Bath panel, front of kitchen unit, etc. made by heating expanded polyvinyl chloride rigid panel, shaping softened panel, holding it in desired shape, stopping heating and releasing cooled panel

摘要

A furniture component is made by heating an expanded polymeric rigid panel so it softens and can be shaped and held in the desired shape The panels are heated to <= 70 deg C and 60-70 deg C at a depth of about 10 mm. The heating stops once the shaping is complete and the panel released once it has cooled to its original temperature. An Independent claim is included for the following: (a) A furniture component made as above. Preferred Features: The panel is heated in an oven or by infra red. The panel is made into a V-shape by creating V-shaped groove, heating the faces of the V and pressing them together. Alternatively the whole panel may be shaped in a press applying 0.05 bar. A decorative film may be applied to the panel before it is shaped.