GB2273261A - Decorative laminate - Google Patents

Abstract

A decorative laminate (1) for use in making lampshades, blinds, or curtaining, comprises a first layer (2) of material decorated on both sides thereof and a second, substrate layer (5) of material which is transparent, so that the decoration on both sides of the first material layer (2) can be seen when viewed from respective opposed sides (3, 4) thereof. <IMAGE>

Description

DECORATIVE LAMINATE DESCRIPTION This invention relates to a decorative laminate which can be used to manufacture articles, such as, lampshades, blinds, curtaining and the like, wherein decoration on both sides of the material can be seen when the manufactured article is in use.

Known types of lampshade comprise a material, such as, a fabric, which is decorated on its outer surface, so that the decoration can only be seen when viewed directly from the corresponding side of the material, usually, the outer side thereof. When viewed from the other side, usually, the underside, of the material, that is to say, on the interior of the lampshade, the decoration on the outer surface thereof cannot be seen, because there is no decoration on the material (fabric) underside. Alternatively, because any decoration which can be seen through the material is obscured or is covered with an opaque lining, such as, an opaque plastics sheet on the other side (underside) thereof, the view of the decoration on the interior of the lampshade is obscured or generally nondescript with no aesthetic appeal.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a decorative laminate which overcomes, or at least substantially reduces, this major disadvantage associated with known types of lampshade, as well as other decorative fittings and furnishings, such as, blinds, curtaining and the like, by providing a decorative laminate which has aesthetic appeal when viewed from either side thereof.

Accordingly, one aspect of the invention resides in a decorative laminate comprising a first layer of material decorated on both sides thereof and a second, substrate layer of material which is transparent, so that the decoration on both sides of the first layer of material can be seen when viewed from respective opposed sides thereof.

Another aspect of the invention provides a lampshade, blind, curtaining or the like, comprising or including a decorative laminate as defined in accordance with said one aspect of the invention.

The term "decorated on both sides" embraces not only decoration which has been applied to both sides of the first layer of material but also decoration which has been applied to only one side of that material but which, due to the nature of the material, can be seen through it from the other side. Also, the word "decoration" embraces not only a pattern applied to one or both sides of the first material layer, as the case may be, but also a colour applied to or otherwise provided on one or both sides of that layer, again as the case may be.

The first material layer is preferably a fabric printed or othersie provided with decoration, such as, a pattern, on both sides thereof, although other suitable materials may be used. As indicated above, such decoration may be a colour, to provide a socalled "self-coloured" fabric. In this case also, the word "decoration"may include the colour of a natural or dyed fabric woven from a yarn which retains its natural colour or which has been dyed with another colour.

The second, substrate layer of material which is transparent, may be a synthetic plastics material, such as, polyvinylchloride, polystyrene, nylon, polyethylene or the like. This second substrate material layer may be flexible, semi-rigid or rigid, depending upon its particular use and/or application.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, a preferred form of decorative laminate in accordance therewith, and preferred forms of lampshade incorporating the inventive laminate, will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a cross-section of a decorative laminate in accordance with the invention; and Figures 2 to 5 are underside perspective views of four different types of lampshade incorporating respective decorative laminates also in accordance with the invention.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 of the drawings, a decorative laminate indicated generally at 1, comprises a first layer 2 of material in the form of a woven fabric decorated on both sides 3, 4 thereof with a pattern (not shown). This first layer 2 is adhered, bonded or otherwise attached to a second layer in the form of a substrate 5 of transparent plastics material, preferably polyvinylchloride. When the decorative laminate 1 is used in the manufacture of a lampshade, the first layer 2 is on the outside thereof, with the substrate 5 being on the inside thereof, as will be described hereinbelow in connection with the four embodiments of lampshade of Figures 2 to 5.

In Figure 2, there is shown a lampshade 21 in the shape of a truncated right circular cone, commonly known as a "coolie" lampshade. The main body of the lampshade is manufactured from a decorative laminate, such as, that described above in relation to Figure 1.

In this embodiment, the first fabric layer 2 of the laminate 1 provides the outer surface 3 of the lampshade 21 decorated with a flowered pattern 6, whilst the inner surface of the lampshade is provided by the transparent plastics substrate 5. In this manner, the decorative patterns 6, 7 on both outer and inner surfaces 3, 4 of the fabric layer 2 can be viewed from respective sides of the laminate 1.

A similar arrangement of lampshade 31 to that described above in relation to Figure 2, is shown in Figure 3, although in this second embodiment of lampshade, its shape is of that of a truncated square cone. Again, the two decorative patterns 6, 7 on both the outer and inner surfaces 3, 4 of the first layer 2 of the decorative laminate 1 can be viewed from respective sides thereof, with the transparent plastics substrate 5 forming the inner surface of the main body of the lampshade 31.

In both embodiments of lampshade 21, 31 described above in relation to respective Figures 2 and 3, the decorative laminate 1 is flexible and is stretched on to or otherwise supported upon a suitably-shaped frame (not shown).

In the third embodiment of lampshade 41 shown in Figure 4, the decorative laminate is of the seminature and is applied in concertina fashion to a suitably-shaped frame (also not shown). Once again, the decorative pattern 6, 7 on on both outer and inner surfaces 3, 4 of the first, outer layer 2 can be seen when viewed from respective sides thereof, with the inner, transparent plastics substrate 5 forming the inner surface of the main body of the lampshade 41.

The fourth embodiment of lampshade 51 shown in Figure 5 has a generally truncated hexagonal pyramid shape and is formed of six trapezoidal panels 56. In this particular embodiment, each panel 56 is made of a laminate in accordance with the invention decorated on both sides thereof with a pattern, such as, the laminate described above in relation to Figure 1.

Here, however, the laminate is rigid because the substrate 5 is made of a rigid transparent material, such as, glass or a rigid plastics material, such as, PERSPEX.

The first, outer layer of each panel 56 is decorated on its outer and inner surfaces 3', 4' with the patterns 6', 7' which can be seen when viewed from respective sides thereof. The transparent substrate 5' forms the inner surface of each panel 56.

Adjacent pairs of panels 56 are connected together by any suitable means to provide a rigid structure for the lampshade 51.

It is to be appreciated that the inventive decorative laminate, particularly when in a flexible sheet form, can also be used as curtaining or other furnishings where both decorated sides of the laminate can be seen. Further, in semi-rigid or rigid form, the laminate can be used as a blind or other screening.

Claims (6)

1. A decorative laminate comprising a first layer of material decorated on both sides (as hereinbefore defined) thereof and a second, substrate layer of material which is transparent, so that the decoration (as hereinbefore defined) on both sides of the first layer of material can be seen when viewed from respective opposed sides thereof.

2. A laminate according to claim 1, wherein the first layer of material is a fabric printed or otherwise provided with decoration on both sides thereof.

3. A laminate according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second, substrate layer of material is a synthetic plastics material of polyvinylchloride, polystyrene, nylon, polyethylene or the like.

4. A decorative laminate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

5. A lampshade, blind, curtaining or the like, comprising or including a decorative laminate according to any preceding claim.

6. A lampshade substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of Figures 2 to 5 of the accompany drawings.