Decorative Effect for Glass Bodies

Abstract

Glass bodies are decoratively affected by having coatings of dichroic materials applied to an uneven surface. The dichroic materials transmit or reflect different colors of light in patterns that are determined by the unevenness of the coated surface and an angle of view of an observer. Both the color patterns and the colors forming the patterns change with different viewing angles of the coated surface.

1 . A decorative effect applied to a glass surface, the decorative effect comprising:
 the glass surface being uneven by having at least one of the forms consisting of:
 a) a predetermined non-planar topography; and 
 b) a textured pattern; 
   the surface being coated with at least two materials having dichroic effects; and   the dichroic materials effecting a color pattern of light that varies with different angles of view of the coated surface by an observer.   
   
   
       2 . The decorative effect of  claim 1  wherein the glass surface is an inside surface of a glass block. 
   
   
       3 . The decorative effect of  claim 1  wherein the glass surface is a back surface of a glass tile. 
   
   
       4 . The decorative effect of  claim 3  including an opaque protective coating applied over the dichroic materials. 
   
   
       5 . The decorative effect of  claim 1  wherein the glass surface is part of a wall or door panel. 
   
   
       6 . The decorative effect of  claim 1  wherein the glass surface has an undulated topography. 
   
   
       7 . The decorative effect of  claim 1  wherein the dichroic materials are transmissive. 
   
   
       8 . The decorative effect of  claim 1  wherein the dichroic materials are reflective. 
   
   
       9 . A method of imposing a color pattern on observable light, the method comprising:
 coating dichroic materials on an uneven surface of a glass body to conform the dichroic materials into the uneven surface;   using the unevenness of the coated dichroic materials to impose a color pattern on the observable light; and   the color pattern being variable with changes in an angle by which an observer views the coated surface.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claims 9  wherein the coated surface is an inside surface of a glass block. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the coated surface is a back surface of a glass tile. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  including an opaque protective coating applied over the dichroic materials. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the coated surface undulates in a predetermined topography. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the coated dichroic materials have a textured pattern. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the coated glass surface forms part of a wall or door panel. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the dichroic materials are transmissive. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the dichroic materials are reflective. 
   
   
       18 . A decorative glass body comprising:
 the glass body having a front surface facing toward an observer and a rear surface opposite the front surface;   the rear surface being coated with at least two materials having dichroic effects;   the rear surface unevenly departing from a plane by having at least one of the forms consisting of:
 a) a pre-determined topography; and 
 b) a textured pattern; 
   the dichroic materials being conformed with the unevenness of the rear surface so as to effectively impose a color pattern on light seen by the observer; and   the color pattern varying with different angles of view of the observer relative to the front surface.   
   
   
       19 . The decorative glass body of  claim 18  wherein the rear surface is an inside surface of a glass block. 
   
   
       20 . The decorative glass body of  claim 19  wherein the rear surface has an undulated topography. 
   
   
       21 . The decorative glass body of  claim 18  wherein the rear surface is a back surface of a glass tile. 
   
   
       22 . The decorative glass body of  claim 21  including an opaque protective coating covering the dichroic materials. 
   
   
       23 . The decorative glass body of  claim 18  wherein the dichroic materials are transmissive. 
   
   
       24 . The decorative glass body of  claim 18  wherein the dichroic materials are reflective. 
   
   
       25 . The decorative glass body of  claim 18  wherein the glass body is a panel. 
   
   
       26 . The decorative glass body of  claim 18  wherein the glass body is assembled into a wall or door.