Patent Publication Number: US-9840107-B2

Title: Dissolvable ink-support sheet material

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The subject disclosure relates generally to a temporary (wash-away) decal that is adapted to be affixed to a vehicle (or similar object) and that remains visible during adverse weather conditions (e.g., rain) but is later removable through application of higher water pressures (e.g., from a car wash). 
     Background of the Related Art 
     Automobile owners often desire to decorate their vehicles with decals or other stickers. These items typically are positioned on vehicle surfaces (e.g., bumpers) where they can be removed. Because decals/stickers of this type often remain for long periods of time (sometimes years or longer), they are affixed with strong adhesives. As such, in the past it has not been possible to provide a “temporary” or short-term solution in the form of a temporary decal that can be readily applied to the vehicle but then easily removed by the owner. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     A sheet material for use as a dissolvable (or wash-away) decal comprises a dissolvable layer (e.g., paper or plastic) whose dissolvability in water is enhanced (built-up) using a temporary water barrier. In one embodiment, the sheet material comprises a dissolvable paper stock layer coated with the temporary water barrier layer in the form of an acrylate polymer. The temporary water barrier may also penetrate into the paper itself. To create the decal, one or more ink layers (representing text, a graphic, an image, or the like) are applied, either on top of the temporary water barrier, or between the temporary water barrier and a top face of the dissolvable paper stock. The sheet material also comprises a removable release liner comprising a paper or plastic sheet with a silicone release coating on one side. In use, the paper/plastic liner is removed and the resulting decal (comprising the ink/barrier/paper/adhesive layers) is then positioned on a vehicle. The decal remains on the vehicle and visible even under in-climate weather, but it is ultimately removable under high pressure water conditions (e.g., a car wash, a direct water spray, or the like). 
     The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent features of the disclosed subject matter. These features should be construed to be merely illustrative. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed subject matter in a different manner or by modifying the subject matter as will be described. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an elevation view of the temporary wash-away decal of this disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  is an elevation view of the temporary wash-away decal of this disclosure. The decal comprises a set of layers. In one embodiment, a main or primary layer  100  comprises a dissolvable paper facestock, typically formed of cellulose and a water-soluble binder. Typically, layer  100  has a top face (upwardly- or outwardly-facing in the drawing) and an opposed bottom face. Affixed to layer  100  is a dissolvable adhesive layer  102 , typically formed of an acrylic co-polymer. Layer  102  may be directly coated onto the bottom of layer  100 , or it may be applied to layer  110  in a lamination process. On top of layer  100  is a temporary water barrier layer  104 , typically formed of an acrylate polymer that provides a degree of water-resistance to the dissolvable paper facestock layer  100 . The layer  104  may be coated on top of the layer  100 ; in the alternative, the material comprising the temporary water barrier may be applied in a solution so that the active material penetrates into the layer  100 . The basic function of the temporary water barrier  104  is to adjust (increase) the resistance to dissolvability of the dissolvable paper layer. In other words, by affixing the water barrier layer  104  (to the dissolvable paper), the degree to which the primary layer  100  dissolves is adjusted so as to trade-off the layer  100  never dissolving (being too water-resistant) or dissolving too fast (not being sufficiently water-resistant). This enables the decal to have a careful balance between the degree to (and rate at) which the layer  100  dissolves in typical environmental conditions wherein an average degree of rainfall is expected. In particular, a goal of this construction is to enable the decal to remain affixed and readable even through rainy days, yet be fully and easily removable under higher pressure water conditions, such as those that exist in a car wash. 
     To create the decal&#39;s text, graphics or image, one or more ink layers  106  (representing text, a graphic, an image, or the like) are applied, either on top of the temporary water barrier  104 , or between the temporary water barrier  104  and a top face of the dissolvable paper stock  100 . If the ink is water soluble, then the ink should be applied in-between the layers  104  and  100 . If the ink is not water-soluble, then it can be applied above layer  104 , or in-between layers  104  and  100 . 
     The sheet material also comprises a removable release liner typically comprising of a paper or plastic sheet  108  with a silicone release coating  110 . The purpose of the release liner is to protect the adhesive until the time of decal application. Typical thickness for the sheet  108  is 0.5-5.0 mils, and 0.1-0.5 mils for the silicone release coating. 
     The decal is created by laminating layers  100 - 102 - 104 - 106  to layers  108 - 110 , or by laminating layers  100 - 104 - 106  to layers  102 - 110 - 108 . The result is a temporary wash-away decal comprising the resulting laminate structure. 
     In use, the paper/plastic liner  110  is removed (from the laminate) and the resulting decal (comprising the ink/barrier/paper/adhesive layers) is then positioned on a vehicle. The decal remains on a vehicle (or other outdoor structure and visible even under usual rainy conditions, but it is ultimately removable under high pressure water conditions (e.g., a car wash, a direct water spray, or the like). 
     Sheet material comprising layers  100 - 102 - 104  laminated to layers  108 - 110  (without the ink layers  106 ) are also within the scope of this disclosure. 
     Representative materials for layer  100  include, without limitation, DissolvTech 35 paper (from DayMark Technologies), and DissolvTech PS paper. 
     Representative materials for layer  102  include, without limitation, AMPHOMER® polymer from AkzoNobel, RESYN® 28-2930 Polymer from AkzoNobel, and DERMACRYL® 79 Film Forming Polymer, from Akzo Nobel. 
     Representative materials for layer  104  include, without limitation, E5800 from Avery Dennison. 
     In an alternative embodiment, and in lieu of dissolvable paper, a water-soluble polymer layer may be used. In this embodiment, layer  100  (in the drawing) is replaced with a layer of dissolvable plastic material. Preferably, the material has a uniform caliper (thickness) with good mechanical characteristics so that it may be processed as a web (e.g., on an adhesive coating machine). The material is printable (and thus can receive the ink layer), and it may be treated with the coating (as described above) to adjust its rate of dissolvability as appropriate for the desired use. The thickness of the layer  100  in this embodiment may vary but typically is between 25-50 microns. Representative polymer materials include Solubron™ PVAL films (e.g., BP, KA, TF and GA grade), Soltec™ PVAL films (e.g., HH, SE6 and WWS grade), Monosol™ dissolvable plastic, and others. In this alternative embodiment, the water barrier  104  and adhesive layers  102  are used. 
     In yet another alternative embodiment, the active layer includes multiple dissolvable layers, with each layer being one of: a dissolvable paper layer or material, and a dissolvable polymer layer or material. 
     A decal (or more generally, a material) that exhibits the above-described physical characteristics and properties may be used for promotional purposes, for advertising and display purposes, for informational purposes, for aesthetic purposes in modifying the appearance of the vehicle or object, or the like.