WO2007052320A1

WO2007052320A1 - Treatment process of glass sheets used as shelves in furniture cabinets and glass sheet obtained with said process

Info

Publication number: WO2007052320A1
Application number: PCT/IT2006/000732
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rossano Compagnucci
Original assignee: Compagnucci Holding S.P.A.
Priority date: 2005-10-31
Filing date: 2006-10-12
Publication date: 2007-05-10
Also published as: ITMC20050116A1

Abstract

The present invention is related to a treatment process for glass sheets used to coat the said glass sheets with a thins thermoplastic resin film provided with anti-slip characteristics and able to avoid the disintegration of the glass sheet in case of severe shocks; the other object of the same invention consists in the glass sheet obtained with the said treatment process.

Description

Treatment process of glass sheets used as shelves in furniture cabinets and glass sheet obtained with said process

The present patent application is related to a treatment process of glass sheets used as shelves in furniture cabinets, and to the glass sheet obtained with said process.

The use of glass sheets as shelves for furniture cabinets is largely popular and appreciated because of the functional and aesthetical advantages of said sheets.

However, this solution is impaired by severe inconveniences and disadvantages.

First of all, the surface of the current glass sheets is rather slippery and does not ensure stability of the objects that are positioned on them, especially if the same objects have a perfectly smooth, slippery surface (such as in the case of glasses made of glass).

Once they are positioned on a glass shelf, these objects may slip, turn upside down or fall, due to accidental contacts by the user. In order to eliminate this risk, the glass sheet is normally provided with an anti-slip mat made of fabric or plastic material, which effectively prevents the objects from slipping or falling.

Another problem related with trie use of traditional glass sheets refers to accidental breakage. Since the said shelves often have a large surface and considerable thickness, because of strength requirements, it appears evident that a complete breakage of the said shelf will result in great damage.

In such a case, a series of large, sharp fragments would be produced, with a great risk for the user's safety and also for the resistance of the bearing structure of the furniture cabinet. Additionally, laborious, delicate cleaning would be necessary to collect the glass pieces.

In order to avoid the above inconveniences, the glass sheets used as shelves in furniture cabinets are usually submitted to traditional glass tempering. Thanks to this process, in case of a severe shock, glass sheets tend to disintegrate, producing 3 large number of tiny, less dangerous fragments. Nevertheless, tempering does not avoid the uncontrolled dispersion of fragments in a broken glass sheet and therefore does not eliminate the need to collect the said fragments with a long, delicate cleaning operation.

Additionally, traditional tempering is a rather delicate, expensive process, also because it requires the use of sophisticated equipment. A careful examination of the prior technique has shown the need to develop a new treatment for glass sheets used as shelves in furniture cabinets.

The new process of the invention, which is characterised by easy and inexpensive execution, provides glass sheets with an intrinsic anti-slip characteristic, which makes it possible to position fragile, delicate objects, such as crystal glasses or porcelain ornaments, on the said glass sheet.

Moreover, in addition to give anti-slip surface characteristics to the glass sheet, the process of the invention ensures resistance to severe shocks, without uncontrolled disintegration. In fact, when the glass sheet of the invention breaks, the large and small fragments tend to remain "tied up" without getting uncontrollably dispersed in the surrounding area.

According to the process of the invention, a glass sheet (whether tempered or not) is submitted to a plastic coating treatment, which is technically known as fluidized bed polymerization.

Because of such a treatment, the entire surface of the glass sheet is coated with a thin, strong film of plastic material that, in addition to have a high adhesion coefficient, is highly resistant to scratching, aggressive chemical agents contained in the. domestic environment (such as coffee, lemon juice, detergents, oil, etc.) and high temperatures.

In view of the above, the glass sheet obtained with the treatment process of the invention can be washed at high temperature in the dishwasher.

As anticipated, the plastic coating film also acts as a strong perimeter sheath that prevents glass fragments from disintegrating and getting uncontrollably dispersed in the surrounding area in case of breakage. The advantages of the technology of the invention compared to the prior technique are now evident.

In fact, when compared to traditional non-tempered glass sheets, the glass sheets obtained with the process of the invention are highly appreciated in terms of safety, because of their ability to prevent the uncontrolled dispersion of dangerous glass fragments.

Moreover, the glass sheets obtained with the process of the invention are considerably more useful and functional than traditional tempered glass sheets, although the latter can be considered sufficiently functional in terms of accident-prevention ability. This is due to the fact that the new glass sheet of the invention is able to maintain the compactness of the glass fragments caused by breakage, without dispersing them in the surrounding area.

Additionally, the use of the said plastic coating film makes the surface of the glass sheet soft and pleasant to the touch, while cushioning the noise produced by the objects that are positioned on the said glass sheet. In particular, the practical execution of the process of the invention is obtained based on the ordered sequence of the following operating phases:

- immersion of the glass sheet to be treated in a tub filled with adhesion primer to favour the adhesion of the. plastic coating film

- pre-heating in oven of the glass sheet up to a temperature of about 300⁰C - immersion of the glass sheet in a fluidized bed of thermoplastic resin to form the aforementioned perimeter coating;

- flowing (i.e. melting/polymerization) of the said coating in the polymerization equipment at a temperature ranging from 220 and 300⁰C according to the time spent in the equipment; - cooling of the glass sheet at room temperature until the plastic coating material has set completely.

Finally, it must be noted that the thermoplastic resin used in the process of the invention may alternatively consist in PVC, polyethylene, polyamide or similar materials, although PVC is the preferred material because of its ability to remain perfectly clear, without altering the aesthetical effect of the glass sheet coated with it.

Claims

1) Treatment process of glass sheets, characterised in that it consists in the following ordered sequence of operating phases:

- immersion of the glass sheet to be treated in a tub filled with adhesion primer to favour the adhesion of the plastic coating film. - pre-heating in oven of the glass sheet up to a temperature of about 300⁰C

- immersion of the glass sheet in a fluidized bed of thermoplastic resin to form the aforementioned perimeter coating;

- flowing (i.e. melting/polymerization) of the said coating in the polymerization equipment at a temperature ranging from 220 and 300⁰C according to the time spent in the equipment;

- cooling of the glass sheet at room temperature until the plastic coating material has set completely.

2) The process of claim 1 , characterised in that the said thermoplastic resin consists in PVC. 3) The process of claim 1 , characterised in that the said thermoplastic resin consists in polyamide.

4) The process of claim 1 , characterised in that the said thermoplastic resin consists in polyethylene.

5) Glass sheet obtained with the process of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is coated with a protective sheath obtained with a thin thermoplastic resin film.

6) The glass sheet of claim 5, characterised in that the said protective sheath is completely clear.