GB2378417A

GB2378417A - Pad printing designs onto receptacles

Info

Publication number: GB2378417A
Application number: GB0119624A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Charles Ritson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-08-11
Filing date: 2001-08-11
Publication date: 2003-02-12
Also published as: GB0119624D0

Abstract

There is disclosed a receptacle (2) having a transparent base portion on to which is pad printed a design (4). A corresponding method is also disclosed.

Description

Improvements In and Relating to Applying Designs to Receptacles Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a receptacle on to which designs have been applied and to methods of applying designs for such receptacle.

Summary of the Invention According to the present invention in a first aspect, there is provided a receptacle having a transparent base portion on to which is pad printed a design.

Suitably, the receptacle comprises a drinking vessel.

Suitably, the receptacle is made of glass.

Suitably, the design is visible from the top of the receptacle.

According to the present invention in a second aspect, there is provided a method of producing a receptacle according to the first aspect of the invention, the method comprising the step of pad printing the design on to the receptacle.

Suitably, the method comprises the steps of a flexible silicone rubber pad being lowered onto an etched plate to receive ink from the plate, which pad applies the design to the receptacle.

Brief Description of the Drawing The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawing that follows which shows a receptacle on to which a design has been applied.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, a design such as a word or image, typically for advertising, is applied to a receptacle, typically a drinking glass, but it could be an ashtray etc by pad printing (sometimes referred to as tampo printing).

In pad printing, ink is flooded across an etched plate and then scraped clean, using a doctor blade, to give a thin layer in the markings. The etched plate is etched with the desired design.

Next, a flexible silicone rubber pad is lowered on to the plate to roll over the image. As the rubber pad lifts away, the rolling action peels the ink from the etch, carries it to the component, is lowered on to it and rolls the image over its surface.

Finding the component substrate more receptive than silicone rubber, the ink transfers to the receptacle's surface as the pad is lifted away.

As the layer of ink used in pad printed is very much thinner than that in screen printing, the image created is

crisper, particularly in fine line work. Furthermore drying times are dramatically reduced.

The use of a flexible pad to transfer the ink makes it easier to print onto textured surfaces and materials or varying thickness.

In the drawing there is shown a glass drinking vessel 2 receptacle (eg a beer glass) on to which the base of which has been pad printed a design 4.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment (s). The invention extend to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

Claims 1. A receptacle having a transparent base portion on to which is pad printed a design.
2. A receptacle according to claim 1, in which the receptacle comprises a drinking vessel.
3. A receptacle according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the receptable is made of glass.
4. A receptacle according to any preceding claim, in which the design is visible from the top of the receptacle.
S. A method of producing a receptacle according to any preceding claim, the method comprising the step of pad printing the design on to the receptacle.
6. A method according to claim 5, in which the method comprises the steps of a flexible silicone rubber pad being lowered onto an etched plate to receive ink from the plate, which pad applies the design to the receptacle.
7. A receptacle substantially as described herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
8. A method of producing a receptacle according to any one of claims 1-4 or 7, which method is substantially as described herein.