# US 8,784,671 B2 · Method of manufacturing a press plate, a press plate, a method of embossing a floor panel, and a floor panel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,784,671 B2 - Document ID: US8784671B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/681,220 - Filed: 2008-10-02 - Published: 2010-10-14 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2007-10-05 - Assignees: Spanolux N.V.-Div. Balterio - Applicants: Bruno Vermeulen - Inventors: Bruno Vermeulen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784671B2 ## CPC - B44C 5/04: Ornamental plaques, e.g. decorative panels, decorative veneers - B44F 9/02: wood grain effects - E04F 15/02: Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements (of webs E04F15/16) - Y10T 428/24355: Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or component [e.g., roofing, etc.] - B44C: PRODUCING DECORATIVE EFFECTS (processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general B05D; shaping of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29C; printing processes to produce transfer pictures B41M3/12; thermographic duplication or marking methods B41M5/00); MOSAICS; TARSIA WORK (imitation of mosaic or tarsia work patterns B44F11/04); PAPERHANGING {(labels G09F; multi-step processes for making paper labels or tags B31D1/02)} - B44F: SPECIAL DESIGNS OR PICTURES - E04F: FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS (windows, doors E06B) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A method of manufacturing a press plate for applying a surface structure onto a floor panel, wherein the press plate includes a press plate surface, comprises the following steps: first fine projections are created on the press plate surface, then the resulting fine projections are covered by a surface treatment resistant material, and subsequently the press plate surface including the resistant material is submitted to a surface treatment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of manufacturing a press plate for applying a surface structure onto a floor panel, wherein the press plate includes a press plate surface, the method comprising: creating fine projections on the press plate surface, subsequently providing a chrome layer on the press plate surface to create the same gloss level on the press plate surface on the areas having the fine projections and the areas adjacent the fine projections, covering the fine projections with a surface treatment resistant material, and submitting the press plate surface including the surface treatment resistant material to a surface treatment such that press plate surface structure at the fine projections is different from that in adjacent portions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the surface treatment is a chemical surface treatment. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the chemical surface treatment is an etching treatment. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein creating the fine projections on the press plate surface comprises etching the press plate surface adjacent to intended locations of the fine projections. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 and further comprising removing the surface treatment resistant material from the press plate surface after the surface treatment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein covering the fine projections with the surface treatment resistant material comprises printing the surface treatment resistant material onto the fine projections. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein after submitting the press plate surface including the surface treatment resistant material to the surface treatment, the press plate surface structure at the fine projections is such that the gloss level is higher than in adjacent portions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the fine projections on the press plate surface are elongated projections having a width of less than 1 millimeter. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the surface treatment is a sand blasting treatment. ### Claim 10 A method of manufacturing a press plate for applying a surface structure onto a floor panel, wherein the press plate includes a press plate surface having fine projections projecting away from adjacent surface portions, the method comprising: providing a chrome layer on the press plate surface on the areas having the fine projections and the adjacent surface portions before the fine projections are covered by a surface treatment resistant material to create the same gloss level on the press plate surface on the areas having the fine projections and the adjacent surface portions, subsequently covering the same gloss level on the fine projections with surface treatment resistant material, and submitting the press plate surface including the surface treatment resistant material to a surface treatment such that at least some the surface treatment resistant material remains and the press plate surface structure adjacent the fine projections is different from that under the surface treatment resistant material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the surface treatment is a chemical surface treatment. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the chemical surface treatment is an etching treatment. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10 and further comprising removing the surface treatment resistant material from the press plate surface after the surface treatment. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein covering the fine projections with the surface treatment resistant material comprises printing the surface treatment resistant material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein after submitting the press plate surface including the surface treatment resistant material to the surface treatment, the press plate surface structure at the fine projections is such that the gloss level is higher than in adjacent portions. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the fine projections on the press plate surface are elongated projections having a width of less than 1 millimeter. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the surface treatment is a sand blasting treatment. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10 wherein the surface treatment is a chrome surface treatment.