GB2224974A

GB2224974A - Method and means for decorating a substrate

Info

Publication number: GB2224974A
Application number: GB8922281A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert William Wilson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-10-04
Filing date: 1989-10-03
Publication date: 1990-05-23
Also published as: GB8922281D0

Abstract

A method and means for decorating a substrate such as glass, tiles or mirrors to simulate stained glass comprises taking a flexible, transparent or translucent film, for example a polyester film, which may have a self-adhesive coating on one side, sublimation printing a design (12), a motif or a colouration on the film so as at least partially to penetrate the film, and securing the film adhesively to the substrate. The sublimation printing may be done by a process involving the application of heat and pressure to cause the deep penetration of the printing into the film, in a transfer printing process. A dividing strip (13) of lead of imitation lead may be adhered to the substrate and to the film. If the film is given an overall colouration, it is cut into shaped pieces for application to the substrate. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE: Method & Means for Decorating a Substrate This invention relates to a method and means for decorating a substrate.

It was particularly devised for decorating glass to give a "stained glass" effect. However, the method and means may be used on other substrates such as mirrors, plastics sheets, or tiles. For convenience of description, reference will be made to use on glass but it will be appreciated that the invention is not so limited.

There is an increasing interest in decorated glass to give individuality to windows and doors for example.

Genuine stained glass is made by the traditional method of securing together small coloured glass shapes using lead came of generally H-shaped section. This technique requires great skill and is therefore not suitable for other than professional use.

Simplified methods of making simulated stained glass have been proposed, but none has proved wholly satisfactory.

In one such method, thin coloured-glass shapes are assembled with adhesive on a backing sheet of glass. The joints are then covered with self adhesive lead strip.

This method is expensive and also requires considerable skill.

In another method, lead strip is laid out on the substrate and the spaces between the strip are then coloured by means of chemical colouring agents. There may be problems of adhesion of these agents and precautions need to be taken in their use to avoid health hazards.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new or improved method and means for decorating a substrate, for example to simulate stained glass.

According to the invention there is provided a method of decorating a substrate comprising taking a flexible, transparent or translucent film, sublimation printing a design or a colouration on the film so as at least partially to penetrate the film, and securing the film adhesively to the substrate.

The sublimation printing may be done by a process involving the application of heat and pressure to cause deep penetration of the printing into the film. The process may be a transfer printing process.

The method may include the further step of adhering a dividing strip to the substrate and to the film to simulate lead strip.

Viewed from a further aspect, the invention provides a means for decorating a substrate comprising a flexible, transparent or translucent film, having a design or colouration printed thereon by sublimation printing, such that the design or colouration at least partially penetrates the film, and adhesive means adapted to secure the film to the substrate.

The sheet may be of polyester. The sheet may be provided with an adhesive coating on one face. The adhesive may be curable over a period of time to hold the sheet permanently in position or may be non-curing to enable the film to be removed.

A dividing strip may be provided, adapted to be secured to the substrate and to the film. Alternatively or in addition, the film may have dividing lines printed thereon to simulate lead strip.

The dividing strip may be wound on a reel having a pair of end plates. One or both of the end plates may have a plurality of shaped slots for use as guidelines for laying out the decoration on the substrate.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is an illustration of a simulated stained glass panel made using a central printed motif and a sheet of printed patterned background material; FIGURE 2 is an illustration of a panel made using a single printed sheet carrying the whole design and divided by strips of adhesively secured imitation lead; FIGURE 3 illustrates the end plates of a reel of imitation lead strip used in the panel of Figure 2.

In a first form, not shown in the drawings, a transparent or translucent polyester film is printed with a single colour by a printing process involving the use of subliming ink, that is to say using an ink which does not enter the liquid phase but passes direct from the solid phase to the gaseous phase. The ink is caused to penetrate into the film by the use of heat and pressure. In this manner, the colour becomes fused into the film and cannot be removed by normal wear and tear.

