GB2283104A

GB2283104A - Colour selection apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2283104A
Application number: GB9321534A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Elaine Robinson
Original assignee: Crown Berger Europe Ltd
Current assignee: Akzo Nobel Decorative Coatings Ltd
Priority date: 1993-10-19
Filing date: 1993-10-19
Publication date: 1995-04-26
Also published as: GB9321534D0

Abstract

Colour selection apparatus, for matching colours for decorating and furnishing purposes, comprises a plurality of colour display surfaces 1 constituted by the upper surfaces of a plurality of swatches bound together by a pin or rod 3. Each of a plurality of colour selection surfaces 2 is in fixed relationship with a colour display surface 1 and comprises means to enable selection of colours matching the colour of the corresponding colour display surface 1. The colour selection surfaces 2 are constituted by the bottom surfaces of the swatches and carry a list of colours complimentary and contrasting to a colour carried by the upper swatch surface. <IMAGE>

Description

APPARATUS The present invention relates to colour selection apparatus, useful for selecting colours matching (complementary with or contrasting to) the main colour of a colour scheme, for example of a room.

Since time immemorial people designing colour schemes have desired to select matching colours to achieve an aesthetically pleasing effect. Such matching colours may be perceived visually as complementing or contrasting each other. For example, it has long been popular to decorate rooms with a main colour for the walls and matching colours for other architectural features (doors, skirting boards, picture rails etc.) as well as for furnishings and fabrics. Hitherto selection of matching colours has been a difficult and time consuming task, involving comparison of a whole range of individual colours each time a colour scheme must be selected. Such a process is not only demanding, particularly for the non-specialist, but also entails a risk of the selection of aesthetically displeasing "clashing" colours.It is particularly difficult for colour blind people to select colour combinations pleasing to those of normal vision.

It has now been appreciated that it would be desirable to provide apparatus to facilitate the selection of matching colours, in order to make the task easier, as well as to help remove the risk of an inappropriate combination of colours being chosen. Moreover, an apparatus suitable for this purpose has been devised.

Accordingly, the present invention in a first aspect provides colour selection apparatus, comprising means for selecting a first colour from a range of colour options and means for selecting one or more second colours matching the first colour.

In preferred embodiments, the means for selecting a first colour comprises a plurality of colour display surfaces, each bearing a colour of the range. Preferably, the colour display surfaces each comprise a surface of a respective one of a plurality of sheets or cards, desirably in physical association with one another.

The apparatus suitably comprises binding means to bind the sheets or cards together, thereby to maintain them in association with one another. The binding means preferably comprises a pivot about which the sheets may individually be rotated. In particularly preferred embodiments the binding means comprises a pin or rod extending through holes formed in the sheets at a corner region thereof.

In a preferred class of embodiments the means for selecting one or more second colours matching the first colour comprises a plurality of colour selection surfaces. Preferably, each colour selection surface is in fixed relationship with a respective colour display surface. Each colour selection surface comprises means to enable selection of colour(s) matching the colour of a respective colour display surface, and normally matching that of the colour display surface in fixed relationship with the colour selection surface.The embodiments of this class preferably include the feature that the colour display surfaces each comprise a surface of a respective one of a plurality of sheets or cards in physical association with one another and further comprise the feature that each colour selection surface comprises the opposed surface of the sheet or card carrying the colour display surface with which it is in fixed relationship.

In a second aspect, there is provided colour selection apparatus, comprising a plurality of colour display surfaces, each displaying a colour, and a plurality of colour selection surfaces, each maintained in physical association with a respective colour display surface and comprising means to enable selection of colours matching the colour of its associated colour display surface.

Preferably, such apparatus comprises a plurality of sheets or cards bound together so as to enable individual selection thereof; preferably each colour selection surface and its associated colour display surface are formed by opposed surfaces of a said sheet or card.

Also provided by the invention is a matching colour selector, comprising a sheet or card having a first side coloured a first colour and a second side comprising means adapted to enable selection of colours matching the first colour. A plurality of such sheets or cards may suitably be bound together.

The present invention is further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of colour selection apparatus of the invention; and Figure 2 is an illustrative bottom plan view of a card of the apparatus of Figure 1.

Figure 1 illustrates, therefore, colour selection apparatus comprising means for selecting a first colour from a range of colour options and means for selecting one or more second colours matching the first colour.

More particularly, Figure 1 illustrates an apparatus comprising a plurality of colour display surfaces 1, each bearing a colour from a range of colour options, and a plurality of colour selection surfaces 2 (see Figure 2), each in fixed relationship with a colour display surface and comprising means to enable selection of colours matching the colour of the colour display surface in fixed relationship therewith.

Looking now in more detail at the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a book comprising a plurality of colour swatches, that is cards or sheets, the upper surfaces 1 of which are each of a different colour. Typically there are 10, 20 or more swatches in the book. The colours of the upper surfaces 1 correspond to available colours of a decorating material, for example paint. The swatches are bound together, in the illustrated embodiment by a pin or rod 3 which passes through aligned holes 4 at a corner region of the swatches.

The bottom surface 2 of each swatch comprises means to enable the user to select colours matching those of the main colour appearing on the top surface 1 of the swatch.

For example, the bottom surface 2 of each swatch may carry a list of complementary and contrasting paint colours useful for different architectural features of the room, for example doors, skirting boards and picture rails. Figure 2 shows an embodiment in which specific colours are suggested for particular architectural features. In other embodiments, there are merely listed matching (complementary or contrasting) emulsions for walls and ceilings as well as colours for woodwork. Optionally, sample patches of the matching colours appear on the colour selection surface or bottom surface 2.

In order to use the apparatus of Figure 1, the top surfaces 1 of the swatches are first examined, in order to select the main colour of a colour scheme, for example for the walls of a room. The bottom surface 2 of the selected swatch is then consulted for guidance as to matching colours.

Claims

1. Colour selection apparatus, comprising means for selecting a first colour from a range of colour options and means for selecting one or more second colours matching the first colour.

2. Colour selection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for selecting a first colour comprises a plurality of colour display surfaces, each having a colour of the range.

3. Colour selection apparatus of claim 2, wherein the colour display surfaces each comprise a surface of a respective one of a plurality of sheets or cards in physical association with one another.

4. Colour selection apparatus of claim 3, which further comprises binding means to bind the sheets or cards together, thereby to maintain them in association with one another.

5. Colour selection apparatus of claim 4 wherein the binding means comprises a pivot about which the sheets may be individually rotated.

6. Colour selection apparatus of claim 5 wherein the binding means comprises a pin or rod extending through holes formed in the sheets at a corner region thereof.

7. Colour selection apparatus of any of claims 2 to 6, wherein the means for selecting one or more second colours matching the first colour comprises a plurality of colour selection surfaces, each in fixed relationship with a respective colour display surface and comprising means to enable selection of colours matching the colour of the colour display surface in fixed relationship therewith.

8. Colour selection apparatus of claim 7 which further includes the feature of claim 3 and-wherein each colour selection surface comprises the opposed surface of the sheet or card carrying the colour display surface with which it is fixed relationship.

9. Colour selection apparatus, comprising a plurality of colour display surfaces, each displaying a colour, and a plurality of colour selection surfaces, each maintained in physical association with a respective colour display surface and comprising means to enable selection of colours matching the colour of its associated colour display surface.

10. Colour selection apparatus of claim 9, which comprises a plurality of sheets or cards bound together so as to enable individual selection thereof.

11. Colour selection apparatus of claim 10, wherein each colour selection surface and its associated colour display surface are formed by opposed surfaces of a said sheet or card.

12. Colour selection apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

13. A matching colour selector, comprising a sheet or card having a first side coloured with a first colour and a second side comprising means adapted to enable selection of colours matching the first colour.