Abstract:
A multi-colored rattan stick is made by marking a plurality of subsections along the length of the stick. A first subsection of the stick is dipped into a first color bath containing a coloring agent. After the first subsection has dried, second and subsequent subsections are sequentially dipped into respective color baths, and dried between each dipping. The various coloring agents can be different tones of the same color.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to rattan and, more particularly, to the treatment of rattan. More specifically, although of course but solely limiting thereto, this invention relates to multi-coloured rattan stems and furniture made therewith.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The use of rattan, or more specifically rattan stems, for furniture making has had a long history. Rattan furniture is highly popular because of the soft and classic appearance as well as the comfortable feel plus the well known characteristics of being cool in summer and warm in winter. Furniture made from natural rattan is typically slightly brown in colour and may look somewhat dull for some people or occasions. As a result, furniture makers began to dye rattan stems in order to make or weave rattan furniture with coloured rattans.  
           [0003]    Traditionally, rattan stems are either coloured by dipping or by coating. In the dipping method, a whole piece of rattan stem is soaked in a dispersion of dyes or other colouring agents so that colour pigments can be attached at least on the surface of the rattan stem. A rattan stem made by this method is generally characterized by a generally uniform colour along the whole length of the rattan stem. In the coating method, dyes, coating agents or paints are directly applied generally onto the surface of the rattan stems.  
           [0004]    The coloured rattan stems are then generally used to make, weave or constrict pieces of rattan furniture or other articles. Rattan furniture constructed from rattan stems coloured by the conventional colouring methods is generally not particularly colourful because the rattan stems made by such conventional methods arc usually of a single colour or at most of a dual colour.  
           [0005]    As there is always a need from consumers of more colourful furniture, including rattan furniture, it is therefore desirable to provide multi-coloured rattan stems as well as methods for making same in order to facilitate the construction or making of more colourful rattan furniture.  
         OBJECT OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    Accordingly, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide multi-coloured rattan stems as well as a method of making same. Of course, it will be appreciated that when multi-coloured rattan stems are readily available, the making and construction of more colourful furniture would follow as a matter of course for the benefit of the general public. It is therefore also an object of the present invention to provide furniture including multi-coloured rattan stems. At a minimum, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new kind of multi-coloured rattan stems as well as rattan furniture for the easeful choice of the general public.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rattan stick including a plurality of coloured sections which are sequentially coloured.  
           [0008]    According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for colouring rattan. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0009]    A preferred embodiment as an illustrative example of the present invention will be described in further detail below.  
         [0010]    Firstly, a quantity of rattan sticks or stems meeting a certain selection criteria, such as, length, quality, uniformity, appearance or other suitable criteria are selected.  
         [0011]    In order to impart desirable colours to the rattan stems or sticks, a plurality of colour baths dispersed or provided with dyes, colouring agents or coating agents are preferably prepared beforehand. In order to provide distinctive colouring effects from each of the colour baths, the colour baths are preferably stored in separate containers. Furthermore, it may be preferable to maintain the colour baths at certain temperature ranges in order to achieve more satisfactory colouring effects to the rattan sticks. For simplicity and convenience, the present invention would be explained by reference to four colour baths of distinct colours. In order to provide the effect of a multi-colour scheme on a rattan stick, it is preferable that a length of a rattan stick is coated with a plurality of colours of various combinations. For example, a rattan stick may be coloured with alternate colouring zones of two different colours. Of course, the colour zones on a rattan stick may include a plurality of colours, preferably more than two colours and yet, more preferably, between two to four. Preferably, the lengths of the coloured sections are between 10 cm-50 cm and more preferably, between 10 cm-20 cm and 40 cm-50 cm. More preferably, the coloured sections on a rattan stick are generally equi-distant, or in other words, of equal lengths. The length of a preferred rattan stick is preferably between 3m-4m along the general length is likely to be between 0.5m-8m. Of course, other lengths of rattan sticks may be used and other lengths of colour sections may be selected as and when desired without loss of generality. In order to more accurately colour the relevant sections, the limits of the sections to the coloured are preferably marked before colour is applied.  
         [0012]    Turning to the colouring of the rattan stick, firstly, a rattan stick of a preferred length and with markings indicating the limits of each and every colour sections are prepared and ready. The preferred length is between 3-4 metres and the preferred colouring sections are between 10 cm-50 cm. The colouring sections, or in other words, the sub-sections, may be appropriately selected. In general, the length of the colouring or the sub-sections are preferably between 10 cm-20 cm or between 40 cm-50 cm.  
         [0013]    Next, the rattan stick is dipped into a first colour bath containing a first colouring means with the first sub-section dipped inside the colouring bath. The colouring means may contain, for example, a bath of colouring dyes, agents or other appropriate compositions suitable for colouring rattan sticks.  
         [0014]    After the first sub-section of the rattan stick has been coloured, this sub-section is then dried. After that, it is dipped sequentially into a second colouring bath, a third colouring bath and a fourth colouring bath for respectively colouring the second, third and the fourth sub-sections of the rattan stick. Of course, the coloured rattan stick will be sufficiently dried before moving onto the next colour bath. Of course, the colouring baths may also contain thinners for diluting the colouring agents or compositions.  
         [0015]    In general, where the colour agents or compositions are in powder form or as a coating, the thinner or otherwise solvent for diluting the colouring agent may be water. Where the colouring agents are a type of paint, the thinners is typically an organic solvent commonly known as thinners. The above colouring procedure may be repeated for colouring additional or further sub-sections to provide a more colourful rattan stick.  
         [0016]    As a result of the colouring process, a more colourful rattan stick with a plurality of colours to be determined by the colouring process will be obtained and can be used for the making of more colourful rattan furniture or other rattan articles with enhanced aesthetic appeal, thereby enhancing the value of the rattan furniture or rattan articles made with such rattan sticks.  
         [0017]    In the above example, the use of four different colouring baths, and therefore four different colours on the same stick, have been illustrated to assist understanding of the present invention. Of course, any suitable number of colours, where practicable, can be applied on a rattan stick without loss of generality. Furthermore, the colours may be different or may be the same colour of different tones. In addition, the colour at the transitional regions between adjacent colouring sections may carry a colour which is a result of the mixing or combination of the two adjacent colours. Of course, the junction between two adjacent colouring sub-sections may be very short by accurate controlling of the dipping process, thereby resulting in a short transition and possibly sharp colour change between the adjacent sub-sections.  
         [0018]    Furthermore, to utilize coloured rattans of the present invention and taking generally the advantage of the equi-distant sub-sections, the furniture preferably includes sub-sections of different length so that colour uniformity can be achieved at the desirable portions as calculated.  
         [0019]    While the present invention has been explained by reference to the preferred embodiments described above, it will be appreciated that the embodiments are only examples provided to illustrate the present invention and are not meant to be restrictive on the scope of the present invention. This invention should be determined from the general principles and spirit of the invention as described above. In particular, variations or modifications which are obvious or trivial to persons skilled in the art, as well as improvements made on the basis of the present invention, should be considered as falling within the scope and boundary of the present invention. Furthermore, while the present invention has been explained by reference to a rattan stick or stem, it should be appreciated that the invention can apply, whether with or without modification, to a plurality of stems to be treated together.