WO2008056230A2

WO2008056230A2 - Element of construction and/or finishing with luminescent portions

Info

Publication number: WO2008056230A2
Application number: PCT/IB2007/003370
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alessandro Tosetti
Original assignee: Alessandro Tosetti
Priority date: 2006-11-07
Filing date: 2007-11-06
Publication date: 2008-05-15
Also published as: ITTO20060792A1; WO2008056230A3

Abstract

Element of construction and/or finishing and/or covering including a body (2) of substantially flattened shape on whose surface at sight (3) luminescent, particularly phosphorescent, portions (5) are visible.

Description

"Element of construction and/or finishing with luminescent portions"

Field of the invention The present invention relates to elements of construction and/or finishing, of the type including a body that is generally plate-like on whose visible surface a luminescent material is placed. State of the prior art

In the prior art covering elements having layers of luminescent material which are adapted to emitting visible radiation are known. These luminescent layers are made, for example, of a luminescent varnish applied over the above covering elements.

Solutions of this type are shown, for example, in documents JP2002161630 and JP2002021309. Although these layers have good properties of adhesion to the surface of the covering element to which they are applied, over the time they tend to deteriorate and detach from the body of the covering element, especially in cases where the covering element is subject to wear, for example when used for paving or work surfaces. Summary of the invention

The object of the present invention is that of overcoming the above inconveniences and providing an element of construction and/or finishing with luminescent portions resistant to wear and, therefore, that guarantee a permanent decorative effect, as well as one of particular value. According to the invention, this object is obtained thanks to- the characteristics defined in claim 1 and in the secondary claims subordinated thereto.

In particular, according to the present invention the naturally luminescent material is placed in cavities of limited depth formed on the plate-like body of the element of construction and/or finishing, or in superficial cavities already naturally present on such body, in case the latter is made of particular materials having such a structure.

Thanks to the present invention, construction elements with luminescent, and more particularly phosphorescent decorations of high decorative value and structurally resistant to wear can be provided. Furthermore, the present invention provides a method for the manufacturing of elements of construction according to the invention, having the characteristics of claim 13 and the secondary claims subordinated thereto.

Brief description of the drawings The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings, provided as non-limiting examples, in which:

- figure 1 is a schematic prospective view of a first example of a covering element according to the invention,

- figure 2 is a sectioned view along line II- II of figure 1, - figure 3 is a view analogous to figure 1 showing a second example of a covering element according to the invention, figure 4 is a sectioned view along line IV-IV of figure 3,

- figure 5 is a view analogous to figure 1 showing a third example of a covering element according to the invention, and - figure 6 is a sectioned view along line VI- VI of figure 5.

Detailed description of the invention

With reference to figures 1 and 2, 1 indicates an element of construction in its entirety, as for example a floor tile, a cast-in-place pavement or a cabinet door or kitchen countertop. It includes a substantially flattened body 2, that is, plate- like, of any geometric shape, that has in use a visible surface 3.

The present invention provides that in the case of the embodiment described herein, the body 2 is conveniently made of a material traditionally employed in building construction, that is, chosen in the group that includes wood, marble, stone, conglomerate, cement compounds, lime, composite materials and also metals and glass. In the case of wood, it can be solid, laminated or recomposed.

The body 2 has cavities 4 that face the visible surface 3, i.e. its surface which in use is at sight. The cavities 4 constitute the seats for housing naturally luminescent, in particular phosphorescent, portions 5. In the embodiment described herein, the cavities 4 are artificial, that is, they are formed on the body 2, for example, through milling or drilling to a limited depth, generally not more than approximately half of the thickness of the body 2 and typically comprised between 3 and 15 millimetres.

In the case of the embodiment exemplified in figures 3 and 4, the cavities, indicated with 4', can already be present in all or part of the body 2 because they are natural characteristics of the rough material forming such body 2. In the case of the example basalt, travertine or tufa, the natural cavities 4' can also extend deep into the body 2.

When the body 2 is consisting of a translucent or transparent material, the portions 5 can be conveniently included under its visible surface.

The embodiment of the invention represented in figures 5 and 6 refers to the case in which the body 2 is, at least in part, transparent, typically of glass. In this case, the body 2 conveniently has a stratified structure, with the cavities 4 containing the phosphorescent inserts 5 formed in an inner layer 2a, which may be transparent or opaque and is then covered by an outer transparent front layer 2c and possibly by a rear layer 2b, itself transparent or opaque.

As a further alternative, not illustrated in the drawings, the cavities destined to receive the phosphorescent inserts 5 can be formed on the rear surface of the body 2, or transversally through the body 2, in the case it consists of a partially transparent or translucent material, as for example, onyx. In such a case, these phosphorescent inserts 5 will be visible through the sufficiently thin front surface, of the translucent body.

In all cases, the luminescent portions 5 are conveniently realised with transparent, solidifying resins mixed in with phosphorescent pigments of different colours and emission intensities. They have a flat surface 6, which is aligned with the visible surface 3 of the plate-like body 2.

The luminescent portions 5 can be foreseen in colours either the same or similar to that of the body 2 or of different shades or colours, even contrasting ones, depending on decorative needs and aesthetic effects desired. The covering elements according to the invention can be used to create figure compositions visible in the dark. In particular, the phosphorescent portions of a given set of covering elements can be realised in such a way to create, in their complexity, a decorative theme of great effect, such as, for example, star constellations, geometric or fantastical designs, etc. Similarly, the phosphorescent portions can be configured to realise useful indications, such as, for example, route indication or obstacle signalling.

In day or artificial light, the composition obtained will be more or less perceptible depending on the tone and the colour chosen for the body 2 and the inserts 5. In the dark or in shadows, the composition will stand-out in an unequivocal way due to the natural luminescence of the phosphorescent material. The duration of the luminous effect could be of several hours (for example from 5 to 15 hours depending on the type of pigment employed) against a recharging time of the phosphorescent material of a few minutes under exposure to natural or artificial light. The covering elements according to the invention are carried out according to particular procedures described here below.

In case of the embodiments described with reference to figures 1 and 2 the plate-like body 2, constituted of one of the above indicated materials, is milled or drilled in correspondence to the visible surface 3 in order to obtain the cavities 4, as was said, to a modest depth and, in any case, significantly less than the total thickness of the body 2. These artificial cavities 4 can have preferably a depth ranging between 3 and 15 millimetres, according to the required luminescence intensity and the type of support.

In this case, the phosphorescent inserts 5 could be arranged according to pre-ordered arrangements, for example as was said, in the form of star constellations, or also of artistic character.

In case the body 2 is formed starting from a rough stone or wooden material (figures 3 and 4), natural cavities 4' will be used, and possibly also further cavities resulting from the interstitial spaces generated by the pairing of contiguous elements. In such a case, the disposition of the phosphorescent inserts

5 will obviously be random, unless some cavities 4' suitable to defining some ordered configuration can be identified and selected.

In case the body 2 is a translucent (for example, as was said, onyx) or a partially transparent material, the cavities 4 will be formed from the back or laterally across its thickness, through milling or drilling to a short distance from its visible surface.

In the case of the solution according to figures 5 and 6, the intermediate plate will be formed with the cavities 4 before pairing it with the transparent front plate 2c. In all cases a substantially fluid mixture is then prepared, made of a transparent, solidifying resin with which the differently coloured phosphorescent pigments are mixed. The percentage of phosphorescent pigments mixed with the resin determines the intensity of the luminous emissions of the phosphorescent material produced. Such a mixture is then poured or injected so as to fill the cavities 4, or respectively to pack the cavities 4', within which it then solidifies, thus forming the solid phosphorescent inserts 5 integrated into the plate-like body 2 of the covering element 1.

In case of the embodiments according to figures 1-2 and 3-4, in correspondence to the visible surface 3 of the body 2 a process of smoothing is followed at the end, for the purpose of providing the flat surface 6 of the luminescent portion 5, aligned to the visible surface 3.

Furthermore, depending on the finishing needs or visual effects desired, further superficial surface treatments with varnishes, transparent films, oils, or waxes and the like can be foreseen.

Thanks to the present invention, covering elements with phosphorescent inserts of high quality and durable in time, as well as adapted to be obtained through a simple and quick procedure, are provided.

Naturally, the details of construction and the embodiments can be widely varied with respect to what was described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. Element of construction and/or finishing, characterised by the fact that it includes a generally plate-like body (2) on whose surface (3; 2c) which in use is at sight naturally luminescent portions (5) are visible.

2. Element according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that said luminescent portions (5) are phosphorescent.

3. Element according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that said luminescent portions (5) have a flat surface (6) aligned to said surface at sight (3).

4. Element according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that said surface at sight (2c) of the body is transparent or translucent and said luminescent portions (5) are embodied within the body beneath said visible surface (2c).

5. Element according to claim 2, characterised by the fact that such luminescent portions (5) are made of solidifying resins mixed with pigments of phosphorescent material.

6. Element according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that said body (2) is constituted of a material chosen from the group including wood, marble, stone, conglomerate, cement compounds, lime, composite material, metals and glass.

7. Element according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that said luminescent portions (5) fill respective cavities (4) formed in correspondence to said surface at sight (3) and having depths substantially less than the thickness of said body (2).

8. Element according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that said luminescent portions (5) are packed into respective cavities (4') that constitute natural conformations of the material forming said body (2).

9. Covering element according to claim 8, characterised by the fact that said body (2) is constituted of cement material, stone or wood.

10. Element according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that it is chosen among a pavement tile, a entirely cast-in-place pavement, a tile for horizontal and vertical covering, a furniture panel.

11. Composition of construction and/or finishing and/or covering including a plurality of elements according to one or more of the previous claims.

12. Composition according to claim 11, characterised by the fact that the luminescent portions (5) of said elements, in their complexity, realise a decorative and/or artistic and/or functional or the like theme.

13. Method for the realisation of elements according to one or more of the claims 1 - 10, characterised by the fact that it includes the steps of:

- providing said body (2) having cavities (4) suitable for receiving said luminescent portions (5);

- filling said cavities (4) with a luminescent fluid solidifying material.

14. Method according to claim 13, characterised by the fact that said steps of predisposing said body (2) includes a superficial milling phase of said body (2) in correspondence to said visible surface (3) to obtain said cavities (4).

15. Method according to claim 13, characterised by the fact that said body (2) is formed by a stone, wood or similar material having natural recesses or defining, with the bodies (2) of analogous contiguous elements, interstitial spaces suitable to constitute said cavities (4).

16. Method according to claim 13, characterised by the fact that it also includes a smoothing step to provide a flat surface (6) of said luminescent portions (5) aligned with said visible surface (3) of said body (2).

17. Method according to claim 13, characterised by the fact that said luminescent solidifying fluid material is formed by mixing a solidifying transparent resin with phosphorescent pigments.

18. Method according to claim 13, characterised by the fact that said body (2) is formed, at least in part, by a translucent or transparent material and said cavities are formed within the thickness of said body.