Multi-colored decorative laminate

Abstract

A decorative laminate, and method for making the same, includes a core layer, a print layer, an overlay layer, and a luminescent layer. The print layer includes patterns printed thereon using conventional ink. In some embodiments, the overlay layer is impregnated with a resin that includes photoluminescent material of a single color which, when exposed to UV light, causes the single color to be visible throughout. The luminescent layer includes patterns of photoluminescent materials of different colors. In the embodiments where the overlay layer includes a resin with a photoluminescent material, the different colored patterns of the luminescent layer are simultaneously visible with the single color of the overlay layer when exposed to UV light.

1 . A decorative laminate, comprising:
 a core layer impregnated with a resin;   a print layer with at least one pattern that is visible under normal light;   a first overlay layer impregnated with a resin that includes a first photoluminescent material visible under ultraviolet light;   a luminescent layer with at least one pattern that includes at least one second photoluminescent material that is visible under ultraviolet light; and   a second overlay layer.   
     
     
         2 . The decorative laminate of  claim 1 , where the at least one pattern of the luminescent layer overlays the at least one pattern of the print layer. 
     
     
         3 . The decorative laminate of  claim 1 , wherein the first photoluminescent material luminesces at a first color, and wherein the at least one second photoluminescent material luminesces at a second color that is different than the first color. 
     
     
         4 . The decorative laminate of  claim 3 , where an entirety of the first overlay layer luminesces at the first color under ultraviolet light. 
     
     
         5 . The decorative laminate of  claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the first overlay layer is obstructed from view by the at least one pattern of the luminescent layer under ultraviolet light. 
     
     
         6 . The decorative laminate of  claim 1 , where the first photoluminescent material is from a group consisting of a phosphorescent material and a fluorescent material. 
     
     
         7 . The decorative laminate of  claim 1 , where the second photoluminescent material is from a group consisting of a phosphorescent material and a fluorescent material. 
     
     
         8 . The decorative laminate of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pattern within the luminescent layer comprises a plurality of colors. 
     
     
         9 . The decorative laminate of  claim 8 , wherein the luminescent layer comprises a plurality of patterns, and the plurality of patterns include a plurality of photoluminescent materials that luminesce at different colors under ultraviolet light. 
     
     
         10 . The decorative laminate of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of patterns with the luminescent layer overlay a plurality of patterns with the print layer that are visible under normal light. 
     
     
         11 . The decorative laminate of  claim 9 , where the first photoluminescent material in the first overlay layer luminesces at a first color that is different from the colors produced by the patterns within the luminescent layer luminescing under ultraviolet light. 
     
     
         12 . A decorative laminate, comprising:
 a substrate;   a print layer with at least one pattern that is visible under normal light;   a first overlay layer impregnated with a resin that includes a first photoluminescent material that is visible under ultraviolet light;   a luminescent layer with at least one pattern that includes at least one second photoluminescent material that is visible under ultraviolet light; and   a second overlay layer.   
     
     
         13 . The decorative laminate of  claim 12 , where the at least one pattern of the luminescent layer overlays the at least one pattern of the print layer. 
     
     
         14 . The decorative laminate of  claim 12 , wherein the first photoluminescent material luminesces at a first color, and wherein the at least one second photoluminescent material luminesces at a second color that is different than the first color. 
     
     
         15 . The decorative laminate of  claim 14 , where an entirety of the first overlay layer luminesces at the first color under ultraviolet light. 
     
     
         16 . The decorative laminate of  claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of the first overlay layer is obstructed from view by the at least one pattern of the luminescent layer under ultraviolet light. 
     
     
         17 . The decorative laminate of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one pattern within the luminescent layer comprises a plurality of colors. 
     
     
         18 . The decorative laminate of  claim 12 , where the substrate comprises a material from the group consisting of a particle board and a fiber board. 
     
     
         21 . A method of forming a heat and pressure consolidated decorative laminate, comprising the steps of:
 providing a stack of layers, including one or more core layer sheets, each at least partially impregnated with a resin, a print layer with at least one pattern printed thereon that is visible under normal light, a first overlay layer impregnated with a resin that includes a photoluminescent material that is visible under ultraviolet light, and a luminescent layer with at least one pattern of a photoluminescent material that is visible under ultraviolet light; and   subjecting the stack to a sufficiently high temperature and pressure for a period of time that the resins cure and bond the layers into the decorative laminate.   
     
     
         22 . A method of forming a heat and pressure consolidated decorative laminate, comprising the steps of:
 providing a stack including a substrate and a plurality of layers, including a print layer with at least one pattern printed thereon that is visible under normal light, a first overlay layer impregnated with a resin that includes a photoluminescent material that is visible under ultraviolet light, and a luminescent layer with at least one pattern of a photoluminescent material that is visible under ultraviolet light; and   subjecting the stack to a sufficiently high temperature and pressure for a period of time that the resins cure and bond the layers and substrate into the decorative laminate.   
     
     
         23 . A decorative laminate, comprising:
 a core layer having at least one resin impregnated cellulosic sheet;   a decorative layer with a plurality of patterns printed thereon with a plurality of different photoluminescent material, where each photoluminescent material luminesces at a different color when exposed to ultraviolet light; and   an overlay layer.   
     
     
         24 . The decorative laminate of  claim 23 , where the decorative layer includes at least one printed pattern visible under normal light. 
     
     
         25 . A decorative laminate, comprising:
 a substrate;   a decorative layer with a plurality of patterns printed thereon with a plurality of different photoluminescent material, where each photoluminescent material luminesces at a different color when exposed to ultraviolet light; and   an overlay layer.   
     
     
         26 . A decorative laminate, comprising:
 a core layer having at least one resin impregnated cellulosic sheet;   a print layer with at least one pattern visible under normal light, a first photoluminescent material spread over substantially all of the print layer so that substantially all of the print layer luminesces at the first color when exposed to ultraviolet light, and at least one pattern of a second photoluminescent disposed on the print layer, which second luminescent material luminesces at a second color when exposed to ultraviolet light, wherein the first color is different from the second color; and   an overlay layer.   
     
     
         27 . A decorative laminate, comprising:
 a core layer having at least one resin impregnated cellulosic sheet;   a print layer with at least one pattern visible under normal light; and   a first overlay layer having a first photoluminescent material spread over substantially all of the first overlay layer so that substantially all of the first overlay layer luminesces at the first color when exposed to ultraviolet light, and at least one pattern of a second photoluminescent disposed on the first overlay layer, which second luminescent material luminesces at a second color when exposed to ultraviolet light, wherein the first color is different from the second color.   
     
     
         28 . The laminate of  claim 27 , further comprising a second overlay layer.