GB2192366A - Method of decorating a surface - Google Patents

Abstract

A number of methods of applying decorations to surfaces are disclosed. These include applying a texture mix comprising textured paint, vinyl emulsifier, water and colouring agent through a woven net by means of spraying or by a roller, brush, spatula or sponge; applying flock through the net with a spray gun; embossing a surface by passing a sandwich of felt, the substrate and a patterned net through pressing rollers; similar techniques using punched-out stencils; or by applying the texture mix directly to the substrate using shaped nozzles. Numerous substrates are mentioned, including plasterboard, textiles, concrete, paper, thin sheets of metals or foils. When using a coloured texture mix on a fabric, the mix may subsequently be washed away to leave a dyed pattern. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method of decorating a surface The present invention relates to a method of decorating a surface by applying a pattern thereto.

According to the present invention there is provided a method of decorating a surface, the method comprising transferring the pattern of a woven net on to the surface by any suitable means.

The present invention is not limited to any particular type of surface, and may be successfully employed to decorate walls, ceilings, tiles, bricks, crockery, board, paper, metal foil, plastics, vinyls, natural or synthetic fabrics, and many other types of surfaces.

The means employed to transfer the pattern may equally take a number of different forms.

The pattern may be transferred by applying a colouring medium, for example textured wall covering, through the net on to the surface, preferably by spraying, although the texture may be applied by roller, brush, spatula or sponge as desired. Where the texture is used to decorate fabrics, the texture is subsequently removed from the fabric by washing, leaving a dyed pattern on the fabric.

Alternativeiy, the pattern may be transferred by an embossing method in which a flexible substrate such as paper or metal foil is sandwiched between a layer of felt and the wove net and the three layers fed through pressurised rollers which serve to emboss the pattern of the net on to the paper or foil.

As an alternative to using woven nets, a stencil or stencil tape having a desired pattern stamped out of it may be equally successfully employed in the method of the present invention.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a net to be used with the method of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows the production of a decorated border using the method of the present invention.

Figure 3 shows the method of assembly of decorated boards.

Figure 4 shows a net suitable for decorating or manufacturing a ceiling rose.

Figure 5 shows a net suitable for decorating borders.

Figure 5A shows the use of stencils in the method of the present invention.

Figure 5B shows the use of a stencil as part of a craft kit.

Figure 6 shows the use of shaped nozzles to apply texture to a surface.

Figure 7 shows a variety of differently shaped nozzles.

Figure 8 shows a suitable gun for use with the nozzles shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

Referring to Fig. 1, the method according to the present invention consists of applying to a surface a net 1 into which is woven a pattern 2. The texture mix comprising two kilograms of texture, half a litre of vinyl emulsifier, half a litre of cold water (the amount of water can be varied according to the brand of texture used), and the desired amount of colouring medium, is applied by spatula, sponge or other suitable method, through the net, onto the surface. In this way, once the net is peeled away, the pattern woven into the net is transferred to the texture on the surface.

The net is then washed and dried for further use.

The surface is treated prior to texturing with a universal bonding agent and one or more (preferably two) coats of vinyl emulsion of any chosen colour. This gives a two-colour pat tern, but a third colour can be added by spraying it through the net so that it adheres to the surface of the texture and shows the other two colours as well. The pattern can be applied directly to walls (either indoor or outdoor) or ceilings, or other object, or as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 it can be applied to special boards 3 which are plasterboard sealed on one side and covered with aluminium foil on the other side to provide damp-proofing. Once the boards have been textured on the sealed side in accordance with the present invention, they are fixed by wooden battens 4 to the wall 5.A number of boards (typically each 4ft by 8ft) can be so fixed on to a wall, adjacent boards 6, 7 being joined together so as to provide a continuous patterned textured surface. Alternatively, 8ft by 4ft sheets of hardboard may be used.

The texture may also be sprayed through the net to achieve a more attractive result, using a spray gun.

