ARTICLE WITH INVERSE WOOD GRAIN PATTERN

Abstract

An article with a simulated wood grain has a molded unitary body having a first face with a total area. The first face has a base surface and a plurality of ticking elements that are disposed on and extend upwardly from the base surface. The ticking elements extend generally along a ticking axis. Each ticking element has an upper ticking surface spaced above the base surface. The upper ticking surfaces of the ticking elements in aggregate form a minority of the total area of the first face of the molded unitary body. The ticking elements on the base surface cooperate to simulate the appearance of wood grain on the first face of the molded unitary body.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to articles with a texture or pattern formed on the surface thereof and, more specifically, to an article with a simulated wood grain provided thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Natural wood grain, as it occurs on natural wood, has a pattern formed by lighter and darker areas. In addition, the pattern also typically has raised areas and recessed areas. The recessed lines in such a pattern are referred to as tick bundles or ticking. The ticking is interposed with smooth areas, with the ticking generally running along a grain axis. The smooth areas form the majority of the visible area of the wood grain while the ticking forms the minority of the visible area of the wood grain. In addition, the smooth areas generally define the upper surface of the wood with the ticking being recessed with respect thereto.

Artificial wood grain may consist of a visual pattern of printing that mimics the appearance of the combination of smooth areas and recessed ticking, but that is provided on a smooth surface. This approach may mimic the look of wood grain at a distance but does not provide a convincing appearance of wood grain at a closer distance, primarily because the surface lacks texture. More convincing simulated wood grain is provided by texturing the surface in a manner similar to real wood, by providing recessed areas that simulate the pattern of real ticking. This is typically used in combination with coloring the surface such that the recessed areas are darker than the surrounding areas, as is the case with real ticking.

Both real wood, with genuine ticking, and surfaces with simulated recessed ticking suffer from the drawback that they are typically slippery when wet. One reason for this is that the ticking, which forms the minority of the surface area, is recessed, while the majority of the surface area is defined by the area between the ticking and is generally smooth. Efforts to provide improved traction on wood or artificial surfaces typically consist of applying a grit or texture thereto such that grit or texture extends upwardly from the smooth areas of the surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved approach to simulating wood grain wherein the wood grain is inverted. That is, the wood grain has smooth areas interposed with ticking, as is typical with natural wood, but, unlike natural wood, the ticking extends upwardly from the smooth areas to improve traction on the surface. The upwardly extending ticking elements define a minority of the overall area of the surface with the simulated wood grain and therefore provide a good traction surface.

As used herein, wood grain is defined as having a smooth area interposed with ticking. The ticking generally runs along a grain axis. The smooth areas, in aggregate, form a majority of the visible area of the wood grain. Natural wood has a wood grain with the smooth areas generally defining the surface of the natural wood and the ticking being recessed inwardly with respect to the smooth areas. In accordance with the present invention, an article with a simulated wood grain comprises a molded unitary body having a first face with a total area. The first face of the unitary body has a base surface. Ticking elements are disposed on and extend upwardly from the base surface. The ticking elements extend generally along a ticking axis. Each ticking element has an upper ticking surface spaced above the base surface. The upper ticking surfaces of the ticking elements in aggregate form a minority of the total area of the first face of the molded unitary body. The ticking elements and the base surface cooperate to simulate the appearance of wood grain on the first face of the molded unitary body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an article with a simulated wood grain in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of a portion of the article of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an exemplary wood grain pattern for use with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the panel of FIG. 2, taken along lines 4-4; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of an article with a simulated wood grain in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides an improved approach to simulating a wood grain pattern on a molded article. In accordance with the present invention, this simulated wood grain provides a convincing appearance of wood grain and also provides substantially improved traction on the surface of the article. Exemplary uses of the present invention are on molded decking materials for use on docks, though those of skill in the art will recognize other uses for the improved approach to a simulated wood grain.

As known to those of skill in the art, wood grain texture on a wooden article is provided by smooth areas that are interposed with ticking. The ticking generally runs along a grain axis and is recessed inwardly with respect to the smooth areas. The smooth areas, in aggregate, form a majority of the visible area of the surface of the wooden article, in accordance with the present invention, an article with a simulated wood grain is a molded unitary body having a face with a base surface. Ticking elements are disposed on and extend upwardly from this base surface. The ticking elements extend generally along a ticking axis. Each ticking element has an upper ticking surface that is spaced above the base surface. The upper ticking surfaces of the ticking elements in aggregate form a minority of the total area of the face of the molded unitary body. The ticking elements and the base surface cooperate to simulate the appearance of wood grain on the face of the molded unitary body.

Referring to FIG. 1, an example of an article with a simulated wood grain in accordance with the present invention is shown at 10. The article 10 is a molded panel formed so as to mimic the appearance of multiple parallel boards each with wood grain disposed on an upper surface or face 12 of the panel 10.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a detailed view of a portion of the panel 10 is illustrated. The panel 10 is a molded unitary body with a base surface 14 and a plurality of ticking elements 16 disposed on and extending upwardly from the base surface 14. As known to those of skill in the art, natural wood grain generally runs along a grain or ticking axis. The panel 10 has the appearance of wood grain with a grain or ticking axis running along the longitudinal length of the simulated boards, as represented by axis A.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a plan view of the simulated wood grain is provided. As will be clear to those of skill in the art, the wood grain appearance or pattern may take a variety of forms, such as corresponding to the variety of wood grains that occur in nature, as well as artificial wood grains. The pattern shown in FIG. 3 is a preferred pattern that avoids the appearance of repeats typical with artificial lumber. The pattern also has elongated ticking elements to assist in traction. The embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3 may be described as having a plurality of elongated ticking elements that are spaced apart and generally parallel to one another.

In accordance with the present invention, the upper ticking surfaces of the ticking elements, in aggregate, form a minority of the total area of the face of the unitary body. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the upper ticking surfaces form approximately 30% of the total area of the face of the molded unitary body. In other embodiments, the upper ticking surfaces, in aggregate, may form 25% to 35% of the total area, and in further embodiments it may form 15% to 49% of the total area.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a cross-sectional view of a portion of the molded unitary body 10 of FIG. 2 is shown, with the view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 2. The molded body 10 includes a plurality of “boards” each with simulated wood grain disposed thereon. For purposes of the present invention, the first face of this body 10 may correspond to the upper face of a single board, as indicated at 20. This face 20 may be said to have a base surface 22 which, in this embodiment, is a generally coplanar surface. A plurality of ticking elements 24 extend upwardly from the base surface 22. Each ticking element may be said to have an upper ticking surface 26 that is spaced above the base surface 22. The height of these ticking elements is indicated at B. In some embodiments, the height of the ticking elements above the surface is approximately 0.75 mm. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper ticking surfaces 26 are generally coplanar with the plane of the upper ticking surfaces being parallel with the plane of the base surface 22. As best shown in FIGS. 1-3, the ticking elements and the base surface cooperate to simulate the appearance of wood grain on the first face of the molded unitary body. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the “boards” forming the panel 10 may be said to have a face with ticking elements simulating a wood grain disposed thereon.

As will be clear to those of skill in the art, articles in accordance with the present invention with a simulated wood grain may have shapes and configurations other than illustrated. FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary cube having simulated wood grain on multiple surfaces thereof. Any or all of these surfaces may include ticking elements that extend upwardly so as to provide improved traction. In the case of the cube of FIG. 5, the purpose of the raised ticking elements may be to provide improved grip on the cube rather than improved traction.

As will be clear to those of skill in the art, the herein described embodiments of the present invention may be altered in various ways without departing from the scope or teaching of the present invention. It is the following claims, including all equivalents, which define the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An article with a simulated wood grain, a wood grain being defined as having smooth areas interposed with ticking, the ticking generally running along a grain axis, the smooth areas in aggregate forming a majority of the visible area of the wood grain, wherein natural wood has a wood grain with the smooth areas generally defining the surface of the natural wood and the ticking is generally recessed inwardly with respect to the smooth areas, the article with simulated wood grain comprising:

a molded unitary body having a first face with a total area;

the first face of the unitary body having a base surface; and

a plurality of ticking elements disposed on and extending upwardly from the base surface, the ticking elements extending generally along a ticking axis, each ticking element having an upper ticking surface spaced above the base surface;

the upper ticking surfaces of the ticking elements in aggregate forming a minority of the total area of the first face of the molded unitary body;

wherein the ticking elements and the base surface cooperate to simulate the appearance of wood grain on the first face of the molded unitary body.

2. An article in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the upper ticking surfaces of the ticking elements in aggregate forming 15 to 49 percent of the total area of the first face of the molded unitary body.

3. An article in accordance with claim 1, wherein the ticking elements comprise a plurality of ticking elements that are each elongated and spaced apart from one another.

4. An article in accordance with claim 3, wherein the plurality of ticking elements are generally parallel to one another.

5. An article in accordance with claim 1, wherein the upper ticking surfaces of the ticking elements are generally disposed in a first plane and the base surface of the first face being generally disposed in a second plane that is parallel to the first plane.

6. An article in accordance with claim 1, wherein the article is a molded panel and the first face is a generally planar face.