WO2008026017A1

WO2008026017A1 - Procedure for the production of conveyance jewelry, especially motorcar jewelry, and conveyance, especially motorcar jewelry

Info

Publication number: WO2008026017A1
Application number: PCT/HU2007/000079
Authority: WO
Inventors: Léo BÁN; György BRANDEIS
Original assignee: Ban Leo; Brandeis Gyoergy
Priority date: 2006-08-31
Filing date: 2007-08-30
Publication date: 2008-03-06
Also published as: HUP0600700A2; HU0600700D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a procedure for the production of conveyance, especially motorcar jewelry on the surface of a conveyance, which procedure consists of the following steps: the jewelry elements (4) are applied onto the carrier film (11) in a configuration outlining the shape of the design; adhesive is applied onto the jewelry elements (4) situated on the carrier film (11) and/or onto the surface (13) to be decorated; with the help of the carrier film (11) the jewelry elements (4) on the carrier film (11) are placed onto the surface (13) to be decorated; and the carrier film (11) is removed. The invention also relates to conveyance jewelry applied onto the surface of conveyances, especially motorcars, in which case the jewelry elements (4) are fixed onto the surface (13) of the conveyance with an adhesive.

Description

PROCEDURE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CONVEYANCE JEWELRY, ESPECIALLY MOTORCAR JEWELRY, AND CONVEYANCE, ESPECIALLY

MOTORCAR JEWELRY

The invention relates to the production of conveyance jewelry, especially motorcar jewelry, and conveyance, especially motorcar jewelry produced using this procedure.

A significant proportion of motorcar owners try to make the appearance of the vehicles unique, special, drawing attention. In the interest of this they use many different solutions starting from different objects hung upon the rear- view mirror and other small decorations to other instruments with a more striking optical effect.

Vehicle manufacturers sell numerous extra accessories aimed at giving vehicles a unique appearance. Such objects are generally chrome plated and they are used to decorate the door-handles, the sill, the wheels, etc. However, the unique appearance ensured by these accessories is limited, as such extra accessories are mass-produced, and they can be seen on numerous vehicles.

Recently the so-called auto-piercing used for decorating motorcars is becoming increasingly fashionable. Auto-piercing is a cup-shaped holder in which different objects, jewelry can be placed. Generally the holder is made of high-alloy stainless steel, typically with a depth of 2-4 cm and a diameter of 6-8 cm. The holder is covered with a strong sheet of acrylic glass. Before mounting the holder, its position is marked on the bodywork, generally on the bonnet, an appropriately sized hole is cut in it, the holder is fitted in this hole and it is fixed with an external disc and screws.

But the objects or jewelry placed inside the holder sunk into the bodywork — however ingenious they may be - can only be noticed or examined on a parked vehicle, up close. The dimensions of the holder are restricted by the shape of the bodywork, the free space under the bonnet, the original reinforcements of the roof, etc., and some people would like to decorate their cars with jewelry, but they are reluctant to cut a hole in the bodywork.

The task to be solved with the invention is to provide a procedure for the production of conveyance, especially motorcar jewelry, which is optionally sized, can be placed anywhere on the bodywork without having to drill through the bodywork, and, in a given case, can be seen or noticed while the vehicle is moving, from a distance. By ensuring an unrestricted construction and positioning we intend to allow people to use their imagination freely and assert their personal desires giving by this a unique, unmistakeable appearance to their cars expressing the personality and creativity of their owner or user.

The invention is based on the recognition that with the help of a sheet of carrier film a figure consisting of jewelry elements can be applied onto the bodywork of a conveyance in a simple way and it can be fixed there permanently using a suitable adhesive without having to drill the bodywork. In this way practically any design of an optional shape and colour can be created on the surface of a vehicle quickly and accurately without having to damage the bodywork.

These objectives are achieved with a procedure for the production of conveyance, especially motorcar jewelry according to the invention that is based on that:

- the jewelry elements are applied onto the carrier film in a configuration outlining the shape of the design;

- adhesive is applied onto the jewelry elements and/or onto the surface to be decorated;

- with the help of the carrier film the jewelry elements on the carrier film are placed onto the surface to be decorated; and

- the carrier film is removed.

According to a preferred embodiment of the procedure according to the invention, the jewelry elements are applied onto the carrier film in the following steps:

- a design setting is prepared;

- the jewelry elements are set in the grooves of the design setting; and

- the jewelry elements are lifted out from the design setting with the help of the carrier film.

According to another preferred embodiment of the procedure according to the present invention, the design setting is prepared by etching, preferably laser etching, or drilling.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the procedure according to the invention, etching or drilling is controlled by a computer.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the procedure according to the invention, the design setting is made of plastic, preferably acrylic glass.

According to a preferred embodiment of the procedure according to the present invention, the jewelry elements are placed in the grooves of the design setting using manual tweezers or a robot.

According to another preferred embodiment of the procedure according to the invention, the adhesive is a dual component adhesive, one component of which is applied onto the jewelry elements and the other component is applied onto the surface to be decorated.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the procedure according to the invention, solid granular material, preferably crystals, more preferably coated crystals are used as jewelry elements.

According to another preferred embodiment of the procedure according to the invention, the surface to be decorated is made free of dust, degreased and polished before the jewelry elements are applied onto it.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the procedure according to the invention, after removing the carrier film the remaining adhesive is removed, the surface containing the conveyance jewelry is polished and given a nano-coating.

The present invention also relates to conveyance jewelry applied onto the surface of conveyances, which is characterised by that the jewelry elements are fixed onto the surface of the conveyance with an adhesive.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the conveyance jewelry is lacquer coated.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention the jewelry elements are crystals.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention one or more sides of the crystals are given a metal, favourably chrome or silver, coating.

The procedure for the production of conveyance jewelry according to the invention was developed first of all in respect of motorcars (cars), but obviously procedures that can be used on lorries or other heavy-good vehicles, buses, motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, water vehicles (including motorboats, sailing boats or manpowered boats), motor sleds or non-motor sleds, skis, aeroplanes, helicopters or other conveyances, are also included in the scope of protection of the present invention. It is because the surface of conveyances is generally a smooth surface on which the procedure according to the invention can be used efficiently. It is obvious for the person skilled in the art that the procedure according to the invention can be used on any surface that has been previously made suitable for this purpose using state-of-the-art procedures.

Below the procedure according to the invention is described in detail on the basis of the attached drawings containing a few essential steps of a preferred embodiment of the procedure in the order as they are realised. In the drawings, figure 1 shows the selection of the design; figures 2 and 3 show how the configuration plan of the design is prepared; figure 4 shows the assessment of visual harmony; figure 5 shows the preparation of the prototype; figure 6 shows how the design is etched in a sheet of acrylic glass; figure 7 shows how the design is placed on a sheet of acrylic glass; figure 8 shows a finished design on a sheet of acrylic glass; figure 9 shows how the design is lifted out from the design setting with the help of the carrier film; figure 10 shows the cleaning of the surface to be decorated; figure 11 shows the polishing of the surface to be decorated; figure 12 shows the degreasing of the surface to be decorated; figure 13 shows how the adhesive is applied onto the crystals; figure 14 shows how the design is glued onto the surface to be decorated; figure 15 shows how the carrier film is removed; figure 16 shows the cleaning of the design; and figure 17 shows the finished design. The steps of producing the conveyance jewelry according to the invention can be divided into two phases. In the course of the first phase, shown in figures 1-9, the design is produced and applied onto the carrier film, while in the course of the second phase, shown in figures 10-16, the chosen surface on the conveyance to be decorated is prepared, the design is applied onto it and treated.

In the first step of the first phase of the procedure aimed at the production of conveyance jewelry a design is determined and selected (figure 1). The design can be a sign of the zodiac, a brand name, initials or any other pattern that can be chosen from a catalogue or designed to suit one's individual ideas. The elements of the desired type, colour, shape, size, etc. of the conveyance jewelry, that is the jewelry elements are also selected. In this example crystals are used as jewelry elements, but in accordance with the invention the jewelry elements may be made of any other granular materials or materials consisting of discrete pieces or that can be used in the course of the procedure according to the invention, e.g.: granules consisting of minerals, polished stone, metal, wood, plastic of a certain shape, or a combination of these.

In the following step the graphic plan of the configuration of the design is prepared (figure 2). First the outline 1 of the design is drawn, and then the place of the jewelry elements is marked, on this drawing, by drawing circles 2 on the lines with a diameter similar to the diameter of the chosen crystal. The diameter of the circles 2 may vary suiting the dimensions of the jewelry elements (crystals in the present example). This drawing, consisting of lines and circles made by computer or by hand, will be the base of the design. If the circles 2 are shaded in some colour on the drawing forming the base of the design, the final conveyance jewelry may have a more realistic look (figure 3).

The graphic configuration plan 3 shown in figure 4 (drawn by hand or designed on a computer and then printed out) is evaluated in respect of its proportions and formal harmony. If necessary, the configuration plan is modified to make the general effect as harmonic as possible.

On the graphic configuration plan 3 the prototype of the selected design is made. It is done by placing the jewelry elements 4 on their places marked earlier with circles 2 with the help of tweezers 5, as shown in figure 5. Then the visual harmony of the prototype is evaluated, and if it suits our expectations, the graphic of the design is archived.

In the case of a preferred embodiment of the configuration plan made by computer, the computer program can display the crystals selected from the previously programmed crystal types, so the general visual effect can be displayed on the screen and it can be printed out.

On the basis of the graphic configuration plan 3 the design setting 7 is prepared as shown in figure 6. With the help of a laser etching machine 8 used on acrylic glass sheets 6 the design is etched into the sheet (or the design can be put on the sheet by drilling little dents into it using a drill), that is grooves 9 are made on the acrylic glass sheet 6 suiting the configuration of the design. Etching can be computer controlled on the basis of the configuration plan stored on the computer, or manual etching (or drilling) is also possible on the basis of a configuration plan drawn, printed, or glued on the acrylic glass sheet 6.

The jewelry elements 4 are placed in the approximately hemisphere shaped grooves 9 of the design setting 7 preferably with the help of tweezers 5 (figure 7). The jewelry elements 4 (crystals in the present example) are put in their place with the side facing upwards that will be visible on the car when the design is finished. If crystals of different colours are used according to the configuration plan, practically a previously prepared colour print should be used when making the configuration, on which print it is accurately shown which colour crystals go in which groove (not shown). After performing this step, the design 10 to be glued on the conveyance will appear on the design setting 7 (figure 8), this time configured using the actual jewelry elements 4.

In the last step of the first phase a carrier film 11 is placed on the design 10 configured in the design setting 7. The surface of the carrier film is prepared in a way known in the art, so that the side of the jewelry elements 4 facing upwards sticks to the carrier film 11 when getting into contact with it. Then the jewelry elements 4 stuck to the carrier film 11 are lifted out from the design setting 7 with the help of the carrier film 11 (figure 9). As a result of this the design 10, placed on a carrier film 11, is ready to be applied onto the chosen surface of the conveyance.

In order to apply the design at an appropriate quality, the surface must be prepared carefully, which takes place in the first few steps of the second phase of the procedure according to the invention. In accordance with this, the dust and other contaminations are removed from the chosen surface using a wet sponge (not shown), and then the surface to be decorated 13 is dried using a cloth 12, as shown in figure 10. Then the surface 13 and its environment is polished shiny using a polishing machine 14 (figure 11), it is degreased with the help of a degreasing device 15 (figure 12) and wiped dry again (not shown). Cleaning is finished by wiping the surface with a cloth impregnated with solvent activator (that is one of the components of the dual- component adhesive used for gluing the jewelry elements 4) (not shown).

The side of the crystals used as jewelry elements 4 in the example, which side is glued onto the surface to be decorated 13, has a chrome or silver coating, which, due to its light reflecting effect, gives the crystals a more intensive glitter than in the case of crystals without such a coating. Crystals are glued onto the chosen surface 13 of the bodywork with their side with such a coating, as in this way through the body of the crystal the incident light reaches the light reflecting coating and it is reflected from the coating through the body of the crystal again, which results in a glittering effect.

The jewelry elements 4 (that is the coated crystals in the present example) are fixed using a dual-component adhesive. In the course of this operation one of the components of the dual-component adhesive, namely the activator, is spread evenly on the surface 13 by wiping the surface 13 with a cloth impregnated with solvent activator (see above), and more activator is sprayed on this surface (see below), and the other component of the dual-component adhesive is applied onto the side of the jewelry elements 4 having a light-reflecting coating, which jewelry elements have been stuck to the carrier film 11 in accordance with the graphic configuration plan 3. As a result of the step shown in figure 9 the jewelry elements 4 on the carrier film 11 laid on a table will be situated with their side provided with such coating facing upwards. The other component of the dual-component adhesive can be applied using one of the methods shown in figure 13 (using a machine 16 or manually 17).

Activator is sprayed on the surface 13 cleaned as above (not too much so that it runs, and just enough for the adhesive to stick), and the design 10 situated on the carrier film 11 provided with the other component of the dual-component adhesive is placed on the surface 13 prepared and coated with an activator (figure 14). Then using a sponge roller the design 10 is carefully pressed onto the surface 13 through the carrier film 11 to fix it perfectly (not shown). If a crystal is displaced during rolling, it should be put back in its place immediately using tweezers. A few minutes after fixing the design 10 the carrier film 11 is removed (figure 15).

In the following the remnants of the activator are removed from between the jewelry elements 4 using a solvent 18 and a cleaning brush 19 (figure 16), the conveyance jewelry created as described above and its direct environment is wiped with a wet cloth, and the wet surface is wiped dry, or if possible, drying is accelerated by blowing warm air onto the surface (not shown). After cleaning the conveyance jewelry, the lacquered surface between and around the crystals is polished and degreased (not shown). Finally the conveyance jewelry and its direct environment is given a nano-coating, which forms a layer of film on the crystals and their environment making it easier to remove any possible contamination. This coating is left to dry and then the whole surface is wiped using a lint-free cloth. The conveyance jewelry 20 created on the basis of the above is shown in figure 17.

The jewelry elements used in the course of the procedure are preferably crystals having a flat face opposite their glued surface running parallel to it. The use of crystals with this type of geometry is preferred, because in this way one side of the crystal can stick to the carrier film, which ensures stable sticking. With a carrier film having an appropriate coating jewelry elements not having a flat surface (e.g.: hemisphere, sharp, etc.) can also be lifted out from the design setting and applied onto the surface to be decorated, but in this case there is a greater risk of the jewelry elements getting displaced on or falling off the carrier film.

It is obvious for persons skilled in the art that numerous steps of the procedure according to the invention described in detail above can be performed manually or controlled by a computer to a smaller or greater extent. Therefore, it is obvious that performing one or more of the above steps in a way controlled by a computer is also included in the scope of the present invention.

The most obvious solution is that the graphic configuration plan is produced on a computer and displayed on the screen of the computer. This software can be made suitable for displaying the design made of jewelry elements on a background suiting the colour of the vehicle, and it is also possible to use the software to display the configuration plan on the chosen surface of the given unit of the bodywork of the given type of car, as a result of which a plan similar to a photograph can be shown to the clients.

Obviously etching or drilling can also be performed using a computer-controlled robot, and the jewelry elements can also be placed in the design setting with the use of a robot.

On the basis of the above it is obvious that the present invention provides a novel procedure, with the help of which conveyances, especially motorcars can be given a unique appearance. The conveyance jewelry created as a result of an accurate and reproducible procedure is attractive and has a subtle design. Depending on demands conveyance jewelry can be designed in many different ways starting from large, striking even ostentatious to nearly unnoticeable designs as desired by clients.

The design setting produced in the course of the procedure for the production of conveyance jewelry can also be used for good-quality series production. In this way the procedure according to the invention makes it possible to provide vehicles belonging to the same company, business, group of friends or family with the same sign expressing their relationship in this way, too.

Claims

1. Procedure for the production of conveyance, especially motorcar jewelry on the surface of a conveyance, characterised by that the procedure consists of the following steps:

- the jewelry elements (4) are applied onto the carrier film (11) in a configuration outlining the shape of the design;

- adhesive is applied onto the jewelry elements (4) situated on the carrier film (11) and/or onto the surface (13) to be decorated;

- with the help of the carrier film (11) the jewelry elements (4) on the carrier film (11) are placed onto the surface (13) to be decorated; and

- the carrier film (11) is removed.

2. Procedure according to claim 1, characterised by that the jewelry elements (4) are applied onto the carrier film (11) in the following steps:

- a design setting (7) is prepared;

- the jewelry elements (4) are set in the grooves (9) of the design setting (7); and

- the jewelry elements (4) are lifted out from the design setting (7) with the help of the carrier film (11).

3. Procedure according to claim 2, characterised by that the design setting (7) is prepared by etching, preferably laser etching, or drilling.

4. Procedure according to claim 3, characterised by that etching or drilling is controlled by a computer.

5. Procedure according to any of claims 2-4, characterised by that the design setting (7) is made of plastic, preferably acrylic glass.

6. Procedure according to any of claims 2-5, characterised by that the jewelry elements (4) are placed in the grooves (9) of the design setting (7) using manual tweezers (5) or a robot.

7. Procedure according to any of claims 1-6, characterised by that the adhesive is a dual component adhesive, one component of which is applied onto the jewelry elements (4) and the other component is applied onto the surface (13) to be decorated.

8. Procedure according to any of claims 1-7, characterised by that solid granular material, preferably crystals, even more preferably coated crystals are used as jewelry elements (4).

9. Procedure according to any of claims 1-8, characterised by that the surface (13) to be decorated is made free of dust, degreased and polished before the jewelry elements (4) are applied onto it.

10. Procedure according to any of claims 1 -9, characterised by that after removing the carrier film (11) the remaining adhesive is removed, the surface containing the conveyance jewelry is polished and provided with a nano-coating.

11. Conveyance jewelry applied onto the surface of conveyances, especially motorcars, characterised by that the jewelry elements (4) are fixed onto the surface (13) of the conveyance with an adhesive.

12. Conveyance jewelry according to claim 11, characterised by that it is lacquer coated.

13. Conveyance jewelry according to claim 11 or 12, characterised by that the jewelry elements are crystals.

14. Conveyance jewelry according to claim 13, characterised by that one or more sides of the crystals are provided with a metal, preferably chrome or silver coating.