EP0728542A1 - Decorated structure of deformed metal, in particular of expanded metal, and method for its production - Google Patents

Abstract

The metal structure comprises a wire mesh (11) in which a motif (16) if formed by deforming the mesh to project slightly and create a desired visual effect. The structures comprises a metal sheet which contains deformations (11) to form a mesh (12) delimited by strips (13) inclined w.r.t. the general plan. The deformed design (16) does not affect the sides of the strips.

Description

The present invention relates generally to deformed metal structures, that is to say structures which, formed essentially from a single sheet, projecting from a mesh network of deformations.

It relates more particularly, but not necessarily exclusively, to the case where, in the case of expanded metal, the deformations form perforated meshes delimited by strips inclined on the general plane of the initial sheet, these meshes being obtained by "unfolding" of the latter, that is to say by cutting and drawing of this initial sheet.

Expanded metal structures of this type have many uses, and, in particular, they are commonly used, for example in the form of panels, then generally planar, for the constitution of ceilings, insulating partitions, or fencing, or protective grids.

When they occur in large areas and they are divided into panels, it is already possible to draw a particular aesthetic effect, in a checkerboard pattern, by alternating from one panel to another the orientation of their meshes.

The present invention generally relates to a provision making it possible to derive a different or additional aesthetic effect therefrom, in order to further increase its attractive effect, and thus break a possible monotony of the whole.

More specifically, the present invention firstly relates to a deformed metal structure, of the kind comprising a projecting mesh network of deformations, and characterized in that, a pattern being applied to it, this pattern only affects 'a limited portion of at least some of these deformations, which, for at least one group thereof, is oriented on the same side for all the deformations of such a group.

Thus, this motif, which can for example be a simple decoration, purely arbitrary, and / or include any mention of information intended for the passer-by, is not clearly apparent to such a passer-by only when the angle of observation thereof is made in a direction substantially perpendicular to the portions concerned of the deformations carrying this pattern.

When the angle of observation of the passer-by deviates from this direction, the pattern is on the contrary more or less blurred.

It is also completely invisible when the angle of observation of the passer-by is in a direction opposite to that in which the portions concerned of the deformations which carry it are oriented.

Thus, overall, a passerby who moves along a deformed metal structure according to the invention has a changing or fleeting vision of the pattern applied to it, which, successively, appears or disappears, or vice versa .

The attention of the passer-by can therefore only be advantageously retained by such a variable vision of this motif.

When, for example, the deformed metal structure concerned is made of expanded metal, it is possible, for obtaining a structure according to the invention, to apply, flat, on the initial sheet, an initial pattern whose pattern sought will be, by a kind of anamorphosis, derived, and to subject, then, this initial sheet, to the usual operations of cutting and drawing necessary for its "unfolding".

It turns out, in fact, surprisingly, that, despite the deformation of the metal, the pattern applied to the initial sheet remains after the "unfolding" of the latter.

The present invention therefore also relates to such a process for obtaining.

• la figure 1 est une vue partielle en plan d'une structure en métal déformé suivant l'invention ;
• la figure 2 reprend, à échelle supérieure, le détail de la figure 1 repéré par un encart II sur cette figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est, à échelle également supérieure, une vue partielle en coupe transversale de la structure en métal déformé suivant l'invention, suivant la ligne III-III de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en plan de la tôle initiale dont est issue cette structure en métal déformé, après application d'un motif initial à cette tôle ;
• la figure 5 en est une vue en coupe transversale, suivant la ligne V-V de la figure 4 ;
• les figures 6A, 6B, 6C sont des vues en perspective illustrant de manière schématique la vision changeante, obtenue suivant divers angles d'observation, de la structure en métal déformé suivant l'invention.

The objects of the invention, their characteristics and their advantages will also emerge from the description which follows, by way of example, with reference to the appended schematic drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a partial plan view of a deformed metal structure according to the invention;
• Figure 2 shows, on a larger scale, the detail of Figure 1 identified by an insert II in this Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is, also on a larger scale, a partial cross-sectional view of the deformed metal structure according to the invention, along the line III-III of Figure 1;
• FIG. 4 is a plan view of the initial sheet from which this deformed metal structure comes, after application of an initial pattern to this sheet;
• Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view along the line VV of Figure 4;
• Figures 6A, 6B, 6C are perspective views schematically illustrating the changing vision, obtained from various angles of observation, of the deformed metal structure according to the invention.

These figures illustrate by way of example the application of the invention to a deformed metal structure 10 which is in the general form of a simple flat panel with a generally rectangular outline.

Let P, as shown diagrammatically by its broken line in FIG. 3, be the general plan of this deformed metal structure 10.

Overall, the deformed metal structure 10 comprises, projecting from this general plane P, on one and the other of the faces thereof, deformations 11.

The figures illustrate more particularly the case where, in the case of expanded metal, the deformations 11 of the deformed metal structure 10 form perforated meshes 12 delimited by strips 13, which, running over the entire width l of this metal structure deformed 10, while being offset from each other along the length L thereof, are all generally inclined on its general plane P.

The strips 13 are generally wavy.

In the embodiment shown, they are generally wavy in scallops.

It follows that, in this embodiment, the outline of the meshes 12 is that of an isosceles curvilinear triangle, with concave lateral sides and a convex base.

But, of course, any other outline is possible for these meshes 12.

The process for obtaining a deformed metal structure 10 thus formed from expanded metal being moreover well known per se, it will not be described in detail here.

It will suffice to indicate that, starting from an initial sheet 10 ′, which, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, has the same width l as the final deformed metal structure 10 but has a length L ′ less than that of this one, this initial sheet 10 'is subjected to cutting and drawing operations, which are successive or simultaneous, the cutting operation taking place generally along the width l and the drawing operation taking place on the contrary overall along the length L '.

The deformations 11 are formed by the scallops, arched in a chain, which form the strips 13.

For each face of the initial sheet 10 ', these strips 13 each have two sides, one and the other inclined on the general plane P, namely a side 14, which comes from the corresponding surface of this sheet 10', and a sidewall 15, which comes from the thickness thereof, and the updating of which results from the "deployment" to which it has been subjected.

In the stretching direction, that is to say in the lengthwise direction L ′, L, the flank 14 extends downstream, and the flank 15 upstream.

In what follows, and for simplicity, only one of the faces of the initial sheet 10 'is taken into consideration, and the same is true for the deformed metal structure 10 which results therefrom.

According to the invention, a pattern 16 being applied, on such a face, to the deformed metal structure 10, this pattern 16 only affects a limited portion of at least some of its deformations 11, which, for a group at less of these, is oriented on the same side for all the deformations 11 of such a group.

For simplicity, the pattern 16 has been assumed to consist of a simple letter O, of circular outline, in the embodiment shown.

However, it goes without saying that any other more elaborate motif can be envisaged.

It can be for example any decoration, and / or any mention of information.

For simplicity, too, only a group of deformations 11 has been assumed to be affected by the pattern 16 in the embodiment shown.

However, it goes without saying that two distinct groups of deformations 11 can each be respectively concerned by distinct patterns 16, identical or different, and / or according to orientations which are themselves identical or different.

When, as in this case, in the case of expanded metal, the deformations 11 belong to strips 13 forming between them openwork meshes 12, the pattern 16 affects only one of the sides of these strips 13, in l 'species their side 14, which, located downstream in the direction of stretching, comes from the corresponding surface of the initial sheet 10'.

It follows from the obliquity of this sidewall 14 with respect to the general plane P that the vision that the motif 16 has of any observer depends on the observation angle at which his view embraces the deformed metal structure 10.

It therefore depends on its scroll relative to the latter.

In FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, such scrolling has been substituted, for greater clarity, a progressive inclination of the deformed metal structure 10.

In FIG. 6A, the observation is assumed to be made at an angle which, as indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 3, is oblique in a first direction with respect to the general plane P and relates essentially to the side 15 strips 13: for such an angle of observation, the pattern 16 is obviously not apparent.

In FIG. 6B, the observation is assumed to be made at an angle which, as indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 3, is substantially perpendicular to the general plane P and makes it possible to see at the same time, but at an angle, the flank 15 of the strips 13 and their side 14, as in the plan view of FIG. 1: for such an angle of observation, the pattern 16 is apparent, but, due to its fragmentation, on the one hand, and the on the other hand, it is barely visible.

In FIG. 6C, the observation is assumed to be made at an angle which, as indicated by the arrow C in FIG. 3, is oblique with respect to the general plane P, in a direction opposite to that corresponding to the angle d observation marked by the previous arrow A, and relates essentially to the side 14 of the strips 13, being substantially perpendicular thereto: for such an angle of observation, the pattern 16 appears in all its fullness, the sides 14 of the strips 13 coming to reconstitute, by projection onto a plane perpendicular to this angle of observation, the corresponding face of the initial sheet 10 '.

Thus, globally, depending on its angle of observation, the observer has, on scrolling, a changing or fleeting vision of the pattern 16.

In order to obtain a deformed metal structure 10, thus having a pattern 16, the following procedure is used in practice.

As shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 4, 5, an initial pattern 16 ′ is first applied flat on the initial sheet 10 ′, from which, by a sort of anamorphosis, due to stretching, the pattern 16 sought will be derived .

