EP0101648A2

EP0101648A2 - Graphic display panel

Info

Publication number: EP0101648A2
Application number: EP83304724A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Robert W. C/O Minnesota Mining Fritts
Original assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: 3M Co
Priority date: 1982-08-20
Filing date: 1983-08-15
Publication date: 1984-02-29
Also published as: JPS5967577A; EP0101648A3; AU1815883A

Abstract

A graphic display panel for heavy traffic areas comprising a self-supporting core 6, a cured material 9 impregnating and bonding an imaged woven material 8 to a face of said panel and a transparent ultraviolet resistant, high-impact polymer 12 covering said entire panel.

Description

Technical Field

This invention relates to an improved display panel upon which graphic images may be displayed outdoors and which will be resistant to vandalism to afford extended life for an information panel in high traffic areas.

Background Art

It has been known to place graphic signs behind sheets of glass, plexiglas plastic sheeting or behind other film in high traffic areas such as adjacent construction sites; bus, trolley and commuter train stops; skyways; point-of-purchase displays; decoration of shopping centers; etc. Such signs or displays for information rapidly become unsightly because of broken or cracked glass, marks from attempts made to pry open the panels, slashing of the films, discoloration of the films, or fading of the images.
The present invention affords a new display panel construction which will maintain an acceptable appearance for an extended length of time and which will provide relatively inexpensive long-lived display panels permitting graphics as well as printed matter to be placed on such a disptay panel.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention provides a display panel for high traffic rough service areas comprising a weatherproof rigid core formed of a self-supporting material, a woven material bonded to at least one face of said core, said woven material having solid color pigment particles in image-forming arrays on the surface of said material opposite said core, and a transparent coating of ultraviolet light resistant, high-impact resin disposed over the woven material and covering the edges and opposite surface of the core to protect the same from the elements. The core may be formed of medium density overlay plywood having a prime coating thereon to give it a uniform appearance, the bonding material preferably impregnates the woven material and the transparent coating is a urethane coating resistant to yellowing.

Brief Description of Drawings

The present invention will be described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a display panel constructed in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1; and
Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the materials supported on the core of the display panel of the present invention.

