Composite material

Abstract

A composite material includes at least one layer of base material. At least one inner protective layer of a flexible material is bonded on one side of the layer of base material, and at least one layer of a bonding material is present on a second side of the base material. At least one decorative layer is bonded to the bonding material such that the bonding material is between the layer of base material and the decorative layer. At least one outer protective layer of a flexible, material is bonded to the decorative layer on a side opposite the bonding material.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A composite material comprising: at least one layer of base material, at least one inner protective layer of a flexible material bonded on one side of the layer of base material, at least one layer of a bonding material on a second side of the base material, at least one decorative layer bonded to the bonding material such that the bonding material is between the layer of base material and the decorative layer, and at least one outer protective layer of a flexible, material bonded to the decorative layer on a side opposite the bonding material.  
     
     
         2 . The composite material of  claim 1  wherein the base material is a strong material.  
     
     
         3 . The composite material of  claim 1  wherein the base material is a non-woven material or a smooth finish woven material.  
     
     
         4 . The composite material of  claim 1  further including a woven backing attached to the first protective layer on a side thereof opposite the layer of base material.  
     
     
         5 . The composite material of  claim 1  wherein the inner protective layer is at least water resistant.  
     
     
         6 . The composite material of  claim 1  wherein the outer protective layer is at least water resistant.  
     
     
         7 . The composite material of  claim 1  wherein the outer protective layer is translucent.  
     
     
         8 . The composite material of  claim 7  wherein the outer protective layer includes an acrylic polymer medium.  
     
     
         9 . The composite material of  claim 1  wherein the inner protective layer, the bonding material and outer protective layer include an acrylic polymer medium.  
     
     
         10 . The composite material of  claim 10  wherein the decorative layer includes a textured paper.  
     
     
         11 . The composite material of  claim 1  wherein the textured paper includes a generally random wrinkled pattern.  
     
     
         12 . The composite material of  claim 1  wherein the decorative material is a textured material having a hard finish.  
     
     
         13 . The composite material of  claim 1  wherein the decorative material is a textured paper material having a calendered finish or a plate finish.  
     
     
         14 . The composite material of  claim 1  wherein the decorative material is a textured woven material having a tight weave and a hard finish.  
     
     
         15 . A method of fabricating a composite material comprising the steps of: bonding at least one layer of a flexible, water resistant material to one side of a layer of base material, bonding at least one decorative layer to the other side of the layer of base material, and bonding at least one outer protective layer of a flexible, water resistant material to the decorative layer on a side opposite layer of base material.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the decorative layer includes a textured material.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the flexible, waterproof materials bonded to the layer of base material is an acrylic polymer medium.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the decorative layer is bonded to the layer of base material using an acrylic polymer medium.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the outer protective layer is translucent.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the outer protective layer is an acrylic polymer medium.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the flexible, waterproof materials bonded to the layer of base material is an aqueous polymer medium.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the decorative layer is bonded to the layer of base material using an aqueous polymeric medium.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the outer protective layer is an aqueous polymeric medium.  
     
     
         24 . A composite material comprising: at least one layer of base material, at least one inner protective layer of an acrylic polymer medium bonded on one side of the layer of base material, at least one bonding layer of an acrylic polymer medium on a second side of the base material, at least one decorative layer bonded to the bonding material such that the bonding layer is between the layer of base material and the decorative layer, and at least one outer protective layer of acrylic polymer medium bonded to the decorative layer on a side opposite the bonding material.