ITMI20130499A1 - BACKLIT LAMINATED PANEL INCLUDING A SUPPORT AND BACKLIGHT ASSEMBLY - Google Patents

Description

BACKLIT LAYERED PANEL INCLUDING A

ASSEMBLY OF SUPPORT AND BACKLIGHT

Background of the invention

The present invention relates to a backlit laminated panel comprising a support and backlight assembly, a support and backlight assembly for a decorative plate, as well as a method for making such panels.

In particular, the present invention relates to backlit stratified panels intended for the construction of walls, floors, ceilings, furnishing components or doors.

Related art

At present, stratified panels are known formed by a decorative plate typically made of marble and a glass plate, which are coupled by means of a layer of binder material. These panels are used for making furnishing components, such as furniture or the like, or for making light diffusers, such as lampshades, skylights or the like.

The use of these stratified panels is widely known in the interior design sector and they are backlit when placed in contact with or near a light source. Generally, slabs of marble or other suitable stone are used which, when suitably cut, smoothed and polished, are able to be at least partially crossed by light.

As an alternative to these panels detached from the light source, backlit panels are also known consisting of a methacrylate plate to one edge of which a source of light emitting diodes (LED) is fixed, this plate being glued, typically by means of glue cold, to a decorative plate to be backlit.

Summary of the invention

In relation to the backlit panels of the state of the art, the Applicants observed that these panels limit the possibility of inspecting and replacing in a simple and safe way the LEDs placed on the edge of the sheet, thus complicating the inspection, maintenance and control operations since they require disassembly and replacement of the entire panel, thus triggering an undesirable increase in costs.

Traditional backlit panels are therefore not able to offer a product that has all the functional-decorative characteristics required in the field of interior design, such as simplicity and ease of LED replacement, without however affecting the aesthetic and functional quality of the product. keeping the overall thickness of the panel acceptable.

The Applicants have therefore posed the problem of providing a backlit stratified panel comprising a support and backlight assembly capable of reducing and / or solving the aforementioned drawbacks.

Therefore, the present invention relates, in a first aspect thereof, to a backlit laminated panel according to claim 1; preferred characteristics of the panel are reported in the dependent claims.

More specifically, the backlit laminated panel according to the invention comprises an at least partially translucent decorative plate, coupled by means of a layer of binder material to a support and backlight assembly comprising:

- a light diffusion plate of plastic material interposed between at least a first glass plate and a metal support plate;

- at least one light emitting diode source (LED) arranged laterally to said light diffusion plate;

- at least one clamping element configured to reversibly couple said plates to said plate comprising a stem in engagement with at least one fastening element embedded in said at least one first glass plate.

The Applicants have found that thanks to the aforementioned specific characteristics it is possible to develop a backlit stratified panel that achieves a series of very advantageous technical effects, including:

- achieve an improved functional-aesthetic result with respect to the known technique mentioned above by solving the delamination problems that can occur between the cold glued slabs, as well as the delectation problems of the shadow cones on the decorative surface to be backlit if for couple the various slabs simply using self-tapping screws;

- obtain a compact and safe backlit stratified panel comprising a support and backlight assembly, which has a minimum footprint and which is easy to install, for example on floors or ceilings, without however renouncing the characteristic of being highly decorative and being able to obtain a diffusion of the light through the highly uniform decorative plate;

- create a panel in which the LEDs can be easily inspected and easily replaced with the consequent benefits in terms of maintenance and low cost. In a preferred embodiment, the aforementioned partially translucent decorative plate is single-layer or multi-layer.

In a further preferred embodiment, the decorative plate is single-layer and has a thickness equal to or greater than the maximum transverse dimension of the aforesaid at least one fastening element, preferably between 10 and 20 mm.

In this way, it is possible to eliminate or reduce the amusement problems of the shadow cones created by the same fixing elements on the decorative surface to be backlit.

In the preferred multilayer embodiment, the decorative plate comprises a plate of at least partially translucent material, the visible part of the laminated panel according to the invention being coupled by means of a layer of binding material to at least a second glass plate.

Preferably, the binding materials that can be used in the present invention are hot-melt adhesives such as, for example, Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (ÈVA), polyvinyl butyral (PVB), epoxy resins or acrylic resins.

In the context of the present description and in the subsequent claims, all the numerical quantities indicating quantities, parameters, percentages, and so on are to be understood in all circumstances preceded by the term â € œabout "unless otherwise indicated. Furthermore, all intervals of Numerical quantities include all possible combinations of the maximum and minimum numerical values and all possible intermediate intervals, in addition to those indicated specifically below.

In a further preferred embodiment, the panel according to the invention comprises at least a second glass sheet having a thickness equal to or greater than the maximum transverse dimension of said fixing element, preferably between 8 and 12 mm.

In this way, the amusement problems of the shadow cones created by the same fastening elements on the decorative surface to be backlit are advantageously eliminated.

In the context of the present description and in the subsequent claims, the term: partially translucent decorative plate or partially translucent material is intended to indicate a decorative plate or a material capable of being at least partially crossed by light.

Preferably, the panel according to the invention comprises at least a second glass plate having an image printed on the external or internal face.

The term: image means any type of graphic representation including writings, photographs, fantasy drawings, etc.

In this preferred embodiment, before coupling the plates with the above binding material, an image is printed on the inner or outer face of said at least one second glass plate so that the printed image is not visible when the light diffusion plate does not emit light.

The preferred printing techniques that can be used in the present invention depend on the type of image: dark background or light background.

In the first case, a glass previously treated on one of its faces with a suitable primer varnish, for example of the Sayerlack type or similar, is used. Then we intervene with laserization, for example by means of laser engraving by the RCN company or similar, in order to remove the paint in those areas that form the image and which will then be crossed by the light.

In the second case, if the image must be all bright, including the background, proceed by printing the image itself on one of the faces of the glass using a UV type ink which during printing is exposed to the ultraviolet light for immediate drying or other inks suitable for glass, by means of flatbed printers, for example of the ROLAND type or similar, suitable for printing large format images. In this case, the image must first be processed with specific software (for example GIMP or Adobe Photoshop) in order to transform it into a set of points, â € œ newspaper effect ", so that the print itself does not create a continuous layer between the two materials to be joined, but there are, where the ink is not deposited, different points of direct contact between the same materials.

In this way, the delamination problems mentioned above are advantageously avoided.

Preferably, the backlit stratified panel according to the invention comprises a decorative plate comprising an at least partially translucent material chosen from: stone materials, such as for example marble and onyx, dark glasses with a mirror finish, such as for example of the Black Pearl type or similar , and laminated materials such as slate and wood that have undergone a particular processing to make them thinner and therefore allow them to be at least partially translucent.

In a preferred embodiment, the backlit laminated panel according to the invention further comprises at least a third glass plate on the external face of said decorative plate.

Preferably, said at least a third glass plate is glued to the external face of the decorative plate by means of a layer of binding material as described above.

Advantageously, the addition of a further glass plate on the visible part of the panel according to the invention allows the decorative plate to be protected from scratches, damage, stains, etc.

In a preferred embodiment, the light diffusion plate is made of methacrylate.

Preferred examples of methacrylates which can be used in the present invention and which are commercially available are the products: Non-lasered Plexiglass LED EndLighten by Evonik, Plexiglass sandblasted on the surface by industrial sandblasters or similar, Plexiglass laserized on the surface with cross-cutting, scoring or stippling made to for example by RCN laser or similar, internally lasered Plexiglass for example by industrial 3D laser or similar.

In a preferred embodiment, the aforementioned at least one first glass sheet is tempered glass.

Preferably, the sheet is first prepared with holes for housing the fastening elements and is subsequently sent to the hardening heat treatment to make it more resistant.

The glass is preferably extra-clear as, unlike normal glass, the former does not give the light that passes through it a greenish color that would alter the final result of the panel.

Preferably, said at least one first glass sheet has a thickness comprised between 8 and 12 mm.

Advantageously, the LED source arranged laterally to the light diffusion plate illuminates the inside of the plate itself, perpendicular to its flat development. This diffusion plate refracts the light of the LEDs in such a way as to make the plate itself a flat source of light.

In a preferred embodiment, the panel according to the invention comprises at least one LED source glued along at least one edge of said light diffusion plate.

In a more preferred embodiment, the LED source comprises a strip-shaped LED board mounted recessed in a respective receiving seat formed in correspondence with at least one perimeter edge of said assembly.

In a preferred embodiment, the LED board comprises a substantially U-shaped duct and a plurality of associated LEDs on a bottom wall of said duct.

In this preferred embodiment, the reception seat for at least one strip-shaped LED board is obtained by using a light diffusion plate having smaller perimeter dimensions than the dimensions of the first glass plate, as well as the metal plate in the perimeter. in such a way as to form a housing in which the duct is flush mounted.

Preferably, the plurality of LEDs are associated with the raceway by means of a heat-transmitting adhesive, for example of the Arctic Alumina type or the like.

Advantageously, the aforementioned channel allows to achieve a series of very advantageous technical effects, including:

- dissipate the heat emitted by the LEDs to make the most of their duration;

- transmit part of the heat emitted by the LEDs to the metal plate with which it is in direct contact;

- contain all the light emitted by the LEDs inside the light diffusion plate; - contain all the electrical wires necessary for connecting the various LED boards, thus allowing the connection of two or more panels according to the invention; - be easily removable from its housing for inspection or the eventual replacement of the LEDs in case of failure.

Preferred examples of LEDs which can be used in the present invention and which are commercially available are the LED products 5050, 5630 or similar and can be white, monochrome or of the RGB type.

The current that circulates inside the LED boards is of the low voltage DC type (12V or 24V).

Preferred examples of fastening elements which can be used in the present invention are nuts, preferably flanged and more preferably of the polished type or threaded bushings.

Advantageously, the flanged nuts of the polished type allow a greater reflectance of the light.

Preferred examples of clamping elements which can be used in the present invention are at least partially threaded screws.

Such at least partially threaded clamping elements comprise a stem in engagement with the fastening elements embedded in the first glass sheet.

Advantageously, the clamping elements couple the plates and the plate in a reversible way, thus allowing inspection and possible replacement of the LEDs.

The metal plate and the light diffusion plate will therefore be provided with respective holes coaxially aligned with the fastening elements to allow coupling by means of the clamping elements.

In a preferred embodiment, the panel according to the invention further comprises a plurality of light diffusing microgranules, preferably of glass, positioned inside a space defined between said at least one fastening element and the bottom of the seat receiving said at least one fastening element

Preferably, the microgranules are microspheres with a diameter of between 0.2 and 0.5 mm.

Advantageously, the light diffusing micro-granules, preferably of glass, allow to further reduce the shadow cones created by the same fixing elements, thus allowing to reduce the thickness of the second glass plate. In a further preferred embodiment, the panel according to the invention comprises an assembly further comprising at least one anchoring system to the external wall associated with said metal plate by means of said at least one clamping element.

Preferred examples of anchoring systems which can be used in the present invention and which are commercially available are brackets, velcro closure systems (loop / hook), such as for example the Binder Duotec <®>.

In this way, the use of an anchoring system reversibly associated with the metal plate is advantageous especially if, during the assembly phase, it is necessary to change the type of anchoring.

Preferably, the inner face of the metal plate will be painted white in order to reflect the light emitted by the light diffusion plate as much as possible.

Preferably, the metal plate is made of steel or aluminum.

In a further preferred embodiment, the final thickness of the panel according to the invention is between 20 and 50 mm.

In a preferred embodiment, the backlit laminated panel according to the invention can optionally be made curved, according to the bending techniques well known to an expert in the field.

In particular, marble can be worked in a curved way (concave or convex), starting from an adequate parallelepiped suitable for containing the maximum dimensions of the finished piece. The parallelepiped is then worked with numerical control machines in order to remove all the excess material, thus obtaining the piece in the desired shape and size.

The glass sheet can be thermoformed by bringing it to temperatures between about 500 and 750 ° C, closed in a special mold generally made of steel and then allowed to cool slowly so as not to preclude subsequent workability. The light diffusion plate, preferably in Plexiglass, is thermoformed by bringing it to temperatures around 120 ° C, inserted into a special mold generally made of steel and then allowed to cool slowly.

The backlit laminated panels according to the invention are intended for the construction of walls, floors, ceilings, furnishing components or doors. In particular, in the case of use of the panel according to the invention to create flooring, it is possible to stratify a plurality of glass sheets both on the external and internal face of the decorative sheet at least partially translucent. In accordance with a second aspect thereof, the present invention relates to a support and backlight assembly according to claim 19 as described above. Preferred characteristics of the assembly are reported in the dependent claims of the panel according to the invention.

Advantageously, the assembly according to the invention allows to obtain a compact final product, easy to assemble and in which the inspection and possible replacement of the LEDs is easy to implement.

In accordance with a third aspect thereof, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a backlit laminated panel comprising the steps of:

a) providing at least a first glass sheet in which at least one fastening element is embedded;

b) optionally subjecting said at least one first glass sheet to a hardening heat treatment;

c) providing a decorative plate at least partially translucent; d) coupling said at least one first glass plate to said decorative plate by means of a layer of binding material in such a way that said decorative plate forms the visible part of the panel; e) providing a plate of light diffusion plastic material interposed between said at least one first glass plate and a metal support plate;

f) arranging at least one LED source laterally to said light diffusion plate;

g) reversibly coupling said plates to said plate by means of at least one clamping element comprising a stem in engagement with said at least one fastening element.

In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, step g) is carried out by passing the stem of said at least one clamping element through the respective holes of said light diffusion plate and of said plate coaxially aligned with said at least one fastening element.

In a further preferred embodiment, the method according to the invention further comprises the step of coupling by means of a layer of binding material at least one glass plate on the external or internal face of the decorative plate.

Preferably, the binding materials that can be used in the present invention are hot-melt adhesives such as, for example, Ethylene Vinìl Acetate (ÃVA), polyvinyl butyral (PVB), epoxy resins or acrylic resins.

In the case of ÈVA and PVB, it can be heated in a vacuum oven at a temperature between 120 and 150 ° C for a time between 210 and 160 minutes.

In the case of epoxy resins and acrylic resins, it can be heated in a vacuum oven at a temperature between 25 and 45 ° C for a time between 30 and 90 minutes.

Preferably, the vacuum heating phase of the â € œsandwichâ € of slabs to be glued together is carried out by using a heat-resistant silicone bag, internally lined with a metal mesh with hermetic closure that completely encloses the aforementioned â € œsandwich "and then this bag is inserted into the oven and connected to a vacuum pump by means of a nozzle.

Advantageously, the use of a vacuum process allows to glue two or more sheets avoiding the formation of air bubbles with the double advantage of eliminating or at least reducing the problems of delamination and lack of uniformity in the transmission of light through the decorative plate mentioned above. Further characteristics of the method for manufacturing a backlit laminated panel are described above with reference to the panel according to the invention.

Brief description of the figures

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the following description of some of its preferred embodiments, made hereinafter, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings. In such drawings:

Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective schematic view of a support and backlight assembly according to an aspect of the invention;

- figure 2a shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of the assembly of figure 1;

figure 2b shows an enlargement of a detail of figure 2a;

figure 3 shows an exploded perspective schematic view of a support and backlight assembly according to an alternative embodiment;

- figure 4a shows a schematic view in cross section and with some parts detached of a portion of the assembly of figure 3;

- figure 4b shows an enlargement of a detail of figure 4a;

- figure 5 shows an exploded perspective schematic view of a backlit stratified panel according to a further aspect of the invention;

Figure 5a shows a schematic cross-sectional view with some parts detached from a portion of the panel of Figure 5;

figure 5b shows an alternative embodiment of the panel of figure 5a.

Detailed description of the currently preferred embodiments

In the following description, for the illustration of the figures, identical reference numbers are used to indicate the same meanings.

The different characteristics in the individual embodiments can be combined with each other as desired according to the preceding description, should one make use of the advantages resulting specifically from a particular combination.

With reference to Figure 1, 1 indicates as a whole a support and backlight assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the invention comprising a light diffusion plate 2 made of plastic material interposed between at least a first glass plate 3, to example in tempered glass, at least one LED source 5 arranged laterally to the light diffusion plate 2 and a metal support plate 4, preferably made of steel or aluminum. Said glass plate 3 has embedded in it at least one fixing element 6 in engagement with the stem of at least one clamping element 7.

Preferably, the fastening elements 6 are nuts, for example flanged and of the polished type.

Preferred examples of clamping elements which can be used in the present invention are at least partially threaded screws.

As schematically illustrated in figures 2a and 2b, said LED source 5 can be glued along at least one edge of said light diffusion plate 2.

For the purposes of the invention, the plastic material of the light diffusion plate 2 can be chosen among: non-lasered methacrylate, laserized on the surface, laserized internally and sandblasted on the surface.

With reference to Figure 3, 1 'generally indicates a support and backlight assembly according to a further preferred embodiment of the invention comprising a light diffusion plate 2 made of plastic material interposed between at least a first glass plate 3, for example in tempered glass, at least one LED source 5â € ™ disposed laterally to the light diffusion plate 2 and a metal support plate 4, preferably made of steel or aluminum.

Said LED source 5â € ™ comprises a strip-shaped LED board 8 mounted recessed in a respective receiving seat 9 formed in correspondence with at least one perimeter edge of said assembly 1.

It goes without saying that the LED sources 5 and 5â € ™ have means for connection to an electric power source, not shown in the figures.

More particularly and as illustrated in Figure 4a, said strip-shaped LED board 8 comprises a substantially U-shaped duct 10 and a plurality of associated LEDs 11 on a bottom wall of said duct 10.

As schematically illustrated in Figure 4a, said receiving seat 9 is formed in correspondence with at least one perimeter edge of said assembly 1 by using a light diffusion plate 2 having smaller perimeter dimensions than the dimensions of said first glass plate 3 and said metal support plate 4.

Alternatively, the reception seat 9 can be obtained by hollowing it out inside the light diffusion plate 2.

More specifically and as illustrated in Figure 4b, inside the space defined between said at least one fastening element 6 and the bottom of the housing 12 of said at least one fastening element 6, a plurality of diffusing microgranules can be positioned. light 13, preferably glass microspheres with a diameter of between 0.2 and 0.5 mm.

With reference to Figure 5, the reference number 14 generally indicates a stratified and backlit panel according to a preferred embodiment comprising a decorative plate 15 and an assembly 1â € ™, as defined above. Alternatively, the panel can comprise assembly 1, as defined above.

Said decorative plate 15 can be multilayer, as illustrated in figure 5, comprising a plate of at least partially translucent material 15a, the visible part of said stratified panel 14 being coupled by means of a layer of binding material to at least a second glass plate 15b .

Preferably, said second glass sheet 15b has a thickness equal to or greater than the maximum transverse dimension of said at least one fastening element 6, preferably between 8 and 12 mm.

According to a preferred embodiment, said second glass plate 15b has an image printed on the external or internal face (not shown in figure 5).

According to a preferred embodiment, said panel 14 according to the invention comprises a further glass plate on the external face of said decorative plate 15 (not shown in figure 5).

Preferably, the decorative plate 15 comprises at least one at least partially translucent material selected from: stone materials, preferably marble or onyx, dark glass with mirror finish and laminates, preferably slate or wood.

According to a preferred embodiment and as illustrated in Figure 5, the assembly 1 'further comprises at least one anchoring system 16 to the external wall associated with said metal plate 4 by means of said at least one clamping element 7.

Preferred examples of anchoring systems that can be used in the present invention and that are commercially available are the Velcro (loop / hook) closure systems, such as the Binder Duotec <®> as illustrated in Figure 5a or, alternatively, the brackets as shown in figure 5b.

Naturally, a person skilled in the art can make modifications and variants to the invention described above in order to satisfy specific and contingent application requirements, variants and modifications in any case falling within the scope of protection as defined by the subsequent claims.

Claims (22)

CLAIMS 1. Backlit laminated panel comprising an at least partially translucent decorative plate, coupled by means of a layer of binder material to a support and backlight assembly comprising: - a light diffusion plate of plastic material interposed between at least a first glass plate and a metal support plate; - at least one light emitting diode source (LED) arranged laterally to said light diffusion plate; - at least one clamping element configured to reversibly couple said plates to said plate comprising a stem in engagement with at least one fastening element embedded in said at least one first glass plate. 2. Backlit laminated panel according to claim 1, wherein said decorative plate is single-layer or multi-layer. 3. Backlit laminated panel according to claim 2, wherein said decorative plate is single-layer and has a thickness equal to or greater than the maximum transverse dimension of said at least one fastening element, preferably between 10 and 20 mm. 4. Backlit laminated panel according to claim 2, wherein said multilayer decorative sheet comprises a sheet of at least partially translucent material, the visible part of said laminated panel being coupled by means of a layer of binding material to at least a second glass sheet. 5. Backlit laminated panel according to claim 4, wherein said at least one second glass sheet has a thickness equal to or greater than the maximum transverse dimension of said at least one fastening element, preferably between 8 and 12 mm. 6. Backlit laminated panel according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said at least one second glass sheet has an image printed on the outer or inner face. 7. Backlit laminated panel according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein said decorative plate comprises an at least partially translucent material selected from: stone materials, preferably marble or onyx, dark glass with mirror finish and laminates, preferably slate or wood. 8. Backlit laminated panel according to any one of claims 1-7, further comprising at least a third glass plate on the outer face of said decorative plate. 9. Backlit laminated panel according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein said light diffusion plate is made of methacrylate, preferably chosen from: non-lasered methacrylate, laserized on the surface, lasered internally and sandblasted on the surface. 10. Backlit laminated panel according to any one of claims 1-9, wherein said at least one first glass sheet is tempered glass. 11. Backlit laminated panel according to any one of claims 1-10, wherein said at least one first glass sheet has a thickness comprised between 8 and 12 mm. Backlit laminated panel according to any one of claims 1-11, wherein said at least one LED source is glued along at least one edge of said light diffusion plate. 13. Backlit laminated panel according to any one of claims 1-11, wherein said at least one LED source comprises a strip-shaped LED board mounted recessed in a respective receiving seat formed in correspondence with at least one perimeter edge of said assembly. 14. Backlit laminated panel according to claim 13, wherein said LED board comprises a substantially U-shaped raceway and a plurality of associated LEDs on a bottom wall of said raceway. Backlit laminated panel according to any one of claims 1-14, wherein said at least one fastening element is an at least partially threaded screw and said at least one fastening element is a nut. 16. Backlit laminated panel according to any one of claims 1-15, further comprising a plurality of light diffusing microgranules, preferably of glass, positioned inside a space defined between said at least one fastening element and the bottom of the seat receiving said at least one fastening element. 17. Backlit laminated panel according to any one of claims 1-16, wherein said assembly further comprises at least one external wall anchoring system associated with said metal plate by means of said at least one clamping element. 18. Backlit laminated panel according to any one of claims 1-17, having a final thickness comprised between 20 and 50 mm. 19. Support and backlight assembly, for an at least partially translucent decorative plate, comprising: - a light diffusion plate of plastic material interposed between at least a first glass plate and a metal support plate; - at least one light emitting diode source (LED) arranged laterally to said light diffusion plate; - at least one clamping element configured to reversibly couple said plates to said plate comprising a stem in engagement with at least one fastening element embedded in said at least one first glass plate. Support and backlight assembly according to claim 19, as defined in any one of claims 9 to 17. 21. Method for manufacturing a backlit laminated panel comprising the steps of: a) providing at least a first glass pane in which at least one fastening element is embedded; b) optionally subjecting said at least one first glass sheet to a hardening heat treatment; c) preparing a decorative plate at least partially translucent; d) coupling said at least one first glass plate to said decorative plate by means of a layer of binding material in such a way that said decorative plate forms the visible part of the panel; e) providing a plate of light diffusion plastic material interposed between said at least one first glass plate and a metal support plate; f) arranging at least one LED source laterally to said light diffusion plate; g) reversibly coupling said plates to said plate by means of at least one clamping element comprising a stem in engagement with said at least one fastening element. 22. Method for manufacturing a backlit laminated panel according to claim 21, wherein step g) is carried out by passing said stem of said at least one clamping element through the respective holes of said light diffusion plate and of said plate, said holes being coaxially aligned with said at least one fastening element.