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US4263345A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Coating composition for forming retroreflective treatments on fabrics

Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1979-11-16
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Granted: 1981-04-21
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Expires: 1999-11-16
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Abstract

Abstract Coating compositions for use in making fabrics brightly retroreflective at nighttime comprise a dilute coating vehicle and transparent retroreflective microspheres dispersed in the vehicle at a low concentration. The coating on the fabric is inconspicuous in daylight and leaves the garment with substantially its normal hand, feel, and breathability.

Inventors

  • 👤 Wallace K. Bingham

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 14:21
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B5/00; G02B5/12; G02B5/126; G02B5/128; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/20; Y10T442/259; Y10T442/2598

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 70 words
Coating composition useful for retroreflectorizing fabrics comprising (a) a dilute coating vehicle that includes film-forming binder material and at least 40 volume-percent of a volatile constituent, and (b) transparent microspheres having a refractive index between about 1.85 and 2 hemispherically coated with specular reflective means and dispersed in the coating vehicle in an amount accounting for about one-third or less of the volume of the nonvolatile portion of the composition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 70 words
Coating composition useful for retroreflectorizing fabrics comprising (a) a dilute coating vehicle that includes film-forming binder material and at least 40 volume-percent of a volatile constituent, and (b) transparent microspheres having a refractive index between about 1.85 and 2 hemispherically coated with specular reflective means and dispersed in the coating vehicle in an amount accounting for about one-third or less of the volume of the nonvolatile portion of the composition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 16 words
Composition of claim 1 in which the binder material comprises an aqueous emulsion of acrylic-based polymer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 24 words
Composition of claim 1 in which the microspheres account for about one-fifth or less of the volume of the nonvolatile portion of the composition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 17 words
Composition of claim 1 in which the vehicle includes at least 70 volume-percent of a volatile constituent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 71 words
Coating composition useful for retroreflectorizing fabrics comprising (a) a dilute coating vehicle that includes film-forming binder material and at least 70 volume-percent of a volatile constituent, and (b) transparent microspheres having a refractive index between about 1.85 and 2 hemisperhically coated with specular reflective means and dispersed in the coating vehicle in an amount accounting for no more than about one-fifth of the volume of the nonvolatile portion of the composition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 71 words
Coating composition useful for retroreflectorizing fabrics comprising (a) a dilute coating vehicle that includes film-forming binder material and at least 70 volume-percent of a volatile constituent, and (b) transparent microspheres having a refractive index between about 1.85 and 2 hemisperhically coated with specular reflective means and dispersed in the coating vehicle in an amount accounting for no more than about one-fifth of the volume of the nonvolatile portion of the composition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 16 words
Composition of claim 5 in which the binder material comprises an aqueous emulsion of acrylic-based polymer.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 24 words
A method of forming a retroreflective treatment on fabric comprising spreading a composition of claims 1 or 5 across the fabric with barrier means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2963378A Cited
US3099637A Cited
US3228897A Cited
US3420597A Cited
US3535019A Cited
CA935254A Cited
US3700305A Cited
US3835087A Cited
US4103060A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1984-04-20 1984-10-20 1985-04-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1988-04-20 1988-10-20 1989-04-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1992-04-20 1992-10-20 1993-04-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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