Patterned polymer articles, apparatus and method of producing the same

摘要

Articles such as elongate strips for use as masking materials when spray painting a vehicle are formed from a compressible polymer material and provided with a surface pattern in an area that has been deformed under pressure to retain a desired shape when the pressure is removed. The surface pattern may be decorative to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the article. Alternatively, the surface pattern may be functional to provide the article with desired properties and/or to present information to the user. The information may be in the form of letters, numbers, symbols, pictures or a combination of any of these to identify the article, its source or to provide instructions for its use. The surface pattern may be formed during the shaping process or applied separately after the shaping operation.