US3790431A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Light-transmissive retroreflective sheeting
Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1972-01-24
•
Granted: 1974-02-05
•
Expires: 1992-01-24
Abstract
Abstract Light-transmissive retroreflective sheeting comprising an open web of filaments that are encased around their whole circumference at least over those parts of their length that define open spaces of the web by a monolayer of minute retroreflective microspheres. One use of the sheeting is in internally illuminated signs, where the light-transmissive retroreflective sheeting is incorporated between the internal illumination source and the sign face so as to retroreflect light beamed against the sign face and make the signs retroreflective.
Inventors
- 👤 C Tung
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:03
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21V; F21V11/00; F21V11/08; F21V11/14; G; G02; G02B; G02B5/00; G02B5/12; G02B5/126; G02B5/128; G09; G09F; G09F13/00; G09F13/04; G09F13/0418; G09F13/0472; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/26; Y10T428/268; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31511; Y10T428/31515; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/10; Y10T442/102; Y10T442/172; Y10T442/174; Y10T442/20; Y10T442/2041; Y10T442/2098; Y10T442/2107; Y10T442/2115
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
25 words
Sheeting of claim 1 in which the spaces between the encased filaments occupy between 40 and 60 percent of the area covered by the sheeting.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
16 words
Sheeting of claim 1 in which the encased filaments have a diameter less than 500 microns.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
Sheeting of claim 1 in which the smallest dimension of the spaces between the encased filaments is less than one millimeter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
Sheeting of claim 1 in which the web is a fabric of interwoven filaments.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
Sheeting of claim 1 in which the retroreflective microspheres are partially embedded in a layer of binder material coated on the filaments and comprise glass microspheres covered over their partially embedded surface with reflective material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
Sheeting of claim 1 in which the microspheres are held to the filaments by a layer of elastomeric material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
Sheeting of claim 7 in which the elastomeric material comprises epoxy resin and a water-insoluble polyether polyamine of high amine functionality.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
103 words
Light-transmissive retroreflective sheeting comprising an open fabric of interwoven filaments that are encased around their whole circumference over those parts of their length that define open spaces of the fabric by a monolayer of minute retroreflective microspheres, the microspheres being partially embedded in a layer of elastomeric binder material coated on the filaments after the filaments have been woven into a fabric, the encased filaments having a diameter less than 500 microns, the spaces between the encased filaments occupying between 20 and 80 percent of the area covered by the fabric, and the smallest dimension of the spaces being less than one millimeter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
Sheeting of claim 9 in which the elastomeric material comprises epoxy resin and a water-insoluble polyether polyamine of high amine functionality.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
Sheeting of claim 9 in which the retroreflective microspheres comprise glass microspheres covered over their partially embedded surface with reflective material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
Sheeting of claim 9 in which the spaces between the encased filaments occupy 40-60 percent of the area occupied by the sheeting.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
80 words
Light-transmissive retroreflective sheeting comprising an open-mesh fabric of interwoven filaments that are encased around their whole circumference over those parts of their length that define open spaces of the fabric by a monolayer of minute retroreflective microspheres, the microspheres being partially embedded in a layer of binder material coated on the filaments after the filaments have been woven into a fabric, the spaces between the encased filaments occupying between 20 and 80 percent of the area covered by the fabric.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US2354018A
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US3155764A
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US3405025A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-04 | 1977-08-06 | 1978-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-08-06 | 1982-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-04 | 1985-08-06 | 1986-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |