Digitally printed furniture and methods for manufacture thereof

Abstract

Manufacturing methods for furniture having a durable laminated surface with a digitally printed graphic image of a design include the steps of creating a graphic image of a design, printing the graphic image with a printer onto printer paper laminated to an uncut or precut furniture substrate, coating the paper with a protective coating, and finishing the laminated furniture components for later assembly. Optionally, the graphic image is printed on paper, which is later adhered to uncut or precut furniture substrate. The finishing steps include cutting the laminated furniture substrate into furniture components, edge banding the edges of the laminated furniture components and preparing the furniture components with fastener housings for later assembly. Ready-to-assemble furniture is provided with at least one exterior laminated furniture surface having a high quality digitally printed image of graphic design such as wood grain, wood inlay or other custom design.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to digitally printed furniture and methods for the manufacture thereof. [0003] 2. Description of Prior Art [0004] Consumers of ready-to-assemble (RTA) furniture products recognize the lower cost of RTA furniture with a faux wood image in comparison to the higher cost of solid wood furniture. Traditionally, RTA furniture was manufactured with a piece of plastic veneer with a faux wood surface design glued to the furniture structure, comprising precut, wood-based products selected from various densities of particleboard. Components of RTA furniture were generally assembled into furniture after purchase by the consumer. In order to reduce the costs associated with traditional RTA furniture, modern RTA furniture was developed which included a thin plastic coating layer, similar to contact paper, adhered to particleboard or other suitable material. The thin plastic coating layer can be easil...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007] The present invention provides furniture with a durable laminate surface comprising a high quality surface image of a wood grain or other design that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and a method for manufacture including a method of lamination thereof.

Problems solved by technology

The thin plastic coating layer can be easily peeled away or accidentally cut or damaged, revealing the underlying particleboard or other material.

However, through use, the desktop tends to become disjointed as the sub-components and fasteners wear and loosen, adversely affecting the appearance of the wood inlay surface design.

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