US 5,508,105 A · Thermal print receptive and frangible retrorefelective polymeric sheetings

Abstract

Polymeric sheeting materials directly thermally printed upon with a thermal printing system and a resin-based colorant/binder. The polymeric sheeting materials comprise a core sheet and a thermally print receptive surface on the core sheet. The thermally print receptive surface may be formed from compositions comprising a polyurethane dispersion. The thermally print receptive surface is smooth, transparent, durable, and weatherable. Signage articles made from the polymeric sheeting materials of the invention may be configured to have the desired combination of frangibility, durability, retroreflectivity and/or low production cost. Frangible, retroreflective signage articles may be produced from the polymeric sheeting materials and may have durable variable information thermally and variably printed directly on the articles.

Claims37

Dependent claims

A durable, retroreflective polymeric sheeting comprising:

(a) a frangible multi-functional layer having first and second major surfaces and a thickness of greater than about 6 microns, the multi-functional layer being formed from a composition comprising a polyurethane;
and
(b) a core sheet having first and second major surfaces, the first major surface of the core sheet being attached to the first major surface of the multi-functional layer, said core sheet comprising in order:
1) a binder layer at said first major surface of said core sheet;
2) a spacecoat layer comprising polyvinyl butyral under said binder layer;
3) a monolayer of microspheres having bottommost and topmost surfaces, said bottommost surfaces embedded in said spacecoat layer and said topmost surfaces embedded in said binder layer;
4) a reflective material underlying said monolayer of microspheres;
and
5) a pressure sensitive adhesive layer at said bottommost surface underlying said reflective material;
wherein
the polymeric sheeting is directly thermally print receptive upon the second major surface of the multi-functional layer using an indicia that contains a resin-based colorant/binder.

8 more elements

A frangible, durable, retroreflective polymeric sheeting material, comprising:

a) a frangible multi-function layer of greater than about 6 microns in thickness formed from a composition comprising from about 0 to about 60 parts by weight acrylic emulsion and about 40 to about 100 parts by weight aqueous dispersion of polyurethane, said multi-function layer having a lower surface and an exposed, upper surface;
b) a binder layer comprising synthetic polyester resin crosslinked with a butylated melamine resin attached to said multi-function lower surface;
c) a spacecoat layer comprising polyvinyl butyral under said binder layer;
d) a monolayer of glass microspheres having bottom most and topmost surfaces, said bottommost surfaces embedded in said spacecoat layer and said topmost surfaces embedded in said binder layer;
e) a reflective material underlying said monolayer of glass microspheres;
and
f) a pressure sensitive adhesive layer under said reflective material, said polymeric sheeting material being directly thermally print receptive upon said multi-function layer upper surface with an indicia that contains a resin-based colorant/binder.

4 more elements

A frangible retroreflective polymeric sheeting material, comprising:

a) a frangible topmost layer having a lower surface and an exposed, upper surface, said topmost layer formed from a composition comprising polyethyleneterephthalate and vinylidine chloride/acrylonitrile copolymer;
b) a cover layer attached to said lower surface;
and
c) a retroreflective core sheet attached to said cover layer, said retroreflective core sheet having first and second major surfaces, the first major surface of the core sheet being attached to said cover layer, said core sheet comprising in order:
i) a binder layer defining said first major surface of said core sheet;
ii) a spacecoat layer comprising polyvinyl butyral under said binder layer;
iii) a monolayer of microspheres having bottommost and topmost surfaces, said bottommost surfaces imbedded in said spacecoat layer and said topmost surfaces imbedded said binder layer;
iv) a reflective material underlying said monolayer of microspheres;
and
v) a pressure sensitive adhesive layer at said bottommost surface underlying said reflective material, said polymeric sheeting material being directly thermally print receptive upon said topmost layer upper surface using resin-based colorant/binder.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Thermal print receptive and frangible retrorefelective polymeric sheetings

Life of this patent

Thermal print receptive and frangible retrorefelective polymeric sheetings

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims37