Molded article, the method for manufacturing the same and the dies therefor

• US 4,219,598 A
• Filed: 10/18/1977
• Issued: 08/26/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation), Tokyo Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Noma, Kouichi, Umeda, Tsutomu, Ogushi, Tsuneo
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, John D.
• Application Number:
  US05/843,238
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 428/203, 428/204, 428/205, 428/480, 428/481, 428/187, 428/286, 428/287, 428/246, 428/260, 428/340, 428/161, 428/162, 428/172, 264/257
• US Class Current: 428/161
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/203 Making multilayered articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/46 using matched moulds, e.g. for deforming sheet moulding compounds [SMC] or prepregs
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/722 Decorative or ornamental articles
• CPC Class Codes: B44F 9/04 of stone surfaces, e.g. marble
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24521 with component conforming to contour of nonplanar surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24529 and conforming component on an opposite nonplanar surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24612 Composite web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24736 Ornamental design or indicia
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24868 Translucent outer layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24876 Intermediate layer contains particulate material [e.g., pigment, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24884 Translucent layer comprises natural oil, wax, resin, gum, glue, gelatin
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/27 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component, the element or component having a specified weight per unit area [e.g., gms/sq cm, lbs/sq ft, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/3179 Next to cellulosic

Abstract

An ornamental molded article composed of a nonwoven fabric with a multicolored pattern and two synthetic resinous layers, between of which said nonwoven fabric is intervening, and the method and dies employed in its manufacture.

Claims

1. A monolithic ornamental molded shaped three-dimensional article which simulates marble or granite comprising a shaped transparent cover layer of thermosetting synthetic resin defining a continuous multiplanar shaped decorative surface, a structural base layer including an integrally formed thermosetting synthetic resin body having a continuous shaped surface generally conforming to and underlying said multiplanar shaped decorative surface and an intermediate layer disposed between and bonded to said shaped cover layer and said shaped base layer, said intermediate layer comprising a flaccid non-woven fabric sheet having a density of between about 10 and 30 grams/meter² and being provided with a multicolored pattern thereon, one of said colors being a background color, said structural base layer being substantially the same color as said background color, said structural base layer having a thickness substantially greater than the thickness of said shaped transparent cover layer whereby said ornamental molded article is shaped through its cross-section and constitutes a structural supportive article having a shaped multiplanar decorative surface.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein said thermosetting synthetic resins for said cover layer and for said base layer comprise an unsaturated polyester which has been cured.

3. The article of claim 2 wherein said base layer additionally comprises a synthetic thermoplastic resin admixed with said unsaturated polester.

4. The article of claim 3, wherein said thermoplastic resin is a saturated polyester and the multicolored pattern on the non-woven fabric intermediate layer cooperates with the structural base layer and the cover layer to simulate marble or granite.