| (19) |
 |
|
(11) |
EP 0 949 085 A3 |
| (12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| (88) |
Date of publication A3: |
|
02.08.2000 Bulletin 2000/31 |
| (43) |
Date of publication A2: |
|
13.10.1999 Bulletin 1999/41 |
| (22) |
Date of filing: 07.04.1999 |
|
|
| (84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
|
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE |
|
Designated Extension States: |
|
AL LT LV MK RO SI |
| (30) |
Priority: |
07.04.1998 GB 9807436
|
| (71) |
Applicant: BOWTHORPE PLC |
|
Crawley, West Sussex RH10 2RZ (GB) |
|
| (72) |
Inventor: |
|
- Haggarty, John Nicholas
Milehouse, Plymouth PL2 3AX (GB)
|
| (74) |
Representative: Davies, Gregory Mark |
|
Urquhart-Dykes & Lord Alexandra House 1 Alexandra Road Wales
Swansea, Wales SA1 5ED
Swansea, Wales SA1 5ED (GB) |
|
| |
|
| (54) |
Thermal transfer printing on plastics materials |
(57) A printed marking on a plastics substrate has a first, sub-surface portion of a first
pigmentation material bound to, or penetrated into the substrate, and a second, surface
portion of a second pigmentation material adhered to the surface of the substrate
overlaying the sub-surface portion of the mark. The dual nature of the marking provides
advantages in terms of durability, particularly for use in harsh environments , or
situations where the mark is liable to be subject to chemical action, or abrasion
in the normal course of events or in cases of unauthorised tampering.