Printing Stock For Use In Printing Composite Signs, Methods And Apparatus For Printing Such Signs, And Methods For Manufacturing Such Printing Stock

Abstract

Printing stock for use in making a sign that includes a face sheet and a backing sheet. The sign is formed, for example, by overlapping a plurality of face sub-sheets of the printing stock, with the face sub-sheets arranged in a pattern to form a desired image of the sign. The face sheet includes a printing surface for receiving ink and an adhesive surface for receiving the backing sheet. The face sheet includes a face cut forming a margin and the face sub-sheet such that at least a portion of the margin is separable from the face sub-sheet. The backing sheet may include a backing cut forming a border and a backing sub-sheet such that at least a portion of the border is separable from the backing sub-sheet so that at least a portion of the adhesive surface of the face sheet is exposable.

1 . (canceled) 
   
   
       2 . The printing stock of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one registration mark is formed by discontinuities in the face cut. 
   
   
       3 - 4 . (canceled) 
   
   
       5 . The printing stock of  claim 15 , wherein at least one section of the backing cut extends spatially beyond the face cut, thereby forming at least one tab section that is juxtaposed over the margin of the face sheet, such that when the margin is removed from the face sheet, the at least one tab section extends beyond an edge of the face sub-sheet. 
   
   
       6 - 14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . Printing stock for use in making a sign, the sign being formed by overlapping a plurality of sheets of the printing stock arranged in a pattern, the printing stock comprising:
 a face sheet including:
 a printing surface; 
 an adhesive surface; and 
 a face cut forming a margin and a face sub-sheet such that at least a portion of the margin is separable from the face sub-sheet; and 
   a backing sheet releasably coupled to the adhesive surface and including a backing cut forming a border and a backing sub-sheet such that at least a portion of the border is separable from the backing sub-sheet so that at least a portion of the adhesive surface of the face sheet is exposable.   
   
   
       16 . The printing stock of  claim 15 , wherein the face sheet has a size selected from a group consisting of A4, 8½×11 inches, and legal size. 
   
   
       17 . The printing stock of  claim 15 , wherein the printing stock is receivable through a small-office, home-office (SOHO) printer. 
   
   
       18 . The printing stock of  claim 15 , wherein the face cut includes a die cut. 
   
   
       19 . The printing stock of  claim 15 , wherein the backing sheet and the face sheet have a perimeter, the face cut being spatially positioned between the perimeter and the backing cut. 
   
   
       20 . The printing stock of  claim 15 , wherein the face sheet further includes at least one registration mark that is configured to enable the face sub-sheet from one sheet of printing stock that is separated from at least a portion of the margin thereof to be positioned with respect to the face sub-sheet from another sheet of printing stock. 
   
   
       21 - 40 . (canceled) 
   
   
       41 . Printing stock for use in making a sign, the sign being formed from a plurality of sheets of the printing stock arranged in a pattern, the printing stock comprising:
 a face sheet including:
 a printing surface; 
 an adhesive surface; and 
 a face cut forming a margin and a face sub-sheet such that at least a portion of the margin is separable from the face sub-sheet; and 
   a backing sheet including:
 a backing cut forming a border and a backing sub-sheet, at least one section of the backing cut extending spatially beyond the face cut, thereby forming at least one tab section that is juxtaposed over the margin of the face sheet, such that when the margin is removed from the face sheet, the at least one tab section extends beyond an edge of the face sub-sheet. 
   
   
   
       42 . The printing stock of  claim 41 , wherein the face sheet has a size selected from a group consisting of A4, ½×11 inches, and legal size. 
   
   
       43 . The printing stock of  claim 41 , wherein the printing stock is receivable through a small-office, home-office (SOHO) printer. 
   
   
       44 . The printing stock of  claim 15 , wherein the backing sheet includes a release coating. 
   
   
       45 . The printing stock of  claim 41 , wherein the backing sheet includes a release coating. 
   
   
       46 . The printing stock of  claim 41 , wherein the face cut includes a die cut. 
   
   
       47 . The printing stock of  claim 41 , wherein the face sheet further includes at least one registration mark that is configured to enable the face sub-sheet from one sheet of printing stock that is separated from at least a portion of the margin thereof to be positioned with respect to the face sub-sheet from another sheet of printing stock. 
   
   
       48 . Printing stock for use in making a sign, the sign being formed by overlapping a plurality of sheets of the printing stock arranged in a pattern, the printing stock comprising:
 a face sheet including:
 a printing surface; 
 an adhesive surface; and 
 a face cut forming a margin and a face sub-sheet such that at least a portion of the margin is separable from the face sub-sheet; and 
   a backing sheet releasably coupled to the adhesive surface and including a backing cut;   wherein:
 the backing cut forms a border and a backing sub-sheet such that at least a portion of the border is separable from the backing sub-sheet and that at least a portion of the adhesive surface of the face sheet is exposable; and 
 at least one section of the backing cut extends spatially beyond the face cut, thereby forming at least one tab section that is juxtaposed over the margin of the face sheet, such that when the margin is removed from the face sheet, the at least one tab section extends beyond an edge of the face sub-sheet. 
   
   
   
       49 . The printing stock of  claim 48 , wherein the face sheet further includes at least one registration mark that is configured to enable the face sub-sheet from one sheet of printing stock that is separated from at least a portion of the margin thereof to be positioned with respect to the face sub-sheet from another sheet of printing stock.