Decorative materials

Abstract

We provide decorative materials that can achieve a three-dimensional visual effect and express a variety of appearances. [Solution] The decorative material 10 comprises a base sheet 11, a design sheet 12, and a light-transmitting transparent sheet 13. The design sheet 12 is positioned above the base sheet 11. The transparent sheet 13 is positioned above the design sheet 12. The upper surface of the design sheet 12 has a first region 14 that is luminous and polarized, and a second region 15 that is not polarized. The lower surface of the transparent sheet 13 has an uneven surface formed by a series of continuous concave and convex shapes.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a decorative material.

Background Art

[0002] Decorative materials are used to decorate walls, ceilings, floors, etc. inside buildings. For example, by using a resin sheet with embossing as a member constituting the decorative material, a three-dimensional visual effect can be obtained.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a decorative material (decorative sheet) capable of expressing a three-dimensional pattern. This decorative sheet is manufactured according to the following procedure. First, an ink containing a pearl pigment is applied to the entire upper surface of a base sheet, whereby a glossy colored layer is formed on the entire upper surface of the base sheet. Next, a pattern is printed on the lower surface (the surface to be bonded to the base sheet) of a transparent plastic sheet with a transparent or translucent ink. Next, embossing is performed on the lower surface of the plastic sheet on which the pattern is printed. Then, the lower surface of the embossed plastic sheet is bonded to the upper surface of the base sheet on which the glossy colored layer is formed, whereby the decorative sheet is manufactured.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the decorative sheet according to Patent Document 1, since the ink used for printing the pattern is transparent or translucent, gloss appears on the entire decorative sheet. However, in the market, decorative sheets with more complex and diverse appearances are also demanded.

[0006] In view of these challenges, the present invention aims to provide a decorative material that can produce a three-dimensional visual effect and express a variety of appearances. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] <Aspects of the Invention> The present invention includes the following embodiments.

[0008] [1] A base sheet and A design sheet is placed above the aforementioned base sheet, and has a first region having luminescence and polarizing properties and a second region not having polarizing properties formed on its upper surface. It is positioned above the aforementioned design sheet, and has a surface with multiple continuous indentations and protrusions on its lower surface, and is a transparent sheet that transmits light. A decorative material that has the following features.

[0009] [2] The decorative material according to [1], wherein the upper surface of the design sheet has an uneven surface with an uneven shape corresponding to the uneven surface on the lower surface of the transparent sheet.

[0010] [3] The design sheet comprises a printed film and a first printed layer formed on the printed film with an ink containing a luminous and polarizing pigment. The decorative material according to [1] or [2], wherein the first region is a region from which the first printed layer can be seen from the upper side of the design sheet, and is arranged in a continuous manner between a plurality of adjacent concaves and convexities on the uneven surface of the lower surface of the transparent sheet.

[0011] [4] The decorative material according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the second region includes a high-gloss region and a low-gloss region exhibiting lower gloss than the high-gloss region.

[0012] [5] The design sheet comprises a printing film, a first printing layer formed on the printing film with an ink containing a luminous and polarizing pigment, a second printing layer formed on the printing film with an ink containing a luminous pigment, and a third printing layer formed on the printing film with an ink that does not contain a luminous pigment. The first region is a region from which the first printed layer can be seen from the upper side of the design sheet, and is arranged continuously between a plurality of adjacent concaves and convexities on the uneven surface of the lower surface of the transparent sheet. The high-gloss region is an area from which the second printed layer can be seen from the upper side of the design sheet, and is arranged continuously between a plurality of adjacent concaves and convexities on the uneven surface of the lower surface of the transparent sheet. The decorative material according to [4], wherein the low-gloss region is a region in which the third printed layer can be seen from the upper side of the design sheet.

[0013] [6] A decorative material according to any one of [1] to [5] above, wherein the outer shape in plan view is an unequal quadrilateral. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a decorative material that can obtain a three-dimensional visual effect and express a variety of appearances. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] [Figure 1] This is a partial cross-sectional view showing an example of a decorative material according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a partial cross-sectional view showing the state of each sheet constituting the decorative material shown in Figure 1 before they are laminated. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a plan view of the decorative material. [Figure 4] Figure 3 is a plan view showing an example of a decorative material set using the decorative material shown. [Figure 5] This is a plan view showing an example of a laying structure using the decorative material set shown in Figure 4. [Figure 6]It is a plan view showing another example of a cosmetic material set using the cosmetic material shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 7] It is a plan view showing another example of the cosmetic material according to the present invention. [Figure 8] It is a partial cross-sectional view showing another example of the cosmetic material according to the present invention. [Figure 9] It is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state before each sheet constituting the cosmetic material shown in FIG. 8 is laminated. [Figure 10] It is a plan view showing another example of the cosmetic material according to the present invention. [Figure 11] It is a plan view showing another example of a laying structure using the cosmetic material according to the present invention. [Figure 12] It is a plan view showing an example of the concavo-convex pattern formed on the design sheet. [Figure 13] It is a plan view of the cosmetic material according to the reference example.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described. First, terms used in this specification will be described.

[0017] In this specification, "upper" refers to the side opposite to the construction surface of the cosmetic material when the cosmetic material is constructed, and "lower" refers to the construction surface side of the cosmetic material when the cosmetic material is constructed. Further, "luminosity" refers to the property of being able to visually recognize the luster of metallic luster. Further, "polarization" refers to the property that the color changes depending on the viewing angle. Further, "luminous pigment" refers to a pigment having luminosity and not having polarization. Further, "trapezoid" refers to a quadrilateral in which no two pairs of sides are parallel. Further, "substantially" means the range allowed in the technical field to which the present invention belongs. Further, the "low-luminosity region showing lower luminosity than the high-luminosity region" includes two types of regions: a region having no luminosity and a region having luminosity but showing lower luminosity than the high-luminosity region.

[0018] In the following, the term "system" may be added after a compound name to comprehensively refer to the compound and its derivatives. Furthermore, when "system" is added after a compound name to represent a polymer name, it indicates that the repeating units of the polymer originate from the compound or its derivatives.

[0019] The diagrams referenced in the following explanation are schematic representations of each component for ease of understanding, and the size, number, shape, etc., of each component shown may differ from the actual dimensions due to the limitations of drawing creation. Furthermore, for the sake of explanation, components identical to those described earlier may be denoted by the same reference numerals in later diagrams, and their explanations may be omitted.

[0020] <Overview of decorative materials> The decorative material according to the present invention can be used as an interior material for various types of buildings, such as office buildings, commercial facilities, condominiums, and ordinary houses. Examples of interior materials include flooring materials, wall materials, and ceiling materials. The shape of the decorative material according to the present invention is not particularly limited and may be in the form of a long strip or a single leaf. A "long strip" refers to a roughly rectangular shape in plan view, where the length in one direction is sufficiently longer than the length in the direction perpendicular to it. A "single leaf" refers to a roughly polygonal shape in plan view, such as a roughly rectangular shape.

[0021] When the decorative material according to the present invention is a long strip-shaped decorative material, the dimensions of the decorative material are, for example, a length in the short direction of 200 mm or more and 4000 mm or less, and a length in the long direction of 5 m or more (preferably 10 m or more). When the decorative material according to the present invention is a substantially rectangular decorative material, the dimensions of the decorative material are, for example, a length in one direction of 200 mm or more and 2000 mm or less, and a length in the direction perpendicular to that direction of 200 mm or more and 2000 mm or less.

[0022] The decorative material according to the present invention may be flexible or not flexible (not easily bendable). Flexible decorative materials can be rolled up and have excellent storage and transportability. Here, "flexible" means, for example, flexible enough to be rolled up on a core material with a diameter of 20 cm.

[0023] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0024] <First Embodiment> [Overall structure] Figure 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a decorative material according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The decorative material 10 shown in Figure 1 comprises a base sheet 11, a design sheet 12, and a transparent sheet 13 that transmits light (visible light). In the decorative material 10, the design sheet 12 is positioned above the base sheet 11. The transparent sheet 13 is also positioned above the design sheet 12. The upper surface of the design sheet 12 has a first region 14 that is luminous and polarizing, and a second region 15 that is not polarizing. The lower surface of the transparent sheet 13 has an uneven surface formed by a series of continuous concave and convex shapes.

