Article with inverse wood grain pattern

Abstract

An article with a simulated wood grain has a molded unitary body having a first face with a total area. The first face has a base surface and a plurality of ticking elements that are disposed on and extend upwardly from the base surface. The ticking elements extend generally along a ticking axis. Each ticking element has an upper ticking surface spaced above the base surface. The upper ticking surfaces of the ticking elements in aggregate form a minority of the total area of the first face of the molded unitary body. The ticking elements on the base surface cooperate to simulate the appearance of wood grain on the first face of the molded unitary body.

1 . An article with a simulated wood grain, a wood grain being defined as having smooth areas interposed with ticking, the ticking generally running along a grain axis, the smooth areas in aggregate forming a majority of the visible area of the wood grain, wherein natural wood has a wood grain with the smooth areas generally defining the surface of the natural wood and the ticking is generally recessed inwardly with respect to the smooth areas, the article with simulated wood grain comprising:
 a molded unitary body having a first face with a total area;   the first face of the unitary body having a base surface; and   a plurality of ticking elements disposed on and extending upwardly from the base surface, the ticking elements extending generally along a ticking axis, each ticking element having an upper ticking surface spaced above the base surface;   the upper ticking surfaces of the ticking elements in aggregate forming a minority of the total area of the first face of the molded unitary body;   wherein the ticking elements and the base surface cooperate to simulate the appearance of wood grain on the first face of the molded unitary body.   
     
     
         2 . An article in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein:
 the upper ticking surfaces of the ticking elements in aggregate forming 15 to 49 percent of the total area of the first face of the molded unitary body.   
     
     
         3 . An article in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the ticking elements comprise a plurality of ticking elements that are each elongated and spaced apart from one another. 
     
     
         4 . An article in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of ticking elements are generally parallel to one another. 
     
     
         5 . An article in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the upper ticking surfaces of the ticking elements are generally disposed in a first plane and the base surface of the first face being generally disposed in a second plane that is parallel to the first plane. 
     
     
         6 . An article in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the article is a molded panel and the first face is a generally planar face.