EP1771836B1 - Method for decorating sports equipment by printing plastic films, and film for carrying out said method - Google Patents

Abstract

To obtain three-dimensional depth effects, a decorating method is provided for sports equipment, in particular skis, snowboards and the like, by imprinting synthetic material films with surface texture so as to create a decorative changing image and/or animation effect. The synthetic material films correspond to an optical lens, in particular lenticular grid films. The film is imprinted in the screen printing method, whereupon the film is joined to the piece of sports equipment. On its planar side, the film is provided with geometrically arranged motifs or image elements, between which optionally voids are incorporated.

Description

The invention relates to a decorative method for sports equipment, in particular sports equipment for sliding locomotion, such as skis, snowboards and the like., According to the preamble of claim 1.

Such sports equipment is printed to achieve a decorative appearance on the surface.

This is done, for example, by directing these sports equipment directly e.g. be printed by screen printing, pad printing or in an upstream step with the desired decor. It is also known to dye colored films on one side by various printing methods such as screen printing, thermal diffusion printing, digital printing, pad printing, gravure printing and the like. Ä., to shape. This designed page forms the ski surface. Here, the printed films are inserted in skis and snowboards during the assembly of the individual components in the ski press and at the same time assembled with the remaining components. Alternatively, in a first manufacturing step, this raw ski can be connected by means of the previously designed decorative layer.

This variant has the disadvantage that the painstakingly applied decorative design after a short use, for example, by the steel edges, is severely damaged and thus becomes unsightly in a short time.

Providing such surfaces produced by means of a transparent Abdecklacks, the wear resistance can be slightly increased, but this also no satisfactory solution is found.

Over the years, the use of so-called transparent surfaces, which are designed according to the printing methods mentioned above on that side, which comes to rest in the direction of the ski body in later consequence.

As a rule, the thicknesses of these transparent films are on the order of 50 μ to 1000 μ. In general, thermoplastic materials, for example from the group of polyamides, thermoplastic polyurethanes, thermoplastic polyesters, polymethyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, polystyrenes and their blends, and polyolefins used, it being said that films of thermosetting materials can be used.

In particular, skis and snowboards are thus decorated in an excellent and simple way decorative, with a sufficient wear protection is given.

The DE 295 12 971 U1 and the US-B1 6 635 196 show an advertising medium, which is designed as a sports device, in particular as a ski, wherein the entire outer surface or large areas of the advertising medium are provided with a layer-like coating in the form of a prismatic image. The prism image with alternating effect is integrated directly into the outer surface of the advertising medium or subsequently glued or laminated.

The US-B1 6,256,150 shows a method for generating three-dimensional images and a lenticular screen with a removable image sheet, which is arranged from the bottom of the lenticular screen.

The DE 44 42 210 A1 shows a method for producing three-dimensional images as well as a lenticular screen film and a printer for carrying out the method with a multilayer composite film whose first, the cylindrical lenses forming layer in With regard to the optical properties (refractive index, transparency) and the second layer of which is optimized in terms of printability for an electrostatic printer and / or inkjet printer. The existing of several pixels according to the resolution of the printer used image, which also has a stripe structure, is imprinted directly on the smooth back of the lenticular screen, in particular in the focal plane of the lenticular screen.

In summary, it is noted that the use of lenticular sheets with correspondingly moving images as seen in the preambles is prior art, but made by offset printing or ink jet printing or similar electronic print media.

The DE 101 00 692 A1 shows a method for producing a decorative film with 3D effect, in which a transparent, translucent film made of thermoplastic material, pulled by a nip formed by an embossing roller and a counter roll and in this case on its upper side with a geometric embossing pattern of a plurality of convex crests is provided in raster form, wherein the film is guided on its underside via at least one anilox roller with a dot-printing grid for applying a printing ink and provided with a printing pattern in the form of a dot-print grid.

Probably in the priority interval is the EP 1 445 124 A2 Published, which shows a decorative surface material with a lenticular sheet in the form of a weather-resistant plastic film for generating a decorative Wechselbild- and / or animation effect, which is provided on its back with a print for generating the decorative Wechselbild- and / or animation effect, the printing directly , ie without additional printing paper, on the preferably pretreated film by means of conventional printing techniques, such as thermal transfer, offset or screen printing done.

The document further shows a snow sports equipment, especially skis or snowboards, which is the decorative surface material has at least in partial areas of its surface.

The object of the invention is to provide a cost-effective decoration method for snow sports equipment, with which three-dimensional effects are achieved.

This object is achieved by the feature of claim 1.

As a result of the measures according to the invention, novel decoration effects, in particular of tilting or moving images, are produced with relatively little effort. Three-dimensional depth effects are achieved, similar to holographic images, and, depending on the viewing angle of the sports equipment, different graphic elements visible.

Further details of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which for reasons of simplicity and clarity are schematic representations.

• Fig. 1 ein Sieb für das Siebdruckverfahren in schaubildlicher Darstellung;
• Fig. 2 das Prinzip des Siebdruckvorganges;
• Fig. 3 eine Ausführung eines Dekors;
• Fig. 4 eine Oberflächen-Folie in schaubildlicher Darstellung;
• Fig. 5 bis 7 je einen unterschiedlichen Querschnitt der Folie nach Fig. 4;
• Fig. 8 einen ähnlichen Querschnitt wie Fig. 7 mit dem Unterschied, dass zwischen den Motiven Leerstellen eingebaut sind;
• Fig. 9 einen Teil einer Folie mit linsenförmigen Noppen in schaubildlicher Darstellung;
• Fig. 10 eine ähnliche Darstellung wie Fig. 9, jedoch mit versetzten Reihen von Noppen;
• Fig. 11a und 11b je eine Draufsicht auf einen Teil einer Folie mit unterschiedlichem Motiv; und
• Fig. 12 eine Variante zur Ausführungsform nach Fig. 8.

Show it:

• Fig. 1 a sieve for the screen printing process in a diagrammatic representation;
• Fig. 2 the principle of the screen printing process;
• Fig. 3 an embodiment of a decor;
• Fig. 4 a surface film in perspective view;
• Fig. 5 to 7 depending on a different cross-section of the film after Fig. 4 ;
• Fig. 8 a similar cross section as Fig. 7 with the difference that there are gaps between the motifs;
• Fig. 9 a part of a film with lenticular knobs in perspective view;
• Fig. 10 a similar representation as Fig. 9 but with staggered rows of dimples;
• Fig. 11a and 11b each a plan view of a part of a film with a different motif; and
• Fig. 12 a variant of the embodiment according to Fig. 8 ,

In Fig. 1 is denoted by 1 a screen frame in which a screen 2 is clamped, which are present between intersecting threads, for example made of nylon, preferably formed as a fabric mesh 2 pores, through which a screen-printing ink can be forced.

In the present case, the screen mesh is preferably completely wetted by means of a UV-curing resin, wherein those points, which is to be pushed through later in the printing process, in Fig. 1 marked with 3, are covered against UV light. The thus prepared sieve 2 is then cured by irradiation of UV light. Those areas which have been covered can be washed out, whereby the addressed pores, in this case in the areas 3, are obtained.

In Fig. 2 4 is the surface film to be printed, with 5 a so-called doctor blade, scraper or the like, and denoted by 6 a preferably high-viscosity screen printing ink.

By moving the doctor blade 5 along the film 4 in the present case, as in Fig. 2 is indicated, in the direction of arrow X and with simultaneous application of a moderate pressure in the direction of arrow Y, the color is pressed both through the wire 2 and simultaneously on the film 4 to be printed. That's how it turns out Fig. 3 visible, in a very simple way the decor. In this case, three triangles 3 off Fig. 1 ,

In order to achieve three-dimensional effects, it is necessary to use foils which more or less have a surface structure which corresponds to an optical lens.

In Fig. 4 Such a surface film is shown schematically, in this case by juxtaposition plano-convex lenses in cross section, wherein the cross-sectional direction is designated Y. In the X-direction find in this embodiment, linear lenticular half-cylinder use.

Looking at the cross section of a single strand in Fig. 4 , so the lens axis is exactly in the plane of symmetry in the Z direction. The Z-direction in this case describes the direction from which the observer normally looks at the surface. The focal point F of the individual strand lies more or less far below the film 4. The position of the focal point depends essentially on the radius R of the imaged lens.

This creates a certain three-dimensional effect, which, however, does not produce much effect on its own.

The desired three-dimensional effect is achieved only after printing according to the invention. This is based on the Fig. 5 to 8 explained in more detail.

Fig. 5 shows the cross section of the film 4 Fig. 4 , which is printed according to this embodiment with two different pixels 41 and 42 on the flat side of the film 4 by screen printing. It can be seen that the motif 41 in each case extends from the left edge of the lens to the lens axis LA.

The motif 42 extends in each case from the lens axis LA to the right edge of the respective lens. If one looks at such an image from the angle of view I, only the motif 41 is visible in each case. If the viewing angle I is changed in the direction of the viewing angle II, only the motif 42 is visible. If you move the printed film continuously back and forth between the viewing angles, the design tilts constantly from subject 41 to 42 and vice versa.

According to the variant Fig. 6 are in turn two motifs 41 and 42 applied to the film 4, in which case the width X1 of the lens is divided into three, the motif 42 imprinted symmetrically about the lens axis LA, the motif 41 respectively on the left and on the right side of the lens base , Designs made in this way, in the plan view, ie looking in the lens axis only the subject 42, when viewed from the left and right sides marked with III + IV, only the subject 41, the appearance of the geometric design Depending on which motif the broken light rays impinge depending on the lens curvature.

A special three-dimensional effect is achieved after training Fig. 7 , In this case, the film 4 is printed on its flat side with two motifs 41 and 42, which are the same size in this case, but in their maximum width smaller than half the lens width X1. The motifs are lined up over the entire cross section of the film 4 alternately to each other, which an image results for the viewer, whereby a different appearance arises at each viewing angle. If you turn a ski with a surface film, according to Fig. 7 is given, one gets the impression, as if a three-dimensional picture would move over the surface.

Fig. 8 the purpose is the same as Fig. 7 , but between the motifs 41 and 42 spaces 43 are installed. In the embodiment according to this variant is achieved by changing the viewing angle, a moving image whose outlines appear blurred.

At the in Fig. 12 illustrated variant of this embodiment, the different images 41 and 42 only over a part of the cross section of the film, in this case shown in principle, according to the system of Fig. 7 printed in alternating order. In the remaining cross section only the decor 41 is lined up. By this measure, it is possible in a very simple manner, the tilting or moving image effects only in a portion of the surface of the sports equipment to make visible, which particularly exclusive decors can be achieved.

According to the embodiments described arise over the cross section considered, ie in the Y and Z direction Fig. 4 three-dimensional decors depending on the viewing angle. When using surface structures according to Fig. 9 one can according to the printing of the motives after Fig. 5 to 8 achieve an additional three-dimensional effect in the X direction, since the film 4 is provided with knob-shaped lenses 5. The lines 51 and 52 in Fig. 9 represent meridians and are shown here only to show that they are lenticular nubs. These lenticular nubs can be arranged geometrically precisely, for example, in rows with constant distances in the Y and X directions, or for example offset as in Fig. 10 represented or distributed statistically.

Fig. 11a shows a plan view of a film 4 according to Fig. 9 . wherein the motif 41, which is printed on the flat bottom of the film, is arranged statistically, whereby depending on the viewing angle different sized parts of the motif 41 can be seen and thus in turn creates the impression of a moving background.

Fig. 11b shows a plan view of a film 4 according to Fig. 9 , wherein the motifs 41, 42, 43, 44 are each arranged geometrically in a quarter circle, resulting in an appearance that varies constantly depending on the viewing angle.

Claims (6)

1. A decorating method for sports equipment, in particular skis and snowboards and the like, by imprinting transparent films (4) made of synthetic material having a planar lower side and designed as lenticular grid film, wherein the lower side is imprinted with a pattern formed of several image elements (41, 42, 43, 44) and consists of planar convex lenses arranged in a matrix-type manner, so as to achieve a decorative changing image and/or an animation effect, characterized in that imprinting of the foil is effected with the screen-printing method, whereupon the film will be connected with the sports equipment.
2. A film for carrying out the method according to claim 1, whose surface texture corresponds to an optical lens, characterized in that lenses of planar convex cross-section are serially arranged, wherein the focal point of the individual strand is located below the film, and image elements (41, 42) are provided on the planar side of the film (4).
3. A film according to claim 2, characterized in that the motifs, image elements and the like are serially arranged in alternating sequence.
4. A film according to claim 3, characterized in that voids (43) are incorporated between the motifs.
5. A film according to claim 2, characterized in that geometrically arranged motifs (41, 42, 44) are each arranged in a quarter circle.
6. A film according to at least one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the different image elements (41, 42) are provided only across a part of the cross-section of the film in alternating sequence, whereas only in the remaining part the motifs, image elements or the like are serially arranged.

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