GB2360973A

GB2360973A - Visually enhanced articles

Info

Publication number: GB2360973A
Application number: GB0106643A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Godfrey Knowles
Original assignee: ROTATIONAL MOULDINGS Ltd
Current assignee: ROTATIONAL MOULDINGS Ltd
Priority date: 2000-04-04
Filing date: 2001-03-19
Publication date: 2001-10-10
Also published as: GB0106643D0

Abstract

A method of producing articles having a visually enhanced appearance comprising producing the article as a multi-layered body, the outer layer of which incorporates a visual enhancement. At least some of the multiple layers may be produced by rotational moulding in separate moulding steps. The visual enhancement may be one which is capable of emitting radiation, ie by the use of materials which are luminescent, phosphorescent or fluorescent.

Description

2360973 VISUALLY ENHANCED ARTICLES This invention relates to the

production of articles which have a visually enhanced appearance. The visually enhanced appearance may be conferred for example by the use of materials which are luminescent. phosphorescent or fluorescent.

Materials which give visually enhanced effects are generally expensive. The present invention seeks to provide a method of economically producing articles using lo expensive visual enhancement agents. The visual enhancement may for example be apparent only under certain lighting conditions, e.g. in the dark or under poorly lit conditions.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of producing articles having visually enhanced appearance comprising producing the article as a multi-layered body, the outer layer of which incorporates a visual enhancement agent.

The outer layer is usually only a minor proportion of the overall thickness of the multi-layered construction.

The outer layer typically has a thickness of no more than 5 mm, usually no more than 4 mm and preferably no more than 3 nun. For instance, the outer layer may have a thickness of no more than 2 to 2.5 mm.

The outer layer is preferably produced by a moulding technique, preferably rotational moulding.

The multi-layered articles may be produced with two or more layers.

The various layers may be produced in separate moulding steps, preferably using a rotational moulding technique.

is The visual enhancement agent may be in particulate form suitable for use as an additive to a mouldable plastics material so that the outer layer can be produced by moulding of a composition comprising a blend of a particulate or powdered plastics material and the visual enhancement agent.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of manufacturing articles comprising producing initially producing by rotational moulding a thin outer skin substantially corresponding to the external configuration of the finished article followed by producing by rotational moulding a structural layer within and contacting the outer skin. characterised in that the outer skin is moulded from a composition comprising a plastics material and visual enhancement additive.

The visual enhancement agent preferably constitutes only a minor proportion of said composition. Typically the agent is present in an amount up to 10% by weight of the composition used to produce the outer layer. Usually it is present in an amount significantly less than 10%, for instance less than 3 % by weight and more usually less than 2% by weight, e.g. in the range from 0. 0001 to 1% by weight of the composition.

The plastics material used in the production of the outer layer is preferably a thermoplastics material such as polyethylene. The plastics material selected may have some degree of translucency so that the presence of the visual enhancement agent is readily apparent when the article is viewed under appropriate conditions, e.g. in the dark.

Articles in accordance with the present invention may be manufactured in the manner described in our prior GB Patent No. 2267248, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by this reference. It will be understood that in the production of articles according to the present invention, the outer skin that is initially moulded in the process described in GB Patent No. 2267248 will be produced from a charge comprising a blend ofplastics material (e.g. polyethylene) and a visual enhancement agent as disclosed herein.

In accordance with a flirther aspect of the present invention there is provided a loudspeaker cabinet having a visually enhanced appearance.

The visually enhanced appearance may be such that it only becomes apparent when the article is viewed under certain lighting conditions. e. g. in the dark or under poorly lit conditions or when exposed to special lighting conditions such as "black lighC.

The visual enhancement is preferably secured by virtue of the incorporation of a visual enhancement agent into the material comprising the cabinet, which agent may be any one of the materials disclosed herein.

The cabinet is preferably has a composite structure which may comprise a thin outer layer incorporating the visual enhancement agent and at least one inner layer imparting the load-bearing characteristics of the cabinet.

The cabinet may be manufactured by the method according to the second aspect of the present invention.

Preferably in producing articles in accordance with the above aspects of the invention, the visual enhancement agent is one which is capable of emitting radiation, e.g. a luminescent, phosphorescent or fluorescent agent, so that the article (e.g. a loudspeaker 1 cabinet) c-comes visible under low lighting conditions or has enhanced visibility under normal lighting conditions or special lighting conditions (such as when exposed to LTV light).

Suitable commercially available materials include but are not limited to "Lumilux" pigments which are distributed by H Haeffner & Co Limited of Monmouthshire, UK and "Dayglo" additives.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an entertainment area including at least one lighting source which becomes visible in the dark or poorly lit conditions, such lighting source being constituted by one or more components of a PA system, e.g. a loudspeakers or loudspeakers.

The component or components acting as a lighting source may be constituted by an article as disclosed above and/or an article manufactured according to the method disclosed above.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the visual enhancement may be achieved by the inclusion of an additive which imparts a metallic appearance (e.g. silver or bronze) to the article. e.g. a loudspeaker cabinet. Again the article is advantageously produced by the rotational moulding technique of GB Patent No. 2267248 with the additive imparting a metallic appearance being blended with the particulate or powdered plastics material used in the formation of the outer layer of the article. A particularly suitable additive for this application of the invention is Aluminium powder (standard 100) available from H Haeffner & Co Limited of Monmouthshire, UK which can be used in small quantities to impart a silver appearance to the article. Usually the additive used to impart a metallic appearance will be present in an amount significantly less than 10%, for instance less than 3% by weight and more usually less than 2% by weight, e.g. in the range from 0.000 1 to 1 % by weight of the composition used in the production of the outer layer of the article.

Claims

1. A method of producing articles having visually enhanced appearance comprising producing the article as a multi-layered body, the outer layer of which incorporates a visual enhancement agent.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1 in which the outer layer is only a minor proportion of the overall thickness of the multi-layered construction.

3. rotational moulding.

4. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which at least some of the layers of the article produced in separate moulding steps using a rotational moulding technique.

A method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which the outer layer is produced by

5. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the visual enhancement agent is in particulate form suitable for use as an additive to a mouldable plastics material whereby the outer layer can be produced by moulding of a composition comprising a blend of a particulate or powdered plastics material and the visual enhancement agent.

6. A method of manufacturing articles comprising producing initially producing by rotational moulding a thin outer skin substantially corresponding to the external configuration of the finished article followed by producing by rotational moulding a structural layer within and contacting the outer skin, characterised in that the outer skin is moulded from a composition comprising a plastics material and visual enhancement additive.

7. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the visual enhancement agent constitutes only a minor proportion of said composition.

8. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the agent 5 is present in an amount up to 10% by weight of the composition used to produce the outer layer.

9. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the plastics material used in the production of the outer layer is a thermoplastics material having some degree of translucency so that the presence of the visual enhancement agent is readily apparent when the article is viewed under appropriate conditions.

10.

is

11. A loudspeaker cabinet having a visually enhanced appearance produced by the presence of a visual enhancement agent.

An article produced by the method of any one of Claims 1 to 9

12. A method or article as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the visual enhancement agent is one which is capable of emitting radiation.

13. A n entertainment area including at least one lighting source which becomes visible in the dark or poorly lit conditions, such lighting source being constituted by one or more components of a PA system being an article as claimed in Claim 10 or being produced by the method of any one of Claims 1 to 9.

14. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9 or an article produced thereby in which visual enhancement is achieved by the inclusion of an additive which imparts a metallic appearance.

15. A method of producing articles having visually enhanced appearance substantially as hereinbefore described.