One-way see-thru panel and method of making same

Abstract

A see-through, one-way panel having a white opaque substrate with a dark pigmented adhesive on the rear side. The pigmented adhesive is covered with a release liner. The substrate, adhesive and liner are perforated and thereafter an imperforate barrier is laminated over the release liner. The front surface may be top coated to accept a dye based ink. The front surface is printed with an image by thermal or piezo ink jet printing technology. The resulting panel may then be adhesively applied to a surface.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method for producing a one-way see-thru panel assembly comprising: 
 (a) providing an opaque light colored substrate having opposite first and second surfaces;    (b) applying a dark pigmented adhesive to the first surface of said substrate;    (c) applying a release liner over said adhesive;    (d) top coating said second surface with an inkjet ink encapsulating substance;    (e) perforating the top-coated substrate and release liner with a distinct hole pattern;    (f) applying an imperforate barrier over the release liner; and    (g) applying an image to the second surface by using an ink jet applicator.    
     
     
         2 . The method of    claim 1    wherein said substrate is selected from the group consisting of polyesters, vinyl and polyolefin films.  
     
     
         3 . The method of    claim 1    wherein said top coating is selected from the group consisting of clays, gels, resins and latex combination coatings.  
     
     
         4 . A method of producing signage for application to a transparent surface comprising: 
 (a) providing a polymeric light colored opaque substrate having opposite first and second surfaces;    (b) applying a pigmented adhesive to the first surface;    (c) applying a release liner over said adhesive;    (d) top coating said second surface with an inkjet ink encapsulating substance;    (e) perforating the top-coated substrate and release liner with a distinct hole pattern;    (f) laminating an imperforate barrier over the release liner;    (g) applying an image to the second surface by using an ink jet applicator;    (h) removing the barrier and release lining to expose the adhesive; and    (i) contacting the adhesive with said transparent surface.    
     
     
         5 . The method of    claim 4    wherein said ink jet applicator applies an ink selected from the group consisting of dye based ink, pigmented ink and solvent based inks.  
     
     
         6 . The method of    claim 4    wherein said ink jet applicator is apiezo ink jet applicator.  
     
     
         7 . The method of    claim 4    wherein said ink jet applicator is a thermal ink jet applicator.  
     
     
         8 . A one-way, see-through panel for application to a surface comprising: 
 (a) an opaque light-reflecting substrate having opposite first and second surfaces;    (b) a pigmented adhesive layer on said first surface;    (c) a release liner over said adhesive layer;    (d) said substrate and liner defining a pattern of spaced-apart perforations; and    (e) an imperforate barrier film covering said release liner.    
     
     
         9 . The panel of    claim 8    wherein an ink jet printed image is applied to said first surface.  
     
     
         10 . The panel of    claim 9    wherein said first surface is top coated with an ink encapsulating substance.  
       CANCEL    claims 8    to    10     
     
     
         11 . A method of producing printable signage material for application to a transparent surface, said method comprising: 
 (a) providing a plastic substrate having opposite first and second surfaces, said first surface being light colored and said second surface being dark colored;    (b) applying an ink encapsulating ink receptive coating to said first surface;    (c) perforating said substrate to provide see through visibility when viewed from said second surface.    
     
     
         12 . The method of    claim 11    wherein said substrate is selected from the group consisting of polyester, vinyl and polyolefin films.  
     
     
         13 . The method of    claim 11    wherein said coating is selected from the group consisting clays, gels, resins and latex combination coatings.  
     
     
         14 . The method of    claim 11    including the additional step of applying an adhesive and release liner to said second surface.  
     
     
         15 . The method of    claim 11    wherein an image is applied to the first surface by ink jet application.