Marking of Fabric Carrying Case for Portable Electronic Device

Abstract

Techniques or processes for providing markings on fabric articles are disclosed. In one embodiment, the articles may be fabric carrying cases for electronic devices. For example, a fabric carrying case for a particular electronic may include a fabric base layer and a plurality of thick films coupled to the fabric base layer, wherein the plurality of thick films may comprise a top thick film and an underlying thick film. Regions of the top thick film may be selectively etched through, for selectively exposing the underlying thick film. The selectively etched regions may be arranged for marking of textual or graphical indicia on the fabric carrying case for the portable electronic device.

1 . An article comprising:
 a fabric base layer for the article;   a plurality of polymer-based films coupled to the fabric base layer, wherein the plurality of polymer-based films comprise a top film and an underlying film; and   selectively etched regions of the top film, which are etched through the top film, for selectively exposing the underlying film through the selectively etched regions of the top film.   
     
     
         2 . An article a recited in  claim 1  wherein the selectively etched regions of the top film are laser ablated. 
     
     
         3 . An article as recited in  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of polymer-based films are non-fibrous. 
     
     
         4 . An article as recited in  claim 1  wherein the plurality of polymer-based films are arranged so that a major surface of the top film directly contacts a major surface of the underlying film. 
     
     
         5 . An article as recited in  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of polymer-based films comprise substantially the same material. 
     
     
         6 . An article as recited in  claim 1  wherein the plurality of polymer-based films comprise differently colored polymer-based films of substantially the same material. 
     
     
         7 . An article as recited in  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of polymer-based films comprises plastic. 
     
     
         8 . An article as recited in  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of polymer-based films comprises reaction polymer. 
     
     
         9 . An article as recited in  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of polymer-based films comprise polyurethane. 
     
     
         10 . An article as recited in  claim 1  wherein the top film has a thickness dimension of less than approximately fifty microns. 
     
     
         11 . An article as recited in  claim 1  wherein the top film has a thickness dimension of about twenty microns. 
     
     
         12 . An article as recited in  claim 1  wherein the selectively etched regions are arranged for marking of textual or graphical indicia on the article. 
     
     
         13 . An article as recited in  claim 1  wherein the selectively etched regions are arranged in a halftone pattern. 
     
     
         14 . An article as recited in  claim 1  wherein a visual appearance of the underlying film is substantially darker than a visual appearance of the top film. 
     
     
         15 . An article as recited in  claim 1  wherein a visual appearance of the underlying film is substantially lighter than a visual appearance of the top film. 
     
     
         16 . An article as recited in  claim 1  further comprising an adhesive layer adherently coupling the plurality of polymer-based films to the fabric base layer. 
     
     
         17 . A method for forming and marking an article comprising:
 providing a fabric base layer for the article;   coupling a plurality of differently colored polymer-based films to the fabric base layer, wherein the plurality of differently colored polymer-based films comprise a top film and an underlying film; and   selectively etching regions of the top film through the top film, for selectively exposing the underlying film through the regions of the top film.   
     
     
         18 . A method as recited in  claim 17  wherein the selectively etching regions of the top film comprises laser ablating regions of the top film. 
     
     
         19 . A method as recited in  claim 18  wherein the laser ablating employs a visible or ultraviolet laser. 
     
     
         20 . A method as recited in  claim 17  wherein the differently colored polymer-based films comprise polyurethane. 
     
     
         21 . A method as recited in  claim 17  wherein the coupling the plurality of differently colored polymer-based films to the fabric base layer comprises:
 adherently coupling an adhesive layer to the fabric base layer; and 
 adherently coupling the adhesive layer to the plurality of differently colored polymer-based films. 
 
     
     
         22 . A fabric carrying case for a portable electronic device comprising:
 a main body portion having an interior space to hold the electronic device; and   an opening into the interior space through which the electronic device can be moved, wherein the main body portion comprises:   a fabric base layer;   a plurality of polymer-based films coupled to the fabric base layer, wherein the plurality of polymer-based films comprise a top film and an underlying film; and   selectively etched regions of the top film, which are etched through the top film, for selectively exposing the underlying film through the selectively etched regions of the top film, wherein the selectively etched regions are arranged for marking of textual or graphical indicia on the fabric carrying case for the portable electronic device.   
     
     
         23 . A fabric carrying case as recited in  claim 22  wherein the plurality of polymer-based films comprise differently colored polymer-based films. 
     
     
         24 . A fabric carrying case as recited in  claim 22  wherein each of the plurality of polymer-based films comprise polyurethane. 
     
     
         25 . A fabric carrying case a recited in  claim 22  wherein the selectively etched regions of the top film are laser ablated. 
     
     
         26 . An article comprising:
 a fabric base layer for the article;   a plurality of thick films coupled to the fabric base layer, wherein the plurality of thick films comprise a top film and an underlying film; and   selectively etched regions of the top film, which are etched through the top thick film, for selectively exposing the underlying film through the selectively etched regions of the top film.   
     
     
         27 . An article a recited in  claim 26  wherein the selectively etched regions of the top film are laser ablated. 
     
     
         28 . An article as recited in  claim 26  wherein the top film has a thickness dimension of less than approximately fifty microns and more than approximately ten microns.