DECORATIVE CABINET ENCLOSURE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCTION THEREOF

Abstract

A panelized system and method providing an infinite number of authentic, aesthetic, and tactile options for producing decorative cabinet enclosures for hot tubs is based on the use of high-resolution digital printing on plastic sheets, post-forming said sheets, and molding structural elements on such sheets for assembly of enclosures for hot tubs.

Claims

1. An article of manufacture comprising a plastic panel on which is printed an aesthetic pattern, which pattern has a thermoformed tactile dimension, and onto which are molded at least one plastic structural element to facilitate assembly of a decorative cabinet.

2. The article of manufacture of claim 1 in which said aesthetic pattern is imparted on said panel by digital printing.

3. The article of manufacture of claim 1 in which said aesthetic pattern is selected from the group comprising brushed metal pattern, weathered wood pattern, cobblestone pattern, leather pattern, yarn pattern, fabric pattern, brick pattern, stone pattern, flat finish pattern, and stainless steel pattern.

4. The article of manufacture of claim 1 in which said molded plastic structural element is selected from a group comprising angles, hat sections, clips, and channels.

5. A decorative cabinet for enclosing a hot tub assembled from a panoply of articles of manufacture as described in claim 1 by using such plastic structural elements molded on such articles.

6. A method of production of a decorative cabinet comprised of the steps of: choosing an aesthetic pattern for such decorative cabinet; printing the chosen aesthetic pattern on plastic sheets; thermoforming a tactile dimension on such printed plastic sheets; molding plastic structural elements onto such thermoformed plastic sheets; and assembling said decorative cabinet from such thermoformed plastic sheets using such molded structural elements.

7. The method of claim 6 in which such printing is digital printing.

8. The method of claim 7 in which said aesthetic pattern is selected from the group comprising brushed metal pattern, weathered wood pattern, cobblestone pattern, leather pattern, yarn pattern, fabric pattern, brick pattern, stone pattern, flat finish pattern, and stainless steel pattern.

9. The method of claim 7 in which said molded plastic structural elements are selected from a group comprising angles, hat sections, clips, and channels.

10. The method of claim 7 in which said decorative cabinet as so assembled encloses a hot tub.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The invention will become more readily apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof shown, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0008] FIG. 1 is a frontal view of the article of manufacture as in one aspect of this invention.

[0009] FIG. 2 is a multi-layer view of one aspect of the article of manufacture of this invention.

[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of this article of manufacture according to one aspect of the invention.

[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cutaway section of the article of manufacture according to one aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary version of the article of manufacture that is covered by this application. The article of manufacture 10 is a panel comprised of separable (tactilely distinguishable) sections 11, 12, 13, and 14. It should be noted that separable sections 11, 12, 13 and 14 as depicted in FIG. 1 are merely representative of different patterns having tactile dimension for sections of said panel 10 being, respectively, a flat finish in section 11, a brick or stone finish in section 12, a stainless steel finish in section 11, and a natural grained pattern in section 14. In a preferred embodiment, all sections of the article of manufacture would by necessity be of the same tactile type, such as all stone finish or all stainless steel finish, for assembly of an aesthetically consistent, and pleasing, cabinet for a hot tub. Separable section 15 of panel 10 is a structural element being, in this embodiment, a hat section that is used to assemble a cabinet using sections of panels such as those of panel 10.

[0013] FIG. 2 shows the multi-layer construction of a panel of the present invention, such as panel 100. Top layer 101 is composed of a clear laminate having ultraviolet and abrasion protective properties, such as, without limitation, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), urethane, and acrylic layers. Middle layer 102 is a plastic sheet having digital printing thereon and an adhesive backing. Bottom layer 103 is a substrate composed of a thermoplastic, such as, without limitation, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), high impact polystyrene (HIPS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and acrylics.

[0014] FIG. 3 depicts panel 1000 after being thermoformed. Panel 100 of FIG. 2 is heated and molded against a pattern to produce panel 1000 having the digitally printed pattern shown with relief as on top layer 1001. The top seal 1002 of panel 1000 is formed as a molded structural element as is the mounting flange 1003 as shown in FIG. 3.

[0015] FIG. 4, the perspective view of the cutaway section of panel 1000 shows the full panel assembly interior with its inserted ribs 1004 which are used to stiffen the panel and the interior insulation 1005 used for sound dampening and as a thermal insulation for the hot tub to be enclosed by the cabinet assembled by panels 1000.

[0016] As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the drawing shown and the manufacture as described herein represent only one embodiment of the invention covered hereby and this application does not limit the breadth of the invention covered hereby to such embodiment or drawing.