EP1765605A2 - Method of manufacturing a sign displaying sign indicia - Google Patents

Method of manufacturing a sign displaying sign indicia

Info

Publication number
EP1765605A2
EP1765605A2 EP05753187A EP05753187A EP1765605A2 EP 1765605 A2 EP1765605 A2 EP 1765605A2 EP 05753187 A EP05753187 A EP 05753187A EP 05753187 A EP05753187 A EP 05753187A EP 1765605 A2 EP1765605 A2 EP 1765605A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sign
manufacturing
coating
indicia
substrate
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP05753187A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1765605B1 (en
Inventor
Lindsay Iain Holdoway
Alexandra Anne Bates
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
HPH Ltd
Original Assignee
HPH Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by HPH Ltd filed Critical HPH Ltd
Publication of EP1765605A2 publication Critical patent/EP1765605A2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1765605B1 publication Critical patent/EP1765605B1/en
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B44—DECORATIVE ARTS
    • B44C—PRODUCING DECORATIVE EFFECTS; MOSAICS; TARSIA WORK; PAPERHANGING
    • B44C5/00—Processes for producing special ornamental bodies
    • B44C5/04—Ornamental plaques, e.g. decorative panels, decorative veneers
    • B44C5/0446—Ornamental plaques, e.g. decorative panels, decorative veneers bearing graphical information
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F7/00—Signs, name or number plates, letters, numerals, or symbols; Panels or boards
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F7/00—Signs, name or number plates, letters, numerals, or symbols; Panels or boards
    • G09F7/16—Letters, numerals, or other symbols adapted for permanent fixing to a support

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a sign.
  • business signs and signs of the type used for commemorative plaques are made from brass, which is cut to size by a sign engraver and subsequently engraved with lettering. The lettering is sometimes highlighted with a contrasting paint.
  • Sign engravers typically obtain their sign material in quantity and purchase large sheets of material, for example, sheets of brass plate, either un-coated or pre-coated with the hard-wearing protective coating.
  • the material is cut into a desired size and shape of plate and engraved with desired indicia. Apertures may be drilled in the plate for fixing and the indicia may be highlighted by colouring with a contrasting paint, usually black.
  • titanium nitride coating in particular, is extremely hard and it is therefore necessary to use a fine tool for the engraving, for example, a diamond tool, in order to cut through the coating.
  • a fine tool for the engraving for example, a diamond tool
  • the resolution of the engraving is poor, because the cut edges of the coating chip with the action of the cutting tool.
  • the protective coating is perforated by the cutting tool, at any drilled holes and around the edge of the plate. These unprotected surfaces tarnish, and spoil the look of the plaque or sign.
  • the protective coating is weakened by cutting through it and in time the coating may lift off, or be otherwise damaged, for example, by frost.
  • a method of manufacturing a sign displaying sign indicia comprising the steps of providing depressions and/or projections defining the indicia on a surface of a sign substrate, applying a contiguous protective metallic coating to the indicia and the surrounding surface of the substrate by a vapour deposition process, and subsequently applying a contrasting pigment to at least a part of the coating to highlight the indicia against the surrounding area.
  • the coating preferably has a hardness of between Hv 0 . 2 1200 and Hv 02 3000.
  • the indicia are provided on the sign substrate prior to coating, so that all of the exposed surfaces of the substrate are protected and it is not necessary to cut through the hard protective coating.
  • indicia- forming methods such as engraving, etching or sandblasting can be utilised, without the need for a hardened tool or diamond tipped tool.
  • the resolution of the forming of the indicia is improved.
  • the thickness of the applied pigment may vary between different regions of the sign.
  • the metallic coating may be a metal, a metal nitride, a metal carbide or a metal carbonitride.
  • the metallic coating may be chromium, zirconium, tantalum, titanium, tungsten, or a nitride, a carbide or a carbonitride of one of said metals.
  • the metallic coating is titanium nitride.
  • titanium nitride it has a gold colour, similar to that of a highly polished brass.
  • Titanium nitride may also be combined with other elements to produce coatings having different colours and/or shades.
  • the preferred metallic coating is chromium nitride.
  • the vapour deposition process is preferably a physical vapour deposition (PVD) process.
  • PVD physical vapour deposition
  • vapour deposition we mean in particular a deposition process in which a coating is deposited on a substrate from the vapour phase.
  • physical vapour deposition we mean in particular a deposition process in which a coating is deposited on a substrate from the vapour phase, the material of the coating having been evaporated from a solid form.
  • Particular examples of physical vapour deposition, which may be utilised include Sputtering and Cathodic Arc.
  • magnetron sputtering The process of sputtering, often referred to as magnetron sputtering involves applying a magnetic field over a sputtering target (the material to be used in coating). Accelerated ions are used to eject particles off the target material from a cathode towards a substrate to be coated, which is positioned in front of the target. The particles that strike the substrate condense to form an adherent coating.
  • Cathodic arc coating involves using a vacuum arc to evaporate material from a cathode in order to produce a stream of highly active and excited coating material.
  • a typical coating apparatus consists of a vacuum chamber and a number of arc evaporation sources (the material used for coating), which are arranged in walls of the chamber.
  • the substrate to be coated is mounted on a fixture, which enables it to be manipulated inside the vacuum chamber to give uniform coating.
  • the PVD process is a cathodic arc process.
  • the coating may be between 1 and 8 ⁇ m thick.
  • the coating is between 1 and 3 ⁇ m thick.
  • the coating is preferably of uniform thickness.
  • the substrate Prior to coating of the sign substrate, the substrate may be cleaned to facilitate good adhesion of the coating.
  • the forming of the indicia is preferably by engraving.
  • the forming of the indicia is by etching, for example, by acid etching, electro etching or by masking and sandblasting.
  • the pigment is applied by hand, but may also be applied by spraying, for example, using a mask.
  • the pigment preferably covers the whole of the indicia and terminates at a crisp line at the boundary of the indicia and the surrounding area.
  • the pigment may be a paint.
  • the pigment is a cellulose enamel paint.
  • the substrate may be made from plastics, preferably polycarbonate.
  • plastics are low compared with a similar sized sign made from metal. This enables cheaper delivery of the sign, particularly by post. Furthermore, when coated, polycarbonate takes on the metalized appearance of the coating, for example, if titanium nitride is used, the polycarbonate takes on the appearance of polished brass.
  • the substrate may be made from metal, for example, stainless steel or brass.
  • Fig 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a sign
  • Fig 2 shows a schematic cross section through part of a sign.
  • the sign 10 is comprised of a sign substrate or plate 11 , an area of engraved indicia 12 on the surface of the sign plate 11, a pair of fixing holes 14 and a peripheral edge 16.
  • the sign 10 can be manufactured from brass, stainless steel, plastics, for example polycarbonate, or any other suitable material.
  • a sign plate is cut to size and shape from a sheet of un-coated material.
  • the indicia 12, as desired are provided on the surface of the sign plate, for example, by engraving, acid etching or electro etching, or by masking and sand blasting.
  • the indicia may be created by pressing or in the case of a plastics sign, by moulding.
  • a hardwearing protective coating is applied.
  • the protective coating is preferably titanium nitride (TiN) and is applied to a thickness of between one and three microns, by physical vapour deposition (PVD).
  • PVD physical vapour deposition
  • Sputtering is generally used to process large quantities of material at a time, and although it would be possible to use the process to apply a protective coating to a sign plate, it would generally be considered uneconomic.
  • cathodic arc coating is the preferred method of coating of the invention, because it enables a greater variety of effects and finishes to be achieved, whilst still being economic. Ideally several signs are coated at the same time, depending on their size.
  • the indicia 12 is highlighted with a contrasting colouring, which is applied to the whole or a part of the cut or engraved area.
  • Signs which are intended to have a traditional appearance are typically highlighted with a cellulose enamel paint.
  • the paint can be applied either by hand or is sprayed using a mask, which conveniently can be the original mask used for etching, if etching was the cutting method used.
  • Fig. 2 a cross-section through part of a sign plate 11 is shown, and the thickness of paint 18 can be seen to increase towards the centre of the cut indicia 12, where the cutting is deepest. Due to the high reflectivity and lustre of the coating, the paint can appear translucent where it is thin at the edge of the indicia, allowing the high lustre of the coating to be partially visible. This creates a variation in tone or intensity of the colour, which can be used to generate patterns, if desired, by varying the depth of the cutting. This is particularly desirable for accurately reproducing company logos, emblems and coats of arms or the like.
  • the coating can be applied to plastics, and in particular to polycarbonate.
  • polycarbonate takes on the appearance of polished brass.
  • the resulting sign is extremely durable and lightweight. This is of particular benefit when despatching signs in the post, because the cost of posting is reduced compared with the cost of posting metal signs, which are significantly heavier.
  • any cutting or drilling of the sign should be carried out prior to application of the protective coating, in order to prevent un-coated parts of the sign being exposed to the atmosphere. Due to their high resistance to weathering, the signs are particularly suited for marine applications, and where weight is a consideration, again the polycarbonate coated signs are particularly advantageous. The signs are also resistant to attack by vandals.

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a sign (10) comprises the steps of providing depressions and/or projections defining a desired indicia (12) on the surface of a sign plate (11), then coating the sign plate (11) and formed indicia with a protective coating, for example, titanium nitride, and subsequently highlighting the indicia by applying a contrasting colouring to the or a least a part of the coated substrate. The protective coating is applied using a vapour deposition process, (eg PVD). The colouring is a cellulose enamel paint and is applied by hand or by spraying using a mask.

Description

Title: Method of Manufacturing a Sign
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a sign.
Traditionally, business signs and signs of the type used for commemorative plaques, for example, on gravestones, are made from brass, which is cut to size by a sign engraver and subsequently engraved with lettering. The lettering is sometimes highlighted with a contrasting paint.
Although such brass signs purvey a feeling of quality, they quickly tarnish, particularly when positioned outdoors, and must be cleaned regularly to maintain their lustre, which can be costly. Regular cleaning can also have the effect of wearing away the paint applied for highlighting, and there is a risk of contaminating the area around the sign with cleaning fluids. Such contamination can be unsightly, particularly where the sign is displayed, for example, on natural stone or brick.
It is already known to coat a sign with a protective coating, for example, a coating of titanium nitride. This coating is extremely durable and hard, and does not require regular cleaning to maintain its lustre.
Sign engravers typically obtain their sign material in quantity and purchase large sheets of material, for example, sheets of brass plate, either un-coated or pre-coated with the hard-wearing protective coating. When an order for a sign is taken, the material is cut into a desired size and shape of plate and engraved with desired indicia. Apertures may be drilled in the plate for fixing and the indicia may be highlighted by colouring with a contrasting paint, usually black.
There are several disadvantages associated with this method of manufacturing signs. Firstly, titanium nitride coating in particular, is extremely hard and it is therefore necessary to use a fine tool for the engraving, for example, a diamond tool, in order to cut through the coating. This has the result that the engraved surface is not smooth, but rough, having visible rows of furrows where the tip of the tool has moved back and forth.
Secondly, the resolution of the engraving is poor, because the cut edges of the coating chip with the action of the cutting tool. Thirdly, the protective coating is perforated by the cutting tool, at any drilled holes and around the edge of the plate. These unprotected surfaces tarnish, and spoil the look of the plaque or sign. Finally, the protective coating is weakened by cutting through it and in time the coating may lift off, or be otherwise damaged, for example, by frost.
It is an object of the invention to overcome or substantially reduce these disadvantages, by providing a new method of manufacturing a sign.
According to the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a sign displaying sign indicia comprising the steps of providing depressions and/or projections defining the indicia on a surface of a sign substrate, applying a contiguous protective metallic coating to the indicia and the surrounding surface of the substrate by a vapour deposition process, and subsequently applying a contrasting pigment to at least a part of the coating to highlight the indicia against the surrounding area.
The coating preferably has a hardness of between Hv0.21200 and Hv023000.
It is an advantage of the invention that the indicia are provided on the sign substrate prior to coating, so that all of the exposed surfaces of the substrate are protected and it is not necessary to cut through the hard protective coating. This means that indicia- forming methods, such as engraving, etching or sandblasting can be utilised, without the need for a hardened tool or diamond tipped tool. Hence, the resolution of the forming of the indicia is improved.
The thickness of the applied pigment may vary between different regions of the sign.
It is a further unexpected advantage of the invention, that where the pigment is applied thinly, it can appear translucent allowing the high lustre of the coating to be partially visible. This enables visually pleasing pigmentation patterns to be created on the indicia.
The metallic coating may be a metal, a metal nitride, a metal carbide or a metal carbonitride.
The metallic coating may be chromium, zirconium, tantalum, titanium, tungsten, or a nitride, a carbide or a carbonitride of one of said metals. Preferably the metallic coating is titanium nitride.
It is an advantage of titanium nitride that it has a gold colour, similar to that of a highly polished brass.
Titanium nitride may also be combined with other elements to produce coatings having different colours and/or shades.
Alternatively, the preferred metallic coating is chromium nitride.
It is an advantage of chromium nitride that it has a silver colour.
The vapour deposition process is preferably a physical vapour deposition (PVD) process. By "vapour deposition" we mean in particular a deposition process in which a coating is deposited on a substrate from the vapour phase. By "physical vapour deposition" we mean in particular a deposition process in which a coating is deposited on a substrate from the vapour phase, the material of the coating having been evaporated from a solid form. Particular examples of physical vapour deposition, which may be utilised include Sputtering and Cathodic Arc.
The process of sputtering, often referred to as magnetron sputtering involves applying a magnetic field over a sputtering target (the material to be used in coating). Accelerated ions are used to eject particles off the target material from a cathode towards a substrate to be coated, which is positioned in front of the target. The particles that strike the substrate condense to form an adherent coating.
Cathodic arc coating involves using a vacuum arc to evaporate material from a cathode in order to produce a stream of highly active and excited coating material. A typical coating apparatus consists of a vacuum chamber and a number of arc evaporation sources (the material used for coating), which are arranged in walls of the chamber. The substrate to be coated is mounted on a fixture, which enables it to be manipulated inside the vacuum chamber to give uniform coating.
Preferably the PVD process is a cathodic arc process. The coating may be between 1 and 8 μm thick.
Preferably the coating is between 1 and 3 μm thick. The coating is preferably of uniform thickness.
Prior to coating of the sign substrate, the substrate may be cleaned to facilitate good adhesion of the coating.
The forming of the indicia is preferably by engraving. Alternatively, the forming of the indicia is by etching, for example, by acid etching, electro etching or by masking and sandblasting.
Preferably the pigment is applied by hand, but may also be applied by spraying, for example, using a mask.
The pigment preferably covers the whole of the indicia and terminates at a crisp line at the boundary of the indicia and the surrounding area.
The pigment may be a paint.
Preferably the pigment is a cellulose enamel paint.
The substrate may be made from plastics, preferably polycarbonate.
An advantage of using plastics is that the weight of the sign is low compared with a similar sized sign made from metal. This enables cheaper delivery of the sign, particularly by post. Furthermore, when coated, polycarbonate takes on the metalized appearance of the coating, for example, if titanium nitride is used, the polycarbonate takes on the appearance of polished brass.
Alternatively, the substrate may be made from metal, for example, stainless steel or brass.
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Fig 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a sign, and
Fig 2 shows a schematic cross section through part of a sign.
Referring firstly to Fig 1 , an example of a sign is indicated generally at 10. The sign 10 is comprised of a sign substrate or plate 11 , an area of engraved indicia 12 on the surface of the sign plate 11, a pair of fixing holes 14 and a peripheral edge 16. The sign 10 can be manufactured from brass, stainless steel, plastics, for example polycarbonate, or any other suitable material.
When an order for a sign is taken, firstly a sign plate is cut to size and shape from a sheet of un-coated material. Then the indicia 12, as desired, are provided on the surface of the sign plate, for example, by engraving, acid etching or electro etching, or by masking and sand blasting. Alternatively, the indicia may be created by pressing or in the case of a plastics sign, by moulding. After the desired indicia have been provided on the surface of the sign plate 11 , a hardwearing protective coating is applied.
The protective coating is preferably titanium nitride (TiN) and is applied to a thickness of between one and three microns, by physical vapour deposition (PVD). There are two principle methods of PVD coating, namely sputtering and cathodic arc, both of which are known in the art and are described above.
Sputtering is generally used to process large quantities of material at a time, and although it would be possible to use the process to apply a protective coating to a sign plate, it would generally be considered uneconomic.
The process of cathodic arc coating is the preferred method of coating of the invention, because it enables a greater variety of effects and finishes to be achieved, whilst still being economic. Ideally several signs are coated at the same time, depending on their size.
Once the sign plate 11 has been coated, the indicia 12 is highlighted with a contrasting colouring, which is applied to the whole or a part of the cut or engraved area. Signs which are intended to have a traditional appearance are typically highlighted with a cellulose enamel paint. The paint can be applied either by hand or is sprayed using a mask, which conveniently can be the original mask used for etching, if etching was the cutting method used. In particular, when the indicia is lettering, care should be taken to ensure that the edge of the paint terminates in a crisp line at the boundary of the lettering and the surrounding area, thereby enhancing the appearance of the lettering and sign.
When the paint is applied, its thickness tends to vary with the depth of the cutting or engraving. Referring now to Fig. 2, a cross-section through part of a sign plate 11 is shown, and the thickness of paint 18 can be seen to increase towards the centre of the cut indicia 12, where the cutting is deepest. Due to the high reflectivity and lustre of the coating, the paint can appear translucent where it is thin at the edge of the indicia, allowing the high lustre of the coating to be partially visible. This creates a variation in tone or intensity of the colour, which can be used to generate patterns, if desired, by varying the depth of the cutting. This is particularly desirable for accurately reproducing company logos, emblems and coats of arms or the like.
It is a particular advantage of the invention, that the coating can be applied to plastics, and in particular to polycarbonate. When coated with titanium nitride, polycarbonate takes on the appearance of polished brass. The resulting sign is extremely durable and lightweight. This is of particular benefit when despatching signs in the post, because the cost of posting is reduced compared with the cost of posting metal signs, which are significantly heavier.
It will be appreciated that any cutting or drilling of the sign should be carried out prior to application of the protective coating, in order to prevent un-coated parts of the sign being exposed to the atmosphere. Due to their high resistance to weathering, the signs are particularly suited for marine applications, and where weight is a consideration, again the polycarbonate coated signs are particularly advantageous. The signs are also resistant to attack by vandals.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a sign displaying sign indicia comprising the steps of providing depressions and/or projections defining the indicia on a surface of a sign substrate, applying a contiguous protective metallic coating to the indicia and the surrounding surface of the substrate by a vapour deposition process, and subsequently applying a contrasting pigment to at least a part of the coating to highlight the indicia against the surrounding area.
2. A method of manufacturing a sign as claimed in claim 1 in which the coating has a hardness of between Hv0.21200 and Hv0.23000.
3. A method of manufacturing a sign as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the thickness of the applied pigment varies between different regions of the sign.
4. A method of manufacturing a sign as claimed in any preceding claim in which the metallic coating is a metal, a metal nitride, a metal carbide or a metal carbonitride.
5. A method of manufacturing a sign as claimed in claim 4 in which the metal of the protective coating is one of chromium, zirconium, tantalum, titanium or tungsten.
6. A method of manufacturing a sign as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the metallic coating is titanium nitride.
7. A method of manufacturing a sign as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the metallic coating is chromium nitride.
8. A method of manufacturing a sign as claimed in any preceding claim in which the vapour deposition process is physical vapour deposition (PVD).
9. A method of manufacturing a sign as claimed in claim 8 in which the PVD process is either a sputtering or cathodic arc process.
10. A method of manufacturing a sign as claimed in any preceding claim in which the coating is between 1 and 8 μm thick.
11. A method of manufacturing a sign as claimed in any preceding claim in which the coating is between 1 and 3 μm thick.
12. A method of manufacturing a sign as claimed in any preceding claim in which the coating is of uniform thickness.
13. A method of manufacturing a sign as claimed in any preceding claim in which prior to coating the sign substrate, the substrate is cleaned.
14. A method of manufacturing a sign as claimed in any preceding claim in which the indicia are formed by engraving.
15. A method of manufacturing a sign as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 in which the indicia are formed by etching or by masking and sandblasting.
16. A method of manufacturing a sign as claimed in any preceding claim in which the pigment is applied by hand.
17. A method of manufacturing a sign as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15 in which the pigment is applied by spraying.
18. A method of manufacturing a sign as claimed in any preceding claim in which the pigment covers the whole of the indicia and terminates at a crisp line at the boundary of the indicia and the surrounding area.
19. A method of manufacturing a sign as claimed in any preceding claim in which the pigment is paint.
20. A method of manufacturing a sign as claimed in any preceding claim in which the pigment is a cellulose enamel paint.
21. A method of manufacturing a sign as claimed in any preceding claim in which the substrate is made from plastics.
22. A method of manufacturing a sign as claimed in any preceding claim in which the substrate is made from polycarbonate.
23. A method of manufacturing a sign as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 20 in which the sign substrate is made from metal.
24. A method of manufacturing a sign as claimed in claim 23 in which the sign substrate is made from brass or stainless steel.
25. A sign, when manufactured using the method of any preceding claim.
EP05753187A 2004-04-22 2005-04-22 Method of manufacturing a sign displaying sign indicia Not-in-force EP1765605B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0408979A GB2413307B (en) 2004-04-22 2004-04-22 Method of manufacturing a sign
PCT/GB2005/001530 WO2005102734A2 (en) 2004-04-22 2005-04-22 Method of manufacturing a sign displaying sign indicia

