Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Translucent composite
The subject matter of the invention relates to a translucent composite through
which light can be transmitted.
With the subject matter of French Patent FR 2 743 135 Al a composite, which
consists of a pourable material, wherein this pourable material is preferably
concrete, is disclosed. Such concrete material is poured into a mould and
optical fibres, which extend from one side of the mould to the other side, are
embedded onto a layer of the not yet hardened concrete. After the optical
fibres, which are arranged in parallel, have been embedded, the next layer of
concrete is poured. A similar prior art is incidentally also disclosed in
International Patent WO 03/097954 Al. The disadvantage with such a
composite is that after the concrete layers have hardened, a homogenous
material results, which is no longer laminated, because the concrete layers
flow
together and thus a heavy-duty, masonry material is produced which is
particularly recommended for the building industry but which is not especially
suitable for interior construction, furniture making, textile manufacture or
the
like. The laminate-type arrangement of the individual layers, which are
distinguishable from each other, is lacking.
Therefore the object of the invention is to provide a method and a composite
produced with said method so that the composite material is especially
suitable
for interior construction, furniture making, textile manufacture or the like.
In order to achieve the object described the invention, is preferably, a
plurality
of composite material layers are laid on top of one another and firmly bonded
together, at least one layer containing a light transmitting textile, which
extends
from one side of the composite to the other opposite side of the composite.
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The proposed method offers the substantial advantage that now a composite is
made up of layers, distinguishable from each other, which do not flow together
and which are physically separate from each other, because they are only
joined in the region of their bonding surfaces, and the layer according to the
invention made of light transmitting textiles is arranged between two bonding
surfaces of adjacent layers.
Here there are several possible ways to produce such a composite.
In a first embodiment provision is made for the composite layers to be bonded
with one another in the region of their bonding surfaces by a bonding layer.
The
light transmitting textile arranged in this bonding layer is embedded into the
glue of the bonding layer.
The term composite is used in a way that the composite is a relatively large
integral building component, which consists of individual composite elements.
Below, these composite elements are also called lamellas although the
invention is not limited to composites, the individual composite elements of
which have the shape of lamellas. This designation is made only in order to
provide a simpler description.
Bond of the layers or composite elements may be achieved by glue layers,
fusion bonded joins, such as plastic bonding for example, which is formed as
plastic adhesive, plastic foam which bonds, or also a two-component plastic
adhesive which produces the corresponding adhesive join between the
individual lamellas of the composite.
In addition to fusible joins, which are preferably in the form of adhesive
bonds,
the bonding also encompasses mechanical joins, for example a mechanical
connection extending through the lamellas in the form of a threaded rod, screw
connections, dowel and rivet connections.
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In addition to such mechanical connections, clip joins or other mechanical
connections, which are able to hold the composite together with the individual
lamellas laminated layer by layer on top of one another, are also meant by the
general word bonding.
With all embodiments it is important that at least one layer contains light
conductors. It is preferred that a light transmitting textile, which is able
to
absorb the light from one side of the composite and conduct it to the opposite
side of the composite, is always laid in the region between two bonding
surfaces.
Whenever "lamellas" of a composite are mentioned, the most varied materials
can be used for such lamellas. In a preferred embodiment the lamellas are
formed from a wood material, from a wood ply material, from a wood composite
material or the like. In addition to such wood materials there is even the
possibility of producing such lamellas from plastic blocks, metal blocks, in
particular metal lamellas or the like.
In addition, there is the possibility of using very thin lamella-type blocks,
which
are formed in particular as veneers, especially rotary-cut veneers. These are
very thin flexible lamellas, between two opposite bonding surfaces of which
the
light transmitting textile is embedded.
Such rotary-cut veneers laid on top of one another layer by layer are always
bonded together by bonding layers between their bonding surfaces and light
transmitting textiles are also embedded layer by layer exactly into this
bonding
layer.
The preceding and following descriptions essentially relate to embedding only
one layer of light transmitting textiles into each bonding layer. The
invention
however is not limited to this. As many layers of light transmitting textiles
as
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desired can be embedded lying on top of one another and thus form a body of
the bonding layer between the individual lamellas.
In a particularly preferred embodiment the light transmitting textiles is
embedded crosswise so that the light conductors of one light transmitting
textile
conduct the light in one direction through the bonding layer while the further
layer of light transmitting textiles, laid cross-wise thereon, has arranged
the
light conductors in such a way that these conduct the light across the bonding
layer in a direction perpendicular to the light conductors first mentioned.
Thus random layers, which are also randomly oriented, of light transmitting
textiles can be embedded into the connecting layer between the individual
lamellas.
In this way laminated boards, which are especially suitable for furniture
making,
can be produced. Such laminated boards can be formed as table tops, furniture
tops, wall cladding, steps of staircases, kitchen worktops, hand rails of
staircases or the like.
With all embodiments the surprising luminous effect, which results in the case
of such a composite, is fascinating. Depending on the thickness of the
lamellas
used a light passage, which is usually in the shape of a narrow strip, forms
between the lamellas. These strips then illuminate - possibly also in
different
colours - and lend the composite produced in this way a fascinating
luminescence.
In order to achieve the object such a composite does not have to be formed as
a laminated board, that is to say, it does not have to be a straight, even
board.
These laminated boards can be produced with arbitrary spherical curves. They
can also have recesses, wherein corresponding light sources, which illuminate
outwards from the interior of the laminated board, are arranged.
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Besides the aforementioned materials, which were described for selecting the
material of the lamella, there is also the possibility of producing such
lamellas
from a natural stone or composite stone, sawn composite stone or natural
stone lamellas preferably being used. These can also be laid layer by layer on
5 top of one another and the light transmitting textiles mentioned above
can be
embedded into the bonding layer between the individual stone lamellas.
The term light transmitting textile preferably means a light transmitting mat,
which is formed by providing optical fibres, held parallel and at an equal
distance to each other, which are bound together in the form of a woven
fabric.
In this case there are single-layer optical fibres, which form the only light
transmitting plane, and there are also multi-layer optical fibres, which form
a
plurality of layers of light transmitting planes lying on top of one another.
This
structure may consist of a woven fabric, which means that such a woven fabric
has for example warp, weft and fringe yarns. Likewise, knitted or crocheted
textiles can be used in place of the woven fabric.
In another embodiment provision can be made for such a light transmitting
textile to provide light conductors aligned perpendicularly to each other
directly
in the woven fabric. Further a woven fabric having light conductors oriented
in
one direction only, could be provided as a first layer, and a further layer
with
light conductors oriented in the direction perpendicular to the light
conductors of
the first layer may be laid thereon.
The lamellas do not necessarily have to be formed as a rectangle. They can
have also any arbitrary profiles such as for example: oval profile, round
profile,
hexagonal profile, triangular or other profiles. It is only important that the
light
transmitting textiles mentioned above are arranged between the bonding
surfaces of the individual lamellas and thus form part of a superficial
bonding
layer.
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In a composite the lamella profiles may be annular rings, triangular rings,
oval
rings and the like. Bonding layers, into which the light transmitting textile
is
embedded, are arranged between these annular elements or generally the
lamella profiles. Also with such formed composites, the bonding layer can
consist of a paste or glue layer, but the individual lamellas can also be
connected together mechanically or in a different way.
Such composites can be hollowed out from the inside, in order to implant a
light
source in the interior, so that these composites illuminate from the inside
outwards and in particular form lamps, directional signs or other luminescent
decorative blocks.
In particular it is also possible to use such a luminescent composite -
whether
as laminated board or as arbitrary formed composites ¨ as a projection
surface.
The light source is then for example a digital projector, which emits
corresponding light signals onto one light-absorbing layer of the composite,
which light signals are conducted through the composite to the other side. In
this way, the composite can be formed as a projection surface and visible
surface. Such effects appear particularly advantageous if such a composite is
formed as a facade panel, for example, and the light-emitting projector is
arranged on the inside of the building and the exterior of such a luminescent
facade panel is visible from the outside.
Moreover, provision can be also made for such a luminescent facade panel to
be thermally insulated. It is therefore possible to join together two such
laminated boards with an intermediate translucent insulating layer and the
light
source is then arranged on one side of the laminated board and emits its light
through the first laminated board, this light then being conducted into the
intermediate insulating layer and from there into the second laminated board.
Thus, thermally insulated facade panels can also be produced in this way.
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Further a composite may be produced from textile materials. In the simplest
case this is a method in which the light transmitting textiles previously
mentioned are embedded between two carpet-like textiles, which in turn are
embedded as a single layer or multi-layer, oriented to one side or crosswise
and such a textile planar structure absorbs the light from one side and the
optical fibres transmit the light to the connecting layer between the two
textile
layers and conduct it to the opposite side. Such textile composites can then
be
shaped in arbitrary planes and can be formed as wall hangings, wallpaper and
the like.
A preferred method for producing a laminated board comprises removing a
sheet, which is provided in its surface with a glue layer, from a stack of
sheets.
In the second process step a non-woven fabric or fabric made of a light
transmitting textile, which for example is unwound from a roller and evenly
pressed into the glue layer on the upper face of the board, is embedded into
this glue layer.
As the third process step the next sheet of the stack of sheets is laid, as a
result of which an adhesive bond forms between the sheet first mentioned and
the second sheet. As the next step the previous method is repeated, wherein in
turn a glue layer is applied from the front onto the sheet already laid, into
which
subsequently again a woven fabric is embedded and then again the next sheet
is laid thereon. In the next process step the composite block produced in this
way is sawn with a frame saw, as a result of which individual laminated wooden
tops are created, again consisting of the lamellas mentioned above, which are
now firmly bonded together by means of said adhesive joins, the light
transmitting textiles mentioned above always being arranged in the connecting
region.
In the last process step the entire laminated, preferably wooden, top is
smoothed on the upper face and possibly also on the lower face, in order to
form a particularly attractive surface.
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It is important that such a laminated wooden top can be produced from any
furniture-making material, but in addition from veneers and the like.
Of course, the laminated board produced in this way can be surface-treated for
example by painting, polishing, oiling, waxing, brushing and the like. This
results in attractive decorative boards, which are translucent, on whose
visible
surface the light transmitting textiles can only be seen from the front, so
that
thin narrow strips result from the visible side, which illuminate, while the
front
sides of the lamellas held together can be seen between the strips.
Such decorative boards can also be used particularly in the automotive
industry
for the interior trim of motor vehicles and the like.
In a particular embodiment the invention provides an apparatus suitable for
interior construction or furniture making, comprising: a plurality of
composite
layers bonded to each other to thereby form a composite having first and
second opposing sides, the composite further having a width, a length, and a
thickness that extends between the first and second sides; wherein each of the
composite layers comprises a first sub-layer and a second sub-layer; wherein
the first sub-layer comprises at least one of a wood material, a wood ply
material, a wood composite, a natural stone, and a composite stone, and
wherein the second sub-layer comprises a light-transmitting textile embedded
in a bonding material; wherein the light transmitting textile comprises a
plurality
of optical fibers, and wherein a first of the composite layers is coupled to a
second of the composite layers such that at least part of the second sub-layer
in the first of the composite layers binds to at least part of the first sub-
layer of
the second composite layer; wherein the length of the composite extends in a
direction of a length of at least one of the plurality of composite layers,
wherein
the width of the composite extends in a direction of a number of the plurality
of
composite layers; wherein the plurality of optical fibers are disposed in the
composite such that the plurality of optical fibers extend across the
thickness of
the composite from the first side to the second side; and wherein the length
and
the width are greater than the thickness.
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The invention is described below in detail on the basis of several drawings
illustrating several embodiments. In this case further substantial features
and
advantages of the invention will become clear from the drawings and their
description, wherein:
Fig. 1: shows a section with a partial perspective illustration of a
first
embodiment of a laminated board
Fig. 2: is a plan view onto the face of the laminated board according
to
Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrow 11
Fig. 3: is a plan view onto a light transmitting textile
Fig. 4: shows an embodiment with two light transmitting textiles laid
perpendicularly to each other, modified in relation to Fig. 2
Fig. 5: shows a section along line V -V in Fig. 1
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Fig. 6: shows an exemplary embodiment modified in relation to Fig. 1,
wherein the lamellas stand upright and in this case the light
transmitting textile is embedded in the connecting region
Fig. 7: shows an exemplary embodiment modified in relation to Fig. 6
with differently formed lamellas
Fig. 8; shows an exemplary embodiment modified in relation to Fig. 7
Fig. 9: shows an exemplary embodiment modified in relation to Fig. 8
Fig. 10: shows a further exemplary embodiment for producing a
composite from round lamellas
Fig. 11: shows an exemplary embodiment modified in relation to Fig. 10
with two laminated boards and a translucent insulating layer lying
in between
Fig. 12: is a diagrammatically illustrated section through a composite,
which is formed for example as a washbasin or washstand
Fig. 13: is an illustration of a textile composite top
Fig. 14: shows a first embodiment of a composite in the form of a
pyramid
Fig. 15: shows a second embodiment of a composite in the form of a
pyramid
Fig. 16: shows a side illustration of a first process step for
executing the
method
Fig. 17: shows further steps of the method for producing a laminated
board
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Fig. 18: shows further processing of the composite block produced by
the
method
5 Fig. 19: shows a laminated board produced from the composite
block
In Fig. 1 a laminated board 1 which consists of individual lamellas 2 - 6 is
illustrated. The lamellas 2 - 6 can consist of one out of a plurality of
materials,
for the sake of preference the following description relates to wood as the
10 composite material.
The lamellas 2 - 6 are laid on top of one another in the region of their
respective bonding surfaces 7 and a layer of light transmitting textile 11 is
embedded between the two bonding surfaces 7. Thus a butt joint 8 results in
the region of the bonding surfaces 7 between the lamellas 2 - 6 and in the
region of this butt joint 8 a bonding layer 9 is now formed. The bonding layer
is
here for example of a glue layer 10 which on the one hand binds the light
transmitting textiles 11 and on the other hand also bonds the bonding surfaces
7 of the individual adjacent lamellas 2 - 6 associated with one another.
Instead of bonding by means of the glue layer 10, other fusible joins can also
be selected, for example gluing with plastic adhesive and the like.
It is important that in accordance with Fig. 2 a laminated board 1 produced in
this way can be illuminated from one side with a light source 12, which emits
the light rays in the arrow direction 13 onto one side of the laminated board
1
and that the light conductors 16 embedded into the light transmitting textiles
11
absorb the light from the front side and in the arrow direction 14 conduct it
to
the opposite side (visible side) of the laminated board 1.
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_
In Fig. 3 it is diagrammatically shown how the light transmitting textile 11
is
formed as a woven fabric and in this case a row of warp and weft yarns 17 is
illustrated, where additional fringe yarns 18 are present.
Fig. 4 as a modified exemplary embodiment compared to Fig. 2 shows that the
light transmitting textiles 11, 15 can also be laid crosswise on top of one
another and in this case form two layers. On one layer of the light
transmitting
textile 11 a second layer of a light transmitting textile 15 is laid, wherein
respective light conductors 16 run perpendicularly to each other, so that the
light is conducted to both the opposite side of the laminated board as well as
to
the respective front faces of the laminated board.
Fig. 5 shows a section through the bonding layer 9 between the individual
lamellas 2 - 6, where it can be seen how the respective light transmitting
textile
11 is embedded and conducts the light from one side to the other side.
Fig. 6 shows that the lamellas can be laid on top of one another not only
lying
flat, but also standing upright. This is illustrated on the basis of the
lamellas 2a
and 3a in Fig. 6.
Figs. 7 to 9 show that such lamellas can also have different profiles. Fig. 7
shows semi-circular or oval lamellas 2b, 3b, 4b, while Fig. 8 shows hexagonal
lamellas 2c, 3c, 4c and Fig. 9 shows round lamellas 2d, 3d, 4d.
Moreover, in order to achieve the object all lamellas 2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d do not
have to be laid in one plane. Such a laminated board 1 can also have curves,
edges, corners, protrusions or any desired shape.
For this reason the lamellas 2 - 6 also do not have to be formed as
rectangular
blocks, but they can also be curved blocks, corrugated blocks or even blocks
with undercuts, drilled holes and incisions.
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Fig. 10 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a composite 21, which
consists of teether-shaped rings, which are designated below as lamella rings
22 - 26. These are laid on top of one another in the same way as described
above and bonded together by means of any suitable joining methods, as a
result of which one or more light transmitting textiles 11, 15 are embedded in
the region of the bonding layers.
The entire composite 21 can have an internal recess 27 and, arranged in this
recess, a light source 12, which conducts the light into the composite 21 in
the
arrow direction 13 from the inside outwards, so that its outer circumference
illuminates in an attractive way.
Of course, the invention is not at all limited in type or form of the light
source
12. The light source can be a halogen light source, an incandescent bulb, an
EL foil, a fluorescent tube or the like.
Fig. 11 shows a further composite, which is designed as a thermally insulated
facade panel. Two laminated boards 1, 1a, which can be formed in the way
described above according to Figs. 1 to 10, are provided and these two
laminated boards 1, 1a are again joined with an insulating layer 28 in between
them, said insulating layer being translucent. This insulating layer is
consists of
a translucent plastic which can be provided as a PMMA composite and which
forms either transparent plastic layers or translucent plastic films.
Fig. 12 shows a washstand 49, which is formed in the manner of the laminated
board 1, as a further exemplary embodiment, the laminated board being cut out
from above to produce the washstand 49, as a result of which a washbasin 50
results. The individual light transmitting layers with the light transmitting
textiles
11 here are arranged vertically from the bottom to the top, and if a light
source
is placed under the washstand 49 with the individual bonded laminated boards
51, a particularly aesthetically impressive appearance can result from the
upper
side.
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Fig. 13 shows a textile table top 29, which is formed from individual textile
layers 30, 31 laid on top of one another, as a further exemplary embodiment,
one or more light transmitting textiles 11, 15 again being embedded in the gap
between the textile layers 30, 31. If one front face of the textile table top
29 is
illuminated with the light source 12, the light is conducted to the opposite
front
face.
Figs. 14 and 15 show further composites 32, 33 wherein alternatively the
individual light transmitting layers with the light transmitting textiles are
aligned
vertically from the top to the bottom or even crosswise. In Fig. 14 the light
source 12 may be provided in the region of a recess 48, so that the composite
32 is fully closed and its interior bears a light source 12, which illuminates
the
entire lower front face.
Through the triangular form of the exterior surface of the composite - which
is
shaped as a pyramid for example - a particularly impressive illuminating
effect
results, because depending on the length of the light transmitting fibres a
different illuminating effect appears on the exterior surface.
The same also applies to the composite 33 according to Fig. 15, which is
laminated in a different way. While the composite 32 is laminated in the
vertical
direction, the composite 33 according to Fig. 15 is laminated in the
horizontal
direction.
Figs. 16 to 19 show a preferred method for producing a laminated board. The
other composites described here are produced in a similar way. Therefore it
suffices only to describe the production of a laminated board 1 in detail.
As a first process step a stack of sheets 34, which consists of individual
sheets
35 laid on top of one another, is formed. Each sheet can for example be 200 x
300 cm in size.
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As the next process step a first sheet 35 is removed from the stack of sheets
34 and a glue layer is applied onto the surface - see Fig. 17. For this
purpose a
gluing device 36 is provided which consists of a glue container 38 which is
filled
with suitable glue 37. This glue 37 is coated onto an application roller 39
which
is moved in the arrow direction 40 over the surface of the sheet 35 in order
to
form the glue layer 10 in this way.
Instead of applying the glue 37 with an application roller 39 also other
application methods are possible, such as for example spray application,
application with a blade and the like.
As the next process step the glass fibre fabric with light transmitting
textile 11,
15, wound on a roller 42, is guided in the arrow direction 41 across the
surface
of the sheet 35 in order to lay and embed the light transmitting textile into
the
glue layer 10. In the next process step the next sheet 35 is taken from the
stack
of sheets 34 and laid on the sheet mentioned previously as a result of which
an
adhesive bond develops between the sheets lying on top of one another with
the light transmitting textile 11, 15 lying in between.
Finally, after a number of successive process steps adding more sheets and
bonding layers a composite block 44 illustrated in Fig. 18, which incorporates
a
plurality of light transmitting bonding layers, is created. By means of a
frame
saw 45 and with a number of saw blades 46 arranged in parallel and at an
equal distance from each other, the composite block 44 is cut up in order to
produce a laminated wooden top as illustrated in Fig. 1 and Fig. 19. It then
consists - as illustrated - of individual lamellas 2 - 6 glued together layer
by
layer between which the light transmitting textiles 15 are arranged.
In the last process step the upper face and possibly also the lower face is
smoothed by means of a grinder 47.
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In this way an aesthetically attractive laminated board, which can be made
from
any arbitrary materials, is produced. It goes without saying that the
production
method described in the processes according to Figs. 16 to 19 can also be
developed as a continuous production process, wherein gluing, application of
5 the light transmitting textiles, etc. take place in successive
process steps, which
follow one after the other.
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Legend for drawing
1 Laminated board la
2 Lamella
3 Lamella
4 Lamella
5 Lamella
6 Lamella
7 Bonding surface
8 Butt joint
9 Bonding layer
10 Glue layer
11 Light transmitting textile
12 Light source
13 Arrow direction
14 Arrow direction
15 Light transmitting textile
16 Light conductor
17 Warp and weft yarns
18 Fringe yarns
21 Composite
22 Lamella ring
26 Lamella ring
27 Recess
28 Insulating layer
29 Textile table top
Textile layer
31 Textile layer
32 Composite
30 33 Composite
34 Stack of sheets
Sheet
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36 Gluing device
37 Glue
38 Glue container
39 Application roller
40 Arrow direction
41 Arrow direction
42 Roller
43 Laying roller
44 Composite block
45 Frame saw
46 Saw blade
47 Grinder
48 Recess
49 Washstand
50 Washbasin
51 Laminated board
