Patent ID: RE42541

Claim:
An image transfer sheet capable of transferring an ink image to an image receiving material , comprising: a removable substrate layer comprising at least one of a base paper or film ; a release layer; a peel member comprising a polymer layer component having a melt index within a range of about 20 to 1200 grams per 10 minutes to about 2300 grams per 10 minutes, the polymer component including a portion configured to carry image indicia to be transferred; wherein the release layer is positioned between the substrate layer and the polymer layer; and ink from an ink jet printer or an ink pen or a laser printer that forms an image on and in the polymer layer wherein the ink and polymer contacting the ink when the ink is applied to the polymer are transferred to the image receiving material without transfer of the entire polymer layer a release-enhancing coating positioned such that a first coating surface is abutting the removable substrate and a second coating surface is abutting the peel member; and an image-receptive member overlaying the peel member and configured to receive image-imparting media, forming the image indicia, from a copying or printing process, the image-receptive member including an ink jet coating receptor layer having a thickness ranging from about 3 grams/square meter to about 30 grams/square meter, and an ink jet top coating layer overlaying the ink jet coating receptor layer and having a thickness ranging from about 4 grams/square meter to about 30 grams/square meter; wherein the peel member is removable from the release-enhancing coating when the peel member is in a heated state and when the peel member is in a cooled or ambient state, and wherein the removable substrate is configured to transfer external heat, when applied, to one or both of the peel member or the image-receptive member sufficient to encapsulate the image indicia on an image-receiving substrate during an image transfer process .