viewing the flexible substrate.   
     
     
         22 . The decal assembly as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the display indicia is in contact with a surface of the protective layer. 
     
     
         23 . The decal assembly as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the display indicia is interposed between the adhesive layer and the protective layer. 
     
     
         24 . The decal assembly as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the protective layer is formed from a flexible material. 
     
     
         25 . The decal assembly as recited in  claim 21 , further comprising an outer layer that is connected with the protective layer. 
     
     
         26 . The decal assembly as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the outer layer is formed from a transparent material. 
     
     
         27 . A method of making a decal assembly for attachment with a flexible substrate, the method comprising the steps of;
 disposing a display indicia onto a printable surface of a printable layer; and   combining the printable layer including the display indicia with an adhesive layer.   
     
     
         28 . The method as recited in  claim 27 , wherein after the step of combining, the display indicia is interposed between the printable layer and the adhesive layer. 
     
     
         29 . The method as recited in  claim 28  further comprising disposing an outer layer over the printable layer. 
     
     
         30 . The method as recited in  claim 29 , wherein the step of disposing the outer layer takes place before the step of combining. 
     
     
         31 . The method as recited in  claim 27  further comprising attaching the decal assembly to a flexible substrate by combining contact surface of the adhesive layer with a surface of the flexible substrate. 
     
     
         32 . The method as recited in  claim 31 , wherein after step of attaching the decal assembly, the display indicia is visible upon viewing the flexible substrate.