Panels with Transition Surface Feature and Assemblies and Methods Incorporating the Same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016265237-A1
Application number	US-201615064860-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 9, 2016
Priority date	Mar 10, 2015
Publication date	Sep 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Panels and panel assemblies include one or more transition surface features that comprise or provide a transition gradient between a first surface feature and a second surface feature. Surface feature types include surface texturing, coloring, decoration, and so forth. Transition gradients progressively change one or more attributes of the surface feature across the panel surface. Transition surface features begin at a first degree of the attribute at an origin, such as a point, line, or area of the panel or panel assembly, and transition to a different degree while moving away from the origin. Panel assemblies include a non-transitioning panel having a first surface feature type, a non-transitioning panel having a second surface feature type, and a transitioning panel disposed between the non-transitioning panels and having a transition surface feature that provides a transition gradient between the first surface feature type and a second surface feature type.

First claim

We claim:

1 . An architectural panel, comprising:
a front surface; and a transition surface feature disposed on at least a portion of the front surface, the transition surface feature providing at least one transition gradient between a first surface feature type and a second surface feature type.

2 . The architectural panel of claim 1 , wherein the panel further comprises a first section and a second section, the transition surface feature progressively changing from a first state at the first section of the panel to a second state at the second section of the panel by means of the at least one transition gradient.

3 . The architectural panel of claim 2 , wherein the first surface feature type is disposed on at least a portion of the first section, the second surface feature type is disposed on at least a portion of the second section, and the at least one transition gradient is disposed between the first section and the second section.

4 . The architectural panel of claim 2 , wherein the first surface feature type comprises a first surface texturing pattern, the second surface feature type comprises a second surface texturing pattern, and the transition surface feature comprises a progressive transition gradient between the first surface texturing pattern and the second surface texturing pattern.

5 . The architectural panel of claim 4 , wherein the first surface feature type or the second surface feature type comprises a substantially smooth or blank surface or is substantially free of surface texturing.

6 . The architectural panel of claim 4 , wherein a proportion of the first surface texturing pattern to the second surface texturing pattern is reduced as the transition surface feature progresses through the at least one transition gradient from the first section to or towards the second section.

7 . The architectural panel of claim 4 , wherein the first surface texturing pattern has an average complexity, the transition surface feature progressively reducing the average complexity as the transition surface feature progresses through the at least one transition gradient from the first section to or towards the second section.

8 . The architectural panel of claim 4 , wherein the first surface texturing pattern has an average texturing depth, the transition surface feature progressively reducing the average texturing depth as the transition surface feature progresses through the at least one transition gradient from the first section to or towards the second section.

9 . The architectural panel of claim 2 , wherein the first section of the panel is disposed at a first end of the panel and the second section of the panel is disposed at a second end of the panel, the first end being opposite the second end.

10 . A multi-panel architectural assembly, comprising:
a first panel having a first front surface and a first surface feature type disposed on at least a portion of the first front surface; a second panel having a second front surface and a second surface feature type disposed on at least a portion of the second front surface; and a first transition panel positionable between the first and second panels, the first transition panel having a third front surface and a first transition surface feature disposed on at least a portion of the third front surface, the first transition surface feature providing a first transition gradient between the first surface feature type and the second surface feature type or progressively changing from the first surface feature type to the second surface feature type by passing through first transition gradient.

11 . The multi-panel architectural assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first surface feature type comprises a first surface texturing pattern, the second surface feature type comprises a second surface texturing pattern, and the first transition surface feature comprises a progressive transition gradient between the first surface texturing pattern and the second surface texturing pattern.

12 . The multi-panel architectural assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first surface feature type or the second surface feature type comprises a substantially smooth or blank surface or is substantially free of surface texturing.

13 . The multi-panel architectural assembly of claim 11 , wherein:
a proportion of the first surface texturing pattern to the second surface texturing pattern is reduced as the transition surface feature progresses through the first transition gradient; the first surface texturing pattern has an average complexity, the transition surface feature progressively reducing the average complexity as the transition surface feature progresses through the first transition gradient; or the first surface texturing pattern has an average texturing depth, the transition surface feature progressively reducing the average texturing depth as the transition surface feature progresses through the first transition gradient.

14 . The multi-panel architectural assembly of claim 10 , further comprising:
a fourth panel having a fourth front surface and a third surface feature type disposed on at least a portion of the fourth front surface; and a second transition panel positionable between the first and fourth panels, the second transition panel having a fifth front surface and a second transition surface feature disposed on at least a portion of the fifth front surface, the second transition surface feature providing a transition gradient between the first surface feature type and the third surface feature type or progressively changing from the first surface feature type to the third surface feature type by passing through second transition gradient.

15 . The multi-panel architectural assembly of claim 14 , wherein the first surface feature type comprises a first surface texturing pattern, the second surface feature type comprises a second surface texturing pattern, the first transition surface feature comprises a progressive transition gradient between the first surface texturing pattern and the second surface texturing pattern, the third surface feature type comprises a third surface texturing pattern, and the second transition surface feature comprises a progressive transition gradient between the first surface texturing pattern and the third surface texturing pattern.

16 . The multi-panel architectural assembly of claim 15 , wherein the second surface feature type and the third surface feature type are substantially the same.

17 . The multi-panel architectural assembly of claim 15 , wherein the first surface feature type, the second surface feature type, or the third surface feature type comprises a substantially smooth or blank surface or is substantially free of surface texturing.

18 . A method of forming an architectural panel assembly, the method comprising:
positioning a first panel having a first front surface and a first surface feature type disposed on at least a portion of the first front surface; positioning a second panel having a second front surface and a second surface feature type disposed on at least a portion of the second front surface; and positioning a first transition panel between the first and second panels, the first transition panel having a third front surface and a first transition surface feature disposed on at least a portion of the third front surface, the first transition surface feature providing a transition gradient between the first surface feature type and the second surface feature type or progressively changing from the first surface feature type to the se

Assignees

• 3Form Llc

Inventors

• Martin Guillaume

Classifications

• Y10T428/24355

  Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or component [e.g., roofing, etc.] · CPC title

• E04F13/0871

  having an ornamental or specially shaped visible surface (E04F13/0867 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B44C5/04

  Ornamental plaques, e.g. decorative panels, decorative veneers · CPC title

• B60J9/00

  Devices not provided for in one of main groups B60J1/00 - B60J7/00 (B60J10/00 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B44C1/00 Primary

  Processes, not specifically provided for elsewhere, for producing decorative surface effects (decorating textiles D06Q) · CPC title