GB2472427A

GB2472427A - Embossing board

Info

Publication number: GB2472427A
Application number: GB0913706A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Phyllis Gullick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-08-06
Filing date: 2009-08-06
Publication date: 2011-02-09
Also published as: GB0913706D0

Abstract

A board 10 for embossing materials such as card and paper is formed as a rigid board with a plurality of nested grooved shapes 14 formed in upper surface 12 thereof, the rigid board being formed from a translucent material. Positioning means such as ribs or projections 22 may be provided around the periphery or edge of the board to retain the material to be embossed. A method for using the embossing board with a stylus tool and illuminating means such as a light box is also disclosed.

Description

Improvements in and relating to Embossing Boards The present invention relates to embossing boards and in particular embossing boards having grooved shapes which may be followed by a stylus tool, to provide an embossed pattern on a piece of sheet material, for example paper, card or parchment, which is positioned over the grooved shape. Such embossing boards preferably have multiple nested or Mandala grooved shapes in which two or more similar or complimentaiy shapes are provided concentrically one within another.

When using Embossing Boards of this type, particularly with multiple nested grooved shapes, there is a problem of identifying the position of the desired shape when the sheet material, to be embossed overlies it.

1 5 One solution to this problem is disclosed in GB 2410006, in which separate grooves are provided from the margin of the board which is not covered by the sheet material to each of the grooved shapes, in order to provide a lead-in to the groove shapes.

A disadvantage of this solution is that as the stylus tool is drawn along the lead-in groove, it will form an embossed line on the sheet material which is not wanted on the finished product. Embossing boards of this forn-i are not consequently suitable for direct embossing of the product and are only suitable for producing embossed cut outs where the portion of the sheet material with the embossed lead-in line is cut away. * *** * * S...

*:*::* 25 A further disadvantage of this form of embossing board, particularly with boards having multiple nested grooved shapes, is that the grooved shapes will be intersected by one or more lead-in grooves, so that the walls of the grooves will have one of more *..

discontinuities, which will show as indents when the sheet material is embossed. *..*.

S S

The present invention provides a solution to the problem of locating the selected grooved shape and is particularly suitable for use on embossing boards with multiple nested grooved shapes.

According to one aspect of the present invention an embossing board comprises a rigid board with a plurality of nested grooved shapes formed in an upper surface thereof the rigid board being formed of a translucent material.

With the embossing board of the present invention, the board may be placed on a light source, for example a light box, which will illuminate the grooved shapes through a piece of sheet material placed on the upper surface of the board. The grooved shapes my then be seen and the desired grooved shape located through the sheet material, so that it may be engaged by a stylus tool. This invention removes the requirement for lead-in 1 0 grooves, so that shapes may be embossed in the sheet material without lead-in lines from the edge of the material. Moreover the grooved shapes are continuous, having no discontinuities, and will provide a clean continuous embossed pattern with no indentations.

1 5 According to a preferred embodiment of the invention one or both of the surfaces of the board are provided with a non-slip finish, for example an eggshell finish which will assist in locating the sheet material on the board and/or the board on the light box or similar light source. Such a finish will also serve to diffuse light from the light source providing uniform illumination, so that the grooved shapes are clearly defined.

According to a further aspect of the invention a method of embossing a piece of sheet material comprises positioning the sheet material on an upper surface of an embossing board made of translucent material, the embossing board having a plurality of nested grooved shapes formed in the upper surface, illuminating the embossing board from *:*::* 25 below so that the grooved shapes are visible through the sheet material, engaging a selected one of the grooved shapes with a stylus tool from above the sheet material and drawing the stylus tool along the selected grooved shape to emboss the sheet material. * * ****

The term translucent used above is intended to cover any material which will transmit sufficient light to illuminate the grooved shapes through the sheet material that is to be embossed and will include transparent materials. The grooved shapes will generally have parallel side walls in section, but may be slightly angled or radiused at their upper edges to provide a lead-in for the stylus tool and also to reflect/refract light to clearly define the outline of the grooved shapes.

The invention is now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing that illustrates, in plan view, an embossing board in accordance with the present invention.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a rigid embossing board 10 formed from translucent plastics material. The board 10 has a plane lower surface. The upper surface 12 is formed with a several sets 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32 of multiple nested grooved shapes 14. The grooved shapes 14 of each set 24, 26, 28,30 and 32 are concentric and decrease in size from the outermost grooved shape 14 to the innermost grooved shape 14. As illustrated the grooved areas 14 of each set are of differing but complementary shape.

Alternatively, the grooved areas 14 of each set may be the same shape, decreasing in size 1 5 from the outer to inner grooved shape 14.

Other individual or sets of grooved shapes, for example corner shapes 16, 18 or scalloped lines 20 are also be provided.

A series or raised butt bar ribs 22 are provided around the periphery of the board 10 in order to position a piece of sheet material to be embossed, for example card, with respect to thevarious grooved shapes 14, 16, 18or20.

The different sets 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32 of nested grooved shapes 14 are sized and are located with respect to the butt bar ribs 22, for use with different sizes of sheet material, for example A5, DL or A6, so the when the sheet material abuts the appropriate butt bar ribs 22, the grooved shapes 14, 16, 18 or 20 will be appropriately positioned with respect S...

to the sheet material. For example the butt bar ribs 22 will serve to centre the sheet material relative to the grooved shapes 14, or position the grooved areas 16, 18 adjacent to corners of the sheet material.

However, as in contrast to the embossing board disclosed in GB2410006, with the present invention there is no requirement to leave the margin of the board 10 clear and consequently the board 10 may be used with any size sheet material, the butt bar ribs 22 being ignored and the position and orientation of the grooved shape on the piece of sheet material being controlled free hand. For example, while the sets 24, 26 of grooved shapes 14 are intended for use with A5 sheets, they may be used to emboss A4 sheets, the selected grooved shape or shapes 14 being positioned on the A4 sheet by eye or measurement. Moreover the sheet material may be orientated at an angle, for example degrees to the board 10, thereby further increasing the versatility of the board 10.

Both the lower and upper surfaces of the board 10 are provided with an eggshell finish.

1 0 in use, the board 10 is illuminated from the lower surface by means of a light box or the like, so that the grooved shapes 14, 16, 18 and 20 are illuminated and visible through a piece of sheet material that is placed on the upper surface of the board 10 for embossing.

The eggshell finish on the lower surface of the board 10 will help prevent to board from slipping on the light box, while the eggshell finish on the upper surface 12 will help 1 5 prevent the sheet material slipping on the board 10. The surface finishes also act to disperse the light providing even illumination, so that the grooved shapes 14, 16, 18, 20 are clearly illuminated through the sheet material.

The desired grooved shape or shapes 14, 16, 18, 20 may thus be located through the sheet material, engaged by a stylus tool from above the sheet material and followed with the stylus tool, to provide an embossed pattern on the sheet material.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example while in the above embodiment butt bar ribs 22 are provided about the periphery of the board 10, for positioning of the sheet material to be embossed with respect to the grooved shapes 14, 16, 18, 20, alternative means, for example a continuous raised border or right angled ribs at the corners only, may be used. Alternatively the positioning means may be dispensed with, the sheet material being located relative to the grooved shapes free hand.

Claims

CLaims.I. An embossing board comprising a rigid board with a plurality of nested grooved shapes formed in upper surface thereof, the rigid board being formed of a translucent material.
2. An embossing board according to claim I in which the upper and/or lower surface of the board is provided with a surface finish which will diffuse light passing through the board from the lower surface of the board.
3. An embossing board according to claim 1 or 2 in which the upper and/or lower surface of the board is provided with an anti-slip surface.
4. An embossing board according to any one of the preceding claims in which 1 5 positioning means are provided adjacent to periphery of the board, the positioning means being adapted to position a piece of sheet material to be embossed with respect to a grooved shape.
5. An embossing board according to claim 4 in which the positioning means comprises one or more projections extending from the upper surface of the board.
6. An embossing board substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.
7. A method of embossing a piece of sheet material comprising positioning the sheet material on an upper surface of an embossing board made of translucent material, the embossing board having a plurality of nested grooved shapes formed in the upper surface, illuminating the embossing board from below so that the grooved shapes are visible through the sheet material, engaging a selected one of the grooved shapes with a stylus tool from above the sheet material and drawing the stylus tool along the selected grooved shape to emboss the sheet material.
8. A method according to claim 7 in which the embossing board is mounted on a light box a lower surface of the embossing board engaging the light box.
9. A method according to claim 7 or 8 in which the sheet material is positioned on the upper surface of the embossing board in relation to a selected grooved shape by engagement of one or more projections on the upper surface of the embossing board.
10. A method according to claim 7 or 8 in which the sheet material is positioned on the upper surface of the embossing board in relation to a selected grooved shape free hand. * . a * . S... * SS..-S * S* * . * S. * *** * * S..,S e**S