wallpaper

Abstract

To provide wallpaper that allows for easy alignment. [Solution] A strip of wallpaper 10 with a constant width dimension is formed by repeating a predetermined pattern P in multiple units in the longitudinal direction, wherein the wallpaper 10 is an installable area in which the pattern 2 is formed up to both ends in the width direction, and at least one pattern alignment mark 3 is provided for each unit pattern P at both ends in the width direction on the surface side in which the pattern 2 is formed, indicating the position of a specific part of the unit pattern P and not constituting a part of the unit pattern P, and the pattern alignment mark 3 is formed using a removable material.

Description

Technical Field

[0006] , , , ,

[0001] The present invention relates to wallpaper.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a method of applying wallpaper to an indoor wall surface or the like, a method of overlapping and pasting is known. In this method of overlapping and pasting, after overlapping the ear portions of adjacent wallpapers by several centimeters, the overlapping portions of both wallpapers are cut with a cutting tool such as a cutter, and after removing the unnecessary portions of both wallpapers, they are pasted onto the wall surface or the like with a joint roller or the like (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Further, when pasting another wallpaper on the wallpaper pasted on the wall surface, a method of abutting and storing the edges of adjacent wallpapers without overlapping them is also known.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in any construction method such as the overlapping and pasting method and the abutting method, it is necessary to paste adjacent wallpapers parallel to each other without gaps. Particularly in the case of wallpaper with a pattern, it is necessary to match the patterns. Therefore, wallpapers that can be easily aligned have been desired.

[0005] The present invention has been made paying attention to the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a wallpaper that can be easily aligned.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, a strip-shaped wallpaper with a constant width dimension is provided, wherein at least one end in the width direction is a region that can be applied up to its end, and each of the widthwise ends on the surface side has alignment marks, and the alignment marks are formed using a removable material.

[0007] Furthermore, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is a strip-shaped wallpaper with a constant width dimension, wherein at least one end in the width direction is an area that can be applied up to its end, and each of the widthwise ends on the surface side has alignment marks, and the alignment marks are formed using a material containing a luminescent agent. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, wallpaper that can be easily aligned can be obtained. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a schematic plan view showing an example of wallpaper according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating a method for manufacturing wallpaper according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating a wallpaper installation method according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a schematic plan view showing another example of wallpaper according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a schematic plan view showing an example of wallpaper according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating a method for manufacturing wallpaper according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating a wallpaper installation method according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the conventional method of wallpaper installation. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Next, one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Here, the drawings are schematic, and the relationship between thickness and planar dimensions, the ratio of the thickness of each layer, etc., may differ from reality. Furthermore, the embodiments shown below illustrate configurations for realizing the technical concept of the present invention, and the technical concept of the present invention is not limited to the materials, shapes, structures, etc. of the components described below. The technical concept of the present invention can be modified in various ways within the technical scope defined by the claims described in the patent claims.

[0011] [First Embodiment] First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0012] <Wallpaper composition> Figure 1 is a schematic plan view showing the configuration of wallpaper 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 1, 1 is the wallpaper itself, 2 is the pattern represented by the wallpaper, and 3 is a pattern alignment mark. On the wallpaper 10, a pattern alignment mark (positioning mark) 3 is formed on the outermost layer of the wallpaper body 1, which has the pattern 2, on the side with the pattern 2. The wallpaper 10 has a constant width, and the width of the wallpaper 10 is the same as the effective width L1 of the wallpaper 10 that can be installed. In other words, the wallpaper 10 has no selvage, and the pattern is formed to the widthwise edge of the wallpaper 10. The width of the wallpaper 10 is, for example, 920 mm, in accordance with the effective width of wallpaper specified in JIS A 6921. However, the effective width L1 of the wallpaper 10 (the width of the wallpaper 10) is not limited to 920 mm, but may be any width such as 300 mm, 600 mm, or 1000 mm.

[0013] (Wallpaper itself) The wallpaper body 1 has a constant width dimension and is strip-shaped, and can be in any configuration as long as it can be used as so-called wallpaper. The outermost layer of the wallpaper body 1, that is, the layer on which the pattern alignment mark 3 is formed, is made of a material such as vinyl chloride resin, non-vinyl chloride resin, or paper that can print the pattern alignment mark 3 and can erase the pattern alignment mark 3.

[0014] (Pattern) The pattern 2 is the pattern design represented by the wallpaper body 1. Taking a predetermined pattern as one unit, this pattern is repeatedly drawn in a plurality of units in the longitudinal direction of the wallpaper body 1. In FIG. 1, "a tree with a star in the upper left" is taken as the partial pattern f, the partial pattern f1 where the left half is not described, the partial pattern f2 arranged at a position away from the partial pattern f1 in the width direction of the wallpaper 10, the partial pattern f3 formed below these partial patterns f1 and f2 between the partial patterns f1 and f2, and the partial pattern f4 arranged at a position away from the partial pattern f3 in the width direction and where the right half is not described are taken as one unit pattern P, and this unit pattern P is repeatedly drawn in a plurality of times in the longitudinal direction of the wallpaper body 1.

[0015] Also, when two wallpapers 10 are arranged with their ends abutted and juxtaposed, by adjusting the longitudinal position, the partial pattern f1 where the left half is not described and the partial pattern f4 where the right half is not described are made continuous, and a partial pattern having the same shape as the partial patterns f2 and f3 is formed. The pattern 2 may be drawn using any material, but it is preferably formed of a material that does not erase the pattern when water wiping described later is performed.

[0016] (Pattern alignment mark) The pattern alignment mark 3 is formed at a position indicating a specific part of the pattern 2 and is formed using a water-soluble material. Specifically, the pattern alignment mark 3 is formed of a water-soluble material. As the water-soluble material, a colorant mainly composed of polyvinyl alcohol is particularly preferable. Here, water-soluble means soluble in water. The pattern alignment mark 3 may be dark in color, but it is preferably formed in a light color such as white, gray, beige, etc. so that the removal work can be easily performed.

[0017] The pattern matching mark 3 is formed using printing methods such as inkjet printing or stamp printing. The pattern matching marks 3 are present at least once for each unit pattern P at both ends in the width direction of the wallpaper body 1. In Figure 1, the pattern matching marks 3 are formed near the bottom end (3a) of partial pattern f1 drawn on the left end of the wallpaper body 1 and near the bottom end (3b) of partial pattern f4 drawn on the right end of the wallpaper body 1. The pattern matching marks 3 are formed in a form that does not constitute part of the pattern 2, and are, for example, line segments (dashed lines) that extend in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the wallpaper body 1, starting from the left end or the right end of the wallpaper body 1 and moving toward the other end.

[0018] In this example, for the unit pattern P, one pattern matching mark 3 is provided on the left end (3a) and one on the right end (3b) of the wallpaper body 1, but this is not the only option. Multiple marks may be provided on both the left and right ends of the wallpaper body 1, and one or more marks may be provided on both the left and right ends depending on the arrangement of the pattern in the longitudinal direction of the unit pattern P. The main point is that when wallpaper 10 is butted together, the pattern matching marks 3 can be used as guides to ensure that the patterns 2 of the two adjacent wallpapers 10 are continuous. As shown in Figure 1, by using line segments originating from the ends of the wallpaper body 1 as pattern matching marks 3, the two wallpapers 10 can be butted together and positioned so that the line segments serving as pattern matching marks 3 are continuous, thereby enabling more accurate pattern matching.

[0019] Here, we have described the case where a line segment extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the wallpaper body 1 is used as the pattern matching mark 3, but this is not the only option. For example, a triangle may be used as the pattern matching mark 3, with the vertex of the triangle overlapping the edge of the wallpaper body 1, or an arrow may be used, with the tip of the arrow overlapping the edge of the wallpaper body 1.

[0020] Furthermore, although the pattern matching mark 3 is formed here so as to overlap with the edge of the wallpaper body 1, it does not necessarily have to overlap with the edge. The important thing is that when the two wallpapers 10 are placed together, the pattern matching mark 3 can be used as a guide to adjust the position in the longitudinal direction so that the patterns of the two wallpapers 10 are continuous. It does not have to be at the edge and can be formed at any position, or it can be near the left or right edge.

[0021] Furthermore, while the pattern matching mark 3 indicates the longitudinal position of the wallpaper body 1 here, this is not the only way. In the case of wallpaper 10 shown in Figure 1, the pattern includes "trees," and since the "trees" are drawn facing in one direction, the vertical direction of wallpaper 10 can be recognized by looking at the direction of the "trees." For this reason, in wallpaper 10, a mark indicating the vertical direction of wallpaper body 1 is not drawn as the pattern matching mark 3. However, in wallpaper body 1 shown in Figure 1, a mark representing the vertical direction of wallpaper body 1 and a mark serving as a clue for pattern matching may be drawn as the pattern matching mark 3. These marks may be drawn as a single mark or as separate marks. For example, a line segment parallel to the longitudinal direction of wallpaper body 1 may be formed as a mark representing the vertical direction of wallpaper body 1, and a line segment extending from the end of wallpaper body 1 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of wallpaper body 1 may be formed as a clue for pattern matching. These may be formed by connecting them or separately.

[0022] <Wallpaper manufacturing method> The effective width L1 of wallpaper 10 shall be 920 mm, for example, in accordance with JIS A 6921. The wallpaper body 1 is formed by laminating, for example, a base material, a foamed resin layer, a pattern printing layer, and a surface protection layer in this order, with a pattern alignment mark 3 printed on the side of the surface protection layer opposite the pattern printing layer. Here, we describe the case where the wallpaper body 1 is formed by laminating a base material, a foamed resin layer, a pattern printing layer, and a surface protection layer in this order, but the configuration of the wallpaper body 1 is not limited to this, and any configuration is acceptable as long as it can be used as wallpaper. Furthermore, the specifications of the wallpaper body 1 may be modified as needed, with the base material, a foamed resin layer, and a pattern printing layer laminating in this order, and a pattern alignment mark 3 printed on the side of the pattern printing layer opposite the foamed resin layer.

[0023] First, as shown in Figure 2, a sheet-like base material is prepared that has a width of approximately 930 mm (hereinafter referred to as the base material width L2), taking into account the desired effective width L1 (920 mm) for the wallpaper 10 and the allowance α. A layer of a foaming agent-containing composition, which will become a foamed resin layer, is formed on one side of the substrate to create a sheet.

[0024] Next, a pattern is printed on the side of the foaming agent-containing composition layer opposite to the substrate using a printing method, forming a pattern-printed layer. The pattern of this pattern-printed layer is, for example, as shown in Figure 1, a predetermined pattern P, and this unit pattern P is repeated multiple times in the longitudinal direction of the substrate. The pattern-printed layer is printed so as to be located in the center in the width direction of the substrate and is printed over the entire width (hereinafter referred to as the printing width L3) which corresponds to the sum of the effective width L1 and the margin β.

[0025] Next, a protective surface layer is formed by applying, for example, an acrylic resin or a polyvinyl chloride resin, onto the pattern printing layer. Next, the slit lines 31 and the pattern alignment marks 3 are printed on the surface protective layer using a printing method. The slit lines 31 and the pattern alignment marks 3 may be printed in a single printing process or in separate printing processes, but at least the pattern alignment marks 3 and the slit lines 31 are printed using water-soluble ink.

[0026] The slit line 31 is a line segment indicating the cutting position when cutting wallpaper with an effective width L1 from a laminate formed on a substrate having a substrate width L2. It is printed at positions 460 mm apart to the left and right in the width direction, starting from the center of the substrate in the width direction. This slit line 31 is a line segment used when cutting the wallpaper and is not needed after shipment. As shown in Figure 2, the pattern alignment mark 3 is a line segment (dashed line) formed so that one end overlaps with the slit line 31 and the other end extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the slit line 31 toward the other slit line 31. The position where the line segment, which serves as the pattern alignment mark 3, overlaps with the slit line 31 is a position that serves as a guide for vertical alignment, which has been set in advance according to the pattern of the pattern printing layer.

[0027] Furthermore, if the position of the slit line 31 can be determined from the position of the pattern alignment mark 3, the slit line 31 does not necessarily have to be provided. In other words, as shown in Figure 1, the pattern alignment mark 3 is a line segment, and one end is formed starting from the end of the wallpaper body 1, i.e., the slit line 31. Therefore, one end of the line segment representing the pattern alignment mark 3 indicates the position of the slit line 31. Consequently, the line segment connecting the ends of multiple pattern alignment marks 3 formed on the same side in the longitudinal direction, on the base material end side, represents the slit line 31. Therefore, if the wallpaper installer is informed that one end of the line segment representing the pattern alignment mark 3 indicates the position of the slit line 31, the slit line 31 does not necessarily have to be provided.

[0028] Next, by heating, the layer of foaming agent-containing composition is foamed to form a foamed resin layer, and then an embossing process is performed from the surface protective layer side using an embossing roll to form an embossed pattern. At this point, the laminate that will become wallpaper is formed on a substrate having a substrate width L2, which is wider than the effective width L1.

[0029] Next, the laminate having a base material width L2 is cut along its slit line 31, separating the area on the end side of the slit line 31. This cuts out wallpaper 10 having an effective width L1. If the slit line 31 remains after both ends of the base material have been separated from the slit line 31, the remaining slit line 31 may be removed at this point by rubbing it with a sponge or the like that has been moistened with water and wrung out appropriately.

[0030] Here, the printing width L3 is greater than the effective width L1. Therefore, the cut wallpaper 10 has the design printed across its entire surface, including both ends in the width direction, and has an effective width L1 that allows for installation. In other words, the wallpaper 10 shown in Figure 1 is obtained, with the design printed across its entire surface, including both ends in the width direction. In this example, the slit lines 31 and pattern alignment marks 3 are printed on the surface protective layer. However, if there is no surface protective layer, the slit lines 31 and pattern alignment marks 3 can be formed on the outermost pattern printing layer.

[0031] <Construction method> As shown in Figure 3, the wallpaper 10 according to this embodiment has a pattern drawn all the way to both ends in the width direction. When installing wallpaper 10, as shown in Figure 3, first attach the first piece of wallpaper 10a to the wall, taking into consideration the top and bottom. In the case of wallpaper 10 in Figure 1, since "trees" are depicted as partial patterns f1 to f4, the top and bottom of wallpaper 10a can be determined from the orientation of the "trees".

[0032] Next, as shown in Figure 3, the second wallpaper 10b is placed, for example, to the right of wallpaper 10a, and its vertical position is adjusted so that the pattern alignment mark 3b on the right side of wallpaper 10a and the pattern alignment mark 3a on the left side of wallpaper 10b are continuous, and wallpaper 10b is then pasted in this position. As a result, the partial pattern f4 of wallpaper 10a and the partial pattern f1 of wallpaper 10b are pasted continuously without misalignment at the boundary between wallpaper 10a and 10b, and a partial pattern identical in shape to partial patterns f2 and f3 is formed.

[0033] The other wallpapers 10 are attached using a similar procedure, and after the predetermined number of wallpapers 10 have been attached, all the pattern matching marks 3 are rubbed using, for example, a sponge that has been moistened with water and wrung out appropriately. Since the pattern matching marks 3 are drawn with water-soluble ink, they will disappear when rubbed with a sponge. As a result, the wallpapers 10 that have the pattern design of the wallpaper body 1 and do not have the pattern matching marks 3 drawn on them are in an installed state.

[0034] Furthermore, since the wallpaper 10 according to this embodiment does not have selvages on either end in the width direction, there is no need to remove the selvages after the wallpaper 10 has been applied.

[0035] <Effects> In this embodiment, the wallpaper 10 has pattern alignment marks 3 drawn within an area of ​​the effective width L1 where installation is possible. Therefore, alignment can be easily performed using the pattern alignment marks 3 as a guide, and since there is no need to provide a selvage, it can be installed using the butt joint method. In other words, in the case of wallpaper with a pattern, it is necessary to provide pattern alignment marks 3 for pattern alignment, and conventionally, since the pattern alignment marks 3 are provided on the selvage portion, it has been difficult to adopt the butt joint method. It is also possible to align the pattern by eye without providing pattern alignment marks, but this depends on the skill of the wallpaper installer, and may result in a longer installation time.

[0036] In this embodiment, the wallpaper 10 changes the display position in the width direction of the pattern matching mark 3 without changing its display position in the longitudinal direction of the wallpaper, and the pattern matching mark 3 is formed within the area of ​​the effective width L1 that can be installed, and since it does not have a selvage, a butt joint method can be adopted. Furthermore, at the factory shipment stage, the wallpaper 10 only needs to have an effective width L1 for installation, and there is no need to include a selvage. As a result, the amount of material required during factory production can be reduced by the amount equivalent to the selvage, and consequently, the labor and energy required for production can be reduced.

[0037] Furthermore, contractors do not need to cut off the ears, reducing the amount of waste generated during construction, including the cut-off ear portions. In addition, since adhesive is not required to apply to the ear portions, the amount of adhesive used can be reduced, thereby reducing the labor required for cutting the ears and the materials needed for construction. Furthermore, since there is no need to provide tabs, the wallpaper 10 can be made lighter and smaller during shipping, improving transportation efficiency and also being beneficial from an environmental perspective.

[0038] In other words, conventionally, wallpaper with a pattern has pattern alignment marks 12a and 12b printed on the selvage, as shown in Figure 8. Installers ensure that the vertical positions of these pattern alignment marks 12a and 12b match, and the horizontal positioning is done by visually aligning the pattern to avoid any misalignment of the pattern. After positioning, the selvage is separated by cutting the overlapping wallpapers 11a and 11b. As a result, the selvage of wallpapers 11a and 11b is removed, and the widths of wallpapers 11a and 11b become the effective width L1, resulting in a state where the patterns of wallpapers 11a and 11b are butted together and pasted together.

[0039] At this time, the separated edges become waste. For example, in Figure 8, if the base material width L2 is approximately 980 mm and the effective width L1 is 920 mm, then a portion equivalent to width ΔL (e.g., 60 mm) from the left and right edges of each of the wallpapers 11a and 11b becomes waste, resulting in loss. Furthermore, this loss represents a loss of material costs such as the base material for forming the wallpaper, ink for printing the design, paper tubes, and packaging materials, as well as energy.

[0040] In contrast, the wallpaper 10 according to this embodiment does not require the creation of a selvage portion, so the base material width L2 can be shorter, thereby reducing the material costs and energy loss of the wallpaper. Furthermore, conventionally, cutting off the selvage portion generates waste of approximately 20-60 mm (a loss rate of 3-9%) or less, and this waste also has adhesive applied to it. In other words, adhesive is applied to the waste portion, resulting in waste. In addition, when using the overlapping installation method, joint cutting tape is sometimes used to avoid staining the surface of the wallpaper itself, and joint underlay tape is sometimes used to prevent damage to the substrate when the cutter blade is inserted directly into the installation surface such as a wall. In addition to the cost of these materials, the contractor is also responsible for the disposal costs of these materials.

[0041] Furthermore, since the pattern matching mark 3 is formed by printing as one step in the manufacturing line of the wallpaper 10, productivity and positional accuracy can be improved.

[0042] <Variation> (1) In the above embodiment, a water-soluble ink is used to form the pattern alignment mark 3, and the pattern alignment mark 3 is erased after construction, but the embodiment is not limited to this. For example, a pattern matching mark 3, such as a line segment or arrow, may be printed on an adhesive material such as an adhesive sheet, and this adhesive material may be attached to the outermost layer of the pattern side of the wallpaper body 1 to form the pattern matching mark 3 on the wallpaper body 1. After installation, the pattern matching mark 3 can be erased by peeling off this adhesive material. Alternatively, for example, the pattern alignment marks 3 may be formed using ink containing a luminescent agent. For example, a fluorescent agent invisible to the naked eye may be used as the luminescent agent, and the pattern alignment marks 3 may be formed at predetermined positions using ink containing this fluorescent agent. During installation, the pattern alignment marks 3 may be made visible by irradiating them with ultraviolet light using a black light at the predetermined positions. In this case, since the pattern alignment marks 3 are not visible without ultraviolet light irradiation, there is no need to erase the pattern alignment marks 3.

[0043] (2) The width of the wallpaper 10 does not necessarily have to be 920 mm in accordance with JIS A 6921, and can be applied when manufacturing wallpaper 10 of any width. In terms of design, the slit width, i.e., the width of the wallpaper 10, can be set arbitrarily by forming pattern alignment marks 3 at the pattern joint positions in the pattern design.

[0044] (3) The pattern matching marks 3 are formed by printing as one step in the manufacturing line of the wallpaper 10, but are not limited to this. For example, a separate line may be set up to print the pattern matching marks 3, separate from the manufacturing line. Alternatively, the pattern matching marks 3 may be formed in another step, such as a processing step or inspection step, after the wallpaper 10 has been cut out.

[0045] (4) The wallpaper 10 according to this embodiment does not have edges. Therefore, in order to protect both ends of the rolled wallpaper 10 from damage, cardboard or the like may be placed on both ends of the rolled wallpaper 10 as edges when it is packaged.

[0046] (5) In this embodiment, the case in which the wallpaper 10 does not have selvages on both the left and right ends has been described, but it is also possible to have a configuration in which one end has a selvage and the other does not. In this case, as shown in Figure 4(a), pattern alignment marks 3 may be formed at the left and right ends of the area of ​​the effective width L1, and a slit line 31 may be formed on the side with the selvage as needed. In this case as well, since at least one of the ends of the wallpaper 10 does not have a selvage, it is possible to reduce material and energy loss, improve transportation efficiency, and reduce the amount of waste generated during installation. Also, when the wallpaper is wound into a roll, one end has a selvage, so when the roll of wallpaper is placed upright, by placing it with the side with the selvage facing downwards, it is possible to prevent deformation or damage to the installable portion.

[0047] Furthermore, if a selvage is provided on only one side, a pattern alignment mark 3' may be formed on the selvage portion, as in conventional wallpaper, as shown in Figure 4(b). In this case as well, the same effect as when pattern alignment marks 3 are formed at the left and right ends of the area with an effective width L1 can be obtained. As shown in Figure 4(b), when pattern alignment marks 3' are formed on the selvage portion, cutting off the selvage portion during installation is equivalent to erasing the pattern alignment marks 3'. Therefore, the pattern alignment marks 3' formed on the selvage portion do not necessarily have to be made of a water-soluble, erasable material.

[0048] [Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0049] <Wallpaper composition> Figure 5 is a schematic plan view showing the configuration of the wallpaper 100 according to the second embodiment. In Figure 5, 101 is the wallpaper itself, and 102 is the installation assistance mark (alignment mark). On the wallpaper 100, the installation assistance mark 102 is formed on the outermost layer of the wallpaper itself 101. Wallpaper 100 has a fixed width, and the width of wallpaper 100 is the same as the effective width L1 for installation of wallpaper 100. The width of wallpaper 10 is, for example, 920 mm, in accordance with the effective width of wallpaper specified in JIS A 6921. However, the effective width L1 of wallpaper 100 (width of wallpaper 10) is not limited to 920 mm, but may be any width such as 300 mm, 600 mm, or 1000 mm.

[0050] (Wallpaper itself) The wallpaper body 101 has a constant width dimension and is strip-shaped, and can be in any configuration as long as it can be used as so-called wallpaper. The wallpaper body 101 is a plain-colored wallpaper, and the outermost layer of the wallpaper body 101, that is, the layer on which the installation assistance marks 102 are formed, is made of a material on which the installation assistance marks 102 can be printed, such as vinyl chloride resin, non-vinyl chloride resin, or paper, and is also made of a material on which the installation assistance marks 102 can be erased. In this context, "plain" refers to white or a single color, but it may also include patterns, woven textures, painted textures, etc.

[0051] (Construction support mark) The installation assistance mark 102 is formed using a water-soluble material, similar to the pattern matching mark 3. A coloring agent primarily composed of polyvinyl alcohol is preferred as the water-soluble material. Here, water-soluble means soluble in water. While the installation assistance mark 102 can be dark in color, it is preferable that it be formed in a light color such as white, gray, or beige to facilitate removal, and preferably in a color that is easily visible against the color tone of the wallpaper body 101. The construction support mark 102 is formed using printing methods such as inkjet printing or stamp printing.

[0052] At least one installation assistance mark 102 is provided at each of the widthwise ends of the wallpaper body 101. In Figure 5, the installation assistance marks 102 are provided so that the distance from a line segment perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the wallpaper body 101 to the installation assistance marks 102 at both the left and right ends is the same, and the installation assistance marks 102 are provided repeatedly at intervals of Δp. Note that the installation assistance marks 102 do not necessarily have to be placed at fixed intervals of Δp in the longitudinal direction of the wallpaper body 101; for example, the interval Δp may be made progressively narrower as it approaches the lower end in the longitudinal direction of the wallpaper body 101. The installation assistance mark 102 is a mark used to temporarily position the wallpaper 100 when applying it.

[0053] The installation assistance mark 102 is a line segment (dashed line) that extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the wallpaper body 101, starting from, for example, the left or right end of the wallpaper body 101 and moving toward the other end. The installation assistance mark 102 is simply meant to serve as a warning during the temporary positioning when butt-jointing the wallpaper 100, and does not necessarily have to be a line segment; it could be an arrow, a triangle, or any other symbol or shape.

[0054] <Wallpaper manufacturing method> The effective width L1 of wallpaper 100 shall be 920 mm, for example, in accordance with JIS A 6921. The wallpaper body 101 is formed by laminating, for example, a base material, a foamed resin layer, a plain-colored layer, and a surface protection layer in this order, with the installation assistance mark 102 printed on the side of the surface protection layer opposite to the plain-colored layer. Here, we describe the case where it is applied to a wallpaper body 1 in which a base material, a foamed resin layer, a plain-colored layer, and a surface protection layer are laminated in this order, but the configuration of the wallpaper body 101 is not limited to this, and any configuration is acceptable as long as it can be used as wallpaper. Furthermore, the specifications of the wallpaper body 101 may be such that, if necessary, a base material, a foamed resin layer, and a plain-colored layer are laminated in this order, and the installation assistance mark 102 is printed on the side of the plain-colored layer opposite to the foamed resin layer.

[0055] First, a sheet-like base material is prepared that has a width of approximately 930 mm (hereinafter referred to as the base material width L2), taking into account the desired effective width L1 (920 mm) for the wallpaper 100 and the allowance α. A layer of a foaming agent-containing composition, which will become a foamed resin layer, is formed on one side of the substrate to create a sheet.

[0056] Next, a plain layer is formed by printing, for example, a single color, onto the side of the foaming agent-containing composition layer opposite to the substrate using a printing method. The plain layer is printed so as to be located in the center of the substrate in the width direction and is printed across the entire printing width L3, which corresponds to the sum of the effective width L1 and the margin. Next, a protective surface layer is formed by applying, for example, an acrylic resin or a polyvinyl chloride resin onto the plain-colored layer.

[0057] Next, the slit lines 31 and the construction assistance marks 102 are printed on the surface protective layer using a printing method. The slit lines 31 and the construction assistance marks 102 may be printed in a single printing process or in separate printing processes, but at least the construction assistance marks 102 and the slit lines 31 are printed using water-soluble ink. As shown in Figure 6, the construction assistance mark 102 is a line segment (dashed line) formed so that one end overlaps with the slit line 31 and the other end extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the slit line 31 toward the other slit line 31. The position where the line segment serving as the construction assistance mark 102 overlaps with the slit line 31 is a position where the construction assistance mark 102 can be used as a guide for positioning the wallpaper.

[0058] Furthermore, if the position of the slit line 31 can be determined from the position of the installation assistance mark 102, the slit line 31 does not necessarily need to be provided. In other words, as shown in Figure 6, the installation assistance mark 102 is a line segment, and one end is formed starting from the end of the wallpaper body 101, i.e., the slit line 31. Therefore, one end of the line segment as the installation assistance mark 102 indicates the position of the slit line 31. Accordingly, the line segment connecting the ends of multiple installation assistance marks 102 formed on the same side in the longitudinal direction, on the base material end side, represents the slit line 31.

[0059] Next, by heating, the layer of foaming agent-containing composition is foamed to form a foamed resin layer, and then an embossing process is performed from the surface protective layer side using an embossing roll to form an embossed pattern. At this point, the laminate that will become wallpaper is formed on a substrate having a substrate width L2, which is wider than the effective width L1. Next, the laminate having a base material width L2 is cut along its slit line 31, separating the area on the end side of the slit line 31. This cuts out a plain wallpaper 100 with an effective width L1. If the slit line 31 remains after both ends of the base material have been separated from the slit line 31, the remaining slit line 31 may be removed at this point by rubbing it with a sponge or the like that has been moistened with water and wrung out appropriately.

[0060] Here, the printing width L3 is greater than the effective width L1. Therefore, the cut wallpaper 100 has a plain layer formed over its entire surface, extending to both ends in the width direction, resulting in a plain wallpaper 100 (Figure 5) with an effective width L1 that can be installed. In this example, the slit lines 31 and construction assistance marks 102 are printed on the surface protective layer. However, if there is no surface protective layer, the slit lines 31 and construction assistance marks 102 can be formed on the plain outermost layer.

[0061] <Construction method> When installing wallpaper 100, the first piece of wallpaper 100a is attached to the wall as shown in Figure 7. Next, the second piece of wallpaper 100b is placed, for example, to the right of wallpaper 100a, and the top edge of wallpaper 100b is temporarily positioned so that the left side of wallpaper 100b and the right side of wallpaper 100a abut against each other. Then, wallpaper 100b is attached so that the left side of wallpaper 100b and the right side of wallpaper 100a abut against each other, and so that the installation aid marks 102 of wallpaper 100a and wallpaper 100b are continuous.

[0062] Then, after the designated wallpaper 100 has been applied, all the installation aid marks 102 are rubbed using, for example, a sponge that has been dampened with water and wrung out appropriately. This removes the installation aid marks 102 that were drawn with water-soluble ink. As a result, multiple plain wallpaper 100 sheets, free of installation aid marks 102, are installed using a butt joint method. In the second embodiment as well, since the wallpaper 100 has no edges on either end in the width direction, there is no need to remove the edges after the wallpaper 100 has been applied.

[0063] <Effects> (1) The wallpaper 100 according to the second embodiment is provided with installation assistance marks 102 at both ends in the width direction. Therefore, when temporarily positioning the wallpaper 100, the installer can be reminded to carefully check for overlaps, gaps, misalignments, etc., particularly at the locations of the installation assistance marks 102. By allowing the installer to recognize any overlaps, gaps, or misalignments at an earlier stage and adjust the position, temporary positioning can be made easier, and the time required for application can be reduced. Furthermore, since the installation assistance mark 102 is printed with water-soluble ink, it can be removed after installation, thus preventing any unnecessary installation assistance marks from remaining on the plain wallpaper 100.

[0064] (2) Since the wallpaper 100 has no selvages on either end in the width direction, at the factory shipment stage, the wallpaper 100 only needs to have an effective width L1 that can be installed. As a result, the amount of material required during factory production can be reduced by the amount equivalent to the selvages, and as a result, the labor and energy required for production can be reduced. In addition, because there are no selvages, the wallpaper 100 can be made lighter and smaller at the time of shipment, improving transportation efficiency and also being beneficial from an environmental perspective. Furthermore, contractors do not need to cut off the ears, reducing the amount of waste generated during construction, including the cut-off ear portions. In addition, since adhesive is not required to apply to the ear portions, the amount of adhesive used can be reduced, thereby reducing the labor required for cutting the ears and the materials needed for construction.

[0065] (3) Generally, in the case of plain wallpaper that does not require pattern matching, the width of the wallpaper at the time of production is 980 mm, and the width of the wallpaper at the time of shipment is also 980 mm. The contractor cuts it to the effective width L1, i.e., 920 mm, before installation, and then applies adhesive and installs it. As a result, no adhesive is applied to unnecessary parts, and joint underlay tape is also unnecessary, but since the contractor cuts it to the effective width of 920 mm, any excess material such as the edges becomes waste.

[0066] Therefore, even for plain wallpaper, shipping it as wallpaper with an effective width of 920mm without leaving selvage edges can reduce material costs and disposal costs. In other words, regardless of whether it is plain wallpaper or wallpaper with a pattern, shipping it as wallpaper with an effective width of 920mm reduces the loss of unnecessary widthwise edges that occur during production, which reduces the burden and costs associated with unnecessary parts for both producers and installers. Specifically, producers can reduce material consumption and energy loss. In addition, the size and weight of each product can be reduced, improving transportation efficiency. Furthermore, it is also beneficial from an environmental perspective.

[0067] <Variation> (1) In the case of the installation assistance mark 102, similar to the case of the pattern matching mark 3, the installation assistance mark 102 such as lines or arrows may be printed on an adhesive material such as an adhesive sheet, and this adhesive material may be attached to the outermost layer of the wallpaper body 101 to provide the installation assistance mark 102 on the wallpaper body 101, and the installation assistance mark 102 may be removed by peeling off this adhesive material after installation. Alternatively, for example, the construction assistance mark 102 may be formed using an ink containing a luminescent agent.

[0068] (2) The width of the wallpaper 100 does not necessarily have to be 920 mm in accordance with JIS A 6921, and can be applied when manufacturing wallpaper 10 of any width. In terms of design, the slit width, i.e., the width of the wallpaper 10, can be set arbitrarily by forming installation aid marks 102 at the pattern joint positions in the design.

[0069] (3) The installation assistance mark 102 is formed by printing as one step in the manufacturing line of the wallpaper 100, but is not limited to this. For example, a separate line for printing the installation assistance mark 102 may be set up separately from the manufacturing line. Alternatively, the installation assistance mark 102 may be formed in another step, such as a processing step or inspection step, after the wallpaper 100 has been cut out.

[0070] (4) The wallpaper 100 does not have edges. Therefore, in order to protect the ends of the rolled wallpaper 100 from damage, cardboard or the like may be placed on both ends of the rolled wallpaper 100 as edges when it is packaged.

[0071] (5) In this embodiment, the case in which the wallpaper 100 does not have selvages on both the left and right ends has been described. However, similar to the wallpaper 10 in the first embodiment, it is also possible to have a configuration in which one of the left or right ends has a selvage and the other does not. In this case as well, construction assistance marks 102 may be formed at the positions of the left and right ends of the area of ​​the effective width L1, and a slit line 31 may be formed on the side with the selvage as needed. At least one of the ends of the wallpaper 100 does not have a selvage, so the amount of material and energy loss can be reduced, improving transportation efficiency and reducing the amount of waste generated during construction. Also, when the wallpaper is wound into a roll, one end has a selvage, so when the roll of wallpaper is placed upright, by placing it with the side with the selvage facing downwards, deformation or damage to the workable portion can be suppressed. Furthermore, if a selvage is provided on only one side, an installation aid mark 102 may be formed on the selvage portion, similar to conventional wallpaper. The installation aid mark 102 formed on the selvage portion does not necessarily have to be made of a water-soluble, erasable material, as it will be cut off afterward.

[0072] Furthermore, the present invention can take the following configuration, for example. (1) A strip of wallpaper with a constant width dimension, At least one end in the width direction is an area where construction can be carried out up to that end. Each of the widthwise ends on the surface side has an alignment mark. The wallpaper is characterized by the alignment marks being formed using a removable material. (2) The wallpaper according to (1) above, characterized in that the removable material is a water-soluble material. (3) The wallpaper according to (1) above, characterized in that the removable material is a peelable adhesive member. (4) A strip of wallpaper with a constant width dimension, At least one end in the width direction is an area where construction can be carried out up to that end. Each of the widthwise ends on the surface side has an alignment mark. The wallpaper is characterized in that the alignment marks are formed using a material containing a luminescent agent. (5) The wallpaper according to (4) above, characterized in that the light-emitting agent emits light when irradiated with ultraviolet light. (6) The wallpaper according to any one of the above items (1) to (5), characterized in that both ends in the width direction are areas where installation is possible up to those ends. (7) The aforementioned alignment marks are The wallpaper according to any one of (1) to (6) above, characterized in that it is formed on each of the widthwise ends of the surface side of the area that can be applied. (8) This wallpaper is formed by repeating a predetermined pattern in multiple units along its longitudinal direction, with each unit representing a specific design. The wallpaper according to any one of the above items (1) to (7), characterized in that the alignment marks indicate the position of a specific part of the design and do not constitute a part of the design, and at least one such mark is provided for each unit. (9) The wallpaper described in any one of the above items (1) to (7), characterized in that it is a plain-colored wallpaper. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0073] 1. 101 Wallpaper 2 Designs 3. Marks for matching patterns 10, 100 wallpapers 102 Construction support mark

Claims

1. A strip of wallpaper with a constant width dimension, At least one end in the width direction is an area where construction can be carried out up to that end. Each of the widthwise ends on the surface side has an alignment mark. The wallpaper is characterized in that the alignment marks are formed using a material containing a luminescent agent.

2. The wallpaper according to claim 1, characterized in that the light-emitting agent emits light when irradiated with ultraviolet light.

3. The wallpaper according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that both ends in the width direction are areas where installation is possible up to those ends.

4. The aforementioned alignment marks are The wallpaper according to claim 3, characterized in that it is formed on each of the widthwise ends of the surface side of the area that can be applied.

5. This wallpaper is formed by repeating a predetermined pattern in multiple units along its longitudinal direction, with each unit representing a specific design. The wallpaper according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the alignment marks indicate the position of a specific part of the design and do not constitute a part of the design, and at least one such mark is provided for each unit.

6. The wallpaper according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is a plain-colored wallpaper.

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