Flexible leather laminate

Abstract

A heat and pressure consolidated flexible laminate, and a method for producing the same, is provided that includes in superimposed relationship, a flexible, resin coated backing layer consisting of one or more sheets, a decorative layer consisting essentially of a leather material and, optionally, an overlay.

1 . A flexible heat and pressure consolidated laminate, comprising in superimposed relationship: 
 a flexible backing layer containing a polyester resin;    a decorative layer consisting essentially of a leather material;    wherein said layers have been exposed, simultaneously, to temperature between 110° C. and 250° C. and pressure between 100 PSI and 450 PSI.    
   
   
       2 . A flexible heat and pressure consolidated laminate, comprising in superimposed relationship: 
 a flexible backing layer including one or more cellulosic sheets impregnated with a polyester resin;    a decorative layer consisting essentially of a leather material;    wherein said layers have been exposed, simultaneously, to temperature between 110° C. and 250° C. and pressure between 100 PSI and 450 PSI.    
   
   
       3 . The flexible heat and pressure consolidated laminate of  claim 2  wherein said leather material is bonded leather with a sheet thickness in the range of from about 0.2 mm to about 4 mm.  
   
   
       4 . A flexible heat and pressure consolidated laminate, comprising in superimposed relationship: 
 a backing layer including one or more cellulosic sheets impregnated with a polyester resin, which backing layer is adapted to be multi-dimensionally conformed;    a decorative layer consisting essentially of a leather material;    wherein said layers have been exposed, simultaneously, to temperature between 110° C. and 250° C. and pressure between 100 PSI and 450 PSI.    
   
   
       5 . The laminate of  claim 4 , wherein the leather material is bonded leather with a sheet thickness in the range of from about 0.2 mm to about 4 mm.  
   
   
       6 . The laminate of  claim 5 , wherein the exposed surface of the decorative layer includes an embossed texture.  
   
   
       7 . A flexible heat and pressure consolidated laminate, comprising in superimposed relationship: 
 a backing layer including one or more cellulosic sheets impregnated with a polyester resin, which backing layer is adapted to be multi-dimensionally conformed; and    a decorative layer consisting essentially of a leather material, the decorative layer includes an exposed surface and a bonding surface;    wherein the backing layer is bonded to the bonding surface of the decorative layer by polyester resin migrated from the backing layer as a result of the application of elevated temperature and pressure.    
   
   
       8 . The laminate of  claim 7  wherein the leather material is bonded leather with a sheet thickness in the range of from about 0.2 mm to about 4 mm.  
   
   
       9 . The laminate of  claim 7 , wherein the exposed surface of the decorative layer includes an embossed texture.  
   
   
       10 . A flexible heat and pressure consolidated laminate, comprising in superimposed relationship: 
 a backing layer including one or more cellulosic sheets impregnated with a polyester resin; and    a decorative layer consisting essentially of a leather material, the decorative layer includes an exposed surface and a bonding surface;    wherein the backing layer is bonded to the bonding surface of the decorative layer by polyester resin migrated from the backing layer as a result of the application of elevated temperature and pressure, and the laminate is operable to be multi-dimensionally conformed.    
   
   
       11 . The laminate of  claim 10  wherein the leather material is bonded leather with a sheet thickness in the range of from about 0.2 mm to about 4 mm.  
   
   
       12 . The laminate of  claim 10 , wherein the exposed surface of the decorative layer includes an embossed texture.