# US 7,744,228 B2 · Method of making retroreflective sheeting and articles

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- Number: US 7,744,228 B2
- Document ID: US7744228B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/261,919
- Filed: 2008-10-30
- Published: 2009-07-23
- Granted: 2010-06-29
- Earliest claimed: 2003-03-06
- Assignees: 3M Innovative Properties Company
- Inventors: Kenneth L. Smith
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744228B2

## CPC

- B29D 11/00605: {Production of reflex reflectors}
- G02B 5/124: plural reflecting elements forming part of a unitary plate or sheet
- B29K 2069/00: Use of PC, i.e. polycarbonates {or derivatives thereof}, as moulding material
- Y10S 359/90: Methods
- Y10T 428/2457: Parallel ribs and/or grooves
- 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
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

The invention relates to a method of making retroreflective sheeting and other articles prepared from casting a moldable synthetic resin onto a tool having a microstructured surface.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A retroreflective sheeting, comprising:
channels, wherein at least some of the channels are discontinuous, and full cube microstructured elements having non-triangular reflective faces and an average height ranging from about 0.001 inches to 0.010 inches;
wherein the sheeting is prepared as a roll-good comprising a pair of longitudinal peripheral edges and the channels are substantially parallel to the longitudinal peripheral edges of the roll of sheeting.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The retroreflective sheeting of claim 1, wherein the full cube microstructured elements have reflective faces that comprise rectangles, quadrilaterals, trapezoids, or pentagons.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The retroreflective sheeting of claim 1, wherein the sheeting includes rows of the full cube microstructured elements.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The retroreflective sheeting of claim 3, wherein the sheeting includes at least one channel for each row of full cube microstructured elements.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The retroreflective sheeting of claim 1, wherein the channels are primary groove channels, structured channels, cube cavity channels, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The retroreflective sheeting of claim 5, wherein the sheeting further comprises primary groove channels parallel to structured channels.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The retroreflective sheeting of claim 6, wherein the structured channels are alternated with the primary groove channels.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The retroreflective sheeting of claim 1, wherein the full cube microstructured elements include angle errors.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The retroreflective sheeting of claim 8, wherein the full cube microstructured elements include dihedral angle errors.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The retroreflective sheeting of claim 1, wherein the full cube microstructured elements are formed by a tool including cube corner cavities.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The retroreflective sheeting of claim 1, wherein at least some of the channels include a substantially continuous planar face.

### Claim 12

A retroreflective sheeting, comprising:
structured channels alternated with and parallel to primary groove channels and full cube microstructured elements having non-triangular reflective faces and an average height ranging from about 0.001 inches to 0.010 inches;
wherein the sheeting is prepared as a roll-good comprising a pair of longitudinal peripheral edges and the channels are substantially parallel to the longitudinal peripheral edges of the roll of sheeting.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The retroreflective sheeting of claim 12, wherein the full cube microstructured elements have reflective faces that comprise rectangles, quadrilaterals, trapezoids, or pentagons.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The retroreflective sheeting of claim 12, wherein the full cube microstructured elements include angle errors.

### Claim 15

A retroreflective sheeting, comprising:
channels and full cube microstructured elements including angle errors having non-triangular reflective faces and an average height ranging from about 0.001 inches to 0.010 inches;
wherein the sheeting is prepared as a roll-good comprising a pair of longitudinal peripheral edges and the channels are substantially parallel to the longitudinal peripheral edges of the roll of sheeting.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The retroreflective sheeting of claim 15, wherein the full cube microstructured elements have reflective faces that comprise rectangles, quadrilaterals, trapezoids, or pentagons.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The retroreflective sheeting of claim 15, wherein the channels are primary groove channels, structured channels, cube cavity channels, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The retroreflective sheeting of claim 15, wherein at least some of the channels include a substantially continuous planar face.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The retroreflective sheeting of claim 15, wherein at least some of the channels are discontinuous.

### Claim 20

A retroreflective sheeting, comprising:
channels and rows of full cube microstructured elements having non-triangular reflective faces and an average height ranging from about 0.001 inches to 0.010 inches;
wherein the sheeting comprises at least one channel for each row of full cube microstructures, the sheeting is prepared as a roll-good comprising a pair of longitudinal peripheral edges and the channels are substantially parallel to the longitudinal peripheral edges of the roll of sheeting.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The retroreflective sheeting of claim 20, wherein the full cube microstructured elements have reflective faces that comprise rectangles, quadrilaterals, trapezoids, or pentagons.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The retroreflective sheeting of claim 20, wherein the channels are primary groove channels, structured channels, cube cavity channels, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 23 (depends on 20)

The retroreflective sheeting of claim 20, wherein the full cube microstructured elements include angle errors.

### Claim 24 (depends on 20)

The retroreflective sheeting of claim 20, wherein at least some of the channels include a substantially continuous planar face.

### Claim 25 (depends on 20)

The retroreflective sheeting of claim 20, wherein at least some of the channels are discontinuous.