The film is supplied in continuous sheets which can be cut up into shapes by the user. These shapes are then adhesively secured to a substrate such as a glass sheet in the desired coloured patterns. A dividing strip may then be secured to the substrate and to the film to simulate traditional stained glass.

In a further form, the film is printed with a nonuniform colouration to simulate antique or "cathedral" glass. It is again supplied in continuous form for cutting up by the user.

In a still further form, used in the imitation stained glass panel of Figure 1, a film has a multicoloured design printed on it in a multi-stage process.

The design may be of a traditional stained glass appearance for instance, incorporating dividing lines 10 simulating leading. In the illustrated embodiment, the background has a diamond-shaped pattern.

However, the design may represent any form of illustration, lettering or the like. In the central part of the drawing, there is shown a circular motif 14, printed in half-tones to produce shading.

Colours may be overlaid during the printing sequence to produce variations in tone. In this way the range of designs available can be extended to virtually any type of design which can be printed on paper.

In each case, the ink used in the design and the film must be sufficiently resistant to deterioration by light, particularly ultra-violet light.

In the form shown in Figure 2, the film is supplied carrying a complete design 12 which can simply be adhered to the desired substrate by the user. Alternatively, multi-coloured designs made in this way can be supplied as motifs 14 for use alone or in combination with each other, or with single-colour films as previously described.

In each of these examples, the design can be overlaid with dividing strips 13 of lead or imitation lead to more nearly simulate stained glass. However, to ensure good permanent adhesion, it is preferable to leave gaps between the portions of film so that at least part of the strip can contact and adhere to the glass.

In order to print the design, transfer printing techniqes are used, with the mirror image of the desired design first being printed on a transfer sheet and then being laid onto the film. The heat and pressure necessary to sublime the ink into the film are then applied and the design thereafter becomes fixed in the film.

To produce a self-adhesive film, a coating of a suitable adhesive is applied to one face of the film and a peel-off protective sheet is applied to be removed before use.

For permanent use, the adhesive is of a curable type which becomes permanent after curing for a period of time, for example after a few days. However, non-permanent decorations may be made by using a non-curing adhesive. These may be useful for decorating childrens' rooms, where decorations may need to be changed as the child grows older, or for very short-term uses such as Christmas or other celebratory decorations or for department store special promotions.

Where a lead or imitation lead strip is to be added to the decoration, it is supplied in continuous form on a reel having a pair of end plates. Figure 3 illustrates end plates which may be used, one or both of the end plates 15, 16 having slots 17 of various shapes known as french curves, to assist in the creation of designs by the non-professional user.

The invention provides a safe and versatile way in which decoration can be added to a substrate such as glass, mirrors, plastics sheets and tiles.

Claims

CLAIRS

1. A method of decorating a substrate comprising taking a flexible, transparent or translucent film, sublimation printing a design or a colouration on the film so as at least partially to penetrate the film, and securing the film adhesively to the substrate.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the sublimation printing is done by a process involving the application of heat and pressure to cause deep penetration of the printing into the film.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the printing process is a transfer printing process.

4. A method according to any preceding claim and including the further step of adhering a dividing strip to the substrate and to the film to simulate lead strip.

5. A decoration means for decorating a substrate comprising a flexible, transparent or translucent film, having a design or colouration printed thereon by sublimation printing, such that the design or colouration at least partially penetrates the film, and adhesive means adapted to secure the film to the substrate.

6. A decoration means according to claim 5 wherein the sheet is of polyester.

7. A decoration means according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the sheet is provided with an adhesive coating on one face.

8. A decoration means according to claim 7 wherein the adhesive is curable over a period of time to hold the sheet permanently in position

9. A decoration means according to claim 7 wherein the adhesive is non-curing to enable the film to be removed.

10. A decoration means according to any one of claims 5 to 9 wherein a dividing strip of lead or simulated lead is provided, adapted to be secured to the substrate and to the film.

11. A decoration means according to any one of claims 5 to 10 wherein the film has dividing lines printed thereon to simulate lead strip.

12. A method of decorating a substrate according to claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

13. A decoration means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.