US5376431A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Retroreflective microprism sheeting with silver/copper reflecting coating and method of making same
Assignee: Reflexite Corp
•
Filing: 1993-05-12
•
Granted: 1994-12-27
•
Expires: 2013-05-12
Abstract
Abstract Retroreflective sheet material is produced by forming sheet material with closely spaced retroreflective formations on one face and depositing on this face silver and copper atoms having high kinetic energy to provide a reflective metallic deposit comprising a base layer of metallic silver and an overlying layer of metallic copper. An organic protective coating is thereafter applied over the reflective metallic deposit. Light rays passing through the front face of the body enter the retroreflective formations, impinge upon the interface provided by the silver base layer and are retroreflected therefrom. As a result, the sheet material exhibits a bright white appearance in daylight as well as a bright white coloration at night when an incandescent beam impinges thereon.
Inventors
- 👤 William P. Rowland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:49
CPC Classifications
C; C23; C23C; C23C14/00; C23C14/06; C23C14/14; C23C14/20; C23C14/205; G; G02; G02B; G02B5/00; G02B5/12; G02B5/122; G02B5/124; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/913; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24355; Y10T428/24364; Y10T428/24479; Y10T428/24521; Y10T428/24537; Y10T428/24545; Y10T428/24612; Y10T428/24777; Y10T428/24942; Y10T428/2495; Y10T428/24967; Y10T428/26; Y10T428/261
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
In the method for producing retroreflective sheet material, the steps comprising: (a) forming sheet material with a transparent body and having a planar front face and a multiplicity of closely spaced retroreflective formations selected from the group consisting of prisms and spheres on the other face thereof; (b) forming on said other face a reflective metallic deposit comprising a base layer of metallic silver and an overlying layer of metallic copper, said silver and copper layers being deposited in a vacuum as metallic atoms with high kinetic energy to effect firm bonding to said other face; and (c) applying over said reflective metallic deposit an organic protective coating, whereby light rays passing through said front face of said body enter said retroreflective formations and impinge upon said silver base layer and are reflected therefrom, said sheet material evidencing a bright white appearance in daylight and a bright white coloration at night when impinged upon by a beam of incandescent light.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
In the method for producing retroreflective sheet material, the steps comprising: (a) forming sheet material with a transparent body and having a planar front face and a multiplicity of closely spaced retroreflective formations selected from the group consisting of prisms and spheres on the other face thereof; (b) forming on said other face a reflective metallic deposit comprising a base layer of metallic silver and an overlying layer of metallic copper, said silver and copper layers being deposited in a vacuum as metallic atoms with high kinetic energy to effect firm bonding to said other face; and (c) applying over said reflective metallic deposit an organic protective coating, whereby light rays passing through said front face of said body enter said retroreflective formations and impinge upon said silver base layer and are reflected therefrom, said sheet material evidencing a bright white appearance in daylight and a bright white coloration at night when impinged upon by a beam of incandescent light.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of making retroreflective sheet material in accordance with claim 1 wherein said silver base layer has a thickness of 300-5000 Angstroms and said copper layer has a thickness of at least 200 Angstroms.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of making retroreflective sheet material in accordance with claim 1 wherein said retroreflective formations are microprisms having a side edge dimension of not more than 0.015 inch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of making retroreflective sheet material in accordance with claim 1 wherein said microprisms are of cube corner configuration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of making retroreflective sheet material in accordance with claim 4 wherein said microprisms are formed by molding a fluid synthetic resin against a synthetic resin carrier film providing said body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of making retroreflective sheet material in accordance with claim 5 wherein said fluid synthetic resin is selected from the group consisting of urethane, epoxy, silicone and polyester resin formulations.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of making retroreflective sheet material in accordance with claim 1 wherein said metallic atoms are produced by high energy sputter coating techniques.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of making retroreflective sheet material in accordance with claim 7 wherein said step of forming said metallic deposit produces firm adhesion of said silver layer to said other surface of said sheet material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of making retroreflective sheet material in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of forming said metallic deposit includes formation of an intermetallic interface comprised of silver and copper.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of making retroreflective sheet material in accordance with claim 1 wherein said step of applying an organic protective coating includes the application of a synthetic resin adhesive upon said metallic deposit and bonding a synthetic resin film thereto.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
124 words
A retroreflective sheet material comprising: (a) retroreflective sheeting having a planar front face and a rear face with closely spaced retroreflective formations thereon selected from the group consisting of prisms and spheres; (b) a reflective metallic deposit on said rear face including a base layer of silver metal and an overlying Layer of copper, said deposit being firmly bonded to said sheeting; and (c) an organic protective coating on said metallic deposit, whereby light rays entering said front face and passing into said retroreflective formations impinge upon said silver base layer on said retroreflective formations are retroreflected thereby, said sheet material evidencing a bright white appearance in daylight, and a bright white coloration at night when impinged upon by a beam of incandescent light.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
124 words
A retroreflective sheet material comprising: (a) retroreflective sheeting having a planar front face and a rear face with closely spaced retroreflective formations thereon selected from the group consisting of prisms and spheres; (b) a reflective metallic deposit on said rear face including a base layer of silver metal and an overlying Layer of copper, said deposit being firmly bonded to said sheeting; and (c) an organic protective coating on said metallic deposit, whereby light rays entering said front face and passing into said retroreflective formations impinge upon said silver base layer on said retroreflective formations are retroreflected thereby, said sheet material evidencing a bright white appearance in daylight, and a bright white coloration at night when impinged upon by a beam of incandescent light.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The retroreflective sheeting in accordance with claim wherein said silver base layer has a thickness of 300-5000 Angstroms and said copper layer has a thickness of at least 200 Angstroms.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The retroreflective sheeting in accordance with claim 11 wherein said retroreflective formations are microprisms having a side edge dimension of not more than 0.015 inch.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The retroreflective sheeting in accordance with claim 10 wherein said microprisms are of cube corner configuration.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The retroreflective sheeting in accordance with claim 13 wherein said microprisms are formed of a first synthetic resin and said body is formed of a second synthetic resin.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The retroreflective sheeting in accordance with claim 11 wherein said deposit includes an intermetallic interface of silver and copper.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The retroreflective sheeting in accordance with claim 11 wherein said protective coating includes a layer of an adhesive on said other face and a synthetic resin film bonded thereto.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US184632A
Cited
US1890094A
Cited
US1935520A
Cited
US2183202A
Cited
US2190121A
Cited
US2614943A
Cited
US2664363A
Cited
US2801935A
Cited
US2759845A
Cited
US2915414A
Cited
US2977244A
Cited
US3069289A
Cited
US3457138A
Cited
US3687713A
Cited
US3920864A
Cited
US3993845A
Cited
US3900601A
Cited
US4035527A
Cited
US4285992A
Cited
US4357396A
Cited
US4482209A
Cited
US4724164A
Cited
US4880668A
Cited
US4894278A
Cited
US4801193A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-12-26 | 1998-06-27 | 1998-12-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-12-26 | 2002-06-27 | 2002-12-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-12-26 | 2006-06-27 | 2006-12-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |