GB2036648A - Transparent pictures - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a kit to be made into a transparent coloured picture in jigsaw fashion comprises the step of cutting simultaneously a respective identical shape from a stack of differently coloured sheets of transparent plastics material to leave respective second shapes. Interfitting pieces of differently coloured plastic are thus formed which may be stuck on a transparent backing sheet, which may in turn be of the kind which can be peeled from a backing to give an adhesive surface. The transparent coloured picture may be used for example as a sticker for a car window.

Description

SPECIFICATION Transparent pictures This invention relates to a method of manufacturing a kit of transparent laminar parts which interfit and can be assembled into a transparent picture.

For some not inconsiderable period of time it has been desired to produce transparent pictures from sheet plastics material that contain more than one colour. It is not possible to print transparent overlays on to a transparent backing sheet, the only available method being to cut coloured portions from single coloured sheets of plastic and stick them to a transparent backing sheet. This has proved to be an unsuccessful technique because the shapes cut from the sheets are not sufficiently accurately matching for a tidy interfitted picture to be produced. It will be understood that the transparent pictures are typically intended for such things as stickers for car windows or mirrors, and are required to be mass produced cheaply without needing expensive, highly accurate cutting machinery or skills.At present such stickers, etc., are printed with opaque ink and hence in the case of car stickers obscure a driver's view and in any case are visible from one direction only.

Accordingly the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a kit of transparent laminar parts, from plastics sheet material, which parts interfittoform indicia or an illustration and include at least two parts of different colours, the method including the step of: simultaneously cutting a respective identical first shape from a plurality of sheets of differently coloured transparent plastics material to leave respective identical second shapes; selecting a piece of material of the first shape of one colour and a piece of the second shape of a second colour to include as interfitting parts in said kit.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is an illustration of a picture produced by the method according to the invention.

In a method in accordance with the invention a vertical stack of sheets of plastics material are cut to shape simultaneously. The sheets include green, red, yellow and blue sheets and preferabiy are the type of material sold under the name 'Transpaseal' which is a self-adhesive P.V.C. The shapes are cut using a plan or mask and leave behind corresponding shapes in the sheets. For example, referring to the Figure the wing shapes 1 and 2 are cut from the sheets and then the body shape 3. It is clear that since the shapes are cut simultaneously from all the sheets then, for example, red wing portions will interfitwith a green body portion and soon for the other portions 4 to 11 of the toucan shown in the Figure.

The correct location of the parts may be mapped in outline 12 on a sheet of transparent P.V.C. 13 using a stencil. The transparent sheet 13 is preferably adhered to an opaque backing sheet from which it can be peeled to give an adhesive surface to the transparent sheet. Such a material is the type sold under the name 'Screenvin' which has the advantage of being capable of having the picture outline screen-printed on to it.

The outline is of course opaque but may be made insignificant compared with the areas covered by the transparent coloured plastics parts. These parts when located on the sheet 13 may not quite meet at their edges if hastily placed in position, but the outline ink 12 prevents this from being too noticeable and therefore allows the picture to be assembled quickly and without too much care being required.

There are many applications for the transparent pictures which may be illustrations as shown in the Figure or may comprise words or numbers. Whole windows may be covered to simulate the effect of stained-glass or small transfers may be produced for sundry applications. It is envisaged that the pictures may be sold as a kit of parts for assembly by the purchaser.

1. A method of manufacturing a kit of transparent laminar parts from plastics sheet material, which parts interfitto form indicia or an illustration and include at least two parts of different colours, the method including the step of: simultaneously cutting a respective identical first shape from a plurality of sheets of differently coloured transparent plastics material to leave respective identical second shapes; selecting a piece of material of the first shape of one colour and a piece of the second shape of a second colour to include as interfitting parts in said kit.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a stack of overlaying sheets of plastics material are cut simultaneously.

3. A kit of transparent laminar parts manufactured in accordance with the method claimed in claim 1 or claim 2.

4. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 3 wherein the laminar parts are backed with adhesive material.

5. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 including a transparent sheet having marked in outline thereon the correct location of the laminar parts.

6. A substantially transparent picture formed from a kit of parts as claimed in claim 3 or 4 adhereing to a transparent sheet in their interfitting configuration.

7. A substantiaily transparent picture as claimed in claim 6 wherein the transparent sheet has marked thereon the outlines of the locations of the laminars parts appropriate to their connection in interfitting relationship.

8. A substantially transparent picture as claimed in claim 7 wherein the transparent sheet is backed by adhesive material and an opaque sheet from which it can be peeled to leave the transparent sheet with an adhesive surface.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Transparent pictures This invention relates to a method of manufacturing a kit of transparent laminar parts which interfit and can be assembled into a transparent picture. For some not inconsiderable period of time it has been desired to produce transparent pictures from sheet plastics material that contain more than one colour. It is not possible to print transparent overlays on to a transparent backing sheet, the only available method being to cut coloured portions from single coloured sheets of plastic and stick them to a transparent backing sheet. This has proved to be an unsuccessful technique because the shapes cut from the sheets are not sufficiently accurately matching for a tidy interfitted picture to be produced. It will be understood that the transparent pictures are typically intended for such things as stickers for car windows or mirrors, and are required to be mass produced cheaply without needing expensive, highly accurate cutting machinery or skills.At present such stickers, etc., are printed with opaque ink and hence in the case of car stickers obscure a driver's view and in any case are visible from one direction only. Accordingly the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a kit of transparent laminar parts, from plastics sheet material, which parts interfittoform indicia or an illustration and include at least two parts of different colours, the method including the step of: simultaneously cutting a respective identical first shape from a plurality of sheets of differently coloured transparent plastics material to leave respective identical second shapes; selecting a piece of material of the first shape of one colour and a piece of the second shape of a second colour to include as interfitting parts in said kit. An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is an illustration of a picture produced by the method according to the invention. In a method in accordance with the invention a vertical stack of sheets of plastics material are cut to shape simultaneously. The sheets include green, red, yellow and blue sheets and preferabiy are the type of material sold under the name 'Transpaseal' which is a self-adhesive P.V.C. The shapes are cut using a plan or mask and leave behind corresponding shapes in the sheets. For example, referring to the Figure the wing shapes 1 and 2 are cut from the sheets and then the body shape 3. It is clear that since the shapes are cut simultaneously from all the sheets then, for example, red wing portions will interfitwith a green body portion and soon for the other portions 4 to 11 of the toucan shown in the Figure. The correct location of the parts may be mapped in outline 12 on a sheet of transparent P.V.C. 13 using a stencil. The transparent sheet 13 is preferably adhered to an opaque backing sheet from which it can be peeled to give an adhesive surface to the transparent sheet. Such a material is the type sold under the name 'Screenvin' which has the advantage of being capable of having the picture outline screen-printed on to it. The outline is of course opaque but may be made insignificant compared with the areas covered by the transparent coloured plastics parts. These parts when located on the sheet 13 may not quite meet at their edges if hastily placed in position, but the outline ink 12 prevents this from being too noticeable and therefore allows the picture to be assembled quickly and without too much care being required. There are many applications for the transparent pictures which may be illustrations as shown in the Figure or may comprise words or numbers. Whole windows may be covered to simulate the effect of stained-glass or small transfers may be produced for sundry applications. It is envisaged that the pictures may be sold as a kit of parts for assembly by the purchaser. CLAIMS

1. A method of manufacturing a kit of transparent laminar parts from plastics sheet material, which parts interfitto form indicia or an illustration and include at least two parts of different colours, the method including the step of: simultaneously cutting a respective identical first shape from a plurality of sheets of differently coloured transparent plastics material to leave respective identical second shapes; selecting a piece of material of the first shape of one colour and a piece of the second shape of a second colour to include as interfitting parts in said kit.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a stack of overlaying sheets of plastics material are cut simultaneously.

3. A kit of transparent laminar parts manufactured in accordance with the method claimed in claim 1 or claim 2.

4. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 3 wherein the laminar parts are backed with adhesive material.

5. A kit of parts as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 including a transparent sheet having marked in outline thereon the correct location of the laminar parts.

6. A substantially transparent picture formed from a kit of parts as claimed in claim 3 or 4 adhereing to a transparent sheet in their interfitting configuration.

7. A substantiaily transparent picture as claimed in claim 6 wherein the transparent sheet has marked thereon the outlines of the locations of the laminars parts appropriate to their connection in interfitting relationship.

8. A substantially transparent picture as claimed in claim 7 wherein the transparent sheet is backed by adhesive material and an opaque sheet from which it can be peeled to leave the transparent sheet with an adhesive surface.