AU736728B2 - Decorative finishes - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT S. S ft k Name of Applicant: STEWART VICTOR RIENECKER Actual Inventor: STEWART VICTOR RIENECKER Address for Service: Chrysiliou Moore Martin CMC Centre 143 Sydney Road Fairlight Sydney NSW 2094 Invention Title: Decorative Finishes The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: e:\kr\work\6535.dockr \\server\epatents\comp\8444.doc This invention is concerned with decorative finishes. In particular, this invention is concerned with decorative finishes which may be suitable for use on shop fronts, furniture, vehicles, fascia, doors, walls and in signage.

The invention is founded on the discovery that, if a metal surface is treated a particular way, a "three dimensional" finish can be imparted to the surface. The finish may be described as giving a refractive or "hologram" effect, so that the appearance of the finish can change depending on the angle of view.

Accordingly, this invention provides a method of producing a decorative finish on a metal surface, the method including the steps of: 10 a) effecting a first etching of the metal surface; b) effecting a second etching of the metal surface so as to at least partially overlap the first etching; and c) coating the etched metal surface with a coating sufficiently transparent to enable at least some of the first and second etchings to be visible through the coating.

This invention also provides a decorative metal finish produced by the method of S. :i the invention and a product having such a decorative metal finish.

o• The metal surface is preferably aluminium but any suitable method may be treated according to the invention. For example, the metal may be gold, copper or 20 silver.

The thickness of the metal surface needs to be adequate in order for the decorative effect to be produced. Preferably, the metal surface is at least thick. Other thicknesses are also suitable.

The first and second etching steps are preferably carried out using the same apparatus, although it will be appreciated that these steps could be carried out using different apparatus. A preferred apparatus is an orbital sander. Rotary or disc sanders may also be used, as may other suitable apparatus.

Especially preferred for use with the rotary or disc sanders are abrasive discs such as those supplied to VSMAG of Hannover, M 267, Ernst Hachmeister, Hannover and referred to as the KP737 series. According to the manufacturer's \\server\epatents\comp\8444.doc specifications, these discs contain aluminium oxide and have a grit range of P16, 24-150.

Preferably, the first etching step is carried out so that the metal surface is etched in a first direction, for example, horizontally. Preferably, the second etching step is carried out so that the metal surface is etched in a different direction from that in the first etching step. For example, the second etching may etch the metal surface vertically. Different decorative effects can be produced depending on the difference in the direction of etch between the first etching step and the second etching step. For example, the decorative finish can exhibit the following decorative effects: vertical waves, horizontal waves, vertical lines, horizontal lines or random pattern.

decorative effect may also be affected by the amount of overlap between the first and second etching. Generally, in areas of the metal surface where there is no overlap, a "banded" appearance will result.

It is also.within the scope of.this invention that the metal surface is etched in more than-two steps. For example, there may be a third etching step, possibly followed by a fourth etching step, and so on.

To increase the artistic effect of the decorative finish, it is preferred that the etching steps are carried out in a "freeform" manner- namely, by a hand-held sander. It is within the scope of this invention that the etching steps are carried out by automatic means, however.

The coating may be a clear coating or it may be coloured. Examples of suitable coatings are those available from Ameron Coatings, of 5 Monahan Road, Mt.

Wellington. Such coatings may be provided in powdercoat form. Set out below, by way of example, is a list of the colours and codes of the powdercoatings available from Ameron Coatings for use in accordance with the invention: Colour Description Code Emerald PE529/3441TB Crystal Ruby PE529/0247TB Sapphire PE529/4317TB Crystal Brass PE529/2134TB \\server\e~patents~comp\8444.doc Deep Crystal Purple PE529/4391TB Crystal Clear PE529/0000TB When the coating is coloured, it may be preferred to coat it with a clear powdercoat, such as the last mentioned in the list above. This may be of particular use when a metal surface having the decorative finish of the invention is used horizontally, for example in service areas.

It will be appreciated that the coating used must be sufficiently transparent to enable at least some of the first and second etchings to be visible.

The metal surface carrying the decorative finish of the invention is preferably supplied in thin sheets, resembling laminates, for example, in sheets of size 2400mm x 1200mm or 3000mm x 1200mm. Preferably, these sheets are suitable for cutting with a jigsaw or a power saw or the like and can be fixed in position with-commonly available means, such as nails; screws,-bolts and adhesives.

When the metal surface is supplied in thin laminates, it is especially suitable for application to curved surfaces as well as flat surfaces.

The metal surface carrying the decorative finish of the invention can also be supplied in other forms. For example, tiles of a suitable size, such as between 100 x 100mm to 400 x 400mm may be suitable.

The invention will now be.described in connection with certain non-limiting *1 examples thereof, some of which are linked to the attached drawings.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan, diagrammatic view of the decorative effect described in example 1; Figure 2 is a plan, diagrammatic view of the decorative effect described in example 2; Figure 3 is a plan, diagrammatic view of the decorative effect described in example 3; Figure 4 is a plan, diagrammatic view of the decorative effect described in example 4; and \\serveiXe\patents\comp\8444.doc Figure 5 is a plan, diagrammatic view of the decorative effect described in example Example 1 A 0.5mm sheet of aluminium, measuring 2400mm x 1200mm is laid horizontally on a flat bed. A disc grinder, having a VSM aluminium oxide disc as described above is dragged over the sheet 10 from side 12 to side 14 in a sinusoidal manner. This process is carried out using a hand-held sander. The sinusoidal etching need not be precise. The finish will vary slightly from one sample to the next because of the free form application of the sander. After a number of sweeps have been made as described from side 12 to side 14, a second series of sweeps is made in the same direction as the first, but partially overlapping the first series of etchings. In the area of overlap, it is found that the refractive or "hologram" effect is exhibited. It is this effect which is represented by the lines marked 16 in Figure 1.

It.will be appreciated that the "shimmer" or the refractive/"hologram" effect made -possible by this invention is extremely difficult to show in drawings. Thus, lines 16 symbolise the "shimmer" which.results from the method of the invention. Similarly, the corresponding lines in Figures 2 to 5 are symbolic of the "shimmer" or refractive/"hologram" effect.

Example 2 o' The method of example 1 is repeated for this example, except that the sinusoidal etchings are carried out from side 18 to side 20, with overlapping as in example 1.

Sheet 22 of Figure 2 shows the decorative effect symbolised by lines 24 in Figure 2.

Example 3 Sheet 26 is mounted vertically on a support and is etched from side 28 to side by relatively straight lines. Each area of etch is around 100mm wide and there is approximately 250mm between centres of the etchings. In a second series of etchings, etchings from side 28 to side 30 are carried out, overlapping the first set. The finished effect is shown diagrammatically by lines 32 in Figure 3.

\\server\epatents\comp\8444.doc Example 4 In Figure 4, sheet 36 is etched in a similar manner to sheet 26 in Figure 3, except that in this case, the etching takes place from side 38 to side If desired, the sanding apparatus used in examples 3 and 4, for example, may be supported by a retractable spring, so that the weight of the sander is at least partially supported by the spring.

Example In this example, sheet 42 is etched randomly by etching in a first direction, for S.o 10 example from corner 44 to corner 46, followed by etching in a second direction, such as from corner 48 to corner 50 and etching in a third direction, such as from side 52 to side 54. If desired, these etching steps may be repeated. The end result is shown diagrammatically in Figure 5 by pattem 58. In this case, an orbital sander rather than a disc sander is used.

15 Example 6 A sheet of aluminium of 0.5mm thickness is etched first of all in a north-south direction.and secondly in an east-west.direction. The resultant effect is that of a shimmering "chequerboard" pattern.

o e" It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that different decorative effects from 20 those described above are possible using the method of the invention and that these are included within the scope of the invention.

Claims (14)

1. A method of producing a decorative finish on a metal surface, the method including the steps of: a) effecting a first etching of the metal surface; b) effecting a second etching of the metal surface so as to at least partially overlap the first etching; and c) coating the etched metal surface with a coating sufficiently transparent to enable at least some of the first and second etchings to be visible through the coating. o

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the metal is aluminium.

3. The method of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the metal is about 0.5mm thick. S,

4. The method of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the first etching is effected in.a first direction and the second etching is effected in the same direction.

5. The method of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the first etching is effected in a firstdirection and the second etching is effected in a second direction, :i being different from the first.

6. The method of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein there is at least one further etching step after the second etching.

S7. The method of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the coating is clear.

8. The method of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the coating is coloured.

9. The method of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the etched metal surface is coated with a coloured coating being sufficiently transparent to enable at least some of the first and second etchings to be visible through the coating and then coated with a clear coating.

10. The method of any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the etching is carried out using a hand-held rotary sander.

11. The method of any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the etching is carried out using a hand-held orbital sander. \\server\e\patents\comp\8444.doc

12. A decorative metal finish produced by the method of any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. A product having the decorative metal finish of claim 12.

14. A method of producing a decorative finish on a metal surface, substantially as herein described, with reference to any one of examples 1 to 6 thereof. Dated this 19th day of April, 1999 STEWART VICTOR RIENECKER By his Patent Attorneys 10 Chrysiliou Moore Martin