DECORATIVE DECAL ASSEMBLY FOR A WEIGHT PLATE
The decorative decal assembly ( 20 ) is configured to be secured within a recessed surface ( 26 ) of a weight plate ( 18 ) and includes an adhesive layer ( 36 ), a printable surface ( 44 ) of an adjacent ink protective printing layer ( 42 ), and one or more print decals ( 48 ) secured to the printable surface ( 44 ) and between an upper support surface ( 40 ) of the adhesive layer ( 36 ) and the ink protective layer ( 42 ). The recessed surface ( 26 ) defines a display area ( 56 ) surrounded on all sides by an expansion zone ( 58 ) extending between the display area ( 56 ) and the shoulders ( 30, 32 ) of the weight plate ( 18 ) that define the recessed surface ( 26 ) to permit limited expansion of perimeter edges ( 62 A, 62 B) of the decal assembly ( 20 ) into the expansion zone ( 58 ) without contacting the shoulders ( 30, 32 ) whenever the weight plate ( 18 ) experiences a bounce shock.
1 - 12 . (canceled)
13 . A decal assembly for attachment with a flexible substrate, the decal assembly comprising:
an adhesive layer having a contact surface for bonding with a surface of the flexible substrate; and
a display indicia in contact with a surface of the adhesive layer;
wherein the display indicia is visible when the decal assembly is attached with the flexible substrate.
14 . The decal assembly as recited in claim 13 , wherein the display indicia comprises an ink material.
15 . The decal assembly as recited in claim 13 further comprising a protective layer attached thereto, wherein the display indicia is interposed between the adhesive layer and the protective layer.
16 . The decal assembly as recited in claim 14 , wherein the display indicia is disposed on a surface of the protective layer that interfaces with the adhesive layer.
17 . The decal assembly as recited in claim 14 , wherein the protective layer is formed from a flexible material.
18 . The decal assembly as recited in claim 14 further comprising an outer layer disposed on the protective layer, wherein the outer layer is formed from a transparent material.
19 . The decal assembly as recited in claim 13 further comprising a release liner disposed along the adhesive layer contact surface that is removed prior to attachment with the flexible substrate.
20 . The decal assembly as recited in claim 13 , wherein the adhesive layer is formed from a material that forms a bond with the flexible substrate when the flexible substrate is in an already-formed state.
21 . A decal assembly attached with a flexible substrate, the decal assembly comprising:
an adhesive layer that is attached with a surface of the flexible substrate;
a display indicia in contact with a surface of the adhesive layer opposite the flexible substrate; and
a protective layer that is connected with the adhesive layer;
wherein the display indicia is visible upon viewing the flexible substrate.
22 . The decal assembly as recited in claim 21 , wherein the display indicia is in contact with a surface of the protective layer.
23 . The decal assembly as recited in claim 22 , wherein the display indicia is interposed between the adhesive layer and the protective layer.
24 . The decal assembly as recited in claim 21 , wherein the protective layer is formed from a flexible material.
25 . The decal assembly as recited in claim 21 , further comprising an outer layer that is connected with the protective layer.
26 . The decal assembly as recited in claim 25 , wherein the outer layer is formed from a transparent material.
27 . A method of making a decal assembly for attachment with a flexible substrate, the method comprising the steps of;
disposing a display indicia onto a printable surface of a printable layer; and
combining the printable layer including the display indicia with an adhesive layer.
28 . The method as recited in claim 27 , wherein after the step of combining, the display indicia is interposed between the printable layer and the adhesive layer.
29 . The method as recited in claim 28 further comprising disposing an outer layer over the printable layer.
30 . The method as recited in claim 29 , wherein the step of disposing the outer layer takes place before the step of combining.
31 . The method as recited in claim 27 further comprising attaching the decal assembly to a flexible substrate by combining contact surface of the adhesive layer with a surface of the flexible substrate.
32 . The method as recited in claim 31 , wherein after step of attaching the decal assembly, the display indicia is visible upon viewing the flexible substrate.