Patent Application
20080074741
Further advantages of the disclosure are apparent by reference to the detailed description in conjunction with the figures, wherein elements are not to scale so as to more clearly show the details, wherein like reference numbers indicate like elements throughout the several views, and wherein:
Typically in many homes, glass or plastic enclosures enclose showering or bathing areas.
Further, in some embodiments, the door member 12 includes a continuous lenticular image on its entire surface. However, alternately, only a portion of the door member 12 may include a lenticular image or the door member may include a plurality of lenticular images.
The door member 12 may be enclosed within a frame 14 at its edges about at least a portion of the door member's perimeter. The frame 14 may be a metallic material, such as aluminum or steel, or a suitable plastic. The frame 14 may be used for mounting the door member adjacent the shower/bathing area. The frame 14 also serves to limit ingress of water adjacent the edges of the door member 12. As explained in more detail below, the door member 12 is preferably formed of multiple layers which may be adhered, wherein at least some of the layers include images printed thereon. Accordingly, if water enters between the layers, it could cause the layers to become unadhered, cause the printed images to run or fade, cause a fogged door, or cause other potential problems. Therefore, the frame on the door member edges limits water flowing between the layers of the door member. In one embodiment, the frame 14 creates a seal around the edge of the door member 12 to substantially prevent the ingress of water. For example, the frame 14 may be clamped in a tight fit onto the door member 12 or it may be adhered to the door member 12 by a water-proof sealant and/or adhesive.
In alternate embodiments, alone or in combination with a water-sealed frame, the edges of the door member may be coated with a water-proofing agent, such as marine grade caulk. Alternately, other suitable methods of limiting ingress of water into the door member may be used. For example, lamination interfacially adhering the layers of the door members together may be sufficient to limit the ingress of water.
Other typical shower door accessories may be attached to the door member or frame, such as a handle 16 or towel bar 18.
As shown in
The lenticular images on the door members 12 and wall panels 20 are created by a lenticular lens layer 22 focusing on alternately interlaced images printed either on the lenticular lens layer 22 itself or a separate substrate layer 24. The interlaced images contain at least two separate images formed on a computer with commercially available image editing software and applied with commercially available printers.
A lens side 26 of the lenticular lens layer 22 is a non-planar surface defining a series of elongated parallel lenticular formations of narrow width and substantially uniform size and shape, forming parallel lenses. The lenticular lens layer 22 may be made of a substantially transparent polymer, such as PETG or acrylic. The interlaced image is either located on an image side 28 of the lenticular lens layer 22 or on the separate substrate layer 24 adhered substantially adjacent the image side 28 of the lenticular lens layer 22. The parallel lenses have a predetermined focal length correlated with the thickness of the lenticular lens layer 22 so as to focus substantially on the interlaced image, providing a desired three-dimensional image, moving image, flipping image, or other visual effect. The image side 28 is substantially smooth.
The substrate layer 24 may be provided, for example, by a polymer based film. Such a film may be laminated to the lenticular lens layer 22 and provides water-resistant properties. Polymer films also may be formed to allow light to pass through, thereby limiting the feeling of being closed within the shower enclosure 10. In alternate embodiments, the substrate layer 24 may also be formed of any number of materials onto which an interlaced image may be printed, including, but not limited to, glass, acrylic, and metals. Paper-based substrates may be used, but have some disadvantages, because any water that comes into contact with the substrate layer could easily destroy a paper substrate and the printed image.
Various embodiments of the construction of the door members 12 and wall panels 20 including the lenticular lens layer 22 and the separate substrate layer 24 are shown in
The door member 12 or wall panel 20 created by the construction of
When a single lenticular lens layer 20 is used, only a person substantially facing the lens side 26 of the lenticular lens layer will see a lenticular image. Accordingly, as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
In further alternate embodiments, where the interlaced image is printed directly onto the lenticular lens layer 20, the protective layer 32 is not used. As one example, the lenticular lens layer 20 with a printed image may be provided to a consumer as a polymer film or otherwise for after-market application to an existing shower door.
The foregoing descriptions of embodiments according to the disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments are chosen and described in an effort to provide the best illustrations of the disclosure and its practical application, and to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.
