Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Structurally defined web or sheet – Including variation in thickness
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-19
2001-12-04
Kelly, Cynthia H. (Department: 1774)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Structurally defined web or sheet
Including variation in thickness
C428S195100, C428S201000, C428S203000, C428S206000, C428S207000, C428S325000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06326074
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a decorative sheet, and more particularly to a synchronously embossed (tune-embossed) decorative sheet which is suitable for interior decoration of buildings, surface decoration of fittings and fixtures, interior decoration of vehicles and the like and has concaves and convexes sharply tuned with a pattern, and a process for producing the same.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A coated decorative sheet comprising a substrate sheet, such as paper or a plastic sheet, having thereon a color solid layer, a pattern layer with a pattern of a grain or the like printed thereon, and a top coat for protecting the surface of the decorative sheet has hitherto been known as a decorative sheet for use in interior decoration of buildings, surface decoration of fittings and fixtures, interior decoration of vehicles and other applications.
An attempt to express three-dimensional effect has been made to prepare decorative paper having realistic appearance close to the actual object. For the formation of concaves and convexes used in decorative sheets, for example, a method has been proposed wherein a pattern having different gloss is printed to form, on the same plane (within the surface), a visual combination of a gloss region with a non-glass region, thereby forming pseudo concaves and convexes through the utilization of such an illusion that the gloss region is visually seen as a convex with the non-gloss region being visually seen as a concave. A conventional method for the formation of pseudo concaves and convexes using a gloss region and a non-gloss region is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 41364/1976. According to this method, patterns are formed using a plurality of inks different from each other in particulate solids, and a solvent type top coat is formed thereon to create a difference in penetration of the coating composition among patterns to form pseudo concaves and convexes through the utilization of a gloss-non-gloss pattern.
In the conventional concave-convex pattern by creating a difference in penetration of the coating composition, however, the difference in level between concave and convex is small, and the boundary between concave and convex is not sharp. Therefore, the visual three-dimensional effect is unsatisfactory. Further, the conventional decorative sheet having a concave-convex patter is likely to cause surface scratches, and then has a problem of durability.
Further, Japanese Patent Publication No. 14824/1989 proposes a method for the formation of concaves and convexes on the surface of a decorative material which comprises forming, on a substrate, patterns using a penetrable coating composition and a solvent-resistant ink and coating thereon a top coat coating composition comprising an electron beam curing resin, followed by curing to form concaves and convexes through the utilization of a difference in penetration.
According to the finding of the present inventors, however, since the solvent-resistant ink per se contains a pigment (inorganic particles), the penetration unavoidably occurs, leading to a reduction in difference in penetration between the solvent-resistant ink and the penetrable coating composition. This renders reduction difference the difference in level between concaves and convexes unsatisfactory, and the reality and the three-dimensional effect are poor. Use of a solvent-resistant ink with the pigment being removed therefrom can emphasize the difference in penetration between the pattern of the penetrable coating composition and the pattern of the solvent-resistant ink. In this case, however, the pattern of the solvent-resistant ink is colorless, and this is unacceptable from the viewpoint of reproduction of appearance and design.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a synchronously embossed decorative sheet which has excellent three-dimensional effect in sharp tune with a pattern layer and, at the same time, is less likely to cause scratches, and to provide a process for producing the same.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In order to attain the above object of the present invention, there is provided a synchronously embossed decorative sheet comprising:
a substrate;
a pattern layer provided on the substrate;
a penetrable layer provided on the substrate at least in its portions not having thereon the pattern layer, the penetrable layer comprising a coating composition being penetrable by an ionizing radiation curing resin;
a nonpenetrable layer provided, on the pattern layer, in tune with the pattern in the pattern layer, the nonpenetrable layer comprising a coating composition being nonpenetrable by an ionizing radiation curing resin; and
a top coat layer provided so as to cover said layers on the substrate and to conform to the shape of concaves and convexes in the pattern layer.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for producing a synchronously embossed decorative sheet, comprising the steps of:
forming a pattern layer on a substrate;
applying a coating composition penetrable by an ionizing radiation curing resin onto the substrate at least in its portions not having thereon the pattern layer to form a penetrable layer;
applying a coating composition nonpenetrable by an ionizing radiation curing resin onto the pattern layer so as to tune with the pattern of the pattern layer to form a nonpenetrable layer; and
applying a coating composition containing an ionizing radiation curing resin so as to cover the layers on the substrate and to conform to the shape of concaves and convexes in the pattern layer and applying an ionizing radiation to the assembly to form a top coat having concaves and convexes in tune with the pattern of the pattern layer.
According to the present invention, a nonpenetrable layer is formed on a pattern layer so as to tune with the pattern of the pattern layer, and a top coat is formed thereon. This arrangement enables concaves and convexes to be more effectively formed, and the difference in level in emboss of the pattern in the pattern layer can be further increase. Therefore, a more realistic appearance close to the actual object can be developed. Further, according to the present invention, a pattern layer containing a colorant, such as a pigment, and a nonpenetrable layer for preventing the penetration of the ionizing radiation curing resin constituting the top coat are provided separately in a stacked form in the thicknesswise direction. This structure can offer the following synergistic effect.
Specifically, the function of the pattern layer can be separated from the function of the nonpenetrable layer provided in tune with the pattern layer. That is, a desired pigment can be freely used in the pattern layer without undergoing the influence of the pigment in the pattern layer. Further, since the nonpenetrable layer is further provided in combination with the pattern layer, the penetration of the ionizing radiation curing layer constituting the top coat can be effectively prevented. Therefore, both this penetration preventive effect and the stacking effect attained by provision of the pattern layer and the nonpenetratable layer in combination in a stacked form in the thicknesswise direction can render the embossing effect of the pattern in the pattern layer more conspicuous.
Further, according to the present invention, a solvent-free coating composition may be used as the top coat. Therefore, a reduction in layer thickness does not occur upon curing of the top coat, and the thickness of the coating immediately after the formation remains unchanged upon conversion to the cured layer. Therefore, as compared with the use of a solvent type resin in the top coat, the use of the solvent-free coating composition can provide higher emboss height and hence can provide a sharper emboss.
Further, according to the synchronously embossed decorative sheet of the present invention, since a coating composition containing an ionizing radiation curing resin is used in the top coat, the surface hardness is so high
Dai Nippon Printing Co. Ltd.
Kelly Cynthia H.
Parkhurst & Wendel LLP
Shewareged B.
LandOfFree
Synchronously embossed decorative sheet and method for... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Synchronously embossed decorative sheet and method for..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Synchronously embossed decorative sheet and method for... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2571935