Systems and methods for translucent artificial foliage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing artificial decorative foliage is typically opaque or incorporates fiber optics, lacking novel styles and aesthetics.

Innovation Solution

Development of translucent artificial foliage using polymers with anti-UV and fire-retardant additives, incorporating internal lighting elements to create a unique aesthetic resembling natural materials like ice, coral, or sea glass.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If opaque or tinsel materials are used for artificial foliage, then durability and structural integrity are improved, but aesthetic novelty and visual appeal deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidaesthetic novelty

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite materials by combining translucent polymer resin with metallic wire or rod cores. This composite structure provides both the structural integrity needed for durability and the translucent aesthetic quality for visual appeal, resolving the contradiction between strength and aesthetic novelty.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the optical parameter of the foliage material from opaque to translucent. By selecting translucent polymer resins and controlling their formulation, the invention achieves novel visual effects while maintaining structural strength through the embedded metallic support elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Illumination intensity

If fiber optics are incorporated in the needles, then lighting effects are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelighting effectsVSAvoidmanufacturing difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the lighting function from complex fiber optic systems and simplifies it by using conventional miniature light strings positioned behind the translucent foliage. This extraction maintains the desired lighting effects while dramatically reducing device complexity and manufacturing difficulty.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The translucent foliage material itself acts as an intermediary that diffuses and distributes light from simple point sources to create soft, natural-looking illumination effects. This eliminates the need for complex fiber optic light distribution systems while achieving superior visual results.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If translucent materials are used for foliage, then aesthetic appeal and visual effects are improved, but material strength and durability worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaesthetic appealVSAvoidmaterial strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite structure where translucent polymer resin provides aesthetic appeal and light diffusion, while embedded metallic wire or rod cores provide structural strength and durability. This composite approach resolves the contradiction between aesthetic quality and mechanical strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different material qualities to different parts of the foliage structure. The translucent resin is used where aesthetic appeal and light diffusion are needed (the visible foliage portions), while metallic reinforcement is placed where structural strength is needed (the internal cores and support elements), creating local optimization of material properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The translucent foliage allows light to pass through, providing a novel and stunning appearance, enhancing decorative products with diffused or dispersed lighting effects.

Implementation Method 1

The translucent artificial foliage provided by the present invention enables the creation of foliage that resembles translucent materials in nature or otherwise in the world, such as ice, coral, or sea glass

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight transmission and diffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 2

a polymer, an anti-UV additive component in the range of about 0.1% to 0.9% of the total artificial foliage material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUV absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 3

a phosphorus fire-retardant additive component in the range of 0.5% to 3% of the total artificial foliage material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFire retardation:

Data Source

PatentUS12446721B2Systems and methods for translucent artificial foliage

Publication Date: 2025.10.21 BELGRAVIA WOOD LTD

AI summary

Translucent artificial foliage and methods of manufacturing the same. Exemplary translucent artificial foliage includes an artificial foliage material. An exemplary translucent artificial foliage material includes a polymer, an anti-UV additive component, and a phosphorus fire-retardant additive component. Exemplary translucent artificial foliage includes lighting elements internal to the artificial foliage material. An exemplary method of manufacturing the artificial foliage material includes mixing a translucent artificial foliage material by combining a polymer with an anti-UV additive component and a phosphorus fire-retardant additive. The exemplary method includes inserting a wire into a mold, heating the translucent artificial foliage material, adding the translucent artificial foliage material to the mold, and cooling the mold.