The present invention relates to a laminate comprising a light-conducting layer. The present invention relates more particularly to an interior accessory provided with such a laminate.

Laminates comprising a light-conducting layer are per se known. Offenlegungsschrift DE 10 2006 015 437 thus describes a floor tile structured in layers and comprising a lighting element, the German utility model DE 20 2005 000 882 describes a glass pane to which an electroluminescent layer is applied, and the American patent application US 2002/013213 describes an assembly of two light-conducting layers between which is received a resin provided with light-emitting particles.

Such laminates have the drawback however that their application is limited, for instance as a result of their weight, rigidity or strength, particularly when the intended application sets particular requirements in this respect.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a laminate which provides new application options or forms a usable alternative to the known laminates.

The invention provides for this purpose a laminate, comprising a light-conducting layer provided with optical fibres and adapted to introduce light from a light source at least at a first location on an interface of the light-conducting layer and to radiate the introduced light at least at a second location on the interface of the light-conducting layer, wherein the light-conducting layer is provided with a first lightproof layer on a first side and provided with a second lightproof layer on a second side opposite the first.

Such a laminate can take a light and relatively thin form and provides the option of application in a large number of configurations.

The light-conducting layer preferably comprises a plastic provided with glass fibres. Such a plastic has very good light-conducting properties, some of which, for instance the colour and/or the direction in which the light exits, can be controlled during the production process. A suitable alternative for this application are polycarbonate-based electroluminescent films. These materials can have relatively small thicknesses and can be manufactured in many geometries.

The light-conducting layer preferably has a thickness between 0 and 5 mm, and in particular between 1 and 2 mm, in order to make it possible to apply the laminate in numerous objects without the dimensions of these objects having to be influenced here in adverse manner. Surprising effects and designs can be achieved particularly when the thinnest possible light-conducting layer is applied.

This is also the case for the lightproof layer, which can for instance be formed by a plastic layer, a lacquer layer or a metal layer. A robust laminate, which is resistant under many conditions to undesirable effects such as delamination, can particularly be formed using aluminium.

At least the first or second lightproof layer can be adapted to at least partially transmit light locally. For this purpose the layer can have a smaller thickness locally, or be removed entirely and thus have one or more recesses. In this way a diversity of light images, such as lines or surfaces, or figures or characters can be displayed.

If desired, such recesses or smaller thicknesses can be arranged later, whereby the manufacturing process of the laminate can take place efficiently. Irrespective of the eventual application a surface area of the laminate can be manufactured from which parts can then be removed for the interior accessory. If desired, a specific recess or smaller thickness can then be realized per final product, for instance by means of cutting, grinding or polishing, or by machining techniques such as for instance milling. By means of the laminate according to the present invention light can thus be generated at locations to be selected later.

Further surprising effects and freedoms in design can be achieved when the laminate has been or will be give a single or multiple curves. Specific effects can also be achieved when the laminate is provided with at least a second light-conducting layer provided with optical fibres, provided between the first and the second lightproof layer and likewise adapted to introduce light from a second light source at least at a first location on an interface of the second light-conducting layer; and to radiate the introduced light at least at a second location on the interface of the second light- conducting layer.

The light sources can here have for instance a different colour or intensity or for instance be switched on and off at different times, whereby a view varying through time can be obtained. The laminate can comprise at least one light source, such as a lamp or LED, or an array thereof. This light source can - particularly in the case of LEDs - be integrated into the laminate, or be arranged separately therefrom. These LEDs can be powered with a continuous direct voltage, but also with a switching electrical control with a refresh rate such that it is perceived as continuous light by the human eye. A refresh frequency of several hundred Hz, for instance between 300 and 500, and in particular around 400 Hz, has been found favourable for this purpose.

The invention will now be elucidated in further detail with reference to the following non- limitative figures, in which:

Figure 1 shows a first interior accessory according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a second interior accessory according to the present invention; and

Figure 3 shows a third interior accessory according to the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a first interior accessory according to the present invention in the form of lighting fixture 1. The fixture is manufactured from a light-conducting layer 3 provided with optical fibres and adapted to introduce light from a light source (not shown) at a first location (not shown) on an interface of the light-conducting layer and to radiate light 6 at a second location 8, on the end surface of the laminate, on the interface of light-conducting layer 3. Light-conducting layer 3 is provided with first lightproof layer 2 on a first side and provided with a second lightproof layer 4 on a second side opposite the first, whereby no light exits the fixture 1 except at the position of second location 8. Owing to the light-conducting layer 3 provided with optical fibres the light exits the device in a substantially parallel beam 5 at location 8. A particularly surprising design is achieved - in combination with the small thickness of the laminate, which lies in the order of magnitude of several millimetres to about a centimetre - by the curvature 7 arranged in the laminate. Owing to the laminate according to the present invention it is possible to manufacture a lighting fixture which, making use of conventional techniques wherein a light source is arranged on or in the vicinity of an interface of the device at which the light exits, could not be realized according to these design engineering requirements.

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of an interior accessory 9 according to the present invention. Interior accessory 9, which can serve as decorative panel, as wall element or for instance as support surface in a cupboard, comprises a laminate with a light- conducting layer 11 provided with optical fibres and adapted to introduce light from a light source (not shown) at a first location (not shown) on an interface of the light- conductive layer and to radiate the introduced light at least at a second location 13 on the interface of the light-conducting layer. The light-conducting layer 11 provided with optical fibres is provided with first lightproof layer 10 on a first side thereof and provided with a second lightproof layer 12 on a second side opposite the first. The light is emitted in a substantially parallel beam in direction 14, so at an angle to an interface between the two layers 10 and 11 of the laminate. Second location 13 is formed in that a part of first lightproof layer 10 is removed. Interior accessory 9 is disposed vertically in Figure 2, although horizontal placing is also possible. Interior accessory 9 can as such serve for instance as a bookshelf in a bookcase (not shown), wherein the recess forming second location 13 is directed downward for the purpose of illuminating books on a lower shelf in the bookcase. In addition to the use of light sources such as lamps or LEDs, it can be ensured during the construction of the bookcase that the side 15 of interior accessory 9 is situated on an outer side of the bookcase so that outside light can be introduced in order to generate the light beam in direction 14. Light-conducting layer 11 can also be optically coupled to an optical receiver for light from outside the interior accessory.

Figure 3 shows a subsequent embodiment of an interior accessory 16 according to the present invention, which is similar to interior accessory 9 of figure 2 but wherein a plurality of recesses 17, 18, 19 are provided in the form of characters.