GB2231551A

GB2231551A - Mounting a document on a window or windscreen

Info

Publication number: GB2231551A
Application number: GB8911260A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Maurice Bird
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-05-17
Filing date: 1989-05-17
Publication date: 1990-11-21
Anticipated expiration: 2009-05-17
Also published as: GB2231551B; GB8911260D0

Abstract

A first sheet (12), intended to carry or convey information, is mounted on a surface of a window or windscreen or the like by a second sheet (16), the second sheet being of self-cling material. In preferred embodiments, the first sheet (12) has a self-adhesive rear face by which it is adhered to the second sheet (16), which is applied to a rear surface of the window with the first sheet (12) between the second sheet (16) and said surface, such that information carried or conveyed by the front face (14) of the first sheet (12) may be seen from the front, through the window or windscreen. At least the second sheet (16) may be supplied on, and removable from, a backing sheet (18). <IMAGE>

Description

Title: "Sticker" Description of Invention This invention relates to a sticker, intended to be applied to a window, such as to a vehicle windscreen or the like.

According to the invention, there is provided a sticker comprising a first sheet, intended to carry or convey information, and a second sheet, the second sheet being of seif-cling material and being for use in mounting the first sheet on a surface of a window, windscreen or the like.

By the term "self-cling" as used herein, we mean that the second sheet is of a material enabling it to adhere naturally, such as due to electrostatic forces. to a surface of glass, perspex, or the like, following initial application of finger pressure to press the second sheet against said surface.

Preferably, the second sheet comprises a single flexible web or layer of self-cling material, which preferably is capable of lying generally flat.

Preferably the first sheet is self-adhesive on one of it faces. such as to permit the first sheet to be adhered to the second sheet prior to application of the sticker to said surface.

For example, said information may be carried or conveyed by a front face of the first sheet, and the rear face of the first sheet may be made selfadhesive.

In preferred embodiments, the second sheet in use lies against both the first sheet and said surface, so as to cling to said surface and thereby hold the first sheet against or adjacent to said surface, between the second sheet and said surface. In such preferred embodiments the- second sheet is preferably more extensive than the first sheet, such that in use a portion or portions (and preferably only said portion or portions) of the second sheet lying laterally beyond an outer periphery of the first sheet is or are responsible for said clinging.

Preferably the sticker in accordance with the invention is arranged such that it may be applied to a rear surface of a window or windscreen, where it may be protected against adverse weather conditions, with the intention that information carried or conveyed by the first sheet may be seen from the front, through the window or windscreen.

Preferably the first sheet is of paper or vinyl or the like, upon which it is relatively easy to print and/or write. The first sheet may for example be generally circular in peripheral outline.

The second sheet may comprise a piece of static cling vinyl, preferably clear and preferably colourless, of size and shape suited to its use in conjunction with the respective first sheet.

At least the second sheet of the sticker as initially supplied to a potential user may be supplied carried on a backing sheet, from which it may be removed when its use is required.

In preferred embodiments, the first sheet is adhered to the second sheet during manufacture, and the sticker is supplied to a potential user with the first sheet so adhered, so that from the point of view of the potential user, the sticker, comprising the adhered-together first and second sheets, may be regarded as being a single article.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE I is a perspective front view of a sticker in accordance with the invention, also showing a backing sheet on which the sticker is supplied initially the thicknesses of the sheets/layers being slightly exaggerated for ease of illustration; and FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the sticker of Figure 1, in use on a window or windscreen, the thicknesses of the sheets/layers of the sticker being exaggerated for ease of illustration.

Referring first to Figure I of the drawings, a sticker 10 in accordance with the invention comprises a first, generally circular sheet 12, intended to carry or convey information. In this example, the sheet 12 is a sheet of paper or vinyl or the like, the front face 14 of which may be relatively easily printed or written upon. The sticker 10 further comprises a second, generally rectangular or square sheet 16, being larger than the sheet 12, and being of "self-cling" material. In this example the sheet 16 is in the form of a single web of static cling vinyl which is capable of adhering naturally, such as due to electrostatic forces, to a surface of glass, perspex or the like, following initial application of finger pressure to press the second sheet 16 against said surface.In this example, the sheet 16 is flexible, clear colourless, and continuous (i.e. unperforated) and is capable of lying generally flat.

In this example, for convenience of initial handling, the sticker is supplied on a paper/vinyl backing sheet 18, to which the sheet 16 adheres electrostatically, which backing sheet IS is removed (i.e. peeled away) by a user prior to use of the sticker.

In this example, a rear surface of the sheet 12 is provided with a selfadhesive layer IS, by which the sheet 12 adheres positively to the sheet 16.

The sticker 10 is supplied to a user with the sheet 12 adhered to the sheet 16, and with the sheet 16 adhered to the sheet 18. In use. the sheet 18 is removed and discarded, and the sheet I 6 is positioned against a surface 20 of a window or windscreen 22, so as to cling thereto due to electrostatic forces. with the first sheet 12 disposed between the sheet 16 and the surface 20, so as to be mounted with its front face 14 against or adjacent to the surface 20. which front face may then be seen through the window or windscreen 22. Application of finger pressure over the thus applied sheet 16 is effective to expel air from between the sheet 16 and the surface 20.

thereby increasing adhesion. It will be appreciated that the sheet 12 would be held in place, against or adjacent to the surface 20, by the sheet 16, even in the absence of self-adhesive layer 15, although inclusion of such a selfadhesive layer 15 is much preferred. In this example, the sticker 10 is shown adhered to the inner surface of a vehicle windscreen, where it may be protected against adverse weather conditions, but it may alternatively be applied to other glass or perspex or the like windows or surfaces.

It will be appreciated that the portions of the sheet 16 which in this example cling to the surface 20 lie beyond the outer periphery of the sheet 12, and that these portions could be of other shapes/sizes if desired while, for the particular variety of sticker illustrated, maintaining the sheet 16 suitably oversize in at least some radial direction compared with the sheet 12.

Advantages of such a sticker 10 in accordance with the invention are that a relatively easily printed and written upon sheet 12 may be used (in particular the sheet 12 is easier to print and write upon than, say, the sheet 16 of static cling vinyl) and that the sheet 12 may be held against an inner surface of a window or windscreen, away from adverse weather conditions, without any need to apply a costly self-adhesive layer to the front surface 14 over the printing (which adhesive layer would in any case make subsequent over-writing virtually impossible.) Furthermore, in manufacture, a plurality of self-adhesive-backed sheets 12 may initially be supplied, such as at spaced intervals, on a strip backing, on which strip backing they remain during printing and from which they are then removed (manually or mechanically) in order to be applied (manually or mechanically) at respective locations, to a further strip affording sheets 16, 18. after which said further strip is cut suitably to provide ready-for-use individual stickers 10 in accordance with the invention. (Said further strip may comprise a first elongate web, to which the sheets 12 are applied, and a second elongate web, the first web being electrostatically adhered to the second web before or during application of the sheets 12 to the first web, the first web affording the sheets 16 and the second web affording the sheets 18). It will be appreciated that stickers in accordance with the invention are highly suited to automated production, with consequent reductions in cost.A particular advantage of such a production technique is that the stickers may for example be printed, at the outset, with consecutive numbers, for example with a limited number of consecutive numbers, which is important where the stickers are limitedissue security (e.g. restricted car-park) stickers. Alternatively or additionally, the stickers may for example have printed or written upon them a club membership number, the membership year, a member's name or a vehicle number.

In one application of the invention, the sheet 12 could be a vehicle tax or licence disc, preferably provided with a self-adhesive layer on its rear face.

Instead of, or in addition to, corrying specific printed or written information, the sheet 12 may for example convey information simply by virtue of its pattern or colour.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A sticker comprising a first sheet, intended to carry or convey information, and a second sheet, the second sheet being of self-cling material and being for use in mounting the first sheet on a surface of a window, windscreen or the like.

2. A sticker according to Claim 1 wherein the second sheet comprises a single flexible web or layer of self-cling material.

3. A sticker according to Claim 2 wherein said single flexible web or layer is capable of lying generally flat.

4. A sticker according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first sheet is self-adhesive on one of its faces, such as to permit the first sheet to be adhered to the second sheet prior to application of the sticker to said surface.

5. A sticker according to Claim 4 wherein said information is carried or conveyed bv a front face of the first sheet, and the rear face of the first sheet is self-adhesive.

6. A sticker according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the second sheet in use lies against both the first sheet and said surface, so as to cling to said surface and thereby hold the first sheet against or adjacent to said surface, between the second sheet and said surface.

7. A sticker according to Claim 6 wherein the second sheet is more extensive than the first sheet, such that in use a portion or portions of the second sheet lying laterally beyond an outer periphery of the first sheet is or are responsible for said clinging.

8. A sticker according to Claim 7 wherein only said portion or portions is or are responsible for said clinging.

9. A sticker according to any one of the preceding claims, which may be applied to a rear surface of a window or windscreen, with the intention that information carried or conveyed by the first sheet may be seen from the front, through the window or windscreen.

10. A sticker according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first sheet is of paper or vinyl or the like.

11. A sticker according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first sheet is generally circular in peripheral outline.

12. A sticker according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the second sheet comprises a piece of static cling vinyl, of size and shape suited to its use in conjunction with the respective first sheet.

13. A sticker according to Claim 12 wherein said piece of static cling vinyl is clear.

14. A sticker according to Claim 12 or Claim 13 wherein said piece of static cling vinyl is colourless.

15. A sticker according to any preceding claim wherein at least the second sheet of the sticker as initially supplied to a potential user is supplied carried on a backing sheet, from which it may be removed when its use is required.

16. A sticker according to any preceding claim wherein the first sheet is adhered to the second sheet during manufacture, and the sticker is supplied to a potential user with the first sheet so adhered.

17. A sticker substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

18. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.