GB2382053A

GB2382053A - Surface with profiled ridges to produce variable visual effects

Info

Publication number: GB2382053A
Application number: GB0212625A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Frederick Allinson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-10-04
Filing date: 2002-05-31
Publication date: 2003-05-21
Also published as: GB0123788D0; GB0212625D0

Abstract

A structure, substrate or article 10 has a surface formed with a series of profiled ridges 20, each ridge having a sloping side 21 and an opposite inwardly-directed side 23. The opposite sides of the ridges present differently coloured areas D,L, so that different visual effects are seen depending from which direction A or B the surface is viewed. The profiled ridges 20 may be wave-shaped. The article 10 may be a wall or ceiling. The areas may be provided with patterns or coloured to form a pictorial image.

Description

Variable Visual Effects The present invention relates to a structure, substrate or article having a surface formed with a relief pattern providing a visual effect.

Generally the walls and ceiling of a building are flat, whether plain-coloured or patterned, giving more or less the same visual effect from whichever aspect or angle they are viewed.

I have now devised a relief pattern which may be applied to substrates such as walls or ceilings, or to other articles or to structures, to provide a visual effect which has the attraction that it varies depending on the angle of view.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a structure, substrate or article having a surface formed with a series of profiled ridges, each ridge having a sloping side and an opposite, inwardly-directed side, and opposite sides of the ridges presenting differently coloured areas.

The profiled surface accordingly provides a different visual effect, depending from which direction it is viewed. If the surface is viewed from one direction, then the sloping sides of the ridges will be seen and the inwardly-directed opposite sides of the ridges will be hidden, together possibly with adjacent or trough areas of the surface. If the surface is viewed from the opposite direction, then the inwardlydirectly sides of the ridges will be seen, together possibly with adjacent or trough areas of the surface, and the sloping sides hidden or less apparent.

Preferably the differently coloured areas extend in opposite directions from a point at or adjacent the inner end of the inwardly-directed side of each ridge. Instead, the differently coloured areas may extend in opposite directions from a point spaced from the inner end of the inwardly-directed side of each ridge. Preferably the differently coloured areas extend in opposite directions from the peak of each ridge.

The respective areas of each ridge may be coloured in contrasting manner. The respective areas may be provided with plain colours or tones, or with patterns. Instead, either the sloping or inwardly-directed sides of the ridges (or both sides thereof) may be provided with colouring which forms a pictorial image, e. g. of figurative, landscape or architectural nature.

The principles of the invention may be applied to interior or exterior walls of a building, with the ridges extending vertically, so that a varying visual effect is provided depending upon the end from which the observer views the surface. Particularly where the surface is provided with pictorial images, an impression of movement may be created as the observer passes along the wall.

The principles of the invention may however be applied to a variety of other structures, substrates or articles, including ceilings, floors, articles of furniture, or the casings of televisions or other appliances.

The relief pattern may be formed directly on the surface of a wall or other structure, or onto panels which can then be used in the construction or cladding of a wall or ceiling.

The ridges may be formed integrally with the structure, substrate or other article, or may comprise separate elements (e. g. preformed strips) applied to a planar surface.

The structure, substrate or other article may be formed of a variety of materials, including plaster, plastics, glass or metal.

The colouring may be applied to the surface after its formation, whether manually or by machine. Instead, the colouring may be incorporated into the materials of the substrate etc. during its formation.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of

substrate formed with a relief pattern in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 2 is section through the substrate, on the line II-II indicated in Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a section through a second embodiment of substrate in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 4 comprises sectional views (a) and (b) to show one method of applying colouring to a substrate; and FIGURE 5 is a schematic view of an apparatus for forming a substrate with wave-shaped ridges from a planar sheet of material.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a substrate 10, the front surface of which is formed with a series of wave-shaped ridges 20. The ridges 20 extend parallel to each other and adjacent ridges are spaced apart, with a generally flat section of substrate 10 between them.

Each ridge 20 comprises a sloping surface 21, which merges along one longitudinal edge with the adjacent flat section of the substrate 10, via a gently curved transition 22: along its opposite edge, the sloping surface 21 merges with a convexcurved surface 23, which curves inwardly towards the adjacent flat section of the substrate 10; the curved surface 23 finally meets that flat section of the substrate substantially at right angles to it. Each ridge thus has one side 21 which is inclined at a relatively small angle to the plane of the substrate, and an opposite side 23 the major portion of which extends at a relatively large angle to the plane of the substrate.

In the example shown in Figures 1 and 2, different areas of the substrate surface are of contrasting colours. In particular, an area of relatively dark colour D (indicated by shading in Figure 1) extends from part-way across each flat section of the substrate, up the slope 21 and to the peak of the ridge 20: an area of relatively light colour L extends from the peak of each ridge 20, down over its curved surface 23 to the adjacent flat section of the substrate, then part-way

across this flat section.

The substrate accordingly provides a different visual effect to an observer, depending upon the angle of view. Thus, if the substrate is viewed from one end, in the direction of arrow A in Figure 2, then the observer will see, predominantly, the darker areas D of the substrate surface. Likewise, if the substrate is viewed from the opposite end, in the direction of arrow B in Figure 2, then the observer will see, predominantly, the lighter or trough areas L of the substrate surface.

Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of substrate 10 having its front surface formed with a series of wave-shaped ridges 20 which extend parallel to each other. Each ridge comprises a sloping surface 31 which, along its peak, merges with a convex-curved surface 33 which curves inwardly to meet the start of the sloping surface 31 of the adjacent ridge. In particular, the surface 33 includes a main portion 33a, extending at an acute angle from the vertical, and merging with the start of the sloping surface of the adjacent ridge via a concave-curved transition 33b. As in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the opposite sides of the ridges are of contrasting colours. An area of one colour extends up the sloping side 31 of each ridge to its peak, and the other colour extends from the peak of the ridge and down the inwardly-directed surface 33 to the start of the next ridge.

The substrates which have been described may form a wall of a room, with the ridges running vertically. In such case, the substrate will provide its different visual effects to an observer, depending whether the observer is viewing the wall from one end or the other.

The principles of the invention may be applied to the ceiling of a room, in addition to or instead of to an interior wall of a building. Similarly, the principles of the invention may be applied to an exterior wall of a building. In these cases, the substrate may comprise a flat panel onto which the ridges are applied: the ridges may be cut from a preformed

strip and fixed to the substrate, or they may be cast or moulded onto the substrate. Instead, the ridges may comprise formations integral with the substrate.

In the case of a wall or ceiling, the surface may be formed directly with the wave-profile relief.

The principles of the invention may be applied to the surface of a variety of other articles, including furniture, or the casings of televisions or other appliances. The substrates or other articles may be formed of a wide a variety of materials, including plaster, glass plastics or metal.

The colouring may be applied to the substrate or other article after it has been manufactured, for example by painting, spraying or otherwise. Instead, the colouring may be incorporated into the material of the substrate or article during the course of its manufacture.

For example, and referring to Figure 4, the colouring may be carried on a sheet or film 40 of plastics material, which is then superimposed over the front surface of a substrate 10 preformed with a series of wave-shaped ridges.

The sheet or film 40 is then applied to the substrate 10 under heat and pressure, to deform the sheet or film 40 to conform to the surface relief profile of the substrate 10. The sheet 40 is bonded to the substrate by means of adhesive carried on or applied to either the underside of the sheet 40 or the front surface of the substrate 10. The colouring may be applied to the front surface of the sheet or film 40, before it is applied to the substrate 10, by any suitable means, for example printing by offset litho printing or screen printing. The sheet or film 40 is registered in position relative to the substrate 10, before its application thereto, to ensure that the successive contrasting areas of colours on the sheet 40 are registered to the opposite sides of the successive ridges of the substrate 10.

As mentioned previously, the substrates may be formed of a wide variety of materials. For example, and referring to

Figure 5, the substrate may be formed from a planar sheet S of metal (for example aluminium) or other material, which is passed through a machine M which deforms the sheet to provide the successive ridges 20. Typically, the colouring will be applied subsequently.

The colouring D, L may comprise areas of plain colouring, or may be patterned. Moreover, the colouring preferably comprises pictorial images, whether of figurative, landscape, architectural or other nature: for example, such pictorial images may be applied to the steep sides of the ridges 20, so as to be visible when the substrate is observed from the corresponding end (direction B in Figure 1), but not from the sloping side (direction A in Figure 1). This arrangement provides an illusion of movement when the observer passes along the wall etc: the pictorial images may be the same as each other, or successive images may vary in order to enhance the illusion of movement.

Claims

Claims 1) A structure, substrate or article having a surface formed with a series of profiled ridges, each ridge having a sloping side and an opposite, inwardly-directed side, and opposite sides of the ridges presenting differently coloured areas.
2) A structure, substrate or article as claimed in Claim 1, which the peak of each ridge is formed with a convex-curved surface merging respectively with the sloping side and the inwardly-directed side of the ridge.
3) A structure, substrate or article as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, in which the inwardly-directed side of each ridge merges with a flat section of the substrate surface, or with the start of the sloping side of the adjacent ridge, via a concave-curved transition surface.
4) A structure, substrate or article as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which the inwardly-directed side of each ridge meets a flat section of the substrate surface, or the start of the sloping side of the adjacent ridge, substantially at a right angle.
5) A structure, substrate or article as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said differently coloured areas extend in opposite directions from the peak of each ridge.
6) A structure, substrate or article as claimed in Claim 5, in which said differently coloured areas extend in opposite directions from a point at or adjacent the inner end of the inwardly-directed side of each ridge.
7) A structure, substrate or article as claimed in Claim

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5, in which said differently coloured areas extend in opposite directions from a point spaced from the inner end of the inwardly-directed side of each ridge.
8) A structure, substrate or article as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said respective areas are coloured in contrasting manner.
9) A structure, substrate or article as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said respective areas are provided with plain colours or tones.
10) A structure, substrate or article as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8, in which said respective areas are provided with patterns.
11) A structure, substrate or article as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8, in which at least one said area of each ridge is provided with colouring to form a pictorial image.
12) A structure, substrate or article as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said ridges are formed integrally therewith.
13) A structure, substrate or article as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 11, in which ridges comprise separate elements applied to a planar surface of the structure, substrate or article.
14) A structure, substrate or article as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said areas are coloured by printing, painting or spraying onto the surfaces thereof.
15) A structure, substrate or article as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said surface is provided by a sheet

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of material applied over and conforming to the profile of an underlying series of ridges.