Embossed sheet and decorative sheet

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10322541-B2
Application number	US-201715614378-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 5, 2017
Priority date	Dec 10, 2014
Publication date	Jun 18, 2019
Grant date	Jun 18, 2019

Abstract

An embossed sheet configuring a decorative sheet includes a sheet-shaped base that has translucency, and a plurality of reflective portions provided on one surface of the base. Each of the plurality of reflective portions has a reflective main surface that reflects incident light, and connecting surfaces that are provided between the reflective main surface and the base. Each reflective main surface is rectilinear on a first cross-section and curvilinear on a second cross-section. A gradient of a straight line at a center position of the reflective main surface that is rectilinear on the first cross-section, in relation to the one surface of the base, varies within a range of ±40 degrees in each of the plurality of reflective portions. As a result, the reflective portion can reflect incident light at regular and non-regular angles.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An embossed sheet comprising:
a sheet-shaped base that has translucency; and
a plurality of reflective portions that are provided on one surface of the base, wherein
each of the plurality of reflective portions has a reflective main surface that reflects incident light and at least one connecting surface that is provided between the reflective main surface and the base,
each reflective main surface includes a rectilinear portion or a curvilinear portion on a first cross-section perpendicular to the one surface, and a rectilinear portion or a curvilinear portion on a second cross-section intersecting with the one surface and the first cross-section, and
a gradient of a tangent line at a rectilinear or curvilinear portion at a center position of the reflective main surface including the rectilinear portion or the curvilinear portion on the first cross-section in relation to the one surface varies within a range of −40 degrees or more and 40 degrees or less in each of the plurality of reflective portions,
wherein the gradient is (a) such that a transition of angle along an array of the plurality of reflective portions in a direction parallel to the first cross-section is greater in variation than a transition of angle along an array of the plurality of reflective portions in a direction parallel to the second cross-section or (b) such that a transition of angle along an array of the plurality of reflective portions in a direction parallel to the second cross-section is greater in variation than a transition of angle along an array of the plurality of reflective portions in a direction parallel to the first cross-section.

2. The embossed sheet of claim 1 , wherein:
the connecting surface is such that a region connecting to the reflective main surface has a circular arc shape on the first cross-section.

3. The embossed sheet of claim 1 , wherein:
the connecting surface is such that a region connecting to the one surface has a rectilinear shape on the first cross-section.

4. The embossed sheet of claim 1 , wherein:
the connecting surface is provided on only one end side of the reflective main surface on the first cross-section.

5. The embossed sheet of claim 1 , wherein:
each reflective main surface has a gentle curvilinear shape in which tangent lines at two arbitrary points on the reflective main surface form an angle with each other of 0 degrees or more and 40 degrees or less on the first cross-section.

6. The embossed sheet of claim 1 , wherein:
the reflective main surface has a rectilinear shape on the first cross-section and a curvilinear shape on the second cross-section.

7. The embossed sheet of claim 1 , wherein:
a total area ratio occupied by the reflective main surfaces in relation to the one surface of the base is 1% or more and 70% or less.

8. The embossed sheet of claim 1 , wherein:
the gradient is such that a transition of angle along an array of the plurality of reflective portions in a direction parallel to the first cross-section is greater in variation than a transition of angle along an array of the plurality of reflective portions in a direction parallel to the second cross-section.

9. The embossed sheet of claim 8 , wherein:
the gradient is such that the transition of angle along the array of the plurality of reflective portions in the direction parallel to the first cross-section is cyclic.

10. The embossed sheet of claim 1 , wherein:
the gradient is such that a transition of angle along an array of the plurality of reflective portions in a direction parallel to the second cross-section is greater in variation than a transition of angle along an array of the plurality of reflective portions in a direction parallel to the first cross-section.

11. The embossed sheet of claim 10 , wherein:
the gradient is such that the transition of angle along the array of the plurality of reflective portions in the direction parallel to the second cross-section is cyclic.

12. The embossed sheet of claim 11 , wherein:
a plurality of areas are provided in which the plurality of reflective portions are provided such that the angle of the gradient and a cycle at which the angle of the gradient transitions differ from each other.

13. The embossed sheet of claim 1 , wherein:
a surface roughness Ra of at least either of the surfaces of the plurality of reflective portions and the one surface is 0.01 μm or more and 20 μm or less.

14. The embossed sheet of claim 1 , wherein:
each of the plurality of reflective portions has a protruding shape or a recessed shape.

15. A decorative sheet comprising:
an embossed sheet of claim 1 .

Assignees

• Toppan Printing Co Ltd

Inventors

• Nakagome Tomohiro

Classifications

• B44F1/066

  comprising at least two transparent elements, e.g. sheets, layers (layered products of glass and synthetic resin containing decorations or patterns B32B17/10247; window units comprising two or more parallel glass panes E06B3/66) · CPC title

• B29C59/025

  Fibrous surfaces with piles or similar fibres substantially perpendicular to the surface · CPC title

• B44F1/045

  having mirrors or metallic or reflective layers at the back side · CPC title

• B41M1/24

  combined with embossing (printing machines for carrying out printing operations combined with embossing B41F19/02) · CPC title

• B29C37/0053 Primary

  Moulding articles characterised by the shape of the surface, e.g. ribs, high polish (mould construction therefor B29C33/42; surface shaping of articles B29C59/00; by incorporating filler in or near the surface B29C70/64) · CPC title