[0025] In the decorative material 10, a surface with multiple continuous indentations and protrusions is formed on the lower surface of the transparent sheet 13, and a first region 14 with luminescence is formed on the upper surface of the design sheet 12, thus providing a three-dimensional effect in the first region 14. Therefore, the decorative material 10 can provide a three-dimensional visual effect. In addition, in the decorative material 10, the first region 14 formed on the upper surface of the design sheet 12 has polarizing properties, so the color of the first region 14 changes gradually depending on the viewing direction, for example, to blue or green. Therefore, the decorative material 10 can express a variety of appearances. The decorative material 10, with its changing appearance, is unexpected and is thought to stimulate the interest of the user (viewer). In particular, flooring and walling materials are decorative materials in which the viewer's line of sight changes relatively large, so flooring or walling materials are preferred as the decorative material 10, flooring or wainscoting materials are more preferred, and flooring materials are even more preferred. When a person walks on the flooring material while standing, the flooring material is viewed from above. In this case, the light source is often positioned above or to the side of the flooring material, and flooring material is suitable because the reflected light is easily visible to people. Furthermore, when a person walks on the flooring material, the relative positions of the light source, the uneven surface, and the person's eyes change, so the reflection of light from the uneven surface changes with each movement. Moreover, since the first region 14 has polarization properties, the color changes depending on the viewing angle. This change in color, combined with the change in light due to the uneven surface, makes it possible to make a dynamic and diverse design visible to pedestrians.

[0026] Furthermore, the second to fourth embodiments described later also possess the characteristics of the decorative material 10 described above, and therefore, similar to the decorative material 10, a three-dimensional visual effect can be obtained, and a variety of appearances can be expressed.

[0027] The second region 15 includes a highly luminous region 16 that exhibits brilliance and a less luminous region 17 that exhibits lower brilliance than the highly luminous region 16.

[0028] The design sheet 12 comprises a printing film 18, a first printing layer 19, a second printing layer 20, and a third printing layer 21. The first printing layer 19 is a layer formed on the printing film 18 with an ink containing a luminous and polarizing pigment (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "luminous polarizing pigment"). The second printing layer 20 is a layer formed on the printing film 18 with an ink containing a luminous pigment. The third printing layer 21 is a layer formed on the printing film 18 with an ink that does not contain a luminous pigment or a luminous polarizing pigment.

[0029] The first region 14 is a region from which the first printed layer 19 can be seen from the upper side of the design sheet 12, and is arranged continuously with a plurality of adjacent concaves and convexities on the uneven surface of the lower surface of the transparent sheet 13. Note that "the first printed layer 19 can be seen from the upper side of the design sheet 12" means that the first printed layer 19 can be seen from at least one direction on the upper side of the design sheet 12. The high-gloss region 16 is a region from which the second printed layer 20 can be seen from the upper side of the design sheet 12, and is arranged continuously with a plurality of adjacent concaves and convexities on the uneven surface of the lower surface of the transparent sheet 13. The low-gloss region 17 is a region from which the third printed layer 21 can be seen from the upper side of the design sheet 12, and is arranged continuously with a plurality of adjacent concaves and convexities on the uneven surface of the lower surface of the transparent sheet 13. Note that in Figure 1, the low-gloss region 17 is arranged continuously with a plurality of adjacent concaves and convexities on the uneven surface of the lower surface of the transparent sheet 13, but the low-gloss region 17 may be arranged on a flat surface.

[0030] Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the state of each sheet constituting the decorative material 10 shown in Figure 1 before lamination. The configurations of the base sheet 11, design sheet 12, and transparent sheet 13 will be described below with reference to Figure 2. In the following, "thickness" refers to the thickness after each sheet has been laminated, specifically the thickness of each layer in the decorative material 10 shown in Figure 1. The same applies to "thickness" as described in the third embodiment later.

[0031] [Base sheet 11] The base sheet 11 is a backing material that enhances the strength and dimensional stability of the decorative material 10. The base sheet 11 improves the adhesion of the decorative material 10 to the interior substrate to which it is attached.

[0032] The base sheet 11 is formed from a thermoplastic resin such as acrylic resin or polyvinyl chloride resin. The base sheet 11 may be formed by laminating multiple types of thermoplastic resins. Alternatively, a reinforcing layer may be laminated on top of the thermoplastic resin layer, and the base sheet 11 may be composed of the thermoplastic resin layer and the reinforcing layer. The reinforcing layer is formed from, for example, a nonwoven fabric or a woven fabric. Suitable materials for the nonwoven or woven fabric include polyester, polyethylene terephthalate, and glass. The reinforcing layer may also be a layer containing a thermoplastic resin and a filler. Alternatively, a filler may be added to both the thermoplastic resin layer and the reinforcing layer. The base sheet 11 composed of a thermoplastic resin layer and a reinforcing layer may have a three-layer structure in which the reinforcing layer is sandwiched between two thermoplastic resin layers, or it may have a multilayer structure containing two or more thermoplastic resin layers and reinforcing layers. The base sheet 11 may also be colored.

[0033] When the decorative material 10 is a flooring material, the thickness of the base sheet 11 is preferably 0.1 mm or more and 10.0 mm or less, and more preferably 1.0 mm or more and 5.0 mm or less. If the base sheet 11 is too thin, its strength will decrease, and it may become difficult to handle. On the other hand, if the base sheet 11 is too thick, its processability will decrease, and productivity may decrease. In other words, the thickness of the base sheet 11 is determined by considering the balance between strength and processability.

[0034] When the decorative material 10 is used as a ceiling material or wall material, the strength of the decorative material 10 may be lower than when the decorative material 10 is used as a floor material. Therefore, when the decorative material 10 is used as a wall material or ceiling material, the thickness of the base sheet 11 is preferably 0.1 mm or more and 2.0 mm or less, and more preferably 0.1 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less.

[0035] [Design Sheet 12] The design sheet 12 is placed on top of the base sheet 11. The design sheet 12 imparts a pattern or design to the decorative material 10. The design sheet 12 has a printed film 18, a first printed layer 19, a second printed layer 20, and a third printed layer 21. The first printed layer 19, the second printed layer 20, and the third printed layer 21 are all formed to draw a pattern (e.g., a color pattern) or design on the decorative material 10.

[0036] The printing film 18 is a base film for the first printing layer 19, the second printing layer 20, and the third printing layer 21, and is positioned above the base sheet 11 so as to cover the entire upper surface of the base sheet 11. The printing film 18 is, for example, a sheet made of resin, to which ink is applied to create any pattern. The resin that makes up the printing film 18 is not particularly limited, and examples include polyvinyl chloride and polyolefin. When the base sheet 11 and the transparent sheet 13 are made of polyvinyl chloride, it is preferable that the printing film 18 be a sheet made of polyvinyl chloride because it can be easily and firmly joined. The printing film 18 is colored with pigments, for example, white, black, gray, brown, etc., in order to conceal the color of the base sheet 11.

[0037] The thickness of the printed film 18 is preferably 0.03 mm to 2.0 mm, and more preferably 0.05 mm to 0.2 mm. If the printed film 18 is too thin, its strength will decrease, making it difficult to handle. On the other hand, if the printed film 18 is too thick, its processability may decrease. The thickness of the printed film 18 is determined by considering the balance between strength and processability.

[0038] The first printed layer 19 is luminous and therefore reflects incident light. Furthermore, the first printed layer 19 is polarizing, so its color changes depending on the viewing angle. The second printed layer 20 has higher luminosity than the third printed layer 21. The second printed layer 20 is luminous and therefore reflects incident light. Furthermore, neither the second printed layer 20 nor the third printed layer 21 is polarizing.

[0039] The third printing layer 21 may be a non-glossy layer. If the third printing layer 21 is a non-glossy layer, the low-glossy region 17 will be, for example, a region where the unevenness cannot be seen from the upper side of the design sheet 12. Furthermore, in order to further enhance the three-dimensional visual effect, it is preferable that the first printing layer 19 (first region 14) has a higher gloss than the third printing layer 21 (low-glossy region 17).

[0040] The first printing layer 19 is formed on the printing film 18 using an ink containing a luminous polarizing pigment. The second printing layer 20 is formed on the printing film 18 using an ink containing a luminous pigment. The third printing layer 21 is formed on the printing film 18 using an ink that does not contain a luminous pigment. The thicknesses of the first printing layer 19, the second printing layer 20, and the third printing layer 21 are not particularly limited, and each is independently, for example, 0.5 μm or more and 10 μm or less, preferably 1 μm or more and 5 μm or less.

