Abstract:
Disclosed herein of formation and use of decorative articles utilizing a natural wooden veneer which is back lit and thereby highlighted by a light source which brings out the beauty of the natural grain of the wooden which utilized to form a thin wooden veneer. A variety of natural wooden veneers may be utilized including oak, cherry, maple, walnut, and birch. Alternatively, a synthetic thin wooden veneer may be utilized in the present invention.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to the field of decorative objects and in particular to decorative objects where the decorative effect is obtained by passing light through a wooden veneer. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE ART PRACTICES 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,154 to Carel, et al. issued Sep. 14, 1999 describes a lighted planter includes a lighting assembly removably supported on the upper rim of a planter box. The planter box of the Carel, et al. patent describes a lighting assembly provides nested inner and outer frames, separated by an array of stained glass panels, defining a channel containing a wrap-around lighting element. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,836 naming Murai as the inventor issued Mar. 28, 2000. The Murai patent disclosed a veneer which has the cross grain (such as wavy grain and interlocked grain) artificially formed on the surface of straight-grained veneer cut by quarter sawing the wooden. 
     Wurz, et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,989,657 issued Nov. 23, 1999 describes a trim strip which has a bar of an at least partially transparent plastic having parallel inner and outer faces, an opaque decor layer laminated to the inner face, and a layer of adhesive on the opaque decor layer. The trim strip of Wurz, et al. is adhered to a board edge with the decor layer against the board edge and the outer face directed away therefrom, and edges of the trim strip at the outer face are machined with removal of material so that the decor layer is left exposed through the bar at the machined edges. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,236 to Schneider issued May 23, 2000 recites a framing system for mounting photographs, artwork, documents, etc. on a wall includes a molding strip and an envelope having a clear front panel, with the envelope slidably engageable into the molding strip. The molding strip of Schneider includes a slot, and the envelope includes an upper edge having a configuration matching the slot. 
     Moffatt, et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,641,918 issued Feb. 10, 1987 discloses a free-standing collapsible panoramic theatre is described. When assembled, the theatre includes a multiplicity viewing region. U.S. Pat. No. 4,005,239 issued to Davis, et al. Jan. 25, 1977 shows a decorative laminated panel and a process for making such a panel comprising (1) coating the back most flat surface of a laminate with a uniform layer of a solution of an elastomeric adhesive and removing excess solvent, (2) coating one face of a compressible, flexible, closed; cell polypropylene plastic foam sheet with a solution of an elastomeric adhesive and removing solvent, (3) superimposing the decorative laminate over said polypropylene plastic foam sheet with the adhesively coated side of the laminate facing the adhesively coated side of the polypropylene foam, (4) applying pressure to the flat surface of the laminate and plastic foam so as to form a unitary panel. To bond said decorative laminated panel of the Davis et al., patent to a substrate it is suggested that one can apply an elastomeric adhesive to the back of the panel and to a rigid substrate and install the panel by pressing against the rigid substrate to which the panel is to be attached. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,431,761 issued Jul. 11, 1995 to Holztrager recites a process for making a decorative panel uses a backboard made of polycarbonate plastic material having a pair of substantially parallel spaced apart walls secured by a plurality of parallel spaced apart ribs disposed between the walls. A decorative laminate is glued to the backboard. U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,952 to Watras issued on Jan. 11, 1994 describes the method of making a decorative cracked glass laminate in tile, panel, sheet, plate, veneer or in situ form. The decorative cracked glass laminate of Watras comprises three layers laminated together, an inner backing layer, a substantially light-transparent outer layer, and a decoratively cracked glass intermediate layer sandwiched between the inner and outer layers. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,592 issued to Ueda et al., Nov. 12, 1991 recites a process of producing a surface hardened woodeny decorative sheet by reacting a cellulose material such as a wooden flour, a wooden chip, a chaff, etc., with a dibasic acid anhydride and a monoepoxy compound having a polymerizable double bond to form a setting composition mainly composed of an oligoesterified cellulose material having a polymerizable double bond and an oligomer having a polymerizable double bond, placing in layer the setting composition on a woodeny sheet, and hot-pressing them to integrate the setting composition and the woodeny sheet in a body. 
