Workpiece sheet including design layer and adhesive layer, and related methods

Abstract

A workpiece sheet, as disclosed herein, may be a linerless workpiece sheet and include a design layer and an adhesive layer. Other workpiece sheets may include a design layer configured to be applied to an article without transfer tape and may include a design layer, a first adhesive layer, a transparent substrate layer, and a second adhesive layer. Related methods and workpiece sheets are also disclosed.

Description

WORKPIECE SHEET INCLUDING DESIGN LAYER AND ADHESIVE LAYER, AND RELATED METHODSPRIORITY CLAIM

[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date of United States Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63 / 691,324, filed September 5, 2024, for “LINERLESS WORKPIECE SHEET,” and the filing date of United States Patent Application Serial No. 63 / 696,358, filed September 18, 2024, for “WORKPIECE SHEET WITH TRANSPARENT SUBSTRATE LAYER,” the disclosure of each which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] This disclosure relates to linerless workpiece sheets configured for attachment to an article without use of a liner or backing layer and to workpiece sheets including an adhesive material and a transparent substrate layer and configured for attachment to an article without application of transfer tape, and to related methods.BACKGROUND

[0003] Conventional adhesive workpieces configured to be attached to an article may include a design layer in which a crafted design (a desired design) may be cut prior to application of the adhesive workpiece to the article. The adhesive workpiece may include a design layer, an adhesive layer on the design layer, and a liner layer (or a backing layer) in contact with the adhesive layer. To apply a design from the adhesive workpiece to the article, a user conventionally places the adhesive workpiece on an adhesive crafting mat, cuts a desired design that forms the crafted design from the adhesive workpiece, removes (e.g., weeds) unwanted portions of the design layer form the linear layer that do not form part of the desired design. The user then applies transfer tape over the remaining portions of the design layer of the desired design to lift the desired design from the liner layer. After removal of the remaining portions of the design layer (i.e., the desired design) from the liner layer, the desired design may be applied to the surface of the article to adhere the crafted design to the article. Thus, application of a crafted design from a conventional adhesive workpiece requires layers that do not form part of the final crafted design and require several steps to prepare the crafted design for attachment to the article.BRIEF SUMMARY

[0004] The subject matter of the present disclosure has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available crafting systems or adhesive workpieces used in currently available crafting systems. Accordingly, the present disclosure has been developed to provide methods and processes that overcome many or all of the above-discussed shortcomings in the art, in accordance with various embodiments.

[0005] Disclosed herein, according to various embodiments, is a linerless workpiece sheet that comprises a design layer having a first surface and a second surface, and an adhesive layer disposed across the second surface. The design layer is not supported by a structural carrier layer, according to various embodiments.

[0006] In various embodiments, a workpiece sheet consists of a design layer, an adhesive layer, a coating layer, and a releaser layer. The design layer is between the coating layer and the adhesive layer, and the adhesive layer is between the design layer and the releaser layer, according to various embodiments.

[0007] According to other aspects of the present disclosure, in various embodiments, a crafting method comprises applying a section of a workpiece sheet to a nonstick crafting mat, performing cut operations on the workpiece sheet to cut a desired design into the workpiece sheet, removing unwanted regions of the workpiece sheet from the nonstick crafting mat, thereby leaving design regions on the crafting mat that form the desired design, applying transfer tape across the design regions of the workpiece sheet, and lifting the design regions from the nonstick crafting mat using the transfer tape.

[0008] In various embodiments, a workpiece sheet comprises a design layer, a first adhesive layer, a transparent substrate layer, and a second adhesive layer. The first adhesive layer is disposed between the design layer and the transparent substrate layer, the transparent substrate layer is disposed between the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer, and the second adhesive layer is configured to engage with an article to attach the transparent substrate layer and the design layer to the article.

[0009] In various embodiments, a crafting method comprises performing a first cut operation on a workpiece sheet to cut a desired design into a design layer of the workpiece sheet, performing a second cut operation on the workpiece sheet to cut a closed shape outline into both the design layer and a transparent substrate layer of theworkpiece sheet, separating at least one unwanted region, according to the desired design, of the design layer from the transparent substrate layer, and separating an enclosed region, according to the closed shape outline, of the design layer and the transparent substrate layer from a liner layer of the workpiece sheet.

[0010] The foregoing features and elements may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated herein otherwise. These features and elements, as well as the operation of the disclosed embodiments, will become more apparent in light of the following description and accompanying drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] In order that the advantages of the disclosure will be readily understood, a more particular description of the disclosure briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Thus, although the subject matter of the present disclosure is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification, a more complete understanding of the present disclosure, may best be obtained by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the drawing figures. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the disclosure and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the subject matter of the present application will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which FIGS. 1 A, IB, 2A, 2B, 3, 4, 5A, 5B, 5C, 6A, 6B, and 6C pertain to a first aspect of the present disclosure and FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 11 A, 1 IB, 11C, and 1 ID pertain to a second aspect of the present disclosure. More specifically:

[0012] FIG. 1 A is a simplified schematic cross-sectional view of a workpiece sheet, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure;

[0013] FIG. IB is a simplified schematic cross-sectional view of the workpiece sheet of FIG. 1 A in rolled-form, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure;

[0014] FIG. 2A is a simplified schematic cross-sectional view of another implementation of a workpiece sheet including a coating layer, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure;

[0015] FIG. 2B is a simplified schematic cross-sectional view of another implementation of a workpiece sheet including a releaser layer, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure;

[0016] FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic cross-sectional view of yet another implementation of a workpiece sheet including a coating layer and a releaser layer, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure;

[0017] FIG. 4 is a simplified schematic flow chart of a crafting method, according to various embodiments of the disclosure;

[0018] FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 6A, 6B, and 6C depict acts of a crafting method, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure;

[0019] FIG. 7 is a simplified schematic cross-sectional view of a workpiece sheet, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure;

[0020] FIG. 8 is a simplified schematic cross-sectional view of another workpiece sheet, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure;

[0021] FIG. 9 is a simplified schematic flow chart illustrating a crafting method of forming a crafted design using a workpiece sheet, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure;

[0022] FIGS. 10 A, 10B, 10C, and 10D are simplified schematic cross-sectional views depicting various acts of a crafting method using a workpiece sheet, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure; and

[0023] FIGS. 11 A, 1 IB, 11C, and 1 ID depict acts of a crafting method, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The detailed description of exemplary embodiments herein refers to the accompanying drawings, which show exemplary embodiments by way of illustration. While these exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, other embodiments may be realized and logical changes and adaptations in design and construction may be made in accordance with this disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation.

[0025] Disclosed herein, according to various embodiments and pursuant to a first aspect of the present disclosure, is a workpiece sheet configured for use in the craftingindustry. The workpiece sheet generally includes a design layer that is not supported by a structural carrier layer, which may also be referred to as a “liner layer” or a “backing layer.” Said differently, the workpiece sheet disclosed herein generally includes a main layer (the ‘design layer’) that can be crafted to manifest a design, and the workpiece sheet may not have any other layers that impart substantial structure to the workpiece sheet. For example, the workpiece sheet disclosed herein may be referred to as a linerless material (a linerless workpiece sheet) or as an unsupported workpiece sheet. Indeed, while conventional crafting materials generally include a carrier layer (e.g., a liner layer or a backing layer) that imparts structure to another layer or a composite layup of other layers, the workpiece sheet disclosed herein does not have a structural carrier layer, a structural liner layer, or a structural backing layer, according to various embodiments. For example, the design layer of the workpiece sheet described herein may be the thickest layer (i.e., may be the thickest sheet or portion) of the workpiece sheet. The workpiece sheet may be configured such that the design layer permanently attaches or releasably (removably) attaches to an article. Also disclosed herein, according to various embodiments, are various accessories, systems, assemblies, and methods associated with the workpiece sheet.

[0026] In various embodiments, the workpiece sheet includes an adhesive layer on a surface of the design layer, the adhesive layer configured to facilitate attachment of the design layer to an article. The adhesive layer may be formulated and configured to exhibit properties (e.g., an adhesive force, an adhesive weight) to facilitate wrapping of the workpiece sheet (e.g., into a roll) such that the adhesive layer adheres a crafted design to the article with a suitable adhesive force, but such that the adhesive layer does not undesirably cause unwinding the workpiece sheet from a rolled-form to require undue force. For example, the adhesive force of the adhesive layer may be low enough to facilitate unwinding of the workpiece sheet from the rolled-form without neighboring sections or wraps of the workpiece sheet from remaining adhered to one another, but an adhesive force high enough to facilitate attachment (e.g., permanent attachment, removable attachment) of the adhesive layer to the article. The workpiece sheet that is free of a liner layer facilitates application of the design layer to the article while reducing the overall material costs associated with fabrication of the workpiece sheet. In various embodiments, the workpiece sheet does not include any layers that do not form a part ofthe crafted design that is subsequently attached to the article. Accordingly, the linerless workpiece reduces waste materials associated with manufacturing of the workpiece sheet.

[0027] Although numerous details and examples are included herein pertaining to a workpiece sheet used in conjunction with electronic crafting machines / sy stems, the present disclosure is not necessarily so limited, and thus aspects of the disclosed embodiments may be adapted for utility and / or operation in a variety of other industries. As such, numerous applications of the present disclosure may be realized.

[0028] The workpiece sheet and the associated accessories, systems, assemblies, and methods may provide various benefits, as explained in greater detail below. Although many exemplary benefits are explicitly highlighted and identified herein, other benefits and / or technical effects may not be explicitly called out but are nevertheless contemplated by the present disclosure. In various embodiments, the disclosure relates generally to crafting components, apparatuses, systems and methods. In various examples, the present disclosure describes configurations of the workpiece sheet having a plastic polymer (e.g., polyvinyl chloride) as the design layer. In various embodiments, aspects described herein are configured for crafting projects that are easily created and highly customizable before and after printing and / or cutting the workpiece sheet with, for example processing equipment, such as an electronic cutting machine.

[0029] In various embodiments, workpiece sheets may be processed (e.g., cut, worked with, or the like) and stored at a user's residence or home without the need for utilizing expensive and complex industrial equipment, machines, or storage facilities. In various embodiments, the workpiece sheet and accompanying accessories, such as a crafting mat, are configured to provide for easy “weedability” (i.e., the ability to remove unwanted portions after a design has been cut into the workpiece sheet) such that design elements of the workpiece sheet are maintained in position during handling and sublimation but also easily re-arrangeable as desired.

[0030] Various figures herein, such as FIG. 1 A, IB, 2A, 2B, and 3, are schematic cross-sectional depictions of the layers of a workpiece sheet. The depictions in these figures are schematic in nature and are thus intended to show general ordering of the layers and thus are not intended to necessarily represent specific shapes, boundaries, dimensions, comparative thicknesses, etc., of the layers of workpiece sheet.

[0031] FIG. 1 A is a simplified schematic cross-sectional view of a workpiece sheet 100, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure. In variousembodiments, and with reference to FIG. 1 A, the workpiece sheet 100 may include a design layer 110 and an adhesive layer 120. The design layer 110 may be the material that is configured to be crafted into a visible design for subsequent attachment to an article (e.g., a shirt (e.g., t-shirt), bag, tote, hat, cup, mug, insulated container, laptop, etc.) and the adhesive layer 120 may be configured for attachment (permanent or removable) to the article. Said differently, the design layer 110 may have a first surface 111 (e.g., a top surface) and a second surface 112 (e.g., a bottom surface), with the adhesive layer 120 disposed across the second surface 112. In various embodiments, the first surface 111 of the design layer 110 may be the side of the workpiece sheet 100 that is configured to face outward from the article to which it is attached to, and thus the first surface 111 may be the visible / design side of the design layer 110. In other words, the first surface 111 may be an exposed surface after attachment of a crafted design is adhered to the article. The adhesive layer 120 may directly contact the design layer 110. For example, the adhesive layer 120 may directly contact and overlie the second surface 112 of the design layer 110.

[0032] As mentioned above, the design layer 110 of the workpiece sheet 100 is not supported by a structural carrier layer, according to various embodiments. Said differently, the workpiece sheet 100 may be a linerless layup, which may also be referred to as a backer-less layup. By omitting a structural backing layer or structural carrier layer, the workpiece sheet 100 may use less material during manufacture than conventional crafting materials and thus may be manufactured at a reduced cost compared to conventional crafting materials. As used herein, the term “structural,” when used in the context of describing layers of the workpiece sheets described herein (e.g., layers of a composite layup or a layup sheet of material), refers to layers that are specifically configured for imparting rigidity or providing physical and / or mechanical strength or resiliency to the workpiece sheet (the composite layup). Such structural layers may not have other functions in the workpiece sheet other than imparting rigidity or providing physical and / or mechanical strength or resiliency to the workpiece sheet. Accordingly, the present disclosure specifically provides a workpiece sheet 100 that is free of any such structural layers, and thus the primary function (and configuration) of the layers that are included in the workpiece sheet 100 are non-structural, according to various embodiments.

[0033] In various embodiments, the design layer 110 of the workpiece sheet 100 is the thickest layer of the workpiece sheet 100 and provides rigidity to the workpiecesheet 100 that would otherwise be provided by a structural layer, such as a liner layer, a backing layer, or a carrier layer. In various embodiments, the workpiece sheet 100 includes, comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of only layers that are present in a crafted design that is adhered to the article. Stated another way, in various embodiments, the crafted design that is applied to the article may include all layers that are present in the workpiece sheet 100, and the workpiece sheet 100 may not include additional layers that are removed from the workpiece sheet 100 prior to application of the workpiece sheet 100 to the article. Accordingly, in various embodiments, the thickness of the crafted design applied to the article may be the same as the thickness of the workpiece sheet 100 prior to cutting the desired design of the crafted design from the workpiece sheet 100. The crafted design that is cut from the workpiece sheet 100 and applied to an article may also be referred to herein as a “final design,” a “desired design,” an “end-use design,” or a “design region.”

[0034] In various embodiments, the workpiece sheet 100 may be configured in a rolled-form (i.e., may be packaged and sold as rolls of material) before use (see, for example, FIGS. 5B, 5C, and 6A). In the rolled-form, the adjacent wraps of the workpiece sheet 100 may wrap around one another. FIG. IB is a simplified schematic cross- sectional view of the workpiece sheet 100 in rolled-form, in accordance with various embodiments. With reference to FIG. IB, a first portion 130 (or section) of the workpiece sheet 100 may be wrapped around a second portion 140 (or section) of the workpiece sheet 100 when the workpiece sheet 100 is in the rolled-form (and so on in concentric wraps). For example, the first portion 130 may comprise an outer wrap of the workpiece sheet 100 and the second portion 140 may comprise an inner wrap of the workpiece sheet neighboring the outer wrap of the first portion 130. The adhesive layer 120 of the second portion 140 may contact the second surface 112 of the design layer 110 of the second portion 140 and may also contact the first surface 111 of the design layer 110 of the first portion 130. Thus, in the rolled-form, the adhesive layer 120 may be in contact with the second surface 112 of the design layer 110 to which it is attached, and may further be in contact with the first surface 111 of the design layer 110 of a neighboring wrap of the workpiece sheet 100. In other words, the adhesive layers 120 of neighboring wraps may be sandwiched between design layers 110. As described in additional detail herein, the adhesive force of the adhesive layer 120 may be selected to facilitate unwrapping the workpiece sheet 100 such that the adhesive layer 120 remains adhered to the secondsurface 112 but does not adhere to the first surface 111 of a neighboring design layer 110. Accordingly, the workpiece sheet 100 may be rolled upon and around itself, with the adhesive layer 120 of an outer roll portion being adjacent the first surface 111 of the design layer 110 of an underlying roll portion. Said differently, no intervening structural carrier layers, structural backing layers, or structural liner layers may be positioned between adjacent windings of the workpiece sheet 100 in the rolled-form, and the adhesive layer 120 attached to the second surface 112 of a design layer 110 may be in contact with and / or adjacent to the first surface 111 of a different portion (e.g., a different winding) of the design layer 110. In various embodiments, the workpiece sheet 100 consists of the design layer 110 and the adhesive layer 120. That is, according to various embodiments, the composition and constitution of the workpiece sheet 100 is limited to the layers shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. IB.

[0035] The design layer 110 may be plastic polymer. In various embodiments, the design layer 110 comprises polyvinyl chloride. The first surface 111 of the design layer 110 may be uncovered by other layers of the layup of the workpiece sheet 100, or, as described in greater detail below with reference to FIGS. 2 A and 3, the first surface 111 of the design layer 110 may have a coating layer (e.g., coating layer 230) or other such material disposed across the first surface 111.

[0036] With continued reference to FIG. 1 A, a thickness Ti of the design layer 110 may be within a range of from about 0.750 mm (about 750 pm) to about 1.000 mm (about 1,000 pm), such as from about 0.750 mm to about 0.800 mm, from about 0.800 mm to about 0.850 mm, from about 0.850 mm to about 0.900 mm, from about 0.900 mm to about 0.950 mm, or from about 0.950 mm to about 1.000 mm. In various embodiments, the thickness Ti of the design layer 110 is within a range of from about 0.830 mm to about 0.930 mm, such as from about 0.850 mm to about 0.910 mm, or from about 0.860 mm to about 0.900 mm. In various embodiments, the thickness Ti of the design layer 110 is within a range of from about 0.885 mm to about 0.915 mm. In various embodiments, the thickness of the design layer 110 is about 0.900 mm.

[0037] The adhesive layer 120 may comprise an acrylic adhesive material (also referred to as an acrylic-based adhesive). The adhesive layer 120 may comprise a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) material and may be an acrylic-based pressuresensitive adhesive. In various embodiments, the adhesive layer 120 includes one or morecrosslinkers formulated and configured to crosslink the adhesive layer 120 responsive to activation (e.g., exposure to ultraviolet (UV) electromagnetic radiation).

[0038] A thickness T2 of the adhesive layer 120 may be within a range of from about 12 micrometers (pm) to about 24 pm, such as from about 12 pm to about 15 pm, from about 15 pm to about 18 pm, from about 18 pm to about 21 pm, or from about 21 pm to about 24 pm. In various embodiments, the thickness T2 of the adhesive layer 120 is within a range of from about 15 pm to about 21 pm. In various embodiments, the thickness T2 of the adhesive layer 120 is about 18 pm. In various embodiments, the adhesive layer 120 has a thickness T2 of 0.018 ± 0.003 mm. The thickness T2 of the adhesive layer 120 may be less than the thickness Ti of the design layer 110. In various embodiments, an overall thickness T3 of the workpiece sheet 100 may be about 900 pm ± 18 pm (0.900 ± 0.018 mm). In other words, in various embodiments, a combined thickness T3 of the workpiece sheet 100 (e.g., the combined thickness of the design layer 110 and the adhesive layer 120) may be within a range of from about 882 pm to about 918 pm. Of course, the disclosure is not so limited, and the overall thickness T3 of the workpiece sheet 100 may be different than that described.

[0039] An adhesive weight (also referred to as a “coat weight” or an “adhesive coat weight”) of the adhesive layer 120 may be defined as a weight of the adhesive (e.g., grams of the adhesive) per surface area covered by the adhesive (e.g., per square meter) and may correspond to the density and / or the thickness of the adhesive layer 120. The adhesive weight of the adhesive layer 120 may be within a range of from about 12 grams (g) per square meter (m2) to about 24 g / m2, such as from about 12 g / m2to about 15 g / m2, from about 15 g / m2to about 18 g / m2, from about 18 g / m2to about 21 g / m2, or from about 21 g / m2to about 24 g / m2. In various embodiments, the adhesive weight of the adhesive layer 120 is from about 15 g / m2to about 21 g / m2(i.e.,18± 3 g / m2).

[0040] An adhesive force (AF) of the adhesive layer 120 may be selected to be within a suitable range such that the adhesive layer 120 adheres to an article with sufficient force to remain adhered to the article, but such that the adhesive layer 120 does not cause undue difficultly unrolling the workpiece sheet 100 from the rolled-form. In other words, the adhesive layer 120 may exhibit an adhesive force high enough such that the adhesive layer 120 adheres the crafted design to an article with sufficient adhesive force to remain adhered to the article; and an adhesive force low enough such that a roll of the workpiece sheet 100 can unroll (unwind) from itself without the adhesive layer 120of different sections of the roll adhering to the design layer 110 of neighboring sections of the rolled workpiece sheet 100 without ruining the workpiece sheet 100 during unwinding. For example, if the adhesive force of the adhesive layer 120 is too high, the adhesive layer 120 may undesirably strongly adhere to neighboring sections of the workpiece sheet 100 in rolled-form, which may damage the workpiece sheet 100 and / or increase a difficulty of unrolling the workpiece sheet 100. Accordingly, the adhesive layer 120 may exhibit an adhesive force high enough such that the adhesive layer 120 adheres to an article with a desired force, but low enough that the adhesive layer 120 does not damage other portions of the workpiece sheet 100 (e.g., the design layer 110 upon which it may be rolled in a roll of the workpiece sheet 100) during unwinding operations.

[0041] In various embodiments, the adhesive layer 120 is cured by exposure to electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet range. In various embodiments, exposing the adhesive layer 120 to ultraviolet radiation to cure the adhesive layer 120 rather than exposing the adhesive layer to a curing temperature (e.g., in a curing oven) facilitates maintaining an integrity of the design layer 110 and forming the workpiece sheet 100 having a desired size and shape.

[0042] In various embodiments, and with reference to FIGS. 2 A, 2B, and 3, a workpiece sheet 200 A, 200B, 300 may include additional coating or release layers. Again, these additional coating layers and / or release layers are non- structural and the primary purpose / benefit for their inclusion in the composition of the workpiece sheet 200A, 200B, 300 may be to promote separation and / or release between adjacent materials. For example, these additional layers, described below, may be primarily configured to facilitate release of adjacent portions or sections of the workpiece sheet 200 A, 200B, 300 from the rolled-form wound around / upon itself to an unrolled-form.

[0043] FIG. 2A is a simplified schematic cross-sectional view of a workpiece sheet 200 A including a coating layer 230, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure. In various embodiments, and with specific reference to FIG. 2A, the workpiece sheet 200A includes a coating layer 230 disposed across the first surface 111 of the design layer 110. The coating layer 230 may be on the side of the design layer 110 (e.g., the first surface 111) opposite the adhesive layer 120 (e.g., opposite the second surface 112). The design layer 110 may be disposed and intervene between the adhesive layer 120 and the coating layer 230. The coating layer 230 may be configured to facilitate separation of adjacent wraps of the workpiece sheet 200A. That is, and as describedabove with reference to FIG. IB, a first portion or section of the workpiece sheet 200A may be wrapped around a second portion or section of the workpiece sheet 200A in the rolled-form (and so on in concentric wraps), with the adhesive layer 120 of the first portion or section overlaying and contacting the coating layer 230 of the underlying second portion or section of the workpiece sheet 200 A. The coating layer 230 may be configured to facilitate interface separability between adjacent wrap sections of the workpiece sheet 200A. In various embodiments, the coating layer 230 comprises a nonsilicone material. In various embodiments, the workpiece sheet 200A consists of the design layer 110, the adhesive layer 120, and the coating layer 230. That is, according to various embodiments, the composition and constitution of the workpiece sheet 200A is limited to the layers shown in FIG. 2 A. In various embodiments, the coating layer 230 facilitates release or unwinding of the workpiece sheet 200A from a rolled form without the adhesive layer 120 of one section of the workpiece sheet 200 A adhering to the design layer 110 of another section (e.g., a neighboring layer of the rolled workpiece sheet 200A).

[0044] A thickness T4 of the coating layer 230 may be within a range of from about 10 pm to about 20 pm, such as from about 10 pm to about 15 pm, or from about 15 pm to about 20 pm. In some embodiments, the thickness T4 of the coating layer 230 is less than the thickness T2 of the adhesive layer 120 and the thickness Ti of the design layer 110.

[0045] FIG. 2B is a simplified schematic cross-sectional view of a workpiece sheet 200B including a releaser layer 240, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure. The releaser layer 240, which may be a coating layer, may be disposed across a lower surface 122 of the adhesive layer 120, the lower surface 122 located opposite the second surface 112 of the design layer 110. The adhesive layer 120 may be disposed between the design layer 110 and the releaser layer 240. In some embodiments, the adhesive layer 120 is directly between and contacts the design layer 110 and the releaser layer 240. The releaser layer 240 may be configured to facilitate separation of adjacent wraps of the workpiece sheet 200B. A first portion or section of the workpiece sheet 200B may be wrapped around a second portion or section of the workpiece sheet 200B in the rolled-form (and so on in concentric wraps), with the releaser layer 240 of the first portion or section overlaying and contacting the first surface 111 of the design layer of the underlying second portion or section. The releaser layer 240 may be configured tofacilitate interface separability between adjacent wrap sections of the workpiece sheet 200B. In other words, the releaser layer 240 may reduce the force required to unwind a roll of the workpiece sheet 200B, facilitating an improved user experience during use of the workpiece sheet 200B.

[0046] The releaser layer 240 may also be configured to facilitate subsequent release of the workpiece sheet 200B from a nonstick crafting mat, as described in greater detail below. In various embodiments, the releaser layer 240 disposed across the adhesive layer 120 does not preclude the adhesive layer 120 from adhering to adjacent surfaces, but rather the releaser layer 240 may be configured to facilitate reusability of adhesive layer 120 and / or may be configured to maintain the integrity of the adhesive layer 120 while allowing the adhesive layer 120 to be separated from an abutting surface. In various embodiments, the releaser layer 240 comprises a silicone material. In various embodiments, the releaser layer 240 comprises a non-silicone material, such as an acrylic material. In various embodiments, the workpiece sheet 200B consists of the design layer 110, the adhesive layer 120, and the releaser layer 240. That is, according to various embodiments, the composition and constitution of the workpiece sheet 200B is limited to the layers shown in FIG. 2B. In various embodiments, the releaser layer 240 is coated onto the adhesive layer 120.

[0047] A thickness Ts of the releaser layer 240 may be within a range of from about 10 pm to about 20 pm, such as from about 10 pm to about 15 pm, or from about 15 pm to about 20 pm. In some embodiments, the thickness Ts of the releaser layer 240 is less than the thickness T2 of the adhesive layer 120 and the thickness Ti of the design layer 110.

[0048] FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic cross-sectional view of a workpiece sheet 300 including the design layer 110, the adhesive layer 120, and both of the additional layers - the coating layer 230 and the releaser layer 240, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure. In such implementations, the coating layer 230 and the releaser layer 240 may interface with one another when the workpiece sheet 300 is in the rolled-form, and may be configured to facilitate interface separation from adjacent wrapped sections during unrolling of the roll of the workpiece sheet 300. That is, when the workpiece sheet 300 is rolled upon itself, the releaser layer 240 of an outer roll portion or section may be in contact with the coating layer 230 of an underlying inner roll portion or section. In various embodiments, the design layer 110 may be disposedbetween (e.g., directly between) the coating layer 230 and the adhesive layer 120, and the adhesive layer 120 may be disposed between (e.g., directly between) the design layer 110 and the releaser layer 240. In various embodiments, the workpiece sheet 300 consists of the design layer 110, the adhesive layer 120, the coating layer 230, and the releaser layer 340. That is, according to various embodiments, the composition and constitution of the workpiece sheet 300 is limited to the layers shown in FIG. 3.

[0049] As described above, in various embodiments, the design layer 110 comprises a plastic polymer material, such as polyvinyl chloride. In various embodiments, the workpiece sheet 100, 200 A, 200B, 300 may not contain other plastic polymer layers. That is, the plastic polymer (e.g., polyvinyl chloride) that forms the design layer 110 is the only plastic polymer in the workpiece sheet 100, 200A, 200B, 300, according to various embodiments. For example, the workpiece sheet 100, 200A, 200B, 300 may not include polypropylene or polyethylene (i.e., the workpiece sheet 100, 200A, 200B, 300 may be free of polypropylene or polyethylene). In addition, the workpiece sheet 100, 200A, 200B, 300 may be free of phthalates (e.g., PET) and bisphenol A (BP A). Thus, the workpiece sheet 100, 200A, 200B, 300 may include a single plastic or polymer layer, with all other layers being non- structural layers, such as adhesive layers and / or release / coating layers.

[0050] As mentioned above, the present disclosure also provides for a nonstick crafting mat to provide support to the workpiece sheet 100, 200 A, 200B, 300 during crafting / cutting operations. Conventional crafting methods and systems generally involve crafting mats with levels of adhesion properties (e.g., light grip, standard grip, high grip, etc.). Because the workpiece sheets 100, 200A, 200B, 300 contemplated herein do not have a structural carrier layer or liner layer, if the adhesive layer 120 of the workpiece sheet 100, 200 A, 200B, 300 were to be placed into direct contact with an adhesive crafting mat (to provide support thereto during processing / cutting operations), the workpiece sheet 100, 200 A, 200B, 300 would be difficult to remove from the crafting mat due to the interface between dual layers of adhesives. In other words, the adhesive layer 120 of the workpiece sheet 100, 200 A, 200B, 300 would stick to the adhesive layer of the crafting mat and would preferentially remain adhered to the crafting mat. In view of the adhesion of the adhesive layer 120 to the adhesive layer of the crafting mat, the workpiece sheet 100, 200 A, 200B, 300 would be difficult to remove from the crafting mat and / or would lose some adhesive properties after separation of the adhesive layer 120from the crafting mat. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a nonstick crafting mat, and the adhesive properties of the adhesive layer 120 of the workpiece sheet 100, 200A, 200B, 300 reversibly / detachably retain the workpiece sheet 100, 200 A, 200B, 300 against the nonstick crafting mat. That is, the adhesion of the adhesive layer 120 of the workpiece sheet 100, 200 A, 200B, 300 retains the workpiece sheet 100, 200A, 200B, 300 against the supporting crafting mat instead of a mat adhesive providing the retention; and after forming a crafted design in the workpiece sheet 100, 200A, 200B, 300, the adhesive layer 120 may be removed from the nonstick crafting mat without undue force.

[0051] In some embodiments, the nonstick crafting mat includes a base layer, a printing layer (also referred to as a “grid layer”), and a releaser layer. In various embodiments, the base layer of the nonstick crafting mat may comprise a plastic polymer material. For example, the base layer of the nonstick crafting mat may consist of a polyethylene material (such as polyethylene terephthalate - PET). In other implementations, the base layer of the nonstick crafting mat may include a polyvinyl chloride material coated with a polyethylene material (e.g., PET). In yet other embodiments, the base layer consists of a polyvinyl chloride.

[0052] A thickness of the base layer may be within a range of from about 200 pm to about 600 pm, such as from about 200 pm to about 300 pm, from about 300 pm to about 400 pm, from about 400 pm to about 500 pm, or from about 500 pm to about 600 pm. In some embodiments, the base layer has a thickness of about 490 pm. In some embodiments, the thickness Ti of the design layer 110 is greater than the thickness of the base layer of the nonstick crafting mat.

[0053] In some embodiments, the nonstick crafting mat consists of the base layer (i.e., does not include any additional layers). In some embodiments, a printing layer overlies the base layer and may include a grid or pattern thereon to facilitate alignment of the workpiece sheet 100, 200A, 200B, 300 with the nonstick crafting mat when adhering the workpiece sheet 100, 200A, 200B, 300 to the nonstick crafting mat. In some embodiments, the printing layer comprises polyvinyl chloride. In various embodiments, the base layer (e.g., the PET material) may include a coating layer (or releaser layer), similar to the coating layer 230 described above, to facilitate separation / detachment of the workpiece sheet 100, 200 A, 200B, 300 from the nonstick crafting mat. The printing layer may be between the base layer and the coating layer. In various embodiments, the coating is formed on the printing layer, such as by screen printing.

[0054] In various embodiments, and with reference to FIGS. 4, 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, 6A, 6B, and 6C, details and acts of one or more methods for crafting with a workpiece sheet are provided. FIG. 4 is a simplified flow chart illustrating a crafting method 490 of forming a design (a crafted design) using a workpiece sheet, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure. The workpiece sheet may include any of the workpiece sheets 100, 200A, 200B, 300 described above. In various embodiments, the crafting method 490 may include applying a section of a workpiece sheet to a nonstick crafting mat at act 491. In various embodiments, act 491 includes contacting the nonstick crafting mat with an adhesive layer (e.g., the adhesive layer 120) of the workpiece sheet. In embodiments where the workpiece sheet includes a releaser layer, act 491 includes removing the releaser layer from the adhesive layer 120 and placing the adhesive layer in contact with the nonstick crafting mat. The crafting method 490 may further include performing cut operations on the workpiece sheet to cut a desired design into the workpiece sheet at act 492. In various embodiments, act 492 includes cutting the desired design through an entire thickness of the workpiece sheet, such as through the design layer, the adhesive layer, and a coating layer if present. Still further, the crafting method 490 may include removing unwanted regions (“weeding”) of the workpiece sheet from the nonstick crafting mat, thereby leaving design regions on the crafting mat that form the desired design at act 493. In some embodiments, the workpiece sheet is removed from the non-stick crafting mat after act 492 and prior to act 493; and act 493 is performed after removing the workpiece sheet from the nonstick crafting mat. The crafting method 490 may also include applying transfer tape across the design regions of the workpiece sheet at act 494. In various embodiments, the transfer tape comprises a rubber adhesive material, such as a styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) adhesive. The crafting method 490 may also include lifting the design regions from the crafting mat (or another surface) using the transfer tape at act 495. In various embodiments, the acts 491-495 of the crafting method 490 are performed by a user in the order shown in FIG. 4. The nonstick crafting mat may facilitate ease of weeding and the transfer of the crafted design from the nonstick crafting mat to transfer tape. The crafting method 490 may further include applying the design regions to an article using the transfer tape. In various embodiments, act 492 includes utilizing an electronic cutting machine to controllably move a cutting tool through the workpiece sheet. Still further, the crafting method 490 may includeloading the nonstick crafting mat, with the workpiece sheet applied thereon, into the electronic cutting machine prior to act 492.

[0055] FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, 6A, 6B, and 6C show various exemplary acts of crafting method 490. For example, FIG. 5A shows an exemplary nonstick crafting mat 502. In FIG. 5A, the printing layer including the grid is shown. The printing layer may facilitate alignment of the workpiece sheet with the nonstick crafting mat when placing the workpiece sheet on the nonstick crafting mat. FIGS. 5B, 5C, 5D, and 6A show examples of application of a workpiece sheet 504 to the nonstick crafting mat 502 as performed during act 491. FIG. 5B shows an example of a section of the workpiece sheet 504 being unrolled from a roll 506; FIG. 5C shows the workpiece sheet 504 being cut after application of the adhesive layer onto the surface of the nonstick crafting mat 502; and FIG. 5D shows the workpiece sheet 504 applied to the nonstick crafting mat 502 after cutting a desired size of the workpiece sheet 504 from the roll 506 . FIG. 6A shows another exemplary application of a section of the workpiece sheet 504 to the nonstick crafting mat 502 from a roll 506. FIG. 6B shows the result of acts 492, 493, and 494, with the unwanted regions having been removed, leaving the design portions (the crafted design) remaining and with transfer tape extending over the remaining design portions in preparation for act 495. FIG. 6C shows an act of the method where the design portions being lifted from the nonstick crafting mat using the transfer tape (act 495) are being applied to an article (e.g., a notebook). In the image of FIG. 6C, the transfer tape has not yet been removed from the design portion.

[0056] Accordingly, the workpiece sheets 100, 200 A, 200B, 300 may be linerless and may not include a backing layer, a liner layer, or another layer that imparts structure to the workpiece sheet 100, 200A, 200B, 300. The linerless workpiece sheets 100, 200A, 200B, 300 facilitate application of a crafted design to an article while reducing material costs associated with the workpiece sheets 100, 200 A, 200B, 300 (by reducing the materials associated with the design layer) and reducing excess materials. Forming the workpiece sheets 100, 200A, 200B, 300 without a liner layer may reduce the overall material and manufacturing costs of a given surface area of the workpiece sheet 100, 200A, 200B, 300. The design layers 110 may be sized such that the design layers 110 exhibit a sufficient stiffness and rigidity during cutting of the crafted design and application of the crafted design to the article. In addition, the adhesive layer 120 may be formulated and configured to exhibit a sufficient adhesive force for adhering to thearticle, but an adhesive force low enough that the adhesive layer 120 does not undesirably stick to neighboring sections of the design layer 110 when wound in a roll, undesirably increasing the difficulty of unwinding the workpiece sheets 100, 200A, 200B, 300 from the roll and / or damaging the workpiece sheet 100, 200 A, 200B, 300 during unwind operations. Further, the design layer 110 and the nonstick crafting mat may be free of (e.g., substantially free of) phthalates and bisphenol A. The design layer 110 may further be free of polypropylene and polyethylene.

[0057] While the workpiece sheets 100, 200A, 200B, 300 have been described and illustrated as using transfer tape for application of the design layer 110 to an article, the disclosure is not so limited. Disclosed herein, according to various embodiments and pursuant to a second aspect of the present disclosure, is a workpiece sheet configured for use in the crafting industry that does not require transfer tape for applying a design to an article, according to various embodiments. The workpiece sheet may generally include a transparent substrate layer adjacent a design layer (e.g., a colored vinyl material), and the transparent substrate layer and the design layer may be applied to an article, such as a shirt, bag, tote, hat, cup, mug, laptop, etc. The transparent substrate layer may provide the structural support for a customized crafted design cut into the design layer. In addition, the transparent substrate layer may enable the layup to be attached to an article while being substantially invisible, thus giving the appearance that the customized design layer is directly applied to the article (as would be the case for conventional crafting materials, such as conventional vinyl materials). Indeed, while conventional crafting materials, such as adhesive vinyl materials, are generally configured to be directly adhered to an article, the workpiece sheet of the present disclosure may generally include a transparent substrate layer supporting a design layer (e.g., a vinyl material) that enables the crafted design to be applied to an article, via the transparent substrate layer, so as to eliminate the need for using transfer tape to transfer the vinyl from its backing layer to the article. Also disclosed herein, according to various embodiments, are various accessories, systems, assemblies, and methods associated with the workpiece sheet.

[0058] Various figures herein, such as FIGS. 7, 8, 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D are simplified schematic cross-sectional depictions of the layers of workpiece sheets that do not utilize transfer tape for application of the design layer to an article. The depictions in these figures are schematic in nature and are thus intended to show general ordering ofthe layers and are not intended to necessarily represent specific shapes, boundaries, dimensions, comparative thicknesses, etc., of the layers of a workpiece sheet.

[0059] FIG. 7 is a simplified schematic cross-sectional view of a workpiece sheet 700, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure. In various embodiments, and with reference to FIG. 7, the workpiece sheet 700 includes a design layer 710, a first adhesive layer 701, a transparent substrate layer 720, and a second adhesive layer 702. The design layer 710 may be the material that is configured to be crafted into a visible design (the crafted design) for subsequent display on an article (e.g., a shirt, bag, tote, hat, cup, mug, laptop, etc.), as described above with reference to the design layer 110. The transparent substrate layer 720 may be the material that is configured to provide support to the design layer 710. The transparent substrate layer 720 may be configured to be an intermediate layer that is substantially invisible (i.e., transparent) and that is situated (positioned) between the design layer 710 and the article to which the design is to be affixed.

[0060] In various embodiments, the first adhesive layer 701 is disposed between the design layer 710 and the transparent substrate layer 720, and thus the first adhesive layer 701 may be generally configured to retain the design layer 710 against the transparent substrate layer 720. Accordingly, the workpiece sheet 700 may include more than one adhesive layer and includes at least two adhesive layers including the first adhesive layer 701 and the second adhesive layer 702. In various embodiments, the first adhesive layer 701 directly contacts the design layer 710 and the transparent substrate layer 720. The second adhesive layer 702 may be disposed on an opposing side (surface) of the transparent substrate layer 720 as the first adhesive layer 701. The second adhesive layer 702 may directly contact the transparent substrate layer 720 and a liner layer 730. That is, the first adhesive layer 701 may be disposed on a first surface 721 (a first side) of the transparent substrate layer 720 and the second adhesive layer 702 may be disposed on a second surface 722 (a second side), opposite the first surface 721, of the transparent substrate layer 720. In various embodiments, the second adhesive layer 702 is configured to engage with the article to provide a sufficient adhesive force to affix the transparent substrate layer 720 and the design layer 710 to the article. That is, the second adhesive layer 702 may directly adhere to the article or blank that is being customized / crafted. The second adhesive layer 702 may be configured for permanent or removable attachment tothe article. For example, an adhesive force of the second adhesive layer 702 may be configured to facilitate permanent or removable attachment to the article.

[0061] The design layer 710 may have a first surface (e.g., a top surface) 711 and a second surface 712 (e.g., a bottom surface) opposite the first surface 711, with the first adhesive layer 701 disposed across the second surface 712. In various embodiments, the first surface 711 of the design layer 710 may be the side of the workpiece sheet 700 that is configured to face outward from the article to which it is attached, and thus the first surface 711 may be the visible / design side of the design layer 710. The first surface 711 of the design layer 710 may be uncovered by other layers of the layup. In other words, after application of the crafted design including the design layer 710 on a surface of the article, the first surface 711 may be an exposed surface of the crafted design.

[0062] As mentioned above, the design layer 710 of the workpiece sheet 700 is not configured to directly attach to an article. That is, the design layer 710, and any adhesive layers that are directly coated thereon (such as the first adhesive layer 701), are not configured to be directly engaged against an article. Thus, the first surface 711 or the second surface 712 may not directly contact the article. Instead, the transparent substrate layer 720 may have an adhesive material, such as the second adhesive layer 702, configured to be directly engaged against the article. Because the workpiece sheet 700 is configured with a transparent substrate layer 720 that forms part of the crafted design (the end-use product) that is to be affixed to an article, the user is not required to use transfer tape because the transparent substrate layer 720 functions as a structural carrier layer to support the designs (the crafted design) cut into the design layer 710. By eliminating the need for transfer tape, the method of using the workpiece sheet 700, when compared to conventional crafting materials, is streamlined and made much easier. Additional details pertaining to the configuration and methods of using the workpiece sheet 700 are included below with reference to FIGS. 9, 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 11 A, 11B, 11C, and 11D.

[0063] In various embodiments, and with continued reference to FIG. 7, the design layer 710 may be a plastic polymer. The design layer 710 may include the same materials described above with reference to the design layer 110. In various embodiments, the design layer 710 comprises polyvinyl chloride. In various embodiments, the transparent substrate layer 720 comprises a plastic polymer, such as a vinyl material or a polyethylene material. For example, the transparent substrate layer 720 may include polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). In variousembodiments, the transparent substrate layer 720 comprises the same material as the design layer 710. For example, the design layer 710 and the transparent substrate layer 720 may both include or comprise polyvinyl chloride. In various embodiments, the design layer 710 and the transparent substrate layer 720 comprise the same material, except that the design layer 710 includes one or more pigments for imparting a design in the design layer 710 and the transparent substrate layer 720 is free of (e.g., substantially free of) pigments.

[0064] In various embodiments, the design layer 710 has a thickness Te of about 80 pm. In various embodiments, the design layer 710 has a thickness Te of between about 50 pm and about 110 pm, such as between about 50 pm and about 70 pm, between about 70 pm and about 90 pm, or between about 90 pm and about 110 pm. In various embodiments, the transparent substrate layer 720 has a thickness T? of between about 40 pm and about 100 pm, such as between about 40 pm and about 60 pm, between about 60 pm and about 80 pm, or between about 80 pm and about 100 pm. In various embodiments, the transparent substrate layer 720 has a thickness T? of about 70 pm. In various embodiments, the transparent substrate layer 720 has a thickness T? of about 75 pm. In various embodiments, the transparent substrate layer 720 has a thickness T? of about 50 pm. In some embodiments, the thickness Te of the design layer 710 is greater than the thickness T? of the transparent substrate layer 720. As used in this context pertaining to the thickness of layers, the term “about” means plus or minus 5 pm.

[0065] In various embodiments, the adhesive layers 701, 702 comprise an acrylic adhesive material. The first adhesive layer 701 and the second adhesive layer 702 may comprise the same materials described above with reference to the adhesive layer 120. In various embodiments, the first adhesive layer 701 and the second adhesive layer 702 comprise the same material composition. In various embodiments, the first adhesive layer 701 comprises a different material composition than the second adhesive layer 702.

[0066] The first adhesive layer 701 and the second adhesive layer 702 may each have a thickness of about 20 pm. For example, the first adhesive layer 701 may have a thickness Ts between about 15 pm and about 20 pm; and the second adhesive layer 702 may have a thickness T9 between about 15 pm and about 20 pm. In some embodiments, the thickness Ts of the first adhesive layer 701 is about the same as the thickness T9 of the second adhesive layer 702. In various embodiments, the thickness Ts of the first adhesive layer 701 is different than the thickness T9 of the second adhesive layer 702.

[0067] The adhesive weight of the first adhesive layer 701 and the second adhesive layer 702 may each individually be the same as the adhesive weight of the adhesive layer 120 described above. For example, the adhesive weight of the first adhesive layer 701 and the second adhesive layer 702 may each individually be within a range of from about 12 g / m2to about 24 g / m2, such as from about 12 g / m2to about 15 g / m2, from about 15 g / m2to about 18 g / m2, from about 18 g / m2to about 21 g / m2, or from about 21 g / m2to about 24 g / m2. In various embodiments, the adhesive weight of the first adhesive layer 701 is about the same as the adhesive weight of the second adhesive layer 702. In various embodiments, the adhesive weight of the first adhesive layer 701 is different than the adhesive weight of the second adhesive layer 702. In various embodiments, the adhesive weight of the first adhesive layer 701 is higher than the adhesive weight of the second adhesive layer 702.

[0068] In various embodiments, and with continued reference to FIG. 7, the first adhesive layer 701 is permanently or at least preferentially attached to the design layer 710. In various embodiments, an adhesive force between the first adhesive layer 701 and the design layer 710 is greater (stronger) than an adhesive force between the first adhesive layer 701 and the transparent substrate layer 720 (or a releaser layer (e.g., first releaser layer 802 (FIG. 8)) underlying the first adhesive layer 701, if present). That is, with the first adhesive layer 701 being disposed at the interface between the design layer 710 and the transparent substrate layer 720 (e.g., in contact with the second surface 712 of the design layer 710 and the first surface 721 of the transparent substrate layer 720), in response to a separating force at this interface, the first adhesive layer 701 may be configured to preferentially remain attached to the design layer 710 (e.g., see FIG. 10B). This preferential attachment of the first adhesive layer 701 to the design layer 710 may enable the first adhesive layer 701 to be removed with unwanted portions of the design layer 710 after a design has been cut into the design layer 710, thus inhibiting remnants of the first adhesive layer 701 that do not form part of the final crafted design from being left behind on the transparent substrate layer 720. Removal of the first adhesive layer 701 with the portions of the design layer 710 that do not form part of the crafted design facilitates forming the crafted design to be substantially free of exposed adhesive surfaces. Rather, as described with reference to FIG. 10D, the portions of the crafted design that face outward from the article may include surfaces of the design layer 710 and surfaces of the transparent substrate layer 720 from which portions of the design layer710 have been removed; and may not include surfaces of the first adhesive layer 701 or the second adhesive layer 702.

[0069] The first surface 721 of the transparent substrate layer 720 may be pretreated to facilitate improved adhesion between the first adhesive layer 701 and the transparent substrate layer 720 relative to the adhesion between the first adhesive layer 701 and the design layer 710 (e.g., the second surface 712 of the design layer 710). In various embodiments, at least one property (e.g., a chemical composition, a surface energy) of the first surface 721 of the transparent substrate layer 720 is different than the at least one property of the second surface 712of the design layer 710. By way of nonlimiting example, the first surface 721 may be exposed to one or more surface modification processes (or surface modification techniques) to facilitate the improved adhesion between the transparent substrate layer 720 and the first adhesive layer 701. The surface modification processes may include exposing the first surface 721 to an air plasma (also referred to as a so-called “corona treatment”), an atmospheric plasma treatment, a flame plasma, or a chemical plasma. In some embodiments, the surface modification process is an air plasma treatment in which the first surface 721 is exposed to a plasma (e.g., a corona discharge plasma) to impart changes in the properties of the first surface 721. For example, in various embodiments, responsive to exposure to the surface modification process, the first surface 721 may exhibit a higher surface energy than the second surface 712 of the design layer 710. By way of non-limiting example, the first surface 721 may be passed through and exposed to a curtain of corona plasma to change the surface energy of the first surface 721. In various embodiments, responsive to exposure to the surface modification process, the chemical composition of the first surface 721 is different than a chemical composition of the second surface 712 of the design layer 710, even though the design layer 710 and the transparent substrate layer 720 include the same materials composition (e.g., polyvinyl chloride). In various embodiments, the first surface 721 includes a higher concentration of oxidized groups than the second surface 712. In various embodiments, exposing the first surface 721 to the surface modification process increases the surface tension at the first surface 721, increasing the bonding strength between the first surface 721 of the transparent substrate layer 720 and the first adhesive layer 701 relative to the bonding strength between the design layer 710 and the first adhesive layer 701.

[0070] After exposing the second surface 712 to the surface modification process, the first adhesive layer 701 may be provided on the second surface 712 to adhere the first adhesive layer 701 to the second surface 712. In various embodiments, the first surface 721 of the transparent substrate layer 720 may not be exposed to the surface modification process.

[0071] With continued reference to FIG. 7, in various embodiments, the workpiece sheet 700 further includes a liner layer 730. The liner layer 730 may include a first surface 731 in contact with the second adhesive layer 702 and a second surface 732 opposite the first surface 731. The second adhesive layer 702 may be disposed between the transparent substrate layer 720 and the liner layer 730 and may directly contact the second surface 722 of the transparent substrate layer 720 and the first surface 731 of the liner layer 730. The liner layer 730 may comprise a plastic polymer material, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). In various embodiments, the liner layer 730 is PET while the design layer 710 and the transparent substrate layer 720 are PVC. In various embodiments, the second adhesive layer 702 is permanently or at least preferentially attached to the transparent substrate layer 720. In various embodiments, the workpiece sheet 100 may include printing markings applied to the liner layer 730.

[0072] In various embodiments, an adhesive force between the second adhesive layer 702 and the transparent substrate layer 720 is greater (stronger) than an adhesive force between the second adhesive layer 702 and the liner layer 730. For example, the adhesive force at the second surface 722 of the transparent substrate layer 720 and the second adhesive layer 702 may be greater than the adhesive force between the second adhesive layer 702 and the first surface 731 of the liner layer 730. That is, with the second adhesive layer 702 being disposed at the interface between the transparent substrate layer 720 and the liner layer 730, in response to a separating force at this interface the second adhesive layer 702 may be configured to preferentially remain attached to the transparent substrate layer 720 (e.g., see FIG. 10C). This preferential attachment of the second adhesive layer 702 to the transparent substrate layer 720 may enable the second adhesive layer 702 to remain with the transparent substrate layer 720 after removal of the liner layer 730 (FIG. 10C) so that the second adhesive layer 702 can be used to attach the transparent substrate layer 720 and the customized design layer 710 to an article.

[0073] As described above with reference to the first surface 721 of the transparent substrate layer 720, the second surface 722 of the transparent substrate layer720 may be pretreated to facilitate improved adhesion between the second adhesive layer 702 and the transparent substrate layer 720 relative to the adhesion between the second adhesive layer 702 and the liner layer 730. In various embodiments, at least one property (e.g., a chemical composition, a surface energy) of the second surface 722 of the transparent substrate layer 720 is different than the at least one property of the first surface 731 of the liner layer 730. In various embodiments, the second surface 722 of the transparent substrate layer 720 is pretreated to facilitate the improved adhesion between the second adhesive layer 702 and the transparent substrate layer 720. By way of nonlimiting example, the second surface 722 may be exposed to one or more surface modification processes, as described above with reference to the first surface 721. In some embodiments, the surface modification process is an air plasma treatment in which the second surface 722 is exposed to a plasma (e.g., a corona discharge plasma) to impart changes in the properties of the second surface 722. For example, responsive to exposure to the surface modification process, the second surface 722 may exhibit a higher surface energy than the first surface 731 of the liner layer 730. By way of non-limiting example, the second surface 722 may be passed through and exposed to a curtain of corona plasma to change the surface energy of the second surface 722. In various embodiments, responsive to exposure to the surface modification process, the chemical composition of the second surface 722 is different than a chemical composition of the first surface 731. In various embodiments, the second surface 722 includes a higher concentration of oxidized groups than each of the first surface 731. In various embodiments, exposing the second surface 722 to the surface modification process increases the surface tension at the second surface 722, increasing the bonding strength between the second surface 722 of the transparent substrate layer 720 and the second adhesive layer 702 relative to the bonding between the first surface 731 of the liner layer 730 and the second adhesive layer 702.

[0074] Accordingly, in some embodiments, the workpiece sheet 700 comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of the design layer 710, the first adhesive layer 701, the transparent substrate layer 720, the second adhesive layer 702, and the liner layer 730. The first adhesive layer 701 may be directly between and contact the design layer 710 and the transparent substrate layer 720. The second adhesive layer 702 may be directly between and contact the transparent substrate layer 720 and the liner layer 730.

[0075] In various embodiments, the workpiece sheet 700 also includes at least one of a releaser layer (also referred to herein as a releaser coating) disposed between the firstadhesive layer 701 and the transparent substrate layer 720 and a releaser layer disposed between the second adhesive layer 702 and the liner layer 730. FIG. 8 is a simplified schematic cross-sectional view of a workpiece sheet 800, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure. The workpiece sheet 800 may be substantially the same as the workpiece sheet 700, except that the workpiece sheet 800 includes at least one of a first releaser layer 802 between the first adhesive layer 701 and the transparent substrate layer 720 or a second releaser layer 804 between the second adhesive layer 702 and the liner layer 730. The first releaser layer 802 may directly contact each of the first adhesive layer 701 and the transparent substrate layer 720 (e.g., the first surface 721). The second releaser layer 804 may directly contact each of the second adhesive layer 702 and the liner layer 730 (e.g., the first surface 731). As described above with reference to the first adhesive layer 701, in some embodiments, the adhesive force between the first adhesive layer 701 and the design layer 710 may be greater than the adhesive force between the first adhesive layer 701 and the first releaser layer 802. Similarly, as described above with reference to the second adhesive layer 702, in some embodiments, the adhesive force between the second adhesive layer 702 and the transparent substrate layer 720 may be greater than the adhesive force between the second adhesive layer 702 and the second releaser layer 804.

[0076] The first releaser layer 802 may facilitate the preferential separation of the first adhesive layer 701 from the first releaser layer 802 such as when removing cut portions of a design to expose the underlying transparent substrate layer 720. In other words, when performing a cutting operation (e.g., a kiss cut), the first adhesive layer 701 may separate from the first releaser layer 802. The second releaser layer 804 may facilitate the preferential separation of the second adhesive layer 702 from the second releaser layer 804 such that after a cutting operation, the second adhesive layer 702 and the attached transparent substrate layer 720 separate from the second releaser layer 804. Each of the first releaser layer 802 and the second releaser layer 804 may individually comprise a silicone material, such as solvent silicone material. In various embodiments, the first releaser layer 802 and the second releaser layer 804 comprise the same material composition. In various embodiments, the first releaser layer 802 and the second releaser layer 804 comprise different materials.

[0077] The aforementioned first releaser layer 802 and second releaser layer 804 are non-structural, and the primary purpose / benefit for their inclusion in the compositionof the workpiece sheet 800 may be to promote separation and / or release between adjacent materials. For example, the first releaser layer 802 and the second releaser layer 804 described above may be primarily configured to facilitate release of adjacent portions / sections of the workpiece sheet 800 during use.

[0078] In various embodiments, and with reference to FIGS. 9, 10 A, 10B, 10C, 10D, 11 A, 1 IB, 11C, and 1 ID, details and acts of one or more methods for crafting with a workpiece sheet are provided. FIG. 9 is a simplified schematic flow chart illustrating a crafting method 990 of forming a crafted design using a workpiece sheet, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure. The workpiece sheet may include any of the workpiece sheets 700, 800 described above. The crafting method 990 includes performing a first cut operation on a workpiece sheet to cut a desired design into a design layer of the workpiece sheet at act 991. In various embodiments, act 991 may include an electronic cutting machine controllably moving a cutting tool relative to the workpiece sheet. For example, act 991 may include actuating a cutting tool, such as a blade mounted to a carriage of an electronic cutting machine, to insert the tip of the cutting tool into a workpiece sheet of material to a first depth, with the first depth substantially corresponding to the thickness of the design layer. Act 991 may further include moving or dragging the knife blade / tip through the design layer to cut the desired design into the design layer. FIG. 10A shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a workpiece sheet 700, with the first cuts 741 performed during act 991 extending substantially completely through the design layer 710 and the first adhesive layer 701 without extending completely through the transparent substrate layer 720. In various embodiments, the first cuts 741 extend completely through the first adhesive layer 701. While FIG. 10A illustrates act 991 performed on workpiece sheet 700, it will be understood that act 991 may be performed on a different workpiece sheet, such as workpiece sheet 800 including at least one of the first releaser layer 802 or the second releaser layer 804.

[0079] In various embodiments, and with continued reference to FIGS. 9 and 10 A, the crafting method 990 further includes performing a second cut operation on the workpiece sheet 700 to cut a closed shape outline into both the design layer 710 and the transparent substrate layer 720 of the workpiece sheet at act 992 to form second cuts 742 extending through the design layer 710, the first adhesive layer 701, the transparent substrate layer 720, and the second adhesive layer 702. Similar to act 991, act 992 may include an electronic cutting machine controllably moving a cutting tool relative to theworkpiece sheet 700. For example, act 992 may include actuating a cutting tool, such as a blade mounted to a carriage of an electronic cutting machine, to insert the tip of the cutting tool into the workpiece sheet 700 of material to a second depth, with the second depth substantially corresponding to at least the combined thickness of the design layer 710, the first adhesive layer 701, the transparent substrate layer 720, and the second adhesive layer 702 (as well as the first releaser layer 802 and the second releaser layer 804 in embodiments where the workpiece sheet 800 includes the first releaser layer 802 and the second releaser layer 804). In embodiments where the second cuts 742 terminate (e.g., do not extend through) the liner layer 730, the second cuts 742 may be referred to as “second kiss cuts.” Act 992 may further include moving or dragging the knife blade / tip through the design layer 710 and the transparent substrate layer 720 to cut the closed shape outline into the design layer 710 and the transparent substrate layer 720. FIG. 10A shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a workpiece sheet 700, with the second cuts 742 performed during act 992 extending substantially completely through the design layer 710, the first adhesive layer 701, the transparent substrate layer 720, and optionally the second adhesive layer 702 (as well as the first releaser layer 802 and / or the second releaser layer 804, if present in the workpiece sheet 800). In various embodiments, the second cuts 742 extend completely through the second adhesive layer 702. In various embodiments, the second cuts 742 during act 992 extend through the design layer 710, the first adhesive layer 701, the transparent substrate layer 720, and the second adhesive layer 702 and terminate at the interface between the second adhesive layer 702 and the liner layer 730. In various embodiments, the second cuts 742 extend through at least a portion of the liner layer 730 and may be referred to as a “die cut.”

[0080] In various embodiments, acts 991 and 992 may be performed sequentially or act 991 and act 992 may be partially performed in a series of alternating intervals or concurrently. For example, act 991, with the blade or cutting tool at a first depth into the workpiece sheet 700, may be performed first and act 992, which may be performed with the blade or cutting tool at a second depth into the workpiece sheet 700, may be performed thereafter (or vice versa). Alternatively or additionally, an electronic cutting machine may be configured to dynamically change the depth of the blade or cutting tool, and may be thus able to optimize a cutting path through the material, and thus act 991 and act 992 may be performed somewhat concurrently.

[0081] In various embodiments, and with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10B, the crafting method 990 may include separating at least one unwanted region, according to the desired design (the crafted design) of act 991, of the design layer 710 from the transparent substrate layer 720 at act 993. For example, the cuts performed during acts 991 and 992 may create one or more regions or areas of the design layer 710 that can be separated and removed / detached from the transparent substrate layer 720. These portions / regions are the negative space of the desired design, and thus removing these portions / regions renders the desired design apparent / visible. This process of removing some of the design layer 710 may be referred to herein as weeding. FIG. 10B shows unwanted regions removed from the design layer 710 leaving negative space 740 (or recesses), with the remaining portions of the design layer 710 comprising the desired design.

[0082] In various embodiments, and with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10C, the crafting method 990 includes separating an enclosed region, according to the closed shape outline of act 992, of the design layer 710 and the transparent substrate layer 720 from the liner layer 730 at act 994. For example, the second cuts 742 performed during act 992 may form a shape outline or a shape profile defining outer boundaries of the desired design, with the first cuts 741 performed during act 991 located within the footprint of the closed shape outline formed at act 992. In other words, the first cuts 741 performed during act 941 may be defined and located without boundaries defined by the second cuts 742 performed during act 992. This closed shape outline defines the shape of the end-use section of the workpiece sheet 700 that can be applied to an article. The enclosed region defined by the closed shape outline can be separated and removed / detached from the liner layer 730 and from any surrounding / bordering regions of the design layer 710 and the transparent substrate layer 720. FIG. 10C shows the enclosed region 750 comprising a crafted design (also referred to herein as the end-use section of the workpiece sheet 700) that has the desired design implemented into the design layer 710 after removal of the enclosed region 750 from the liner layer 730. The enclosed region 750 illustrated in FIG. 10C may be ready to be applied / attached to an article using the second adhesive layer 702. Accordingly, the crafting method 990 may further include an additional act of applying the enclosed region 750 to an article (FIG. 10D). The act of applying the enclosed region 750 (the end-use section) of the workpiece sheet 700 to an article 760 may be performed without using transfer tape. That is, the transparent substrate layer 720of the workpiece sheet 700 includes the necessary adhesive (i.e., the second adhesive layer 702) to adhere / attach the enclosed region 750 (the end-use section) to the article 760. For example, the second adhesive layer 702 may directly engage the article 760. In various embodiments, the workpiece sheet 700 may be configured as a matless material such that the acts 991 and 992 include loading the workpiece sheet into an electronic cutting machine without using a separate crafting mat (e.g., without using an adhesive crafting mat).

[0083] FIGS. 11 A, 1 IB, 11C, and 1 ID show additional examples of a crafting method for using a workpiece sheet 1100 in which a crafted design 1150 (e.g., an enclosed region, an end-use section) remains attached to a liner layer 1130. The workpiece sheet 1100 may be the same as the workpiece sheets 700, 800 described above. The crafted design 1150 may include a design layer with a transparent substrate layer that has been cut to a desired shape and design, as described above with reference to the enclosed region 750. FIG. 11 A shows the workpiece sheet 1100 after the unwanted regions of the design layer have been removed from the transparent substrate layer to form the crafted design 1150, according to various embodiments. FIG. 1 IB shows the process of removing the transparent substrate layer, with the overlying design layer attached thereto, from the liner layer 1130, according to various embodiments. FIG. 11C shows an act of applying the crafted design 1150 of the workpiece sheet 1100 to an article 1160 (e.g., a mug), in accordance with various embodiments. Finally, FIG. 1 ID shows the result of applying the crafted design 1150 of the workpiece sheet 1100 to the article 1160, with the second adhesive layer of the transparent substrate layer being adhered to the article 1160, in accordance with various embodiments. FIG. 1 ID shows how the transparency of the transparent substrate layer makes it appear as if the design layer is directly adhered to the article.

[0084] The workpiece sheets 700, 800 including the first adhesive layer 701, the second adhesive layer 702, and the transparent substrate layer 720 may facilitate applying a crafted design (the enclosed region) to an article without using transfer tape. The use of transfer tape to transfer a crafted design from a crafting mat to an article is a time consuming and often confusing step for users. In addition, transfer tape represents a significant portion of the expense associated with forming and adhering crafting designs to an article. By eliminating the use of transfer tape, the workpiece sheets 700, 800 facilitate an improved and simplified user experience, and a reduction in cost associatedwith applying a crafted design to an article. In addition, the workpiece sheets 700, 800 may facilitate forming the crafted design without using a crafting mat. For example, the workpiece sheet 700, 800 may be cut, as described above with reference to acts 991 and 992, without placing the workpiece sheet 700, 800 on a crafting mat.

[0085] Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described herein with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of the disclosure.

[0086] Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all the features and advantages that may be realized with the present disclosure should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the subject matter disclosed herein. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.

[0087] Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the disclosure may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the subject matter of the present application may be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the disclosure. Further, in some instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the subject matter of the present disclosure. No claim element is intended to invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.”

[0088] As used herein, the terms “including,” “comprising,” “having,” and variations thereof mean “including but not limited to” unless expressly specified otherwise. Accordingly, the terms “including,” “comprising,” “having,” and variations thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method,article, or apparatus. An enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive and / or mutually inclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0089] Further, in the detailed description herein, references to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “various embodiments,” “one example,” “an example,” “some examples,” “various examples,” “one implementation,” “an implementation,” “some implementations,” “various implementations,” “one aspect,” “an aspect,” “some aspects,” “various aspects,” etc., indicate that the embodiment, example, implementation, and / or aspect described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment, example, implementation, and / or aspect may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment, example, implementation, or aspect. Thus, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, example, implementation, and / or aspect, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments, examples, implementations, and / or aspects, whether or not explicitly described. Absent an express correlation to indicate otherwise, features, structure, components, characteristics, and / or functionality may be associated with one or more embodiments, examples, implementations, and / or aspects of the present disclosure. After reading the description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art how to implement the disclosure in alternative configurations.

[0090] The scope of the disclosure is to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” It is to be understood that unless specifically stated otherwise, references to “a,” “an,” and / or “the” may include one or more than one and that reference to an item in the singular may also include the item in the plural. Further, the term “plurality” can be defined as “at least two.” As used herein, the phrase “at least one of’, when used with a list of items, means different combinations of one or more of the listed items may be used and only one of the items in the list may be needed. The item may be a particular object, thing, or category. Moreover, where a phrase similar to “at least one of A, B, and C” is used in the claims, it is intended that the phrase be interpreted to mean that A alone may be present in anembodiment, B alone may be present in an embodiment, C alone may be present in an embodiment, or that any combination of the elements A, B and C may be present in a single embodiment; for example, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A, B, and C. In some cases, “at least one of item A, item B, and item C” may mean, for example, without limitation, two of item A, one of item B, and ten of item C; four of item B and seven of item C; or some other suitable combination.

[0091] Unless otherwise indicated, the terms "first," "second," etc. are used herein merely as labels, and are not intended to impose ordinal, positional, or hierarchical requirements on the items to which these terms refer. Moreover, reference to, e.g., a “second” item does not require or preclude the existence of, e.g., a “first” or lower- numbered item, and / or, e.g., a “third” or higher-numbered item.

[0092] All ranges and ratio limits disclosed herein may be combined. Numbers, percentages, ratios, or other values stated herein are intended to include that value, and also other values that are “about” or “approximately” the stated value, as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art encompassed by embodiments of the present disclosure, unless otherwise defined herein. A stated value should therefore be interpreted broadly enough to encompass values that are at least close enough to the stated value to perform a desired function or achieve a desired result. The stated values include at least the variation to be expected in a suitable manufacturing or production process, and may include values that are within 5%, within 1%, within 0.1%, or within 0.01% of a stated value.

[0093] As used herein, the term “substantially” in reference to a given parameter, property, or condition means and includes to a degree that one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the given parameter, property, or condition is met with a degree of variance, such as within acceptable tolerances. By way of example, depending on the particular parameter, property, or condition that is substantially met, the parameter, property, or condition may be at least 90.0 percent met, at least 95.0 percent met, at least 99.0 percent met, at least 99.9 percent met, or even 100.0 percent met.

[0094] Different cross-hatching may be used throughout the figures to denote different parts but not necessarily to denote the same or different materials. Surface shading lines may be used throughout the figures to denote different parts or areas but not necessarily to denote the same or different materials. In some cases, reference coordinates may be specific to each figure. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the variousfigures contained herein are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and / or physical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in a practical system.

[0095] Any reference to attached, fixed, connected or the like may include permanent, removable, temporary, partial, full and / or any other possible attachment option. Additionally, any reference to without contact (or similar phrases) may also include reduced contact or minimal contact. In the above description, certain terms may be used such as "up," "down," "upper," "lower," "horizontal," "vertical," "left," "right," and the like. These terms are used, where applicable, to provide some clarity of description when dealing with relative relationships. But, these terms are not intended to imply absolute relationships, positions, and / or orientations. For example, with respect to an object, an "upper" surface can become a "lower" surface simply by turning the object over. Nevertheless, it is still the same object.

[0096] Additionally, instances in this specification where one element is “coupled” to another element can include direct and indirect coupling. Direct coupling can be defined as one element coupled to and in some contact with another element. Indirect coupling can be defined as coupling between two elements not in direct contact with each other, but having one or more additional elements between the coupled elements. Further, one element being “coupled” to another may refer to two separate components that are connected or joined together, or may refer to different sections, segments, or portions of an integrated / monolithic structure that extend relative to each other or that have some other contrasting features, shapes, properties, or the like. Also, as used herein, securing one element to another element can include direct securing and indirect securing. Additionally, as used herein, “adjacent” does not necessarily denote contact. For example, one element can be adjacent another element without being in contact with that element.

[0097] The schematic flow chart diagrams included herein are generally set forth as logical flow chart diagrams. As such, the depicted order and labeled steps are indicative of one or more embodiments of the presented method. The steps recited in any of the method or process descriptions may be executed in any order and are not necessarily limited to the order presented. Furthermore, any reference to singular includes plural embodiments, and any reference to more than one component or step may include asingular embodiment or step. Elements and steps in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been rendered according to any particular sequence. Other steps and methods may be conceived that are equivalent in function, logic, or effect to one or more steps, or portions thereof, of the illustrated method.

[0098] Additionally, the format and symbols employed are provided to explain the logical steps of the method and are understood not to limit the scope of the method. Although various arrow types and line types may be employed in the flow chart diagrams, they are understood not to limit the scope of the corresponding method. Indeed, some arrows or other connectors may be used to indicate only the logical flow of the method. For instance, an arrow may indicate a waiting or monitoring period of unspecified duration between enumerated steps of the depicted method. Additionally, the order in which a particular method occurs may or may not strictly adhere to the order of the corresponding steps shown. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims.

[0099] Further, the schematic flow chart diagram(s) presented in the figures may show exemplary methods for using, making, repairing, and / or otherwise interacting with the various apparatuses, devices, systems, features, and components (the “structural details”) described herein. The methods depicted in the schematic flow chart diagram(s) are not exhaustive lists of the methods and steps that may be performed in association with the structural details disclosed herein, but instead the depicted methods merely represent exemplary steps. Indeed, the depicted methods may include additional and / or alternative steps than those explicitly shown in the schematic flow chart diagrams, and these additional and / or alternative steps may be gleaned from various sections of the present disclosure, even sections that are primarily focused on the structural details.

[0100] Also, the terms utilized herein to describe the methods may be similar to or the same as terms utilized above in conjunction with the structural details. As appropriate, these structural details may be inferred in the methods to provide clarity to the methods. However, the methods and steps disclosed herein are not necessarily limited to the structural details mentioned above, as the utility and novelty of the method steps may stand independent of the structural details. Said differently, the methods / steps may be implemented in association with structures that are not explicitly disclosed herein, and such methods / steps fall within the scope of this disclosure.

[0101] The subject matter of the present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the disclosure is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A workpiece sheet comprising: a design layer having a first surface and a second surface; and an adhesive layer disposed across the second surface; wherein the design layer is not supported by a structural carrier layer.

2. The workpiece sheet of claim 1, wherein the workpiece sheet is in rolled-form prior to use such that the workpiece sheet is rolled upon itself.

3. The workpiece sheet of claim 2, wherein in the rolled-form the adhesive layer of an outer roll portion is adjacent the first surface of the design layer of an underlying roll portion.

4. The workpiece sheet of claim 1, wherein the design layer comprises polyvinyl chloride.

5. The workpiece sheet of claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer comprises an acrylic adhesive material.

6. The workpiece sheet of claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive material.

7. The workpiece sheet of claim 1, wherein an adhesive weight of the adhesive layer is within a range of from about 12 g / m2to about 24 g / m2.

8. The workpiece sheet of claim 1, further comprising a coating layer disposed across the first surface of the design layer.

9. The workpiece sheet of claim 8, wherein the coating layer comprises a nonsilicone material.

10. The workpiece sheet of claim 1, further comprising a releaser layer, wherein the adhesive layer is disposed between the design layer and the releaser layer.

11. The workpiece sheet of claim 10, wherein the releaser layer comprises a silicone material.

12. The workpiece sheet of claim 1, further comprising: a coating layer disposed across the first surface of the design layer, the design layer directly between and contacting the coating layer and the adhesive layer; and a releaser layer disposed across and contacting a surface of the adhesive layer opposite the design layer, the adhesive layer directly between and contacting the design layer and the releaser layer.

13. The workpiece sheet of claim 1, wherein the design layer is a thickest layer of the workpiece sheet.

14. The workpiece sheet of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the design layer is within a range of from about 750 pm to about 1,000 pm.

15. The workpiece sheet of claim 1, wherein a combined thickness of the design layer and the adhesive layer is within a range of from about 882 pm to about 918 pm.

16. The workpiece sheet of claim 1, wherein the design layer is free of polypropylene and polyethylene.

17. The workpiece sheet of claim 1, wherein the workpiece sheet consists of the design layer and the adhesive layer.

18. A workpiece sheet consisting of: a design layer; an adhesive layer; a coating layer; and a releaser layer; wherein:the design layer is between the coating layer and the adhesive layer; and the adhesive layer is between the design layer and the releaser layer.

19. The workpiece sheet of claim 18, wherein the coating layer, the adhesive layer, and the releaser layer are non- structural layers.

20. The workpiece sheet of claim 18, wherein the design layer is a thickest layer of the workpiece sheet.

21. The workpiece sheet of claim 18, wherein the workpiece sheet is in rolled-form prior to use such that the workpiece sheet is rolled upon itself.

22. The workpiece sheet of claim 18, wherein the workpiece sheet is in rolled-form prior to use such that the workpiece sheet is rolled upon itself with the releaser layer of an outer roll portion contacting the coating layer of an underlying roll portion.

23. A crafting method comprising: applying a section of a workpiece sheet to a nonstick crafting mat; performing cut operations on the workpiece sheet to cut a desired design into the workpiece sheet; removing unwanted regions of the workpiece sheet from the nonstick crafting mat, thereby leaving design regions on the crafting mat that form the desired design; applying transfer tape across the design regions of the workpiece sheet; and lifting the design regions from the nonstick crafting mat using the transfer tape.

24. The crafting method of claim 23, further comprising applying the design regions to an article using the transfer tape.

25. The crafting method of claim 23, wherein the workpiece sheet comprises a design layer that is not supported by a structural carrier layer.

26. The crafting method of claim 23, wherein the workpiece sheet comprises an adhesive layer.

27. The crafting method of claim 23, wherein the workpiece sheet consists of a design layer and an adhesive layer.

28. The crafting method of claim 23, wherein performing cut operations on the workpiece sheet comprises an electronic cutting machine controllably moving a cutting tool through the workpiece sheet.

29. The crafting method of claim 23, further comprising loading the nonstick crafting mat, with the workpiece sheet applied thereon, into an electronic cutting machine.

30. The crafting method of claim 23, wherein applying a section of a workpiece sheet to a nonstick crafting mat comprises applying an adhesive material of the workpiece sheet to the nonstick crafting mat.

31. A workpiece sheet comprising: a design layer; a first adhesive layer; a transparent substrate layer; and a second adhesive layer; wherein: the first adhesive layer is disposed between the design layer and the transparent substrate layer; the transparent substrate layer is disposed between the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer; and the second adhesive layer is configured to engage with an article to attach the transparent substrate layer and the design layer to the article.

32. The workpiece sheet of claim 31, wherein the design layer comprises polyvinyl chloride.

33. The workpiece sheet of claim 31, wherein the first adhesive layer comprises an acrylic adhesive material.

34. The workpiece sheet of claim 31, wherein the second adhesive layer comprises an acrylic adhesive material.

35. The workpiece of claim 31, wherein the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer comprises the same material.

36. The workpiece of claim 31, wherein an adhesive weight of the first adhesive layer is greater than an adhesive weight of the second adhesive layer.

37. The workpiece sheet of claim 31, wherein the transparent substrate layer comprises polyvinyl chloride.

38. The workpiece sheet of claim 31, wherein the transparent substrate layer and the design layer comprise the same material, the design layer further comprising one or more pigments.

39. The workpiece sheet of claim 31, wherein an adhesive force between the first adhesive layer and the transparent substrate layer is greater than an adhesive force between the first adhesive layer and the design layer.

40. The workpiece sheet of claim 31, further comprising a releaser layer disposed between the first adhesive layer and the transparent substrate layer.

41. The workpiece sheet of claim 40, wherein the releaser layer comprises a silicone material.

42. The workpiece sheet of claim 40, wherein the releaser layer is configured to facilitate separation of the first adhesive layer from the releaser layer.

43. The workpiece sheet of claim 31, further comprising a liner layer, wherein the second adhesive layer is disposed between the transparent substrate layer and the liner layer.

44. The workpiece sheet of claim 43, wherein the liner layer comprises polyethylene terephthalate.

45. The workpiece sheet of claim 43, wherein an adhesive force between the second adhesive layer and the transparent substrate layer is greater than an adhesive force between the second adhesive layer and the liner layer.

46. The workpiece sheet of claim 43, further comprising a releaser layer disposed between the second adhesive layer and the liner layer.

47. The workpiece sheet of claim 46, wherein the releaser layer comprises a silicone material.

48. The workpiece sheet of claim 46, wherein the releaser layer is configured to facilitate separation of the second adhesive layer from the releaser layer such that the releaser layer remains overlying the liner layer after separation of the releaser layer from the second adhesive layer.

49. The workpiece sheet of claim 43, further comprising printing markings applied to the liner layer.

50. The workpiece sheet of claim 31, wherein at least one property of a surface of the design layer in contact with the first adhesive layer is different than the at least one property of a surface of the transparent substrate layer in contact with the first adhesive layer.

51. The workpiece sheet of claim 50, wherein the at least one property is at least one of a chemical composition or a surface energy.

52. A crafting method comprising: performing a first cut operation on a workpiece sheet to cut a desired design into a design layer of the workpiece sheet; performing a second cut operation on the workpiece sheet to cut a closed shape outline into both the design layer and a transparent substrate layer of the workpiece sheet; separating at least one unwanted region, according to the desired design, of the design layer from the transparent substrate layer; and separating an enclosed region, according to the closed shape outline, of the design layer and the transparent substrate layer from a liner layer of the workpiece sheet.

53. The crafting method of claim 52, further comprising applying the enclosed region to an article.

54. The crafting method of claim 53, wherein applying the enclosed region to the article is performed without using transfer tape.

55. The crafting method of claim 53, wherein applying the enclosed region to the article comprises directly engaging an adhesive layer of the transparent substrate layer against the article.

56. The crafting method of claim 52, wherein the workpiece sheet comprises: a first adhesive layer disposed between the design layer and the transparent substrate layer; and a second adhesive layer disposed between the transparent substrate layer and the liner layer.

57. The crafting method of claim 52, wherein: performing the first cut operation comprises an electronic cutting machine controllably moving a cutting tool through the design layer of the workpiece sheet; and performing the second cut operation comprises the electronic cutting machine controllably moving the cutting tool through both the design layer and the transparent substrate layer underlying the design layer of the workpiece sheet.

58. The crafting method of claim 57, wherein the workpiece sheet is configured as a matless material such that performing the first cut operation and the second cut operation comprises loading the workpiece sheet into the electronic cutting machine without an adhesive crafting mat.

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