[0041] The glossiness of the first printing layer 19, the second printing layer 20, and the third printing layer 21 can be evaluated, for example, by visual sensory testing or by the specular gloss measurement method specified in Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) Z841:1997. Specular gloss is calculated based on the intensity of reflected light detected by a photodetector placed in the direction of light reflection, when light (visible light) is incident on the plane of the object to be measured at one of the incident angles of 20°, 45°, 60°, 75°, and 85°. Examples of devices capable of measuring specular gloss using the above method include Konica Minolta's "MultiGloss268" and Nippon Denshoku Industries' "VGP5000".

[0042] The specular gloss of the first printing layer 19, the second printing layer 20, and the third printing layer 21 is measured when the design sheet 12 is not laminated with other sheets such as the base sheet 11 or the transparent sheet 13. In other words, the specular gloss measurement is performed on the design sheet 12 alone, as shown in Figure 2. This makes it easy to compare the glossiness of each of the first printing layer 19, the second printing layer 20, and the third printing layer 21. Specifically, incident light from a light source is directed directly onto the first printing layer 19, the second printing layer 20, or the third printing layer 21 on the printing film 18. Then, reflected light from the first printing layer 19, the second printing layer 20, or the third printing layer 21 is directed directly onto the photodetector. In this way, the specular gloss of the first printing layer 19, the second printing layer 20, and the third printing layer 21 is measured under conditions where the incident and reflected light do not pass through the base sheet 11 or the transparent sheet 13, etc. It is desirable that the angle of incidence of light be the same when measuring the first printed layer 19, the second printed layer 20, and the third printed layer 21, respectively.

[0043] To further enhance the three-dimensional visual effect, the specular gloss (incident angle: 60°) of the first printed layer 19 measured by the above measurement method is preferably 20 or higher, and more preferably 30 or higher.

[0044] To further enhance the three-dimensional visual effect, it is preferable that the specular gloss (incident angle: 60°) of the second printed layer 20 measured by the above measurement method be 20 or higher, and more preferably 30 or higher.

[0045] To further enhance the three-dimensional visual effect, the specular gloss (incident angle: 60°) of the third printed layer 21 measured by the above measurement method is preferably less than 20, and more preferably less than 10.

[0046] (Luminous polarizing pigment) The luminous polarizing pigment for forming the first printing layer 19 has optical properties different from ordinary pigments, and is a colorant that gives a pearly luster that combines luminosity and polarization through regular multiple reflections. Luminous polarizing pigments are sometimes called polarizing pearl pigments, interference pearl pigments, iridescent pearl pigments, or polarizing metallic pigments. The luminous polarizing pigment is not particularly limited as long as it is a pigment that is luminous and polarizing, but examples include a multilayer pigment that includes a core material of flake-like foil made of silicon dioxide, mica, aluminum, glass, iron oxide, etc., and two or more metal oxide layers formed on the surface of the core material. Specifically, examples of metal oxide layers include layers of colorless, high refractive index materials such as titanium oxide layers and iron oxide layers. In this multilayer pigment, it is preferable that the material of the metal oxide layer formed on the surface of the core material exhibits a higher refractive index than the core material. The thickness of the metal oxide layer is, for example, greater than 0.15 μm. When the thickness of the metal oxide layer exceeds 0.15 μm, a portion of the light is reflected from the surface of the metal oxide layer, and the afterglow component is incident on the metal oxide layer. This process occurs repeatedly, changing the reflected and transmitted light and producing various interference colors. In addition, one or more pigments selected from the group consisting of right-polarizing cholesteric polymer liquid crystal pigments and left-polarizing cholesteric polymer liquid crystal pigments can be used as the luminous polarizing pigment for forming the first printing layer 19. The gloss and color tone of the ink containing the luminous polarizing pigment change depending on the observation angle. Examples of luminous polarizing pigments include "Colorstream T10-02 Arctic Fire," "Iriodin 111," "Iriodin 7225WNT," and "Iriodin 7219WII" from Merck, "Chromashine" from Toyo Aluminum Co., Ltd., and "Metashine" from Horikin Foil Co., Ltd.

[0047] (Luminous pigment) The luminous pigment used to form the second printing layer 20 is not particularly limited as long as it is a pigment that is luminous and does not polarize, but for example, pearl pigments, metal particles, fragments of plastic film with metal vapor deposition can be used.

[0048] Specific examples of the above-mentioned pearl pigments include titanium dioxide-coated mica, fish scale foil, and bismuth acid chloride. Alternatively, the lustrous inner surface of seashells or powder produced by crushing pearls may be used as pearl pigments. In particular, titanium dioxide-coated mica, fish scale foil, and bismuth acid chloride have excellent design effects, so it is desirable to use one or more of these pigments.

[0049] Specific examples of the above-mentioned metal particles include particles of metals such as aluminum, silver, gold, platinum, nickel, chromium, tin, zinc, indium, titanium, and copper. Particles of alloys of the above-listed metals (such as brass) may also be used. The metal particles used as a lustrous pigment preferably contain particles of at least one metal from the above-listed metals or alloys. The average particle size of the metal particles is not particularly limited, but is preferably 5 nm to 500 nm, more preferably 10 nm to 200 nm, and even more preferably 10 nm to 80 nm. By using metal particles with an average particle size of 5 nm to 500 nm, the granularity of individual metal particles is not noticeable, and a smooth, lustrous second printing layer 20 can be formed.

[0050] Examples of fragments of plastic films on which the above-mentioned metal has been deposited include fragments obtained by depositing metal onto a polyethylene terephthalate film and then crushing the metal-deposited film. The metals used for deposition include aluminum, silver, gold, platinum, nickel, chromium, tin, and copper. Furthermore, fragments obtained by depositing metal onto a film, coloring the deposited metal, and then crushing the film may be used as a luminous pigment.

[0051] (Ink for forming the third printing layer 21) The third printing layer 21 is formed with an ink that does not contain a glossy pigment (an ink that exhibits lower gloss than the ink used to form the second printing layer 20). The third printing layer 21 is formed with an ink that contains, for example, a matte pigment.

[0052] In the first embodiment, the third printing layer 21 is formed with an ink that does not contain a lustrous pigment, but the third printing layer 21 may also be formed with an ink that contains a lustrous pigment. In this case, the content of the lustrous pigment in the ink used to form the third printing layer 21 should be lower than the content of the lustrous pigment in the ink used to form the second printing layer 20.

[0053] (Method for forming each printed layer) The first printing layer 19, the second printing layer 20, and the third printing layer 21 are formed, for example, as follows. First, an ink is prepared by dispersing one of the following pigments—a bright polarizing pigment, a bright pigment, and a matte pigment—in a vehicle in which a binder resin is dissolved in a solvent. The pigment content in the ink is not particularly limited, but when the total amount of ink is 100% by weight, it is, for example, 2% by weight or more and 50% by weight or less, preferably 15% by weight or more and 45% by weight or less. Next, the obtained ink is coated onto the printing film 18 by a known printing method such as gravure printing, silkscreen printing, or inkjet printing to form the first printing layer 19, the second printing layer 20, or the third printing layer 21. Examples of binder resins include acrylic resins, urethane resins, polyester resins, epoxy resins, vinyl resins, nitrated cotton resins, and chlorinated rubber resins. Among these resins, a resin that has excellent adhesion to the printing film 18 to be printed on is used as the binder resin.

[0054] [Transparent Sheet 13] The transparent sheet 13 is a transparent sheet placed on top of the design sheet 12. In this specification, "transparent" means either colorless transparent or colored transparent. "Transparent" means that the bottom side of the object (when determining whether a sheet is transparent or not, the sheet is the object) can be visually recognized from the top side, while "opaque" means that the bottom side cannot be seen. As an indicator of transparency, for example, total light transmittance can be used. As an indicator of transparency, the total light transmittance is, for example, 70% or more, preferably 80% or more, and more preferably 90% or more. However, total light transmittance refers to the value measured by a measurement method in accordance with JIS K7361 (Plastics - Test method for total light transmittance of transparent materials) for a transparent object. The transparent sheet 13 may be either colorless transparent or colored transparent, but a colorless transparent sheet is preferred because the colors of the design sheet 12 can be seen as they are. A "colorless transparent sheet" means one in which the colors cannot be visually recognized. The colorless and transparent sheet has a total light transmittance of, for example, 85% or more, preferably 90% or more, and more preferably 92% or more.

[0055] The transparent sheet 13 is formed from, for example, a thermoplastic resin. As the constituent material of the transparent sheet 13, for example, polyvinyl chloride resin is used, which has good adhesion to the design sheet 12 and is excellent in terms of strength, cost, etc.

[0056] When the decorative material 10 is a flooring material, the thickness of the transparent sheet 13 is preferably 0.05 mm or more and 2.0 mm or less, and more preferably 0.1 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less. If the transparent sheet 13 is too thin, the abrasion resistance will decrease. On the other hand, if the transparent sheet 13 is too thick, the processability may decrease. Therefore, the thickness of the transparent sheet 13 is determined considering the balance between the abrasion resistance and processability of the decorative material 10.

[0057] When the decorative material 10 is a wall material or ceiling material, the abrasion resistance of the decorative material 10 may be lower than when the decorative material 10 is a floor material. Therefore, when the decorative material 10 is a wall material or ceiling material, the thickness of the transparent sheet 13 is preferably 0.05 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less, and more preferably 0.1 mm or more and 0.25 mm or less.

[0058] Furthermore, a protective layer may be provided on the transparent sheet 13. The protective layer protects the transparent sheet 13, prevents scratches and other damage, and improves abrasion resistance. For example, the protective layer may be formed from an ultraviolet-curing resin, wax, or the like. The upper surface of the transparent sheet 13 may be formed flat, or it may have an uneven surface such as a pearlescent pattern (for example, a fine embossed pattern). When a protective layer or the like is provided on the transparent sheet 13, "the upper surface of the transparent sheet 13" refers to the upper surface of that protective layer or the like. When the upper surface of the transparent sheet 13 has an uneven surface, the specular gloss of the outermost surface of the decorative material 10 decreases, so the effects achieved by providing the first region 14, the high-gloss region 16, and the low-gloss region 17 can be highlighted.

[0059] At least a portion of the lower surface of the transparent sheet 13 is embossed (recessed). The embossed pattern (recessed pattern) applied by the embossing process adds design appeal to the decorative material 10. Various patterns can be used as the embossed pattern, and there are no particular limitations. The depth of the embossing is determined according to the thickness of the transparent sheet 13, but a depth of 0.05 mm to 1.0 mm is preferable because the design is easily visible to the human eye. More preferably, the depth of the embossing is 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm. For example, if the thickness of the transparent sheet 13 is 0.3 mm, the depth of the embossing is preferably 0.15 mm. The depth of the embossing is preferably 30% to 70% of the thickness of the transparent sheet 13, and more preferably 40% to 60%. In the first embodiment, the lower surface of the transparent sheet 13 is embossed, but the lower surface of the transparent sheet 13 only needs to have a recessed shape, and the embossed shape is just one example.

[0060] [Stacking of each sheet] The decorative material 10 shown in Figure 1 is manufactured by laminating the base sheet 11, design sheet 12, and transparent sheet 13, as explained with reference to Figure 2. The decorative material 10 is manufactured, for example, as follows: The base sheet 11, the design sheet 12, and the transparent sheet 13 are laminated, and these laminated sheets are heated and pressurized. By heating and pressurizing, these sheets are integrated, and the decorative material 10 is manufactured. When manufacturing the decorative material 10, the design sheet 12 and the transparent sheet 13 may be integrated first, and then the resulting laminate and the base sheet 11 may be integrated; or the base sheet 11 and the design sheet 12 may be integrated first, and then the resulting laminate and the transparent sheet 13 may be integrated; or the base sheet 11, the design sheet 12, and the transparent sheet 13 may be integrated simultaneously. A press machine, a continuous laminating machine, etc., are used to manufacture the decorative material 10. In addition, an adhesive may be used when integrating the base sheet 11, the design sheet 12, and the transparent sheet 13.

[0061] As described above, an embossed surface is formed on the underside of the transparent sheet 13, creating an uneven surface. The underside of the transparent sheet 13 and the upper surface of the design sheet 12 are joined together and integrated by heating and pressing. As a result, as shown in Figure 1, an uneven surface corresponding to the uneven surface on the underside of the transparent sheet 13 is formed on the upper surface of the design sheet 12. In other words, the interface between the design sheet 12 and the transparent sheet 13 is an uneven surface. Because the above-mentioned uneven surface is formed on the upper surface of the design sheet 12, the three-dimensional visual effect of the decorative material 10 is further enhanced.

[0062] Furthermore, when the design sheet 12 is combined with the transparent sheet 13 which has an uneven surface, and heated and pressurized, not only does the upper surface of the design sheet 12 change to an uneven surface, but the lower surface also changes to an uneven surface in accordance with it. In other words, the entire design sheet 12 becomes uneven. Also, when the lower surface of the design sheet 12 is combined with the upper surface of the base sheet 11, and heated and pressurized, the upper surface of the base sheet 11 is also formed to be uneven, as shown in Figure 1.

[0063] [Design aspects of decorative material 10] Next, the design features of the decorative material 10 will be explained with reference to Figure 3. Figure 3 is a plan view of the decorative material 10 as seen from above. As described above, the design sheet 12 of the decorative material 10 (see Figure 1) has a first region 14 (indicated by a striped pattern in Figure 3) which is luminous and polarizing, a high-luminosity region 16 (indicated by a sandy pattern in Figure 3), and a low-luminosity region 17 (indicated by a grid pattern in Figure 3). Note that in Figure 3, the patterns of the first region 14, the high-luminosity region 16, and the low-luminosity region 17 do not represent the uneven shapes (see Figure 1) formed on the transparent sheet 13.

[0064] In Figure 3, the white (plain) background region 18a is the area where the top surface of the printed film 18 can be seen. Boundary line 59 is the boundary between the first region 14 and the background region 18a. Boundary lines 60 and 61 are the boundaries between the high-luminosity region 16 and the background region 18a. Boundary line 62 is the boundary between the low-luminosity region 17 and the background region 18a.

[0065] When the total area of ​​the upper surface of the design sheet 12 is taken as 100%, the area ratio of the first region 14 is, for example, 1% to 99%, preferably 10% to 80%, and more preferably 15% to 50%. The area ratio of the second region 15 is, for example, 1% to 99%, preferably 20% to 90%, and more preferably 50% to 85%. Assuming that this area ratio of the second region 15 is satisfied, the area ratios of the high-gloss region 16 and the low-gloss region 17 are, for example, 0% to 99%, preferably 10% to 80%, and more preferably 15% to 50%, respectively.

[0066] As described above, the decorative material 10 forms a first region 14, which allows for a three-dimensional visual effect and the expression of diverse appearances. In addition, the decorative material 10 has a high-gloss region 16 and a low-gloss region 17, which provides the following visual effects. In the decorative material 10, the high-gloss region 16 has higher gloss than the low-gloss region 17, so the high-gloss region 16 appears brighter than the low-gloss region 17. Therefore, the high-gloss region 16 appears to stand out in front of the low-gloss region 17. This is because, due to the characteristics of human vision, bright areas depicted on the same plane appear to be in front, and dark areas appear to be in the background. Thus, the decorative material 10 can produce a visual effect in which the low-gloss region 17 appears to be located further back than the high-gloss region 16. Therefore, the decorative material 10 can give an impression of depth (a sense of depth and three-dimensionality).

[0067] Furthermore, the appearance of the uneven surface (see Figure 1) formed at the boundary between the design sheet 12 and the transparent sheet 13 differs between the high-gloss region 16 and the low-gloss region 17. Specifically, the uneven surface cannot be clearly seen in the low-gloss region 17. On the other hand, the uneven surface can be clearly seen in the high-gloss region 16. The reason for this is as follows: Light incident on the high-gloss region 16 from above the decorative material 10 is more highly reflected and dispersed than light incident on the low-gloss region 17. Therefore, the uneven surface is easier to see in the high-gloss region 16 than in the low-gloss region 17.

[0068] Thus, because the appearance of the uneven surface differs between the high-gloss region 16 and the low-gloss region 17, the effect of the high-gloss region 16 appearing to stand out more than the low-gloss region 17 can be further enhanced. In addition, the first region 14 may or may not be clearly visible depending on the viewing direction. When the visibility of the uneven surface in the first region 14 changes depending on the viewing direction, a wider variety of appearances can be expressed. When the visibility of the uneven surface in the first region 14 changes depending on the viewing direction, "the first region 14 has lustrous properties" means that when the first region 14 is viewed at an angle in which the uneven surface is clearly visible, a metallic luster can be seen. Furthermore, because the first region 14 has polarizing properties, its color can be changed depending on the viewing angle. This change in color, combined with the change in light due to the uneven surface, enables a wider variety of design expressions.

[0069] Furthermore, the decorative material 10 can accentuate the difference between the pattern in the first region 14, the pattern in the high-gloss region 16, and the pattern in the low-gloss region 17. Therefore, the decorative material 10 can enhance the decorative effect.

[0070] It is desirable that the upper surface of the printed film 18 exhibits a lower luster than the high-gloss region 16. When the upper surface of the printed film 18 exhibits a lower luster than the high-gloss region 16, the high-gloss region 16 appears brighter than the background region 18a and the low-gloss region 17. As a result, a visual effect can be obtained in which the high-gloss region 16 appears to stand out above not only the low-gloss region 17 but also the background region 18a. In this case, the decorative material 10 can be given an even greater sense of depth and three-dimensionality. Also, when the upper surface of the printed film 18 exhibits a lower luster than the high-gloss region 16, the uneven surface cannot be clearly seen not only in the low-gloss region 17 but also in the background region 18a. Therefore, the difference in visual effect between the high-gloss region 16 and the background region 18a and the low-gloss region 17 can be further accentuated. For the same reason, it is desirable that the upper surface of the printed film 18 exhibits a lower luster than the first region 14. Furthermore, if the upper surface of the printed film 18 exhibits a lower luster than the high-luster region 16, the background region 18a is part of the low-luster region 17.

[0071] To make the upper surface of the printed film 18 less glossy than the high-gloss region 16, for example, a matte ink can be applied to the entire upper surface of the printed film 18. In this case, the color of the matte ink applied to the printed film 18 may be the same as or different from the color of the ink used in the low-gloss region 17. Alternatively, the printed film 18 itself may be made to have no gloss.

[0072] [Shape of decorative material 10] Next, referring to Figure 3, the shape of the decorative material 10 will be described. As shown in Figure 3, the decorative material 10 has an irregular quadrilateral shape in plan view. This allows for various arrangements when installing multiple decorative materials 10, and also allows for a variety of patterns to be created. Therefore, a decorative material 10 with an irregular quadrilateral shape in plan view can express a wider range of appearances.

[0073] The four corners 50 of the decorative material 10 have a first corner 51 and a second corner 52 that face each other, and a third corner 53 and a fourth corner 54 that are different from the first corner 51 and the second corner 52 and face each other. The first corner 51 is the corner sandwiched between sides 55 and 56. The second corner 52 is the corner sandwiched between sides 57 and 58. The third corner 53 is the corner sandwiched between sides 56 and 57. The fourth corner 54 is the corner sandwiched between sides 55 and 58. The side 55 connecting the first corner 51 and the fourth corner 54 is the shortest side among sides 55 to 58. The side 56 connecting the first corner 51 and the third corner 53 is the longest side among sides 55 to 58.

[0074] To express even more diverse appearances, it is preferable that the boundary lines 59-62 are not parallel to the other boundary lines and sides 55-58.

[0075] Furthermore, the angles θ1 of the first corner 51, θ2 of the second corner 52, θ3 of the third corner 53, and θ4 of the fourth corner 54 satisfy, for example, the following formula. θ1 = 90° θ² = 90° 45° < θ3 < 90° θ4 = 180° - θ3

[0076] The following describes an example of a decorative material set and installation structure using multiple decorative material 10 pieces, with reference to the drawings.

[0077] Figure 4 is a plan view showing an example of a decorative material set. The decorative material set 100 shown in Figure 4 is a decorative material set made by combining four decorative materials 10 shown in Figure 3. In the decorative material set 100, the four decorative materials 10 are arranged so that the second corner 52 (see Figure 3) is located in one place. In plan view, the outer shape of the decorative material set 100 is, for example, a roughly square with a side length of 200 mm or more and 2000 mm or less.

[0078] In the decorative material 10 that makes up the decorative material set 100, the ratio of the length of side 55 to the length of side 56 (length of side 55:length of side 56) is 1:3. In this case, in the decorative material 10, for example, angle θ3 (see Figure 3) is 63.43° and angle θ4 (see Figure 3) is 116.57°. Also, in this case, as shown in Figure 3, in the decorative material 10, the foot of the perpendicular L drawn from the second corner 52 to side 56 divides the longest side 56 in a length ratio of 2:1. For example, the lengths of each side of the decorative material 10 are 225mm for side 55, 675mm for side 56, 503mm for side 57, and 503mm for side 58. When the lengths of each side of the decorative material 10 are as described above, the outer shape of the decorative material set 100 shown in Figure 4 is a square with sides of 900mm. Also, normally, the decorative material is installed by a craftsman who manually attaches each piece in order. In this process, even a slight misalignment in the applied decorative material can accumulate as the work progresses, eventually resulting in a large misalignment. To prevent this, the installer visually checks for misalignment during installation and corrects it as they apply the decorative material. When the dimensions of the decorative material 10 are as described above, the longest side 56 is three times the shortest side 55, and the longest side 56 is divided in a 2:1 ratio by the perpendicular line L. This makes it easier for the installer to spot misalignment, simplifies installation, and allows for a clean finish in a short amount of time.

[0079] In the decorative material set 100, the ratio of the length of the shortest side (side 55) to the length of the longest side (side 56) in the decorative material 10 is 1:3, and the ratio of the length of one side of the decorative material set 100 to the shortest side is 4, making the laying (construction) of the decorative material set 100 easy. In more detail, decorative materials with an irregular quadrilateral shape are difficult to calculate the required number of decorative materials to match the construction area of ​​the construction site, and laying them is relatively time-consuming due to their irregular shape. On the other hand, when laying the decorative material set 100 (decorative material 10) shown in Figure 4, the fact that the ratio of the length of the shortest side to the length of the longest side in the decorative material 10 is 1:3, and the ratio of the length of one side of the decorative material set 100 to the shortest side is 4, can be used to reduce the calculation of the required number and the effort required for construction.

[0080] The decorative material set 100 can be used as a component (tile) of the laying structure 200, for example, as shown in Figure 5. The laying structure 200 is formed by laying 16 decorative material sets 100, in a 4x4 configuration.

[0081] The decorative material set 100 may also be combined with, for example, the decorative material 400, which has a roughly rectangular shape, as shown as a modified example of the second embodiment described later. For example, if the long side of the decorative material 400 is 900 mm and the short side is 150 mm, then both the long side of the decorative material 400 and one side of the decorative material set 100 will be 900 mm, making it possible to lay the roughly rectangular decorative material 400 and the decorative material set 100 together on the floor surface. This makes it possible to express more complex designs.

[0082] Figure 6 is a plan view showing another example of a decorative material set. In the decorative material set 300 shown in Figure 6, the ratio of the length of side 55 to the length of side 56 (length of side 55:length of side 56) is 1:2. In this case, for example, angle θ3 (see Figure 3) is 71.57° and angle θ4 (see Figure 3) is 108.43°. Other aspects of decorative material set 300 are the same as decorative material set 100 shown in Figure 4. In decorative material set 300, the ratio of the length of the shortest side, side 55, to the length of the longest side, side 56, is 1:2, and the ratio of the length of one side of decorative material set 300 to the shortest side is 3. For the same reasons as described above for decorative material set 100, laying (construction) of decorative material set 300 is easy.

[0083] Although the first embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. For example, in the first embodiment, an example was described in which the upper surface of the second printing layer 20 corresponds to a high-gloss region 16 and the upper surface of the third printing layer 21 corresponds to a low-gloss region 17, but it is not necessary to form both the second printing layer 20 and the third printing layer 21 on the upper surface of the printing film 18. As described above, the background region 18a may be made into a low-gloss region 17 by applying a matte ink to the upper surface of the printing film 18. In this case, it is not necessary to form the third printing layer 21 on the upper surface of the printing film 18. Alternatively, the background region 18a may be made into a high-gloss region 16 by applying an ink containing a glossy pigment to the upper surface of the printing film 18. In this case, it is not necessary to form the second printing layer 20 on the upper surface of the printing film 18.

[0084] Furthermore, although the first embodiment described an example in which the second region 15 includes a high-luminosity region 16 and a low-luminosity region 17, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the second region 15 may be entirely a high-luminosity region 16, or entirely a low-luminosity region 17.

[0085] Furthermore, while the first embodiment described an example in which the low-luminosity region 17, the high-luminosity region 16, and the first region 14 are arranged in this order, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the arrangement of the low-luminosity region 17, the high-luminosity region 16, and the first region 14 is not limited.

[0086] Furthermore, although the first embodiment described an example in which the first printing layer 19, the second printing layer 20, and the third printing layer 21 do not overlap, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, other printing layers (one or more of the first printing layer 19, the second printing layer 20, and the third printing layer 21) may be laminated on a part of the first printing layer 19, a part of the second printing layer 20, or a part of the third printing layer 21. Also, transparent and achromatic printing layers may be formed on the first printing layer 19 and the second printing layer 20 as protective layers for the first printing layer 19 and the second printing layer 20. In addition, in the present invention, at least one of the first printing layer 19, the second printing layer 20, and the third printing layer 21 may be painted with two or more inks of different colors.

[0087] Furthermore, while the first embodiment described an example in which a second printing layer 20 is formed by printing a design on a printing film 18 using an ink containing a luminous pigment, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, instead of the second printing layer 20, a metal layer (more specifically, a metal vapor-deposited film, metal foil, etc.) may be provided on the printing film 18.

[0088] Furthermore, although the first embodiment described an example in which the design sheet 12 is directly laminated on the base sheet 11, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, if the printing film 18 is transparent, an opaque sheet colored according to the design may be laminated between the base sheet 11 and the design sheet 12. In other words, the design sheet 12 only needs to be placed above the base sheet 11.

[0089] Furthermore, in the present invention, at least one of the low-luminosity region 17, the high-luminosity region 16, and the first region 14 may be divided into a plurality of regions on which different patterns (or designs) are drawn.

[0090] Furthermore, the decorative material of the present invention may be a decorative material that is a mirror image of the decorative material 10 shown in Figure 3. Also, when forming a laying structure using the decorative material of the present invention, the laying structure may be formed using two types of decorative materials that are mirror images of each other. Using two types of decorative materials that are mirror images of each other allows for the expression of a wider variety of appearances. Also, when forming a laying structure using the decorative material of the present invention, two or more types of decorative materials that have different external shapes in plan view may be used. Using two or more types of decorative materials that have different external shapes in plan view also allows for the expression of a wider variety of appearances.

[0091] Furthermore, in the decorative material of the present invention, a portion of the lower surface of the transparent sheet 13 may be a flat surface. In this case, it is preferable to arrange the decorative material so that the first region 14 and the flat surface do not overlap when viewed from above, and it is more preferable to arrange the first region 14 and the high-gloss region 16 and the flat surface so that they do not overlap.

[0092] <Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 7. Figure 7 is a plan view of the decorative material according to the second embodiment, viewed from the top. In the decorative material 400 shown in Figure 7, the first region 14 (the region shown by the striped pattern in Figure 7), the high-gloss region 16 (the region shown by the sandy pattern in Figure 7), and the low-gloss region 17 (the region shown by the grid pattern in Figure 7) are all regions with a floral pattern. Note that in Figure 7, the patterns of the first region 14, the high-gloss region 16, and the low-gloss region 17 do not show an uneven shape. Also, the decorative material 400 has an outer shape that is approximately square in plan view. The length of one side of the decorative material 400 is, for example, 200 mm or more and 2000 mm or less. Other aspects of the decorative material 400 are the same as those of the decorative material 10 described above.

[0093] For the same reasons as described above for the decorative material 10, the decorative material 400 can provide a three-dimensional visual effect and express a variety of appearances. Also, for the same reasons as described above for the decorative material 10, the decorative material 400 can give an impression of depth (a sense of depth and three-dimensionality). In addition, although the decorative material 400 is depicted with a floral pattern, in this invention, patterns such as floral patterns may be combined with patterns such as geometric patterns as shown in Figure 3.

[0094] In the second embodiment, a decorative material 400 with an outer shape that is approximately square in plan view was used as an example, but as in the first embodiment, the outer shape of the decorative material 400 may be an irregular quadrilateral in plan view. When the outer shape of the decorative material 400 is an irregular quadrilateral in plan view, various arrangements are possible when installing multiple decorative materials 400, and various patterns can be created. Therefore, a decorative material 400 with an outer shape that is an irregular quadrilateral in plan view can express a wider variety of appearances. In addition, the decorative material 400 may have an outer shape that is approximately rectangular in plan view. When the outer shape of the decorative material 400 is approximately rectangular, its dimensions may be, for example, a long side of 900 mm and a short side of 150 mm.

[0095] <Third Embodiment> Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. Figure 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the decorative material 500 according to the third embodiment. Figure 9, also referenced, is a partial cross-sectional view showing the state before each sheet constituting the decorative material 500 is laminated. As shown in Figure 8, the decorative material 500 comprises a base sheet 11, a colored intermediate sheet 501, a design sheet 502, and a transparent sheet 13. The following description will focus on the differences from the first embodiment described above.

[0096] The colored intermediate sheet 501 is a sheet laminated on the base sheet 11 and is formed of, for example, a thermoplastic resin. The colored intermediate sheet 501 does not transmit light and is colored according to the pattern or design of the decorative material 500.

[0097] The thickness of the colored intermediate sheet 501 is preferably 0.03 mm to 1.0 mm, and more preferably 0.05 mm to 0.3 mm. If the colored intermediate sheet 501 is too thin, its strength will decrease, and it may become difficult to handle. On the other hand, if the colored intermediate sheet 501 is too thick, its processability may decrease. In other words, the thickness of the colored intermediate sheet 501 is determined by considering the balance between strength and processability. Although the decorative material 500 shown in Figure 8 has a colored intermediate sheet 501, the colored intermediate sheet 501 is not essential in this invention.

[0098] The design sheet 502 is a resin sheet and is laminated on top of the colored intermediate sheet 501. The design sheet 502 imparts a pattern or design to the decorative material 500.

[0099] The thickness of the design sheet 502 is preferably 0.03 mm to 1.0 mm, and more preferably 0.05 mm to 0.3 mm. If the design sheet 502 is too thin, its strength will decrease, making it difficult to handle. On the other hand, if the design sheet 502 is too thick, its processability may decrease. In other words, the thickness of the design sheet 502 is determined by considering the balance between strength and processability.

[0100] The design sheet 502 has a different structure from the design sheet 12 (see Figure 1) used in the decorative material 10 according to the first embodiment. The design sheet 502 comprises a polarizing portion 503, a high-gloss portion 504, and a low-gloss portion 505. The polarizing portion 503 is both glossy and polarizing. The high-gloss portion 504 has higher gloss than the low-gloss portion 505. The polarizing portion 503, the high-gloss portion 504, and the low-gloss portion 505 all extend from the top surface to the bottom surface of the design sheet 502. In other words, in the decorative material 10, each printed layer was laminated on the upper part of the design sheet 12, but in the decorative material 500, the polarizing portion 503, the high-gloss portion 504, and the low-gloss portion 505 extend not only to the upper layer of the design sheet 502 but also to a region that includes the entire cross-section between the top and bottom surfaces.

[0101] The first region 14 is a region from which the polarizing portion 503 can be seen from the upper side of the design sheet 502, and is arranged continuously between multiple adjacent concaves and convexities on the uneven surface of the lower surface of the transparent sheet 13. The high-gloss region 16 is a region from which the high-gloss portion 504 can be seen from the upper side of the design sheet 502, and is arranged continuously between multiple adjacent concaves and convexities on the uneven surface of the lower surface of the transparent sheet 13. The low-gloss region 17 is a region from which the low-gloss portion 505 can be seen from the upper side of the design sheet 502, and is arranged continuously between multiple adjacent concaves and convexities on the uneven surface of the lower surface of the transparent sheet 13. By arranging the first region 14, the high-gloss region 16, and the low-gloss region 17 at appropriate sizes, the first region 14, the high-gloss region 16, and the low-gloss region 17 become visible to the human eye independently, and a geometric and complex design can be expressed. Specifically, the area of ​​each of the first region 14, the high-luminosity region 16, and the low-luminosity region 17 is 1 cm². 2 It is preferable that it be greater than 5 cm 2 It is more preferable that the above conditions are met.

