Switchable décor
An apparatus for decorating an article includes a decorative sheet member having a first side and a second side, neither of the first and second sides having an adhesive; a fixation sheet member having a third side configured to be attached to a surface of the article, the third side including a first adhesive with a first adhesion characteristic; and a fourth side, opposite the third side and configured to receive one of the first and second sides of the decorative sheet, the fourth side having a second adhesive with a second adhesion characteristic, the second adhesion characteristic being less permanent than the first adhesion characteristic.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a case for receiving a removable article, the case having an outer surface;
a decorative sheet member having:
a first side and a second side, neither of the first and second sides having an adhesive;
a fixation sheet member having:
a third side configured to be attached to the outer surface of the case, the third side including a permanent adhesive with a first adhesion characteristic; and
a fourth side, opposite the third side and configured to receive one of the first and second sides of the decorative sheet, the fourth side having a repositionable adhesive with a second adhesion characteristic, the second adhesion characteristic being less permanent than the first adhesion characteristic.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the decorative sheet and the fixation sheet are configured such that when the decorative sheet is removed from the fourth side of the fixation sheet, the repositionable adhesive remains on the fourth side of the fixation sheet.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the decorative sheet is formed of a first material, the fixation sheet is formed of a second material and the repositionable adhesive adheres more strongly to the second material than to the first material.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the decorative sheet has a predetermined dimension that is commensurate in size with a predetermined dimension of the fixation sheet.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the decorative sheet has a thickness a range between 6 mil (0.006 inch) and 30 mil (0.030 inch).
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first side of the decorative sheet includes a photographic, graphical or textual image.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second adhesive of the fourth side is a pressure-sensitive adhesive.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the repositionable adhesive comprises microspheres.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the microspheres have a diameter in a range between 10-250 microns and form a discontinuous film on the fourth side of the fixation sheet.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fourth side has a first region including the repositionable adhesive and a second region that does not include the repositionable adhesive.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the second region has a first predetermined shape.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the case is configured to receive a portable communications device.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the portable communications device is a phone, PDA, notebook, MP3 player or laptop computer.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the case is in the form of a luggage tag, frame, book, light switch plate, or insert spot in an auto dashboard or other such case which has a surface suitable for receiving such a decoration.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the case includes a framing member extending around at least a portion of the periphery of the case, the framing member having a height substantially the same as a combined thickness of the fixation sheet member and the decorative sheet member.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the decorative sheet is sized and configured to substantially cover the outer surface of the article.
17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the decorative sheet is formed of plastic.
18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the case includes a backwall and a plurality of side walls which in aggregate form a cavity.
19. A combination comprising
an apparatus including:
a case for receiving a removable article, the case having an outer surface;
a decorative sheet member having:
a first side and a second side, neither of the first and second sides having an adhesive;
a fixation sheet member having:
a third side configured to be attached to the outer surface of the case, the third side including a permanent adhesive with a first adhesion characteristic; and
a fourth side, opposite the third side and configured to receive one of the first and second sides of the decorative sheet, the fourth side having a repositionable adhesive with a second adhesion characteristic, the second adhesion characteristic being less permanent than the first adhesion characteristic;
a suction device configured to separate the decorative sheet from the fixation sheet, wherein the suction device has a suction area substantially the same as the second region of the fourth side of the fixation sheet.
20. The combination of claim 19 further comprising a plurality of decorative sheet members.
21. The combination of claim 19 wherein the suction device has a suction area substantially the same as the second region of the fourth side of the fixation sheet.
22. The combination of claim 19 wherein the suction device has a loop member configured for convenient attachment to a keychain, backpack, trouser loop or other convenient spot.
23. The combination of claim 19 wherein the article is a portable communications device.
24. The combination of claim 23 wherein the portable communications device is a phone, PDA, notebook, MP3 player or laptop computer.
25. The combination of claim 19 wherein the article is in the form of a luggage tag, frame, book, light switch plate, or insert spot in an auto dashboard or other such case which has a surface suitable for receiving such a decoration.
26. The combination of claim 19 wherein the case includes a backwall and a plurality of side walls which in aggregate form a cavity configured to store at least some of the plurality of decorative elements.