US3989775A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of making a retro-reflective beaded material
Assignee: BXL Plastics Ltd
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Filing: 1973-11-20
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Granted: 1976-11-02
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Expires: 1993-11-20
Abstract
Abstract Method of making a beaded retro-reflective material comprising embedding beads in a generally planar plastic matrix and embossing the material so that axes of exposed portions of the beads lie at varying angles to the general plane of the matrix.
Inventors
- 👤 James Jack
- 👤 Terence John Taylor-Brown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 09:47
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29D; B29D11/00; B29D11/00605; B29D11/00615; B44; B44F; B44F1/00; B44F1/02; B44F1/04; G; G02; G02B; G02B5/00; G02B5/12; G02B5/126; G02B5/128
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A process for making a retro-reflective material which comprises uniformly distributing in a mono-layer over an area on the surface of a generally planar matrix of embossable plastics material, a plurality of substantialy spherical beads prepared from a transparent or translucent material having a refractive index in the range of 1.7 to 2.0 to form a beaded area on the surface of the matrix, pressing said beads into said beaded area until said bends become partially embedded in the surface of said matrix with exposed portions of the beads defining lenses, and embossing said beaded area so that axes of at least some of said lenses lie at varying angles with respect to the general plane of said plastics matrix.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
A process for making a retro-reflective material which comprises uniformly distributing in a mono-layer over an area on the surface of a generally planar matrix of embossable plastics material, a plurality of substantialy spherical beads prepared from a transparent or translucent material having a refractive index in the range of 1.7 to 2.0 to form a beaded area on the surface of the matrix, pressing said beads into said beaded area until said bends become partially embedded in the surface of said matrix with exposed portions of the beads defining lenses, and embossing said beaded area so that axes of at least some of said lenses lie at varying angles with respect to the general plane of said plastics matrix.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the beads are glass beads.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the refractive index of the material of the beads is approximately 1.9.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plastics matrix is flexible polyvinyl chloride.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plastics matrix is laminated to a substrate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the beads are embedded in the plastics matrix to a depth substantially equal to the diameter of the beads and a window is left above each bead to allow direct access of light to the bead.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the beaded and embossed area of the surface of the plastics matrix comprises from 5 to 95% of the total area of the surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bead density is at least 2 beads per square millimeter of surface over the beaded area.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
117 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the embossing is such that when the beaded and embossed area is illumintated with a parallel beam of light incident at some angle in the range of 35° to 80° to the normal to the plane of that area, the relative intensity of the retro-reflected light calculated as a percentage of the intensity of the retro-reflected light when the incident light is normal to the plane of the embossed area, is increased compared with the relative intensity obtained in the same way for a similar retro-reflective material prepared using the same plastics matrix material but for which the area on the surface containing embedded beads has no superimposed embossing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process as claimed in claim 9, wherein the embossing is such that the increase in relative intensity is apparent at some angle in the range of 53° to 80°.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the embedding of the beads and the embossing of the beaded area is carried out simultaneously.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the embedding and embossing is carried out using an embossing roller, an embossing platen or an embossing plate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plastics matrix beans printed indicia on its surface and the beaded area extends over at least a portion of the indicia.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 including coating the beaded and embossed surface with a transparent or translucent protective coating which does not significantly affect the retro-reflective properties of the material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bead diameter is not greater than 0.03 inch.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process as claimed in claim 3, wherein the bead diameter is not greater than 0.006 inch.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the portion of the surface of at least some of the beads which is embedded in the plastics matrix is in contact with a reflective layer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process as claimed in claim 17, wherein the beads are backed by an opaque reflective layer and the bead density is not greater than 95% of the maximum possible bead density for a particular bead diameter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process as claimed in claim 17, wherein the reflective layer is present only at the interface of a bead and the plastics matrix.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process as claimed in claim 19, wherein the reflective layer is present as a coating on the surface of the bead.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as claimed in claim 20, wherein the coating is a silver coating.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-11-02 | 1980-05-03 | 1980-11-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-11-02 | 1984-05-03 | 1984-11-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-11-02 | 1988-05-03 | 1988-11-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |