GB2289008A

GB2289008A - Decorative laminate

Info

Publication number: GB2289008A
Application number: GB9409076A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Carol Surcouf
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-05-06
Filing date: 1994-05-06
Publication date: 1995-11-08
Also published as: GB9409076D0

Abstract

There is disclosed a decorative laminate comprising a discontinuous layer of opaque material encapsulated within a clear resin. The discontinuous layer is either a plurality of discrete pieces arranged in spaced relationship or a single piece having at least one aperture therethrough and may be of plywood, wood, veneer, paper, card, metal foil sheet material. The laminate may be flat form or of cylindrical, part-spherical or part-ovoid etc. Each sheet 10, 20 is immersed into its respective bath 30 of oil paints 40 of different colours dispersed on surface of water and withdrawn to provide a marbled effect and then cut into major and minor parts 50 and 60. Then minor parts 60 from one sheet are assembled with the major parts of the other within a frame 70 to leave adjacent spaces between parts and clear casting resin is poured into frame 70. <IMAGE>

Description

DECORATIVE LAMINATE This invention concerns a decorative laminate.

According to the present invention there is provided a decorative laminate comprising a discontinuous layer of opaque material encapsulated within a clear resin.

Both here and throughout the specification, by "discontinuous layer" we mean either a plurality of discrete pieces arranged in spaced relationship or a single piece having at least one aperture therethrough.

The laminate may be flat or of more complex form such as cylindrical, part-spherical or part-ovoid, for example.

The discontinuous-layer may be of plywood, wood veneer, paper, card, metal foil or other sheet material.

One or both faces of the discontinuous layer may be decorated by the application of a number of pigments thereto.

The pigments may be applied by a technique to give a marbled effect.

The invention will be further apprarent from the following description, with reference to the several figures of the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of example only, the steps in the production of one decorative laminate embodying same.

Of the drawings : Figure 1 shows two rectangular sheets of plywood; Figure 2 shows the application of pigment to each of the sheets to give a marbled effect; Figure 3 shows the lines along which each of the sheets of Figure 1 is cut; and Figure 4 shows the arrangement of components from each of the sheets within a frame ready for encapsulation.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that two rectangular sheets 10 and 20 of plywood (three-ply is preferred) are provided.

Each of the sheets 10 and 20 has each of its faces sanded to a smooth finish.

Each of the sheets 10 and 20 has each of its faces decorated by application of pigment to give a marbled effect. This is done by providing baths 30 filled with water. Oil paints 40 of different colours are thinned with white spirit and dispersed on the surface of the water. They are subjected to interference using any suitable instrument or instruments to assume an acceptable pattern.

Each sheet is laid down and then pushed into its respective bath to become fully immersed and then withdrawn and allowed to dry.

The colours, or at-least the arrangements thereof, in each of the two baths are different.

Each of the sheets 10 and 20 is cut into discrete pieces with a fine jigsaw along the lines indicated in Figure 3, to provide a major part 50 and a plurality of minor parts 60. The edges of the parts are then sanded not necessarily to an equal extent along their lengths.

The minor parts 60 from one of the sheets 10 and 20 are assembled with the major part 50 from the other within a rectangular frame 70 positioned over a sheet 80 of release material such as a polyvinyl chloride. It will be understood that there are spaces between the adjacent edges of the different parts.

Clear casting resin is poured into the frame 70 completely to cover the parts 50 and 60 to a maximum depth of 5 mm.

After the resin has set the assembly is inverted within the frame 70 and further resin is poured into the frame to cover same, and allowed to set.

The encapsulated parts 50 and 60 are now removed and the outer surfaces smoothed by sanding and then polished or oiled to give a finish.

It will be understood that the attraction to the laminates is their ability to transmit light through the clear casting resin in the spaces between adjacent parts of the encapsulated intermediate layer.

Thus, for example, the laminates might be used as tabletops intended to be illuminated from below, perhaps designed to serve as game boards for chess or backgammon for example.

The laminates might be used to form lampshades or parts thereof, as partitioning, screens, doors or the like.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof.

Claims

1. A decorative laminate comprising a discontinuous layer of opaque material encapsulated within a clear resin.

2. A decorative laminate according to Claim 1 wherein the laminate is flat.

3. A decorative laminate according to Claim 1 wherein the laminate is curved.

4. A decorative laminate according to any one of Claims 1 - 3 wherein the discontinuous layer is of plywood, wood veneer, paper, card, metal foil or other sheet material.

5. A decorative laminate according to any preceding Claim wherein one or both faces of the discontinuous layer is decorated by the application of a number of pigments thereto.

6. A decorative laminate according to Claim 5 wherein the pigments are applied by a technique to give a marbled effect.

7. A decorative laminate substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by the figures of the accompanying drawings.