LIGHT TRANSMISSIVE BENDABLE WOOD PANEL

• US 20130196119A1
• Filed: 01/31/2012
• Published: 08/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gilbert Dobecz, Zsolt Polk
• Original Assignee: Gilbert Dobecz, Zsolt Polk
• Inventors: Dobecz, Gilbert, Polk, Zsolt
• Granted Patent: US 9,242,435 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/172
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 21/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 21/14 comprising wood board or veneer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/412 Transparent
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/414 Translucent
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/546 Flexural strength; Flexion stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2317/16 Wood, e.g. woodboard, fibreboard, woodchips
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/308 comprising acrylic (co)polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/365 comprising polycarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/30 characterised by a layer formed with recesses or projections, e.g. hollows, grooves, protuberances, ribs apertured layer B32B3/266; layer with cavities or internal voids B32B3/26
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/003 to avoid air inclusion
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/06 characterised by the heating method
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/12 characterised by using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/142 Laminating of sheets, panels or inserts, e.g. stiffeners, by wrapping in at least one outer layer, or inserting into a preformed pocket
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24612 Composite web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24942 including components having same physical characteristic in differing degree
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2495 Thickness [relative or absolute]

Abstract

A light transmissive bendable wood panel provides a wood panel that may be finished in a similar manner to traditional wood panels, but is light transmissive to allow the light transmissive bendable wood panel to be illuminated. The light transmissive bendable wood panel may be formed with a bendable substrate to allow various curves or other shapes to be formed. The light transmissive bendable wood panel may comprise a face layer having a permeable backing to ensure full adhesion with the substrate. A back layer may be provided to stabilize the light transmissive bendable wood panel and prevent curling, cupping, and delaminating. The light transmissive bendable wood panel may be backlit or edge lit. One or more illuminated designs may be formed in a face layer of the light transmissive bendable wood panel.

Claims

1. A light transmissive bendable wood panel comprising:

a light transmissive bendable non-wood substrate having a planer shape and a first side and a second side;

a face layer made of wood and having a reduced thickness to allow light to pass through;

a backing attached to a inwardly facing side of the face layer, the backing comprising a planar permeable material, wherein a first adhesive extends between the bendable substrate and the face layer and through the backing to attach the face layer to the first side of the bendable substrate; and

a back layer made of wood attached to the second side of the bendable substrate with a second adhesive, the back layer also having a reduced thickness to allow light to pass through.

2. The light transmissive bendable wood panel of claim 1, wherein the face layer is a wood veneer.

3. The light transmissive bendable wood panel of claim 1, wherein at least one side of the bendable substrate is textured.

4. The light transmissive bendable wood panel of claim 1, wherein the first and second adhesives are different.

5. The light transmissive bendable wood panel of claim 1, wherein the face layer and the back layer are different types of wood.

6. The light transmissive bendable wood panel of claim 1 further comprising one or more depressions in the face layer, the one or more depressions allowing an increased amount of light to pass through the face layer.

7. The light transmissive bendable wood panel of claim 1, wherein the back layer and face layer have the same thickness to stabilize the light transmissive bendable wood panel.

8. The light transmissive bendable wood panel of claim 1, wherein the bendable substrate less than or equal to an eighth of an inch.

9. A light transmissive bendable wood panel comprising:

a face veneer and a back veneer, the face veneer having a permeable backing;

a substrate between the face veneer and the back veneer, the substrate formed from a planer sheet of light transmissive bendable material;

an adhesive between the face veneer and the substrate and between the back veneer and the substrate, wherein the adhesive between the face veneer and the substrate extends through the permeable backing; and

one or more depressions in the face veneer, wherein the one or more depressions allow an increased amount of light to pass through the face veneer.

10. The light transmissive bendable wood panel of claim 9, wherein the substrate is transparent.

11. The light transmissive bendable wood panel of claim 9, wherein the substrate is a transparent or translucent material selected from the group consisting of plastic, acrylic, polycarbonate, and plexiglass.

12. The light transmissive bendable wood panel of claim 9, wherein a lower viscosity adhesive is between the substrate and the face veneer and a higher viscosity adhesive is between the substrate and the back veneer.

13. The light transmissive bendable wood panel of claim 9, wherein the face veneer, backing, substrate, and back veneer are curved into a curved shape.

14. The light transmissive bendable wood panel of claim 9 further comprising at least one light source at a peripheral edge of the substrate, the light source configured to illuminate the substrate.

15. A method of forming a light transmissive bendable wood panel comprising:

providing a face layer and back layer, both made of wood and having a planer shape;

attaching a permeable backing to an inwardly facing side of the face layer.

providing a light transmissive non-wood bendable substrate configured to support the face layer and back layer;

applying an adhesive between a back side of a substrate and an inwardly facing side of a back layer of the light transmissive bendable wood panel;

applying an adhesive between a front side of a substrate and the inwardly facing side of a face layer of the light transmissive bendable wood panel; and

compressing the face layer, bendable substrate, and back layer together, wherein the adhesive between the front side of the substrate and the face layer is held in position by the permeable backing to prevent bubbles from forming in the adhesive.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising forming one or more thinner areas in the face layer, the one or more thinner areas configured to allow additional light to pass through the face layer.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising securing a light source behind the back layer.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising bending the light transmissive bendable wood panel around a curved structure.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising fastening the light transmissive bendable wood panel to the curved structure.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein compressing the face layer, bendable substrate, and back layer together comprises compressing face layer, bendable substrate, and back layer together between two plates.