Detailed Description

The display panel of the present invention provides a solution which has been desperately needed for large long-lived display panels that carry photographic- like color images. It is necessary that such display panels be weather-resistant, fade-resistant and strong enough in its construction to withstand considerable physical abuse. Protective panels of plexiglas or polycarbonate plastic have been used in protecting photographic prints, and another current practice uses a technique in which the image on paper is embedded in a panel of polyester resin reinforced with glass cloth for strength. The result, however, has been that chemical reactions result between the image and the polyester resin chemicals, altering the color of the image. Photographic color emulsions carried on a paper backing are fragile and it is difficult to bond the image surface to any supporting surface without damaging or altering the image appearance.
The present invention provides color photographic-type images for display panels which will provide good weather and vandal resistance in high traffic areas. In the preferred form the color image will be applied to a white cotton canvas woven material produced by the spraying of solid color pigment particles onto the woven material by the imaging process for producing images on flexible canvas materials, which imaged product is available from the Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company of St. Paul, Minnesota, and marketed under the trademark "SCANAMURAL". These images are available on 1.2 x 2.4, 1.2 x 3, 1.2 x 3.6, 1.2 x 4.25, (4 x 8, 4 x 10, 4 x 12, 4 x 14), or other width-length combinations up to 3 meters by 4.6 meters (10 feet by 15 feet).
In the drawing, the display panel 5 comprises a self supporting core 6 which is preferably formed of a sheet of medium density overlay plywood. The corners of the plywood panel are sanded lightly to round off the sharp edges. The medium density overlay plywood has a kraft paper coating 7 adhered to the plywood by the resin bonding the wood laminate. The paper layer 7 is shown in Figure 3.
A sheet of imaged woven material 8 is bonded to the surface of the core 6 using a white curable adhesive material 9 such as waterproof adhesive or glue. The adhesive material may be a polyvinyl acetate glue or a marine liquid adhesive. An example of the adhesive material is AP-813 Synthetic Latex available from H. B. Fuller Company of St. Paul, Minnesota. Another example is white fabric-leather cement available from Val-A Company of Chicago, Illinois. The adhesive material is roller coated or knife coated to the plywood core front surface and to the edges and to the back side areas that will be covered with the canvas. The canvas 8 will then be placed in contact with the adhesive and rolled flat and pulled around the edges to the back. By using a continuous layer of adhesive and pressure rolling the woven material onto the adhesive coated plywood core 6, air bubbles are removed and the adhesive 9 penetrates and bonds the canvas threads and the fibers. The entire rear surface of the imaged woven material is attached to the plywood core front, edges and back perimeter in this manner. Either room temperature or accelerated oven cure of the adhesive material to a solid state can be used.
After curing the adhesive material 9, bonding the imaged woven panel to the core, a rectangle of unimaged white canvas 10 may be applied to a similar coating of glue on the rear surface of the core. The woven material placed on the back side of the core will serve to balance the panel against warping. This is an optional step to be used where a specific panel mounting method requires precise panel balancing.
The plywood core 6 with the imaged woven material bonded in place with the adhesive material cured to the solid state is now coated to provide a weather seal and to physically embed the imaged surface into the panel. This is done by impregnating the canvas and coating the pigments 11 with a high-strength clear polymer, e.g., an aliphatic polyurethane water based dispersion 12. This coating 12, when cured, exhibits high impact strength and resists yellowing from ultraviolet light. One such formulation for the clear coat is sold as R960 polyurethane clear coat by Polyvinyl Industries Division of Beatrice Foods of Wilmington, Mass.
The clear coat 12 may be applied by spraying or by dipping the panel in a pool of solution. The clear coat solution penetrates the imaged woven material to contact the interface of the bonding adhesive material, thus totally embedding the woven imaged material including the strands and threads of the woven material and the solid pigments 11 defining the image. The thickness of the clear coat 12 can be built up with multiple coats to provide the desired thickness. The clear coat can be applied sufficiently thick to permit scouring for removal of any vandal-applied markings, including aerosol spray paints.
Alternatively, a fine silica may be incorporated in the clear coat formulation which provides the panel with a glare-free mat finish to enhance the image quality.
The panels are prepared for mounting by pre- drilling screw or bolt mounting holes to suitably/support the structures. The exposed surfaces around the holes can be coated as the panel is coated with the clear polymer or resin.
The panel 5 can be formed by applying a coating to the paper layer 7 of the polyurethane polymer which will form a base layer. The polyurethane polymer in the adhesive area 9 then supports the fabric which may be stretched in place on the core 6 and bonded by staples to the backside. The cover coat 12 of the polyurethane polymer is then applied which impregnates the fabric 8 and securely bonds to the primary layer 9 and embeds the fabric in the polymer and bonds it to the core.
The panel 5 provides a vandal-resistant performance due to the high tensile strength gained from the canvas or woven material covering the core combined with the high impact clear coat that resists impact shattering.
Having thus disclosed the present invention with respect to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that minor modifications may be made without departing from the intent of the present invention.

Claims

1. A display panel having graphic images disposed thereon and comprising a core (6) formed of a self-supporting material, an image bearing material (8) on one face of said core, characterized by the feature that said image bearing material is a woven material having solid color pigment particles (11) in image-forming arrays on the surface of said material opposite said core (6), and a transparent coat of an ultraviolet-resistant, high-impact polymer (12) penetrates said woven material and covers the material (8), particles (11) and the edges and opposite surface of said core.

2. A display panel according to claim 1 characterized by the feature that said woven image bearing material is bonded by a curable liquid material (9) to said one face.

3. A display panel according to claim 1 characterized by the feature that a woven material (10) is bonded to the opposite face of said core and is coated to embed the material in a said transparent coat material.

4. A display panel according to claim 1, 2 or 3 characterized by the feature that said core (6) is plywood which is coated on said one surface with an impregnated paper coating (7).

5. A display panel according to claim 1, 2 or 3 characterized by the feature that said core is plywood and said transparent coat (12) comprises an aliphatic polyurethane water based dispersion.

6. A display panel according to claim 1, 2, or 3 characterized by the feature that said woven image bearing material (8) is bonded to said one face of said core by a light colored material (9) such as one of glue, adhesive or cement.