CA2287795A1 - Retroreflective sheeting containing a validation image and methods of making the same - Google Patents

Retroreflective sheeting containing a validation image and methods of making the same Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2287795A1
CA2287795A1 CA 2287795 CA2287795A CA2287795A1 CA 2287795 A1 CA2287795 A1 CA 2287795A1 CA 2287795 CA2287795 CA 2287795 CA 2287795 A CA2287795 A CA 2287795A CA 2287795 A1 CA2287795 A1 CA 2287795A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
layer
image
transparent
lenses
retroreflective sheet
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
CA 2287795
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2287795C (en
Inventor
Michael Hannington
Bruce Newell
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Avery Dennison Corp
Original Assignee
Avery Dennison Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Avery Dennison Corp filed Critical Avery Dennison Corp
Publication of CA2287795A1 publication Critical patent/CA2287795A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2287795C publication Critical patent/CA2287795C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B5/00—Optical elements other than lenses
    • G02B5/12—Reflex reflectors
    • G02B5/126—Reflex reflectors including curved refracting surface
    • G02B5/128—Reflex reflectors including curved refracting surface transparent spheres being embedded in matrix
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S359/00—Optical: systems and elements
    • Y10S359/90—Methods
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
    • Y10T428/25—Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and including a second component containing structurally defined particles
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
    • Y10T428/31504—Composite [nonstructural laminate]
    • Y10T428/31551—Of polyamidoester [polyurethane, polyisocyanate, polycarbamate, etc.]
    • Y10T428/31634—Next to cellulosic
    • Y10T428/31638—Cellulosic ester

Abstract

This invention relates to retroreflective sheeting which has an image, such as an image. More specifically, the image has varying appearance at different angles of view. The retroreflective sheeting has a layer of transparent microsphere lenses, a transparent polymeric spacing layer underlying, contacting, and conforming to the bottom of the lenses, the spacing and conformation of which is critical to the optimal performance of the retroreflective article, a reflective layer having a top surface in contact with the back surface of the spacing layer and a topcoat and/or cover sheet overlying and conforming to the top surfaces of the lenses and having a flat top surface or face. In another embodiment, the retroreflective sheeting includes a pressure sensitive adhesive underlying and in contact with the reflective layer. The retroreflective sheeting has an image whose proportions are determined by a non-conformity of the reflective and spacing layer to the bottom of the lenses. The image of the present invention can range from conspicuous to inconspicuous and directional to non-directional.

Claims (31)

1. A retroreflective sheet with an image comprising a layer of transparent microsphere lenses, a transparent polymeric spacing layer contacting and conforming to the bottom of the lenses wherein the spacing layer has at least one portion which is non-conforming to the lenses, a reflective layer having a top surface in contact with the back surface of the spacing layer and a topcoat and/or cover sheet overlying and conforming to the top surfaces of the lenses and having a flat top surface or face wherein the non-conforming portion of the spacing layer forms the image.
2. The retroreflective sheet of claim 1 wherein the microspheres have an average refractive index in the range of about 1.8 to about 2.5.
3. The retroreflective sheeting of claim 1 wherein the microspheres are glass microspheres with a average diameters in a range of from about 25 to about 300 microns.
4. The retroreflective sheet of claim 1 wherein the spacing layer is an acrylic polymer, a polyvinyl butyral, an aliphatic urethane and a polyester.
5. The retroreflective sheet of claim 1 wherein the spacing layer is polyvinylbutyral.
6. The retroreflective sheet of claim 1 wherein the coating thickness of the polymeric spacing layer is from about 25% to about 100% the average diameter of the microsphere lenses.
7. The retroreflective sheet of claim 1 wherein the topcoat has a thickness from about 25 microns to about 300 microns.
8. The retroreflective sheet of claim 1 wherein the topcoat is derived from at least one acrylic polymer, a vinyl polymer, or polyurethanes.
9. The retroreflective sheet of claim 1 wherein the sheet includes a topcoat and a cover sheet.
10. The retroreflective sheet of claim 9 wherein the topcoat is a pressure sensitive adhesive and the cover sheet is derived from at least one acrylic polymer, a vinyl polymer, or polyurethanes.
11. The retroreflective sheet of claim 9 wherein the topcoat is a partially cured urethane and the cover sheet is derived from at least one acrylic polymer, a vinyl polymer, or polyurethanes.
12. The retroreflective sheet of claim 9 wherein the topcoat is a heat activated adhesive and the cover sheet is derived from at least one acrylic polymer, a vinyl polymer, or polyurethanes.
13. The retroreflective sheet of claim 1 further comprising a pressure sensitive adhesive underlying and in contact with the reflective layer.
14. A retroreflective sheet with an image comprising a monolayer of transparent glass microsphere lenses, a polyvinylbutyral transparent polymeric spacing layer contacting and conforming to the bottom of the lenses, a reflective layer having a top surface in contact with the back surface of the spacing layer and a polyurethane topcoat and/or cover sheet overlying and conforming to the top surfaces of the lenses and having a flat top surface or face wherein the image is a non-conforming portion of the spacing layer and the reflective layer.
15. The retroreflective sheet of claim 14 wherein the microspheres have an average refractive index in the range of about 2.0 to about 2.3.
16. The retroreflective sheeting of claim 14 wherein the microspheres are glass microspheres with a average diameters in a range of from about 30 to about 120 microns.
17. The retroreflective sheet of claim 14 wherein the coating thickness of the polymeric spacing layer or space coat is from about 35% to about 75% of the average diameter of the microsphere lenses.
18. The retroreflective sheet of claim 14 wherein the topcoat has a thickness from about 25microns to about 125 microns.
19. The retroreflective sheet of claim 14 further comprising a pressure sensitive adhesive underlying and in contact with the reflective layer.
20. A method of preparing a retroreflective sheet with an image comprising the steps of (1) providing retroreflective sheeting having a spacing and reflective layer conforming to glass lenses, (2) heating the retroreflective sheeting and (3) pressing an image onto the spacing layer of the retroreflective sheet to form an image which is non-conforming to the lenses.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein the pressure is from about 5 to about 75 pounds per linear inch.
22. The method of claim 20 wherein the retroreflective sheet is heated to about 85 to about 130 degrees C.
23. A method of making a retroreflective sheet with an image comprising the following steps: (1) pressing an image into a molding layer surface of a first assembly which comprises a molding layer and a substrate, (2) coating a transparent polymeric spacing layer on the imaged surface of the molding layer, (3) depositing a monolayer of transparent microsphere lenses onto the transparent polymeric spacing layer, (4) embedding by means of heat and pressure the monolayer of microsphere lenses into the transparent polymeric spacing layer which adheres to and conforms to the bottom surface of the monolayer of transparent microsphere lenses displacing the molding layer but substantially keeping the image intact, (5) covering the exposed transparent microsphere lenses with a transparent topcoat and/or transparent cover sheet, (6) removing the molding layer and substrate assembly, and (7) depositing a reflective layer over the exposed surface of the transparent polymeric spacing layer.
24. A method of claim 23 in which the Vicat softening point of the molding layer is less than that of the transparent polymeric spacing layer.
25. A method of claim 23 wherein the molding layer comprises a low, medium, or high density polyolefin.
26. A method of claim 23 further comprising a silicone release layer between the transparent polymeric spacing layer and the molding layer.
27. A method of claim 23 in which the image is a holographic image embossed into the molding layer.
28. A method of making a retroreflective sheet with an image comprising the following steps: (1) printing an image using a transparent or transparently colored polymer onto a molding layer surface of a first assembly which comprises a molding layer and a substrate, (2) pressing the printed image into a molding layer surface of a first assembly which comprises a molding layer and a substrate, (3) coating a transparent polymeric spacing layer on the imaged surface of the molding layer, (4) depositing a monolayer of transparent microsphere lenses onto the transparent polymeric spacing layer, (5) embedding by means of heat and pressure the monolayer of microsphere lenses into the transparent polymeric spacing layer which adheres to and conforms to the bottom surface of the monolayer of transparent microsphere lenses displacing the molding layer but substantially keeping the image intact, (6) covering the exposed transparent microsphere lenses with a transparent topcoat and/or transparent cover sheet, (7) removing the molding layer and substrate assembly, and (8) depositing a reflective layer over the exposed surface of the transparent polymeric spacing layer.
29. A method of claim 28 in which the Vicat softening point of the molding layer is less than that of the transparent polymeric spacing layer.
30. A method of claim 28 wherein the molding layer comprises a low, medium, or high density polyolefin.
31. A method of claim 28 further comprising a silicone release layer between the transparent polymeric spacing layer and the molding layer.
CA 2287795 1998-10-30 1999-10-29 Retroreflective sheeting containing a validation image and methods of making the same Expired - Lifetime CA2287795C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10635998P 1998-10-30 1998-10-30
US60/106,359 1998-10-30

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2287795A1 true CA2287795A1 (en) 2000-04-30
CA2287795C CA2287795C (en) 2009-12-29

Family

ID=22310981

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2287795 Expired - Lifetime CA2287795C (en) 1998-10-30 1999-10-29 Retroreflective sheeting containing a validation image and methods of making the same

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (3) US6350036B1 (en)
EP (1) EP0997750B1 (en)
AT (2) ATE294963T1 (en)
CA (1) CA2287795C (en)
DE (2) DE69925086T2 (en)
ES (2) ES2238814T3 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20010018128A1 (en) 2001-08-30
ES2238814T3 (en) 2005-09-01
DE69935740T2 (en) 2007-12-27
ES2282771T3 (en) 2007-10-16
ATE358827T1 (en) 2007-04-15
EP0997750A2 (en) 2000-05-03
US6641270B2 (en) 2003-11-04
EP0997750A3 (en) 2002-02-27
US20030151815A1 (en) 2003-08-14
US6350036B1 (en) 2002-02-26
CA2287795C (en) 2009-12-29
US6558009B2 (en) 2003-05-06
DE69925086D1 (en) 2005-06-09
DE69925086T2 (en) 2006-02-02
DE69935740D1 (en) 2007-05-16
EP0997750B1 (en) 2005-05-04
ATE294963T1 (en) 2005-05-15

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