WO2005068209A1

WO2005068209A1 - A colour changing transfer decal paper having a double-faced design

Info

Publication number: WO2005068209A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/000049
Authority: WO
Inventors: Moo-Hyun Yang
Original assignee: Moo-Hyun Yang
Priority date: 2004-01-14
Filing date: 2004-01-14
Publication date: 2005-07-28

Abstract

The present invention relates to a color-changing transfer decal paper having a general ink printed layer and a color-changing ink printed layer. The color-changing transfer decal paper comprises a double-faced design including two color-changing ink printed layers (120, 140) and a partitioning printed layer (130) formed of a general ink and interposed therebetween. According to the color-changing transfer decal paper of the present invention, it is possible to obtain very unique effects in which when the color-changing transfer decal paper is attached to a surface of a transparent body such as a glass cup, respective designs can be seen on both sides of the surface of the transparent body at a temperature below or above a predetermined temperature.

Description

A COLOUR CHANGING TRANSFER DECAL PAPER HATVNG A DOUBLE-FACED DESIGN

Technical Field The present invention relates to a color-changing transfer decal paper, and more particularly, to a color-changing transfer decal paper having a double-faced design that includes two layers printed with a temperature-sensitive color-changing ink and a layer printed with a general ink interposed therebetween to exhibit higher-level special effects. That is, the present invention uniquely utilizes properties of a temperature- sensitive color-changing ink in implementing a conventional transfer printing method.

Background Art First, the nature and properties of a temperature-sensitive color-changing ink will be briefly described below. The temperature-sensitive color-changing ink is literally an ink or paint with colors that vary according to changes in temperature. The temperature-sensitive color- changing ink is a material in which a temperature-sensitive color-changing pigment in the form of powder obtained by microencapsulating an electron-donating coloring organic compound (color former), an electron-accepting compound (developer) and a desensitizing agent with urethane resin, epoxy resin, melamine resin or the like is dispersed in a transparent medium such as epoxy resin, polyester resin or the like. The temperature- sensitive color-changing ink has very unique properties by which an original color thereof disappears to be transparent above a color-changing temperature, whereas the original color is exhibited again below the color-changing temperature, Meanwhile, an ink that will be compared with the temperature-sensitive color- changing ink with the properties described above, i.e., an ink that maintains its original color regardless of changes in temperature, is herein referred to as a "general ink". Description will be continuously made using this term. As for an example utilizing the temperature-sensitive color-changing ink (hereinafter, briefly referred to as "color-changing ink") in real life, there is a case where a printed layer that is formed of a color-changing ink to represent a predetermined design, i.e., a design printed layer, is transferred or coated on a surface of a ceramic or glass container so that the design can selectively appear or disappear according to changes in temperature of the contents of the container. The formation of the color-changing ink printed layer on the surface of the container is performed by means of a transfer printing method. A sectional structure of a transfer decal paper shown in Fig. 1 and the transfer printing method will be described as follows. First, a color-changing transfer decal paper 10 comprises a transfer mount paper

II having a water-soluble release agent layer g formed on a surface thereof; a design printed layer 12 formed as a color-changing ink printed layer overlying the water-soluble release agent layer g on the surface of the transfer mount paper 11 to represent a predetermined design D; and a cover coating layer 13 for covering and protecting the design printed layer 12. The water-soluble release agent layer g has components similar to those of a general paste. When the color-changing transfer decal paper 10 is entirely dipped into water at an initial stage of the transfer printing method, the water-soluble release agent layer is dissolved so that the design printed layer 12 and the cover coating layer 13 can be separated from the transfer mount paper 11. Meanwhile, the cover coating layer 13 is a flexible thin resin layer coated on the design printed layer 12. The cover coating layer 13 functions to hold the entire design printed layer 12, which has been separated from the transfer mount paper 11, and to protect the design printed layer 12. That is, during the transfer printing process, an operator picks up the cover coating layer 13 including the design printed layer 12 and brings it to the surface of the container, so that the design printed layer 12 is also transferred and adheres to the surface of the container together with the cover coating layer 13. Subsequently, the cover coating layer 13 is peeled off and the container is then baked at a temperature of 100 to 200°C. Therefore, the aforementioned transfer printing process is completed. The container manufactured through the transfer printing process, i.e., the ceramic or glass container to which the design printed layer of the color-changing transfer decal paper is transferred as it is, has a property by which the design appears or disappears according to the temperature of a substance contained in the ceramic or glass container. Prior to explanation of this property, assume that the color-changing temperature of the color-changing ink in relation to Fig. 1 is 15°C. Referring to Fig. 2 that shows an example of a change of color in a case where a glass cup 20 to which the design printed layer 12 of the color-changing transfer decal paper 10 with the sectional structure as shown in Fig. 1 is transferred as it is, i.e., the transfer printed glass cup, contains cold potable water at a temperature of 15°C or less, the color- changing ink that is the component of the design printed layer 12 exhibits its original color at a temperature below the color-changing temperature (15°C). Thus, the design D expressed in the design printed layer 12 can be seen from the outside. Of course, if the glass cup 20 is placed in an empty state at room temperature, e.g.,

20°C, the color-changing ink that is the component of the design printed layer 12 loses its original color and becomes transparent at a temperature above the color-changing temperature (15°C) so that the design D expressed in the design printed layer 12 cannot be seen from the outside. As shown in Fig. 2 in which the transfer printing process is employed in the transparent glass cup, the color-changing transfer decal paper with the conventional structure provides its own special effects that can interest a user such as by representing an unexpected design at a temperature below a predetermined value. However, since only a single type of design can be represented as special effects, it should be pointed out that the conventional color-changing transfer decal paper is monotonous.

Disclosure of Invention The present invention is conceived to solve the aforementioned disadvantages or problems in the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide a color- changing transfer decal paper having a double-faced design that includes at least two design printed layers formed by combining color-changing ink printed layers and a general ink printed layer, thereby eliminating monotonousness in the prior art and obtaining higher-level special effects. According to the present invention for achieving the object, there is provided a color-changing transfer decal paper that has a double-faced design including two temperature-sensitive color-changing ink printed layers and a general ink printed layer interposed therebetween. That is, when a transparent body such as a glass cup to which the double-faced design of the color-changing transfer decal paper according to the present invention has been transferred is at a low temperature below a color-changing temperature, a very unique phenomenon in which different designs can be seen on both sides of the surface of the transparent body occurs.

Brief Description of Drawings Fig. 1 is a view showing a sectional structure of a conventional color-changing transfer decal paper. Fig. 2 is a view showing an example of a change of color in a glass cup that has been subjected to a transfer printing process using a color-changing transfer decal paper with a conventional structure. Fig. 3 is a view showing a sectional structure of a color-changing transfer decal paper according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figs. 4 and 5 are views showing an example of changes of color in a glass cup that has been subjected to a transfer printing process using the color-changing transfer decal paper according to the embodiment of the present invention, wherein Fig. 4 shows a design seen from the outside of the glass cup, and Fig. 5 shows a design seen from the inside of the glass cup. <Explanation of reference numerals for designating main components in the drawings> 10, 100: Color-changing transfer decal paper 120, 140: Color-changing ink printed layer 13, 150: Cover coating layer 130: Partitioning printed layer

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Hereinafter, a color-changing transfer decal paper according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in Fig. 3, the color-changing transfer decal paper 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention comprises a transfer mount paper 110 having a water- soluble release agent layer g formed on a surface thereof; a first design printed layer 120 formed as a color-changing ink printed layer overlying the water-soluble release agent layer g on the surface of the transfer mount paper 110 so as to represent a predetermined design Dl; a partitioning printed layer 130 formed of a general ink to overlie the first design printed layer 120; a second design printed layer 140 formed as another color- changing ink printed layer overlying the partitioning printed layer 130 so as to represent a predetermined design D2; and a cover coating layer 150 overlying the second design printed layer 140 to cover and protect the second design printed layer. As can be seen from a laminated structure of Fig. 3 that shows the sectional structure of the color-changing transfer decal paper 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the first and second design printed layers 120 and 140 that are the color-changing ink printed layers of the color-changing transfer decal paper 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention have the respective designs expressed therein. Consequently, when a color-changing ink that is components of the first and second design printed layers 120 and 140 exhibits its original color at a low temperature below a color-changing temperature, the designs expressed in the first and second design printed layers 120 and 140 can be seen simultaneously. Meanwhile, when the double-faced design formed on the color-changing transfer decal paper 100 with the aforementioned structure according to the embodiment of the present invention is transferred to an outer surface of the glass cup, the first design printed layer 120 of the two design printed layers 120 and 140 is in direct contact with the outer surface of the glass cup to be oriented toward the inside of the glass cup, whereas the second design printed layer 140 placed at a side opposite to the first design printed layer 120 with respect to the partitioning printed layer 130 is oriented toward the outside of the glass cup. Accordingly, considering a case where the respective designs expressed in the first and second design printed layers 120 and 140 can be seen simultaneously, the design expressed in the first design printed layer 120 is seen from the inside of the glass cup and the design expressed in the second design printed layer 140 is seen from the outside of the glass cup with respect to the surface of the glass cup. The simultaneous representation of the respective designs, which are expressed in the superimposed first and second design printed layers 120 and 140, in the opposite directions as described above is due to the general ink printed layer 130 interposed between the color-changing ink printed layers to serve as a boundary wall. That is, due to the presence of the general ink printed layer 130, the respective designs expressed in the first and second design printed layers 120 and 140 that are the color-changing ink printed layer can be seen simultaneously without overlap of the designs in a state where one (the design expressed in the first design printed layer 120) is oriented toward the inside of the glass cup and the other (the design expressed in the second design printed layer 140) is oriented toward the outside of the glass cup. Meanwhile, the partitioning printed layer 130 interposed between the two design printed layers 120 and 140 to completely isolate them from each other may not be only for the purpose of isolation of the two design printed layers. The partitioning printed layer 130 may also have a third design expressed therein. In this case, the partitioning printed layer 130 that is the general ink printed layer serves as a design printed layer by itself while simultaneously serving as a boundary wall between the color-changing ink printed layers 120 and 140. That is, the dual-faced design of the color-changing transfer decal paper according to the embodiment of the present invention does not mean that the double-faced design always consists of two designs but means that respective designs can be seen in opposite directions. Further, it is not necessarily to form a design printed layer with a design expressed therein into a color-changing ink printed layer as shown in Fig. 3. Figs, 4 and 5 are views showing an example of changes of color in a glass cup that has been subjected to a transfer printing process using the color-changing transfer decal paper 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. These figures show designs that are seen from the outside and inside of the glass cup, respectively, when the glass cup is filled with a cool soft drink at a temperature of 15°C or less. A principle by which the glass cup that is substantially entirely transparent except a portion thereof to which the partitioning printed layer 130 as the general ink printed layer with an unchangeable unique original color regardless of changes in temperature is applied exhibits an unexpected design on the surface thereof at low temperature is based on the inherent properties of the color-changing ink described above. Contrary to the conventional case of Fig. 2 in which only the single type of design

D is viewed on the surface of the transparent glass cup, however, the transparent glass cup that has been subjected to the transfer printing process using the color-changing transfer decal paper 100 of the present invention is characterized in that the two different designs

Dl and D2 are viewed. This is due to the following. In the transparent glass cup which has been subjected to the transfer printing process using the color-changing transfer decal paper of the present invention, there are the two designs printed layers 120 and 140, which exhibit their original colors at a low temperature below the color-changing temperature, and the different designs Dl and D2 are expressed in the two design printed layers 120 and 140, respectively. That is, the design D2 expressed in the second design printed layer 140 is seen from the outside of the transparent glass cup, while the design Dl expressed in the first design printed layer 120 is seen from the inside of the transparent glass cup. As described above, with the color-changing transfer decal paper 100 having the double-faced design according to the embodiment of the present invention, the two different designs Dl and D2 are represented on both sides of the surface of the transparent body to which the transfer decal paper is transferred, thereby causing a user and his/her neighbors have a fresh feeling that surpasses simple interest. It should be noted that the two designs are limited only to the embodiment shown in Fig. 3. Strictly speaking, it can be expressed as "at least two designs". Meanwhile, although the embodiment has been described on the assumption that the color-changing temperature of the color-changing ink forming the two design printed layers 120 and 140 is 15°C, it is possible to make modifications such as by differentiating the color-changing temperature at the two design printed layers. That is, in a case where the color-changing temperature of a color-changing ink forming the first design printed layer 120 is set to 15°C and the color-changing temperature of a color-changing ink forming the second design printed layer 140 is set to 45°C, the design Dl is immediately seen from the inside of the transparent glass cup if a cold soft drink or the like is poured into the transparent glass cup. On the other hand, if a warm beverage such as coffee is poured into the transparent glass cup, the outer design D2 disappears, and at the same time, the design such as an advertising phase expressed in the partitioning printed layer 130 appears. In other words, the changing states of the designs vary depending on the temperature of the contents contained in the glass cup. Although various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art, it will be apparent that minor changes or modifications will fall within the scope of the present invention so far as a double-faced design of a transfer decal paper includes two color- changing ink printed layers and at least one general ink printed layer interposed therebetween.

Industrial Applicability As described above, since the color-changing transfer decal paper of the present invention has a double-faced design including two color-changing ink printed layers and a general ink printed layer interposed therebetween, the transfer decal paper of the present invention can exhibit higher-level special effects and thus is of great value in the industrial field of color-changing transfer decal papers. Further, since the color-changing transfer decal paper of the present invention can be applied to a very wide range of articles including chemical containers, ornaments and the like in addition to the transparent glass cup in the embodiment of the present invention, it is considered that the present invention is applicable to a considerably wide range of industrial fields.

Claims

1. A color-changing transfer decal paper (100) having a general ink printed layer and a color-changing ink printed layer, comprising: a double-faced design including two color-changing ink printed layers (120, 140) and a partitioning printed layer (130) formed of a general ink and interposed therebetween.

2. The color-changing transfer decal paper as claimed in claim 1, wherein the color- changing transfer decal paper (100) comprises a transfer mount paper (110) having a water-soluble release agent layer (g) formed on a surface thereof; a first design printed layer (120) formed as a color-changing ink printed layer overlying the water-soluble release agent layer (g) on the surface of the transfer mount paper (110) so as to represent a predetermined design (Dl); the partitioning printed layer (130) being formed of the general ink to overlie the first design printed layer (120); a second design printed layer (140) formed as another color-changing ink printed layer overlying the partitioning printed layer (130) so as to represent a predetermined design (D2); and a cover coating layer (150) overlying the second design printed layer (140) to cover and protect the second design printed layer.