Patent ID: 7938635

Claim:
An apparatus for providing indicia and an elastic-like behavior to a web substrate, the apparatus comprising: a printing apparatus, said printing apparatus comprising: at least one rotatable ink roller; an ink source cooperatively associated and in fluid communication with each of said ink rollers, said ink source providing ink to said respective ink roller; said ink being transferable to said web substrate when said web substrate is proximate to said ink roller thereby forming a printed web substrate; and, an apparatus for imparting elastic-like behavior to said web substrate, said apparatus for imparting elastic-like behavior comprising: a pair of intermeshing rollers, a first of said pair of intermeshing rollers having a plurality of ridges and corresponding grooves, and a second of said pair of intermeshing rollers having a plurality of regions of circumferentially extending ridges extending in a spaced relationship about at least a portion of said second of said pair of intermeshing rollers, each of said plurality of regions of circumferentially extending ridges being separated by corresponding grooves; wherein said apparatus for imparting elastic-like behavior is capable of imparting an elastic-like behavior on at least a portion of said printed web substrate with a plurality of first regions and a plurality of second regions, a portion of said first regions extending in a first direction while the remainder of said first regions extend in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction to intersect one another, said first regions forming a boundary completely surrounding said second regions, said second regions comprising a plurality of raised rib-like elements; and, wherein said plurality of first regions and said plurality of second regions are in registration with said ink disposed upon said web substrate.