Ink migration barrier for printable structures

Abstract

An example printable structure comprises a first fabric layer that includes a first side that is printable with water-based ink. The first fabric layer is permissive to migration of the water based ink through the first fabric layer. A first adhesive layer is bonded to a second side of the first fabric layer. An ink migration barrier is bonded to the first adhesive layer opposite the first fabric layer, a second adhesive layer is bonded to the ink migration barrier opposite the first adhesive layer, and a second fabric layer is bonded to the second adhesive layer opposite the ink migration barrier. The second fabric layer is permissive to migration of the water-based ink through the second fabric layer. The ink migration barrier is configured to provide resistance to ink bleed from the first fabric layer to the second fabric layer.

1 . A product assembly, comprising:
 a device having a first side and a second side; and   a multi-layered printable structure encasing the device, the multi-layered printable structure including a first encasing subassembly positioned on the first side of the device and a second encasing subassembly positioned on the second side of the device, wherein the first encasing subassembly includes
 a first fabric layer including a first side that is printable with water-based ink, 
 an ink migration barrier coupled to the second side of the first fabric layer via a first adhesive layer, and 
 a second adhesive layer coupling the ink migration barrier and the first fabric layer to the first side of the device, 
   wherein the second encasing subassembly includes
 a second fabric layer, and 
 a third adhesive layer coupling the second fabric layer to the second side of the device, and 
   wherein the ink migration barrier is positioned between the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer at least in a region in which the first and second encasing subassemblies are coupled together without the device therebetween.   
     
     
         2 . The product assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first fabric layer includes at least polyurethane. 
     
     
         3 . The product assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first fabric layer further includes polyester fibers. 
     
     
         4 . The product assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second fabric layer is printable with a water-based ink. 
     
     
         5 . The product assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, and third adhesive layers include heat activated adhesive films. 
     
     
         6 . The product assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the first, second, and third adhesive layers include ester-based polyurethane films. 
     
     
         7 . The product assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ink migration barrier includes a first barrier layer including polyurethane resin doped with polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
         8 . The product assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the ink migration barrier includes hot-melt film adhesive layers bonded to each side of the first barrier layer. 
     
     
         9 . The product assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the device is a detachable keyboard assembly. 
     
     
         10 . A method for encasing a product with a multi-layered printable structure, the method comprising:
 arranging the product between a first encasing subassembly and a second encasing subassembly,
 the first encasing subassembly comprising an ink migration barrier including a polyurethane resin-based barrier layer, first and second adhesive layers arranged on opposing sides of the ink migration barrier, and a first fabric layer having a first side printable with water-based ink and a second side coupled to the ink migration barrier via the first adhesive layer, and 
 the second encasing subassembly comprising at least a second fabric layer, and a third adhesive layer coupled to a second side of the second fabric layer; and 
   laminating the product between the first casing subassembly and the second encasing subassembly such that the ink migration barrier is positioned between the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer at least in a region in which the first and second encasing subassemblies are coupled together without the product therebetween.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein laminating the product between the first encasing subassembly and the second encasing subassembly comprises bonding the first encasing subassembly to the product via the second adhesive layer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein laminating the product between the first encasing subassembly and the second encasing subassembly comprises bonding the second casing subassembly to the product via the third adhesive layer. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein laminating the product between the first encasing subassembly and the second encasing subassembly comprises bonding the second casing subassembly to the first casing subassembly by bonding the second adhesive layer to the third adhesive layer in the region in which the first and second encasing subassemblies are coupled together without the device therebetween. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising printing the water-based ink onto the first fabric layer. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein printing the water-based ink onto the first fabric layer comprises printing a dye sublimation ink onto the first fabric layer. 
     
     
         16 . A fabric-encased keyboard assembly, comprising:
 a keyboard, a first encasing subassembly positioned on a first side of the keyboard, and a second encasing subassembly positioned on a second side of the keyboard,   the first encasing subassembly including
 a first fabric layer comprising a water-based ink, 
 an ink migration barrier, 
 a first adhesive layer between the first fabric layer and the ink migration barrier, and 
 a second adhesive layer between the ink migration barrier and the first side of the keyboard; and 
   the second encasing subassembly including
 a second fabric layer, and 
 a third adhesive layer between second fabric layer and the second side of the keyboard, 
   wherein the ink migration barrier is positioned between the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer at least in a region in which the first and second encasing subassemblies are coupled together without the keyboard therebetween.   
     
     
         17 . The fabric-encased keyboard assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the first fabric layer includes polyurethane and polyester fibers. 
     
     
         18 . The fabric-encased keyboard assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the ink migration barrier comprises a first barrier layer including polyurethane resin and polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
         19 . The fabric-encased keyboard assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the ink migration barrier further includes hot-melt film adhesive layers coupled to each side of the first barrier layer. 
     
     
         20 . The fabric-encased keyboard assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising a flexible region including flex circuitry positioned between the first encasing subassembly and the second encasing subassembly.