As an alternative to spraying texture through the net, flock may be sprayed using a conventional flock gun.

Referring to Fig. 4, a circular net 8 with a hole cut out of the centre to accommodate the light fitting, can be used to decorate a ceiling rose. The same net could also be used to manufacture ceiling roses in a similar manner to the plasterboard method.

Referring to Fig. 5, a narrow strip 10 of net may be used to produce a patterned textured border.

Instead of using textured wall covering, a special mix comprising resin, hardner, curing agent and colouring may be employed to produce a decorative coating which is damproof, washable and insulating. This would be especially suitable for applying to boards, doors, floors, concrete and the like. The mix is applied by brush or spray gun to a clean, dust and grease free surface to a thickness of 1/8" or more (this would cover in the region of 5 to 7 square yards of surface). This initial coat is allowed to dry for 8 hours at normal temperatures, but this period may be reduced by raising the temperature. The curing agent will continue to harden the coating for up to 36 hours after application. A patterned net is then placed over the surface, and another colour of the above mix is sprayed over and into the net.After 1 hour the net may be removed, leaving the pattern of the net on the surface.

Textured wall covering may be applied through a net on to fabric, and the texture then removed by washing. A piece of fabric is stretched over a bed or table and secured so that it does not move. The fabric is then overlaid with a patterned net which is also secured at the edges. A mix comprising 2 kilograms of texture, 0.5 litres of water and required amount of dye is worked into the net with a- sponge, or sprayed through a spray gun. The net is then removed and the fabric is dried with a very hot air blower to fix the colour. The dry textured material is then washed in cold or lukewarm water to remove the texture, leaving a dyed pattern on the fabric. Additional colours may be applied in a similar manner.As well as being employed on an industriai scale, this method of dying fabrics is equally suitable for the production of craft kits for children and adults.

A patterned net may also be effectively used to emboss a flexible substrate such as paper, vinyl, thin sheets of copper, brass, silver or gold, tin foils and the like. The substrate to be embossed is placed over a piece of felt, and a patterned net is then placed over the substrate. The three layers are then fed through pressurised rollers, or presses.

After rolling or pressing, the substrate is removed and is embossed with the pattern of the net.

Figs. 5A and 5B show the use of punched out stencils and stencil tapes 11 to produce decorative borders, and also to form a complete picture as part of a craft kit, as shown in Fig. 5B.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 show alternative means of applying texture to a surface. Texture compound is applied directly from squeezable tubes 13, through screw-on nozzles 14 which are shaped on one side 16 to produce a pattern as the texture is squeezed through, and flat on the other side 15 to produce a large area for adhesion to the surface.

The nozzles 14 may alternatively be fitted to a special gun 20 by means of locating slots and lugs 21, 22. The gun comprises a barrel 23 within which is a piston 24 which is pushed forward by squeezing a trigger 25 which acts on a ratchet bar 26. The return spring 27 biases the trigger away from the serrations in the ratchet bar.

It should be appreciated that the method according to the present invention may take various different forms to suit particular applications.

Claims (7)

1. A method of decorating a surface, the method comprising transferring the pattern of a net on to the surface by any suitable means.

2. A method according to Claim 1 in which the pattern is transferred by applying a colouring medium through the net on to the surface.

3. A method according to Claim 2 in which the colouring medium comprises textured paint, vinyl emulsifier, water, and a colouring agent.

4. A method according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 in which the colouring medium is applied by spraying.

5. A method according to any of the preceding Claims in which the surface is treated, prior to being decorated, with a universal bonding agent.

6. A method according to Claim 1 in which the pattern is transferred by embossing, a flexible substrate being sandwiched between a layer of felt and the net and the three layers fed through pressurised rollers which serve to emboss the pattern of the net on to substrate.

7. A method of decorating a surface, the method comprising applying textured paint directly on to the surface through a shaped nozzle.