EP1824795A1 - Semi-transparent material with differential screening according to the light intensity on the two sides thereof - Google Patents

Semi-transparent material with differential screening according to the light intensity on the two sides thereof

Info

Publication number
EP1824795A1
EP1824795A1 EP04799398A EP04799398A EP1824795A1 EP 1824795 A1 EP1824795 A1 EP 1824795A1 EP 04799398 A EP04799398 A EP 04799398A EP 04799398 A EP04799398 A EP 04799398A EP 1824795 A1 EP1824795 A1 EP 1824795A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pane
material according
sides
transparent
area
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP04799398A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Alberto Bresciani
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Vitreal Specchi SpA
Original Assignee
Vitreal Specchi Srl
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Vitreal Specchi Srl filed Critical Vitreal Specchi Srl
Publication of EP1824795A1 publication Critical patent/EP1824795A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
    • C03C—CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES OR VITREOUS ENAMELS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF GLASS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF FIBRES OR FILAMENTS MADE FROM GLASS, MINERALS OR SLAGS; JOINING GLASS TO GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS
    • C03C15/00—Surface treatment of glass, not in the form of fibres or filaments, by etching
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B44—DECORATIVE ARTS
    • B44C—PRODUCING DECORATIVE EFFECTS; MOSAICS; TARSIA WORK; PAPERHANGING
    • B44C1/00—Processes, not specifically provided for elsewhere, for producing decorative surface effects
    • B44C1/22—Removing surface-material, e.g. by engraving, by etching
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
    • C03C—CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES OR VITREOUS ENAMELS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF GLASS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF FIBRES OR FILAMENTS MADE FROM GLASS, MINERALS OR SLAGS; JOINING GLASS TO GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS
    • C03C19/00—Surface treatment of glass, not in the form of fibres or filaments, by mechanical means
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C03—GLASS; MINERAL OR SLAG WOOL
    • C03C—CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF GLASSES, GLAZES OR VITREOUS ENAMELS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF GLASS; SURFACE TREATMENT OF FIBRES OR FILAMENTS MADE FROM GLASS, MINERALS OR SLAGS; JOINING GLASS TO GLASS OR OTHER MATERIALS
    • C03C2218/00—Methods for coating glass
    • C03C2218/30—Aspects of methods for coating glass not covered above
    • C03C2218/34—Masking
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
    • E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
    • E06B9/00—Screening or protective devices for wall or similar openings, with or without operating or securing mechanisms; Closures of similar construction
    • E06B9/24—Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blinds

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to materials that provide a different degree of screening in the two directions of sight according to the intensity of the light that illuminates the two sides thereof, and in particular to a material in which said effect is achieved through a calibrated opacification of a portion of the surface of at least one of the sides, hi the following, specific reference will be made to a glass pane to be used in a window, but it is clear that what will be said also applies to similar transparent materials (e.g. Plexiglas or other type of plastic materials) and to different applications in the fields of building and furnishing, such as doors, wardrobe doors, dividing walls, shower booths, lamps, etc.
  • the term "pane” as used herein is not meant to be limited to a flat rectangular element, but also includes elements with curved surface and with any contour.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a material which is free from the above-mentioned drawbacks.
  • This object is achieved by means of a transparent material worked with a calibrated opacification of a portion of the surface of at least one of the sides according to the parameters and the ranges disclosed in claim 1.
  • Other advantageous features of the present material are specified in the dependent claims.
  • a first great advantage of this material is that of providing a differential screening in the two directions of sight without this implying a mirror effect, thus allowing a wider choice to the user.
  • a second significant advantage is that the screening effect can be achieved with a great freedom in the selection of the values of the working parameters, therefore with a wide range of aesthetic result of the material.
  • Still another advantage of the present material, in the embodiments with opacification through chemical or mechanical treatment, is the greater resistance to deterioration, that does not affect the screening effect.
  • Fig.l is a diagrammatic front view of a pane of material worked with a regular opacification pattern
  • Figs.2, 3 and 4 are views similar to the preceding one of other panes of material, with decreasing percentage of opacified surface and different working patterns.
  • a square pane Pl that has a side partially opacified according to a regular pattern that leaves transparent round regions R arranged in staggered horizontal rows. These regions R have a diameter of 1,2 mm (i.e. an area of about 1,13 mm 2 ), whereby the non- worked surface is equal to 14,1% of the area of pane Pl, that is to say that 85,9% of the pane is opacified.
  • the opacified surface is depicted in black for the sake of clarity, so as to obtain a clear contrast between the worked and non- worked regions, but said surface will actually be semi-transparent.
  • the light transmission factor of the opacified region will be between 75% and 90%, and this partial blocking of the light can be obtained through a chemical treatment (e.g. satin-etching), or a mechanical treatment (e.g. sandblasting) or by applying a suitable paint coating (e.g. silk screen printing).
  • the light transmission factor is calculated according to the procedures described in the specification EN 410: 1998 "Glass in building - Determination of luminous and solar characteristics of glazing".
  • the working of the pane does not necessarily follow a regular pattern and/or provide transparent regions of geometric shape since in the case of pane P2 there are provided "flower-shaped" transparent regions F arranged in an irregular pattern. These regions F have an area of about 2,5 mm 2 , whereby the non-worked surface is equal to about 32,5% of the area of pane P2, that is to say that 67,5% of the pane is opacified.
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 show other two embodiments of panes with a grid working with transparent regions of different shape and size.
  • pane P3 has square transparent regions S arranged in horizontal aligned rows, having an area of 4 mm 2 whereby the non- worked surface is equal to 36% of the area of pane P3, that is to say that 64% of the pane is opacified.
  • pane P4 has round transparent regions R' arranged in horizontal aligned rows, having a diameter of 2,5 mm (i.e. an area of about 4,91 mm 2 ), whereby the non- worked surface is equal to about 44,2% of the area of pane P4, that is to say that 55,8% of the pane is opacified.
  • the above-described differential screening effect is achieved by working the transparent material of the pane according to the following parameters: a) total area of the transparent regions: from 10% to 45% of the pane area; b) area of the single transparent region: from 0,5 mm 2 to 5 mm 2 ; c) light transmission factor of the opacified region: from 75% to 90%.
  • the whole pane P1-P4 has a global light transmission factor, always calculated according to the above-mentioned specification, between 80% and

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Surface Treatment Of Glass (AREA)

Abstract

A material that provides a different degree of screening in the two directions of sight according to the intensity of the light that illuminates the two sides of a pane (P1) is obtained through a calibrated opacification of a portion of the surface of at least one of the sides so as to leave a plurality of transparent regions (R). In particular, the working of said surface is such that the total area of said transparent regions (R) is from 10% to 45% of the area of the pane (P1), the area of the single transparent region (R) is from 0,5 mm2 to 5 mm2 and the light transmission factor of the opacified region is from 75% to 90%, so as to obtain a global light transmission factor of the whole pane (P1) between 80% and 95%.

Description

"SEMI-TRANSPARENT MATERIAL WITH DIFFERENTIAL SCREENING ACCORDING TO THE LIGHT INTENSITY ON THE TWO SIDES THEREOF"
The present invention relates to materials that provide a different degree of screening in the two directions of sight according to the intensity of the light that illuminates the two sides thereof, and in particular to a material in which said effect is achieved through a calibrated opacification of a portion of the surface of at least one of the sides, hi the following, specific reference will be made to a glass pane to be used in a window, but it is clear that what will be said also applies to similar transparent materials (e.g. Plexiglas or other type of plastic materials) and to different applications in the fields of building and furnishing, such as doors, wardrobe doors, dividing walls, shower booths, lamps, etc. As a consequence, the term "pane" as used herein is not meant to be limited to a flat rectangular element, but also includes elements with curved surface and with any contour.
It is known that there are glass panes treated to act as a one-way mirror, i.e. the more illuminated side acts as a mirror whereas the less illuminated side allows to see through, said effect being reversed when the light intensity on the two sides is swapped. A typical example are the windows of the buildings that in daylight reflect the image of the surrounding environment yet allowing the people inside to look out, whereas at dark it is possible from outside to see the internal rooms that are lit.
However, such a type of known panes allows only this mirror effect and nothing else, whereby it limits the choice of the user of said material. Moreover, since the effect is achieved by applying a thin coating layer on the glass, in case of deterioration or damage of said coating also the mirror effect is affected.
Therefore the object of the present invention is to provide a material which is free from the above-mentioned drawbacks. This object is achieved by means of a transparent material worked with a calibrated opacification of a portion of the surface of at least one of the sides according to the parameters and the ranges disclosed in claim 1. Other advantageous features of the present material are specified in the dependent claims.
A first great advantage of this material is that of providing a differential screening in the two directions of sight without this implying a mirror effect, thus allowing a wider choice to the user.
A second significant advantage is that the screening effect can be achieved with a great freedom in the selection of the values of the working parameters, therefore with a wide range of aesthetic result of the material.
Still another advantage of the present material, in the embodiments with opacification through chemical or mechanical treatment, is the greater resistance to deterioration, that does not affect the screening effect.
Further advantages and characteristics of the material according to the present invention will be clear to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of some embodiments thereof, with reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
Fig.l is a diagrammatic front view of a pane of material worked with a regular opacification pattern; and
Figs.2, 3 and 4 are views similar to the preceding one of other panes of material, with decreasing percentage of opacified surface and different working patterns.
With reference to fig.l, there is illustrated by way of example a square pane Pl that has a side partially opacified according to a regular pattern that leaves transparent round regions R arranged in staggered horizontal rows. These regions R have a diameter of 1,2 mm (i.e. an area of about 1,13 mm2), whereby the non- worked surface is equal to 14,1% of the area of pane Pl, that is to say that 85,9% of the pane is opacified.
It should be noted that in the drawing the opacified surface is depicted in black for the sake of clarity, so as to obtain a clear contrast between the worked and non- worked regions, but said surface will actually be semi-transparent. More specifically, the light transmission factor of the opacified region will be between 75% and 90%, and this partial blocking of the light can be obtained through a chemical treatment (e.g. satin-etching), or a mechanical treatment (e.g. sandblasting) or by applying a suitable paint coating (e.g. silk screen printing). It should be noted that the light transmission factor is calculated according to the procedures described in the specification EN 410: 1998 "Glass in building - Determination of luminous and solar characteristics of glazing".
As illustrated in fig.2, the working of the pane does not necessarily follow a regular pattern and/or provide transparent regions of geometric shape since in the case of pane P2 there are provided "flower-shaped" transparent regions F arranged in an irregular pattern. These regions F have an area of about 2,5 mm2, whereby the non-worked surface is equal to about 32,5% of the area of pane P2, that is to say that 67,5% of the pane is opacified.
Finally, figures 3 and 4 show other two embodiments of panes with a grid working with transparent regions of different shape and size. In particular, pane P3 has square transparent regions S arranged in horizontal aligned rows, having an area of 4 mm2 whereby the non- worked surface is equal to 36% of the area of pane P3, that is to say that 64% of the pane is opacified. Similarly, pane P4 has round transparent regions R' arranged in horizontal aligned rows, having a diameter of 2,5 mm (i.e. an area of about 4,91 mm2), whereby the non- worked surface is equal to about 44,2% of the area of pane P4, that is to say that 55,8% of the pane is opacified.
In practice, the above-described differential screening effect is achieved by working the transparent material of the pane according to the following parameters: a) total area of the transparent regions: from 10% to 45% of the pane area; b) area of the single transparent region: from 0,5 mm2 to 5 mm2; c) light transmission factor of the opacified region: from 75% to 90%.
In this way the whole pane P1-P4 has a global light transmission factor, always calculated according to the above-mentioned specification, between 80% and
95%. It is clear that the above-described and illustrated embodiments of the material according to the invention are just examples susceptible of various modifications. In particular, the alternation between transparent regions and opacified regions can be obtained with any shape and arrangement of said regions as long as you remain within the above-mentioned ranges of the working parameters. Moreover, the working can be performed, if desired, on both sides in order to achieve a still greater effect.

Claims

1. Transparent material in the form of a pane (Pl -P 4) or the like having two sides, characterized in that the surface of at least one of said two sides is partially opacified so as to leave a plurality of transparent regions, the working of said surface being such that the total area of said transparent regions is from 10% to 45% of the area of the pane (P1-P4), the area of the single transparent region is from 0,5 mm2 to 5 mm2 and the light transmission factor of the opacified region is from 75% to 90%, so as to obtain a global light transmission factor of the whole pane (P1-P4) between 80% and 95%.
2. Material according to claim 1, characterized in that the transparent regions are round (R; R') or square (S) arranged in staggered or aligned horizontal rows.
3. Material according to claim 1, characterized in that the transparent regions are transparent regions with fancy shapes (F) arranged in an irregular pattern.
4- Material according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the opacification of the worked surface is obtained through a chemical treatment.
5. Material according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the opacification of the worked surface is obtained through a mechanical treatment.
6. Material according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the opacification of the worked surface is obtained by applying a suitable paint coating.
7. Material according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said material is glass.
8. Product for the building or furnishing industry characterized in that it includes at least one element made of a material according to one of the preceding claims.
EP04799398A 2004-11-02 2004-11-02 Semi-transparent material with differential screening according to the light intensity on the two sides thereof Withdrawn EP1824795A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/IT2004/000601 WO2006048897A1 (en) 2004-11-02 2004-11-02 Semi-transparent material with differential screening according to the light intensity on the two sides thereof

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1824795A1 true EP1824795A1 (en) 2007-08-29

Family

ID=34959423

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP04799398A Withdrawn EP1824795A1 (en) 2004-11-02 2004-11-02 Semi-transparent material with differential screening according to the light intensity on the two sides thereof

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1824795A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2006048897A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2013056747A1 (en) * 2011-10-21 2013-04-25 Omt Solutions Beheer B.V. Transparent optical panel, a solar module, and method of manufacturing the transparent optical panel

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB8320969D0 (en) 1983-08-03 1983-09-07 Ici Plc Transparent sheet
FR2670774B1 (en) * 1990-12-21 1993-09-10 Saint Gobain Vitrage Int DIFFUSING GLAZING.
GB2323333A (en) * 1997-03-18 1998-09-23 Christopher Andrew Ri Browning Decorative glass panels with motifs on opposed surfaces

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2006048897A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2006048897A1 (en) 2006-05-11

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