US5126880A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Polymeric reflective bodies with multiple layer types
Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co
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Filing: 1990-12-18
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Granted: 1992-06-30
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Expires: 2010-12-18
Abstract
Abstract A multilayered, highly reflective polymeric body comprising at least two types of optical layers which is thermoformable and capable of being fabricated into films, sheets and a variety of parts while maintaining a uniform reflective appearance is provided. The reflective polymeric body includes at least first and second diverse polymeric materials having a sufficient number of layers of the first and second polymeric materials such that at least 30% of light incident on the body is reflected. A portion of the layers have optical thicknesses between 0.09 and 0.45 μm, and the remaining layers have optical thicknesses of not greater than 0.09 μm or not less than 0.45 μm. The first and second polymeric materials differ from each other in refractive index by at least about 0.03.
Inventors
- 👤 John A. Wheatley
- 👤 Walter J. Schrenk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 16:04
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B27/00; B32B27/06; B32B27/08; G; G02; G02B; G02B5/00; G02B5/08; G02B5/0816; G02B5/0825; G02B5/0841; B32B7/00; B32B7/02; B32B7/023; G02B5/20; G02B5/28; G02B5/285; G02B5/287; G02B5/30; G02B5/3025; G02B5/3033; G02B5/3041; G02B5/305; B32B2307/00; B32B2307/40; B32B2307/416; B32B2307/418; B32B2551/00; B32B2551/08; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24942; Y10T428/2495
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A reflective polymeric body of at least first and second diverse polymeric materials, the body comprising a sufficient number of layers of said first and second polymeric materials such that at least 30% of light incident on said body is reflected, wherein said first and second Polymeric materials differ from each other in refractive index by at least about 0.03, and wherein said layers of said first and second polymeric materials have optical thicknesses such that P f ≦0.5, where P.sub.f =(A-B)/B, and where P f is the visual perception factor, A is the peak reflectance from said polymeric body, and B is the baseline reflectance from said polymeric body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
A reflective polymeric body of at least first and second diverse polymeric materials, the body comprising a sufficient number of layers of said first and second polymeric materials such that at least 30% of light incident on said body is reflected, wherein said first and second Polymeric materials differ from each other in refractive index by at least about 0.03, and wherein said layers of said first and second polymeric materials have optical thicknesses such that P f ≦0.5, where P.sub.f =(A-B)/B, and where P f is the visual perception factor, A is the peak reflectance from said polymeric body, and B is the baseline reflectance from said polymeric body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 1 wherein a portion of said layers have optical thicknesses between 0.09 and 0.45 μm and the remaining layers have optical thicknesses of not greater than 0.09 μm or not less than 0.45 μm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 2 where there is a gradient in the optical thickness of said layers having an optical thickness of between 0.09 and 0.45 μm across the layers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 1 in which said first polymeric material is a polycarbonate and said second polymeric material is a miscible blend of polyvinylidene fluoride and polymethylmethacrylate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 1 in which said first polymeric material is polystyrene and said second polymeric material is a copolymer of ethylene and at least one unsaturated monocarboxylic acid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 1 in which said first polymeric material is polystyrene and said second material is polymethylmethacrylate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 1 in which said first polymeric material is a polycarbonate and said second polymeric material is polymethylmethacrylate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 1 in which said first and second polymeric materials are elastomers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 1 in which said polymeric body is in the form of a sheet having two major exterior surfaces.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 9 in which said body includes a protective skin layer on at least one major surface thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 1 wherein the portion of said layers having an optical thickness in the range of between 0.09 and 0.45 μm is positioned at one of the exterior surfaces of said body, and the portion of said layers having an optical thickness of not greater than 0.09 μm or not less than 0.45 μm is positioned at the other exterior surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 1 wherein the portion of said layers having an optical thickness of not greater than 0.09 μm or not less than 0.45 μm is positioned at the exterior surfaces of said body, and the portion of said layers having an optical thickness between 0.09 and 0.45 μm is positioned in the interior of said body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 1 wherein the portion of said layers having an optical thickness between 0.09 and 0.45 μm is positioned at the exterior surfaces of said body, and the portion of said layers having an optical thickness of not greater than 0.09 μm or not less than 0.45 μm is positioned in the interior of said body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 1 including a pigmented layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
110 words
A reflective polymeric body of at least first and second diverse polymeric materials, the body comprising a sufficient number of layers of said first and second polymeric materials such that at least 30% of light incident on said body is reflected, with a portion of said layers having an optical thickness of between 0.09 and 0.45 μm, with the remaining layers having an optical thickness of not greater than 0.09 μm or not less than 0.45 μm, wherein said first and second polymeric materials differ from each other in refractive index by at least about 0.03, and wherein there is an absence of visibly perceived color reflected from said body.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
110 words
A reflective polymeric body of at least first and second diverse polymeric materials, the body comprising a sufficient number of layers of said first and second polymeric materials such that at least 30% of light incident on said body is reflected, with a portion of said layers having an optical thickness of between 0.09 and 0.45 μm, with the remaining layers having an optical thickness of not greater than 0.09 μm or not less than 0.45 μm, wherein said first and second polymeric materials differ from each other in refractive index by at least about 0.03, and wherein there is an absence of visibly perceived color reflected from said body.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 15 where there is a gradient in the optical thickness of said layers having an optical thickness of between 0.09 and 0.45 μm across the layers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 15 in which said first polymeric material is polycarbonate said second polymeric material is a blend of polyvinylidene fluoride and polymethylmethacrylate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 15 in which said first polymeric material is polystyrene and said second polymeric material is a copolymer of ethylene and at least one unsaturated monocarboxylic acid.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 15 in which said first polymeric material is polystyrene and said second material is polymethylmethacrylate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 15 in which said first polymeric material is polycarbonate and said second polymeric material is polymethylmethacrylate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 15 in which said polymeric body is in the form of a sheet having two major exterior surfaces.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 21 in which said body includes a protective skin layer on at least one major surface thereof.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
63 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 15 in which the portion of said layers having an optical thickness of between 0.09 and 0.45 μm comprises a pair of first and second polymers, and the portion of said layers having an optical thickness of not greater than 0.09 μm or not less than 0.45 μm comprises a pair of different first and second polymers.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
66 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 15 wherein the portion of said layers having an optical thickness in the range of between 0.09 and 0.45 μm is positioned at one of the exterior surfaces of said body, and the portion of said layers having an optical thickness of not greater than 0.09 μm or not less than 0.45 μm is positioned at the other exterior surface.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
61 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 15 wherein the portion of said layers having an optical thickness of not greater than 0.09 μm or not less than 0.45 μm is positioned at the exterior surfaces of said body, and the portion of said layers having an optical thickness between 0.09 and 0.45 μm is positioned in the interior of said body.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
61 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 15 wherein the portion of said layers having an optical thickness between 0.09 and 0.45 μm is positioned at the exterior surfaces of said body, and the portion of said layers having an optical thickness of not greater than 0.09 μm or not less than 0.45 μm is positioned in the interior of said body.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
11 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 15 including a pigmented layer.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
91 words
A reflective polymeric body of at least first and second diverse polymeric materials, the body comprising a sufficient number of layers of said first and second polymeric materials such that at least 30% of light incident on said body is reflected, wherein said first and second polymeric materials differ from each other in refractive index by at least about 0.03, and wherein said layers of said first and second polymeric materials have optical thicknesses such that the Munsell chroma saturation value of light reflected from said body is /3 or less.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
91 words
A reflective polymeric body of at least first and second diverse polymeric materials, the body comprising a sufficient number of layers of said first and second polymeric materials such that at least 30% of light incident on said body is reflected, wherein said first and second polymeric materials differ from each other in refractive index by at least about 0.03, and wherein said layers of said first and second polymeric materials have optical thicknesses such that the Munsell chroma saturation value of light reflected from said body is /3 or less.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
40 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 28 wherein a portion of said layers have optical thicknesses between 0.09 and 0.45 μm and the remaining layers have optical thicknesses of not greater than 0.09 μm or not less than 0.45 μm.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
32 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 28 where there is a gradient in the optical thickness of said layers having an optical thickness of between 0.09 and 0.45 μm across the layers.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
28 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 28 in which said first polymeric material is a polycarbonate said second polymeric material is a blend of polyvinylidene fluoride and polymethylmethacrylate.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
32 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 28 in which said first polymeric material is polystyrene and said second polymeric material is a copolymer of ethylene and at least one unsaturated monocarboxylic acid.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
21 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 28 in which said first polymeric material is polystyrene and said second material is polymethylmethacrylate.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 28 in which said first polymeric material is a polycarbonate and said second polymeric material is polymethylmethacrylate.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 28 in which said polymeric body is in the form of a sheet having two major exterior surfaces.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
23 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 35 in which said body includes a protective skin layer on at least one major surface thereof.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
66 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 28 wherein the portion of said layers having an optical thickness in the range of between 0.09 and 0.45 μm is positioned at one of the exterior surfaces of said body, and the portion of said layers having an optical thickness of not greater than 0.09 μm or not less than 0.45 μm is positioned at the other exterior surface.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
61 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 28 wherein the portion of said layers having an optical thickness of not greater than 0.09 μm or not less than 0.45 μm is positioned at the exterior surfaces of said body, and the portion of said layers having an optical thickness between 0.09 and 0.45 μm is positioned in the interior of said body.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
61 words
The reflective polymeric body of claim 28 wherein the portion of said layers having an optical thickness between 0.09 and 0.45 μm is positioned at the exterior surfaces of said body, and the portion of said layers having an optical thickness of not greater than 0.09 μm or not less than 0.45 μm is positioned in the interior of said body.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
111 words
A reflective polymeric article having at least first and second major surfaces, said article comprising at least first and second diverse polymeric materials, the body comprising a sufficient number of layers of said first and second polymeric materials such that at least 30% of light incident on said body is reflected, wherein a portion of said layers have optical thicknesses between 0.09 and 0.45 μm and the remaining layers have optical thicknesses of not greater than 0.09 μm or not less than 0.45 μm, wherein said first and second polymeric materials differ from each other in refractive index by at least about 0.03, and wherein said article includes a pigmented layer.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
111 words
A reflective polymeric article having at least first and second major surfaces, said article comprising at least first and second diverse polymeric materials, the body comprising a sufficient number of layers of said first and second polymeric materials such that at least 30% of light incident on said body is reflected, wherein a portion of said layers have optical thicknesses between 0.09 and 0.45 μm and the remaining layers have optical thicknesses of not greater than 0.09 μm or not less than 0.45 μm, wherein said first and second polymeric materials differ from each other in refractive index by at least about 0.03, and wherein said article includes a pigmented layer.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
77 words
The reflective polymeric article of claim 40 wherein the portion of said layers having an optical thickness in the range of between 0.09 and 0.45 μm is positioned at one of the exterior surfaces of said body, the portion of said layers having an optical thickness of not greater than 0.09 μm or not less than 0.45 μm is positioned in the interior of said body and said pigmented layer is positioned at the other exterior surface.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
70 words
The reflective polymeric article of claim 40 wherein the portion of said layers having an optical thickness of not greater than 0.09 μm or not less than 0.45 μm is positioned at the exterior of said body, the portion of said layers having an optical thickness between 0.09 and 0.45 μm is positioned in the interior of said body and said pigmented layer is positioned at the other exterior surface.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
73 words
The reflective polymeric article of claim 40 wherein the portion of said layers having an optical thickness of not greater than 0.09 μm or not less than 0.45 μm is positioned at the exterior surfaces of said body, said pigmented layer is positioned in the interior of said body, and portions of said layers having an optical thickness between 0.09 and 0.45 μm are positioned adjacent said pigmented layer on both sides thereof.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
73 words
The reflective polymeric article of claim 40 wherein the portion of said layers having an optical thickness of between 0.09 and 0.45 μm is positioned at the exterior surfaces of said body, said pigmented layer is positioned in the interior of said body, and portions of said layers having an optical thickness not greater than 0.09 μm or not less than 0.45 μm are positioned adjacent said pigmented layer on both sides thereof.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
80 words
A birefringent light polarizer which reflects light anisotropically, comprising multiple layers of at least first and second diverse polymeric materials, a portion of said layers having an optical thickness of between 0.09 and 0.45 μm, with the remaining layers having an optical thickness of not greater than 0.09 μm or not less than 0.45 μm, wherein said first and second polymeric materials differ from each other in refractive index by at least about 0.03 in one plane of the polarizer.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
80 words
A birefringent light polarizer which reflects light anisotropically, comprising multiple layers of at least first and second diverse polymeric materials, a portion of said layers having an optical thickness of between 0.09 and 0.45 μm, with the remaining layers having an optical thickness of not greater than 0.09 μm or not less than 0.45 μm, wherein said first and second polymeric materials differ from each other in refractive index by at least about 0.03 in one plane of the polarizer.
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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) | 1995-06-30 | 1995-12-30 | 1996-06-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-06-30 | 1999-12-30 | 2000-06-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-06-30 | 2003-12-30 | 2004-06-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |