Patent US5050327A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5050327A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Retroreflective sign having improved legibility
Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co
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Filing: 1989-11-17
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Granted: 1991-09-24
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Expires: 2009-11-17
Abstract
Abstract A sign having a face bearing an informational legand thereon, the face comprising at least one legend portion and at least one background portion, and the sign comprising at least one legend segment and at least one background segment, which segments are defined by the legend and background portions, wherein at least part of at least one of the legend and background segments is retroreflective and translucent. The segments of the signs which are translucent and retroreflective exhibit increased luminance under adverse lighting conditions, thereby increasing the conspicuity and legibility of the sign.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry L. Woltman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 01:11
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F13/00; G09F13/16; G09F13/04; G09F13/0418; G09F13/0472
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A sign located adjacent a road having a face bearing an informational legend thereon, said face comprising at least one legend portion and at least one background portion, each of said legend portions of said face defining a cross-sectional legend segment of said sign, said legend segment extending from said legend portion through the entirety of said sign, and each of said background portions of said face defining a cross-sectional background segment of said sign, said background segment extending from said background portion through the entirety of said sign, wherein at least one of said legend and background segments is both retroreflective and translucent such that light incident to the front surface of said retroreflective and translucent segment is retroreflected and light incident to the back surface of said retroreflective and translucent segment is transmitted through said front surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
A sign located adjacent a road having a face bearing an informational legend thereon, said face comprising at least one legend portion and at least one background portion, each of said legend portions of said face defining a cross-sectional legend segment of said sign, said legend segment extending from said legend portion through the entirety of said sign, and each of said background portions of said face defining a cross-sectional background segment of said sign, said background segment extending from said background portion through the entirety of said sign, wherein at least one of said legend and background segments is both retroreflective and translucent such that light incident to the front surface of said retroreflective and translucent segment is retroreflected and light incident to the back surface of said retroreflective and translucent segment is transmitted through said front surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The sign of claim 1 wherein said translucent segment has a retroreflective brightness of at least about 1 candela per lux per meter 2 at an observation angle of 0.2° and an entrance angle of -4°.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The sign of claim 1 wherein said translucent segment has a retroreflective brightness of at least about 5 candela per lux per meter 2 at an observation angle of 0.2° and an entrance angle of -4°.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The sign of claim 1 wherein said translucent segment has a retroreflective brightness of at least about 50 candela per lux per meter 2 at an observation angle of 0.2° and an entrance angle of -4°.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The sign of claim 1 wherein said translucent segment has a retroreflective brightness of at least about 100 candela per lux per meter 2 at an observation angle of 0.2° and an entrance angle of -4°.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The sign of claim 1 wherein said translucent segment has a retroreflective brightness of at least about 1000 candela per lux per meter 2 at an observation angle of 0.2° and an entrance angle of -4°. PG,18
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
10 words
The sign of claim 1 further comprising a backing member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The sign of claim 7 wherein said backing member comprises at least one of the following: polycarbonate, polymethylmethacrylate, modified acrylics, polyester, or epoxy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The sign of claim 7 wherein said backing member comprises a coloring agent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The sign of claim 1 wherein said legend and said background portions of said face are of legibility-enhancing contrasting colors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The sign of claim 1 wherein at least a part of said legend portion is black.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The sign of claim 1 wherein at least a part of said background portion is at least one of white, blue, brown, orange, yellow, red, or green.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The sign of claim 1 wherein at least part of said translucent segment is also fluorescent.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The sign of claim 1 wherein the transmittance of said legend segment is at least 10 percent different from the transmissivity of said background segment.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The sign of claim 1 wherein the effective transmittance of said translucent segment is at least about 0.01 as determined in accordance with ASTM D 1003-61, Procedure B.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The sign of claim 1 wherein the effective transmittance of said translucent segment is at least about 0.02 as determined in accordance with ASTM D 1003-61, Procedure B.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The sign of claim 1 wherein the effective transmittance of said translucent segment is at least about 0.05 as determined in accordance with ASTM D 1003-61, Procedure B.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The sign of claim 1 mounted on a support in a substantially optically-non-interfering manner.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
10 words
The sign of claim 1 further comprising a coloring member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The sign of claim 7 wherein said backing member is translucent and white.
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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) | 1994-09-23 | 1995-03-25 | 1995-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-09-23 | 1999-03-25 | 1999-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-09-23 | 2003-03-25 | 2003-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |