Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SIMVLATED STAINED AND LEADED GLASS WINDOWS
TECHNICI~ E~IE:LI)
This invention relates generally to decorative
windows and, more speciEically, to decorâtive windows
simulatin~ the appeârance of stained and leaded glass.
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BACKGROUND
Stained and leaded glass has enjoyed a popularity for
generations, Its inherent beauty and durability have
graced the ancient cathedrals and buildings of state
and, recently, has been the object of renewed interest
for use in commercial and residential structures.
As the original stained and leaded glass technique
involved time consuming and arduous processes, modern
and simpler methods have been developed. However~ the
modern processes for pxoducing "authentic" stained and
leaded gla~s continue to require the cuttîng of
individual segments of colored glass and the joining o~
such segments with grooved lead strips or came. The
extensive use o~ came, especially in a window embodying
an intricate design, results in a loss of structural
integrity since the lead adds to the weight of the
window and coincidentally makes the window pliable
along each lead line. Thus, "authentic" stained and
leaded glass windows which are of moderate to large
size must be externally supported, ~or example, by
metallic bars, which detract~ from the beauty of the
desiqn. In addition, "auth~ntic" stained and leaded
qlass is un~uitable for curved surface~ or environments
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which are exposed to extreme or frequent vibrations.
Also, even the modern method of producing "authentic"
stained and leaded glass is labor intensive and, thus,
economically prohibitive for many applications,
especially where large windows are desired.
In the construction of new buildings in particular,
"authentic~ stained and leaded glass is generally
unsuitable for many windvws as building codes
frequently specify single pane tempered or plate glass
for entry ways and windows installled in bearing walls.
The segmented nature of the "authentic" windows is,
thus, clearly prohibited. Moreover, tempered glass
cannot be scored and broken In-the manner required by
such traditional techniques.
As a result of the above disadvantages, many attempts
have been made to simulate stained and leaded glass.
Such prior art techniques variously involve ~oloring
clear glass panes using pain~s~ varnishes, colored
gelatin, acetate, cellophane, and tissue paper and
involve simulated lead joints of adhesive-backed lead
strips or lead emulsions brushed or squeezed onto the
glass. However, no known slmulated stained and leaded
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glass technique results in the permanence and beauty of
"authentic" stained and leaded glass while producing a
structurally sound window suitable for use in large
sizes, in curved windows, and in locations exposed to
vibrations, or permitting the production to be applied
to a window in place, without its removal.
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BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention there is
provided a simulated stained and leaded glass window
structure comprising: a. a pane of substantially clear
glass or plastic having a smooth front side and a smooth
reverse side; b. a plurali-ty of lead strips adhered to one
of the side of the pane and forming closed design segments
thereof; c. a plurality of plastic film coatings also
affixed to one of the sdes of the pane coinciding with the
closed design segments and imparting color thereto; and d.
pressure sensitive adhesive interposed between and bonding
together the pane and the coatings.
According to another aspect of the invention there is
provided a process for producing a simulated stained and
leaded glass structure from a pane of glass or plastic
having a front side and a reverse side comprising the
steps of: a. providing at least one sheet of polyester
material with a pressure sensitive adhesive on one side
thereof; b. covering the adhesive on said one side of said
polyester material with a lubrucant having no solvency for
said adhesive whereby the adhesive is temporarily rendered
inactive; c. positioning said one side of said sheet to
said pane and sliding it thereon until it coincides with
the predetermined design segment on one side thereof; d.
removing said lubricant by squeezing said sheets against
the pane whereby said sheet is permanently bonded to the
said pane; and e. adhering extruded lead strips to the one
side of the pane thereby enclosing said design segment.
Thus, in order to provide simulated stained and leaded
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glass windows embodying permanence and structural inte-
grity, the invention uses lead strips which are coated
with adhesive and applied to a clear glass or plastic pane
to define closed areas of a selected pattern, and painted
or pigmented polyester film is coated with adhesive and
applied to the opposite side of tlle glass or plastic
pane. Additionally, lead strips may then be applied to
the second side of the pane coinciding with the original
lead strips.
The lead strips, since they do not separate tha pane
into small segments and, therefore, add rather than
detract from structural integrity of the pane. The
polyester film, after being applied with adhesive, be-
comes permanently affixed to the pane and, coincidentally,
becomes a bonding media which minimizes shattering should
the pane be broken, and which insulates the pane and
redùces its transmission of ultra-violet sun rays.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The invention may be more fully appreciated from the
following detailed description of the preferred
embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the
appended drawings wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a plan view oE a window pane embodying
this invention.
FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 o~
FIGURE 1.
FIGVRE 3 is a s2ctional view simul~r to FIGURE 2
showing an alternative embodiment.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referxing now to FIGURES 1 and 2, a glass or plastic
pane 10 may be seen to be divided into a plurality of
closed segments 15 by strips 20. The pane 10 may be
any smooth transparent surface and may be in any
accessible location. Permissible materials of
const~uction of the pane 10 include tempered r double
strength, safety plate and frosted glass. Other sheet
materials of plastics, such as polycarbonate, poly
Imethyl-methacrylate), etc. r can also be used or pane
10. In applying the techniques as taught herein,
removal of the pane 10 ~rom its mounting is
unnecessary. In addition, while a-flat planar surace
is shown, the pane 10 may incorporate curved surfaces
as found, for example, in vehicle windows and domed
skyli~hts. For illustrative purposest each pane lQ
will be assumed to incorporate a front slde 11 and a
reverse side 12~
The strips 20 can be metal or simulated-metal strips,
preferably lead; however, brass or copper can also be
used. Plas~ic~ which simulate metal can al90 be used
as polyurethanes, hard synthetic rubber~ etc.
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The strips 20 are preferably extruded from pure lead
or, alternatively, extruded using a lead alloy
containing approximately tin and antimony, whi~h alloy
has a comparatively slower rate of oxidation. The lead
or lead alloy strips 20 may be of various widths
depending upon the desired esthetic effect and are
preferably approximately 0.022 inch thick with one flat
side.
The coating 30 is a film or sheet material. While
polyester film is preferred~ other sheet materials can
be used for special effects, e.g., metal films, such as
copper or brass.
Any or all of the design seg~ents can also simulate
beveled slass by selection of a transparent coating
having a substantial thickness, e.gO r a glass,
polycarbonate or poly~methylmethacrylate) sheet up to
about 1/4 inch ~hick and having beveled edges. A
jeweled glas~ appearance can also be ~imulated in one
or more of the dQsign seqments by applying one or more
flat-sided shapes or transparent ma~erlal such as
glass, polycarbonate or poly (methylacrylate). The
exterior ~urace o these shapes can be ~acetedt or
have a smooth curvature. These shape~ can be applied
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with or without coating 30 and are similarly secured
with a pressure sensitive adhesiveO
Each segment 15 of the design may be variously
colored by the addition of a painted or tinted coating
30 applied to the reverse side 12 of the pane 10 with
the edges of the coating 30 coinciding with the lead
strips 20 de~ining the segment 15.
The coating 30 is a flexible, transparent or
translucent pla3 ic such as vinyl or polyester resins,
preferably formed of a polyester sheet approximately
one mil or thicker sold commercially under the
trademark MYLAR~ Interposed between the pane 10 and
the coating 30 is an adhesive 31 which greatly adds to
the permanance of the simula~ed stained and leaded
glass window and, in addition, imparts shatter proof
characteristics to the pane 10.
The adhesive 31 is a waterproof, pressure sensitive
adhesive applied as a layer to the coating 30.
Preferably, the adhe~ive is a polyester, which may or
may not contain a terephthalate component. Fox
example, the adhe ive layer may be polyethylene
isophthalate or polyethylene hexadydro~tereph~halate;
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or it may be a copolyester of ethylene
terephthalate/ethylene isophthalate, or a copolyester
of ethylene terephthalate/ethylene hexahydro-
terephthalate~ or a copolyester of ethylene
isophthalate and ethylene hexahydro-terephthalate, or a
copolyester of ethylene terephthalate, ethylene
isophthalate and ethylene hexahydro-terephthalate.
As shown in FIGURE 3, a second lead strip 25 may be
applied to the reverse side 12 o the pane 10
coincidentally with the first lead strip 20. This
embodiment would commonly be preferred where the pane
10 is routinely viewed from both the front 11 and
reverse sides 12-.
In the assembly of a simulated stained and leaded
glass window, the pane 10 is first scrupulously cleaned
and a decorative de~ign is drawn directly upon the pane
10. Alternatively, a design drawn on paper may be
temporarily taped to the reverse side 12 of the pane
10. Next, an appropriate adhesive 21 is applied to the
flat side of the first lead ~trips 20. The adhesive 21
is preferably either clear, silver~gray, or black
depending upon ~he esthetlc e~ect de~ired. The lead
may then be stretched to remove any kinks and undesired
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bends and then laid upon the front side 11 of the pane
10 covering the previously drawn lines of the design.
A wooden tool, not shown, having a concave contour
similar to the convex exposed side of the lead strips
20 is preferably utili2ed to urge the lead strips 20
firmly onto the pane 10 thus removing all entrapped air
pockets and sealing the edges of the ~trips 20~ Excess
adhesive 21 may be removed by wiping with solvent,
which can also remove any oxidation from the lead
strips 20.
The next step involves applying the polyester coating
30 to the oppo~ite side 12 of the pane 10 to simulate
the appearance o colored glass. A sheet o~ polyester
coating 30 must be cho~en which equals or exceeds all
the dimensions of the de~ign section 15 to be colored.
Polyester films which are coated with waterproof
adhesives are commerclally a~ailable~ or alternatively,
the waterproof adhesive 31 can be brushed, sprayed or
rollèd onto one side o the coating 30. A lubricant
that exhibit~ little or no solvency for the adhesive,
such as a soap solution must then be bru~hed, sprayed
or rolled onto the ~ame side of the polyester coating
30~ The soap solution, not shown in the drawing,
neutralizes the adhesive 31 and allow3 the coating 30
12
to be positioned upon the reverse side 12 of the pane
10 where it may be slid into position opposite the
appropriate design segment 15, where the coating 30 is
then trimmed with a razor blade to match t~e edges of
the coating 30 with the lead strips 20 of the design
segment 15~ Alternatively, the coatings can be pre-cut
to fit each design segment, particularly, where a
standard design with die cut coating films is used,
The soap solution is then removed by pressing the
coating 30 firmly against the pane 10 with a squeegee
or similar tool, not shown in the drawing. Thus, the
adhesive 31 permanently bonds the coating 30 to the
pane 10.
From the discussion, it is clear that a polyester
coating 30 tinted with impregnated pigment may be used
to produce the desired color for each design segment
15. In addition, the polyester coatinig 30 may be
painted, preferably by a silk screening process, prior
to being applied to the pane 1~ as discu~sed
previously. The use of silk screening allows a broad
range of effects including the 3imulation of "opaque"
or translucent stained glass. This particular effect
is enhanced by the use of ~frosted" polyester~ ~ third
method of producing the desired color when utllizing
13
the techniques of this invention involves the use of
pigmented adhesive 31 which again allows for a wide
range of esthetic effects and colors.
For simulated stained and leaded glass windows which
are to be viewed from both the front side 11 and
re~erse side 12, second lead strlps 25 may be applied
to the reverse side 12 o~ the pane 10 using additional
adhesive 26, whereby the second lead strips may be
spatially loca~ed to coincide with the first lead
strips 20. The use of second lead strips 25 is
particularly desirable when the adhesive 21 used to
secure the first lead strips 20 is black. If the
polyester coating 30 used is of the painted type, as
discussed above, it is preferable to utilize a
transparent polyester coating, not shown in the
drawing, similarly applied and covering the first
coating 30 prior to attaching the second lead strips 25
so as to assure a permanent bond for the second lead
strips 25.
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Using these techniques, there have been produced
simulated stained and leaded glass for windows in
vehicles where curvatures and vibrations make
traditional s~ained and leaded gla~s techniques
inapplicable. Also, large stained and leaded ~lass
panes have been decorated where external supports are
impractical or where building codes require a single
pane as, for example, in a standard sliding glass door.
It has been found that the time required to produce a
simulated stained and leaded glass window utilizing the
techniques as described above is a fraction of the time
which would be required were the more traditional came
method to be used.
The invention can aiso be practiced more quickly than
prior methods o painting glass to simulate colored
glassr since the method isn't interrupted to permit
paint coatings to dry and there is no need to mask off
areas o the glass before applying coatings 30.
The pressure sensitive adhesive has an excellent
adhesion and provides a permanent bonding of the
coating 30, where its peel strength exceeds its tear
strength. The coating, particularly the polyester
coating provides greater adhesion ~or paints ~han does
a glass surface and the stability of the coating
increases with weathering and ageO
It is understood that the embodiment described above
is merely an example of the app~ication of the
principles o this invention. Additional embodiments
may be devi~ed by those skilled in ~he art without
departing from the spirlt or scope of the invention.
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