Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
359530000 | Unitary plate or sheet comprising plural reflecting elements | 87 |
20080198460 | Conformable retroreflective film structure - The present invention includes conformable retroreflective structures. In some embodiments, the conformable retroreflective structures are also shrink resistant. The conformable retroreflective structures include a transparent plasticized polyvinyl chloride film having a first side and a second side; a first transparent polymer layer overlying the first side of the plasticized polyvinyl chloride film; a second transparent polymer layer overlying the second side of the plasticized polyvinyl chloride film; an array of retroreflective cube-corner elements underlying the second transparent polymer layer; and a plasticizer resistant adhesive underlying the array of retroreflective cube-corner elements. In some embodiments, the first and second transparent polymer layers are transparent, radiation-cured polymer layers. | 08-21-2008 |
20080212181 | Retroreflective Sheet Structure - A retroreflective sheet structure ( | 09-04-2008 |
20080212182 | TWO-SIDED CORNER-CUBE RETROREFLECTORS AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - In a retroreflective sheeting, and methods of formation thereof, the sheeting comprises a body of material, the body having a first surface and a second surface. A plurality of first full-square-sided corner-cube structures are on the first surface of the body, the first full-square-sided corner-cube structures each having three facets that lie along planes that are orthogonal to each other. A plurality of second full-square-sided corner-cube structures are on the second surface of the body, the second full-square-sided corner-cube structures each having three facets that lie along planes that are orthogonal to each other. The body is constructed and arranged to be transparent to incident electromagnetic energy at a range of wavelengths and to have a thickness so that an incident electromagnetic energy ray that is incident at one of the first and second surfaces enters the body, and is redirected by both the first surface and the second surface so that both the first surface and the second surface contribute to retroreflection of the incident electromagnetic energy ray, and exits from the one of the first and second surfaces at which the incident electromagnetic energy ray was incident to emit a retroreflected electromagnetic energy ray of the incident electromagnetic energy ray. | 09-04-2008 |
20080278814 | STRUCTURED SURFACE ARTICLES CONTAINING GEOMETRIC STRUCTURES WITH COMPOUND FACES AND METHODS FOR MAKING SAME - A prepared substrate including an array of cube corner cavities and protrusions interspersed between the cube corner cavities is described herein. | 11-13-2008 |
20090021831 | PRISMATIC RETROREFLECTIVE ARTICLE WITH CROSS-LINKED IMAGE LAYER AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME - A prismatic retroreflective article and a method for making same. The retroreflective article can include a transparent polymeric body portion, an optical layer coupled to the body portion, and an image layer coupled to the body portion opposite the optical layer. The image layer can define imaged portions and non-imaged portions of the prismatic retroreflective article. The image layer can include cross-links formed between a polymer resin having hydroxyl functional groups and a cross-linking agent having isocyanate functional groups. The image layer can have a percent elongation of at least 80 percent and less than 200 percent. The method can include printing or coating an image layer onto to the body portion of the retroreflective sheeting opposite the optical layer, and cross-linking the image layer to form cross-links between the hydroxyl functional groups of the polymer resin and the isocyanate functional groups of the cross-linking agent. | 01-22-2009 |
20090052036 | PRISM SHEET AND LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY DEVICE USING THE SAME - An exemplary prism sheet according to a preferred embodiment includes a light input surface, a light output surface and a plurality of triangular pyramidal optical elements. The light output surface is opposite to the light input surface. The plurality of triangular pyramidal optical elements are formed at the light output surface. A bottom surface of each triangular pyramidal optical element is coplanar with the light output surface. Each triangular pyramidal optical element has three sides. Each one of the three sides of each triangular pyramidal optical element is connected with a side of adjacent triangular pyramidal optical element. A liquid crystal display device using the prism sheet is also provided. | 02-26-2009 |
20090097118 | Light-Reflecting Triple, Reflector, as Well as Method for Recognizing an Object - The invention relates to a triple prism which reflects light, a reflector and to a method for recognizing an object. A reflective photoelectric barrier sends light to a reflector. The reflector does not answer with the form of the obtained light signal, but with a double signal which projects two light centers. The reflector can also be embodied such that it answers with a different geometric figure than the light projection. The reflector with a modified signal enables a sensor system to be produced and which can verify, by evaluating the light signal captured by the reflector, whether the captured signal of the reflector or another reflection. | 04-16-2009 |
20090122405 | Composite Triangular-Pyramidal Cube-Corner Retroreflective Sheeting And Retroreflective Articles - Adoption of composite cube-corner retroreflective elements in which groups of each at least two sub-retroreflective elements which are each defined by three lateral faces mutually crossing at approximately right angles, as being configured by three-directional V-shaped parallel groove groups having substantially symmetrical sections and intersecting with each other, and which are arrayed in the closest-packed state, projecting on one side of their common sub-plane (SH-SH), each of said groups of sub-reflective elements being disposed on one main retroreflective element which is defined by three lateral faces mutually crossing at approximately right angles, as being configured by three-directional V-shaped parallel groove groups having substantially symmetrical sections and intersecting with each other, and which is disposed on the main plane (S-S). | 05-14-2009 |
20090161217 | RETROREFLECTIVE ARTICLE - A retroreflective article with excellent wide-angle characteristics is provided. Entrance angle characteristics, observation angle characteristics, and rotation angle characteristics are improved. In a retroreflective article, an assembly of multidirectional retroreflective elements is formed, in which either five, or seven or more unit elements are formed so as to share two common base edges forming the triangular base face of the unit elements and a common vertex at which the common base edges intersect, with an adjacent retroreflective element. | 06-25-2009 |
20090168177 | ACTIVE REFLECTIVE WARNING APPARATUS - The active reflective warning apparatus includes a transparent housing having a clear surface, a glittering retroreflective sheeting applied on the clear surface of the transparent housing for reflecting an external light, and a light-emitting unit disposed in the transparent housing. The light emitting from the light-emitting unit may emit through the clear surface and the glittering retroreflective sheeting. | 07-02-2009 |
20090168178 | Conformable retroreflective film structure - The present invention includes conformable retroreflective structures. In some embodiments, the conformable retroreflective structures are also shrink resistant. The conformable retroreflective structures include a transparent plasticized polyvinyl chloride film having a first side and a second side; a first transparent polymer layer overlying the first side of the plasticized polyvinyl chloride film; a second transparent polymer layer overlying the second side of the plasticized polyvinyl chloride film; an array of retroreflective cube-corner elements underlying the second transparent polymer layer; and a plasticizer resistant adhesive underlying the array of retroreflective cube-corner elements. In some embodiments, the first and second transparent polymer layers are transparent, radiation-cured polymer layers. | 07-02-2009 |
20090185272 | METHOD OF MAKING RETROREFLECTIVE SHEETING AND ARTICLES - The invention relates to a method of making retroreflective sheeting and other articles prepared from casting a moldable synthetic resin onto a tool having a microstructured surface. | 07-23-2009 |
20090237791 | TWO-SIDED CORNER-CUBE RETROREFLECTORS AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - In a retroreflective sheeting, and methods of formation thereof, the sheeting comprises a body of material, the body having a first surface and a second surface. A plurality of first full-square-sided corner-cube structures are on the first surface of the body, the first full-square-sided corner-cube structures each having three facets that lie along planes that are orthogonal to each other. A plurality of second full-square-sided corner-cube structures are on the second surface of the body, the second full-square-sided corner-cube structures each having three facets that lie along planes that are orthogonal to each other. The body is constructed and arranged to be transparent to incident electromagnetic energy at a range of wavelengths and to have a thickness so that an incident electromagnetic energy ray that is incident at one of the first and second surfaces enters the body, and is redirected by both the first surface and the second surface so that both the first surface and the second surface contribute to retroreflection of the incident electromagnetic energy ray, and exits from the one of the first and second surfaces at which the incident electromagnetic energy ray was incident to emit a retroreflected electromagnetic energy ray of the incident electromagnetic energy ray. | 09-24-2009 |
20090257124 | LAMINA COMPRISING CUBE CORNER ELEMENTS AND RETROREFLECTIVE SHEETING - The present disclosure is directed to lamina(e) comprising cube corner elements, a tool comprising an assembly of laminae and replicas thereof. The disclosure further relates to retroreflective sheeting. | 10-15-2009 |
20090273839 | Method for constructing a phase conjugate mirror - A method that provides for a phase conjugate mirror | 11-05-2009 |
20090296216 | CUBE CORNER TYPE RETROREFLECTION ARTICLE - A retroreflection article formed of groups of grooves in three directions having substantially V-shaped cross sections, including a large number of pairs of cube corner retroreflection elements being disposed, the elements in each pair being formed to be rotationally symmetric while sharing one base line forming the retroreflection elements. A group of parallel V-shaped grooves in one direction (grooves x) forming the group of pairs of retroreflection elements has straight-line bottom tracks, the groups of parallel V-shaped grooves in the other two directions (grooves w | 12-03-2009 |
20100007954 | RETROREFLECTIVE ARTICLES COMPRISING OLEFINIC SEAL FILMS - Microstructured articles, such as a retroreflective articles, having a plurality of (e.g. cube-corner) microstructured elements and a seal film layer adhered to portions of the cube-corner elements and/or portions of a (e.g., flexible) body layer. The seal film is a thermoplastic polymeric material comprising reaction products of alkylene in an amount of at least about 50% and reaction products of at least one non-acidic polar monomer. | 01-14-2010 |
20100053754 | Metallized Retroreflective Sheeting With Increased Daytime Brightness - A retroreflective sheeting ( | 03-04-2010 |
20100103521 | RETROREFLECTIVE SHEETING - The present application relates generally to retroreflective sheeting and the tools and methods used to make retroreflective sheeting. Microreplication tools and sheeting include controlled surface structure or haze. The surface structure or haze can be introduced, for example, by chemical etching of the tool surface and/or electroplating. | 04-29-2010 |
20100110545 | RETROREFLECTIVE ARTICLE - A retroreflective object having a retroreflective clement layer in which a large number of cube corner retroreflective elements of total internal reflection type are disposed. In the back surface of the retroreflective element layer, an optical characteristic adjusting layer is partially provided, and in the back surface of the optical characteristic adjusting layer, an air layer is provided. With the invention, an optical characteristic adjusting layer for adjusting a hue and occupant area ratio can be provided on the back surface of the retroreflective element layer of an existing object in a simple way for easy adjustment, thus enabling a retroreflective object to be manufactured at high productivity and low cost. Therefore, retroreflective objects suitable for reflective plates for traffic related signs such as a traffic sign, a regulation sign, an information sign, and a construction work sign, commercial sings, and reflected-light sensors for visible light, laser beam, or infrared light can be manufactured effectively with use of existing products. | 05-06-2010 |
20100149639 | RETRO-REFLECTOR USED IN TRAFFIC SAFETY SIGNS - A retro-reflector has at least one retro-reflecting element that has high retro-reflection efficiency and a very wide retro-reflecting range. The retro-reflecting element includes a mother reflecting corner including a communal reflecting surface that is an optical surface of a single geometrical plane, and a conceptual stepped surface that meets the communal reflecting surface at a right angle; and a plurality of subsidiary reflecting corners that are arranged along the stepped surface such that corners thereof meet the communal reflecting surface at a right angle, and each including a pair of exclusive reflecting surfaces, which are optical surfaces in a single geometrical plane and meet at a right angle. | 06-17-2010 |
20100165463 | TRIANGULAR-PYRAMIDAL CUBE-CORNER RETROREFLECTIVE ARTICLE HAVING CURVED REFLECTIVE LATERAL FACE - To provide a retroreflective article formed of many triangular-pyramidal cube-corner retroreflective element pairs. One-side groove angle formed between a cross line between a plane vertical to the common plane and to a V-groove vertical plane which includes the base line of a V-shaped groove is vertical to the common plane, and a reflective lateral face containing the base line of the v-shaped groove, and the V-groove vertical plane, does not form a constant angle in the reflective lateral face but the lateral face forms a curved and/or multiple surface. A base line constituting any directional V-shaped groove in retroreflective element pairs is a nonlinear base line which does not form a linear trajectory and the reflective lateral face formed of the V-shaped groove forms a curved and/or multiple surface. | 07-01-2010 |
20100195205 | CUBE-CORNER TYPE SELF-REFLECTION SHEET HAVING IMPROVED TENSILE STRENGTH - Disclosed is a retroreflective sheet using a cube-corner type retroreflection principle, which is composed of a body layer which includes a flexible transparent thermoplastic sheet made of a transparent material for high light transmittance and having a smooth surface as a reflective surface and also includes a woven fabric disposed therein, and a cube-corner type microprism layer having a retroreflective function formed on a surface of the body layer including the transparent thermoplastic sheet and the woven fabric in an integrated form, opposite the reflective surface. The retroreflective sheet has a configuration in which the woven fabric having high tensile strength is inserted into the transparent thermoplastic polymer (PVC, TPU, PO, or acryl) sheet, and is suitable for end uses requiring high tensile force. | 08-05-2010 |
20100226009 | METHOD OF MAKING RETROREFLECTIVE SHEETING AND ARTICLES - The invention relates to a method of making retroreflective sheeting and other articles prepared from casting a moldable synthetic resin onto a tool having a microstructured surface. | 09-09-2010 |
20100232019 | LAMINA COMPRISING CUBE CORNER ELEMENTS AND RETROREFLECTIVE SHEETING - The present disclosure is directed to lamina(e) comprising cube corner elements, a tool comprising an assembly of laminae and replicas thereof. The disclosure further relates to retroreflective sheeting. | 09-16-2010 |
20100265584 | RETROREFLECTING OPTICAL CONSTRUCTION - Retroreflecting optical constructions are disclosed. A disclosed retroreflecting optical construction includes a retroreflecting layer that has a retroreflecting structured major surface, and an optical film that is disposed on the retroreflecting structured major surface of the retroreflecting layer. The optical film has an optical haze that is not less than about 30%. Substantial portions of each two neighboring major surfaces in the retroreflecting optical construction are in physical contact with each other. | 10-21-2010 |
20100265585 | RETRO-REFLECTOR - The present invention relates to a retroreflective article enabling to retroreflect incident light in its incident direction, and the retroreflective article including at least one retroreflective element, the retroreflective element comprising at least one reflecting corner comprised of a pair of corner reflecting surfaces which meet at dihedral angle of about 90 degree; and a pair of vertical reflecting surfaces which are formed on both ends of the reflecting corner to be substantially perpendicular to a corner of the reflecting corner with a distance which is smaller than the highest vertical height and which meet at dihedral angle of about 90 degree for the pair of corner reflecting surfaces. This retroreflective article has higher retroreflective ratio and wider available retroreflective range, and it is designed to be freely changed its main reflecting direction having the highest retroreflective ratio. | 10-21-2010 |
20100277801 | TRANSPARENT, WAVELENGTH-SELECTIVE RETROREFLECTOR - A transparent wavelength-selective retroreflector ( | 11-04-2010 |
20100284080 | RETROREFLECTIVE STRUCTURE WITH FABRIC FACE - A fabric-backed retroreflective article has improved visual appearance by combining the fabric and retroreflective layers. An article, comprises a retroreflective layer formed of a resin that partially interpenetrates a fabric layer. Manufacturing a retroreflective article includes a retroreflective layer partially interpenetrating a fabric layer. The method includes disposing a layer of curable resin on a fabric layer; causing the layer of curable resin to partially penetrate the fabric layer; and curing the layer of curable resin, thereby forming the retroreflective layer partially interpenetrating the fabric layer. | 11-11-2010 |
20100290119 | DURABLE FLUORESCENT ARTICLES HAVING MULTIPLE FILM LAYERS - A fluorescent article includes an underlayer colored fluorescent film and an overlayer colored fluorescent film, which is provided over the underlayer colored fluorescent film. The underlayer colored fluorescent film includes a first fluorescent colorant in an underlayer acrylic matrix. The overlayer colored fluorescent film includes a second fluorescent in an overlayer acrylic matrix. | 11-18-2010 |
20110013281 | TRIANGULAR PYRAMID TYPE CUBE CORNER RETROREFLECTION ARTICLE, AND ITS MANUFACTURING METHOD - The present invention relates to a triangular pyramidal cube corner retroreflective article and a producing method thereof. In the triangular pyramidal cube corner retroreflective article, a triangular pyramidal cube corner retroreflective element pair group is disposed in a closest-packed fashion on a common plane defined by three base lines, and the each of retroreflective elements in a pair having one base line (A-B) shared by the retroreflective elements in the pair. The triangular pyramidal cube corner retroreflective article includes a first element pair group, in which two interior angles (α=∠BAC and β=∠ABC) formed by the shared base line of the element pair and two other base lines are different from each other and the element pair is line-symmetrically disposed in relation to the shared base line (A-B); and a second element pair group, in which the element pair is congruent to a line-symmetrical shape to the first element pair in relation to a line segment connecting vertexes of the base planes. | 01-20-2011 |
20110043914 | Omnidirectionally reflective buoyant rope - A flexible abrasion resistant water shedding omnidirectionally reflective rope has a central low-density polymeric closed cell foam core comprising EPDM, Neoprene, SBR, NBR, EVA, PVC, PVC/NBR foam surrounded by cylindrically braided sleeve of reflective strips composed of narrow width reflective strips that comprise a woven or knitted narrow width strip and a flexible nylon retroreflective sheet sewn thereon and covered with abrasion resistant water shedding coating. The flexible retroreflective sheet is formed by thermally bonding corner cube, microsphere retroreflectors, or wide angle exposed retroreflective lenses to a flexible polymeric sheet. Due to its low-density foam core construction, the reflective rope floats on water and sheds water from the surface preserving omnidirectional reflectivity. The rope reflects light omnidirectionally over a large angle of acceptance and provides accurate illumination of the rope floating in water, location of a rope wound buoy and the like when used during dusk, fog or nighttime hours. | 02-24-2011 |
20110043915 | CUBE-CORNER RETROREFLECTIVE ARTICLE - [Object] An object to be solved by the invention is to improve a retroreflective characteristic of a quadrilateral element that is a cube-corner element, which has reflective lateral surfaces including two trapezoidal reflective lateral surfaces and one pentagonal or isosceles-triangular reflective lateral surface, and which has a projection shape of a quadrangle when projected onto a common plane and is particularly to provide a cube-corner retroreflective article provided with a quadrilateral element excellent in an entrance angle characteristic and a rotation angle characteristic. | 02-24-2011 |
20110122494 | RETROREFLECTIVE ARTICLES AND DEVICES HAVING VISCOELASTIC LIGHTGUIDE - Disclosed herein is an optical device having a light source, a viscoelastic lightguide and a retroreflective film suitable for retroreflecting light. Light from the light source enters the viscoelastic lightguide and is transported within the lightguide by total internal reflection. The optical device may have a “front lit” configuration such that light being transported within the lightguide is extracted and retroreflected by the film toward a viewer. The optical device may have a “back lit” configuration such that light being transported within the lightguide is extracted and transmitted through the film toward a viewer. The retroreflective film may comprise beaded retroreflective sheeting such as that used in traffic signs and markings. | 05-26-2011 |
20110128625 | Low Power Retro-Reflective Communications System and Method - Presented is a low-power retro-reflective communication system that reflects modulated light back in substantially the same direction as the light source using a retro-reflector. The light modulator in the retro-reflector modulates the light in response to a stimulus, such as an electrical communications stimulus or an environmental stimulus. In embodiments, the retro-reflector is a corner-cube retro-reflector and the modulator is one of the reflecting surfaces, or a spherical retro-reflector and the light modulator is a variably reflecting backing. | 06-02-2011 |
20110149395 | COMPOUND MOLD AND STRUCTURED SURFACE ARTICLES CONTAINING GEOMETRIC STRUCTURES WITH COMPOUND FACES AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME - Structured surface articles such as molds or sheeting are formed on a compound substrate including a machined substrate and a replicated substrate. In one embodiment, the structured surface is a cube corner element on a compound substrate. In another embodiment, the structured surface is a geometric structure that has a plurality of faces, where one face is located on the machined substrate and another face is located on the replicated substrate. In yet another embodiment, at least some of the faces include a compound face with a portion formed on the machined substrate and a portion formed on the replicated substrate. The method of making a structured surface article including a geometric structure having a plurality of faces includes forming an array of geometric structures in a first surface of a machined substrate; passivating selected locations of the first surface of the machined substrate; forming a replicated substrate of the machined substrate to form a compound substrate; forming an array of second geometric structures on a second surface opposite the first surface on the machined substrate; and removing selected portions from the second surface of the machined substrate. | 06-23-2011 |
20110181954 | OPTICAL STRUCTURES INCLUDING POLYUREA - Optical structures and sheeting that include polyurea and method for forming same are proposed in accordance with aspects of the present invention. One and two-component layers can be used to form the optical structures. The optical structures can include microstructures formed from polyurea. The sheeting can include at least one of cube-corner prisms, open-faced cube-corner prisms, linear prisms, lenticular lenses, moth-eye structures, lenses, Fresnel lens arrays, lenses, and fish-eye lens arrays. | 07-28-2011 |
20110216411 | PATTERNED SHEETING WITH PERIODIC ROTATED PATTERNED REGIONS - In one embodiment of the invention, retro-reflective sheeting is disclosed. The retro-reflective sheeting comprises a flexible optical material film or substrate having a geometric optical surface opposite a base surface. The geometric optical surface includes a background pattern region of corner cubes arranged at a first orientation with respect to an edge of the retro-reflective sheeting; and an array of circular corner cube regions periodically interrupting the background pattern region of corner cubes. Each of the circular corner cube regions has a second orientation with respect to the edge of the retro-reflective sheeting. The array of the plurality of circular corner cube regions reflects incident light differently than the background pattern region of corner cubes. | 09-08-2011 |
20110216412 | MASTER TOOLS WITH SELECTIVELY ORIENTABLE REGIONS FOR MANUFACTURE OF PATTERNED SHEETING - In one embodiment of the invention, a master tool is disclosed including a top plate, a plurality of buttons, and a releasable locking mechanism. The top plate has an array of openings and a top side with a background patterned surface. The plurality of buttons are in the array of openings and configured to be repositioned to selectively orient their orientable patterned surface into a different orientation with respect to the background patterned surface. The releasable locking mechanism releasably locks the position of the plurality of buttons within the array of openings to hold the selected orientation of each orientable patterned surface with respect to the background patterned surface to provide a top surface pattern. The top surface pattern of the master tooling may be transferred to form a surface pattern into retro-reflective sheeting during its manufacture. | 09-08-2011 |
20110228392 | OPTICAL RETROREFLECTIVE APPARATUS AND METHOD THEREOF - An optical retroreflective apparatus and method thereof are described. The optical retroreflective apparatus includes a substrate, a first material layer, a first taper pattern layer, a reflecting layer, and a second material layer. The first material layer is formed on the substrate. The first taper pattern layer is formed on the first material layer wherein the first taper pattern layer has a plurality of first pyramidal units. The reflecting layer is formed on the first taper pattern layer wherein the reflecting layer has a plurality of reflecting patterns and each of the reflecting patterns is covered with each of first pyramidal units. The second material layer is formed on the reflecting layer wherein the second material layer has a second taper pattern layer having a plurality of second pyramidal units. The second taper pattern layer is covered with the reflecting layer and the second pyramidal units are filled with the spacing region between the reflecting patterns of the reflecting layer. | 09-22-2011 |
20110228393 | PRISMATIC RETROFLECTIVE ARTICLE BEARING A GRAPHIC AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME - A prismatic retroreflective article bearing a graphic and a method of making the same. The prismatic retroreflective article can include an optical layer including a front surface and a rear structured surface defined at least partially by internally reflecting cube-corner optical elements. The rear structured surface can be infused with a graphic, such that the prismatic retroreflective article retroreflects the graphic when viewed from the front surface of the optical layer. The method can include providing a graphic donor sheet, coupling the graphic donor sheet to the prismatic retroreflective article to form a composite, and applying heat and pressure to the composite to transfer at least a portion of the sublimation colorant from the graphic donor sheet to the rear structured surface of the optical layer. | 09-22-2011 |
20110255165 | RETROREFLECTIVE SHEETING - The present application relates generally to retroreflective sheeting and the tools and methods used to make retroreflective sheeting. Microreplication tools and sheeting include controlled surface structure or haze. The surface structure or haze can be introduced, for example, by chemical etching of the tool surface and/or electroplating. | 10-20-2011 |
20110317265 | RETROREFLECTIVE SHEETING INCLUDING CUBE CORNER ELEMENTS - The present disclosure is directed to lamina(e) comprising cube corner elements, a tool comprising an assembly of laminae and replicas thereof. The disclosure further relates to retroreflective sheeting. | 12-29-2011 |
20120019910 | RETROREFLECTIVE SHEETING INCLUDING CUBE CORNER ELEMENTS - The present disclosure is directed to lamina(e) comprising cube corner elements, a tool comprising an assembly of laminae and replicas thereof. The disclosure further relates to retroreflective sheeting. | 01-26-2012 |
20120038984 | RETROREFLECTIVE SHEETING INCLUDING A LOW INDEX COATING - Retroreflective articles and constructions are disclosed. One exemplary retroreflective article or construction includes a retroreflective layer and a low refractive index layer. In one exemplary embodiment, the low refractive index layer is adjacent to at least a portion of a retroreflective structured major surface of the retroreflective layer. | 02-16-2012 |
20120081787 | HEXAGONAL CUBE CORNER RETROREFLECTIVE ARTICLE - There is provided a hexagonal cube corner retroreflective article with excellent observation angle characteristics. | 04-05-2012 |
20120099199 | RETROREFLECTIVE LENTICULAR ARRAYS - Retroreflective lenticular systems employing a focusing array and a retroreflector array optically coupled to the focusing array. The focusing array is provided on a first surface and the retroreflector array is provided on an opposing second surface. The retroreflector array includes an array of retroreflective elements alternating with separation areas and disposed in energy exchange relationship with respect to the focusing array. The focusing array includes a plurality of focusing lenses configured to illuminate only the retroreflective elements with focused beams at least at some angles and to focus the incident beam only onto the separation areas at other angles. The intermittent illumination of retroreflective elements provides variable retroreflectivity of at least portions of the system and enhances the system visibility and conspicuity in the reflected light. | 04-26-2012 |
20120120491 | Cube corner cavity based retroreflectors with transparent fill material - Retroreflective sheeting includes a body layer having a structured surface with recessed faces forming cube corner cavities. A reflective film is disposed at least on the recessed faces, and a fill material fills the cube corner cavities. The fill material comprises radiation-curable materials, adhesives, or both, and preferably transparent radiation-curable pressure-sensitive adhesives. The fill material preferably forms a continuous layer covering both the recessed faces and upper portions of the structured surface. A transparent cover layer preferably contacts the fill material layer. | 05-17-2012 |
20120176678 | RETROREFLECTIVE SHEETING INCLUDING CUBE CORNER ELEMENTS - The present disclosure is directed to lamina(e) comprising cube corner elements, a tool comprising an assembly of laminae and replicas thereof. The disclosure further relates to retroreflective sheeting. | 07-12-2012 |
20120182615 | OPTICAL COVER EMPLOYING MICROSTRUCTURED SURFACES - A light trapping optical cover employing an optically transparent layer is described. The transparent layer has at least one corrugated surface formed by a plurality of isosceles right-angle prismatic corrugations configured to internally retroreflect light into the transparent layer. The corrugated surface also includes optical windows configured for inputting or outputting light to or from the transparent layer. The optical cover may further employ a focusing array of light collectors being pairwise associated with the respective optical windows. | 07-19-2012 |
20120182616 | RETROREFLECTIVE SHEETING INCLUDING CUBE CORNER ELEMENTS - The present disclosure is directed to lamina(e) comprising cube corner elements, a tool comprising an assembly of laminae and replicas thereof. The disclosure further relates to retroreflective sheeting. | 07-19-2012 |
20120188640 | ALL-PROTEIN IMPLANTABLE, RESORBABLE REFLECTORS - The invention provides for compositions and process for fabricating an optical reflector constructed from biocompatible and bioresorbable silk fibroin proteins. For example, the silk retroreflectors may be built based on millimeter size microprism arrays to rotate the image plane of imaged cortical layers, thus enhancing the amount of photons that are detectable in the reflected direction when inserted in a sample to be analyzed, and ultimately increasing in contrast ratio in multiphoton microscopy. Such device can be used as a label-free, biocompatible, bioresorbable, implantable device for various applications ranging from medical imaging/diagnostics, drug/therapeutic delivery, to food chain safety and environmental monitoring. | 07-26-2012 |
20120229898 | SECURITY MARKINGS IN RETROREFLECTIVE SHEETING - Retroreflective sheeting includes a first portion of prismatic retroreflective sheeting having a first cube corner structure that creates a first visual feature in the retroreflective sheeting and a second portion of prismatic retroreflective sheeting having a second cube corner structure that differs from the first cube structure and that creates a second visual feature in the sheeting. The second visual feature in the retroreflective sheeting forms a security mark. | 09-13-2012 |
20120281285 | IRRADIATION MARKING OF RETROREFLECTIVE SHEETING - A method of marking prismatic retroreflective sheeting includes providing prismatic retroreflective sheeting having a front side and a back side, the back side having prismatic features and directing a radiation source at the back side of the prismatic retroreflective sheeting and irradiating a plurality of the prismatic features. The radiation forms a mark in the prismatic retroreflective sheeting. | 11-08-2012 |
20130100532 | Retroreflective Sheeting Having a Halftone Printed Front Surface - A printed retroreflective film has a planar surface on a front side and a plurality of retroreflective elements on a back side. A halftone printed ink layer is deposited on the planar surface formed from uniformly spaced, discrete dots of deposited ink. The areas between the dots provide light-transmissive openings that receive incident light and transmit retroreflected light. The aggregate area of the dots forming the half-tone pattern preferably covers between about 60% and 90% of the area of the half-tone pattern. The use of such a halftone pattern of ink increases the reflectivity of the printed retroreflective sheeting by reducing the amount of light absorbed by the ink, and by reducing the amount of light scattered by the layer of ink. The use of such a halftone pattern of ink further obviates the need for an anti-light scattering topcoat or film over the front surface of the retroreflective sheet. | 04-25-2013 |
20130107364 | RULABLE MULTI-DIRECTIONAL PRISM CLUSTER RETROREFLECTIVE SHEETING | 05-02-2013 |
20130114142 | RETROREFLECTIVE ARTICLES INCLUDING OPTICALLY ACTIVE AREAS AND OPTICALLY INACTIVE AREAS - This disclosure generally relates to retroreflective articles and methods of making such articles. | 05-09-2013 |
20130114143 | MULTI-LAYER SEALING FILMS - The present application generally relates to multi-layer sealing films, methods of making such films, materials for inclusion in such films, retroreflective sheeting and articles including such films, and methods of making retroreflective sheeting and articles including such films. The multi-layer sealing film may include two or more layers. One exemplary embodiment of a two-layer film includes a first layer including a thermoplastic polymeric material including reaction products of alkylene and reaction products of at least one non-acidic comonomer and a second layer including one of a polyolefin, a polyester, a polymethyl methacrylate, a polyamide, a polycarbonate, an ethylene-methacrylic acid, and a polyurethane. In some embodiments, at least one of the layers of the multi-layer sealing film has an elastic modulus of at least 3.5×10 | 05-09-2013 |
20130148201 | COMPOUND MOLD AND STRUCTURED SURFACE ARTICLES CONTAINING GEOMETRIC STRUCTURES WITH COMPOUND FACES AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME - Structured surface articles such as molds or sheeting are formed on a compound substrate including a machined substrate and a replicated substrate. In one embodiment, the structured surface is a cube corner element on a compound substrate. In another embodiment, the structured surface is a geometric structure that has a plurality of faces, where one face is located on the machined substrate and another face is located on the replicated substrate. In yet another embodiment, at least some of the faces include a compound face with a portion formed on the machined substrate and a portion formed on the replicated substrate. The method of making a structured surface article including a geometric structure having a plurality of faces includes forming an array of geometric structures in a first surface of a machined substrate; passivating selected locations of the first surface of the machined substrate; forming a replicated substrate of the machined substrate to form a compound substrate; forming an array of second geometric structures on a second surface opposite the first surface on the machined substrate; and removing selected portions from the second surface of the machined substrate. | 06-13-2013 |
20130250418 | METHODS FOR FABRICATING RETROREFLECTOR TOOLING AND RETROREFLECTIVE MICROSTRUCTURES AND DEVICES THEREOF - Methods for producing retroreflector tooling and retroreflective sheeting using laser writing techniques, and corresponding products thereof, are presented. In one embodiment, a seamless retroreflective sheet having a plurality of retroreflectors formed in a continuous retroreflective microstructured pattern is provided. In the methods described herein, a substrate having a photosensitive coating on a surface thereof is provided. A surface-relief microstructured pattern is produced in the photosensitive coating by selectively exposing the photosensitive coating to a beam of electromagnetic radiation. The exposed portions of the photosensitive coating are developed to form a retroreflective microstructured pattern on the surface of the substrate. The retroreflective microstructured pattern is then transferred into retroreflector tooling comprising the retroreflective microstructured pattern on a surface thereof. A retroreflective sheet containing the retroreflective microstructured pattern on a surface thereof is then formed from the retroreflector tooling. | 09-26-2013 |
20140029100 | RETROREFLECTIVE SHEETING INCLUDING CUBE CORNER ELEMENTS - The present disclosure is directed to lamina(e) comprising cube corner elements, a tool comprising an assembly of laminae and replicas thereof. The disclosure further relates to retroreflective sheeting. | 01-30-2014 |
20140036367 | Cube Corner Retroreflective Sheeting Having Channels - Retroreflective sheeting comprising cube corner microstructure and having channels substantially parallel to a longitudinal, peripheral edge of the sheeting | 02-06-2014 |
20140055858 | Retroreflector with Low Refractive Index Backing - A retroreflective article and method is provided. The retroreflective article includes a first transparent layer having a back surface with retroreflective prisms, and a planar front surface that has an index of refraction n1. A second transparent layer having an index of refraction n2 is less than n1 overlies the back surface of the first layer. The second layer includes an array of uniform nanostructures of transparent material that define pores having a width that is less than one half of the wavelength of visible light. The nanostructures may be an array of parallel, same-sized nanorods that are obliquely oriented with respect to the first transparent layer, or a grid-like or parallel array of tapered nano-ridges of uniform size that define tapered pores or tapered grooves. The second layer preferably has a porosity greater than 60% so that the resulting index of refraction n1 is no larger than about 1.20. | 02-27-2014 |
20140078586 | RETROREFLECTIVE ARTICLES HAVING COMPOSITE CUBE-CORNERS AND METHODS OF MAKING - Retroreflective articles and methods of making the same, wherein the retroreflective articles ( | 03-20-2014 |
20140078587 | CUBE CORNER SHEETING HAVING OPTICALLY VARIABLE MARKING - Retroreflective sheeting having a structured layer of cube corner elements and an at least one optically variable mark therein, and methods of making same. | 03-20-2014 |
20140133029 | RETROREFLECTIVE SHEETING INCLUDING CUBE CORNER ELEMENTS - The present disclosure is directed to lamina(e) comprising cube corner elements, a tool comprising an assembly of laminae and replicas thereof. The disclosure further relates to retroreflective sheeting. | 05-15-2014 |
20140198386 | Retroreflective Sheeting Including Cube Corner Elements - The present disclosure is directed to lamina(e) comprising cube corner elements, a tool comprising an assembly of laminae and replicas thereof. The disclosure further relates to retroreflective sheeting. | 07-17-2014 |
20140268337 | MUTLI-LAYER MICROPRISMATIC RETROREFLECTIVE SHEETING AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A multi-layer microprismatic retroreflective film and a method of manufacturing the same. In one embodiment, the film includes: (1) a prism layer including an acrylic polymeric material and containing microprisms, (2) a strengthening layer including a polymeric material different from the acrylic polymeric material and (3) a buffer section including acrylic polymeric material located between the microprisms of the prism layer and the strengthening layer. | 09-18-2014 |
20140285889 | OPTICALLY ACTIVE MATERIALS AND ARTICLES AND SYSTEMS IN WHICH THEY MAY BE USED - The inventors of the present application developed novel optically active materials, methods, and articles. One embodiment of the present application is an optically active article, comprising: an infrared-reflecting material positioned adjacent to an optically active substrate such that the infrared-reflecting material forms a pattern that can be read by an infrared sensor when the optically active substrate is illuminated by an infrared light source. Another embodiment of the present application relates to a method of manufacturing an optically active article, comprising: obtaining an optically active sheeting; and positioning an infrared-reflecting material on the optically active sheeting to form a pattern. The optically active article may be, for example, a license plate. | 09-25-2014 |
20140285890 | RETROFLECTIVE SHEETING - The present application relates generally to retroreflective sheeting and the tools and methods used to make retroreflective sheeting. Microreplication tools and sheeting include controlled surface structure or haze. The surface structure or haze can be introduced, for example, by chemical etching of the tool surface and/or electroplating. | 09-25-2014 |
20150022890 | RETROREFLECTIVE SHEETING INCLUDING CUBE CORNER ELEMENTS - The present disclosure is directed to lamina(e) comprising cube corner elements, a tool comprising an assembly of laminae and replicas thereof. The disclosure further relates to retroreflective sheeting. | 01-22-2015 |
20150043074 | RETROREFLECTIVE ARTICLES INCLUDING A SECURITY MARK - The present disclosure relates to prismatic retroreflective articles that includes a security mark and to methods of making such articles. | 02-12-2015 |
20150049384 | RETROREFLECTING OPTICAL CONSTRUCTION - Retroreflecting optical constructions are disclosed. A disclosed retroreflecting optical construction includes a retroreflecting layer that has a retroreflecting structured major surface, and an optical film that is disposed on the retroreflecting structured major surface of the retroreflecting layer. The optical film has an optical haze that is not less than about 30%. Substantial portions of each two neighboring major surfaces in the retroreflecting optical construction are in physical contact with each other. | 02-19-2015 |
20150355393 | CUBE CORNER REFLECTOR AND METHODS THEREOF - Molds and methods for forming molds used to make retroreflective articles are disclosed. The mold includes a plurality of shims joined together wherein each of the shims comprises a plurality of alternating cube corners. Each of the cube corners includes three facets each comprising a planar surface, four exterior sides, and three interior edges. The three interior edges meet at an apex, wherein each of the cube corners shares, with an adjacent one of the cube corners, at least one exterior side intersected by a respective one of the interior edges of each of the adjacent cube corners. A retroreflective article is formed using the mold and the retroreflective article includes goemetric structures corresponding to the cube corners of the plurality of shims of the mold. | 12-10-2015 |
20150362640 | METALIZED MICROPRISMATIC RETROREFLECTIVE SHEETING WITH IMPROVED OBSERVATION ANGULARITY - One aspect of the present disclosure provides microprismatic retroreflective film that includes a substrate and metalized microprisms located on the substrate. At least a portion of the metalized microprisms are forward-tilted microprisms, and at least a portion of the forward-tilted microprisms are aligned with the plane of optical axis tilting aligned at an angle ranging from about 10 to 80 degrees with an edge of the microprismatic retroreflective film. | 12-17-2015 |
20150369975 | RETROREFLECTIVE SHEETING HAVING DEFORMED CUBE CORNER ELEMENTS - Retroreflective article having tailored optical properties and method for making the same. Retroreflective articles according to the present application comprise deformed cube corner elements having reduced optically active volume and reduced active volume height. Exemplary retroreflective articles have at least one of minimized contrast caused by seam welds, tiling lines or defects under retroreflective conditions, markings discernible at different viewing conditions and reduced overall retroreflectivity. | 12-24-2015 |
20160033694 | MICROTILED PRISMATIC CUBE CORNER ARTICLES - Cube corner articles such as retroreflective sheeting utilize multiple cube corner arrays in a tiled configuration, each tile containing one array of canted cube corner elements. The tiles may be long and narrow, and the array in each of at least two or three adjacent tiles, or even in every tile, may include at least one lengthwise groove that is parallel to an edge of the tile and parallel to a fixed in-plane axis. Each tile may have a width that is narrow (e.g. 0.2 to 5 mm), and equal to an integer multiple of a lengthwise groove pitch to avoid or reduce ineffective fragmented cube corners along the tile edge. Each array may have a plane of cant and a primary plane of entrance angularity, and the primary planes of entrance angularity for the multiple tiles may be more evenly distributed in azimuthal angle than the planes of cant. | 02-04-2016 |
20160041315 | RETROREFLECTIVE SHEETING INCLUDING CUBE CORNER ELEMENTS - The present disclosure is directed to lamina(e) comprising cube corner elements, a tool comprising an assembly of laminae and replicas thereof. The disclosure further relates to retroreflective sheeting. | 02-11-2016 |
20160103255 | INCREASED ACCURACY CORNER CUBE ARRAYS FOR HIGH RESOLUTION RETRO-REFLECTIVE IMAGING APPLICATIONS - Tooling and optic elements for a retro-imaging system may be formed on order near atomic level of accuracy by making use of either etching or growth techniques of a cubic crystal lattice, such as silicon. The elements may be formed directly using selective etching or epitaxial growth by coating and clear resin lamination, or replicated to avoid shrinkage and curvature by use of low shrinkage resins or double-fill molding techniques. Through the use of these highly accurate reflection/diffraction elements, floating images may be formed with relatively high resolution in retro-reflective imaging systems, for example. | 04-14-2016 |
20160139306 | RETROREFLECTOVE ARTICLE WITH MULTILAYER SEAL FILM - The present disclosure generally relates to retroreflective articles and methods of making retroreflective articles including a plurality of microreplicated retroreflective elements (prismatic elements and lenslets) and a multilayer seal film adjacent to the retroreflective elements. The multilayer film includes a polymeric sealing layer and an adhesive layer. In some embodiments, the multilayer film includes a release liner. Seal legs extend through all layers of the multilayer film In some embodiments, the retroreflective article is retroreflective sheeting. In some embodiments, the retroreflective sheeting and the multilayer film are laminated, embossed, and/or sealed in a single processing step. | 05-19-2016 |
20160144581 | Tiled Retroreflector with Multi-Stage Dicing - Methods of making tiled articles and molds used to make retroreflective articles. The methods include forming a prism array on a master substrate and forming a replica of the master. A reference edge is formed on the replica, thereby reducing the size of the prism array, yet maintaining a lateral dimension of the replica to maintain ease of handling of the replica. The replica is copied and the reference edge on the copied tiles are exposed, such that the reference edge can be mated and secured face-to-face with a reference edge on other tiles in order to form a tiled article. The tiled article is used as a mold to produce retroreflective articles or can be further duplicated and mated to form larger tiled articles to be used as molds. Tiled articles used as molds and retroreflective articles produced from the molds are also disclosed. | 05-26-2016 |
20160202397 | RETROREFLECTIVE SHEETING INCLUDING A LOW ELASTIC MODULUS LAYER | 07-14-2016 |
20160202398 | RETROREFLECTING OPTICAL CONSTRUCTION | 07-14-2016 |
359531000 | Mounted on roadway | 2 |
20110149396 | REFLECTIVE LENS WITH REFLECTIVE SHEETING - A retroreflector or simple reflector assembly mounted to a road, the assembly comprising a lens having a rear surface, a shell having an outer surface, the lens mounted on the outer surface of the shell, and a reflective or retroreflective sheeting disposed between the rear surface of the lens and the outer surface of the shell thereby allowing light entering the lens from vehicle headlights to reflect efficiently back to the driver of an automotive vehicle where light is emitted from the vehicle headlights. The outer surface of the shell includes a recess adapted to accept the lens, wherein the lens sits within the recess of the outer surface of the shell. The sheeting lines the recess and is disposed between the lens and the recess of the outer surface of the shell. | 06-23-2011 |
20120314290 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND APPLYING RETROREFLECTIVE PAVEMENT MARKINGS - A method for forming and applying retroreflective pavement markings comprising the steps of a) spraying the area with a hot epoxy binder, b) depositing particles of a microcrystalline ceramic element having a high refractive index onto the fresh epoxy binder, c) depositing relatively large spherical glass beads onto the fresh epoxy binder, and d) depositing relatively small spherical glass beads onto the fresh epoxy binder. The small beads provide high reflectivity in daytime and at night on dry pavement. The large beads provide superior reflectivity at night on damp pavement. The ceramic element particles provide high reflectivity when wet and during heavy rain. Where the pavement is subject to snowplowing, the marking may be inlaid in a recessed area in the pavement, the recess being about 100 mils deep, and the wet epoxy layer being about 20 mils thick. | 12-13-2012 |
359532000 | Mounted adjacent roadway | 1 |
20080273243 | Device, System and Method of Retro-Modulating Safety Signs - A traffic safety system may be affiliated with an object to be seen from a distance and may be located within a traffic area. The traffic safety system may comprise a retroreflecting mechanism, enabling to switch between reflecting mode and non retroreflecting mode at certain frequency, thereby creating a flickering effect. | 11-06-2008 |
359533000 | Mounted on vehicle | 1 |
20100007955 | Large Amplitude High Frequency Optical Delay - Optical delay line system that includes a retro-reflection mirror which is displaced along a circular path while being maintained in angular alignment with launch and return sources of light subject the components of the system to minimum levels of unbalanced linear acceleration. A retroreflector is pivotally mounted on a rotating element such that the optical axis of the retroreflector's motion is mobile such that its angle or position changes relative to a fixed observer. There is no linear stopping and starting of the retroreflector and all acceleration of the retroreflector is rotational acceleration with small angles so the required forces in the optical delay line are greatly reduced. Both large displacement and high repetition rates are achieved. The system can be configured so that optical fibers serve as launch and return optics. Alternatively, free space beam paths deliver light to the optical delay and return the reflected light from the retroreflector. | 01-14-2010 |