Abstract: A technique and apparatus for printing that includes the formation of a hologram, or other type of diffraction pattern, directly on a desired end product of paper, or other sheet material. The hologram, or other diffraction pattern, is formed by casting a surface relief pattern directly onto the sheet material in a limited area.

Abstract: A new technique and apparatus for printing that includes the formation of a hologram, or other type of diffraction pattern, directly on a desired end product of paper, or other sheet material. The hologram, or other diffraction pattern, is formed by casting a surface relief pattern directly onto the sheet material in a limited area.

Abstract: An embossing roller has protruding lands extending radially outward from the surface of the roller to provide corresponding indentations in a thermoplastic surface to which the roller may be applied. A layer of resilient material underlies the lands so that when the roller is rolled over an irregular surface, individual lands, or groups of lands, may be depressed different amounts so that embossing indentations are formed in all portions of the surface. By applying adequate pressure to the roller, all of the lands are depressed at their points of contact when in contact with the surface if the surface is flat and regular. The lands are forced by action of the resilient material into contact with the bottom of any slight concavity in the surface and adapt to any slight convexity. In some embodiments, lands protrude outwardly from metal rings which encircle the roller. In other embodiments, lands are supported directly by the resilient material.

Abstract: An elastomeric transfer laminate for providing decorative reflective metal finishes on the outer surfaces of articles of various shapes includes an effectively transparent elastomeric layer, such as polyurethane film, and a layer of highly reflective metal, such as chromium, bonded to the elastomeric layer. The metal is applied in microscopically discontinuous quantities, but in an amount to form an apparently visually continuous, planar, highly reflective surface. A typical technique is vapor deposition. The elastomeric layer provides an effectively transparent protective outer covering for the reflective metal layer when the laminate is bonded to a substrate. The laminate can be stretched to conform to three-dimensional shapes, and bonded to an elastomeric substrate, such as urethane rubber, to produce an article having a reflective metal surface which can be distorted temporarily during use without disrupting the reflectivity of the metal layer.

Abstract: A web of indeterminate length carrying thermally transferable material, usually referred to as hot stamp tape, is structured to provide an improved simulated wood grain pattern on a substrate after transfer to the substrate of transferable portions of the tape. The web or tape may be provided in sheet form. The structure comprises "ticks" or discrete linearly oriented spots of material having low specular reflectivity coated on a matte carrier sheet, as by printing, and a layer coated thereon to provide the top layer of the transferred material, which replicates the surface of the carrier sheet and the coated ticks or spots.

Abstract: A web of indeterminate length carrying thermally transferable material, usually referred to as hot stamp tape, is structured to provide an improved simulated wood grain pattern on a substrate after transfer to the substrate of transferable portions of the tape. The web or tape may be provided in sheet form. The structure comprises "ticks" or discrete linearly oriented spots of material having low specular reflectivity coated on a matte carrier sheet, as by printing, and a layer coated thereon to provide the top layer of the transferred material, which replicates the surface of the carrier sheet and the coated "ticks" or spots.

Abstract: Laminar reflective platelets are made by coating a first synthetic resin lamina on a carrier web and providing release means such as a release coat to provide for release of the lamina. A metallic lamina is coated onto the synthetic resin lamina by vapor deposition in vacuum and a third optional synthetic resin lamina may then be coated onto the metal layer. Each of the three laminae has a thickness on the order of one to 3 millionths of an inch. The thus-coated web is immersed in a releasing solvent to activate the release means. The laminate is removed from the carrier by reason of solution or partial solution of the release coat or release means in the solvent. Removal may be aided by mechanical means such as brushing or scraping. The solvent is agitated to reduce the laminar platelets to final size. Laminar platelets thus formed have a thickness of from 0.5 to 5 millionths of an inch; each has a diffuse reflectance of from 75 to 95%, and 90 to 100% pass through a 300 mesh screen.