US5759671A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ultraviolet luminescent retroreflective sheeting
Assignee: Nippon Carbide Industries Co Inc
•
Filing: 1995-12-15
•
Granted: 1998-06-02
•
Expires: 2015-12-15
Abstract
Abstract PCT No. PCT/JP95/02572 Sec. 371 Date Aug. 15, 1996 Sec. 102(e) Date Aug. 15, 1996 PCT Filed Dec. 15, 1995 PCT Pub. No. WO96/18920 PCT Pub. Date Jun. 20, 1996Ultraviolet luminescent retroreflective sheeting includes a retroreflective portion containing retroreflective elements and an ultraviolet luminescent portion to facilitate nighttime viewing by persons not located at or near a source of light being retroreflected by the retroreflective portion. At least part of the ultraviolet luminescent portion is provided as the bonding lines for bonding the transparent cover sheet to the support sheet to form a series of sealed cells in which the retroreflective elements, which may be of the encapsulated lens-type or the encapsulated cube-corner-type, are disposed. The ultraviolet luminescenct portion includes fluorescent agent which emits light when irradiation by ultraviolet irradiation. The ultraviolet luminescent retroreflective sheeting may be used in a display device, such as a roadside sign, in combination with a source of ultraviolet radiation means which may be formed integrally with the sheeting or spaced therefrom and which will, in operation, emit ultraviolet rays in the direction of the retroreflective sheeting.
Inventors
- 👤 Osamu Tanaka
- 👤 Kiyohito Hiromitsu
- 👤 Hidenori Fushimi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 00:38
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F13/00; G09F13/16; G02; G02B; G02B5/00; G02B5/12; G02B5/122; G02B5/124; G02B5/126; G02B5/128; G09F13/04; G09F13/0418; G09F13/0472; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/913; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24355; Y10T428/24372; Y10T428/24479; Y10T428/24562; Y10T428/24628; Y10T428/24661; Y10T428/24802; Y10T428/24851; Y10T428/24868; Y10T428/24876; Y10T428/24893; Y10T428/24901; Y10T428/25; Y10T428/252
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
308 words
Ultraviolet luminescent retroreflective sheeting comprising a retroreflective region having retroreflective elements and an ultraviolet luminescent region which emits light under ultraviolet radiation; wherein the retroreflective region comprises an encapsulated lens retroreflective region comprising a support layer, a substantial monolayer of transparent microspheres partially embedded in one surface of the support layer, a light reflective layer coating on the portion of the transparent microspheres which are embedded in the one surface of the support layer, a transparent surface protective film facing in spaced relationship to the one surface of the support layer, and a series of bonding lines bonding the protective film to the one surface of the support layer to thereby form a plurality of sealed, small compartment cells, each of the sealed cells containing therein a part of the substantial monolayer of transparent microspheres, the non-embedded portions of which are exposed to the atmosphere within the sealed cell, or said retroreflective region comprises an encapsulated cube-corner retroreflective region comprising a support layer; a light-transmitting cover layer spaced apart from the support layer; a layer of cube-corner retroreflective elements disposed on one surface of the cover layer facing the support layer, a series of bonding lines bonding the surface layer to the layer of cube-corner retroreflective elements and forming a plurality of sealed, small compartment cells, each of the sealed cells containing therein cube-corner retroreflective elements which are exposed to the atmosphere within the sealed cell, and wherein the bonding lines comprise a fluorescent agent which emits light under ultraviolet radiation and a resin, wherein said bonding lines form at least a portion of the ultraviolet region, and, wherein when the ultraviolet luminescent region is illuminated with a fluorescent lamp which emits near-ultraviolet rays of main wavelength around 360 nm at a light-receiving intensity of 0.8 mW/cm 2 , the luminance is at least 10 cd/m 2 .
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
308 words
Ultraviolet luminescent retroreflective sheeting comprising a retroreflective region having retroreflective elements and an ultraviolet luminescent region which emits light under ultraviolet radiation; wherein the retroreflective region comprises an encapsulated lens retroreflective region comprising a support layer, a substantial monolayer of transparent microspheres partially embedded in one surface of the support layer, a light reflective layer coating on the portion of the transparent microspheres which are embedded in the one surface of the support layer, a transparent surface protective film facing in spaced relationship to the one surface of the support layer, and a series of bonding lines bonding the protective film to the one surface of the support layer to thereby form a plurality of sealed, small compartment cells, each of the sealed cells containing therein a part of the substantial monolayer of transparent microspheres, the non-embedded portions of which are exposed to the atmosphere within the sealed cell, or said retroreflective region comprises an encapsulated cube-corner retroreflective region comprising a support layer; a light-transmitting cover layer spaced apart from the support layer; a layer of cube-corner retroreflective elements disposed on one surface of the cover layer facing the support layer, a series of bonding lines bonding the surface layer to the layer of cube-corner retroreflective elements and forming a plurality of sealed, small compartment cells, each of the sealed cells containing therein cube-corner retroreflective elements which are exposed to the atmosphere within the sealed cell, and wherein the bonding lines comprise a fluorescent agent which emits light under ultraviolet radiation and a resin, wherein said bonding lines form at least a portion of the ultraviolet region, and, wherein when the ultraviolet luminescent region is illuminated with a fluorescent lamp which emits near-ultraviolet rays of main wavelength around 360 nm at a light-receiving intensity of 0.8 mW/cm 2 , the luminance is at least 10 cd/m 2 .
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ultraviolet luminescent retroreflective sheeting according to claim 1, wherein the fluorescent agent comprises inorganic fluorescent agent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The ultraviolet luminescent retroreflective sheeting according to claim 2, wherein the inorganic fluorescent agent is at least one member selected from the group consisting of red light-emitting inorganic fluorescent agent, green light-emitting inorganic fluorescent agent and blue light-emitting inorganic fluorescent agent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The ultraviolet luminescent retroreflective sheeting according to claim 2, wherein the inorganic fluorescent agent has a particle size distribution such that at least 80% by weight of the particles have a size not greater than 25 μm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The ultraviolet luminescent retroreflective sheeting according to claim 1, wherein the fluorescent agent emits light under irradiation of ultraviolet rays having a wavelength within the range of 250-400 nm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The ultraviolet luminescent retroreflective sheeting according to claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet luminescent region contains 10-600 parts by weight of said fluorescent agent, per 100 parts by weight of the resin component.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The ultraviolet luminescent retroreflective sheeting according to claim 1, wherein the resin component comprises at least one resin selected from the group consisting of acrylic resins, urethane resins, polyester resins, vinyl chloride resins and fluorine-containing resins.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The ultraviolet luminescent retroreflective sheeting according to claim 1, wherein the luminance of the ultraviolet luminescent region is at least 20 cd/m 2 .
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The ultraviolet luminescent retroreflective sheeting according to claim 3, wherein the inorganic fluorescent agent comprises at least one red light-emitting agent selected from the group consisting of Y 2 O 3 :Eu, Y(P,V)O 4 :Eu, Y 2 O 2 S:Eu, 0.5MgF 2 .3.5MgO.GeO 2 :Mn, YVO 4 :Eu and (Y,Gd)BO 3 :Eu.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
85 words
The ultraviolet luminescent retroreflective sheeting according to claim 3, wherein the inorganic fluorescent agent comprises at least one green light-emitting agent selected from the group consisting of Zn 2 GeO 4 :Mn, ZnO:Zn, ZnS:Cu, ZnS:(Cu, Al), (Zn,Cd)S:(Cu,Al), ZnS:(Cu,Au,Al), Zn 2 SiO 4 :Mn, ZnS:(Cu,Ag), (Zn,Cd)S:Cu, Gd 2 O 2 S:Tb, La 2 O 2 S:Tb, Y 2 , SiO 5 : (Ce,Tb), CeMgAl 11 O 19 :Tb, ZnS: (Cu,Co), LaOBr: (Tb,Tm), La 2 O 2 S:Tb and BaMg 2 Al 16 O 27 : (Eu,Mu).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
67 words
The ultraviolet luminescent retroreflective sheeting according to claim 3, wherein the inorganic fluorescent agent comprises at least one blue light-emitting agent selected from the group consisting of Sr 5 (PO 4 ) 3 Cl:Eu, BaMg 2 Al 16 O 27 :Eu, BaMgAl 10 O 17 :Eu, ZnS:Ag, CaWO 4 , Y 2 SiO 5 :Ce, ZnS: (Ag,Ga,Cl), Sr 2 P 2 O 7 :Eu, CaS:Bi and CaSrS:Bi.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The ultraviolet luminescent retroreflective sheeting according to claim 1, wherein said retroreflective region comprises said encapsulated lens retroreflective region.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The ultraviolet luminescent retroreflective sheeting according to claim 12, which further comprises an ultraviolet luminescent region on the support layer-facing surface of the light-transmitting cover layer or on the microspherical lens-embedding surface of the support layer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ultraviolet luminescent retroreflective sheeting according to claim 1, wherein said bonding lines are formed by printing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
