US3744117A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for making a curved cube-corner reflector
Assignee: Amerace Corp
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Filing: 1971-09-30
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Granted: 1973-07-10
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Expires: 1991-09-30
Abstract
Abstract The method of making a curved cube-corner reflector includes making a substantially-flat member having a multiplicity of cubecorner elements therein, and then bending the body against a form having a substantially-smooth curved surface so that the reflector assumes the shape of the curved surface.
Inventors
- 👤 S Heenan
- 👤 N Majewski
- 👤 A Montalbano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:28
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B5/00; G02B5/12; G02B5/122; G02B5/124; F; F21; F21V; F21V5/00; F21V5/04; F21V5/045; F21V7/00; F21V7/10; F21W; F21W2111/00; F21W2111/02; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49789; Y10T29/49796
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of making a mold for use in producing a curved reflector having cube-corner elements therein, said method comprising making a substantially-flat plate-like member having a multiplicity of cube-corner elements therein, providing a form having a curved surface with the desired final shape of the reflector, bending said member against said form so that the member essentially assumes the shape of the curved surface, forming a mold from said curved member.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
72 words
A method of making a mold for use in producing a curved reflector having cube-corner elements therein, said method comprising making a substantially-flat plate-like member having a multiplicity of cube-corner elements therein, providing a form having a curved surface with the desired final shape of the reflector, bending said member against said form so that the member essentially assumes the shape of the curved surface, forming a mold from said curved member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The mEthod set forth in claim 1, wherein said member is made of plastic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method set forth in claim 1, wherein said member is made of plastic having a substantially-flat rear surface and a front surface having cube-corner elements therein, said rear surface being ground to render the plate-like member sufficiently thin to be bendable against the form.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method set forth in claim 1, wherein said plate-like member is constructed of metal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method set forth in claim 1, wherein the surface generated on said form is substantially smooth.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method set forth in claim 1, wherein said form is provided with a part-spherical surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method set forth in claim 1, wherein said form is provided with a part-cylindrical surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method set forth in claim 1, wherein said member is bent against said form with the cube-corner elements engaging the curved surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method set forth in claim 1, wherein said member is bent against said form with the cube-corner elements directed away from the curved surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method set forth in claim 1, wherein the mold is formed from said curved surface by applying a backing to said bent member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method set forth in claim 1, wherein the mold is formed from said curved surface by electroforming against said bent member.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for making a mold for use in producing a curved reflector having cube-corner elements therein, said method comprising the steps of making a substantially-flat plate-like member having a multiplicity of cube-corner elements therein, providing a form having a form surface of a selected curvature, cutting said form into a plurality of segments each having a portion of said form surface, cutting said member into a plurality of pieces respectively having shapes of said form surface portions, bending said pieces respectively onto the associated form surface portions, and forming a mold from said bent pieces.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for making a mold for use in producing a curved reflector having cube-corner elements therein, said method comprising the steps of making a substantially-flat plate-like member having a multiplicity of cube-corner elements therein, providing a form having a form surface of a selected curvature, cutting said form into a plurality of segments each having a portion of said form surface, cutting said member into a plurality of pieces respectively having shapes of said form surface portions, bending said pieces respectively onto the associated form surface portions, and forming a mold from said bent pieces.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method set forth in claim 12, wherein said form surface is part spherical, whereby the apexes of the cube-corner cavities in said mold define a part-spherical surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method set forth in claim 12, wherein the sides of each of said segments are respectively defined by substantially parallel surfaces.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method set forth in claim 12, wherein the arc lengths of said form surface portions measured in a plane substantially normal to the direction in which said segments are cut are substantially equal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method set forth in claim 12, wherein said member is cut into a plurality of pieces respectively slightly larger than the corresponding form surface portions, the margin of each of said pieces then being ground to conform precisely to the shape of the corresponding form surface.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of making a mold for use in producing a curved reflector having cube-corner elements therein, said method comprising making a substantially-flat plate-like member having a multiplicity of cube-corner elements therein, providing a form having a form surface of a selected curvature, cutting said form into a plurality of segments each having a portion of said form surface, applying a flexible material to each of said form surface portions, cutting said flexible material to provide lengths of flexible material conforming to the shape respectively of the form surface portions, placing said lengths of flexible material respectively on different regions of said member, cutting said member around the lengths of flexible material thereon to provide a plurality of pieces respectively having shapes of said form surface portions, bending said pieces respectively onto the associated form surface portions, forming a mold from said bent pieces.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of making a mold for use in producing a curved reflector having cube-corner elements therein, said method comprising making a substantially-flat plate-like member having a multiplicity of cube-corner elements therein, providing a form having a form surface of a selected curvature, cutting said form into a plurality of segments each having a portion of said form surface, applying a flexible material to each of said form surface portions, cutting said flexible material to provide lengths of flexible material conforming to the shape respectively of the form surface portions, placing said lengths of flexible material respectively on different regions of said member, cutting said member around the lengths of flexible material thereon to provide a plurality of pieces respectively having shapes of said form surface portions, bending said pieces respectively onto the associated form surface portions, forming a mold from said bent pieces.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method for making a mold set forth in claim 17, wherein said flexible material is tape.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method for making a mold set forth in claim 17, wherein the surface of said member is painted after said lengths of material have been applied thereto, said lengths of material then being removed, aNd said member being cut adjacent to the boundaries between the painted and nonpainted areas.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of making a mold for use in producing a curved reflector having cube-corner elements therein, said method comprising the steps of providing a die having a multiplicity of cube-corner elements respectively with apexes lying substantially in a plane, electroforming against said die to provide a metal member having a multiplicity of cube-corner elements therein, removing said member from said die, providing a form having a form surface of a selected curvature, cutting said form into a pluraity of segments each having a portion of said form surface, cutting said member into a plurality of pieces respectively having shapes of said form surface portions, bending said pieces respectively onto the associated form surface portions, and forming a mold from said bent pieces.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of making a mold for use in producing a curved reflector having cube-corner elements therein, said method comprising the steps of providing a die having a multiplicity of cube-corner elements respectively with apexes lying substantially in a plane, electroforming against said die to provide a metal member having a multiplicity of cube-corner elements therein, removing said member from said die, providing a form having a form surface of a selected curvature, cutting said form into a pluraity of segments each having a portion of said form surface, cutting said member into a plurality of pieces respectively having shapes of said form surface portions, bending said pieces respectively onto the associated form surface portions, and forming a mold from said bent pieces.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of making a mold for use in producing a curved reflector having cube-corner elements therein, said method comprising making a substantially-flat plate-like member having a multiplicity of cube-corner elements therein, providing a form having a form surface of a selected curvature, cutting said form into a plurality of segments each having a portion of said form surface, cutting said member into a plurality of pieces respectively having shapes of said form surface portions, bending said pieces respectively onto the associated form surface portions, securing said pieces respectively to the associated form surface portions, securing said segments together so that said pieces present a surface with a multiplicity of cube-corner elements respectively with apexes defining a surface corresponding substantially to said form surface, forming against said last-mentioned cube-corner elements a mold having a multiplicity of cube-corner elements therein respectively with apexes defining a surface corresponding to said form surface.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
150 words
A method of making a mold for use in producing a curved reflector having cube-corner elements therein, said method comprising making a substantially-flat plate-like member having a multiplicity of cube-corner elements therein, providing a form having a form surface of a selected curvature, cutting said form into a plurality of segments each having a portion of said form surface, cutting said member into a plurality of pieces respectively having shapes of said form surface portions, bending said pieces respectively onto the associated form surface portions, securing said pieces respectively to the associated form surface portions, securing said segments together so that said pieces present a surface with a multiplicity of cube-corner elements respectively with apexes defining a surface corresponding substantially to said form surface, forming against said last-mentioned cube-corner elements a mold having a multiplicity of cube-corner elements therein respectively with apexes defining a surface corresponding to said form surface.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method for making a mold set forth in claim 21, and further comprising making a body having an engagement surface that approximately mates with one of said form surface portions, securing said pieces by placing adhesive on the surface thereof without said projections, placing said piece on the associated form surface portion, placing said body on said piece with said engagement surface on the surface of said piece having said projections, and pressing said body toward said segment.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method set forth in claim 21, wherein the cube-corner elements in said member are cube-corner projections, whereby the cube-corner elements on said mold are cube-corner projections.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method set forth in claim 21, wherein said cube-corner elements on said pieces are projections directed away from said form surface.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method for making a mold set forth in claim 21, wherein said member is removed from said die by first applying epoxy and then prying said metal member from said die.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method set forth in claim 21, wherein said member is removed from said die by first applying epoxy and then prying said metal member from said die, removing said epoxy after said member has been cut into said plurality of pieces.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
180 words
A method of making a mold for use in producing a curved reflector having cube-corner elements therein, said method comprising the steps of providing a die having a multiplicity of cube-corner elements respectively with apexes lying substantially in a plane, molding plastic against said die to provide a plastic member having a multiplicity of cube-corner elements therein, removing said member from said die, providing a form having a form surface of a selected curvature, cutting said form into a plurality of segments each having a portion of said form surface, cutting said member into a plurality of pieces respectively having shapes of said form surface portions, bending said pieces respectively onto the associated form surface portions, securing said segments together so that said pieces present a surface with a multiplicity of cube-coRner elements respectively with apexes defining a surface corresponding substantially to said form surface, applying a conductive coating to said last-mentioned surface, electroforming against said conductive coating to provide a mold having a multiplicity of cube-corner elements therein respectively with apexes defining a surface corresponding to said form surface.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
180 words
A method of making a mold for use in producing a curved reflector having cube-corner elements therein, said method comprising the steps of providing a die having a multiplicity of cube-corner elements respectively with apexes lying substantially in a plane, molding plastic against said die to provide a plastic member having a multiplicity of cube-corner elements therein, removing said member from said die, providing a form having a form surface of a selected curvature, cutting said form into a plurality of segments each having a portion of said form surface, cutting said member into a plurality of pieces respectively having shapes of said form surface portions, bending said pieces respectively onto the associated form surface portions, securing said segments together so that said pieces present a surface with a multiplicity of cube-coRner elements respectively with apexes defining a surface corresponding substantially to said form surface, applying a conductive coating to said last-mentioned surface, electroforming against said conductive coating to provide a mold having a multiplicity of cube-corner elements therein respectively with apexes defining a surface corresponding to said form surface.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method for making a mold set forth in claim 27, wherein grinding the surface of said molded member opposite said cube-corner elements to render said member substantially pliable.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2120881A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-09 | 1977-01-08 | 1977-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-09 | 1981-01-08 | 1981-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-09 | 1985-01-08 | 1985-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |