Decorative structure

• US 20040216406A1
• Filed: 04/15/2004
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Egashira, Ken
• Application Number:
  US10/492,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20040216406A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/311.1
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/205 Metallic coating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/402 Coloured
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2451/00 Decorative or ornamental articles
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 33/00 Layered products characterised by particular properties or particular surface features, e.g. particular surface coatings; Layered products designed for particular purposes not covered by another single class
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/14 characterised by a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts, e.g. denser near its faces
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/255 Filters
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/40 characterised by the combination of reflectors and refractors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/04 characterised by materials, surface treatments or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/08 for producing coloured light, e.g. monochromatic; for reducing intensity of light with provision for controlling the colour F21V9/40

Abstract

A decorative structure that has a remarkably excellent three-dimensional effect, thus having an excellent design, and can be easily manufactured. The decorative structure comprises a underlayer member having a mirror-like appearance surface; and a decorative film disposed apart from the mirror-like appearance surface of the underlayer member, wherein: the decorative film is provided with at least one appearance-modifying layer and has a predetermined pattern originated from a combination of light-permeating portions and light-shielding portions; an opening percentage is 10 to 99%; and the ratio (d/p) of a distance (d) between the decorative film and the mirror-like appearance surface to the pitch (p) of the light-permeating portions and the light-shielding portions in the decorative film is at least 1/40.

Claims

1. A decorative structure comprising:

a underlayer member having a mirror-like appearance surface; and

a decorative film disposed apart from the mirror-like appearance surface of the underlayer member,

wherein the decorative film is provided with at least one appearance-modifying layer and has a predetermined pattern originated from a combination of light-permeating portions and light-shielding portions;

an opening percentage defined by an area ratio of the light-permeating portions to the light-shielding portions is 10 to 99%; and

the ratio (d/p) of a distance (d) between the decorative film and the mirror-like appearance surface of the underlayer member to the pitch (p) of the light-permeating portions and the light-shielding portions in the decorative film is at least 1/40.

2. The decorative structure of claim 1, wherein the decorative film is a multilayered film comprising at least two appearance-modifying layers having the same or different color tones.

3. The decorative structure of claim 1, wherein the appearance-modifying layer of the decorative film comprises at least a metallic coating having a metallic appearance which is the same as or similar to that of the mirror-like appearance surface of the underlayer member;

a colored layer having an optional color tone;

or a combination thereof.

4. The decorative structure of claim 1, wherein the pattern of the decorative film consists of stripes, round holes, dots, square holes, grid-like holes, checkers, or a combination thereof.

5. The decorative structure of claim 1, wherein there is space between the mirror-like appearance surface of the underlayer member and the decorative film.

6. The decorative structure of claim 1, wherein there is an intermediate member made of light-transmittive material sandwiched between the mirror-like appearance surface of the underlayer member and the decorative film.

7. The decorative structure of claim 6, wherein the light-transmittive material is a resinous material, a glass material, or a composite thereof.

8. The decorative structure of claim 6, wherein the intermediate member also acts as the underlayer member.

9. The decorative structure of claim 1, wherein the decorative structure is a lamp structure provided with a light source, a housing capable of reflecting the light from the light source at the mirror-like appearance surface of the inner wall thereof, a light-emitting opening, and a lamp cover made of light-transmittive resin which covers the light-emitting opening;

and the decorative film is adhered to the lamp cover.

10. The decorative structure of claim 9, wherein the decorative film comprises at least a metallic coating having a metallic appearance which is the same as or similar to that of the inner wall of said housing;

or a colored layer having an optional color tone.

11. The decorative structure of claim 10, wherein said decorative film comprises said metallic coating and said colored layer;

and said decorative film is adhered to the inner face of said lamp cover in such a manner that said metallic coating is positioned nearer to said lamp cover than said colored layer.

12. The decorative structure of claim 10, wherein said decorative film comprises said metallic coating and said colored layer;

and said decorative film is adhered to the outer face of said lamp cover in such a manner that said metallic coating is positioned farther from said lamp cover than said colored layer.

13. The decorative structure of claim 10, wherein said decorative film is a multilayered decorative film comprising at least two colored layers having the same or different color tones.

14. The decorative structure of claim 9, wherein said decorative film is adhered to a non-light-emitting area of said lamp cover, which does not substantially concern the emission of the light from said light source.

15. The decorative structure of claims 14, wherein the non-light-emitting area of said lamp cover is an area around said light-emitting opening.

16. The decorative structure of claim 9, wherein said decorative film further comprises an adhesive layer made of acrylic adhesive.

17. The decorative structure of claim 9, wherein said decorative film further comprises a clear layer as the outermost layer thereof when said decorative film is adhered to the outer face of said lamp cover.

18. The decorative structure of claim 9, which is a vehicular lamp structure.

19. The decorative structure of claim 1, which is a decorative article, one member of which is constituted by said decorative film, wherein there is an intermediate member made of light-transmittive material inserted between said mirror-like appearance surface of said underlayer member and said decorative film.

20. The decorative structure of claim 19, wherein said light-transmittive material is a resinous material, a glass material, or a composite thereof.

21. The decorative structure of claim 19, wherein said intermediate member also acts as said underlayer member.

22. The decorative structure of claim 19, wherein said decorative film comprises at least a metallic coating having a metallic appearance which is the same as or similar to that of the mirror-like appearance surface of said underlayer member;

or a colored layer having an optional color tone.

23. The decorative structure of claim 22, wherein said decorative film comprises said metallic coating and said colored layer;

and said decorative film is adhered to the outer face of said intermediate member in such a manner that said metallic coating is disposed farther from the mirror-like appearance surface of said underlayer member than said colored layer.

24. The decorative structure of claim 22, wherein said decorative film comprises at least two colored layers having the same or different color tones.

25. The decorative structure of claim 19, wherein said decorative film further comprises an adhesive layer made of acrylic adhesive.

26. The decorative structure of claim 19, wherein said decorative film further comprises a clear layer as the outermost layer thereof.

27. The decorative structure of claim 19, which is a decorative article such as a finisher, garnish, emblem, or braid.