The ultraviolet luminescent retroreflective sheeting according to claim 12, wherein, with respect to 100% of the incident side surface area of the sheeting, the areal ratio of the retroreflective region is within a range of 20-70%, the areal ratio of the ultraviolet luminescent region is within a range of 30-80%, and the sum of the areal ratios is 100%.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The ultraviolet luminescent retroreflective sheeting according to claim 1, wherein the retroreflective region comprises said encapsulated cube-corner retroreflective region.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
59 words
The ultraviolet luminescent retroreflective sheeting according to claim 16, wherein, with respect to 100% of the incident side surface area of the sheeting, the areal ratio of the retroreflective region is within a range of 15-80%, the areal ratio of the ultraviolet luminescent region is within a range of 20-85%, and the sum of the areal ratios is 100%.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
A display device comprising ultraviolet luminescent retroreflective sheeting according to claim 1, in combination with an ultraviolet radiation means for radiating ultraviolet rays in the direction of said sheeting.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The display device according to claim 18, wherein said ultraviolet luminescent retroreflective sheeting forms a display portion comprising one or more of characters, figures or signs.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The display device according to claim 19, which further comprises a background portion for said display portion, wherein the background portion comprises retroreflective sheeting having a color different from the color of the display portion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
The display device according to claim 19, which further comprises a background portion for said display portion, wherein the background portion comprises ultraviolet luminescent retroreflective sheeting having a different color tone from the color tone of the display portion.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The display device according to claim 19 wherein the sheeting and the ultraviolet radiation means are integrally combined.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The display device according to claim 20 wherein the sheeting and the ultraviolet means are installed at a distance one from the other.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
140 words
Ultraviolet luminescent retroreflective sheeting comprising a retroreflective portion and an ultraviolet luminescent portion adjacent to but not substantially overlapping with the retroreflective portion, wherein said retroreflective portion comprises retroreflective elements encapsulated within sealed cells, said sealed cells being formed by a support layer and a light transparent cover layer and bond lines connecting the support layer to the transparent cover layer; and further wherein, said bond lines comprise particles of fluorescent agent which emits light when irradiated by ultraviolet radiation, said particles being dispersed in a resin component, whereby said bond lines form said adjacent but non-overlapping ultraviolet luminescent portion; wherein when the ultraviolet luminescent region is illuminated with a fluorescent lamp which emits near-ultraviolet rays of main wavelength around 360 nm at a light-receiving intensity of 0.8 mW/cm 2 , the luminance is at least 10 cd/m 2 .
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
140 words
Ultraviolet luminescent retroreflective sheeting comprising a retroreflective portion and an ultraviolet luminescent portion adjacent to but not substantially overlapping with the retroreflective portion, wherein said retroreflective portion comprises retroreflective elements encapsulated within sealed cells, said sealed cells being formed by a support layer and a light transparent cover layer and bond lines connecting the support layer to the transparent cover layer; and further wherein, said bond lines comprise particles of fluorescent agent which emits light when irradiated by ultraviolet radiation, said particles being dispersed in a resin component, whereby said bond lines form said adjacent but non-overlapping ultraviolet luminescent portion; wherein when the ultraviolet luminescent region is illuminated with a fluorescent lamp which emits near-ultraviolet rays of main wavelength around 360 nm at a light-receiving intensity of 0.8 mW/cm 2 , the luminance is at least 10 cd/m 2 .
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3830682A
Cited
JPS5047591A
Cited
JPS51144198A
Cited
US4025674A
Cited
US4250646A
Cited
JPS57133004U
Cited
US4424449A
Cited
US4555161A
Cited
JPS60194405A
Cited
US4656072A
Cited
US4653864A
Cited
US4952023A
Cited
US5009019A
Cited
US5050327A
Cited
US5223977A
Cited
US5085918A
Cited
US5229882A
Cited
US5237448A
Cited
JPH05173008A
Cited
US5414947A
Cited
WO1993014422A1
Cited
US5478628A
Cited
JPH0643819A
Cited
US5272562A
Cited
JPH06250006A
Cited
US5516227A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-06-01 | 2001-12-01 | 2002-06-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-01 | 2005-12-01 | 2006-06-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-01 | 2009-12-01 | 2010-06-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |