METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING PRESSED FLOWER USING ACRYLIC AND PRESSED FLOWER MANUFACTURED

THEREBY

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to the manufacture of a pressed flower, and more particularly to a method for manufacturing a pressed flower using acrylic and a pressed flower manufactured thereby. Background Art

[2] In general, a pressed flower is an ornament obtained by drying a flower on a plane sheet, and is attractive in various respects. For example, a pressed wild flower is an excellent ornament, which is applied to various daily necessaries, such as cards, letter paper, accessories, framed pictures, and lampshades. People, which enjoy pressed flowers, have pleasure in being close to nature and plants and in manufacturing the pressed flowers, and joy in possessing special things.

[3] The pressed flowers have many attractions, but are easily discolored or faded, thus having a difficulty in being popularized. However, much recent research in conservation of colors of the pressed flowers has solved the problem of the discoloration of the pressed flowers.

[4] In order to manufacture pressed flowers, plants including flowers, leaves, stems, fruits, vegetables, and seaweeds, are located on a special drying sheet, are dried at a proper temperature (approximately 25 ⁰ C) in a dry place for 1 to 3 days under the condition that a proper pressure is applied to the plants.

[5] Various methods, tools, and desiccants are used to manufacture pressed flowers.

[6] For example, a method for manufacturing a pressed flower using silica gel is proposed. The method was introduced in a floricultural exhibition held by a floriculture department of the Catholic University at Daegu in 1989. This method uses silica gel as a desiccant. However, there is a problem in that the silica gel discolors flowers. More specifically, as a drying time has elapsed, double flowers were discolored, but single flowers were rapidly dried and thus were not discolored.

[7] The above method using silica gel requires 5-7 days to dry the flowers, thus resulting in a waste of time and an inconvenience of deoxidizing the silica gel. When the silica gel contains moisture, the color of the silica gel is changed from blue to pink. In order to regenerate the silica gel, when heat is applied to the silica gel, the silica gel is returned to its original color, i.e., blue, thus being continuously used. This is referred to as the "deoxidization".

[8] Further, a method for manufacturing a pressed flower using electricity is proposed.

A Japanese electrical machine for drying a pressed flower was introduced into Korea in 1993. An electrical furnace used in this method reduces a drying time (approximately 1-2 days), and thus shortens a time to manufacture the pressed flower. However, the electrical furnace applies heat to matters to be pressed using electricity, and thus changes colors of flowers and leaves. Matters, which exhibit small changes in colors of flowers thereof, include rose, verbena, lobelia, sweet alyssum, delphinium, and pansy, and matters, which exhibit large changes in colors of flowers thereof, include primrose, rose of Sharon, bracken, and fruits.

[9] The above method using the electrical furnace shortened a drying time, but changed colors of flowers, leaves, stems, and fruits. It appeared that the main factor for causing the color changes is a temperature.

[10] Various daily necessaries using pressed flowers, which are made by the above methods, can be produced. However, the obtained products are easily discolored by sunlight, moisture, temperature, etc. In order to solve this discoloration problem, a vinyl coating method, a UV resin method, and an epoxy resin method have been developed. However, these methods cannot be used for a long time, i.e., approximately 1-5 years, require a delicate process for manufacturing a pressed flower, and consume a high energy in manufacturing the pressed flower. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[11] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide to a method for manufacturing a pressed flower using acrylic so that the color and the shape of the pressed flower are maintained, and a pressed flower manufactured thereby.

[12] It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a pressed flower using acrylic, which improves the value added of the pressed flower serving as a daily necessary, and a pressed flower manufactured thereby. Technical Solution

[13] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a method for manufacturing a pressed flower using acrylic comprising preparing a lower acrylic sheet, serving as a base member, by sandpapering the upper surface of an acrylic sheet made of an original acrylic resin; arranging matters to be pressed on the lower acrylic sheet according to a designated design, coating the lower surfaces of the matters with a polyester resin solution cont aining a hardener so that the polyester resin solution is hardened after several hours have elapsed from the time of coating, attaching the lower surfaces of the matters to

the lower acrylic sheet using the polyester resin solution, and coating the upper surfaces of the matters with the polyester resin solution; forming an acrylic resin solution molding chamber by firmly attaching a frame adhesive sheet, having a predetermined width and serving as an acrylic resin solution mold, along the side surfaces of the lower acrylic sheet; forming a first acrylic resin layer by pouring an acrylic resin solution, containing a hardening accelerator and a hardener so that the acrylic resin solution is hardened after several tens of hours have elapsed from the time of pouring, into the acrylic resin solution molding chamber to a level, at which the matters are dipped into the acrylic resin solution; forming a second acrylic resin layer having a thickness smaller than that of the first acrylic resin layer by pouring the acrylic resin solution, containing the hardening accelerator and the hardener, onto the hardened first acrylic resin layer, and stacking an upper acrylic sheet made of an original acrylic resin on the upper surface of the second acrylic resin layer; and removing the frame adhesive sheet after the hardening of the second acrylic resin layer has been completed.

[14] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pressed flower using acrylic manufactured by stacking matters to be pressed on the upper surface of a lower acrylic sheet made of an original acrylic resin and having a thickness of 5-100D, the upper surface of the lower acrylic sheet being sandpapered in advance and the lower and upper surfaces of the matters being coated with a polyester resin solution, forming an acrylic resin layer on the matters by pouring an acrylic resin solution, into which a hardener and a hardening accelerator are added, onto the matters and hardening the acrylic resin solution for several tens of hours, and stacking an upper acrylic sheet made of an original acrylic resin and having a thickness of 1~5D on the acrylic resin layer.

[15] In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for manufacturing a pressed flower using acrylic comprising determining whether matters to be pressed are outdoor cultured or wild flowers or cut flowers, collecting or selecting the matters by a corresponding method, and drying the matters within 1-2 days from the collecting or selecting of the matters; maintaining the humidity of a room, where the pressed flower is manufactured, below 40%; preparing a lower acrylic sheet, made of an original acrylic resin and having a thickness of 5-100D, and an upper acrylic sheet, made of an original acrylic resin and having a thickness of 1~5D, and sandpapering the upper surface of the lower acrylic sheet; forming a base color surface on the upper surface of the lower acrylic sheet by spreading an acrylic dye on the upper surface of the lower acrylic sheet by touch using a sponge, and stacking the matters on the base color surface; coating the lower and upper surfaces of the matters with a polyester resin solution containing a hardener having a designated amount so that the polyester resin solution is hardened after

several hours have elapsed from the time of coating; forming an acrylic resin layer by pouring an acrylic resin solution containing a hardening accelerator and a hardener onto the matters and hardening the acrylic resin solution for several tens of hours; and stacking the upper acrylic sheet on the acrylic resin layer.

Advantageous Effects

[16] A method for manufacturing a pressed flower using acrylic and a pressed flower manufactured thereby in accordance with the present invention facilitate the increase of the visibility of matters, to be pressed, in an acrylic resin and prevent the pressed flower from being discolored as time passes, thereby allowing the pressed flower to be semipermanently applied to daily necessaries. Brief Description of the Drawings

[17] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[18] FIGS. 1 to 8 are schematic sectional views illustrating a process for manufacturing a pressed flower using acrylic in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[19] Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the annexed drawings. In the drawings, the same or similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals even though they are depicted in different drawings. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear.

[20] In a method for manufacturing a pressed flower using acrylic in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the most significant things are to increase visibility of matters to be pressed in an acrylic resin and to semipermanently preserve the pressed flower so that the pressed flower cannot be discolored as time passes. For this reason, an inventor of the present invention confirmed that (1) selection of an acrylic material, (2) selection of matters to be pressed, (3) selection of environment for performing a manufacturing process, and (4) use of an acrylic base coloring method according to shapes and characteristics of tools used to manufacture the pressed flower are important factors.

[21] The inventor of the present invention thoroughly examined the above four factors, and then manufactured the pressed flower according to the obtained results. Thereby, the pressed flower, which has high visibility of matters to be pressed and is not discolored as time passes, was obtained.

[22] * Manufacturing of Pressed Flower Using Acrylic

[23] The inventor developed a technique, which puts a matter into acrylic, based on an acrylic product, such as an electric stand, a dining table, a partition, or a seating table, and manufactured a pressed flower using acrylic through the following process.

[24] a. An acrylic sheet was cut according to the shape of a designated product to be manufactured.

[25] b. Matters to be pressed, for example, flowers, leaves, and/or stems, were arranged on the acrylic sheet in pursuance of a design.

[26] c. The rear surfaces of the arranged matters were attached to the acrylic sheet using a flower bond (i.e., a carpenter's adhesive).

[27] d. An acrylic resin solution was poured onto the acrylic sheet, and was rapidly hardened. At this time, heat of a temperature of at least 75 ⁰ C was generated. It was confirmed that the generation of the heat is caused by a large amount of a hardening agent for rapidly hardening the acrylic resin solution.

[28] Thereby, the matters to be pressed were browned. For example, pansy looked rotten, and small flowers (particularly, small and thin flowers) were not visible. However, even at the above high temperature, barks or thick branches were not damaged and discolored.

[29] After many trials and errors, the inventor repeated the above process using the same matters to be pressed under the condition that the amount of the hardening agent is reduced (then, a hardening time is extended). Thereby, it was confirmed that the shapes of the flowers as well as the colors of the flowers were maintained. The amount of the hardening agent used will be described later in an article of "(3) selection of the manufacturing environment".

[30] In order to highly increase the visibility of matters to be pressed in an acrylic resin and prevent the matters from being discolored as time passes, the above factors (1) to (4) in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail, as follows.

[31] ( 1 ) Selection of Acrylic Material

[32] In addition to the generation of heat according to the amount of a hardening agent used, the inventor of the present invention found out that a lower acrylic sheet having a rectangular shape is warped. Further, the inventor investigated the cause of the warpage of the lower acrylic sheet. The cause of the warpage of the lower acrylic sheet is described, as follows.

[33] Since both surfaces of acrylic sheets, which are put on the market, are smooth, it is difficult to spread and adhere the acrylic resin solution to the acrylic sheets. Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention sandpapered the upper surface of an acrylic sheet serving as the lower acrylic sheet. Thereafter, after several days

(approximately 1 week) has elapsed, the lower acrylic sheet was warped towards the sandpapered upper surface thereof. The reason is that the edge of the acrylic sheet is strained. When the acrylic sheet has a rectangular shape, the equilibrium of forces straining the acrylic sheet is upset, and the acrylic sheet is warped in the lengthwise direction. When the acrylic sheet has a regular polygonal shape, such as a regular square shape, or a circular shape, even after several days has elapsed, the sandpapered acrylic sheet was scarcely warped.

[34] Accordingly, when an acrylic sheet having a rectangular shape is used as the lower acrylic sheet, preferably, the lower acrylic sheet is used within one day from the time of sandpapering of the lower acrylic sheet so that the lower acrylic sheet is not warped. On the other hand, when an acrylic sheet having a regular polygonal shape or a circular shape is used as the lower acrylic sheet, preferably, the lower acrylic sheet may be used within several days from the time of sandpapering of the lower acrylic sheet.

[35] However, after the manufacture of a pressed flower using acrylic is completed, several problems of the acrylic sheet exist still, as follows.

[36] First, the hardened acrylic resin layer was cracked and was misty.

[37] Second, the acrylic sheet was warped. Particularly, the larger a difference between the width and the length of the acrylic sheet is and the smaller the thickness of the acrylic sheet is, the more the warpage of the acrylic sheet is increased.

[38] Third, the acrylic resin solution was not uniformly spread and adhered between the matters to be pressed, which are arranged on the acrylic sheet, thus being partially separated from the acrylic sheet.

[39] Fourth, an upper acrylic sheet was separated from the lower acrylic sheet.

[40] Through the above trials for manufacturing the pressed flower using acrylic, problems, which were generated due to characteristics of acrylic or during a process for manufacturing the pressed flower using acrylic, were investigated.

[41] Since the above acrylic sheets, which were manufactured by a factory, had both smooth surfaces, it was difficult to spread or adhere the acrylic resin solution to the acrylic sheets. Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention ground the external surfaces of the lower acrylic sheet using a fine sandpaper (having an approximately 220 grits), and thus solved the third problem. That is, by sandpapering the external surfaces of the acrylic sheet, the acrylic resin solution was uniformly adhered to the whole surface of the acrylic sheet.

[42] Since the above acrylic sheets were made of a regenerated acrylic resin, the acrylic sheet was misty. Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention used acrylic sheets made of an original acrylic resin, and the acrylic sheets made of the original acrylic resin were not misty. In brief, a pressed flower, which was manufactured by sequentially stacking a lower acrylic sheet made of a regenerated acrylic resin, matters to

be pressed, an acrylic resin layer, and an upper acrylic sheet made of a regenerated acrylic resin, was misty. However, in the embodiment of the present invention, a pressed flower, which was manufactured by sequentially stacking a lower acrylic sheet made of an original acrylic resin, matters to be pressed, an acrylic resin layer, and an upper acrylic sheet made of an original acrylic resin, was not misty.

[43] The crack of the acrylic resin layer of the first problem was solved by minimizing the amount of the hardening agent used.

[44] Further, the second problem, i.e., the warpage of the acrylic sheet, was solved by selecting the shape (a regular polygonal shape or a circular shape) of the acrylic sheet, adjusting the time of using the acrylic sheet after the sandpapering of the acrylic sheet, or by adjusting the thicknesses of the lower and upper acrylic sheets. Moreover, the fourth problem, i.e., the separation of the upper acrylic sheet from the lower acrylic sheet, was caused by the arrangement of matters to be pressed on the edge of the lower acrylic sheet. Accordingly, the fourth problem was solved by preventing the matters to be pressed from being arranged on the edge of the lower acrylic sheet.

[45] (2) Selection of Matters to be Pressed

[46] Matters to be pressed must firmly withstand an acrylic resin solution. Hereinafter, requirements of the matters, which can withstand the acrylic resin solution, will be described in detail.

[47] First, kinds of the matters to be pressed must be considered. The kinds of the matters to be pressed are divided into a) outdoor cultured flowers or wild flowers, and b) cut flowers (which are commercially sold at a market).

[48] a) Outdoor Cultured Flowers or Wild Flowers

[49] Preferably, an adverse time to collect outdoor cultured flowers or wild flowers is when the flowers are fade and fall due to rain or moisture. The reason is that the flowers are discolored, i.e., colors of the flowers are lightened or browned due to rain or moisture. More specifically, when the outdoor cultured flowers or the wild flowers, which are exposed to rain or moisture, cellular tissues of petals of the flowers contain moisture and are loosely distributed, thus causing the colors of the flowers to be lightened or browned.

[50] Accordingly, when the outdoor cultured flowers or the wild flowers are collected, it is important to catch a suitable collecting time. The suitable collecting time is within one day after the flowers bloom whether the flowers are short-day types or long-day types. At this time, the flowers have the highest freshness. After this time has elapsed, seed formation of the flowers starts so that all nutritive substances are supplied to seeds rather than to flowers or roots, and the colors of the flowers are poor. Particularly, after this time has elapsed, a saccular ovary under a style of a flower is thickened, and petals of the flower start to age and are browned.

[51] b) Cut Flowers (which are commercially sold at market)

[52] Cut flowers are advantageous in that they are easily obtained. However, since it takes at least 1-2 days to ship the cut flowers from a greenhouse or a farm to a market, it is important to consider the condition of the cut flowers. Particularly, in case that the blooming of the cut flowers has proceeded more than 90%, petals of the flowers are wrinkled or leaves of the flowers are browned. Accordingly, preferably, the cut flowers, the blooming of which has proceeded below 90%, are selected, and are used after the selected cut flowers are made to fully bloom. [53] Ecology of matters is important to select matters to be pressed. Hereinafter, suitable collecting times of matters to be pressed based on the ecology of the flowers are as follows.

[54] * spray rose; use flowers when the flowers bloom more than 90%

[55] * anemone; use flowers when the flowers bloom more than 60%

[56] * pasqueflower; use flowers when the flowers bloom more than 60%

[57] * cockscomb; use flowers when the flowers bloom more than 60%

[58] * delphinium; use flowers when the flowers are in full bloom

[59] * Chinese paeony, and tree paeony; cut flowers in the bud state and use the cut flowers after the flowers bloom indoors

[60] * carnation; separate flowers from plants and dry the flowers

[61] * gypsophila; use flowers when the flowers bloom more than 80%

[62] * other flowering plants emitting pollen; use flowers before pollen differentiates

[63] * line flowering plants (for example, wild lily, yaburan lilyturf, and bridal wreath); use flowers when approximately a third of the flowers from the lower part to the upper part start to bloom [64] * mass flowering plants (for example, hydrangea, viburnum, and fringe tree); use flowers when approximately a half of the flowers bloom [65] * wild herb (for example, foxtail and indigo plant); use plants after seeds are formed and before the seeds are separated from the plants [66] * fruits; use unripe fruits

[67] - Apple is used in June.

[68] - Kiwi is used in a firm state.

[69] - Strawberry, a half of which has a ripened color, is used.

[70] - Orange is used in a firm state.

[71] - Other fruits, seeds of which are not ripened, are used. The reason is that ripened fruits have soft flesh due to the increased amount of sugar so that cutting planes of the ripened fruits are not uniformly dried, a time to dry the fruits is elongated, and the ripened fruits are easily browned. [72] * vegetables (including common mushroom, oyster mushroom, parsley, carrot,

onion, pepper, eggplant, cucumber, and pimento)

[73] - Common mushroom, which has an incompletely spread pileus and a white color, is used.

[74] - Oyster mushroom, which has a clear pileus color, is used, and 3-4 young oyster mushrooms, which are gathered together, are preferably dried.

[75] - Carrot, pepper, eggplant, and cucumber, which are not ripened and are bent, are unsuitable for market products, but have much artistic merit for pressed flowers.

[76] - Other vegetables, which are not ripened or are ripened by halves, are preferably used.

[77] As described above, when matters to be pressed are collected at individual suitable times and are dried after 1-2 days has elapsed, the matters are browned, or have colors that are faded from their natural colors. Accordingly, the rapid drying of the matters to be pressed within 1-2 days from the time of collecting the matters is very important to maintain the freshness of the obtained pressed flower product.

[78] If matters dried in a fresh state are dipped in an acrylic resin solution, the colors of the matters appeared to be clearer than their original colors, but unless matters dried in a fresh state are dipped in an acrylic resin solution, the visibility of the colors of the matters was lowered.

[79] When flowers having pollens are applied to a pressed flower using acrylic, flowers cannot be used when they are in full bloom, and when flowers having thin petals are applied to a pressed flower using acrylic, a drying pressure having the same intensity as that of a drying pressure, which is applied to other flowers, cannot be applied to the flowers having thin petals, but instead a drying pressure having an intensity corresponding to two thirds of that of the drying pressure, which is applied to other flowers, must be applied to the flowers having thin petals.

[80] In the following example 1, a pressed flower using acrylic was manufactured under the condition that flowers having pollens were in full bloom, and in the following example 2, a pressed flower using acrylic was manufactured under the condition that the flowers having thin petals were dried by a drying pressure having the same intensity as that of a drying pressure, which is applied to other flowers.

[81] Example 1) flowers having pollens: anemone

[82] When anemones, which were in full bloom, were dried and dipped into an acrylic resin solution, black pollens from the anemones were spread into the acrylic resin solution (Chinese paeony and tree paeony were the same).

[83] Example 2) flowers having thin petals: primrose, narcissus, violet, tulip, lotus flower, rose of Sharon, cherry blossom, chrysanthemum, lily, etc.

[84] When an acrylic resin solution is poured onto flowers having thin petals, to which a drying pressure having the same intensity as that of a drying pressure applied to other

flowers was applied, it seemed that the acrylic resin solution soaked through the flowers having thin petals.

[85] <Matters that demand attention regarding freshness, shapes, and colors of flowers>

[86] Shapes of flowers: Since carnation is a double flower, the carnation must be cut in half for drying. Particularly, an ovary, a pistil, and a stamen must be removed from carnation (because a honey gland in the ovary delays the drying of the flower and causes the browning of the flower). Accordingly, honey glands must be removed from flowers prior to drying.

[87] In terms of shapes of flowers, Western orchids must be carefully and attentively treated. All Western orchids have gorgeous and thick petals. However, since most Western orchids are subtropical plants, they have cellular tissues, which are sparsely distributed, and have high moisture content. Thus, when Western orchids are pressed, the petals thereof are thinned.

[88] Among Western orchids, orchids having dark colors firmly withstand the acrylic resin solution and have beautiful shapes, thus being produced into excellent pressed flower products. Since cut Western orchids obtain many scratches on petals thereof during a distribution process, Western orchids, which are planted in pots, must be used. Further, Western orchids, which are cut at blooming times (when flowers are in full bloom), must be used (cut Western orchids may be used in a general pressed flower).

[89] As described above, in order to protect flowers to be pressed, it is important to prevent scratches on petals of the flowers during a distribution process thereof as well as to use fresh flowers at suitable blooming times.

[90] (3) Selection of Environment for Performing Manufacturing Process

[91] When winter and spring are over and summer has come, a problem was generated from the pressed flower, which was manufactured using acrylic. In summer, the pressed flower was seriously discolored and deteriorated. That is, the colors of petals in the pressed flower were chanted into white so that the pressed flower is stained.

[92] Among pressed flowers, which were manufactured using acrylic in the same condition in the four seasons (spring, summer, fall, and winter), the pressed flowers manufactured in spring, fall, and winter were not discolored, but the pressed flowers manufactured in summer were discolored, as described above. The inventor of the present invention revealed the fact that temperature and humidity during a process for manufacturing a pressed flower using acrylic play an important part in the discoloration of the pressed flower. Accordingly, the inventor determined the relation between temperature and humidity, which are suitable for manufacturing the pressed flower using acrylic, and took measurements according to the four seasons.

[93] As a result, Table 1 states whether or not pressed flowers are discolored according to room temperature and humidity according to the four seasons.

[94] Table 1

[95] As stated in Table 1, humidity rather than room temperature exerted a high influence on the discoloration of the pressed flower. Accordingly, in order to maintain the humidity of a room, in which the pressed flower is manufactured, below 40%, a de- humidifier is preferably installed in the room. Particularly, the dehumidifier is essentially installed in the room in summer.

[96] When the humidity of the room reaches 60-70% in the rainy summer season in spite of the dehumidifier installed in the room, the manufacturing of the pressed flower must be prohibited. Since, when dried matters are attached to the lower acrylic sheet and the acrylic resin solution is poured onto the lower acrylic sheet, dried matters to be pressed absorb moisture in the room.

[97] In order to solve the inconvenience caused due to the prohibition of the manufacturing of the pressed flower in the rainy summer season, the inventor of the present invention laid an electric plate (maintained at less than 5O ⁰ C) under the lower acrylic sheet, and arranged the matters to be pressed on the upper surface of the lower acrylic sheet, thereby maintaining the dried state of the matters. Here, the matters to be pressed are dried until the matters give a rustle. Thereafter, the inventor coated the matters to be pressed with a resin coating solution (Formica resin solution) using a brush.

[98] After the above pretreatment has been performed, remaining steps were performed. Thereby, although the humidity is comparatively high (approximately 60-70%) in the rainy summer season, the original colors of the matters were maintained.

[99] (4) Use of Acrylic Base Coloring Method according to Shapes and Characteristics of Tools Used to Manufacture Pressed Flower

[100] The use of an acrylic base coloring method according to shapes and characteristics of tools used is an important factor.

[101] When pressed flowers using acrylic initially were introduced, an acrylic base coloring method did not exist. However, in order to improve the quality of a pressed flower product, the acrylic base coloring method has been developed. As a result, the acrylic base coloring method made the matters for the pressed flower shine.

[102] Conventionally, only an acrylic dye having a white color was used. In the initial

stage of the introduction of the base coloring method, an acrylic dye was diluted with water, and was then painted on an acrylic sheet with a brush, thereby leaving a brush mark on the acrylic sheet, and thus causing the surface of the acrylic sheet to be unclean and mess.

[103] In order to solve the above drawback, the embodiment of the present invention uses an original solution of an acrylic dye, which is not diluted with water. In this case, a sponge, to which the acrylic dye having a desired color is attached, was uniformly touched on the upper surface of the lower acrylic sheet. Then, a fine base color surface was formed on the lower acrylic sheet due to the characteristics (high density) of the sponge and the patting force of the sponge. The acrylic dye cannot be easily spread by touch using the sponge due to its rapid drying property. In this case, the sponge, to which a minimum amount of water is supplied, is touched on the lower acrylic sheet, thereby being capable of forming a fine base color surface. Here, the amount of water supplied to the sponge is determined by the dimensions of the lower acrylic sheet.

[104] When the acrylic base coloring method is used, a base color surface may be formed on the front and rear surfaces of the acrylic sheet. Accordingly, this method is referred to as a "double acrylic base coloring method".

[105] The inventor of the present invention manufactured a pressed flower using acrylic in consideration of the above factors (1) to (4). Hereinafter, a process for manufacturing a pressed flower using acrylic in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8.

[106] FIGS. 1 to 8 are schematic sectional views illustrating a process for manufacturing a pressed flower using acrylic in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[107] Step (a): A worker cuts an original acrylic sheet into a desired size, thereby producing upper and lower acrylic sheets. The upper and lower acrylic sheets have a regular polygonal shape, such as a regular square shape, or a circular shape. In case that the lower acrylic sheet is sandpapered before use, the lower acrylic sheet may have a rectangular shape, the width and the length of which are not equal.

[108] The lower acrylic sheet may be selectively made of a transparent material or an opaque material. However, preferably, the upper acrylic sheet is made of a transparent material so that a pressed flower under the upper acrylic sheet can be clearly visible. The thickness (tl) of the lower acrylic sheet 10 serving as a base member is 5-100D, and preferably 5-10D, and the thickness (t2) of the upper acrylic sheet 26 is 1~5D, and preferably approximately 3D.

[109] The upper surface of the lower acrylic sheet 10 is ground using a fine sandpaper

(having an approximately 220 grits) so that an acrylic resin solution poured onto the lower acrylic sheet 10 is easily spread onto and adhered to the lower acrylic sheet 10,

but no surface of the upper acrylic sheet 26 is ground. When the thickness (tl) of the lower acrylic sheet 10 is less than 5D, the lower acrylic sheet 10 may be warped due to the sandpaper machining, and when the thickness (tl) of the lower acrylic sheet 10 is more than 10D, the efficiency in using the material for the acrylic sheet is lowered.

[110] Step (b): As shown in FIG. 1, an elastic tape 12 is attached along the edge of the upper surface of the lower acrylic sheet 10. After the tape 12 is removed from the edge of the upper surface of the lower acrylic sheet 10, the edge serves as a bonding surface 15 (in FIGS. 3 and 4). The bonding surface 15 allows the lower acrylic sheet 10 and the upper acrylic sheet 26 to be firmly bonded to each other via acrylic resin layers 22 and 24. The width (w) of the tape 12 is 3-100D, and preferably 5D. When the width (w) of the tape 12 is less than 3D, the width of the bonding surface 15 is also less than 3D, and the lower acrylic sheet 10 and the upper acrylic sheet 26 can be easily separated from each other.

[I l l] Step (c): After step (b) has been performed, a sponge, to which an acrylic dye having a desired color is attached, is uniformly touched on the upper surface of the lower acrylic sheet 10, as described in the factor (4), thereby forming a base color surface 14 (in FIG. 2). Preferably, the thickness of the base color surface 14 is less than 2D. In case that the thickness of the base color surface 14 exceeds 2D, when the base color surface 14 is completely dried, the base color surface 14 may crack.

[112] After the base color surface 14 is formed, the tape 12 is removed from the edge of the upper surface of the lower acrylic sheet 10 before the acrylic dye is completely dried, thereby forming the bonding surface 15 along the edge of the upper surface of the lower acrylic sheet 10, as shown in FIG. 3. As described above, the bonding surface 15 allows the lower acrylic sheet 10 and the upper acrylic sheet 26 to be firmly bonded to each other via the acrylic resin layers 22 and 24.

[113] Step (d): A picture for a pressed flower is designed on the base color surface 14 under the condition that the base color surface 14 is completely dried.

[114] Step (e): Matters 16 to be pressed are arranged on the base color surface 14 according to the design of step (d). The matters 16 satisfy the above-described factor (2).

[115] Step (f): The arranged matters are lifted up by a worker's hand one by one, and the lower surfaces of the arranged matters are coated with a polyester resin solution (Formica resin solution) using a brush. Thereafter, the matters are returned to their original positions on the base color surface 14.

[116] Step (g): In order to prevent moisture sorption of pressed flower, the upper surfaces of the arranged matters 16 are coated with a polyester resin solution, and are hardened. Thereby, a polyester resin coating layer 18 is formed on the matters 16.

[117] In the method of this embodiment, as described above steps (f) and (g), the con-

ventional flower bond (the carpenter's adhesive) is not used, but instead the polyester resin solution is used to attach the matters 16 to be pressed to the lower acrylic sheet 10. As the experimental result, when the flower bond (the carpenter's adhesive) is used, the flower bond chemically reacted with the matters 16 to be pressed and thus caused changes of the matters 16, such as young leaves and flowers, but when the polyester resin solution is used, the polyester resin solution did not change colors of the matters 16 to be pressed, or minimized the change of the colors of the matters 16 to be pressed.

[118] In steps (f) and (g), two drops of a hardener is added to lOOcc of the polyester resin solution. Thereby, it is possible to set the time, to harden the polyester resin solution, to several hours, and preferably 5 hours. Here, 5 hours is the minimum time required to check whether or not the matters 16 to be pressed are discolored, in consideration of a worker's operating time.

[119] Thereby, it is possible to check whether or not the matters 16 to be pressed, such as flowers and/or leaves, are discolored or damaged while the polyester resin solution is hardened. When the matters 16 to be pressed are discolored or damaged, the discolored or damaged matters 16 are removed from the lower acrylic sheet 10 before 5 hours has elapsed (i.e., before the polyester resin coating layer 18 is completely hardened), and new matters 16 are attached to the lower acrylic sheet 10.

[120] Step (h): After step (g) has been performed, a frame adhesive sheet 20, the width of which is approximately 2~3D, is fixedly attached to the side surfaces of the lower acrylic sheet 10, as shown in FIG. 5, and serves as a mold for an acrylic resin solution, thereby forming an acrylic resin solution molding chamber 21 above the lower acrylic sheet 10.

[121] Step (i): After step (h) has been performed, an acrylic resin solution containing a hardening accelerator and a hardener is poured into the acrylic resin solution molding chamber 21 to a level slightly higher than the thickness of the matters 16 to be pressed, i.e., the level, at which the matters 16 are dipped in the acrylic resin solution. Here, the environment must be kept clean so that dust does not enter the acrylic resin solution.

[122] The contents of the hardening accelerator and the hardener, which are added to the acrylic resin solution, are minimal, and are adjusted so that the acrylic resin solution can be slowly hardened after several tens of hours and preferably 24 hours have elapsed. Preferably, the total content of the hardening accelerator and the hardener, which are added to lOOcc of the acrylic resin solution, is O.Olcc, and the ratio of the hardening accelerator to the hardener is approximately 1 :2.

[123] When the large content of the hardening accelerator and the hardener is added to the acrylic resin solution, heat is generated due to rapid hardening, thus causing discoloration of the matters 16 to be pressed and cracks of the acrylic resin layers 22 and

24.

[124] Step (j): After approximately 24 hours have elapsed from the time of completing step (i), the acrylic resin solution containing the hardening accelerator and the hardener is hardened, thereby forming a first acrylic resin layer 22, as shown in FIG. 6. However, the obtained first acrylic resin layer 22 is not completely even, and cannot be thus covered with the upper acrylic sheet 26, as it is.

[125] Accordingly, the acrylic resin solution containing the hardening accelerator and the hardener is poured again onto the first acrylic resin layer 22, and then the upper acrylic resin sheet 26 made of an original acrylic resin is mounted thereon.

[126] Step (k): After approximately 24 hours have elapsed from the time of completing step (j), a second acrylic resin layer 24 is formed on the first acrylic resin layer 22, and the upper acrylic sheet 26 is stacked on the second acrylic resin layer 24, as shown in FIG. 7. The thickness (t2) of the upper acrylic sheet 26 is 1~5D, and preferably approximately 3D.

[127] After the upper acrylic sheet 26 is stacked on the second acrylic resin layer 24, the frame adhesive sheet 20 is removed from the side surfaces of the lower and upper acrylic sheets 10 and 26, and the side surfaces of the lower and upper acrylic sheets 10 and 26 are abraded.

[128] Thereby, a pressed flower using acrylic is manufactured. In order to apply the pressed flower to furniture, the pressed flower is assembled with a furniture frame, and is polished with a furniture wax.

[129] As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a pressed flower using acrylic, in which matters, to be pressed, dipped in an acrylic resin are not discolored and remain visible as time passes, based on selection of an acrylic material, selection of the matters to be pressed, selection of environment for performing a manufacturing process, and use of an acrylic base coloring method according to shapes and characteristics of tools used to manufacture the pressed flower, thereby allowing the pressed flower to be semipermanently preserved. Industrial Applicability

[130] The method of the present invention is used to apply the pressed flower to products, such as daily necessaries or ornaments.

[131] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.