U.S. patent number RE37,186 [Application Number 08/775,560] was granted by the patent office on 2001-05-22 for unidirectional panel.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Contra Vision Limited. Invention is credited to George Roland Hill.
United States Patent |
RE37,186 |
Hill |
May 22, 2001 |
Unidirectional panel
Abstract
A panel which comprises a substrate of transparent or
translucent material having applied to one or both sides a design
superimposed on, or forming part of, an opaque pattern so that the
design on one side of the panel cannot be seen from the other side.
This is a Reissue of a Patent which was the subject of a
Reexamination Certificate No. B1 4,673,609, dated Jul. 25, 1995,
Request No. 90/003,201, Sep. 21, 1993.
Inventors: |
Hill; George Roland (Stockport,
GB) |
Assignee: |
Contra Vision Limited
(Cheshire, GB)
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Family
ID: |
26288037 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/775,560 |
Filed: |
December 31, 1996 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
760048 |
Jul 29, 1985 |
04673609 |
Jun 16, 1987 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Jul 28, 1984 [GB] |
|
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8419312 |
Feb 19, 1985 [GB] |
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8504187 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
428/187; 156/240;
156/272.2; 156/273.3; 156/277; 40/427; 40/584; 40/590; 40/591;
40/592; 40/615; 428/105; 428/132; 428/133; 428/134; 428/135;
428/136; 428/137; 428/138; 428/171; 428/191; 428/204; 428/208 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B32B
17/10247 (20130101); B44C 1/17 (20130101); B44C
3/005 (20130101); B44C 3/02 (20130101); B44C
5/04 (20130101); B44C 5/0446 (20130101); B44F
1/06 (20130101); B44F 1/10 (20130101); G09F
7/00 (20130101); G09F 13/00 (20130101); B44C
1/105 (20130101); Y10T 428/24298 (20150115); E06B
9/24 (20130101); Y10T 428/24306 (20150115); Y10T
428/24603 (20150115); Y10T 428/24769 (20150115); Y10T
428/24736 (20150115); Y10T 428/24876 (20150115); Y10T
428/24909 (20150115); Y10T 428/24322 (20150115); Y10T
428/24314 (20150115); Y10T 428/24331 (20150115); Y10T
428/24058 (20150115); Y10T 428/24281 (20150115); Y10T
428/24289 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
B32B
17/10 (20060101); B32B 17/06 (20060101); B44F
1/00 (20060101); B44F 1/06 (20060101); B44C
3/00 (20060101); B44C 5/00 (20060101); B44C
1/00 (20060101); B44C 1/17 (20060101); B44C
3/02 (20060101); B44C 1/10 (20060101); B44C
5/04 (20060101); B44F 1/10 (20060101); B05D
001/12 (); E04B 001/00 (); E06B 007/12 (); G02B
017/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;428/187,191,204,208,132-138,914 ;156/277,240,272.2,273.3
;40/590,591,592,584,615,427 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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556 249 |
|
Nov 1974 |
|
CH |
|
0 000 446 A1 |
|
Jan 1979 |
|
EP |
|
82 06722 |
|
Apr 1982 |
|
FR |
|
1299910 |
|
Dec 1972 |
|
GB |
|
1 528 774 |
|
Oct 1978 |
|
GB |
|
2 032 417 |
|
May 1980 |
|
GB |
|
1 567 625 |
|
May 1980 |
|
GB |
|
2 045 326 |
|
Oct 1980 |
|
GB |
|
1 600 061 |
|
Oct 1981 |
|
GB |
|
2 088 613 |
|
Jun 1982 |
|
GB |
|
2 095 738 |
|
Oct 1982 |
|
GB |
|
54-93255 |
|
Dec 1952 |
|
JP |
|
51-14057 |
|
May 1976 |
|
JP |
|
51-86049 |
|
Jul 1976 |
|
JP |
|
53-33723 |
|
Mar 1978 |
|
JP |
|
54-8120 0 U |
|
Apr 1979 |
|
JP |
|
56-150702 |
|
Nov 1981 |
|
JP |
|
Other References
American Scenics Catalog (Oct. 4, 1978). .
Shadow Screens 1979 Catalog and attached "Sample Material #1".
.
3M Aircraft Marking Films Brochure and attached sample "Aircraft
Marking Film" (circa 1970). .
GILA Automotive Products Catalog and attached "Sample Material #2".
.
"Green On Black" assembly (circa 1979)..
|
Primary Examiner: Weisberger; Richard
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Pillsbury Madison & Sutro
LLP
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to panels and more particularly transparent
or translucent panels having a design or pattern visible from at
least one side and not the other.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The term transparent panel as used herein includes a sheet of
transparent material, a laminate of transparent materials or an
assembly of transparent materials, such as glass or plastics, for
example, acrylic sheets or polycarbonate sheets and including
flexible materials such a polyester film or polyvinyl chloride film
and also includes a transparent panel having an obscure or other
distorted image effect. Similarly, the term translucent panel is
intended to include a sheet of translucent material, a laminate of
translucent materials such as glass or plastics, for example,
acrylic sheets or polycarbonate sheets and including flexible
materials such as polyester film, polyvinyl chloride film, paper,
fabric or other material.
The incorporation of an opaque pattern on or into particular types
of transparent panels in order to create unidirectional vision is
already known in the construction of transparent walled squash
courts, as seen in copending application Ser. No. 545,166 of Oct.
25, 1983. These panels include a continuous and opaque pattern
applied in single color, or with the pattern appearing one color
from one side of the panel but another color from the other side to
enhance the one-way vision effect when one side of the panel is
illuminated more than the other side. A single color pattern is
normally white or a light color and a two color pattern is normally
arranged to be white or light color on the one side of the panel
and black or dark color on the other side of the panel. The
patterns are superimposed with exact or near exact registration, an
arrangement which .[.enhance.]. .Iadd.enhances .Iaddend.the clarity
of vision from the other side to the one side. Such materials can
be used to enable spectators or television cameras to see through a
squash court from one side while the players on the other side
cannot see through the material to the other side and thus are not
distracted by the crowds, etc. The pattern in such panels is
normally one of small dots such that, the eye of a spectator in the
audience who is at a distance from the panel cannot discern the
individual elements of the pattern, the elements being too small
for the eye to resolve.
.[.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION.].
A simple unidirectional vision panel comprises an opaque pattern of
dots 1 mm in diameter and at a distance of 1.4 mm between the
centers of adjacent dots on a square grid appearing white from one
side and black from the other side, the other side being less
illuminated than the one side. Light incident on the white dots is
reflected and scattered, which has the effect of obscuring
visibility from the one side into the other side. However, a
substantially clear view is obtained from the other side
.[.throught.]. .Iadd.through .Iaddend.the panel into the one side,
albeit the intensity of light of the image is reduced by virtue of
the degree of opacity, giving a "toned down" effect to the image,
not dissimilar to tinted transparent panels.
.Iadd.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION.Iaddend.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a panel
comprising a colorless or light colored sheet of material and a
design visible from one side of the panel and not visible from the
other side of the panel, said design being superimposed on or
forming part of a silhouette pattern (as herein defined).
A number of different vision effects are obtainable from different
panels falling within the above definition. Thus clarity of vision
can be maintained from the one side to the other side with the
exception of the area covered by the design with clarity of vision
through the whole of the panel from the other side to the one side.
Visibility from the one side to the other side can be totally
obstructed while there is clarity of vision throught the whole of
the panel from the other side to the one side, in other words a
unidirectional vision effect is obtained. Clarity of vision is
obtainable from the one side to the other side except in the area
of the design, while visibility from the other side to the one side
is totally or partially obstructed. Vision from either side can be
totally obstructed. In all cases, vision can be obtained in either
direction through the panel when the level of illumination
perceived through the panel from the far side of the panel
sufficiently exceeds the illumination reflected from the near side
of the panel.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a
panel of transparent or translucent material having a first design
visible from one side of the panel and not visible from the other
side of the panel and a second design visible from the other side
of the panel and not visible from the one side of the panel, each
design being superimposed on or forming part of a silhouette
pattern (as herein defined).
Examples of vision effects obtainable from the second aspect of the
invention include clarity of vision through the one side to the
other side with the exception of the area covered by the first
design and clarity of vision through the other side to the one side
except through the area covered by the second design. In another
example, visibility through the panel from one side to the other
side is totally or partially obstructed and visibility through the
panel from the other side to the one side is totally or partially
obstructed. In yet another example, visibility through the panel
from one side to the other side is totally or partially obstructed,
while clarity of vision is obtainable from the other side to the
one side except through the area covered by the second design. In
all cases vision through the panel can be obtained in either
direction when the level of illumination perceived through the
panel from the far side of the panel sufficiently exceeds the
illumination reflected from the near side of the panel.
The panels of the invention can be illuminated and/or each design
may be illuminated such that the eye will tend to concentrate upon
the design on the panel or look through the panel and concentrate
on an object or objects beyond the panel. In all cases vision can
be obtained in either direction through the panel without any
perception of any design or color of silhouette pattern, when the
level of illumination perceived through the panel from the far side
of the panel is much greater than the illumination reflected from
the near side of the panel. In addition, it is a feature of the
panels of the invention that the design and/or silhouette pattern
becomes less perceptible from the side of the panel from which the
design and/or silhouette pattern is normally visible as the level
of illumination transmitted through the panel from the other side
increases.
The design on one or both sides may be decorative and/or
informative or for other purposes. The panel of the invention may
also allow for the control of solar heat gain, glare or uv
radiation received within, for example, a building, vehicle or
other enclosure or shelter without unduly affecting the visibility
outwards.
The invention allows the natural or artificial illumination of
space to either side from the other side, so that, for example, a
panel of the invention forming an advertisement can be placed in
front of a building and still allow daylight to enter the windows,
albeit of reduced intensity, coupled with vision out of the
building.
The design on the panel of the invention forms or is superimposed
on a pattern of opaque elements which is referred to herein as a
silhouette pattern. The term "silhouette pattern", as used herein,
is intended to mean any arrangement of opaque material which
subdivides the panel into a plurality of opaque areas and/or a
plurality of transparent or translucent areas. The silhouette
pattern may be in many forms, for example, it may be a regular
geometric element in a regular layout, a regular geometric element
in an irregular layout, a free form element in a regular layout, a
free form element in an irregular layout or a combination of
regular and free-form elements in regular and/or irregular layouts.
Instead of a number of separate elements with an interconnected
transparent zone, the silhouette pattern can be formed by
interconnected opaque elements with separate transparent elements,
such as a net, grid or mesh pattern. The silhouette pattern can, if
desired, be a combination of interconnected opaque elements and
separate elements. All of such silhouette patterns may be repeated
over a unitary panel to produce large areas or a large panel can be
made up from smaller panels, for example, in the manner of
tiles.
The elements forming the silhouette pattern are normally small,
such as dots, preferably of equal size on a regular grid, sometimes
referred to in the printing industry as a "half-tone". In certain
circumstances, in particular where vision through the panel is
required, a silhouette pattern made up of discrete elements may be
preferred to a silhouette pattern formed by .[.continous.].
.Iadd.continuous .Iaddend.or interconnected opaque arrangement such
as a net, grid or mesh. It would appear that it is .[.optionally.].
.Iadd.optically .Iaddend.more efficient to see through areas
between a regular array of discrete opaque elements such as dots or
discs than through the transparent areas defined by an opaque grid,
the total opaque area being the same in both cases. The explanation
is possibly that the forward scattering cross-section of an opaque
dot or disc is greater than that provided by .[.continous.].
.Iadd.continuous .Iaddend.opaque strips or lines which make up the
grid. In addition, light rays which are diffracted around the
perimeter of an opaque obstruction contribute toward a more
coherent image if the obstruction is a disc having a more uniform
light path around it than is obtained when light is diffracted
around the edge of a strip or line. The optical efficiency of a
silhouette pattern can be calculated or assessed in much the same
way as with diffraction gratings.
There are, also, physiological aspects connected with the ability
of the eye to resolve the components of a fine pattern at a
distance and the ability of the brain to recognize shapes such as
lines or grids more easily than discrete elements such as dots. The
more .[.recongizable.]. .Iadd.recognizable .Iaddend.the pattern,
the less easily an object can be perceived through the patterned
panel.
Where the silhouette pattern is more discernable, such as a grid or
other arrangement of continuous lines, the impression is
psychologically less pleasing than a silhouette pattern of discrete
elements, such as dots. This may be because a grid or like pattern
is associated with confinement or prison.
A silhouette pattern of discrete elements comprising two
superimposed opaque materials is easier to produce than a grid of
two superimposed opaque materials.
The elements of a silhouette pattern may be such as to mask or
obscure a letter or numeral or goup of letters or numerals to be
capable or forming part of an elemental typographical design, such
as dot matrix letter or number styles, such that relatively small
written or numerical information can be clearly visible from one
side but a uniform or irregular design is seen from the other side.
The pattern may be graded or successively toned down by reducing
the size of the individual elements and/or increasing the spacing
between individual elements, this being useful, for example, if it
is desired to have a varying reduction of solar glare or solar gain
within a building or vehicle. This kind of grading may be formed so
as to be apparent on both sides of the panel or on one side of the
panel only. For example, white dots on the outside of a panel can
be of the same size to give a uniform or near uniform impression
from the outside, whereas larger, underlying black dots on the
inside can be graded in size, on the same grid, for example to give
a graded protection against solar glare, the dots being larger at
the top of a vehicle windshield than they are lower down. The
reverse effect with the black dots being larger at the bottom of
the panel is also beneficial in allowing more solar gain through
the top of a panel from the low winter sun. External shading can be
used to protect the top of the panel from the high summer sun. The
dark colored pattern on the inside of the panel may have the effect
of absorbing solar heat by virtue of the dark colored pattern
overlapping the pattern of a lighter color or of reflective
material on the outside of the panel whose principal purpose is to
create a one-way visual effect.
A silhouette pattern may be placed upon two or more surfaces of a
glazing or other panel assembly, for example, a laminate having a
plurality of surfaces, to further control the visibility through
such a panel and/or to further control the reduction in solar heat
gain, glare or uv radiation. The incorporation of two or more
silhouette patterns can be used to create special visual effects
from the superimposed patterns. For example, if the silhouette
pattern is a pattern of horizontal lines on two spaced apart but
parallel surfaces, the visibility through the two pattern planes
will vary depending upon the angle of vision in relation to those
patterns. If the two silhouettes patterns are the same and are
disposed to allow preferred visibility in a certain direction, such
as horizontally out of a window, by approximately aligning the
silhouette patterns in that direction, this provides an improved
shading of solar heat gain, glare and uv radiation from the sun
from a higher than horizontal angle without significantly affecting
horizontal visibility. A particularly effective use of this
arrangement is in a car rear window, which would normally be
inclined. A lined silhouette pattern in two planes, with lines
horizontal and approximately aligned from the driver's head or rear
window mirror position provides significantly increased solar
shading from the sun than the same pattern would provide in just
one plane. Alternatively, the patterns can be arranged to be
relatively adjustable, for example, one panel being capable of
movement in its own plane such as a sliding arrangement, that would
enable the control of visibility from either side of the assembly
from any given angle.
The silhouette patterns can be relatively adjustable in more than
one direction. For example, where the assembly includes a plurality
of panels each having a silhouette pattern, one panel can be
adapted for movement both in its own plane and perpendicular to
another panel, so as to allow a wide range of solar control, up to
total exclusion of direct solar rays through the assembly, while
maintaining visibility through the assembly and a wide range of
visibility control, including total obstruction of vision from
either side of the assembly from any given angle. The degree of
increased solar shading provided by two or more patterned panels
can be controlled by manual or automatic devices, which may be
temperature responsive or dependent on solar radiation.
A further use of patterns on two or more planes is to create a
design effect that varies with the angle of vision, the variation
of light intensities outside or within such an assembly, or by
moving one or more pattern relative to another pattern. For
example, a silhouette pattern of vertical lines on either side of a
single panel or one side of two panels in an assembly will still
allow visibility through the assembly from either side. However,
the two silhouette patterns can be colored with designs that
produce a varying visual effect depending on the angle of vision of
the observer. If two or more panels with silhouette patterns have
external and intermediate lighting, the visual effect can be varied
by varying the relative intensity of lighting. For example, if a
near panel is brightly illuminated but a rear panel relatively
dark, only the design on the near panel will be perceived. However,
if the near side of the near panel is made dark and the
intermediate space brightly illuminated, the design on the near
panel will not be clearly visible but the design on the rear panel
and any intermediate object will be clearly visible.
Various effects, such as interference patterns, can also be created
by superimposing two silhouette patterns and a changing
interference pattern effect can be produced by moving one pattern
relative to another, for example by a cam. Alternatively, changing
interference patterns can be seen by a moving observer looking at
fixed patterns and designs and this effect can have practical use
as well as decorative or other visual effect. For example, the
invention can be used in conjunction with existing interference
pattern systems for navigational purposes by enhancing the
visibility of, or the information given by, such systems. It will
also enable new practical systems to operate without rear
illumination, such as is presently required, by using ambient
lighting or lighting directed by the observer. In some embodiments
only one silhouette patterned panel is required, a rear panel being
totally opaque, with or without a design or of partially or
completely mirrored or other reflective finish.
The transparent area of the transparent product can be of two or
more different colors, to provide additional design effects, though
the mirror image of these effects will normally be visible from the
other side, unlike designs superimposed on the silhouette
pattern.
The invention has so far been principally described in relation to
transparent materials. However, the invention is also applicable to
translucent materials, where it is required to create a different
image from one side than from the other side of a translucent panel
that can still transmit light, for example, as commonly used in
Japanese style room partitions, such as Shoji screens.
To further understand the preferred embodiments of the present
invention reference should be made to the attached drawings and
descriptions thereof which form a part of this disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a transverse sectional view through a panel having an
opaque silhouette pattern;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 1 of a panel having a
two layer silhouette pattern;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 1 of a panel having a
silhouette pattern and a design on one side of the pattern;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 1 of a panel having a
silhouette pattern and designs on both sides of the patterns;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view through another embodiment similar to
that of FIG. 4;
FIGS. 6A-F illustrate the appearance on either side and in
sectional views of different various kinds of element that can be
used to form a silhouette pattern;
FIGS. .[.17-12.]. .Iadd.7-12 .Iaddend.are transverse sectional
views through panels showing how the silhouette pattern and design
can be protected;
FIG. 13 is a transverse sectional view through two spaced apart
panels of the invention;
FIGS. 14-16 show the panels of FIG. 12 in different relative
dispositions;
FIG. 17 is a transverse sectional view through panels forming a
vehicle window; and
FIGS. 18-25 illustrate diagrammatically, and not to scale, steps in
methods of producing the panels of FIGS. 1-5.
FIG. 26 represents seven different examples of different vision
characteristics obtainable from the invention;
FIG. 27 illustrates one side of a panel of the invention with a
design;
FIG. 28 illustrates one side of a panel of the invention without a
design;
FIGS. 29A-C illustrate the differential vision effects of a panel
with a design on one side;
FIG. 30 illustrates one side of a panel of the invention with a
different design;
FIGS. 31A-C illustrate the differential vision effects of a panel
with a design on both sides;
FIG. 32 represents thirty-six different vision control effects
achievable by panels of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the various embodiments, like parts have been given the same
reference numerals.
Referring to FIG. 1, the panel therein illustrated comprises a
transparent colorless sheet of material 10 having a regular pattern
of opaque ink 14 applied to one side thereof.
The panel of FIG. 2 has a regular pattern of dark ink 26 on one
side of the sheet 10 and is superimposed by light colored or light
reflective ink 25. When viewed from the front (that is from the
right as illustrated in FIG. 2) the light colored pattern 25 has
the effect of inhibiting vision through the panel. From the other
side, however, the less reflective dark colored pattern 26 does not
prevent vision through the panel. This one way effect is further
enhanced if the level of illumination on the front of the panel is
greater than at the rear.
The panel of FIG. 3 is similar to that of FIG. 2 except that part
of the light colored ink pattern 25 is replaced with ink which is
of a different color 28. The relative arrangement of the inks 25
and 28 can be such as, for example, to create a design conveying
information of some kind. Thus, the panel when viewed from the
front appears opaque and will display that information readily,
whereas when viewed from the rear the design cannot be seen but the
panel will appear transparent.
Referring to FIG. 4, the panel is similar to that of FIG. 3, except
that part of the dark ink pattern 26 is replaced by a lighter
design 30. This panel, therefore, displays a design 28 which can be
seen from the front but not the back and a design 30 which can be
seen from the back but not the front. In addition, the panel has a
one-way vision effect in that it appears opaque from the front and
transparent (apart from design 30) from the back.
The panel of FIG. 5 has the same visual appearance as that of FIG.
4 but has a different construction in that the design 30 is located
between the dark ink pattern 26 and colorless sheet 10 instead of
replacing part of the pattern 26 and design 28 is superimposed on
the pattern 25 instead of replacing it.
FIG. 6 illustrates different examples of constructions of elements
that can form a pattern on a panel. Thus FIG. 6A shows an element
of uniform color 25. If this element is white or other light color
and such elements are applied at appropriate spacings throughout a
panel, a simple unidirectional effect is achieved with appropriate
lighting. FIG. 6B shows a two layer element which is black or dark
color 26 on one side and white or light color 25 on the other side,
which can provide a more effective unidirectional vision panel than
element 6A, having improved vision from the one side to the other
side. FIG. 6C shows another two layer element which is one color 27
on one side and another color 28 on the other. This illustrates a
type of element which can be used to form a panel with different
colored designs on each side thereof. FIG. 6D shows a two layer
element which is a uniform color 27 on one side and on the other
side has an area 28 of one color and a second area 29 of a
different color. This illustrates a type of element which would be
bisected by the line of a colored design on one side of a panel.
The element of FIG. 6E is another two layer element having two
areas on each layer of different colors, namely areas 27 and 30, in
one layer and areas 28 and 29 in the other layer, FIG. 6F is an
element which consists of a two layer element like that of FIG. 6C
on a part of which side of which a further layer of a different
color 29 and 39 is applied. The appearance of the element of FIG.
6F is the same as that of FIG. 6E.
The pattern and design applied to a panel can be protected in a
number of different ways. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the
pattern 14 can be covered by a transparent sheet 12 bonded to sheet
10 by adhesive 16. In FIG. 8, the pattern 14 is protected by sheet
12 bonded directly to sheet 10 and provided with recesses 18 in
which the pattern 14 is received. In FIG. 9, the pattern 14 is
located in recesses in a colorless sheet 12. The panel of FIG. 10
has its pattern 14 protected by a thin protective cover layer 22
bonded to sheet 10 by adhesive 16. FIG. 11 shows the pattern 14
provided on the inner surface of a sheet 10 which is part of a
double glazing or like assembly having a second sheet 12 spaced
from sheet 10 and defining an air gap 24.
FIG. 12 shows pattern 14 provided on the inner surface of the thin
cover layer 22 bonded to sheet 12 by adhesive 16, sheet 12 being
part of a double glazing or like assembly having a second sheet 10
spaced from sheet 12 and defining an air gap 24. The air gap 24
need not exist and/or the thin cover layer 22 can be held between
sheets 10 and 12 without adhesive 16.
FIG. 13 illustrates a double glazing assembly similar to that of
FIG. 11 except that a second pattern 33 is provided on the inner
surface of sheet 12 also. This arrangement permits horizontal
vision as indicated by arrow 32. However, in addition to pattern 14
being opaque to sunlight striking the assembly, pattern 33 on sheet
12 is also opaque to sunlight striking the assembly and does not
allow the normal passage of rays of sunlight such as 36 which would
otherwise have passed through the transparent areas 20 between
pattern 14 on sheet 10.
FIG. 14 shows a transverse section through two sheet(s) 10 and 12
with patterns of horizontal lines 14 and 33 printed in one color or
according to the invention on the adjacent surfaces of the two
panels.
If the two patterns are aligned and touching or nearly touching,
vision through the panel is permitted at any angle. If one sheet 10
is moved in its own plane such that the two sheets are still
touching or nearly touching but lines 14 block the gaps between
lines 33 and lines 33 block the gaps between lines 14 as in FIG.
15, vision through the panel is prevented. If one sheet 10 is moved
perpendicular to its own plane such that the lines, 14 and 33 are
still aligned horizontally, as in FIG. 16, the lines can provide
additional or total shading of solar radiation. To avoid abrading
the patterns of lines with panel movement, they may be recessed
into the panels or separated by a narrow sliding bearing material,
such as perpendicular Teflon strips, or otherwise kept slightly
apart.
Thus, with normal daylight conditions, outside sheet 12 and sheet
10 being internal with the sheets disposed as in FIG. 14, the
silhouette pattern of lines 33 is of a color or design according to
the invention to achieve privacy inside. If desired, increased
solar shading can be achieved by moving sheet 10 away from sheet
12, if necessary, to provide shading of solar radiation as achieved
in FIG. 16. At night, or when there is relatively strong internal
artificial lighting, privacy can be maintained by moving sheet 10
as required to reduce the transparency of the assembly, if
necessary to the total obscuration of vision through the panel as
achieved in FIG. 15.
Sheet 10 can be internal relative to sheet 12, but in the gap of a
multiple glazing assembly, sheet 12 being external.
Sheet 10 and/or 12 can be capable of being heated, for example the
lines 14 and/or 33 being heating elements, to ensure that the
alignment of the two patterns of lines 14 and 33 is not adversely
affected by differential thermal expansion of the sheets.
The vehicle window assembly of FIG. 17 consists of a pattern 14
disposed between sheets 10 and 12 and a second pattern 33 applied
to the outer surface of sheet 12 which forms the inner side of the
vehicle window. The relative disposition of patterns 14 and 33 is
such that horizontal vision from within the vehicle is possible as
indicated by arrow 40, whereas sunlight striking the assembly from
above penetrates to a lesser extent into the vehicle than if only
pattern 14 or pattern 33 were incorporated.
The forming of such a silhouette pattern over a large area, each
element of the pattern being of different colors superimposed with
as exact registration as possible, is difficult but methods which
may be used are disclosed in British Patent Application Nos.
2,032,417A and 2,118,096A. Other methods include the following:
(a) A stencil pattern with ink repellent poverties is applied to a
substrate, for example, by any printing technique, by transfer or
like method. Two layers of different colored inks or other marking
fluids, are successively applied. The colored inks are repelled by
the stencil material but remain on the substrate in between the
stencil material. The stencil material is then removed by a
solvent, by heat or other means.
(b) The required pattern is applied to the substrate by printing or
other technique in one color and a photosensitive material, when
exposed to light from the opposite side of the transparent
substrate and developed, leaves a contrasting color exactly
superimposed upon the original pattern.
(c) The required pattern is applied to the substrate by printing or
other technique in one color. A photosensitive material when
exposed to light from the opposite side of the transparent panel
and developed, forms a stencil applied to the area between the
elements of the original pattern. A contrasting colored ink or
other marking fluid is applied over the whole substrate and the
stencil is then removed by water, heat or other means, taking with
it the second color but leaving the two colors superimposed in the
required pattern.
(d) An electro-plating resist having the desired pattern is applied
to the substrate by printing, photostencilling or other technique.
The panel is then plated with two materials of contrasting color
and the stencil removed by solvent, heat or other means to leave
the two superimposed colored materials in the pattern defined by
the resist.
(e) A .[.shelf-adhesive.]. .Iadd.self-adhesive .Iaddend.stencil,
for example, perforated polyester film with a self-adhesive
applied, is secured to a substrate. Two layers of ink or other
marking fluid of different colors are successively applied to the
whole substrate. The self-adhesive stencil is .[.them.]. .Iadd.then
.Iaddend.pulled from the substrate leaving the required pattern in
two colors, each color .[.is.]. .Iadd.in .Iaddend.accurate
registration with the other. The self-adhesive stencil may be in
two or more layers, to allow a single layer .[.or.]. .Iadd.of
.Iaddend.stencil material to be removed after the application of a
layer of ink or other colored marking fluid.
(f) The required pattern is applied to a substrate by printing or
other technique in one color. A second ink or other mixing fluid of
a different color that adheres well to the first color material but
not to the substrate is then applied. If necessary, any material
between the required pattern can be removed by abrasion,
self-adhesive film application and removal or other means to leave
this area clear and transparent but the two colors superimposed in
the required silhouette pattern.
(g) A stencil pattern is applied to the panel .[.of.]. .Iadd.by
.Iaddend.printing or other technique, the stencil material not
having good adhesion to the substrate. Two layers of ink or other
marking fluid of different colors that have good adhesion to the
substrate and each other, are successively applied over the whole
panel. The stencil material is removed and with it the ink or other
marking fluid immediately thereabove by abrasion, self-adhesive
film application and removal of self-adhesive film or other means
to leave the area formerly covered by the stencil clear and the
transparent and two colors superimposed elsewhere on the
substrate.
(h) The silhouette pattern is formed on a carrier paper, the
elements of the pattern normally being printed or "kiss die cut"
and the pattern applied to a panel by dry transfer. The silhouette
pattern is adhered to the carrier paper by relatively medium tack
adhesive and may be ink, two sheets of film laminated or a single
sheet of film printed to provide the different colors. If a film
material is used, the desired silhouette pattern is "kiss die cut"
and the unwanted area of material removed. Adhesive on the opposite
side of the pattern to the carier paper has a relatively high tack
adhesion to the transparent panel after a protecting "release
paper" with a relatively low tack adhesion is removed and the
pattern pressed against the transparent substrate. The carrier
paper is then removed, leaving the pattern adhered to the substrate
with clear transparent areas between the elements of the
pattern.
(i) A self-adhesive or static cling film, for example, of polyvinyl
chloride, can be printed by any of the previously mentioned
techniques and applied to a transparent sheet or flexible
material.
Each of these techniques may be adapted to repeated application or
by masking or other means as will be described to create a design
on one side which when viewed from one side is different than any
design on the other side and cannot be seen when viewed from the
other side. Such products may be referred to as differential
designs.
To produce differential designs, the following adaptations of the
previously identified two color techniques are particularly
applicable.
1. Applying the design by screen, litho or other printing process,
including overprinting overall or a part of the silhouette pattern
in two or more colors, with as exact registration of each layer as
possible. The dots, lines or other elements of the pattern may be
printed larger in certain colors than others to avoid seeing
particular colors on the opposite side to that intended because of
inexact registration.
2. The application of the required design and pattern printed as in
method 1 or any other method, by transfer or decal. If required,
more than one of these can be placed side by side to build up the
required area. More exact registration can normally be achieved in
relatively small areas on flexible materials. By applying such a
transfer or decal having ceramic inks to glass, the carrying
membrane can be burnt off in a toughening furnace, the ceramic ink
being fused into the surface of the toughened glass. The term
transfer includes dry transfers, water slide transfers and any
other means of transferring a pattern on or from a carrying
membrane.
3. Using a screen, litho, or any other printing process, to apply
one layer of the silhouette pattern in one or more colors, being
the pattern and design, .[.of.]. .Iadd.if .Iaddend.any, that will
be seen from one side, using ink or other marking material that
adheres relatively well to the substrate. Alternatively, the
silhouette pattern can be printed using a clear ink or other
marking material that adheres relatively well to the substrate. A
partially processed substrate may be mass produced with a black or
clear or other silhouette pattern applied, the remaining stages of
the process being carried out to suit individual requirements. The
remainder of the silhouette pattern and/or design is applied over
the silhouette pattern using ink, powder or other material that
adheres well to the first colored ink or marking material but not
to the base material, "blocking out" areas rather than printing the
silhouette pattern. If necessary, any material between the required
pattern can be removed by abrasion, self-adhesive film application
and removal or by other means to leave that area clear and
transparent and also leave the required colors superimposed in the
required silhouette pattern with superimposed design.
In one example of this process a polycarbonate sheet is first
screen printed with the required design on one side, to the
required silhouette pattern with PVC ink. When dry this is then
overprinted, "blocking out" each required area of color, normally
in successive layers, using a cellulose based ink. When the
overprinting is dry, the unwanted areas of ink between the elements
of the silhouette pattern are removed by the application of high
tack self-adhesive film, and the removal of the film, the unwanted
areas of ink adhering thereto. The self-adhesive film can more
economically be applied in large areas in a laminating machine and
can be pre-cut in strips to facilitate removal. The self-adhesive
film may also be applied to and removed from rigid or flexible
substrate by being drawn from a reel and passed between nip rolls
with the substrate before being re-reeled, the substrate being
reeled or sheeted as required. Alternatively, the self-adhesive
film can be kept as a protective layer and removed just before the
product is used. Also the adhesive may be such as to leave a
residue on the ink after the removal of the protecting film, thus
facilitating adhesion of the product to another surface, for
example a polyester film to a glazing assembly.
4. A stencil to produce the required silhouette pattern is applied
to the substrate. The required design is then applied in inks or
other marking materials by printing, spraying or other technique in
successive layers, "blocking out" areas rather than applying the
required silhouette pattern. The stencil is then removed with the
ink or other marking fluid laying above it, leaving the required
colors superimposed in the required silhouette pattern and
design.
A partially processed substrate may be mass produced with an
applied stencil and, if required, one or two layers of marking
fluid over the stencil, the remaining stages of the process
completed later to suit individual products.
There are many different possible stencil materials each with one
or more methods of removal, together with the unwanted ink or other
marking material upon them. The stencil may be preformed, such as a
perforated film, or printed to be a photo-stencil produced by
exposing a photo-sensitive layer to light through artwork and
developing to achieve the required stencil pattern or other
technique of forming a stencil pattern. A sufficiently strong
stencil, such as perforated self-adhesive PVC or polyester films,
can simply be pulled away from the substrate.
Alternatively, the stencil may be an ink or other marking material
that has a relatively low bond to the substrate. The required
design is applied with inks or other marking materials that have a
relatively good bond to the substrate. The stencil and the ink
above it can be removed by abrasion, self-adhesive film application
and removal or other means to leave the stencil area clear and
transparent but the required colors superimposed in the required
silhouette pattern and design. Also the adhesive may be one which
leaves a residue after removal so that the product can be secured
to another surface.
As one example, the required stencil pattern can be printed on
acrylic sheet with an organic solvent based printing ink. When dry,
the design can be screen printed "blocking out" the required areas
in successive layers, using a PVC ink. The required silhouette
pattern is then produced by removing the stencil and the ink
adhered to it by the application and subsequent removal of
self-adhesive film by any of the techniques described in method
3.
The stencil may be of a material that is very expansive under
certain conditions, so that the ink or other marking material above
the stencil is ruptured and separated from the ink adhered directly
to the substrate. Any residue of the stencil and superimposed ink
can then be removed by abrasion, solvent or other means, leaving
the stencil area clear and transparent. As one example, the stencil
can be a water expansive photo-stencil and the inks can be any
water permeable ink. As another example, the stencil can be a
thermal expansive ink which expands when the temperature is
raised.
The stencil may be of any ink repellent nature, for example, a wax
that is repellent to water based inks and which can subsequently be
removed by melting, abrasion, water hosing, solvent, or combination
therof after the ink or marking materials have been applied.
The stencil may be compressible and/or may not allow the ink to
cure properly or may degrade by UV or other radiation applied
through the substrate, such that under abrasion or high pressure
hosing, both the stencil and inks or other marking materials above
it are removed, leaving the required colors superimposed in the
required silhouette pattern and design.
The stencil can be of a material that has a solvent to which the
inks or other marking materials are resistant. The inks or other
marking materials may be printed slightly oversize to cover the
gaps between the stencil but leave sufficient area of the stencil
exposed to enable the stencil to be removed by solvent, thus
achieving exact registration of required colors superimposed in the
required silhouette pattern and design. The stencil may be an acid
etch resist ink which could be removed by a dilute alkali solvent
such as sodium carbonate or caustic soda.
5. A "resist" techique in which the silhouette pattern is printed
either as part of or over the required design, which is printed
"blocked out" in successive layers. The areas of the lower levels
of ink, required to be transparent, are etched away by a solvent
which does not affect the "resist" elements.
If a single color is required on one side of the silhouette pattern
the "resist" may be in that color, applied over the colors forming
the required design on the other side of the silhouette pattern.
Alternatively or otherwise the "resist" can be transparent to avoid
the need to subsequently remove it and to overcome the problem of
registration of a fine silhouette pattern being applied in more
than one stage. Alternatively, the "resist" can be a material that
is subsequently removed by solvent or other technique, in which
case it can be any color.
As one example, the base material can be acrylic sheeting. The
colors of the design can be "blocked out" with an acid etch resist
ink. The silhouette pattern and the design can then be printed in
clear ink not soluble in alkali. Unwanted ink between the elements
of the silhouette pattern and the design can then be removed by
etching with a dilute alkali such as sodium carbonate or caustic
soda.
As another example, the colors of the silhouette pattern and the
design can be "blocked out" with virtually any ink suited to the
base material. The silhouette pattern can then be applied by a
water dispersible photoresist technique. The unwanted ink can then
be etched with a non-aqueous solvent of the ink, as long as it does
not attack the base material. The resist can then be dispersed by
the application of water.
6. The silhouette pattern can be recessed into the surface of the
base material. This allows the required pattern colors to be
applied in "blocked out" areas, for instance by spraying ink
through stencils on the surface, as appropriate. The areas between
elements of the silhouette pattern which are required to be
transparent, can be cleaned off between applications of ink or
after all ink has been applied or these areas can be protected
during the application of ink by a stencil of the silhouette
pattern. After the application of the required colors, the stencil
is removed together with the unwanted ink over it by any of the
methods outlined in method 4.
The recessed silhouette pattern and design may be formed by
casting, for example into acrylic sheet material, by engraving,
milling, drilling, .[.san.]. .Iadd.sand .Iaddend.blasting, laser
etching, chemical etching, hot foil transfer or other
.[.tecnique.]. .Iadd.technique.Iaddend..
7. The silhouette pattern can be made by mechanical removal of inks
or other marking materials after application of the required design
and colors in "blocked out" areas. As one example, clear lines of
uniform or varying width could be erased by abrasive wheels to
leave a lined or tartan-like silhouette pattern and design.
8. The silhouette pattern and design may be formed by a cut film,
normally applied from a carrier layer to a sheet substrate by self
adhesive. The required pattern and design may be printed "blocked
out" on the film or may comprise a laminate of cut layers to
produce a similar effect, prior to die cutting and removal of the
areas required to be transparent. The film material can be reeled
and can be cut and the unwanted areas removed mechanically, reel to
reel, normally with a silhouette pattern of continuous straight or
curved lines. Alternatively, suitable grades of sheet or film
material can be punched, burnt, laser cut or otherwise cut normally
to achieve a perforated membrane of a grid, net or filigree type of
silhouette pattern, the holes of whatever shape forming the
transparent areas. The holes may be formed after printing or
otherwise applying the required design "blocked out" or the
required design may be produced after the holes have been formed,
for example, by spraying using appropriate stencils or masking to
control the areas of application. Such patterned perforated sheets
or membranes may then be formed within, attached to, or be
independent of the transparent sheet or film materials.
In any of the above methods, the term "blocked out" is intended to
include the overall application of a multicolor printing process,
for example of 4 or 5 colors, to achieve almost limitless
combinations of perceived color in a design. The various techniques
will only retain deposits of color within the required silhouette
pattern and design in the finished product.
Any of the techniques for producing the required designs and
silhouette pattern can be applied to translucent or obscure sheets
or film or, instead, a lacquer or film can be applied to a panel of
the invention to achieve a translucent or obscure effect, while the
silhouette pattern and the design or designs remain visible in the
finished product.
It may be advantageous to protect the pattern on one or both sides
of a panel and suitable methods and examples of suitable assemblies
are as follows:
(i) The pattern and design can be encapsulated within a plastic
sheet during the casting or other production process of the panel.
The .[.sheet.]. .Iadd.pattern and design .Iaddend.can be coincident
with a surface of the panel or intermediate the panel surfaces.
(ii) The pattern and design may be disposed within two or more
sheets of transparent material normally held or laminated together
by any technique. For example, the sheets may be laminated with
resin or PVB film with or without barrier layers to prevent
chemical attack and/or to promote bonding. Two or more sheets
sealed around their edges can be held together by a vacuum. The
elements of the silhouette pattern, such as printed dots, can form
spacers to provide a continous vacuumed space between the
sheets.
(iii) The pattern and design may be disposed between a thin film
laminated to a panel, the pattern being independent of the film or
panel or applied to either the film or the panel.
(iv) The pattern and design may be disposed within a glazing
assembly of two or more layers, for example, it may be printed onto
the inside of one of the layers of a double glazing assembly or
onto a sheet or film within a double glazing assembly, which sheet
or film may be independent of or attached to one or more parts of
the double glazing assembly.
In situations where it would be difficult or less economical to
apply the opaque pattern and design in large areas, smaller areas
or "tiles", having suitably accurate edges or a suitably patterned
perimeter, can be joined together to provide the required
staisfactory impression overall. Such "tiles" may be of any
suitable design but in a particular application each tile may have
an individual letter or numerical character thereon so that unique
messages, advertisements, etc. can be built up. The "tiles" may be
attached to a transparent base, for example, by static cling film
or by adhesive, and may have a protective cover layer. The tiles
may be included in a laminate or like assembly, such as within a
double glazing assembly.
The silhouette pattern can be a single color on both sides over
part of a panel and different colors on different sides over the
remainder of the panel. The design on one or either side of
silhouette pattern can be such that any single element of the
silhouette pattern can have two or more colored areas within it.
One or more parts of a panel can be left clear of a silhouette
pattern. The opaque elements of a silhouette pattern which are
colored differently on each side to provide a different design when
viewed from different sides of the panel, need not form a
continuous pattern but may be one or more individual elements or
any shape, at any spacing in relation to other elements.
The transparent base material to which the invention can be applied
can be a sheet or a film or other transparent material and can be
"water clear" or stained or otherwise tinted. For example, the
invention can be applied to transparent polyester film such as
"Melinex" produced by ICI PLC. The film can be unsupported, be
stretched within a frame, hung suitably weighted, or adhered to a
transparent sheet material. For example, a strip of static cling
PVC film or self-adhesive PVC film can be attached to the upper
part of a car windshield. On the inside of the car, the film may
have a single color pattern, which may be graded for varying solar
glare protection, but on the outside a design may be incorporated,
for example, the name of the owner of the vehicle.
A transparent sheet or film in accordance with the invention having
the differential designs applied at one surface can be silvered or
otherwise made reflective on the other side or a stationary or
movable mirror surface can be disposed at a distance from the other
side. By this means, both designs can be seen from one side only by
the viewer appropriately positioning himself so as to receive the
reflected image of the other design which would not normally be
visible from the one side. By alternately illuminating either side
of the silhouette pattern, the perceived images will alternate. If
the mirrored surface is moved, the rear image will appear to
move.
The opaque silhouette pattern may have another useful purpose, for
example, it may comprise or be comprised in, a heating element
within or attached to a vehicle .[.windshield.].
.Iadd.window.Iaddend., a building window, screen or partition. The
heating element may be of a design that has the required optical
effect and may be differently colored on each side and have colored
designs on one or both sides. Similarly, a security grill, a
reinforcing mesh, a security alarm tape, radio or television
aerials, elements of a solar powered cell or other elements within
or adjacent to a transparent assembly may be formed to act as the
silhouette pattern and be suitably colored on one or both sides
according to the invention.
In certain embodiments of the invention in which a one-way vision
effect is desired, the invention has advantages over known
alternatives such as partially metalized transparent materials,
sometimes referred to as one-way mirrors, apart from the advantage
of being able to incorporate a multi-colored design such as an
advertisement into the assembly. For example, on a commercial
vehicle, a rear window could incorporate the invention thereby
providing a one-way vision effect, that is to say it is possible to
see out from within the vehicle but, under normal circumstances,
not possible to see into the vehicle from the outside. At the same
time, a design on the outside of the window can be in the form of
an advertisement, for example the name of the company or product
and will be visible to other road users or pedestrians. However, if
the police or other security forces wish to see inside the vehicle,
this is possible at close quarters, unlike one-way mirrors, which
are disliked as vehicle windows by the police, for this reason.
The design image perceived and its intensity, and the visibility
through a panel of the invention depend upon a number of factors
including the lighting conditions on either side of the panel, the
light transmittance and surface reflectivity of the transparent
material, the reflectivity and contrast of the colors used in the
silhouette pattern or superimposed design, the distinctiveness of
the design, the proportion of opaque to transparent areas and the
shape of the silhouette pattern. Typical daylight conditions will
normally be adequate to render a design clearly visible from the
outside of a building or vehicle, if the design is incorporated
into a window assembly or is located near to it. In internal
situations, artificial lighting may be arranged to enhance the
required images, for example by directing spotlighting onto the
appropriate surface or surfaces. Perceived images are generally
brighter if they are viewed from a reflecting angle to the light
source. For example, an image of a design on an upper story window
of a building will appear brighter when viewed from the ground,
because of light reflected from the sky, than the image of the same
design on a ground floor window which reflects less of the
sunlight. An image on a sloping window on a vehicle will be
brighter than on a vertical window.
Conditions can be such as to allow the eye to see the design or to
see through the design beyond the patterned transparent material,
depending inter alia upon the focus of attention of the viewing
person, and upon the proximity of the viewing person to the panel,
as well as the other factors listed above as affecting the
perception of design image. For instance, if a design such as a
sign according to the invention is incorporated upon a transparent
door, it can be possible to read the sign but still be aware of
images beyond the door, such as an approaching person. Thus the
invention can provide a safety feature by identifying potentially
dangerous areas of glass without masking the view beyond the glass
and can bear a design or message without preventing visibility of a
potential hazard beyond.
By altering the illumination on either side of a panel, the eye's
perception of the panel and the space beyond can be changed. If the
illumination is altered from relative light on one side and
relative dark on the other side to relative light on the other side
and relative dark on the one side, the eye's perception will change
when looking from either side of a suitably patterned and designed
panel. Looking from the one side the principal perceived image will
change from the design on the one side to the space on the other
side. Looking from the other side the principal perceived image
will change from the space on the one side to the design on the
other side. As well as providing an eye catching alternating
display, for example, within a shop, this effect can have safety
and other practical applications, for example, a panel giving a
written warning of danger, while the alternating transparency
allows that danger behind the panel to be visible.
By incorporating different colors within a design or designs and
illuminating with different colored alternating light sources, an
impression of moving images in one plane or between planes of an
assembly can be achieved. Some parts of a design may only be
visible under certain types of light sources. For example an ultra
violet sensitive dye may be incorporated into a white ink to create
a pattern which is visible under ultra violet lighting conditions
but is not visible under other lighting conditions, and is
indistinguishable from normal white ink background.
A changing image can also be achieved by a movable embodiment of
the invention, for example a rotating sign which may be plane or
multi-faceted. By illuminating the sign relatively intensely from
one direction, two or more different images can be perceived from
the well illuminated direction, while the sign will appear
transparent when viewed from the other direction.
When a panel of the invention is used to enclose or partially
enclose a light source, for example, a lampshade having a design on
the exterior, the appearance of the design on the shade will change
when the light is turned on or off. When the light is off, external
light will illuminate the design on the outside of the shade. When
the light is switched on, the light transmitted through the shade
will exceed light reflected from the exterior of the shade and the
design on the outside of the shade will not be readily perceived.
If there is a design on the inside of the shade, it will be seen
when the light in on but not readily perceived when the light is
off. This effect is of great practical value in enclosed
illuminated signs, enabling a point light source to be used rather
than an array of .[.liht.]. .Iadd.light .Iaddend.sources to achieve
near uniform backlit illumination, as in a conventional sign box,
and enabling the indicia to be invisible in ambient lighting or a
different sign to be visible in ambient lighting.
Light gathering materials, such as the "LISA" product manufactured
by Bayer can be used to enhance the perceived designs. For
instance, a suitably patterned light-gathering sheet or film in a
window enables one design to be visible outside the building and
enhance a different image visible inside the building by means of
the light that is received solely or primarily from the outside
being internally reflected until scattered by the inside design
located on the outside surface of the sheet or film and emitted
through the inside surface. The silhouette pattern may be printed
or recessed by etching, milling, casting or other means or punched,
drilled or otherwise cut into the material. In one embodiment, a
silhouette pattern is printed or otherwise incorporated on
transparent material. A light gathering material is punched or
otherwise worked to produce recesses, holes or torn edges of the
light gathering material which glow more visibly than the remaining
areas. The worked pattern may correspond in whole or in part to the
silhouette pattern on the transparent material when they are
aligned together, so that a design such as a sign is clearly
visible from one side but is masked by the silhouette pattern from
the other side. Lighting can be arranged to allow vision through
the panel from one or both sides of such as assembly. Ultra violet
light will further enhance the visibility of designs incorporated
on or within light gathering materials.
Edge lighting of products of the invention may also be used to
enhance the images perceived on one or both sides of an assembly.
The light can be introduced through one or more edges of a
transparent material and is internally reflected until scattered by
the inside design .[.of.]. .Iadd.on .Iaddend.the silhouette pattern
on one surface and emitted through another surface, making the
pattern more visible. Light gathering or edge lit products may be
placed back-to-back with the silhouette pattern normally in
registration and, if desired, with an intermediate opaque
silhouette pattern on a separate transparent material, in order to
achieve the desired effect, such as an illuminated sign that
appears different from one side than from the other and, if
desired, can be made transparent from one side or the other by
appropriate relative fixed or changing lighting intensities.
Colored lights or images, such as those from photographic
transparencies, can be projected onto the surface of the products
of the invention preferably onto white or light areas on one side
of the silhouette pattern, while maintaining visibility through the
panel from the other side. This can be of use, for example, in
theaters, TV or film studios or exhibitions.
The inks or other materials forming the opaque pattern may be
luminescent, fluorescent, irridescent, phosphorescent, metallic,
reflective or have other light enhancing or eye attracting
properties, to intensify the perceived image, such enhancement
being apparent under normal lighting conditions, special lighting
conditions or excited by electrical current or other techniques.
Elements of the pattern may be faceted, or located within or
outside a panel or assembly to enhance visibility.