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1765605A2 true EP1765605A2 (en) 2007-03-28
EP1765605B1 EP1765605B1 (en) 2012-06-13

Family

ID=32344212

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP05753187A Not-in-force EP1765605B1 (en) 2004-04-22 2005-04-22 Method of manufacturing a sign displaying sign indicia

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1765605B1 (en)
GB (1) GB2413307B (en)
WO (1) WO2005102734A2 (en)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT1402857B1 (en) * 2010-10-29 2013-09-27 Daejin Dsp Co Ltd DECORATIVE LAMINATE SHEET IN STAINLESS STEEL WITH EMBOSSED DRAWING AND ITS MANUFACTURING PROCESS
CN108973491A (en) * 2018-08-16 2018-12-11 模德模具(东莞)有限公司 Die surface can anti-sandblasting laser engraving technique
CN110923629A (en) * 2019-12-06 2020-03-27 宁波鑫星汽车部件有限公司 Titanium nitride plating process for automobile label
CN114120802A (en) * 2020-08-28 2022-03-01 上海灿玥实业有限公司 Method for making sign

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GB350085A (en) * 1930-03-21 1931-06-11 David Albert Victor Rist Improvements in the manufacture of metal number plates, name plates, signs and the like
US4393120A (en) * 1980-09-26 1983-07-12 Yuken Industry Co., Ltd. Plastic coated with golden evaporated film
JP2586095B2 (en) * 1988-04-14 1997-02-26 三菱マテリアル株式会社 Thin precious metal composite board
DE4136641C2 (en) * 1991-11-07 1996-03-14 Franz Bichler Method of making signs
US5779919A (en) * 1996-01-11 1998-07-14 New York Sign Systems, Inc. Porcelain enamel sign and method of manufacture
DE19652242A1 (en) * 1996-12-16 1998-06-18 Basf Ag Use of hydride-containing aluminum oxide to create optically recognizable markings and inscriptions
JPH1165456A (en) * 1997-08-21 1999-03-05 Toyo Bureejingu Kogyo Kk Display tool
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Title
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2005102734A2 (en) 2005-11-03
EP1765605B1 (en) 2012-06-13
WO2005102734A3 (en) 2006-04-27
GB2413307B (en) 2006-04-19
GB2413307A (en) 2005-10-26
GB0408979D0 (en) 2004-05-26

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