Textured surface items and method and apparatus for applying indicia to items with textured surfaces

Abstract

A method of applying indicia to an item having a textured surface is disclosed herein, the method including the steps of: applying a textured paint to an exterior surface of the item; and applying the indicia to the exterior surface by an offset printing process. Also disclosed herein is a fluid filter having: a housing having an exterior surface; a textured paint applied to the exterior surface; and indicia applied to the textured paint, wherein the indicia is applied by an offset printing process.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid filter, comprising:
 a housing having an exterior surface;   a textured paint applied to the exterior surface; and   indicia applied to the textured paint, wherein the indicia is applied by an offset printing process.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid filter as in  claim 1 , wherein the housing is round. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid filter as in  claim 1 , wherein the indicia is an ink and the textured paint is an electrostatic powdered paint that is cured prior to the application of the indicia. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid filter as in  claim 3 , wherein the housing is round. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid filter as in  claim 4 , wherein the fluid filter is an oil filter. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid filter as in  claim 5 , wherein the electrostatic powdered paint is a first color and the indicia is a second color, the first color being different from the second color.