Method of manufacturing surface element, and surface element

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a surface element from a thin metal sheet, and a similar surface element. In the invention, the surface of a thin metal sheet is covered by one or more substantially parallel reinforcing elements, and a thermoplastic surface layer ( 1 ) is glued onto the metal sheet ( 3 ) and the surface elements ( 2 ).

1 . A method of manufacturing a surface element from a thin metal sheet in which method at least one reinforcing element is placed on the surface of the metal sheet substantially parallel with the surface of the sheet, characterized in that, 
 a thermoplastic surface layer covering the metal sheet and the reinforcing elements is glued onto the metal sheet and the reinforcing elements by pressing the thermoplastic surface layer against the metal sheet and the reinforcing elements so that the thermoplastic surface layer fastens the metal sheet and the reinforcing elements together thus forming the surface element with them and    the thermoplastic surface layer is heated during the gluing so that it conforms substantially to the outer surface formed by the metal sheet and the reinforcing elements and forms a facing on the surface element.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the reinforcing elements are made of incombustible material.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the reinforcing elements are profiles formed of a thin metal sheet.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the reinforcing elements are made of MDF.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the metal sheet is perforated before coating with a plastic surface layer.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the metal sheet used to manufacture a surface element is substantially evenly perforated.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a surface element is manufactured by first bending a metal sheet into a predetermined shape and by fastening reinforcing profiles and a plastic film to the surface of the metal sheet bent into a predetermined shape.  
     
     
         8 . A surface element formed of a thin metal sheet whereby on the surface of the metal sheet there is at least one reinforcing element substantially parallel with the surface, characterized in that a thermoplastic surface layer covering the metal sheet and the reinforcing elements is glued onto the surface of the metal sheet and the reinforcing elements so that it fastens the metal sheet and the reinforcing elements together, thus forming the surface element with them, the thermoplastic surface layer being heated and pressed substantially against the outer surface formed by the metal sheet and the reinforcing elements during the gluing so that it conforms substantially to the outer surface formed by the metal sheet and the reinforcing elements and forms a facing on the surface element.  
     
     
         9 . A surface element according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the reinforcing elements are made of incombustible material.  
     
     
         10 . A surface element according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the reinforcing elements are profiles formed of a thin metal sheet.  
     
     
         11 . A surface element according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the reinforcing elements are made of MDF.  
     
     
         12 . A surface element according to any one of  claims 8  to  11 , characterized in that the metal sheet is perforated.  
     
     
         13 . A surface element according to  claim 12 , characterized in that the metal sheet is substantially evenly perforated.  
     
     
         14 . A surface element according to any one of  claims 8  to  13 , characterized in that the metal sheet is first bent into a predetermined shape, and the reinforcing elements and the plastic film are attached to the surface of the metal sheet only thereafter.