METHOD FOR THE ORNAMENTAL TREATMENT OF OBJECTS

Abstract: Method for the ornamental treatment of objects, characterised in that a transparent support (1) is taken as a basis; in that a first layer of paint, a base layer (3) respectively, is applied on this support (1); in that parts (4) are removed from the base layer (3); and in that a second layer of paint (5) is applied on the thus obtained surface.

Description: Method for the ornamental treatment of objects. The present invention concerns a method for the ornamental treatment of objects, in any way whatsoever, among others by means of printing. It is known to treat the surface of objects in an ornamental way by applying a first coating or priming on a support and by subsequently applying a finishing layer over said first coating, whereby the finishing layer may consist of a drawing, a motif or another ornamental imprint. However, this known method is disadvantageous in that the creative possibilities are restricted. The present invention aims a method for the ornamental treatment of objects which makes it possible to create optical effects in a very simple manner, such as differences in depth and the like. To this aim, the invention concerns a method for the ornamental treatment of objects, which method mainly consists in that a transparent support is taken as a basis; in applying a first layer of paint on this support, a base layer respectively; in removing parts from this base layer; and in applying a second layer of paint on the thus obtained surface, after which this method can be repeated several times . Preferably, one and other can be realised by making use of an etching technique which makes it possible to remove smaller or larger parts from a layer of paint, for example by burning it away with a laser. In order to better explain the characteristics of the invention, the following embodiments of the method according to the invention are described as an example only without being limitative in any way, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: figures 1 to 4 represent successive stages of a method according to the invention; figures 5 and 6 represent further stages of the method according to the preceding figures, whereby the object from figure 4 is turned around. The base material for applying the method according to the invention for the ornamental treatment of objects in the first place consists of a transparent support 1 which can be made in any suitable material whatsoever, such as transparent plastic, glass or such. On one side 2 of such a transparent support 1 is provided a base layer 3, for example by means of printing, spraying, or in any other way whatsoever, as a result of which a first colour or motif is obtained. After this base layer 3 has dried, one or several parts 4 of this base layer 3 are removed, for example in the shape of a figure or motif, whereby these parts 4 are removed by means of an etching technique, whereby these parts 4 are burnt away by means of a laser, such that the original transparent material 1 becomes visible again in these places . Then, on the thus obtained surface, which partly consists of the base layer 3 and partly consists of transparent material 1, is applied a second layer of paint 5. In this manner is obtained an object which can be either looked at on the treated side 2 or on the non-treated side 6, and whereby all sorts of possible motifs, drawings or such are visible which have a certain optical effect and/or which show differences in depth. It is clear that further treatments are possible in the thus obtained layers 3 and 5 , which are not represented in the drawings, whereby, for example, parts of both layers 3 and 5 are removed by means of a laser to successively provide extra layers of paint on said surface, so that even more optical effects and even greater differences in depth can be obtained. An even greater difference in depth and/or visual effect could finally also be obtained by providing a suitable base layer 7 on the side 6 of the object 1 as well which, in the above-described manner, after it has dried, is partly burnt away by means of a laser, so as to obtain that the treatment which has been provided on the side 2 becomes visible through the removed parts 8, which further enlarges the visual effect. Naturally, it is also possible in this case to apply one or several more layers of paint, but always after a drawing, pattern, motif or such in the underlying layer or layers of paint has been removed up to the surface 6 of the transparent object 1. Possibly, extra effects can be obtained by applying a layer of non-transparent paint over the already provided layer or layers of paint on one of either sides. It is clear that visual effects can be obtained by means of the method according to the invention for the ornamental treatment of objects which are not possible with any known methods . Although objects which are treated in this way can be used for any application whatsoever, a very interesting application might be the printing in the above-described manner of front panels, either or not replaceable, of mobile phones or such. The present invention is by no means limited to the above- described embodiments represented in the accompanying drawings; on the contrary, such a method for the ornamental treatment of objects can be made in all sorts of variants while still remaining within the scope of the invention.

Claims: Claims . 1. Method for the ornamental treatment of objects, characterised in that a transparent support (1) is taken as a basis; in that a first layer of paint, a base layer (3) respectively, is applied on this support (1) ; in that parts (4) are removed from the base layer (3) ; and in that a second layer of paint (5) is applied on the thus obtained surface. 2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one base layer (7) is provided on the second side of the above-mentioned object, from which parts (8) are removed . 3. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that the surface obtained by means of the base layer (7) and the removed parts (8) is provided with a second layer of paint . 4. Method according to claim 1 or 2 , characterised in that one or several extra layers are provided on the second layer of paint on one or both sides, but always after certain parts in the underlying layer or layers of paint have been removed. 5. Method according to any of the preceding claims , characterised in that the removed parts (4-8) and possibly other layers represent a certain design, pattern or motif. 6. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that use is made of an etching technique which makes it possible to burn away the above-mentioned parts (4-8) by means of a laser. 7. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a layer of non-transparent paint is applied on one of either sides of the object (1) , in particular over a top layer of paint.

Inventors: CLAEYS ROELAND, CLAEYS, ROELAND
Applicants: CLAEYS ROELAND, TECHNI COAT INTERNATIONAL NV, CLAEYS, ROELAND, TECHNI-COAT INTERNATIONAL, NAAMLOZE VENNOOTSCHAP
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B44C3
IPC codes: B44C1, B44C3