GB2319002A

GB2319002A - A decorative panel or tile comprising embedded particles forming a three-dimensional pattern

Info

Publication number: GB2319002A
Application number: GB9623100A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Charles Daniel; Deborah Sarah Daniel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-11-05
Filing date: 1996-11-05
Publication date: 1998-05-13
Also published as: GB9623100D0

Abstract

A panel for use eg as a kitchen worktop, having a 3-dimensional pattern comprises a laminate including a base layer 10 of chipboard supporting a transparent resin layer 12 incorporating particles 14 such as seeds, cereal grains, pulses, shells, stones, paper or cloth, to give a 3-dimensional pattern. A transparent protective layer 16 is adhered or laid onto the top surface. Alternatively (Fig 2) the particles may be embedded in the surface of the chipboard.

Description

PANELS The invention relates to manufactured panels (including tiles), for use for example in the construction of kitchen work surfaces, doors, furniture, shelves and screens such as shower screens.

Panels for such applications are conventionally made for example from glass, ceramic, wood or plastic. The panel can be made up of tiles. The panel obtains its aesthetic qualities from the material it is comprised of.

Typically, chipboard or similar base material is coated with a veneer or laminate to give the desired appearance.

Various surface textures and colour patterns are known for such surfaces, including wood grain (real or simulated), marble (real or simulated) and the like.

The present application discloses novel forms of panel suitable for use in these applications, and enables the provision of an attractive three dimensional (3-D) quality to their appearance. In particular, this may incorporate a variety of small items in a random or ordered arrangement.

In particular, the items used may be natural or simulated food or plant products such as flowers, grains, pulses, leaves. The invention may also be applied with mineral products such as shells or stones, stone chips and man made products such as nuts and bolts and pieces of paper or cloth.

The items may be encapsulated in a solid resin or other transparent material, or they may be merely captive within a sealed unit, for example under glass or similar material.

Transparency to a depth of at least 1 mm is desirable, and preferably several millimetres to allow the 3-D effect be perceived. The necessary depth will depend of course upon the size of the particles used, and the exact effect desired, but complete transparency is not essential.

In an alternative aspect of the invention, an attractive effect may also be provided by a substantially 2-D surface pattern only, where natural or simulated products such as grains, pulses, leaves and flowers are encapsulated beneath a transparent surface.

A protective layer may be laminated on the encapsulating material as appropriate to the intended use.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a panel according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a panel according to the invention; Figure 3 shows an example of kitchen units incorporating the invention; and Figure 4 shows a third embodiment of a panel according to the invention, comprising a sealed unit.

Figure 1 shows a section of a panel manufactured in continuous lengths for use as a kitchen work surface.

The construction of the panel may be adapted as necessary to other users. In this example, a base layer 10 of conventional chipboard material is provided. This may comprise a large part of the thickness of the panel, and provides strength whilst keeping the cost of the panel to a reasonable level. This base layer is, however, optional, and materials other than chipboard may also be used.

Above the base layer, a layer 12 of transparent resin or other transparent encapsulating material is provided, which encapsulates a random assortment of seeds, grains, leaves, shells and similar particles 14, having an attractive aesthetic appearance when viewed from above (arrows V).

Depending on the transparent material used for the layer 12 (and the intended application of the panel), a protective transparent layer 16 may be laminated or adhered onto the top surface as shown, to provide resistance to heat, wear, scratching, staining and/or chemical attack. The protective layer 16 may. also extend over the edges and/or back of the panel.

The particles 14 may include for example grains of maize, rice and barley, lentils, beans, peas, shells, stones, flowers and leaves according to taste. With items of this size, a transparent depth of 5 to 10 mm is ample for the particles to be seen through the encapsulating material at a range of depths, giving an attractive 3-D effect.

As mentioned above, the particles 14 are not limited to these natural food products, plant products and mineral products. In particular, simulated products may be used, if their appearance over the long term is better than that of the "real" products. Natural products may need to be dried and/or otherwise preserved prior to encapsulation. Also, mineral chips, nuts and bolts, pieces of paper or cloth and other small items can be used on their own or in different combinations.

The items can be in an entirely random arrangement, arranged generally in a pictorial or geometric pattern with local randomness or may even be arrayed in a strict pattern. The 3-D arrangement can be built up successively in two or more layers.

The effect may be enhanced by use of naturally or artificially coloured items. A coloured, patterned and/or reflective layer may also be provided at the back of the transparent layer 12 to enhance the appearance.

The transparent layer 12 itself may also be coloured, and/or frosted to give a translucent effect.

Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment, in which the chipboard base 10 and the transparent layer 12 are formed in one process, by embedding the particles 14 into the surface of the chipboard during fabrication. The resin or like material may be the same throughout the layers 10 and 12, or different materials may be applied as appropriate. Again, a protective layer 16 of transparent material is provided. In another variation of this process, the chipboard base 10 can be replaced entirely by a plastic material, into the surface of which the particles 14 are embedded.

Figure 3 shows schematically kitchen units 30 with a work surface 32. The entire work surface 32 can be crafted from the material shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2.

The panel in Figure 1 or 2 may be manufactured in the size of a tile, and the tiles used to make up the work surface 32. If preferred, a smaller panel 34 with the 3-D effect can be inset within a work surface of more conventional material. This allows cost to be reduced, and also allows the use of panels manufactured to predetermine shapes and sizes, such as will be described below with reference to Figure 4.

Figure 4 shows a pre-sized panel having the particles 14 enclosed within a sealed space 40. The space 40 is defined between a transparent sheet 42 of toughened glass and a metal backplate 46, with the edges being sealed by a metal extruded frame 48. A similar construction technique can be applied to that used in the construction of pre-sealed double glazing units, for example. The particles 14 may be loose and shaken into an attractive arrangement prior to the final embedding in the worktop. Alternatively, the particles 14 may be held in place by an adhesive, or by the pressure of the glass sheet 42. A protective layer may be applied on top in addition. Material other than glass can be used for transparent sheet 42.

The person skilled in the art will readily conceive of a range of methods for manufacturing the panels described above. The chosen items (particles) can be mixed into a material which is then processed to form a panel. Alternatively the chosen items may be pressed into the surface of an existing material, or just encased in a material one surface of which is translucent, to form a panel.

The panel may be manufactured in any size or shape, including tiles, and would encapsulate the chosen items which may be any or a combination of: natural food or plant products, mineral products, a simulation of these items and man made products. The panel may be smoothed, polished, laminated with protective material as appropriate, and can be cut and machined into desired forms for use, or manufactured to the desired shape and size. The panel can be manufactured with holes cut or pre-formed to receive fittings as desired, for example a kitchen sink or appliance.

The panel may be used as a table top or kitchen worktop, or as all or part of a wall, door, cupboard, screen, ceiling, floor, shelf or other furniture, or generally as construction material.

Claims

1. A manufactured panel having a transparent surface and comprising an arrangement of small items visible through the panel surface in three dimensions.

2. A panel according to claim 1 wherein said items include natural or simulated food or plant products.

3. A panel according to claim 1 wherein said items include natural or simulated cereal grains and/or pulses.

4. A panel according to claim 1 wherein said items include natural or simulated mineral products such as shells or stones.

5. A panel according to claim 1 wherein said items include small pieces of man made products such as paper or cloth which are layered into a 3D pattern.

6. A panel according to any of claims 1 to 5 wherein said items are encapsulated within a transparent solid material.

7. A panel according to claim 6 wherein said transparent material is backed with a non-transparent base material.

8. A panel according to claim 6 or 7 wherein said transparent material is covered with a transparent protective surface layer.

9. A panel according to any preceding claim wherein said items are visible at different depths with a range of depths greater than 1 mm.

10. A panel according to claim 9 wherein said depth range is greater than 5 mm.

11. A panel according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said items are contained in a space within a sealed unit manufactured to a predetermined size and shape.

12. A panel according to claim 11 wherein said sealed unit has a face panel of toughened glass.

13. A table top or worktop comprising or including a panel according to any of claims 1 to 12.

14. A method of manufacturing a decorative panel having a three-dimensional pattern, wherein natural food, plant or mineral products are encapsulated within or beneath transparent material.

15. A method of manufacturing a decorative panel having a three-dimensional pattern wherein simulated food, plant or mineral products, or other man made items are encapsulated within or beneath transparent material.

16. A method of manufacturing a decorative panel wherein natural or simulated food, plant, mineral or man made products are encapsulated within a matrix material so as to provide a visible surface pattern.

17. A method according to claim 14,15 or 16 wherein the panel is manufactured for use as a table top or work surface.

1B. A panel according to any of claims 1 to 13 which has a hole or space cut out of it.

19. A method according to claim 14, 15 or 16 wherein the panel is manufactured for use as a screen, shelf or door.

20. Panels according to any of claims 1-13 made for use a tiles.

21.-A method according to any of claims 14-19 wherein the panel is made of tiles.

22. A panel according to claims 1-13, 18 and 20 which has a protective coating or layer.

23. A method according to claims 14-19, 21, 22 wherein the panel is manufactured with, or adhered to, or coated with, or laid beneath a protective surface.