GB2240068A

GB2240068A - Applying decoration to an article of furniture by routing

Info

Publication number: GB2240068A
Application number: GB9013666A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph Quentin Anderton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-12-08
Filing date: 1990-06-19
Publication date: 1991-07-24
Anticipated expiration: 2010-06-19
Also published as: GB8927804D0; GB9013666D0; GB2240068B

Abstract

A part of an item of furniture for example a drawer front (10) is provided with a decorative pattern in the form of a flower (12) using a routing cutter to rout out shapes 14 in the part, the diameter of the routing cutter being significantly smaller than the largest distance across the shapes. The pattern can be coloured using any conventional method. The furniture part may comprise two portions, the pattern being cut completely through the first portion which is then attached to the second portion. <IMAGE>

Description

METHOD OF APPLYING DECORATION TO AN ARTICLE AND AN ARTICLE PRODUCED THEREBY The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for applying a decorative finish to an article and an article produced by the method.

In particular though not exclusively the invention is concerned with providing a method and apparatus of applying a decorative pattern to articles of furniture, for example kitchen and bedroom furniture.

In the case of kitchen furniture the invention is concerned with applying a decorative pattern to drawer and cabinet fronts.

Decorative finishes and patterns can be applied to, for example, drawer fronts and cabinet doors by the use of pre-formed mouldings which are applied to a surface, or by the application of transfers. Also a continuous line or lines can be cut into the drawer front or cabinet drawer using a routing tool and the channel thus formed can be applied with a colour distinctive from the colour of the surrounding parts of the drawer front or cabinet door.

The present invention seeks to provide a method and apparatus of forming a decorative pattern in, for example, drawer fronts and cabinet drawers in which a routing tool is used to create an artistic design.

Accordingly the present invention provides a method of forming a decorative pattern for part of an item of furniture comprising the steps of using a routing cutter to cut the pattern to a predetermined depth in a piece of material so that one or more predetermined shapes are cut into the piece of material in which the routing cutter is of a diametrical dimension significantly smaller than the largest distance across one of the said shapes.

The decorative pattern can be formed in a single piece of material comprising the part of an item of furniture, eg a drawer front or cupboard door. Alternatively, the part of an item of furniture can comprise two portions, a first portion in which the pattern is formed, and a second portion to which the first portion is attached. \ The colours can be applied using a mask, or by hand using a brush, or using an air-brush.

The present invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which, Fig. 1 shows a decorative pattern applied to part of an item of furniture in accordance with the present invention, Fig. 2 is a section on line II-II in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 shows a decorative pattern applied to part of an item of furniture similar to Fig. 1, in accordance with the present invention, and Fig. 4 is a section on line IV-IV in Fig. 3.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, an item of furniture comprises a drawer front 10 for a set of kitchen drawers.

The pattern to be applied to the drawer front 10 is in the form of a flower 12 and the pattern comprises a number of recesses 14 which are cut into the surface of the drawer front 10 creating lands 16 between adjacent recesses. The recesses are formed by using a routing cutter. The drawer front 10 which can be made from medium density fibre board is placed upon the base of a routing machine and a routing cutter is used to cut out each of the recessed shapes 14. The routing cutter is set to cut into the surface of the drawer front 10 to a pre-determined depth and the routing cutter is used not only to cut so that edge of each portion 14 is defined but also removes all of the material in the manner of an end and side mill to remove all of the material within the recess.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2 which shows a section across three of the recesses 14, it will be appreciated that all of the material in the recess is cut away by the use of a routing cutter.

Usually routing cutters are only used to cut a channel to a predetermined depth and to a width approximating to the diameter of the routing cutter itself. In the case of the present invention the routing cutter is used to remove material and to create a recessed shape in which the maximum dimension across the recess is many times greater than the diameter of the routing cutter.

Once each of the recesses 14 has been completed and the surfaces of the recess smoothed if necessary, colours are applied to the lands 16 between the recesses 14 and to the recesses 14 to create the appearance of a flower.

The colours can be applied by the use of an air-brush, or by using one or more masks, or the colours may each be individually applied by hand using a hand brush.

ReferringEto Figs. 3 and 4 in which corresponding components have been given the same references as in Figs. 1 and 2. The pattern applied to a drawer front 10 as in the form of a flower 12. In this case the drawer front is in two parts lOA and lOB which are attached together for example by a suitable wood adhesive. The part lOA forms a base and the pattern is applied to the part lOB prior to the part lOB being secured to the part lOA.

The part lOB which can be in the form of 3mm thick medium density fibre board is formed with the pattern of a flower 12 by using a routing cutter as described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.

However in the case of the example shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the cut is completely through the thickness of the part lOB so that the pattern is formed as a series of shaped openings in the part lOB.

Once all the openings have been cut by the routing cutter and the edges of all the openings smoothed if necessary the parts 10A and lOB are attached together by any suitable means so as to form the drawer front 10.

This method allows for the base of the recesses 14 all to be smooth since the upper surface of the part 10A does not require machining. The part lOA can be formed for example, from 15mm thick medium density fibre board.

The pattern thus formed can be coloured in the same way as described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.

It will be appreciated that a very wide variety of designs can be applied to items of furniture using the method as described above and is not limited to producing patterns in the form of flowers.

The methods can be applied to almost any item of furniture so as to enhance its appearance, for example the doors and side panels of living room, dining room and bedroom furniture as well as the kitchen drawer and door fronts as mentioned above.

Claims

1 A method of forming a decorative pattern for a part of an item of furniture comprising the steps of using a routing cutter to cut the pattern to a pre-determined depth in a piece of material so that one or more pre-determined shapes are cut into the piece of material in which the routing cutter is of diametrical dimensions significantly smaller than the largest distance across the said shapes

2 A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the piece of material comprises a part of the item of furniture.

3 A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the said part comprises two portions, a first portion in which the pattern is formed, the pattern comprising one or more shaped openings through the said first portion, the said first portion being attached to the said second portion.

4 A method as claimed in claim 3 in which the first portion is thinner than the second portion.

5 A method as claimed in claim 4 in which the first portion comprises medium density fibre board of 3mm thickness and the second portion comprises medium density fibre board of 15mm thickness.

6 A method as claimed in any one of the preceeding claims including the steps of applying one or more colours to the said part of an item of furniture.

7 A part of an item of furniture as made by the method in any one of the preceeding claims.

8 A item of furniture including a part as claimed in claim 7.