Elements of the pattern may themselves be light sources. For
example, an array of small light bulbs may be disposed to be masked
by a silhouette pattern and be on one or both sides of the
silhouette pattern. An illuminated pattern may be seen on one side
but not seen from the other side and/or be seen from the other side
but not from the one side and either pattern may be varied by
appropriate circuitry and switching. Visibility through the panel
can be maintained from one or both sides, if required.
An array of fluorescent light tubes or other luminous materials,
such as suitably illuminated light gathering tubes or rods, can
also form an embodiment of the invention by suitably masking out
unwanted areas of the design by, for example, paint or applied film
material, normally black in color.
FIG. 18 illustrates steps in the method 1 of producing a
differential design by overprinting. FIG. 18A shows a substrate 10.
FIG. 18B shows a design 42 to be visible from one side printed onto
the base 10. FIG. 18C shows a background color 44 to be seen from
the one side, superimposed over the design 42. FIG. 18D shows a
background color 46 to be seen from the other side of the finished
panel, superimposed over background 44. FIG. 18E shows a design 48
to be visible from the other side, superimposed over 46. The
designs 42 and 48 may be in more than one color, in one or more
layers and in any position on the surface. It is normal for a black
or dark background color 46 to overlap other colors to avoid the
colors in design 42 being seen from the other side or the colors in
design 48 being seen from the one side. Alternatively, an
overlapping black layer may be placed intermediate the backgrounds
44 and 46 or between the designs 42 and 48 if there are no colored
backgrounds. The silhouette pattern is defined by the extremities
of the individual elements within or outside the transparent area
or areas 20.
FIG. 19 illustrates method 2 of producing a differential design by
transfer or decal. FIG. 19A shows a transfer or decal with a
pattern and differential design printed by method 1 or any other
method onto a carrying membrane 50. Reference numerals 42, 44, 46
and 48 indicate the same features as in FIG. .[.8.].
.Iadd.18.Iaddend.. FIG. 19B shows the transfer adhered to substrate
10 by water slide, pressure sensitive adhesive or othe techniques.
The carrying membrane 50 may be as shown or intermediate the
pattern and designs and the base material 10. The carrying membrane
50 may be transparent and not be removed or may be pulled away, for
example, as with a dry transfer technique or be otherwise removed
or .[.being.]. .Iadd.be .Iaddend.burnt away in a glass
.[.toughness.]. .Iadd.toughening .Iaddend.furnace, while the
pattern and designs are retained on the surface of the
substrate.
FIG. 20 illustrates method 3 of producing a differential design by
first applying the silhouette pattern in one ink that adheres
relatively well to the substrate 10. If the silhouette pattern is
to be all one color on one side this is applied directly, shown by
reference numeral 44 in FIG. 20D. If a design is required on the
one side, the silhouette pattern is first applied in transparent
ink 52 as shown in FIG. 20B. The design 42 on the one side is then
printed "blocked out", on and between the silhouette pattern 52
over the required area. Background color 44 is then "blocked out"
over the whole area as in FIG. 20DD.
The subsequent steps in the method are the same for the partially
finished panel of FIG. 20D and FIG. 20DD. Thus, as shown in FIG.
20E, background color 46 is then "blocked out" over the whole area
of the panel. In FIG. 20F, the design 48 to be visible from the
other side is "blocked out" over the required area. In FIG. 20G,
high tack self-adhesive film 54 is applied over the whole area.
FIG. 20H shows the panel after the self-adhesive film has been
pulled away, taking with it the ink applied over the area between
the silhouette pattern printed in 20B or 20D, this ink adhering
well to the ink forming the silhouette pattern but not to the
substrate. Thus the desired silhouette pattern and designs are
produced in exact registration.
FIG. 21 illustrates method 4 of producing a differential design by
first applying a stencil material 56 of the required silhouette
pattern to the substrate 10, as in FIGS. 21A and 21B. In FIG. 21C,
design 42, to be visible from the one side, is applied "blocked
out" over the required area. In FIG. 21D, background color 44 is
"blocked out" over the whole area. In FIG. 21E, background color 46
is "blocked out" over the whole area. In FIG. 21F, design 48, to be
visible from the other side, is applied "blocked out" over the
required area. In FIG. 21G, the stencil material 56 has been
removed, leaving the desired silhouette pattern and designs in
exact registration. An example of one technique of removing the
stencil is shown in FIG. 21FF, which is the application of the self
adhesive film 54 after stage 21F. The subsequent removal of the
film 54 also removes the stencil material with it, since the
stencil material has a poor bond to the substrate and also .[.since
the ink is.]. .Iadd.the inks .Iaddend.lying above the stencil.
FIG. 22 illustrates method 5 of producing a differential design by
a "resist" technique. FIG. 22A shows a substrate to which design
42, to be visible from one side is applied "blocked out" over the
required area, as shown in FIG. 22B. In FIG. 22C, background color
44 is "blocked out" over the whole area. In FIG. 22D, background
color 46 is "blocked out" over the whole area. In FIG. 22E, design
48, to be visible from the other side, is applied "blocked out"
over the required area. In FIG. 22F, transparent ink or other
material 58 is applied in the silhouette pattern. In FIG. 22G, a
solvent to inks 42, 44, 46 and 48 has been applied, to which the
material 58 is resistant, etching away the unwanted ink and leaving
the desired silhouette pattern and designs in exact
registration.
FIG. 23 illustrates method 6 of producing a differential design by
recessing the silhouette pattern into the surface of the base
material. FIG. 23A shows a base material 10 with an optional
protective material 60, such as self-adhesive film, placed over it.
In FIG. 23B, recesses 66 have been formed for the silhouette
pattern, for example, by laser etching. In FIG. 23C, a stencil 62
is positioned to enable the required design 42 on one side to
sprayed into the recessed silhouette pattern. Waste ink is removed
from protective film 60 after this and subsequent ink applications.
In FIGS. 23D and 23E, background colors 44 and 46 are sprayed over
the whole area. In FIG. 23F, a stencil 64 is positioned to enable
the required design 48 on the other side to be sprayed over the
required area. In FIG. 23G, the protective film 60 has been
removed, leaving the required design within the required recessed
silhouette pattern.
FIG. 24 illustrates method 7 of producing a differential design by
mechanical removal of inks or other materials. FIG. 24A is achieved
in the same way as in method 5 illustrated in FIGS. 22A-E. In FIG.
24B the areas required to be transparent have been cut, abraded or
otherwise cleared away, leaving the required silhouette pattern and
designs with exact registration.
FIG. 25 illustrates said method 8 of producing a differential
design by die cut film. Die cut film materials are in common usage
in graphic displays, normally having self-adhesive PVC indicia.
FIG. 25A shows a piece of film 44. FIG. 25B shows the film 44
printed or sprayed with a different color 46 or a separate film 46
laminated thereto. FIGS. 25C and 25D show the required designs 42
and 48 applied by printing, spraying through stencils, die cut film
laminating or other method. In FIG. 25E, a protective film 68 is
applied with clear adhesive 74 to one side of the assembly. In FIG.
25F, the areas 70 which are required to be transparent have been
die or .[.real.]. .Iadd.reel .Iaddend.cut and .[.striped.].
.Iadd.stripped .Iaddend.away. .Iadd.Alternatively, as illustrated
in FIG. 25J, suitable grades of sheet or film material can be
punched, burnt, laser cut or otherwise cut normally to achieve a
perforated membrane 47 or a grid, net or filigree type of
silhouette pattern, the holes 70 of whatever shape forming the
transparent areas. The holes 70 may be formed after printing or
otherwise applying the required design "blocked out" or the
required design may be produced after the holes have been formed,
for example, by spraying using appropriate stencils or masking to
control the areas of application. Such patterned perforated sheets
or membranes 47 may then be formed within, attached to, or be
independent of the transparent sheet of film materials.
.Iaddend.FIG. 25G shows a self-adhesive carrying membrane 72
applied to the other side. FIG. 25H shows the protective film 68
having been removed and the product applied firmly to the base
material 10. In FIG. 25I the carrying membrane is removed leaving
the required silhouette pattern and designs with exact
registration. If design 42 were not required, the protective film
68 and adhesive 74 would normally be adhered to film 44 prior to
printing, in the manner of manufactured products for die cutting
indicia for self-adhesive application.
FIGS. 26/1 to 26/7 represent several different examples of the
invention which have fundamentally different vision
characteristics. In each figure, 2 represents a panel of the
invention, 4 represents a line of attempted vision through the
panel 2, 8 is an object beyond the panel, and 6 represents vision
of a design visible on the panel.
In FIG. 26/1, the design 6 can be seen by an observer on the left
hand side who can also see the object 8 through the panel. An
observer on the right hand side can see through the panel and does
not see the design.
In FIG. 26/2, an observer on the left hand side of the panel sees
the design but cannot see throught the panel. An observer on the
right hand side can see through the panel.
In FIG. 26/3, an observer on the left hand side sees the design and
can see through the panel while an observer on the right hand side
cannot see through the panel.
In FIG. 26/4, there is no vision through the panel from the left
side or the right side but the design can be seen from the left
side.
FIG. 26/5 represents a panel with a design on both sides. From the
left side the design 6 can be seen and there is vision through the
panel. From the right side design 6' can be seen and there is
vision through the panel.
In FIG. 26/6, there is no vision through the panel from the left
side or from the right side but the design 6 can be seen from the
left side and the design 6' can be seen from the right side.
In FIG. 26/7, the design 6 can be seen from the left side but there
is no vision through the panel. From the right side the design 6'
can be seen and there is vision through the panel.
FIG. 27 illustrates one side of a panel in which dark dots or parts
of dots represent the design, the white colored dots or parts of
dots represent the background to the design formed by the
silhouette pattern and the grey area between the dots represents
the transparent area of the panel.
FIG. 28 illustrates one side of a panel without a design, the dark
dots representing the silhouette pattern, the remaining area being
transparent or translucent.
FIG. 29A represents a planar view of a panel 94 of the invention
with an object 86 on side 90 of the panel and an object 88 on side
92 of the panel.
FIG. 29B represents a perspective view from side 92, the object 88
and the side 92 of the panel being visible, having a design 80 of
dark dots on a background of white dots 82, obstructing vision of
object 86.
FIG. 29C represents a perspective view from side 90, both objects
86 and 88 being visible, the latter through black dots 84.
FIG. 30 shows one side of a panel of the invention with a different
design to that of FIG. 27 in grey dots, or parts of dots, and a
background of black dots or parts of dots. The white area between
the dots represent the transparent or translucent area of the
panel.
FIG. 31A is a planar view of a panel 100 of the invention with an
object 86 on one side 98 of the panel and an object 88 on one side
92 of the panel.
FIG. 31B represents a perspective view from side 92, the object 88
and the side 92 of the panel being visible, having a design 80 of
dark dots on a background of white dots 82, obstructing vision of
the object 86.
FIG. 31C represents a perspective view from side 98, object 86
being visible on side 98, design 96 in grey dots being visible and
object 88 being visible through background black dots 84 but
obstructed by the design 96.
FIG. 32 shows diagrammatically 36 distinctly different vision
control effects achievable by the invention. In each diagram, 2
represents a panel of the invention, 4 represents attempted vision
through a panel 2, 8 represents an object visible beyond the panel,
otherwise vision through the panel is obstructed and terminated by
panel 2. The dashed lines indicate alternative vision that can be
optionally concentrated upon the design 6 .[.pattern.]. or the
panel or can be concentrated on the object 8 at the will of the
viewer. 6 represents vision of a design on the left hand of the
panel and 6' represents vision of a different design on the right
hand side of the panel.
FIGS. 32/1-7/1 illustrate the same effects as FIGS. 26/1-7. FIGS.
32/1-7/2, 3 and 4 are panels similar in arrangement to the panels
in FIGS. 32/1-7/1 with the same second figure numeral but have
silhouette patterns and designs to enable alternative vision in the
indicated directions. FIGS. 32/1-7/1, 2, 3 and 4, therefore,
represent 24 distinctly different panel types of the invention.
FIGS. 32/1-7/5 and 6 do not represent different panel types of the
invention but different lighting conditions applied to panels in
FIGS. 32/1-7/1, 2, 3 or 4 with the same second figure numeral,
which thus have convertible vision control effects. FIGS. 32/1-7/5
have a much greater illumination on the right than the left side
and FIGS. 32/3-7/6 have a such greater illumination on the left
than the right side.
The products of the invention have a wide variety of uses. A
principal application is in circumstances where a design, such as
information, an advertisement or other indicia is to be visible
from one side of a panel and not visible from the other side, this
being coupled, if desired, with one-way vision. Instances where
products of this kind are useful include privacy glazing for
buildings such as domestic housing, public buildings, commercial
buildings, temporary buildings, for caravans and vehicles, for
ships, yachts, etc. Privacy glazing bearing a multi-colored design
is generally more effective than that of a single color; the eye is
attracted by and concentrates upon the design, as well as just the
reflected light, further obscuring vision beyond. The disadvantages
of net curtains, such as their cleaning, folds, seams and
difficulty of incorporating multi-colored designs thereon and other
limitations of filigree designs, are overcome. The products can
also be used for security glazing where one-way vision is
important, in banks, for transparent doors, and decorative panels,
for example for showers and for film and television studio sets.
The invention can also be used in connection with sports equipment,
for example, as basketball backboards, as transparent barriers or
fences surrounding indoor soccer fields, ice skating rinks or
cricket fields. The invention can also be used to prevent or limit
the fans from vandalizing the field and harassing the players, for
example, by replacing soccer goal netting with the invention and/or
providing additional screens to protect the goalkeeper from objects
thrown onto the field. Other instances where one-way vision may be
required and where the invention can be used include operating
theaters in teaching hospitals and screens and hidden enclosures
for observing animals.
The invention may also be used for transparent containers, for
example, for medicines or other substances where it is desirable
that printed characters of the descriptive matter are not confused
with the characters on the opposite side of the container.
There are many specific situations where it is advantageous to
provide a design on one side of a transparent panel which is not
seen from the other side. For example, in a shop window, the name
of the retailer can be incorporated so as to be visible on the
outside of the glass window but from the inside a uniform
toned-down image can be provided through the glass, looking towards
the outside, avoiding the unfortunate effect of a "mirror image" of
the design being displayed on the inside. On the inside of the
glazing, the silhouette pattern, for example, of black or dark
colored dots, is visible upon close inspection but not noticeable
from a distance, except for giving a toned down image. On the
outside, the design can be defined by differentially colored areas
of the same opaque pattern having exact registration with the
pattern on the inside. For example, on the outside of the panel the
dots .[.an.]. .Iadd.can .Iaddend.be generally white but within the
design of letters or other indicia the dots may be blue, whereas on
the inside all the dots are black.
In another embodiment, the design is provided on the darker side of
such a panel, for example.[., and.]. .Iadd.an .Iaddend."exit" sign
onto the inside of a panel in an external door. The panel will
provide a one-way effect for privacy purposes, to limit the
visibility to the inside of those on the outside. In this instance,
the pattern, for example of dots, on the outside, daylit side of
the door may be white or light colored and the pattern of dots on
the inside of the door may be black or dark colored, except that
the part of the pattern included in the word "exit" would be in a
distinctive color by appropriately coloring the individual dots or
portions of dots.
There are many specific situations where it is advantageous to
provide different indicia or other designs on either side of a
panel. For example, on a transparent glass door a "push" sign can
be incorporated on one side of a door and a "pull" sign
incorporated on the other side of the door in the same or a
different position, neither sign being visible from the opposite
side, while maintaining transparency through the door over the area
covered by the signs.
There are many situations where advertisements are enabled by the
invention, which would otherwise be inappropriate. For example,
advertisements may be incorporated on a transparent panel of a bus
stop facing oncoming traffic, the most effective side for
advertising, while maintaining visibility through the advertisement
for those awaiting a bus. As another example, advertisements can be
incorporated on underground train windows, facing inwards and
outwards. Advertisements facing inwards would be seen by passengers
when travelling inside a dark tunnel or during the hours of
darkness, while vision through the panel would be enabled at
relatively well illuminated underground stations or in daylight,
which would also enable those outside the train to see
advertisements facing outwards, coupled with some perception of the
inside of the train.
Applications of the invention in which one way vision is not
required, include, for instance, some transparent partitions for
buildings such as offices. However, the invention allows new decor
concepts. For example, one design and color scheme can be
continuous along a corrider, while the individual rooms or offices
off such a corridor can have their own different individual design
and/or color schemes.
Another application is in spectacles, visors and the like, which
can bear a design but be clearly seen through, for example as in
novelty sunglasses.
The preceding description of the invention is illustrative only and
changes may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art,
particularly with regard to matters of shape, size and arrangement
of parts, within the scope of the invention, as interpreted by the
broad general meaning of the terms in which the following claims
are expressed.
* * * * *