[0102] The polarizing portion 503 is formed from a thermoplastic resin to which a luminous polarizing pigment described in the first embodiment has been added, for example. The high-luminosity portion 504 is formed from a thermoplastic resin to which a luminous pigment described in the first embodiment has been added, for example. The low-luminosity portion 505 is formed from a thermoplastic resin to which a matte pigment has been added, for example. The high-luminosity portion 504 may or may not transmit light. If the high-luminosity portion 504 transmits light, the design of the colored intermediate sheet 501 located below the design sheet 502 can be seen. If the high-luminosity portion 504 does not transmit light, the color of the high-luminosity portion 504 itself can be seen.

[0103] Next, an example of a manufacturing method for the decorative material 500 will be described with reference to Figure 9. A base sheet 11, a colored intermediate sheet 501, a design sheet 502, and a transparent sheet 13 are laminated together, and these laminated sheets are heated and pressurized. By heating and pressurizing, these sheets are integrated, and the decorative material 500 is manufactured. A press machine, a continuous laminating machine, etc., can be used to manufacture the decorative material 500. In addition, an adhesive may be used when integrating the base sheet 11, the colored intermediate sheet 501, the design sheet 502, and the transparent sheet 13.

[0104] Other aspects of the decorative material 500 are the same as those of the decorative material 10 described above. For the same reasons as the decorative material 10 described above, the decorative material 500 can produce a three-dimensional visual effect and express a variety of appearances. Also, for the same reasons as the decorative material 10 described above, the decorative material 500 can give an impression of depth (a sense of depth and three-dimensionality).

[0105] <Fourth Embodiment> Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 10. The following description will focus on the differences from the first embodiment described above. Figure 10 is a plan view of the decorative material according to the fourth embodiment, viewed from the top. In the decorative material 550 shown in Figure 10, the first region 14 is divided into a first overcoat region 551 and a second overcoat region 552. Directly below the first overcoat region 551, a second printing layer 20 (see Figure 1) and a first printing layer 19 (see Figure 1) are formed in order from the printing film 18 (see Figure 1) side. Directly below the second overcoat region 552, a third printing layer 21 (see Figure 1) and a first printing layer 19 are formed in order from the printing film 18 side. Although the decorative material 550 shows an example where the background region 18a is not visible from the top, it is not limited to this, and it may be formed so that the background region 18a is visible. Furthermore, in Figure 10, the patterns of the first overcoat region 551, the second overcoat region 552, the high-gloss region 16, and the low-gloss region 17 do not exhibit any uneven or recessed shapes. Also, the arrangement of the first overcoat region 551, the second overcoat region 552, the high-gloss region 16, and the low-gloss region 17 is not limited to the arrangement shown in Figure 10. Other aspects of the decorative material 550 are the same as those of the decorative material 10 described above.

[0106] The decorative material 550 can achieve the same effects as the decorative material 10 described above, as well as the following effects. In the decorative material 550, depending on the viewing angle of the first overcoat region 551, the first printed layer 19 may or may not be visible in the first overcoat region 551. When the first printed layer 19 is not visible, the second printed layer 20 beneath the first printed layer 19 becomes visible, and the first overcoat region 551 appears as a high-gloss region 16. As a result, the adjacent first overcoat region 551 and the high-gloss region 16 appear as a single unit. Furthermore, in the decorative material 550, depending on the viewing angle of the second overcoat region 552, the first printed layer 19 may or may not be visible in the second overcoat region 552. When the first printed layer 19 is not visible, the third printed layer 21 beneath the first printed layer 19 becomes visible, and the second overcoated area 552 appears as a low-gloss area 17. As a result, the adjacent second overcoated areas 552 and the low-gloss area 17 appear as a single unit. Therefore, the decorative material 550 enables a dynamic design expression in which the design area changes depending on the viewing angle.

[0107] In the fourth embodiment, an example was shown in which the second printing layer 20 and the first printing layer 19 are formed in order from the printing film 18 side directly beneath the first overcoating region 551. However, in the present invention, the first printing layer 19 and the second printing layer 20 may be formed in order from the printing film 18 side directly beneath the first overcoating region 551. Also, in the fourth embodiment, an example was shown in which the third printing layer 21 and the first printing layer 19 are formed in order from the printing film 18 side directly beneath the second overcoating region 552. However, in the present invention, the first printing layer 19 and the third printing layer 21 may be formed in order from the printing film 18 side directly beneath the second overcoating region 552. Furthermore, in the decorative material 550 shown in Figure 10, the first overcoating region 551, the second overcoating region 552, the high-gloss region 16, and the low-gloss region 17 are separated by straight lines, but the invention is not limited to this, and they may be separated by curves, or by a combination of straight lines and curves. When the outer shape of the decorative material 550 is a polygon defined by straight edges, it is preferable that the first overcoat area 551, the second overcoat area 552, the high-gloss area 16, and the low-gloss area 17 are separated by straight lines, as shown in Figure 10. This allows for the formation of a more complex design when multiple decorative materials 550 are laid on the floor, as the straight edges and the straight lines separating each area are mixed. Furthermore, when the first overcoat area 551, the second overcoat area 552, the high-gloss area 16, and the low-gloss area 17 are separated by straight lines, each straight line may or may not be parallel to the edges of the decorative material 550. However, if the lines are not parallel, a more random and complex design can be formed when the decorative material 550 is laid.

[0108] Although the decorative materials and their laying structures according to the first to fourth embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the decorative materials and their laying structures according to the embodiments described above. For example, a laying structure may be constructed by randomly arranging two or more types of decorative materials.

[0109] Figure 11 is a plan view showing an example of a laying structure in which two types of decorative materials are arranged randomly. In the laying structure 580 shown in Figure 11, a total of 64 decorative materials, consisting of 32 decorative materials 10 and 32 decorative materials 550, are arranged randomly. More specifically, a square-shaped set of decorative materials is formed by a total of 4 decorative materials, consisting of 2 decorative materials 10 and 2 decorative materials 550, and the laying structure 580 is constructed by laying 4 sets of these decorative material sets vertically and horizontally. Since both decorative materials 10 and 550 have an irregular quadrilateral shape, a random design can be formed simply by laying them out. Furthermore, in adjacent decorative materials, the first regions 14, high-gloss regions 16, and low-gloss regions 17 are integrated, so that each region is perceived as one large region across adjacent decorative materials. In particular, as shown in Figure 11, when the first regions 14 of the three decorative materials 10 are adjacent to each other, such as in region 590, the integrated first regions 14 may appear to be integrated with the adjacent regions or not depending on the viewing angle, thus creating a dynamic design.

[0110] Furthermore, as described above, the decorative material 550 has a first overcoat area 551 and a second overcoat area 552. In the first overcoat area 551 and the second overcoat area 552, the upper surface of the first printed layer 19 may or may not be visible depending on the viewing angle, resulting in a more complex integration with adjacent areas, or not. Therefore, the laying structure 580 can form a more complex and dynamic design. Although Figure 11 shows a laying structure using two types of decorative materials, the laying structure may be constructed using three or more types of decorative materials. Also, the patterns of the multiple types of decorative materials constituting the laying structure may all be different. In this case, a more complex and random design can be expressed. Furthermore, as described above, the laying structure may be formed by combining decorative materials with a roughly rectangular shape. Moreover, in the laying structure 580 shown in Figure 11, four sets of square-shaped decorative material sets, each made up of four decorative materials, are arranged in straight lines vertically and horizontally, but this is not limited to this, and any arrangement is possible. For example, they may be laid in the arrangement shown in Figures 3 to 8 disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-51093. In this case, more complex designs can be expressed. Alternatively, they may be laid in combination with square-shaped decorative materials, as shown in Figure 21 of Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-51093.

[0111] Furthermore, the uneven pattern formed on the transparent sheet (design sheet) is not particularly limited and may be a continuous pattern such as a snowflake pattern, or an uneven pattern as shown in Figure 12. Figure 12 is a plan view (a plan view of the design sheet 12 as seen from above) showing an example of an uneven pattern formed on the design sheet 12. In the following explanation, "vertical direction" refers to any one direction within the plane (plan view) of the design sheet 12, and "horizontal direction" refers to the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction within the plane.

[0112] The design sheet 12 shown in Figure 12 has multiple uneven, band-shaped regions. Each uneven, band-shaped region consists of multiple elongated protrusions 70 arranged in a vertical direction at intervals. An "elongated protrusion 70" is a convex portion that protrudes three-dimensionally and continues in a predetermined direction; when viewed as a whole, it refers to a long protrusion extending in a predetermined direction. The protrusion 70 is formed, for example, in a V-shape in cross-section with two inclined surfaces. Here, since convex and concave are relative concepts, concave portions exist between the multiple protrusions 70 arranged in a vertical direction. In addition, each protrusion 70 is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction in a plan view. "The protrusion 70 is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction in a plan view" means that the direction in which the elongated protrusions 70 extend in a plan view is not parallel to the horizontal direction.

[0113] The above-mentioned uneven band-shaped regions are band-shaped regions that extend vertically in a plan view. Note that each uneven band-shaped region is a conceptual region, and markings or other demarcation lines are not necessarily formed to demarcate each uneven band-shaped region. However, since the plan view shape (angle of inclination, etc.) of the raised ridges 70 formed in each uneven band-shaped region is different, each uneven band-shaped region can be visualized using these different raised ridges 70 as landmarks. Alternatively, a narrow, flat region (a flat region without unevenness) extending vertically may be formed between each uneven band-shaped region. In this case, each uneven band-shaped region can be visualized using this vertically extending flat region as a landmark. The width (horizontal length) of this flat region is, for example, 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm. The presence of the above-mentioned flat region between each uneven band-shaped region allows for the expression of complex designs. Figure 12 shows a case where the above-mentioned vertically extending flat region is formed between adjacent uneven band-shaped regions. In Figure 12, to make the concept of the uneven, band-shaped region easier to understand, numerous dots are placed around the uneven, band-shaped region indicated by the symbol F. Furthermore, the arrows in Figure 12 indicate the conceptual boundaries of adjacent uneven, band-shaped regions.

[0114] The width of each uneven band-shaped region is not particularly limited, and is, for example, in the range of 1 mm to 150 mm, preferably in the range of 2 mm to 50 mm, and more preferably in the range of 2 mm to 5 mm.

[0115] When examining the relationship between adjacent uneven band-shaped regions, the protruding portions 70 of each uneven band-shaped region have different inclination angles (angles relative to the lateral direction) with respect to the lateral direction. While the inclination angles of the protruding portions 70 may differ in all uneven band-shaped regions, typically, multiple uneven band-shaped regions with different inclination angles are grouped into a single unit, and these units are arranged repeatedly in the lateral direction. The number of uneven band-shaped regions with different inclination angles within a single unit is, for example, between 2 and 100, preferably between 2 and 30, and more preferably between 10 and 20.

[0116] In the example shown in Figure 12, 15 uneven, band-shaped regions with different inclination angles of the raised ridges 70 are arranged adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction. The symbols A to O in Figure 12 represent each of these uneven, band-shaped regions. These 15 uneven, band-shaped regions A to O are treated as a single unit, and these units are repeated in the horizontal direction. Note that the inclination angle of the raised ridges 70 in each uneven, band-shaped region is not limited to the example shown in Figure 12 and can be changed in various ways.

[0117] The design sheet 12 shown in Figure 12 has a first uneven band region (for example, the region indicated by the symbol F) having a plurality of raised ridges 70 that are inclined with respect to the lateral direction in a plan view, and a second uneven band region (for example, the region indicated by the symbol E) having a plurality of raised ridges 70 that are inclined with respect to the lateral direction at an angle different from the inclination angle of the raised ridges 70 in the first uneven band region in a plan view. Therefore, when the decorative material according to the first, second, or fourth embodiment described above is equipped with the design sheet 12 shown in Figure 12, the gloss of the high-gloss region 16 (see Figure 1) changes depending on the viewing direction when the decorative material is viewed from the top side. The reason for this is as follows: Since the inclination angles of the raised ridges 70 are different in the two uneven band regions, the orientation of the inclined surfaces constituting the raised ridges 70 is inevitably different. Therefore, the angle of light reflection is different for each uneven band region. As a result, the gloss of the high-gloss region 16 changes depending on the viewing direction. Furthermore, the decorative material using the design sheet 12 shown in Figure 12 has multiple uneven band-shaped regions with different inclination angles. As a person walks, each uneven band-shaped region reflects light at a different angle, and the polarized first region 14 and the high-luminosity region 16 allow the pedestrian to perceive a dynamic design. Moreover, since the first region 14 changes color depending on the angle, the pedestrian can perceive a design that changes in light and color as they walk, giving the impression that the color and pattern of the decorative material change over time. Furthermore, by combining the shape and pattern of the decorative material to create a mosaic pattern, the pedestrian can observe a constantly changing, kaleidoscope-like appearance with each step.

[0118] Furthermore, in the decorative material using the design sheet 12 shown in Figure 12, a first overcoat region 551 and a second overcoat region 552 may be formed, as in the fourth embodiment. In this case, in addition to the color change of the first region 14, the first overcoat region 551 and the second overcoat region 552 may or may not integrate with adjacent regions, making it possible to express a more complex design.

[0119] <Reference example> Next, a decorative material relating to a reference example will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 13. Figure 13 is a plan view of the decorative material relating to a reference example, seen from the top. The decorative material 600 shown in Figure 13 has the same configuration as the decorative material 10 described above, except that the first region 14 (first printing layer 19) is not provided. In other words, the decorative material 600 comprises a base sheet 11, a design sheet 12 with a high-gloss region 16 and a low-gloss region 17 formed on its upper surface, and a transparent sheet 13. In the decorative material 600, a surface with multiple continuous concave and convex shapes is formed on the lower surface of the transparent sheet 13, and the high-gloss region 16 is formed on the upper surface of the design sheet 12, so a three-dimensional effect is given in the high-gloss region 16. Also, for the same reasons as the decorative material 10 described above, the decorative material 600 can give the impression of depth (a three-dimensional effect with depth). Furthermore, since the decorative material 600, like the decorative material 10, has an irregular quadrilateral shape in plan view, various arrangements are possible when installing multiple decorative materials 600, and various patterns can be created. Therefore, the decorative material 600 can express a variety of appearances. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0120] 10, 400, 500, 550 decorative materials 11 Base sheet 12,502 design sheets 13 Transparent Sheet 14 First area 15 Second area 16 High brightness area 17 Low brightness area 18 Printing film 19 1st printing layer 20 2nd printing layer 21 3rd printing layer

Claims

1. Base sheet and A design sheet is placed above the aforementioned base sheet, and has a first region having luminescence and polarizing properties, a second region not having polarizing properties, and a background region formed on its upper surface. It is positioned above the aforementioned design sheet, and has a surface with multiple continuous indentations and protrusions on its lower surface, and is a transparent sheet that transmits light. Equipped with, The aforementioned design sheet has a non-glossy printed film. The second region includes a high-luminosity region and a low-luminosity region exhibiting lower luminosity than the high-luminosity region. The background area is a decorative material in which the upper surface of the printed film can be seen and is a plain area.

2. The decorative material according to claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the design sheet has an uneven surface with an uneven shape corresponding to the uneven surface on the lower surface of the transparent sheet.

3. The design sheet comprises the printing film and a first printing layer formed on the printing film with an ink containing a luminous and polarizing pigment. The decorative material according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first region is a region from which the first printed layer can be seen from the upper side of the design sheet, and is arranged continuously with a plurality of adjacent concaves and convexities on the uneven surface of the lower surface of the transparent sheet.

4. The design sheet comprises a printing film, a first printing layer formed on the printing film with an ink containing a luminous and polarizing pigment, a second printing layer formed on the printing film with an ink containing a luminous pigment, and a third printing layer formed on the printing film with an ink exhibiting lower luminosity than the ink used to form the second printing layer. The first region is a region from which the first printed layer can be seen from the upper side of the design sheet, and is arranged continuously between a plurality of adjacent concaves and convexities on the uneven surface of the lower surface of the transparent sheet. The high-gloss region is an area from which the second printed layer can be seen from the upper side of the design sheet, and is arranged continuously between a plurality of adjacent concaves and convexities on the uneven surface of the lower surface of the transparent sheet. The decorative material according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the low-gloss region is a region from which the third printed layer can be seen from the upper surface side of the design sheet.

5. The decorative material according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the overall shape of the decorative material in a plan view is an irregular quadrilateral.

Images