Display assemblies and methods for applying the same to vulcanized rubber articles

Abstract

Display assemblies as disclosed herein are configured for attachment with a vulcanized rubber article and are provided in the form of different material layers. Display assemblies generally comprise one or more display layers of elastomeric material configured to provide a desired display indicia, an intermediate layer formed from an elastomeric material different from that of the one or more display layers, and an adhesive layer wherein the intermediate layer is interposed between the adhesive layer and the one or more display layers. The one more display layers may be configured to act together or separately to provide a desired display indicia to provide a desired visual display or feature on the surface of the vulcanized rubber article, which may be a sidewall surface of a tire.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An assembly for attachment with a vulcanized rubber article, the assembly comprising:
 an outer layer of flexible material having a visually defining feature; and   an adhesive layer adhered to an interface surface of the outer layer, wherein at least a portion of the adhesive layer or the outer layer adjacent the interface surface comprises material composition that is protective, and wherein the adhesive layer is formed from a material capable of bonding with a surface of a vulcanized rubber article.   
     
     
         22 . The assembly as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the flexible material is an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         23 . The assembly as recited in  claim 21  comprising a functional device disposed therein. 
     
     
         24 . The assembly as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the functional device is disposed within a cavity of the assembly. 
     
     
         25 . The assembly as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the cavity is disposed within or on a surface of the outer layer. 
     
     
         26 . The assembly as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the functional device is an RFID element. 
     
     
         27 . The assembly as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the vulcanized rubber article is a vehicle tire and the assembly is configured for attachment with a surface of the vehicle tire. 
     
     
         28 . The assembly as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the assembly is configured for attachment with a sidewall surface of the vehicle tire. 
     
     
         29 . The assembly as recited in  claim 21  comprising an intermediate layer interposed between the outer layer and the adhesive layer. 
     
     
         30 . The assembly as recited in  claim 21  comprising a further layer disposed over the outer layer opposite the adhesive layer, wherein the further layer comprises a material composition different than that of the outer layer. 
     
     
         31 . The assembly as recited in  claim 30 , wherein the further layer is a visual or protective layer. 
     
     
         32 . The assembly as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the outer first layer includes one or more openings therethrough, and wherein the adhesive is visible through the one or more openings. 
     
     
         33 . A method for attaching an assembly to a surface of a vulcanized rubber article comprising the steps of;
 placing the assembly into contact with a surface of the vulcanized rubber article, wherein the assembly comprises an outer layer of flexible material that is in contact with an adhesive layer interposed between the surface and the assembly, and wherein the adhesive layer or the outer layer comprises a material composition that is protective to the assembly; and   bonding the assembly to the vulcanized rubber article.   
     
     
         34 . The method as recited in  claim 33  comprising applying pressure to the assembly after the step of placing. 
     
     
         35 . The method as recited in  claim 34  comprising heating the adhesive layer after the step of placing. 
     
     
         36 . The method as recited in  claim 33 , wherein the material construction mitigates migration of a material from the vulcanized rubber article to the assembly. 
     
     
         37 . The method as recited in  claim 33 , wherein the vulcanized rubber article is a vehicle tire and the surface placed into contact with the assembly is a sidewall surface of the vehicle tire. 
     
     
         38 . The method as recited in  claim 33 , wherein the assembly comprises a functional element. 
     
     
         39 . The method as recited in  claim 33 , wherein the functional element is an RFID device. 
     
     
         40 . The method as recited in  claim 38 , wherein the functional element is disposed within a cavity, and wherein the cavity is disposed in or on a portion of the assembly. 
     
     
         41 . The method as recited in  claim 33 , wherein the outer layer has a material construction that is different from that of the vulcanized rubber article surface. 
     
     
         42 . The method as recited in  claim 33  comprising an intermediate layer interposed between the outer layer and the adhesive layer. 
     
     
         43 . A vulcanized rubber article comprising:
 a target surface disposed along a portion of the vulcanized rubber article;   an assembly bonded to the target surface and comprising:
 an outer layer of flexible material having a visually defining feature; and 
 an adhesive layer interposed between the outer layer and the target surface, wherein the adhesive layer is formed from a material capable of forming an attachment bond between the assembly to the target surface of the vulcanized rubber article; 
   wherein at least a portion of the adhesive layer or the outer layer comprises a material composition that is protective to the assembly.   
     
     
         44 . The vulcanized rubber article as recited in  claim 43 , wherein the vulcanized rubber article is a vehicle tire and the target surface is a sidewall surface of the vehicle tire. 
     
     
         45 . The vulcanized rubber article as recited in  claim 43 , further comprising a functional element interposed between the target surface and the assembly. 
     
     
         46 . The vulcanized rubber article as recited in  claim 45 , wherein the functional element is an RFID device. 
     
     
         47 . The vulcanized rubber article as recited in  claim 45 , wherein the functional element is disposed in a cavity, and wherein the cavity is disposed in or on a portion of the assembly. 
     
     
         48 . The vulcanized rubber article as recited in  claim 43 , wherein the outer layer comprises a first layer and a second layer, and wherein at least a portion of the adhesive layer or the second layer is visible from outside the first layer. 
     
     
         49 . An assembly for attachment with a flexible article comprising:
 an outer layer of flexible material having a visually defining feature; and   an adhesive layer adhered to an interface surface of the outer layer, wherein one or more of the outer layer or the adhesive layer has a material composition that is protective, and wherein the adhesive layer is formed from a material that bonds with a surface of a flexible article.   
     
     
         50 . The assembly as recited in  claim 49 , wherein the outer layer of material has a material composition that is different from that of the flexible article. 
     
     
         51 . The assembly as recited in  claim 49 , comprising a further layer disposed over the outer layer opposite the interface surface. 
     
     
         52 . The assembly as recited in  claim 51 , wherein the further layer is a visual layer or a protective layer. 
     
     
         53 . The assembly as recited in  claim 49 , wherein the outer layer comprises a first layer and a second layer, and wherein at least a portion of the second layer or the adhesive layer is visible from outside of the first layer. 
     
     
         54 . The assembly as recited in  claim 49 , wherein the flexible article is comprises one or more of a polymeric composition or an elastomeric composition. 
     
     
         55 . The assembly as recited in  claim 49  comprising a functional element. 
     
     
         56 . The assembly as recited in  claim 55 , wherein the functional element is an RFID device. 
     
     
         57 . The assembly as recited in  claim 49 , wherein the functional element is disposed within a cavity of the assembly, and wherein the cavity is disposed in or on the outer layer. 
     
     
         58 . A method for attaching an assembly to a surface of a flexible article comprising the steps of:
 placing the assembly into contact with a surface of the flexible article, wherein the assembly comprises an outer layer of flexible material, wherein the outer layer is in contact with an adhesive layer interposed between the surface and the assembly, and wherein the outer layer comprises a material composition that is protective to the assembly; and   bonding the assembly to the flexible article.   
     
     
         59 . The method as recited in  claim 58  comprising applying pressure to the assembly after the step of placing. 
     
     
         60 . The method as recited in  claim 58  comprising heating the adhesive layer after the step of placing. 
     
     
         61 . The method as recited in  claim 58 , wherein the material construction mitigates migration of a material from the flexible article to the assembly. 
     
     
         62 . The method as recited in  claim 58 , wherein the flexible article is formed from a polymeric or elastomeric material, and wherein the surface placed into contact with the assembly is a visible surface of the flexible article. 
     
     
         63 . The method as recited in  claim 58 , wherein the assembly comprises a functional element. 
     
     
         64 . The method as recited in  claim 63 , wherein the functional element is an RFID device. 
     
     
         65 . The method as recited in  claim 63 , wherein the functional element is disposed within a cavity, and wherein the cavity is disposed in or on a portion of the assembly. 
     
     
         66 . The method as recited in  claim 38 , wherein the outer layer has a material construction that is different from that of the flexible article surface. 
     
     
         67 . A flexible article comprising:
 a target surface disposed along a portion of the flexible article;   an assembly disposed onto the target surface and comprising:
 an outer layer of flexible material having a visually defining feature; and 
 an adhesive layer connected with the outer layer; 
   wherein at least a portion of the adhesive layer or the outer layer comprises a material composition that is protective.   
     
     
         68 . The flexible article as recited in  claim 67 , wherein the flexible article is formed from a polymeric or elastomeric material. 
     
     
         69 . The flexible article as recited in  claim 67 , wherein the outer layer is formed from a material that is different from that of the flexible article. 
     
     
         70 . The flexible article as recited in  claim 67  further comprising a functional element interposed between the target surface and the assembly. 
     
     
         71 . The flexible article as recited in  claim 70 , wherein the functional element is an RFID device. 
     
     
         72 . The flexible article as recited in  claim 70 , wherein the functional element is disposed in a cavity, and wherein the cavity is disposed in or on a portion of the assembly. 
     
     
         73 . The flexible article as recited in  claim 67 , wherein the outer layer comprises a first layer and a second layer, and wherein at least a portion of the adhesive layer or the second layer is visible from outside the first layer. 
     
     
         74 . The flexible article as recited in  claim 67  further comprising a surface layer disposed above the outer layer opposite the adhesive layer, wherein the surface layer is a visual or a protective layer.