CUTTABLE CLADDING PANEL WITH A MATCHING PATTERN, USE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cuttable cladding panel with a matching pattern, the use, and the design method thereof. The cladding panel comprises an irregular pattern (10) of elongated lines, veins, and/or strips; transverse cutting lines (20) all of them cutting through the pattern at identical transverse intersecting points symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal axis of symmetry (SL); pairs of longitudinal cutting lines (30) symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of symmetry (SL), each pair of longitudinal cutting lines cutting through the pattern at identical longitudinal intersecting points; with said cutting lines crossing one another at corner points (P); wherein each transverse intersecting point (21) is at the same distance from a corner point (P) as a corresponding longitudinal intersecting point (31); with two parts obtained by cutting the cladding panel (1) along any cutting line having a matching and continuous irregular pattern (10).

Claims

1. A cuttable cladding panel with a matching pattern including: a front face and a back face, the front face comprising an irregular pattern of elongated lines, veins, and/or strips; transverse cutting lines determining cutting lines for cutting the cladding panel to obtain portions of cladding panel of different lengths; longitudinal cutting lines, symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal axis of symmetry forming pairs of longitudinal cutting lines, orthogonal to the transverse cutting lines, determining cutting lines for cutting the cladding panel to obtain portions of cladding panel of different widths; each longitudinal cutting line cutting through the elongated lines, veins, and/or strips of the irregular pattern at longitudinal intersecting points and each transverse cutting line cuts through the elongated lines, veins, and/or strips of the irregular pattern at transverse intersecting points; each transverse cutting line intersecting with each longitudinal cutting line at a corner point; and all the transverse cutting lines having the corresponding transverse intersecting points in an identical position, in longitudinal alignment, the transverse intersecting points being symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of symmetry; the two longitudinal cutting lines of each pair of longitudinal cutting lines having the corresponding longitudinal intersecting points in an identical position, in transverse alignment; each transverse intersecting point of a transverse cutting line being at the same distance from a corner point in which the transverse cutting line goes through as a corresponding longitudinal intersecting point of a longitudinal cutting line going through the same corner point; such that two parts obtained by cutting the cladding panel along any transverse cutting line and/or along any pair of longitudinal cutting lines, when located adjacent to their respective coinciding corner points, will have, therebetween, a matching and continuous irregular pattern of elongated lines, veins, and/or strips.

2. The cladding panel according to claim 1, wherein the transverse cutting lines form pairs of transverse cutting lines symmetrical with respect to a transverse axis of symmetry.

3. The cladding panel according to claim 1, wherein between two longitudinal cutting lines located on one and the same side of the longitudinal axis of symmetry there is a plurality of adjacent longitudinal cutting lines separated by a distance forming a cutting band, the longitudinal intersecting points of the longitudinal cutting lines of the cutting band being connected to one another by means of lines, veins, and/or strips of the irregular pattern that are inclined 45° with respect to the longitudinal cutting lines.

4. The cladding panel according to claim 3, wherein the mentioned distance separating the longitudinal cutting lines of a cutting band is equal to or less than 10 mm, or equal to or less than 4 mm.

5. The cladding panel according to claim 1, wherein the irregular pattern simulates veins of natural stone.

6. The cladding panel according to claim 1, wherein: the irregular pattern is formed by elongated lines, veins, and/or strips that are embedded in the cladding panel and made of a material visually distinguishable from the material forming the rest of the cladding panel; or the irregular pattern is printed, screen-printed, and/or engraved on a visible surface of the cladding panel.

7. The cladding panel according to claim 1, wherein the cladding panel is a ceramic panel or a laminated panel.

8. The cladding panel according to claim 1, wherein the cladding panel is an artificial stone slab.

9. The cladding panel according to claim 1, wherein the cladding panel comprises several adjacent and parallel longitudinal axes of symmetry, each being provided with respective pairs of longitudinal cutting lines.

10. The cladding panel according to claim 1, wherein the transverse cutting lines and longitudinal cutting lines (30) are marked in the cladding panel: on the back face of the cladding panel; or on the front face by means of a soluble ink; or on a removable protective film adhered to the cladding panel.

11. A manufacturing method for manufacturing a cuttable cladding panel with a matching pattern such as the one described in the preceding claims, the method comprises a design step comprising: defining, on a cladding panel to be produced, a plurality of transverse cutting lines, each one comprising transverse intersecting points symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal axis of symmetry, the transverse intersecting points being in an identical position in all the transverse cutting lines defined on the cladding panel; defining, on the cladding panel to be produced, pairs of longitudinal cutting lines (30) symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of symmetry, each of the longitudinal cutting lines comprising longitudinal intersecting points, the longitudinal intersecting points being in an identical position in the two longitudinal cutting lines forming each pair of symmetrical longitudinal cutting lines; defining, on the cladding panel to be produced, an irregular pattern of elongated lines, veins, and/or strips intersecting with the transverse cutting lines at the transverse intersecting points and the longitudinal cutting lines at the longitudinal intersecting points. each transverse intersecting point of a transverse cutting line being defined at the same distance from a corner point in the transverse cutting line goes through as a corresponding longitudinal intersecting point defined in the longitudinal cutting line passing through the corner point; and a manufacturing step comprising producing the cladding panel defined in the design step.

12. The manufacturing method according to claim 11, wherein the transverse cutting lines are defined forming pairs of transverse cutting lines symmetrical with respect to a transverse axis of symmetry.

13. The manufacturing method according to claim 11, wherein the manufacturing step comprises producing a cladding panel and printing, engraving, or screen-printing the irregular pattern on a visible surface of the cladding panel.

14. The manufacturing method according to claim 11, wherein the manufacturing step comprises producing an artificial stone slab comprising the irregular pattern of elongated lines, veins, and/or strips embedded in the artificial stone slab, the irregular pattern being made of a material visually distinguishable from the material forming the rest of the artificial stone slab.

15. The manufacturing method according to claim 14, wherein the manufacture of the artificial stone slab comprises at least the following production steps: pouring of the material constituting the artificial stone slab with no irregular pattern into a cast; at least one compaction step of the material constitutive of the artificial stone slab without an irregular pattern; integration of the material forming the irregular pattern into the previously compacted material; at least one compaction step of all the material constitutive of the artificial stone slab; a curing step.

16. The manufacturing method according to claim 15 wherein the cladding panel obtained after the production step is installed as a kitchen worktops with an irregular pattern of matching and continuous elongated lines, veins, and/or strips throughout the entire kitchen worktop, the kitchen worktop being formed by several parts of the same width obtained from cutting the cladding panel along any pair of longitudinal cutting lines, and along any transverse cutting line, subsequently assembled with their corresponding corner points coinciding with one another.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0084] The foregoing and other advantages and features will be clearly understood based the following detailed description of an embodiment in reference to the attached drawings which must be interpreted in an illustrative and non-limiting manner, in which:

[0085] FIG. 1 shows an enlarged view of a portion of cladding panel including multiple transverse and longitudinal cutting lines, with all the different elements thereof indicated with reference numbers;

[0086] FIG. 2 shows the same view as FIG. 1 but indicating the distances in height between two corner points and the respective transverse and longitudinal intersecting points;

[0087] FIG. 3 shows a view of a cladding panel before cutting.

[0088] FIG. 4 shows the same cladding panel shown in FIG. 3 but after reducing the width thereof by cutting along two symmetrical longitudinal cutting lines, after dividing the cladding panel by cutting it along a transverse cutting line, and showing a first position in which the left portion of the cladding panel has been located on one side of the right portion by means of a translational movement indicated by means of arrows in the drawing, achieving pattern continuity between the left and right portions;

[0089] FIG. 5 shows the same cut cladding panel as FIG. 4 but showing a second position in which the left portion of the cladding panel has been located on one side of the right portion by means of a translational movement and a 90° rotation in a direction indicated by means of arrows in the drawing, achieving pattern continuity between the left and right portions;

[0090] FIG. 6 shows the same cut cladding panel as FIG. 4 but showing a third position in which the left portion of the cladding panel has been located on one side of the right portion by means of a translational movement and a 90° rotation in another inverse direction indicated by means of arrows in the drawing, achieving pattern continuity between the left and right portions;

[0091] FIG. 7 shows a first phase of the design step for designing the cladding panel in which the longitudinal and transverse cutting lines and the longitudinal and transverse intersecting points are defined;

[0092] FIG. 8 shows a second phase of the design step for designing the cladding panel in which the pattern of lines, veins, and/or strips is defined on the cladding panel, passing through the previously defined transverse and longitudinal intersecting points;

[0093] FIG. 9 shows the use of the proposed cladding panel as a G-shaped kitchen worktop formed by four attached parts maintaining pattern continuity, said four parts being obtained by cutting the proposed cladding panel or several cladding panels that are identical or have identical features and dimensions. This drawing also shows a splashback in a horizontal position on the left-hand side of the drawing and formed by two attached parts, maintaining pattern continuity with one another and with the worktop, and a plinth in a horizontal position on the lower side of the drawing, formed from the leftover after cutting the cladding panel forming the worktop, and maintains pattern continuity with said worktop;

[0094] FIG. 10 shows a set of nine square cladding parts obtained from cutting the cladding panel, with all of them having an identical pattern and being attached to one another in different orientations forming a continuous cladding for floors or walls.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

[0095] The attached drawings show illustrative non-limiting embodiments of the present invention.

[0096] FIGS. 1 and 2 show an enlarged view of a portion of a cladding panel 1 like the one proposed, where two longitudinal edges of the cladding panel 1 and a transverse edge determining a rectangular cladding panel 1 can be seen.

[0097] The shown portion of the cladding panel 1 further comprises a longitudinal axis of symmetry SL in its center, parallel to and equidistant from the two longitudinal edges, in addition to two symmetrical longitudinal cutting lines 30, shown by a discontinuous line, arranged on either side of the longitudinal axis of symmetry SL.

[0098] The cladding panel 1 also includes three transverse cutting lines 20 equidistant from one another and perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal axis of symmetry SL.

[0099] Said longitudinal and transverse cutting lines 30 and 20 can be, for example, printed with washable ink on the surface of the cladding panel 1 to allow their elimination after installing the cladding panel 1, or alternatively marked, for example, on the borders of the panel or indicated in a measurement table.

[0100] In this example, the cladding panel 1 furthermore has an irregular pattern 10 in the form of zigzagging veins going through its surface, imitating the natural veins of a marble panel in this example.

[0101] The veins forming the pattern 10 intersect with the longitudinal cutting lines 30 only at longitudinal intersecting points 31, and they intersect with the transverse cutting lines 20 only at transverse intersecting points 21.

[0102] Furthermore, the longitudinal cutting lines 30 intersect with the transverse cutting lines 20 at corner points P given that, if the cladding panel is cut following two longitudinal and transverse cutting lines 30 and 20, the corner point P will become one of the corners of the resulting cladding panel portion.

[0103] In this example, some transverse and longitudinal intersecting points 21 and 31 and some corner points P coincide with one another.

[0104] The transverse intersecting points 21 of each transverse cutting line 20 are symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of symmetry SL and arranged in an identical position with respect to the longitudinal axis of symmetry SL in all the transverse cutting lines 20. In other words, the transverse intersecting points 21 of a transverse cutting line 20 are aligned, in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of symmetry SL, with the transverse intersecting points 21 of the remaining transverse cutting lines 20.

[0105] This allows cutting the cladding panel 1 along any transverse cutting line 20, obtaining a transverse edge with identical transverse intersecting points 21 at all times.

[0106] In an equivalent manner, it is proposed for the longitudinal intersecting points 31 of two longitudinal cutting lines 30, that are symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of symmetry SL and constitute a pair of longitudinal cutting lines 30, to also be located in an identical position in both longitudinal cutting lines 30, the longitudinal intersecting points 31 of one longitudinal cutting line 30 being aligned with a symmetrical longitudinal intersecting point 31 located in the other longitudinal cutting line 30.

[0107] Furthermore, it is proposed for each transverse intersecting point 21 on a cutting line 20 to be located at a distance, with respect to a corner point P, that is equal to the complementary longitudinal intersecting points 31 located in a longitudinal cutting line passing through said corner point P.

[0108] This feature is shown in FIG. 2 which indicates how two transverse intersecting points 21 are located at a distance D1 and D2 with respect to a corner point P, those distances being equal to distances D1 and D2′ of two longitudinal intersecting points 31 with respect to that same corner point P of a longitudinal cutting line 30 passing through said corner point P.

[0109] Likewise, FIG. 2 also shows how four transverse intersecting points 21 are located at a distance D3, D4, D5, and D6 with respect to a corner point P′, those distances being equal to distances D3′, D4′, D5′, and D6′ of two longitudinal intersecting points 31 with respect to that same corner point P′ of a longitudinal cutting line 30 passing through said corner point P′.

[0110] When these features are met, by cutting the cladding panel 1 along any of the transverse cutting lines 20 and along any pair of symmetrical longitudinal cutting lines 30, the resulting part will be able to fit with other parts, achieving continuity in the pattern 10.

[0111] FIG. 3 shows an example of a complete cladding panel 1 before cutting only with an indication of the longitudinal cutting lines 20 and transverse cutting lines 20.

[0112] FIG. 4 shows the same cladding panel 1 after having reduced its width by cutting it along a pair of symmetrical longitudinal cutting lines 30, the cladding panel 1 also having been divided further into two portions. The resulting left portion has been moved following the direction indicated by the arrows and placed adjacent to the right portion of the cladding panel 1, causing one of their respective corner points P to coincide. The result is an L-shaped cladding panel 1 the pattern 10 of which presents the matching and continuity of veins between the attached portions.

[0113] FIG. 5 shows how those same left and right portions can also be connected achieving continuity in the pattern 10 when the left portion is not only translated but also rotated 90° in one direction.

[0114] Likewise, FIG. 6 shows how the pattern 10 also coincides when the left portion is rotated 90° in another inverse direction.

[0115] Therefore, FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 demonstrate the great versatility of the system which allows very freely combining the portions resulting from cutting the cladding panel 1, achieving continuity in the pattern 10, in this example veins, between the adjacent portions at all times.

[0116] Naturally, if multiple cladding panels 1 the longitudinal and transverse cutting lines 30 and 20 of which have the longitudinal and transverse intersecting points 31, 21 in an identical position are produced, this effect may also be achieved by combining cut portions of different cladding panels 1.

[0117] FIG. 7 shows a design step of the proposed method which consists of defining on a cladding panel 1 the position of the longitudinal cutting lines 30 and transverse cutting lines 20 and their corresponding longitudinal intersecting points 31 and transverse intersecting points 21, according to the rules described above.

[0118] In this example, the cladding panel 1 is a cladding panel 1 which, in addition to the longitudinal axis of symmetry SL, includes a transverse axis of symmetry ST perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of symmetry SL.

[0119] The transverse cutting lines 20 are symmetrical on both sides of the transverse axis of symmetry ST.

[0120] Once the longitudinal intersecting points 31 and transverse intersecting points 21 are defined, the next design step consists of defining an irregular pattern 10 of lines, veins, and/or strips which must intersect with the longitudinal intersecting lines 30 and transverse intersecting lines 20 only at the longitudinal intersecting points 31 and transverse intersecting points 21.

[0121] This step can be performed, for example, by applying the teachings of document WO2016189377 mentioned above.

[0122] In this example (see FIG. 8), a cutting band 32 has furthermore been defined on each side of the longitudinal axis of symmetry SL between two longitudinal cutting lines 30, assuring that all the lines, veins, and/or strips of the pattern 10 contained in said cutting band 32 are straight and defined at a 45° angle with respect to the two longitudinal cutting lines 30 limiting the cutting band 32, each connecting two longitudinal intersecting points 31 of the two longitudinal cutting lines 30 demarcating the cutting band 32.

[0123] As a result of this feature, any line contained in said cutting band 32 and parallel to the longitudinal cutting lines 30 will intersect with the pattern 10 at longitudinal intersecting points 31 complying with the requirements described above, converting said line into a longitudinal cutting line 30. Therefore, it can be considered that the cutting band 32 contains infinite longitudinal cutting lines 30, which allows cutting the cladding panel 1 to any desired width, within the range defined between the two cutting bands 32 symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of symmetry SL.

[0124] FIG. 9 shows an example of the use that can be made of the proposed cladding panel 1. In this case, the portions obtained from cutting the cladding panel 1 have been used for cladding a kitchen worktop 40.

[0125] In this example, a G-shaped kitchen comprising four portions of connected cladding panel 1 has been proposed, successfully maintaining continuity in the pattern 10, in this example veins, between the four adjacent portions.

[0126] The manner in which it would be possible to clad a vertical wall of the kitchen above the worktop 40, corresponding to the splashback 41 of the kitchen or to a plinth 42, or below the worktop 40, corresponding to the front 43 of the worktop, is furthermore shown, achieving continuity in the pattern 10 also between the portions of cladding panel 1 of the worktop 40 and the vertical wall.

[0127] In FIG. 9, the portions of the cladding panel 1 intended for forming the splashback 41 or the front 43 of the worktop 40 have been drawn in a landscape orientation to show that the pattern 10 is continuous with the worktop 40.

[0128] This embodiment shows, by way of example, the splashback 41 on the left side of the drawing and also a plinth 42 on the lower side of the drawing.

[0129] Plinths 42 can be obtained from small portions obtained from cutting the cladding panel 1, thereby better utilizing the cladding panel 1 and reducing leftover.

[0130] It is contemplated that a cladding panel 1 may contain two parallel longitudinal axes of symmetry SL, each with its respective symmetrical longitudinal cutting lines 30 and transverse cutting lines 20, which allow longitudinally dividing the cladding panel 1 into two halves, each of them containing a longitudinal axis of symmetry SL which allows obtaining other portions with a matching pattern of each of the two halves.

[0131] It will be understood that the different parts making up the invention described in an embodiment can be freely combined with parts described in other different embodiments even though said combination has not been explicitly described, provided that the combination does not entail any drawback.