Back to results
US 2020/0264348 A1Published application
Exposed-Lens Retroreflective Article Comprising Color Layers Comprising Bi-Layer Structures
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsDaniel J. Schmidt, Matthew S. Stay, Michael A. McCoy, Kui Chen-Ho, Richard S. Buckanin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An exposed-lens retroreflective article including a binder layer and a plurality of retroreflective elements. Each retroreflective element includes a transparent microsphere partially embedded in the binder layer. At least some of the retroreflective elements comprise at least one color layer comprising a bi-layer structure.
Claims22
An exposed-lens retroreflective article comprising:
- a binder layer;
- and,
- a plurality of retroreflective elements spaced over a length and breadth of a front side of the binder layer, each retroreflective element comprising a transparent microsphere partially embedded in the binder layer;
- wherein at least some of the retroreflective elements each comprise a color layer disposed on at least a portion of the transparent microsphere,
- wherein at least some of the color layers each comprise a bi-layer structure comprising a first layer comprising a first material and a second layer comprising a second material, wherein the first material comprises a first binding group and the second material comprises a second binding group, and wherein the first binding group and the second binding group have complementary interactions,
- and,
- wherein at least one of the first material or the second material comprises at least one colorant.
4 more elements
A method of making a retroreflective article comprising a plurality of retroreflective elements at least some of which each comprise a color layer, the method comprising:
- disposing color layers on at least portions of at least some transparent microspheres,
- wherein at least some of the color layers each comprise a bi-layer structure comprising a first layer comprising a first material and a second layer comprising a second material, wherein the first material comprises a first binding group and the second material comprises a second binding group, and wherein the first binding group and the second binding group have complementary interactions;
- then, with the transparent microspheres borne by a carrier layer:
- disposing reflective layers on protruding areas of at least some of the color layers,
- disposing a binder precursor on the carrier layer and on the protruding areas of the transparent microspheres bearing the color layers and the reflective layers thereon,
- and,
- solidifying the binder precursor to form a binder layer.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.