     Throughout the specification and claims, percentages and ratios are by weight, and temperatures are in degrees Celsius unless otherwise indicated. To the extent that any of the references cited herein are applicable, they are hereby specifically incorporated by reference. Ranges and ratios given herein may be combined. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention describes a decorative object comprising: 
     a first sheet of wooden veneer having a plurality of surfaces, 
     said sheet of wooden veneer having a wooden grain pattern on at least one 
     surface thereof, 
     a sheet of a transparent material having a plurality of surfaces, 
     an adhesive material disposed between a surface of said sheet of wooden veneer and a surface of said sheet of a transparent material, 
     said adhesive material contacting said surface of said sheet of wooden veneer and said surface of said sheet of transparent material. 
     A further aspect of the present invention is a decorative object comprising: 
     a first sheet of wooden veneer having a plurality of surfaces, 
     said sheet of wooden veneer having a wooden grain pattern on at least one surface thereof, 
     a sheet of a transparent material having a plurality of surfaces, 
     an adhesive material disposed between a surface of said sheet of wooden veneer and a surface of said sheet of a transparent material, 
     said adhesive material contacting said surface of said sheet of wooden veneer and said surface of said sheet of transparent material, and 
     a lighting source provided further that said transparent material is disposed between said sheet of wooden veneer and said lighting source. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing and other features of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon consideration of the following description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an alternative side view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines  4 — 4  in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines  5 — 5  of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 6 is a finished product according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a cut out perspective view of the finished product of FIG. 6; and, 
     FIG. 8 is an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     With more particular reference to the drawings the following is set forth. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the preferred embodiment. No limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended for further applications of the principles of the invention, which would normally occur or be contemplated by one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
     As best seen him in FIG. 1 is a basic embodiment  10  of the present invention that is a portion of a decorative article. A transparent substrate  12  is typically formed as a piece of glass, polycarbonate or other substantially transparent material. A thin piece of a wooden veneer  14  is adhered to the transparent substrate  12  by means of a thin layer of an adhesive  16 . 
     The thin layer of adhesive  16  is spread evenly so that it covers substantially all of bottom surface  18  of the thin piece of wooden veneer  14 . The thin layer of adhesive  16  is also spread evenly over the upper surface  20  of the transparent substrate  12 . The thin layer of adhesive  16  is desirably a transparent material when the adhesive cures. Of course, if the thin layer of adhesive and  16  is spread sufficiently thin it may also be a semi-opaque material when the adhesive cures. 
     As best seen in FIG. 2 is a further portion of the decorative article  10 . The transparent substrate  12  is shown as having a first end portion  28 . The transparent substrate  12  is also shown as having a second end portion  30 . The thin piece of wooden veneer  14  is shown as having a first end portion  32 . The thin piece of wooden veneer  14  is shown as having a second end portion  36 . 
     The first end portion of  32  of the thin piece of wooden veneer  14  extends beyond the first end portion  28  of the transparent substrate  12 . The second end portion  36  of the thin piece of wooden veneer  14  extends beyond the second end portion  30  of the transparent substrate  12 . 
     The purpose of having the end portions  32  and  36  of the thin wooden veneer  14  extend beyond the end portions  28  and  30  of the transparent substrate  14  is to permit shrinkage of the wooden veneer  14  to the approximate dimensions of the transparent substrate  14 . As shown later, the present invention allows for illumination through the transparent substrate  12  thereby providing highlights of the natural wooden grain in the thin wooden veneer  14 . As incandescent heat may be utilized to provide highlighting effect the waste heat may shrink a natural wooden veneer  14 . By permitting the first end portion  32  and the second end portion  36  to extend beyond the dimensions defined by the first end portion  28  and the second end portion  30  of the transparent substrate  14  the shrinkage will be within acceptable values. While not shown, it may be taken that the entire dimensions of the thin wooden veneer  14  will extend beyond that the perimeter of the transparent substrate  12 . 
     The thin layer of wooden veneer  14  may be adhered to the transparent substrate  12  by moderate pressure. Conveniently, a roller may be used to apply the thin layer of adhesive  16  to the transparent substrate  12 . As the thin layer of wooden veneer  14  may be torn by as little force as may be applied by slight hand pressure it is preferred not to apply the adhesive  16  to the thin layer of wooden or  14 . 
     The thin layer of wooden veneer  14  is preferably applied to be transparent substrate  12  while the adhesive  16  is in a relatively liquid state. In the foregoing manner, the thin wooden veneer  14  may be positioned on the transparent substrate  12  and slid into position utilizing the adhesive as a liquid vehicle to enhance mobility of the thin wooden veneer  14 . A roller may then be utilized to facilitate obtaining a close fit to the thin wooden veneer  14  to the transparent substrate  12 . In this matter, the adhesive will be spread smoothly to obtain the thin layer of adhesive  16  over substantially all of the bottom surface  18  of thin layer of wooden veneer  14  and spread evenly over the upper surface  20  of the transparent substrate  12 . 
     As best seen in FIG. 3, is a bottom view of the decorative article  10  according to the present invention. The decorative article  10  is shown as partially formed. The decorative article  10  is comprised of other first side piece  50 , a second side piece  60 , a third side piece  70 , and a fourth side piece  80 . Each of first side piece  50 , the second side piece  60 , the third side piece  70 , the fourth side piece  80  are formed as shown in FIG. 1 from the transparent substrate  12  combined with a thin piece of wooden veneer  14  which are adhered together with an adhesive  16 . 
     The first side piece  50  abuts the second side piece  60  and the fourth side piece  80 . The second side piece  60  also abuts the third side piece  70 . The third side piece  70  also abuts the fourth side piece  80 . The are a fourth side piece  80  is located between the first side piece  50 , and the third side piece  70 . 
     A central piece  90  has a generally rectangular shape. The central piece  90  is formed as in FIG. 1 from a transparent substrate  12  combined with a thin piece of wooden veneer  14  and are adhered together with an adhesive  16 . 
     The first side piece  50  has a side surface  52  abutting one of the four sides  92  of the central piece  90 . The second side piece  60  has a side surface  62  abutting a second of the four sides  92  of the central piece  90 . The third side piece  70  has a side surface  72  abutting a third of four sides  92  of the central piece  90 . The fourth side piece  80  has a side surface  82  abutting a fourth side  92  of the central piece  90 . 
     The grain of the thin piece of wooden veneer  14  in the central piece  90  may be the same or different as that employed in each of the first side piece  50 , the second side piece  60 , the third side piece  70 , and the fourth side piece  80 . The type of wooden utilized in the central piece  90  may be the same or different as unemployed in each of the first side piece  50  the second side to  60  the third side piece  70  and the fourth side piece  80 . 
     For aesthetic purposes, the thin piece of wooden veneer  14  utilized in the central piece  90  will be different than that used for each of the first side piece  50 , the second side piece  60  the third side piece  70  and the fourth side piece  80 . Also for aesthetic purposes, it is preferred that all of the first side piece  50 , the second side piece  60 , the third side piece  70  and the fourth side piece  80  be made of the same type of wooden veneer in each case. Alternatively, the first side piece  50  and the third side piece  70  may be made the same type of wooden as is the thin piece of wooden veneer  14 . In this last embodiment, the second side piece  60  is made of the same type of wooden as the fourth side piece  80 . 
     As best seen in FIG. 4, is a partial sectional view taken along the lines  4 — 4  in FIG.  3 . Referring back FIG. 3, a small gap  74  is located on the reverse side of the decorative article  10 . A small gap  84  exists between the third side piece  70  and the fourth side piece  80 . A beveled edge  76  is formed in the third side piece  70 . A second beveled edge  86  is formed in the fourth side piece  80 . The beveled edge  76  is cut at a 45 degree angle in the third side piece  70 . The beveled edge  86  is cut at a 45 degree angle in the fourth side piece  80 . The beveled edge  76  and the beveled edge  86  form complementary angles. 
     The purpose of cutting the beveled edge  76  and the beveled edge  86  is so that when a light source is placed under the plane of the surface of the decorative article  10  as shown in FIG. 3 is that any shrinkage of the thin piece of wooden veneer  14  from which the third side piece  70  is formed and any shrinkage that occurs in the thin piece of wooden veneer  14  from which the fourth side piece  80  is formed will minimize the amount of light which might otherwise directly pass from the light source. 
     As best seen in FIG. 3, and in a similar fashion FIG. 4, the small gap  54  in the first side piece  50  and the small gap  64  shown in the second side piece  60  are protected against light shining through the decorative article  10  by similar beveled edges. In a similar fashion the central piece  90  is formed so that the four sides  92  of the central piece  90  have four 45 degree beveled edges  92  on each of its sides which abut each of the first side piece  50 , the second side piece  60 , the third side piece  70 , and the fourth side piece  80 . 
     As best seen in FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view taken along lines  5 — 5  in FIG.  3 . For purposes of the exemplification, there is a beveled surface  66  along the side surface  62  of the second side piece  60 . The angle of the beveled surface  66  is 45 degrees. Each of the four sides  92  of the central piece  90  have a beveled edge cut at a 45 degree angle. The beveled edges of the four sides  92  of the central piece  90  are complementary to, for example, the beveled surface  66  along the side surface  62  of the second side piece  60 . 
     Shown in FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a decorative article  10  of the present invention. A frame  100  is added to the decorative article  10  to retain the first side piece  50 , the second side piece  60 , the third side piece  70 , and the fourth side piece  80  in place. The transparent substrate  12  upon which each of the sides is mounted is not shown in FIG.  6 . The central piece  90  is held in place by the adhesive material  16  on the transparent substrate  12 . In the event of adhesive failure, the beveled edges of the first side piece  50 , the second side piece  60 , the third side piece  70 , and the fourth side piece  80  retain the corresponding complementary beveled edges of the central piece  90  in place. 
     A light source  110  is shown in the broken away portion of the decorative article  10  in FIG.  6 . The light source  110  is conveniently an incandescent electrical light bulb of sufficient wattage to illuminate through the transparent substrate  12  to bring up the highlights of the natural wooden grain pattern in the first side piece  50 , the second side piece  60 , the third side piece  70 , the fourth side piece  80 , and also the central piece  90 . If desired, a fluorescent or halogen light source may be employed as the light source  110 . Practical considerations of each embodiment of the invention will determine to the proper selection of the light source  110 . 
     As best seen in FIG. 7 is a coach lamp version of the decorative article  10 . The coach lamp shown in FIG. 7 has the decorative article  10  has a first side  120 , a second side  122 , a third side  124 , a fourth side  126 , a top side  128 , and a bottom side  130 . Each of the first side  120 , the second side  122 , the third side  124 , the fourth side  126 , the top side  128 , and the bottom side  130  are assembled according to the complements the FIG.  1 . Accordingly, a light source (not shown) from within the coach lab version of the decorative article  10  will illuminate all six sides bringing out the natural wooden grain of the thin wooden veneer  14 . 
     As best seen in FIG. 8 is a perspective of a fireplace  140 . The fireplace  140  has a mantel  142 . Within the mantel  142  is located an artificially lit (by a fluorescent light) decorative area  200 . Two vertical columns  210  and  220  are located on the fireplace  140 . Two decorative articles  10  which form the vertical columns  210  and  220  of the fireplace  140  have arcuate services. When a fire is burning in the fireplace  140 , the light generated by such a fire is radiating through the two vertical columns  210  and  220  bringing out the natural wooden grain of the thin wooden veneer  14 . 
     The various embodiments of the present invention are simply meant to be illustrative and are not meant to be limiting as to other embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is described in the appended claims.