US4236788A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Direction-indicating surface marker strip for roadways and the like
Assignee: BRITE-LINE TECHNOLOGIES LLC
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Filing: 1978-10-23
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Granted: 1980-12-02
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Expires: 1998-10-23
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure is concerned with providing a marker strip for attachment to roadways and other surfaces, comprising an upper layer of spaced transverse prisms and a lower layer of retroreflective sheeting, providing direction color discrimination, where desired, and substantially constant brightness of light retroreflection with distance over wide angles of incident light upon the strip.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles W. Wyckoff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 21:39
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B5/00; G02B5/12; G02B5/126; G02B5/128; E; E01; E01F; E01F9/00; E01F9/50; E01F9/576; E01F9/578
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A direction-indicating surface marker strip for securing to a surface-to-be-marked, having, in combination, a thin upper light-transmitting layer comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced saw-tooth asymmetrical prisms each having upwardly and downwardly inclining faces adjusted to provide for critical angle downward internal reflection of light entering one of the faces, and refraction to the space between successive prisms of light entering the other face; a thin lower layer of retroreflective material secured to the upper layer; and means disposed in the areas below the prisms for imbuing the light entering the retroreflective material in said areas as a result of said downward internal reflection, with a predetermined color as it is returned by retroreflection and internal reflection back through said one face.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
A direction-indicating surface marker strip for securing to a surface-to-be-marked, having, in combination, a thin upper light-transmitting layer comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced saw-tooth asymmetrical prisms each having upwardly and downwardly inclining faces adjusted to provide for critical angle downward internal reflection of light entering one of the faces, and refraction to the space between successive prisms of light entering the other face; a thin lower layer of retroreflective material secured to the upper layer; and means disposed in the areas below the prisms for imbuing the light entering the retroreflective material in said areas as a result of said downward internal reflection, with a predetermined color as it is returned by retroreflection and internal reflection back through said one face.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A direction-indicating surface marker strip as claimed in claim 1 and in which the angle of upward inclination of said other face is at least substantially 45°, and the said one face is substantially vertical to said strip.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A direction-indicating surface marker strip as claimed in claim 2 and in which said one face is substantially 10° to the said vertical.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A direction-indicating surface marker strip as claimed in claim 1 and in which areas below the spaces between said prisms are provided with means for imbuing the light refracted thereto with a color different from that of said predetermined color, as it is returned back through said other face.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A direction-indicating surface marker strip as claimed in claim 1 and which the said other face is rendered opaque.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A direction-indicating surface marker strip as claimed in claim 1 and in which retroreflective material is omitted below the spaces between the prisms.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A direction-indicating surface marker strip as claimed in claim 1 and in which the surface of said upper layer in the spaces between the prisms is opaque.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A direction-indicating surface marker strip as claimed in claim 1 and in which the upper and lower layers are each of a few mils in thickness.
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) | 1983-12-02 | 1984-06-02 | 1984-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-12-02 | 1988-06-02 | 1988-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-12-02 | 1992-06-02 | 1992-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |