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US 11,353,640 B2Granted
Durable retroreflective elements with an ionic copolymer core
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsMatthew D. Wilding, Stephen L. Lieder, Eugene H. Carlson
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Abstract
The disclosed retroreflective element includes a highly durable core with an ionic copolymer and a plurality of beads. These disclosed retroreflective properties remain intact even after continued application of external forces and stresses. Further, the ionic copolymer allows for beads to be loaded into the ionic copolymer of the core, securely disposed around the perimeter of the core, or both.
Claims8
A reflective element comprising:
- a core defined by a body with a perimeter;
- a plurality of first beads disposed around at least a portion of the perimeter of the core,
- wherein the core is a composite core comprising an ionic copolymer and a plurality of second beads dispersed through the body of the core,
- wherein the first and second beads are glass or glass ceramic beads,
- wherein the first beads are different from the second beads,
- wherein the first and second beads are retroreflective,
- wherein the beads in the body of the core consist essentially of second beads;
- and
- wherein the first bead has a first refractive index, and the second bead has a second refractive index that is different that the first refractive index.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.