EP 2 149 656 A1 ” DUO QUOOONEATA ty EP 2 149 656 A1 (12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION (Ogaonabre lan 2105 OO oH ra00mm= auc soon (21) Application number: 09182473.6 (22) Date of fing: 10.02.2009 Bam vooree”) (84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FIFR GB GR HR HUIEISITLILTLU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL. PTROSESISKTR Designated Extension States: AL BARS. (80) Priory: 12.05.2008 ES 200801367 (71) Applicants: + Ramén Lima, Francisco Javier 38400 Puerto de la Cruz Tenerife (ES) + Ramén Casa, Vicente ‘38400 Puerto de la Cruz Ten (es) (72) Inventors: ‘+ Ramén Lima, Francisco Javier ‘38400 Puerto de la Cruz Tenerife (ES) + Ramén Casaf, Vicente ‘38400 Puerto de la Cruz Ten (es) (74) Representative: Elzaburu Marquez, Alberto et al Etzaburu S. Miguel Angel 21 28010 Madrid (ES) (54) (87) Method of manufacturing an improved designer ceramic gravestone in which once the decoration thereat has been composed, the four colours of the desired el ‘ements are fimed using special software, thus obtaining four fims, one for each colour (magenta, cyan, yellow ‘and black), Nex, insolation ofthe fims on special papers Method of manufacturing a ceramic gravestone and gravestone thus produced orsheets is carried out, and then the pigments or colours are applied to the sheets, obtaining a base that will be ‘applied on the enamelled iter, With this application an ace withthe final design that willbe fred in the Kiln ‘again, for fusion ofthe two enamels, is obtained.1 EP 2149 656 A1 2 Description [0001] The aim ofthe present invention isto make use ofthe inherent properties of ceramics, stoneware, cystal lass, glass-ceramic, porcelaneous stoneware or porce- lain, in such @ way that these materials can be used, starting from certain dimensions, in the production of gravestones that have the novelty of permanently dis playing photographs of the loved ones, flower arrange: ments, borders, images of favorte saints of the de- ‘ceased, landscapes particularly loved by the deceased, various typologies and textures of eters of the alphabet cr any other detail of particular intrest that reminds us ofthe lfe of the deceased in some way. 0002} | Concretely, said materials are used in the form ‘of compacted slabs in a mold of ceramic, glass or other ceramic material that can take on a great many textures, Including those that imitate marble in any of its forms or granite. However, itis also possible to produce textures of the most varied pattems, many of them being very suitable for achieving a beautiful background of fine ma- terlal that sets off the photograph end omamentation ‘mentioned above, Once fired, a novel gravestone is ob- tained ofthe state ofthe at and specfc tothe object at the presentinvertion, achieving combination of factors, color and physical appearance that cannot be obtained With radtional gravestones, tsestheticetfectbeinghigh ly value, [0003] We thus obtain a standardized system for con struction of gravestones, of simple assembly, versatile since it is applicable to various textures and colors on Which photographs and omamental motifs can be pro: Vided as desired and that tekes advantage ofthe natural properties of hardness, strength and insulation, coloring ‘and esthetic appearance of a material that until now has had numerous uses, buthas neverbeen usedasa grave: stone in cemeteries. In particular, tis durable material, \which displays very stable behavior against al variables, both physical and chemical, and is long-lasting, [0004] Gravestones are known in various types of ma: terlas, generally of a stony character, among which the ‘marbles and granites stand out, for insertion in the fronts ‘of niches orfor placing on tombs, which cannot be com: bined with the decorative elements of the gravestones ‘according to the present invention, since they are con structed with very diferent materials, moreover specific structures and particular operations ae required for each type of gravestone, as each has its own particular prop: ceies. Document ES 291346 U discloses the construc: tion ofa frame of crystal glass in the back of the grave- stone for protecting the photographs and other omamen tation that are displayed between the crystal glass and the gravestone. Document ES 1044794 U relates to @ gravestone for embellishing the closure of aniche, char- acterized in that itis made from a plate of rigid material (of minimal thickness, on which a waterproofing sheet ot papers glued, bearing imprints ofvarous funeral motis, printed outby computer, resultingina gravestone of poor durability. Document ES 228291 U discloses a grave- stone for niches and tombs constituted by a molding in ceramic material or porcelain, whose visible face has decorative bas-reliefs of motifs and patterns, enameled ‘andfired, definingan unalterable surface, being provided ‘onthe back surface with a fat peripheral edge for fiting to the surface of he niche or tomb, but itis not possible ‘toincomporate therein the ornamental matis ofthe grave- stone according to the present invention. Finally, the Spanish patent application ES 2300186 discloses a gravestone wherein, using programs for digital and pho- tographic retouching, the decorative elements thatthe client decides to choose for the gravestone are assem- bled, Among said decorative elements itis possible to choose a texture of granite or of marble or even a fancy texture, colours, grain size, orientation ofthe veins, size ofthe veins, a photograph of the deceased or of a fa- ‘vourite saint, landscapes, flowers, borders, decorated ledges and corners, type of lettering with textures in gol, silver, bronze and any other element supplied by the cl- ent. Once the gravestone has been composed, printing Is caried outon a transfer on a digital laser printer. Ifthe dimensions of the gravestone are greater than those of the transfer, paritions are made and printing is done in ‘as many parts as are required for the sizeof the grave: stone, making up the latte by juxtaposition of the various parts. The transfers enamelled and dried ready for ap- plicetion on the enamelled eurtace ofthe plece of porce- lain-ike material descrioed above. Wit said application, fan article i obtained with the ial design, which wil be fired in the kiln again, for fusion of the two enamels. A shiny gravestone is obtained, which is suitable for out- door use, Instead of transfer by direct application, itcan also be caried out by means ofan ink-jet printer, obtain- ing the same result. However, both the shine and the ‘outdoor performance of the gravestone obtained by this procedure can still be improved. [0005] The abject ofthe present invention is based on providinga set ol technical improvements to said design- fer ceramic gravestones 80 that once fred inthe Kin and ‘enamelled, by means of programs for digtal and photo- cgraphic retouching, the decorative elements thatthe cl- ent selects for the gravestone are assembled, such as texture, photographs ofthe deceased, landscapes, fow- ers, decorative corners and borders, types of lettering With textures of gold, bronze, sver or any other element suppliedby the cent, extending the process for improv: ing the end result, this latter being the novelty provided by the present addition. With the present invention, a gravestone is obtained that is shinier and more suitable for outdoor use than those of the prior art. The solution to this problem is an improved procedure for the manu- facturing of gravestones from porcelainic materials as deserved below: [0006] Once the gravestone has been composed fol lowing the procedure described in ES 2300186, that is, ‘once it has been enameled, fred inthe kiln and the dec- orative elements that make It up have been assembled8 EP 2149 656 A1 4 preferably using programs for digital and photographic retouching, the four colours of said decorative elements are filmed using special software in a cinecamera, thus ‘obtaining four fms, one of each colour (magenta, cyan, yellow and black). This lm is insolatedinan isolator on special paper or thermaltranster sheet provided with ad: hhesive on its reverse, in which the information from each filmis obtained. Thisprocessis repeatedfourtimes, once for each colour. On completion te film is discarded and the process continues with the sheet. The corresponding pigment is applied to each of the sheets either by hand ‘or using @ special machine known as ATM. Once the sheets have been obtained wit the information for each colour and with the coresponding pigment applied, they fare arranged on base paper or tracing paper and are superimposed precisely so that once the four sheets are combined on the base paper, the images obtained. Then it ie immersed in water untl the base comes away, and next is apolied on the ceramic for subsequent fring in the kn, for which addtional enameling is not required, since the pigments and sheets used each contain a pro- portion of enarnl, which once fred becomes shiny. [0007] An example ofa preferred embodiment ofthe invention willbe presentedbelow,thispresentation being Just one of the many designs that can be employed for development of the technique and configuration de- scribed previously. [0008] "The designer ceramic gravestone is formed on the basis of Kiln fring of an enamelled porcelain-ke a: ticle and assembing, by means of programs for digital ‘and photographic retouching, the decorative elements thatthe cient selects for the gravestone, such astexture, photographs of the deceased, landscapes, flowers, dec- Corative comers and borders, types of lettering with tex: tures of gold, bronze, sivar or any other element supplied by the client, then extending the process inthe following way: the four colours are fimed using special software ina cinecamera, thus obtaining four fms, one of each colour (magenta, cyan, yellow and black). This film is Ingolated In an insolator on special paper or thermal transfer sheet provided with adhesive on ts reverse, on Which the information from each film is obtained. This process is repeated four times, once for each colour. ‘Once completed, the flm is discarded and the process Continues with the sheet. The corresponding pigment is ‘applied to each of the sheets, elter by hand or using @ special machine known as ATM. Once the sheets are ‘obtained with the information for each colour and with the corresponding pigment applied, they are arranged ‘on base paper of tracing paper and are superimposed precisely so that once the four sheets have been com: bined on the base paper, the Image is obtained, Then it Is immersed in water until the base comes away, and ‘next itis applied on the ceramic, for which adaitional ‘enamelingisnctrequired, since the pigments andsheets sed each contain a proportion of enamel, then fring is carried out, in which it mets with the previous enamel, ‘and becomes shiny, Claims 1 Method of manufacturing a ceramic gravestone comprising thepprevious step ofklnfringofanenam- elledporcelainicelement, characterised inthat the ‘method further comprises the following steps: a) fring each one the four colours: magenta, cyan, yelow and black ofthe desied decorative elements in a cinecamera, thus obtaining four films, one for each colour, b)ingolate each ofthe four films cbtained in step a) with an insolator on special paper or thermal transter sheet provided with adhesive on its re- verse, obtaining four sheets containing the in- formation from each fm; ©) apply the corresponding pigment to each of the four sheets, obtaining sheets withthe infor ‘mation for each colour andwith the correspond ing pigment applied 4) arrange the sheets obtained in step c) on a ‘base paper or tracing paper and superimpose them preciselyso that once thefour sheets have been combined on the base paper, the image is obtained €) immerse the combination ofthe sheets and the base paper resulting from step d) in water untl the base comes away; 4) apply the base on the enamelled poreelainie element, and 9) fire the enamelled porcelainic element with the base, 60 thatthe enamel ofthe porcelainic ‘element is melted withthe enamel of the base, ‘Method of manufacturing ofcaramic gravestones ac- cording to claim 1, wherein the desired decorative elements of step) have been previously assembled sing programs for digital and photographic retouch- ing Method according to claim 2, wherein the decorative elements comprises photographs of the deceased, landscapes, flowers, decorative comers and bor- der, types of lettering with textures of gold, bronze, silver or any combination thereat Method according to any one of previous claims 1-3, \wherein in step 0), the application ofthe pigment is carried out by hand. Method according to any one of previous claims 1-8, ‘wherein, in step d), the application of the pigment is carried out using a special machine known as ATM. Ceramic gravestone made through the procedure of any one of previous claims 1-5.EP 2149 656 A1 d= evRoPean sEAnGH AeponT satan EP 09 15 2473 DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT Ganon] _ Ose gaeren dein woe varie a D,A ]WO 2007/135207 A (RAMON LIMA FRANCISCO [1-6 | INV. JAVIER [ES]; RANON CRSAN VICENTE [ES]) £04413 /00 29 Novenber’2007 (2007-11-29) Baacs/00 * page 1, line 2 = page 5, line 17 * BalM1/09 Us 2002/015784 AL (AQNO TOSHIAKI [JP] ET |1-5 AL) 7 February 2002 (2002-02-07) “abstract; figures 1A-5E; examples 5,6 * AU 730 042 82 (PROMARC INTERNAT LTO) 1-6 22 February 2001 (2001-02-22) * page 6, line 6 - page 10, line 2; figures 1,2 * US 2 215 595 A (SAUNDERS ARTHUR B) 1 24 September 1940 (1940-09-24) * claims 1-11; figures 1,2 * Eee ae tom Balm Ba4e funich 22 becerber 2009 | Stefanescuy Radu Son FBT DONO Toemsmmse. ———” oesEP 2149 656 A1 ANNEX TO THE EUROPEAN SEARCH REPORT ON EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION NO. EP 09 15 2473 Ths aes ine the pte family members elt othe pl ‘einer we arta Eapan rt On EOP Re ‘ene _— 22-12-2009 Palen docirven| Picton Pent tip Pibicaion etedin sear vot ia "merber) ‘ae WO 2007135207 A 29-11-2007 EP 2034108 Al 11-03-2009 FS 2300186 Al 01-05-2008 FS 2302666 Al 16-07-2008 US 2002015784 Al 07-02-2002 NONE AU 730042 B2 22-02-2001 AU «4062797 A 23-04-1998 US 2215595 A «24-09-1940 NONE. ern tale about th annex: sa Ol oumal othe Eropsan Patek ton, No 1282EP 2149 656 A1 REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION This list of references cited by the applicant i forthe reader's convenience only. It does nat form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be ‘excluded and the EPO disclaims all abit in this regard, Patent documents cited in the description + €S231346 U [0004] + 8.228291 U [0008] + ES 1044794 U [0004] + ES 2300186 [0004) [0006]