BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to processes and methods for applying a graphic or image to a substrate or surface and, more particularly, to processes and methods for applying a graphic or image to a guitar surface.  
         [0002]     Several processes and methods are known and used for placing graphics on a substrate or surface, including heat transfer methods, adhesive-based processes, and engraving or etching methods, to name a few. For instance, Martino, U.S. Pat. No. 6,461,676, “Semi-finished Wood Simulating Product and Method”, describes a method for providing a simulated wood finish to a substrate and Ellison, U.S. Pat. No. 6,399,193, “Surface Laminate with Bonded with Pigmented Pressure Sensitive Adhesive,” describes a method for painting an automobile and the like.  
         [0003]     While these methods have worked well for their intended purposes, they are directed towards simple designs and patterns, and generally to solid color layers. Each method may not necessarily work for specific applications, such as detailing and finishing the surface of a musical instrument with a custom design or image. For instance, when finishing high end products where the detail of the graphic placed upon the surface of the product is important, the above-mentioned prior art leave room for improvement. It is becoming more common to manufacture guitars with a picture or design on the guitar surface. Care must be taken not to damage the guitar surface, while sufficiently protecting the image that is placed on the surface.  
         [0004]     Guitars have been manufactured with a picture or image on the face of the guitar, with the image usually consisting of a sticker. The stickers usually peel after time, which is not only aesthetically unappealing, but can also interfere with the actual playing of the guitar. The prior art is not capable of laminating and finishing the surface of the guitar with the precision and detail that is desired for an aesthetically pleasing guitar that can be played normally. Detailing and customizing processes take an extremely long amount of time, and mass-production methods, such as mentioned for a vehicle, are not capable of incorporating intricate graphics and images onto the finished surface.  
         [0005]     It has been known for guitars, especially electric guitars, to be customized for an individual. These processes do not usually relate to supplying an actual image to the guitar, but airbrushing or painting a design onto the guitar. However, such processes cannot be done quickly and efficiently for a large number of guitars and, also, are generally more concerned with painting the guitar rather than applying a design to the guitar. Furthermore, such processes are generally limited in their use on electric guitars and have not been adapted for use on acoustical guitars.  
         [0006]     An efficient process for finishing guitars in large, reproducible numbers that would also be capable of applying a high quality picture or image to the guitar without distorting or diminishing the quality of the picture or image is needed. Such a process should also be applicable to both electric guitars and acoustic guitars.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present method allows application of an image or graphic to a substrate or surface. The process is specifically designed for use on guitars. Once a graphic is applied to the surface, the process melds the graphic with the surface, which results in the graphic being indistinguishable from the surface. The resultant guitar can include an intricate design that is capable of being reproduced quickly and efficiently.  
         [0008]     Initially the guitar body will be buffed with a buffing wheel prior to putting any coatings on the body the guitar. The method consists of hand applying an undercoating layer, such as polyethylene, to the guitar surface, then buffing again. A second layer of undercoating is applied to the surface and allowed to dry for approximately 48 hours. The surface is once again hand buffed. An image or graphic is laminated to the surface, with additional layers of protective and finishing paint applied to the surface. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a guitar having an image applied to the guitar in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a partial side exploded view of a finished surface in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  shows an image for use with the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  shows the image of  FIG. 3  being treated for lamination purposes.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  shows a perspective exploded view of a guitar and the image of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the guitar and the image of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of a further layer being applied to the guitar of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of a further layer being applied to the guitar of  FIG. 7 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 9  is a flow chart depicting a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0018]     Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a guitar  10  having a neck  12  and a body  14 . The body has a soundboard  16 . A custom design or image  18  has been applied to the soundboard  16  of the body  14  in accordance with the present invention. The custom design  18  could include decals, silk-screening, a printing on a clear paper or media, or other detailed image. The custom image or design  18  should be considered broadly and not be limited to any specific type of custom picture or representation. The image  18  appears and feels as though it is an integral part of the soundboard  14 . There are no exposed edges of the image  18 , which prevents the image  18  from peeling off of the guitar and does not impede the strumming of a person using the guitar  10 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  shows a partial side exploded view of the guitar  10 . The image  18  is one of several layers applied to the guitar. The soundboard  16  is initially buffed using a buffing wheel, prior to any coatings being placed upon the guitar. The buffing is done to the raw wood surface of the guitar without any filing needed. A first undercoating layer  20  is preferably hand painted on top of the soundboard  16 . The first layer  20  is allowed to dry, and then a second polyethylene undercoating layer  22  is applied over the first layer  20 . The first layer  20  may be buffed before applying the second layer  22 , preferably hand buffing the surface. After the second layer  22  is applied, the surface is allowed to dry. Preferably, drying takes place at room temperature, and the guitar  10  is allowed to dry for approximately 48 hours. The drying time may be varied depending on such conditions as relative humidity of the surrounding air and other similar environmental conditions as necessary. This provides for a smooth even finish for the remaining layers of the process. Once the guitar  10  dries, a third layer of body paint  24  is applied over the second surface and allowed to dry. The third layer  24  is applied preferably with a spraying process. However, it is possible that the third layer  24  may not be needed at all. Depending on the color of the soundboard  16  and the image  18 , the third layer  24  is possibly not necessary.  
         [0021]     After the third layer of body paint  24  is applied to the guitar  10 , a fourth layer  26  comprising the image  18  is applied to the guitar  10 . Once this dries, a fifth layer of protective paint  28  and a sixth layer of finishing paint  30 , both of which are preferably polyurethane products, are applied to the guitar  10 . The guitar  10  can be buffed between application of the fifth layer  28  and the sixth layer  30 . The finished product is the guitar  10  shown in  FIG. 1 . However, it is understood that the image shown in  FIG. 1  is merely exemplary of any of several images that may be applied to the guitar  10 .  
         [0022]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the fourth layer  26  is shown. The fourth layer  26  is shown as being a rectangular backing sheet  32  with the image  18  located upon the sheet  32 . However, once the layer  26  is placed upon the guitar  10 , the sheet  32  will be removed, leaving only the image  18  on the guitar  10 . As shown, the image  18  can be fairly detailed and intricate. The present process allows such intricate and detailed images to be placed on a guitar in a quick and efficient manner, without noticeably affecting the quality of the image or the quality of the soundboard of the guitar.  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  shows the backing sheet  32  and the image  18  being treated for application onto the guitar. The image  18  is adjoined to the backing sheet  32 , preferably with an adhesive material, such as glue or similar material. The layer  26  is moistened, preferably by placing the layer  26  within a container of liquid  34 . Depending on the type of adhesive material used, any number of liquids may be used to moisten and loosen the image  18  from the backing sheet  32 . For environmental and safety reasons, the liquid is preferably water, and the adhesive material is preferably water-soluble. As previously noted, the image  18  can consist of different mediums, such as silk screening, decals, printings and the like, and such images would be applied accordingly as currently known in the art.  
         [0024]      FIGS. 5 and 6  show the layer  26  being applied to the guitar  10 . Once the image  18  is aligned with the soundboard  16 , a smoothing device  36  will be used to make sure the image  18  is flat and evenly arranged. Once properly positioned, the backing sheet  32  can be removed, and the image  18  can be allowed to dry.  
         [0025]      FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of the guitar  10 . Now that the image  18  has sufficiently set, the fifth layer of protective paint  28  may be applied to the guitar  10 . The fifth layer  28  can be sprayed upon the guitar  10 , but any other similar known processes of applying paints and similar covering materials may also be used.  
         [0026]     Once the fifth layer  28  is sufficiently dry, the sixth layer of finishing paint  30  is applied to the guitar  10 , as is depicted in  FIG. 8 . The fifth layer  28  and the sixth layer  30  can be applied in the same fashion. The bridge  40  and the strings  42  will then be added to the guitar  10 . The result is the finished guitar  10  shown in  FIG. 1 . The guitar  10  has an intricate image  18  located on the soundboard  16  that is protected from damage and, also, gives the appearance that it is integral with the soundboard  16  itself.  
         [0027]      FIG. 9  provides a flow chart of a preferred method used in the present invention. Care is taken with each layer that is put upon the guitar, with the guitar surface being buffed often, preferably hand buffed to take care not to damage the guitar or soundboard. Also, the method insures that the applied image will be sufficiently protected, with paint layers above and below the image to protect the image. The result is a method that provides an efficient process that can be duplicated easily to produce a high-quality aesthetically appealing guitar.  
         [0028]     As stated, the preferred undercoating is polyethylene. However, any similar polyester, polyether, aliphatic, or aromatic polymer that is used in the industry will be sufficient. Similarly, other known finishing paints may be used in place of the hi-gloss paint.  
         [0029]     The resultant guitar from the present process achieves a finished guitar previously not achievable with prior art processes. The image  18  appears as though it is actually imprinted on the soundboard  16 . This desired effect is beneficial for several reasons. The image will not peel or crack and will not interfere with strumming or picking of the guitar  10 . The image  18  can be applied quickly to the guitar, as compared with prior art processes. Also, the process is much more economical than processes where the soundboard, itself, has an image imprinted upon it. There is less chance of damage to the soundboard by the present process and, also, the present process can be repeated easier and quicker. While prior art processes may have applied a sticker or the like to the front of a guitar, none of the prior art processes were capable to provide an image to a guitar of high end quality, while still being able to produce the guitars in a mass-production style. This especially holds true for acoustic guitars. Prior art has not contemplated putting an intricate image onto a high-end acoustic guitar in an efficient manner. Thus, the present invention provides a wide range of aesthetically pleasing guitars of high quality that were previously not known.  
         [0030]     The process is less time consuming and more efficient than prior processes used for customizing electric guitars. Because a complete image is being applied to the guitar, less time is required to insure that a design is properly painted onto the guitar. Similarly, the same image may be applied to several guitars quickly and efficiently, thereby allowing guitars to be manufactured with designs having consistent quality. The present method is also an improvement on guitars that would have images preprinted or imprinted on the body or the soundboard. Because a manufacturer may not know exactly which designs consumers may prefer, the present method allows the manufacturer to produce small quantities of several designs without ending up with large excess amounts of guitars that people find undesirable. Furthermore, there is more chance of damage or alteration to the body or soundboard of the guitar when the image would be imprinted or preprinted, thereby potentially diminishing the sound or tonal quality of the guitar.  
         [0031]     The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.
A method for application of a custom image or graphic to a substrate or surface. The process is specifically designed for use on guitars. Once a graphic is applied to the surface, the process integrates the graphic with the surface, which results in the graphic being indistinguishable from the surface. The resultant surface includes an intricate design that is capable of being reproduced quickly and efficiently.