In the case where, as in the present case, the pattern 16 is a circular contour O, the pattern 16 'is a slightly flattened O in ellipse.

For example, the application of the initial 16 ′ pattern on the initial sheet 10 ′ can be done using sublimable inks, according to a process generally falling under the decal.

The pattern 16 ′ composed of such sublimable inks is initially printed on any support, and, for example, on a paper support.

It is then transferred by heat and pressure from this support to the initial sheet 10 '.

For example, a temperature of the order of 200 ° C, applied for a time of the order of 2 minutes, and under a pressure of the order of 2 to 4 bars may be sufficient.

If the initial 10 'sheet is an aluminum sheet, this initial 10' sheet is preferably anodized before applying the initial 16 'pattern, so that it is duly protected and that the 16' pattern penetrates better. .

The anodized layer thus obtained can extend over 6 to 20 microns, depending on the quality of protection sought.

After the initial pattern 16 ′ has been applied to the initial sheet 10 ′, this initial sheet 10 ′ is moreover preferably subjected to another operation, called sealing operation, to trap the inks inside the previous anodized layer. this initial 16 'motif.

In practice, this clogging operation amounts to an operation of immersion of the initial sheet 10 'in a bath of demineralized water to which is added a clogging salt, for example that known under the commercial designation "HARDWALL", at with a content of the order of 5 grams of clogging salt per liter of water, and the pH of which is preferably adjusted between 4.5 and 5.5.

This sealing operation is in practice carried out at low temperature, that is to say at a temperature of the order of 25 to 30 ° C, and its duration is for example of the order of 20 minutes.

Whether it is made of aluminum or any other material, and for example stainless steel, the initial sheet 10 ′ is then subjected to "unfolding", that is to say to the usual cutting and drawing operations necessary to such a "deployment".

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and implementation described and shown, but includes any variant.

In particular, if, in the foregoing, it has been assumed, for simplicity, that the initial sheet is only deployed in one direction, it goes without saying that it can be deployed in two or more different directions, and, for example, in two directions at 90 ° relative to each other, with equal or possibly different amplitudes depending on the directions, to further vary the visual effect due to the pattern which was previously applied to it, this reason thus being found to relate to distinct groups of deformations, at the rate of at least one group per direction.

In addition, if in the above, it has been assumed that only one of the faces of the initial sheet, and therefore of the deformed metal structure obtained, is concerned, it goes without saying that for obtaining a expanded metal structure decorated on its two faces, one and the other of these faces can be concerned, the applied pattern then being or not the same for each of them.

As a corollary, the field of application of the invention is not limited to only structures formed from flat panels, but on the contrary extends equally to that of volume structures, in particular when such flat panels are more or less curved, curved or shaped.

Finally, the field of application of the invention is generally not limited only to expanded metal structures, but extends more generally to deformed metal structures projecting from a mesh network of deformations , that the meshes of this network are unidirectional, the deformations reducing for example in this case to simple parallel ribs, or that they are bidirectional meshes, the deformations forming for example in this case simple local bosses.

Claims (9)

Deformed metal structure of the kind comprising a projecting mesh network of deformations (11), characterized in that, a pattern (16) applied to it, this pattern (16) affects only a limited portion of at least some these deformations (11) which, for at least one group thereof, is oriented on the same side for all the deformations (11) of such a group. Structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, being an expanded metal structure, which comes from an initial sheet (10 '), and whose deformations (11) form delimited openwork meshes (12) by strips (13) inclined to the general plane (P) of the initial sheet (10 '), the pattern (16) affects only one of the sides (14) of the strips (13) concerned. Structure according to claim 2, characterized in that the pattern (16) affects only the side (14) of the strips (13) concerned which is downstream in the direction of stretching. Structure according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is made of aluminum. Method for obtaining a deformed metal structure (10) having a pattern (16) on the surface, characterized in that, being an expanded metal structure, it is applied flat to the sheet (10 ' ) initial an initial pattern (16 ') from which the desired pattern (16) will be derived, and this initial sheet (10') is then subjected to the usual cutting and drawing operations. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the initial pattern (16 ') is applied to the initial sheet (10') by a hot transfer operation using sublimable inks. Method according to any one of Claims 5, 6, characterized in that, the initial sheet (10 ') being an aluminum sheet, its anodization is ensured before applying the initial pattern (16') to it. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that, after application of the initial pattern (16 ') to the initial sheet (10'), this initial sheet (10 ') is subjected to a sealing operation. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the sealing operation is carried out at low temperature, for a period of the order of 20 minutes.

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