Reflective Panel

Abstract

The invention relates to a reflective panel 1 comprising a carrier element 10 and a reflective element 20. The carrier element 10 and the reflective element 20 are connected to each other by means of an adhesive layer 30. The reflective element 20 has a reflective layer 21 facing the adhesive layer 30 and a transparent cover layer 22 facing away from the adhesive layer 30.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a reflective panel and a manufacturing method for a reflective panel. The invention further relates to a piece of furniture incorporating such a reflective panel.

[0002] Mirrors are known in the art in which a reflective layer is applied to a glass plate. Such mirrors are quite heavy. A reduction in the weight of the mirror is particularly desirable for applications where the weight is critical, such as mirrored doors for furniture, or for applications in caravans and motorhomes, railway vehicles, trains, yachts, ships in general, and aircraft. Furthermore, the glass plate is sensitive to impact, so improved impact resistance would also be desirable, especially for mobile applications in caravans and motorhomes, railway vehicles, trains, yachts, ships in general, and aircraft.

[0003] The invention is based on the objective of providing a reflective panel that is lighter and / or less sensitive to impact compared to a conventional mirror. The invention is further based on the objective of providing a manufacturing method for such a reflective panel. A further objective of the invention is to provide a piece of furniture incorporating such a reflective panel. These objectives are achieved by the reflective panel, the furniture, and the method for manufacturing a reflective panel as defined in the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.

[0004] According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a reflective panel comprising a carrier element and a reflective element. The carrier element and the reflective element are bonded together by means of an adhesive layer. The reflective element has a reflective layer facing the adhesive layer and a transparent cover layer facing away from the adhesive layer. The transparent cover layer can, in particular, be configured such that light in the visible wavelength range (approximately 400 nanometers to approximately 800 nanometers) is not absorbed by the transparent cover layer or is absorbed only to a small extent (for example, less than 10 percent, less than 5 percent, or less than 2 percent).

[0005] The support element can serve to provide stability for the reflective element. In particular, the support element can be lighter than the glass layer typically used in conventional mirrors. This allows the reflective panel to be significantly lighter than a conventional mirror. Furthermore, the support element can be elastic to a specified extent. This can reduce the impact sensitivity of the reflective panel compared to the glass layer typically used in conventional mirrors.

[0006] In one embodiment of the reflective panel, the cover layer comprises a transparent plastic. The cover layer can, in particular, consist of a transparent plastic. The transparent plastic can be, in particular, polycarbonate, acrylic glass, or acrylic glass with a scratch-resistant coating. Polycarbonate and acrylic glass are suitable plastic materials for the transparent cover layer.

[0007] In one embodiment of the reflective panel, the top layer consists of acrylic glass and has a scratch-resistant coating on the side of the top layer facing away from the reflective layer. This scratch-resistant coating particularly improves the use of the reflective panel in caravans, motorhomes, and yachts, as contact with the reflective panel is not always avoidable in these confined spaces.

[0008] In one embodiment of the reflective panel, the layer thickness of the reflective element is in the range of 0.8 to 2.0 millimeters, particularly in the range of 1.0 to 1.5 millimeters, and preferably in the range of 1.1 to 1.3 millimeters. The layer thickness of the reflective element can, in particular, be 1.2 millimeters. The layer thickness can, in particular, be defined as the thickness perpendicular to a principal plane of extension of the reflective element. These layer thicknesses have proven to be particularly advantageous for the stability of the reflective panel and for its reflection properties.

[0009] In one embodiment of the reflective panel, the adhesive layer comprises a permanently elastic adhesive. The permanently elastic adhesive can, in particular, be a silicone adhesive.

[0010] In one embodiment of the reflective panel, the adhesive layer has a thickness between 15 and 50 micrometers, particularly between 20 and 40 micrometers, and preferably between 25 and 35 micrometers. These adhesive layer thicknesses are well suited to achieving a firm, yet also to some extent flexible, attachment of the reflective element to the support element.

[0011] In one embodiment of the reflective panel, the support element has a core, which can be made of or consist of polyethylene. Polyethylene is a lightweight and flexible material compared to the conventional glass of a mirror, so that a lightweight and impact-resistant reflective panel can be achieved by designing the core from polyethylene. The core can have a thickness between 1.5 and 2.3 mm, particularly between 1.7 and 2.1 mm, and preferably between 1.8 and 2.0 mm.

[0012] In one embodiment of the reflective panel, the support element has an aluminum layer. The aluminum layer can be arranged, in particular, facing the reflective element on one side or facing away from it on the other. Furthermore, an aluminum layer can also be provided on both sides of the support element, one facing the reflective element and the other facing away from it. The aluminum layer or layers can have a thickness between 0.1 and 0.2 millimeters, in particular between 0.12 and 0.18 millimeters, and preferably between 0.14 and 0.16 millimeters.

[0013] In one embodiment of the reflective panel, the aluminum layer is bonded to the core. If multiple aluminum layers are provided, several aluminum layers can be bonded to the core. The thickness of the adhesive between the core and the aluminum layer can be between 15 and 50 micrometers, particularly between 20 and 40 micrometers, and preferably between 25 and 35 micrometers.

[0014] In one embodiment of the reflective panel, the reflective layer comprises a metal. The metal can, for example, be vapor-deposited onto the transparent top layer. The metal can, for example, exhibit good reflectivity in the visible range, in particular more than 75 percent, preferably more than 85 percent, and also more than 95 percent or more than 99 percent.

[0015] In one embodiment of the reflective panel, the support element has an additional adhesive layer on the side facing away from the reflective element. This additional adhesive layer allows the reflective panel to be attached to a surface, for example, to a movable element of a piece of furniture.

[0016] According to a second aspect, the invention comprises a piece of furniture, in particular furniture for a caravan, a motorhome or a yacht. The furniture has a fixed furniture element and a movable furniture element. A reflective panel according to the invention is arranged on the movable furniture element.

[0017] According to a third aspect, the invention comprises a method for producing a reflective panel according to the invention, in which the following steps are carried out. A carrier element is provided. An adhesive layer is applied to the carrier element. A reflective element is applied to the adhesive layer. The reflective element has a reflective layer facing the adhesive layer and a transparent cover layer facing away from the adhesive layer.

[0018] In one embodiment of the method for manufacturing a reflective panel, a scratch-resistant coating is applied to the top layer.

[0019] In one embodiment of the method for producing a reflective panel, a further layer of adhesive is applied to the side of the support element facing away from the reflective element.

[0020] In one embodiment of the method for producing a reflective panel, the reflective layer is vapor-deposited onto the transparent top layer.

[0021] In one embodiment of the method for producing a reflective panel, the support element is produced by bonding a core, in particular consisting of polyethylene, with at least one aluminum layer.

[0022] The aforementioned and further listed features can be used individually or in any combination. The embodiments shown and described are not to be understood as an exhaustive list, but rather serve as examples for the description of the invention. Further advantages and properties of the invention will become apparent from the claims and the description of the figures. Each figure is shown schematically. Fig. 1 a layer structure of an exemplary embodiment of a reflective panel; Fig. 2 a layer structure of a further embodiment of a reflective panel; Fig. 3 a piece of furniture; and Fig. 4. A flowchart of a process for manufacturing a reflective panel.

[0023] Fig. Figure 1 shows a cross-section of a reflective panel 1. This panel has a support element 10 and a reflective element 20. The support element 10 and the reflective element 20 are bonded together by means of an adhesive layer 30. The reflective element 20 has a reflective layer 21 facing the adhesive layer 30 and a transparent cover layer 22 facing away from the adhesive layer 30. The transparent cover layer 22 can be designed such that light in the visible wavelength range (approximately 400 nanometers to approximately 800 nanometers) is not absorbed by the transparent cover layer 22 or is absorbed only to a small extent (for example, less than 10 percent, less than 5 percent, or less than 2 percent).

[0024] The support element 10 can serve to provide stability for the reflective element 20. In particular, the support element 10 can be lighter than the glass layer typically used in conventional mirrors. This allows the reflective panel 1 to be significantly lighter than a conventional mirror. Furthermore, the support element 10 can be elastic to a specified extent. This can reduce the impact sensitivity of the reflective panel 1 compared to the glass layer typically used in conventional mirrors.

[0025] In one embodiment of the reflective panel 1, the cover layer 22 comprises a transparent plastic 23. The cover layer 22 can, in particular, consist of a transparent plastic 23. The transparent plastic 23 can, in particular, be polycarbonate, acrylic glass, or acrylic glass with a scratch-resistant coating. Polycarbonate and acrylic glass are suitable plastic materials for the transparent cover layer 22.

[0026] Fig. Figure 2 shows another embodiment of a reflective panel 1. In this embodiment, further optional features are shown, each of which is also shown individually in the embodiment of the reflective panel 1 of the Fig. 1. In this embodiment, the cover layer 22 consists of acrylic glass 24 and has a scratch-resistant coating 25 on the side of the cover layer 22 facing away from the reflective layer 21. The scratch-resistant coating 25 particularly improves the use of the reflective panel 1 in caravans, motorhomes, and yachts, since contact with the reflective panel 1 is not always avoidable in confined spaces.

[0027] In one embodiment of the reflective panel 1, the layer thickness of the reflective element 21 is in the range of 0.8 to 2.0 millimeters, particularly in the range of 1.0 to 1.5 millimeters, and preferably in the range of 1.1 to 1.3 millimeters. The layer thickness of the reflective element 21 can particularly be 1.2 millimeters. The layer thickness can be defined, in particular, as the thickness perpendicular to a principal plane of extension of the reflective element 1. Fig. 1 and 2 correspond to the direction vertically upwards, which is indicated by an arrow 2 in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 is marked. These layer thicknesses have proven to be particularly advantageous for the stability of the reflective panel 1 and for its reflection properties.

[0028] In one embodiment of the reflective panel 1, the adhesive layer 30 comprises a permanently elastic adhesive 31. The permanently elastic adhesive 31 can, in particular, be a silicone adhesive 32.

[0029] In one embodiment of the reflective panel 1, the adhesive layer 30 has a thickness between 15 and 50 micrometers, in particular between 20 and 40 micrometers, and preferably between 25 and 35 micrometers. These adhesive layer thicknesses are well suited to achieve a firm, yet also to some extent flexible, attachment of the reflective element 20 to the carrier element 10.

[0030] In one embodiment of the reflective panel 1, the support element 10 has a core 11, which may in particular be made of or consist of polyethylene 12. Polyethylene 12 is a lightweight and flexible material compared to the conventional glass of a mirror, so that a lightweight and impact-resistant reflective panel 1 can be achieved by making the core 11 from polyethylene 12. The core 11 can have a thickness between 1.5 and 2.3 mm, in particular between 1.7 and 2.1 mm, and preferably between 1.8 and 2.0 mm.

[0031] In one embodiment of the reflective panel 1, the support element 10 has an aluminum layer 13. The aluminum layer 13 can be arranged, in particular, facing the reflective element 20 on one side or facing away from the reflective element 20 on one side. Furthermore, an aluminum layer 13 can also be provided on both sides of the support element 10, one facing the reflective element 20 and the other facing away from it. This is shown in Fig. Figure 2 shows. For the other embodiments, one of the two aluminum layers 13 can be omitted. The aluminum layer 13 or the aluminum layers 13 can have a thickness between 0.1 and 0.2 millimeters, in particular between 0.12 and 0.18 millimeters, and preferably between 0.14 and 0.16 millimeters.

[0032] In one embodiment of the reflective panel 1, the aluminum layer 13 is bonded to the core 11. If several aluminum layers 13 are provided, several aluminum layers 13 can be bonded to the core 11. The thickness of the adhesive between the core 11 and the aluminum layer 13 can be between 15 and 50 micrometers, in particular between 20 and 40 micrometers, and preferably between 25 and 35 micrometers.

[0033] With the specified layer thicknesses of the reflective element 20, the core 11, the aluminum layers 13, and the adhesive layer or adhesive, it is possible to provide a reflective panel 1 that is between 3 and 4 millimeters thick. This low thickness, compared to conventional mirrors, also contributes to the fact that the reflective panel 1 is lightweight compared to a conventional mirror.

[0034] The support element 10, in particular consisting of the core 11 made of polyethylene 12 and one or two aluminum layers 13, ensures that mechanical stresses, which typically occur in caravans and motorhomes, railway vehicles, trains, yachts, ships in general, and aircraft, and which can already lead to damage to the glass layer of conventional mirrors, are flexibly distributed within the reflective panel 1, thus preventing damage. Therefore, the reflective panel 1 is particularly well-suited for mobile applications, both because of its weight and its reduced susceptibility to damage.

[0035] In one embodiment of the reflective panel 1, the reflective layer 21 comprises a metal. The metal can, for example, be vapor-deposited onto the transparent top layer 22.

[0036] In one embodiment of the reflective panel 1, the support element 10 has an additional adhesive layer 40 on the side facing away from the reflective element 20. This additional adhesive layer 40 allows the reflective panel 1 to be attached to a surface, for example, to a movable element of a piece of furniture.

[0037] Fig. Figure 3 shows a piece of furniture 50. The furniture comprises a fixed furniture element 51, for example a furniture carcass, and a movable furniture element 52, here exemplarily designed as a furniture sliding door. A reflective panel 1 according to the invention is arranged on the movable furniture element 52. The furniture 50 particularly comprises two movable furniture elements 52, each with a reflective panel 1. Instead of the one shown in Fig. The furniture shown in 3 (50) may also include other furniture (50), in particular furniture (50) for a caravan, a motorhome or a yacht.

[0038] Fig. Figure 4 shows a flowchart 60 of a method for producing a reflective panel 1 according to the invention, in which the following steps are carried out. In a provisioning step 61, a carrier element 10 is provided. In a subsequent first application step 62, an adhesive layer 30 is applied to the carrier element 10. In a second application step 63, a reflective element 20 is applied to the adhesive layer 30. The reflective element 20 has a reflective layer 21 facing the adhesive layer 30 and a transparent cover layer 22 facing away from the adhesive layer 30. With this method, the reflective panel 1 can be produced. Fig. 1. Further optional process steps are explained below.

[0039] In one embodiment of the method for producing a reflective panel 1, a scratch-resistant coating 25 is applied to the top layer 22 in a third application step 64 after the second application step 63.

[0040] In one embodiment of the method for manufacturing a reflective panel 1, a further adhesive layer 40 is applied in a fourth application step 65 to the side of the carrier element 10 facing away from the reflective element 20. The fourth application step 65 can be carried out at any time after the provisioning step 61.

[0041] In one embodiment of the method for producing a reflective panel 1, the reflective layer 21 is deposited onto the transparent top layer 22 in a deposition step 66. The deposition step 66 takes place before the second deposition step 63.

[0042] In one embodiment of the method for manufacturing a reflective panel 1, the carrier element 10 is produced by bonding a core 11, in particular consisting of polyethylene 12, with at least one aluminum layer 13 in a bonding step 67. The bonding step 67 is carried out before the preparation step 61. Reference symbol list 1 reflective panel 2 Arrow 10 support element 11 core 12 Polyethylen 13 aluminum layers 20 reflective elements 21 Reflective layer 22 transparent top layer 23 transparent plastic 24 acrylic glass 25 scratch-resistant coating 30 adhesive layers 31 permanently elastic adhesive 32 Silicone adhesive 40 additional adhesive layers 50 pieces of furniture 51 fixed furniture element 52 movable furniture element 60 Flowchart 61 Deployment step 62 First application step 63 second application step 64 third application step 65 fourth application step 66 Evaporation step 67th step of the application process

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