Decorative light-transmitting panel

摘要

There is disclosed a light-transmitting panel of thermoplastic sheet material which has a relief pattern defined by a plurality of generally co-planar segments which are separated by deep surface relieved areas that are characterized by greater material thickness than the planar segments and smoothly arched surfaces of greater optical quality than the planar segments. The invention also comprises a method for forming the decorative light-transmitting panel by thermoforming a plastic sheet on a mold having a plurality of generally co-planer lands which are separated by deep recesses that receive sagged regions of the thermoplastic sheet material. The sheet material which has been heated to its softening temperature is compressed against the lands to extrude the plastic material into the recess areas, following by cooling and removing the sheet from the mold to obtain the light-transmitting panel.