GB2037616A - Method of applying images to soap - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of applying an image to soap in solid form comprises preparing an image as a sandwich of a lacquer backing sheet, a printed ink image thereon and a lacquer covering layer. The image sandwich is attached to the soap by a suitable water-insoluble adhesive. A liquid coating of paraffin wax and a suitable hardening agent is applied over the image sandwich. The hardening agent comprises from 5 to 18% by volume of the coating composition. The composition is then allowed to dry to produce the finished article. The paraffin wax coating is insoluble to water so that the image is protected and remains intact throughout the life of the soap. The coating also serves to protect the image during packaging and transportation.

Description

SPECIFICATION Method of applying images to soap This invention relates to the application of decora- tive pictures, artistic patterns arid or inlol-lllation (hereinafter referred to generally as images) to soap bars.

For many years it has been known to apply images to soap but it has been found that in use the image tends to break up or become detached so that after a short period of use the image has been entirely removed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of protecting the image so that the latter remains intact throughout substantially the entire life of the soap.

Furthermore, in known soaps decorated as described, the image may become scratched either in use, handling or transportation. Therefore, another object of the invention is to provide a suitable coating to obviate this disadvantage.

According to the invention we provide a method of applying an image to soap in solid form, which comprises producing an image on a suitable waterinsoluble backing sheet, attaching said backing to a surface of said soap by a suitable adhesive, and applying to the image and simultaneously to the exposed area of the backing sheet a coating including paraffin wax and a suitable hardening agent, the latter constituting from 5% to 1 8S by volume of the coating.

By this method the objects of the invention are achieved in that a hard durable coating is provided affording protection against removal during washing and scratching when handling for the purpose of packaging and subsequent cartage.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section (not to scale) through a bar of soap with the image applied thereto, and Figure 2 shows an enlarged section through the image support system.

The bar of soap 10 in the example, being substantially oval in shape, is provided with a raised region 11 surrounded by a scalloped border 12 of lesser height. To this raised region 11 is applied a backing sheet or image support system 13 (see Figue 2) preformed by printing an ink image 15 (multicoloured if desired) on a lacquer layer 16 and covering the image with a further lacquer layer 17. The image support system is secured to the soap surface by a suitable water-insoluble adhesive.

To the upper lacquer layer 17 is applied a liquid coating of a mixture of paraffin wax and a hardening agent (e.g. Polyethylene Copolymer by Allied Chemicals AC400) by inverting the soap and passing this over rotary coating brushes supported by a bath containing the wax. The coating is allowed to solidify before handling the resulting product.

The hardening agent is mixed with the paraffin wax in liquid form so as to constitute from 5% to 18% by volume of the mixture. Preferably 10% hardening arlellt is used since with less than 5% the resulting coating is insufficiently hard whilst at over 18% the coating becomes thick, and accordingly difficult to apply, and clouded thus obscuring the image.

iho coating riot oiily achieves durability but serves t() e(lul:r! tliscrilorrration of the ink from ultra-violet Ii(.lht. It has also been found that the coating prevents static attraction between the image surface and transparent plastic (e.g. Cellophane R.T.M.) wrappers as previously experienced.

Other image support systems may be used such as transfers made from plastic layers carrying the printed image.

In order to reduce thickening of the coating at the trailing marginal area of the soap as it leaves the brushes applying the wax, the height of the raised region is increaed so as to form a step between the upper surface of the raised region and the upper surface of the scalloped border.

Instead of pre-printing an image on paper or plastic material or using a printed transfer the printing operation may be carried out directly on to the soap surface using the coatings as described above for pre-forming the image support system.

The coating for the soap may be subjected to a freezing process as used in wax paper manufacture to give suitable gloss and hardness.

1. A method of applying an image to soap in solid form, comprising producing at a desired stage an image on a suitable water-insoluble backing sheet, attaching said backing sheet to a surface of said soap by a suitable water-insoluble adhesive, applying simultaneously over the image and the exposed area of the backing sheet a liquid coating including paraffin wax and a suitable hardening agent and allowing the coating to solidify, the hardening agent constituting from 5% to 18% by volume of the coating composition, whereby in use as the soap is used the image remains intact.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the image is printed on said backing sheet prior to application to said soap.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the backing sheet is adhered to said soap and the image printed on said backing sheet thereafter.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the backing sheet and the image printed thereon are coated with a suitable layer, the backing sheet, image and layer forming a composite image carrier.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said backing sheet is made of paper, lacquer or plastics material.

6. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said backing sheet and the layer covering the printed image are formed of lacquer.

7. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the content of the hardening agent is about 10% volume of the coating.

8. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said coating is applied over the image by inverting the soap and passing it over rotary brushes supported by a bath containing the wax composi

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Method of applying images to soap This invention relates to the application of decora- tive pictures, artistic patterns arid or inlol-lllation (hereinafter referred to generally as images) to soap bars. For many years it has been known to apply images to soap but it has been found that in use the image tends to break up or become detached so that after a short period of use the image has been entirely removed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of protecting the image so that the latter remains intact throughout substantially the entire life of the soap. Furthermore, in known soaps decorated as described, the image may become scratched either in use, handling or transportation. Therefore, another object of the invention is to provide a suitable coating to obviate this disadvantage. According to the invention we provide a method of applying an image to soap in solid form, which comprises producing an image on a suitable waterinsoluble backing sheet, attaching said backing to a surface of said soap by a suitable adhesive, and applying to the image and simultaneously to the exposed area of the backing sheet a coating including paraffin wax and a suitable hardening agent, the latter constituting from 5% to 1 8S by volume of the coating. By this method the objects of the invention are achieved in that a hard durable coating is provided affording protection against removal during washing and scratching when handling for the purpose of packaging and subsequent cartage. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section (not to scale) through a bar of soap with the image applied thereto, and Figure 2 shows an enlarged section through the image support system. The bar of soap 10 in the example, being substantially oval in shape, is provided with a raised region 11 surrounded by a scalloped border 12 of lesser height. To this raised region 11 is applied a backing sheet or image support system 13 (see Figue 2) preformed by printing an ink image 15 (multicoloured if desired) on a lacquer layer 16 and covering the image with a further lacquer layer 17. The image support system is secured to the soap surface by a suitable water-insoluble adhesive. To the upper lacquer layer 17 is applied a liquid coating of a mixture of paraffin wax and a hardening agent (e.g. Polyethylene Copolymer by Allied Chemicals AC400) by inverting the soap and passing this over rotary coating brushes supported by a bath containing the wax. The coating is allowed to solidify before handling the resulting product. The hardening agent is mixed with the paraffin wax in liquid form so as to constitute from 5% to 18% by volume of the mixture. Preferably 10% hardening arlellt is used since with less than 5% the resulting coating is insufficiently hard whilst at over 18% the coating becomes thick, and accordingly difficult to apply, and clouded thus obscuring the image. iho coating riot oiily achieves durability but serves t() e(lul:r! tliscrilorrration of the ink from ultra-violet Ii(.lht. It has also been found that the coating prevents static attraction between the image surface and transparent plastic (e.g. Cellophane R.T.M.) wrappers as previously experienced. Other image support systems may be used such as transfers made from plastic layers carrying the printed image. In order to reduce thickening of the coating at the trailing marginal area of the soap as it leaves the brushes applying the wax, the height of the raised region is increaed so as to form a step between the upper surface of the raised region and the upper surface of the scalloped border. Instead of pre-printing an image on paper or plastic material or using a printed transfer the printing operation may be carried out directly on to the soap surface using the coatings as described above for pre-forming the image support system. The coating for the soap may be subjected to a freezing process as used in wax paper manufacture to give suitable gloss and hardness. CLAIMS

1. A method of applying an image to soap in solid form, comprising producing at a desired stage an image on a suitable water-insoluble backing sheet, attaching said backing sheet to a surface of said soap by a suitable water-insoluble adhesive, applying simultaneously over the image and the exposed area of the backing sheet a liquid coating including paraffin wax and a suitable hardening agent and allowing the coating to solidify, the hardening agent constituting from 5% to 18% by volume of the coating composition, whereby in use as the soap is used the image remains intact.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the image is printed on said backing sheet prior to application to said soap.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the backing sheet is adhered to said soap and the image printed on said backing sheet thereafter.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the backing sheet and the image printed thereon are coated with a suitable layer, the backing sheet, image and layer forming a composite image carrier.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said backing sheet is made of paper, lacquer or plastics material.

6. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said backing sheet and the layer covering the printed image are formed of lacquer.

7. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the content of the hardening agent is about 10% volume of the coating.

8. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said coating is applied over the image by inverting the soap and passing it over rotary brushes supported by a bath containing the wax composi tion.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, including the step of performing the soap with a raised region in relation to the marginal region so as to form a step between the upper surface of the raised region and the upper surface of the marginal region whereby the resulting wax coating deposited by the brushes is reduced in thickness atthe trailing marginal area of the soap.

10. A method of applying an image to soap substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing.