Method and apparatus for manufacturing patterned glass products which simulate glue chipped glass

A method of manufacturing patterned glass sheets, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a furnace or melter;
• providing first and second opposing rollers which define a nip therebetween, and providing at least one of the first and second rollers with a pattern including a plurality of intersecting ridges of different lengths defined in an exterior surface thereof, with a plurality of the ridges intersecting one another at angles of from about 5-80 degrees;
• a ribbon of glass exiting the furnace or melter and proceeding toward the nip;
• the ribbon of glass reaching the nip between the first and second rollers at a temperature of from about 1,900-2,400° F.;
• forming a pattern in at least one surface of the glass ribbon at the nip, by causing the pattern to be transferred from the at least one roller to the ribbon of glass;
• the patterned glass ribbon exiting the nip;
• and
• cutting the patterned glass ribbon into a plurality of sheets.

A patterned glass sheet aesthetically resembling a conventional glue chipped glass sheet, the patterned glass sheet comprising:

• a sheet of glass including first and second opposing major surfaces;
• a pattern simulating a conventional glue chipped glass sheet pattern defined in one of said first and second major surfaces of said sheet of glass;
• wherein said pattern includes a plurality of ridges or lines of different lengths defined in said surface of said sheet, said ridges or lines being formed of glass;
• and
• wherein certain of said ridges or lines intersect other of said ridges or lines in a manner such that the pattern simulates a conventional glue chipped pattern.