# US 7,609,450 B2 · Plastic sheets with lenticular lens arrays > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,609,450 B2 - Document ID: US7609450B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/731,697 - Filed: 2007-03-29 - Published: 2008-10-02 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2007-03-29 - Assignees: Spartech Corporation - Inventors: Todd R. Niemuth - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7609450B2 ## CPC - B29D 11/00278: {Lenticular sheets (B29D11/00269 takes precedence)} - G02B 3/0043: {Inhomogeneous or irregular arrays, e.g. varying shape, size, height} - B29C 59/022: {characterised by the disposition or the configuration, e.g. dimensions, of the embossments or the shaping tools therefor} - B29C 59/04: using rollers or endless belts - B29L 2011/0016: {Lenses} - B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract A lenticular sheet, in one exemplary embodiment, includes a first surface having at least two portions, an opposing second surface, and a plurality of lenticular lenses formed in the first surface. Each portion of the first surface includes a number of lenticular lenses per centimeter that is different from the number of lenticular lenses per centimeter of an adjacent portion of the first surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lenticular sheet comprising: a first surface comprising at least two portions; an opposing second surface; a plurality of lenticular lenses formed in said first surface, each said portion of said first surface comprising a plurality of lenticular lenses, a first portion of said first surface having a number of lenticular lenses per centimeter that is different from a number of lenticular lenses per centimeter of an adjacent second portion of said first surface, a width of each said lenticular lens in said first portion being greater than a width of each said lenticular lens in said adjacent second portion; a plurality of intersecting score lines, said score lines defining a plurality of articles that are formed in said sheet; and a plurality of hinge areas formed into said sheet, each article including a portion of at least one hinge area. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A lenticular sheet in accordance with claim 1 wherein a thickness of said sheet corresponding to said first portion of said first surface is different from a thickness of said sheet corresponding to said adjacent second portion of said first surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A lenticular sheet in accordance with claim 2 wherein said thickness of said sheet corresponding to said first portion of said first surface is different from said thickness of said sheet corresponding to said adjacent second portion of said first surface, and said first portion and said adjacent second portion of said first surface comprising the same number of lenticular lenses per inch. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A lenticular sheet in accordance with claim 1 further comprising at least one of at least one opening extending through said sheet, and at least one area free of lenticular lenses, wherein each said opening interrupts at least one lenticular lens and each said area free of lenticular lenses interrupts at least one lenticular lens. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A lenticular sheet in accordance with claim 1 further comprising at least one of a lip, feet, stops, and a ledge formed in each said article. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A lenticular sheet in accordance with claim 1 further comprising glass or a thermoplastic material selected from the group consisting of polyester resins, acrylic resins, polycarbonate resins, olefin resins, styrene resins, polylactic acid (PLA) resins, polyhydroxyalkonoate (PHA) resins, aliphatic aromatic polyester (AAP) resins, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A lenticular sheet in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a functionality feature, said functionality feature comprising at least one of alignment ridges, snap together elements, and joining elements. ### Claim 8 A method of manufacturing a lenticular sheet comprising the steps of: providing an optically clear plastic substrate sheet, the sheet having a first surface and an opposing second surface, the first surface having at least two portions; forming a plurality of lenticular lenses in the first surface so that each portion of the first surface comprises a plurality of lenticular lenses, a first portion of the first surface having a number of lenticular lenses per centimeter that is different from a number of lenticular lenses per centimeter of an adjacent second portion of the first surface, a width of each lenticular lens in the first portion being greater than a width of each lenticular lens in the adjacent second portion; forming a plurality of intersecting score lines in the first surface of the sheet, the score lines defining a plurality of articles that are formed in the sheet; said step of forming a plurality of lenticular lenses comprises contacting the first surface of the substrate sheet with an embossing device having a negative pattern of the plurality of lenticular lenses; and forming a plurality of hinge areas into the sheet, each article including a portion of at least one hinge area. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein the embossing device comprises a cylinder or a plate having the negative pattern of the plurality of lenticular lenses. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein forming a plurality of lenticular lenses in the first surface comprises forming a plurality of lenticular lenses in the first surface so that a thickness of the sheet corresponding to the first portion of the first surface is different from a thickness of the sheet corresponding to the adjacent second portion of the first surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein forming a plurality of lenticular lenses in the first surface comprises forming a plurality of lenticular lenses in the first surface so that the thickness of the sheet corresponding to the first portion of the first surface is different from the thickness of the sheet corresponding to the adjacent second portion of the first surface, and the first portion and the adjacent second portion of the first surface comprises the same number of lenticular lenses per inch. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) A method in accordance with claim 8 further comprising forming at least one of at least one opening extending through the sheet wherein each opening interrupts at least one lenticular lens and at least one area free of lenticular lenses wherein each area free of lenticular lenses interrupts at least one lenticular lens. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) A method in accordance with claim 8 further comprising forming at least one of a lip, feet, stops, and a ledge formed in each article. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein the plastic substrate sheet comprises a continuous plastic sheet, and said method further comprises cutting said continuous plastic sheet into separate sheets of a predetermined size. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) A method in accordance with claim 8 further comprising forming a functionality feature on the sheet, the functionality feature comprising at least one of alignment ridges, snap together elements, and joining elements. ### Claim 16 A lenticular lens embossing device comprising: an engagement member having an outer surface having at least two portions; and a negative of a pattern of lenticular lenses engraved into said outer surface of said engagement member, said pattern of lenticular lenses comprising an arrangement with each portion of said outer surface of said engagement member comprising a plurality of lenticular lenses, said pattern of lenticular lenses comprising a number of lenticular lenses per centimeter that is different from a number of lenticular lenses per centimeter of an adjacent portion of said outer surface, a width of each said lenticular lens in a first portion being greater than a width of each said lenticular lens in a second adjacent portion; said outer surface of said engagement member comprising a plurality of projections configured to form a plurality of intersecting score lines in a plastic sheet; and said outer surface of said engagement member comprising a plurality of projections configured to form a plurality of hinge areas formed into a plastic sheet. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A lenticular lens embossing device in accordance with claim 16 wherein said engagement member comprises a metal cylinder or a flat metal plate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A lenticular lens embossing device in accordance with claim 17 wherein a thickness of said engagement member corresponding to a first portion of said outer surface is different than a thickness of said engagement member corresponding to an adjacent second portion of said outer surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) A lenticular lens embossing device in accordance with claim 16 wherein said outer surface of said engagement member comprising a plurality of projections configured to form at least one of a lip, feet, stops, and a ledge into a plastic sheet.