US5510178A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transfer article for forming tetroreflective and colored images and method of making same
Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1991-10-25
•
Granted: 1996-04-23
•
Expires: 2011-10-25
Abstract
Abstract A transfer with durable images comprising a support sheet having a monolayer of transparent microspheres that are partially embedded in the support sheet with a specularly reflecting layer covering the parts of the surfaces of the microspheres which are exposed above the support sheet. One or more coatings of two-component colors can be printed imagewise on top of the layer of microspheres. The two-component colors are based on polyester resin and an isocyanate hardener.
Inventors
- 👤 Ulf N. Olsen
- 👤 Erik Franke
- 👤 Eilif Strand
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 22:18
CPC Classifications
D; D06; D06Q; D06Q1/00; D06Q1/12; D06Q1/10; G; G02; G02B; G02B5/00; G02B5/12; G02B5/126; G02B5/128; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/913; Y10S428/914; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/23; Y10T428/234; Y10T428/23907; Y10T428/23957; Y10T428/23964; Y10T428/23971; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24355; Y10T428/24372; Y10T428/25; Y10T428/252; Y10T428/254; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2982; Y10T428/2991; Y10T428/2993; Y10T428/2996; Y10T428/2998; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31551; Y10T428/31565; Y10T428/31725; Y10T428/31768; Y10T428/31772; Y10T428/31775; Y10T428/31786
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A transfer for placing a retroreflective article on a substrate, which transfer comprises: (a) a support sheet; (b) a monolayer of transparent microspheres embedded about one-fourth to about one-half their diameter in the support sheet; (c) a specularly reflecting layer disposed on the portion of the microspheres that protrudes from the support sheet; and (d) an imagewise coating applied over the specularly reflecting layer, the imagewise coating being based on a polyester resin and an isocyanate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
A transfer for placing a retroreflective article on a substrate, which transfer comprises: (a) a support sheet; (b) a monolayer of transparent microspheres embedded about one-fourth to about one-half their diameter in the support sheet; (c) a specularly reflecting layer disposed on the portion of the microspheres that protrudes from the support sheet; and (d) an imagewise coating applied over the specularly reflecting layer, the imagewise coating being based on a polyester resin and an isocyanate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The transfer of claim 1, wherein the specularly reflecting layer is a transparent dielectric mirror and the imagewise coating is colored.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The transfer of claim 2, further comprising an extender layer that covers at least the imagewise coating, the extender layer being based on a polyester resin and an isocyanate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The transfer of claim 3, further comprising a polyester or polyamide based elastomer that is fused into the extender layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The transfer of claim 1, further comprising a release agent disposed between the specularly reflecting layer and the imagewise coating, the release agent allowing the microspheres to remain in the support sheet in areas where the release agent is disposed after the support sheet is separated from the transfer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
The transfer of claim 5, wherein the specularly reflecting layer is a metal layer and the imagewise coating is colored, and when the support sheet is separated from the transfer to form a retroreflective article, the color of the imagewise coating is visible from the front side of the retroreflective article in areas corresponding to where the release agent was disposed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The transfer of claim 5, wherein the imagewise coating is colored, and the transfer further comprises an extender layer that covers the imagewise coating and the specularly reflecting layer in such thickness that the microspheres are embedded therein.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The transfer of claim 7, wherein the extender layer is based on a polyester resin and an isocyanate hardener or is based on a polyester based glue.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The transfer of claim 8, wherein the extender layer is based on a polyester resin and an isocyanate hardener.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The transfer of claim 7, further comprising a second imagewise colored coating applied on the specularly reflecting layer, the extender layer also covering the second imagewise colored coating.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The transfer of claim 10, wherein the extender layer is based on a polyester and an isocyanate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The transfer of claim 11, further comprising a polyester or polyamide based elastomer that is fused into the extender layer.
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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) | 1999-04-23 | 1999-10-23 | 2000-04-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-04-23 | 2003-10-23 | 2004-04-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-04-23 | 2007-10-23 | 2008-04-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |