Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Arthur D Dickson

Terry R Bailey

Howard R Tolliver

Roger R Kult

Laurie E Pruitt

In encapsulated-lens reflective sheeting of the prior art, a monolayer of glass microspheres is embedded in a binder layer, a specularly reflective layer underlies the microspheres, and a cover film encapsulates the microspheres, within a plurality of hermetically sealed cells. In the invention, a HMW thermoplastic binder film, affords improved structural intregity, greater toughness, and better conformability to irregular surfaces without cracking. The cover film preferably is of the same polymer family as said binder film.

Encapsulated-lens retroreflective sheeting and method of making

An encapsulated-lens retroreflective sheeting comprising a monolayer of lenses partially embedded in a binder layer, a specularly reflective layer underlying the lenses, and a cover film sealed to the binder layer along a network of interconnecting lines forming hermetically sealed cells within which the lenses are encapsulated and have an air interface, wherein the cover film comprises polyethylene, or polypropylene, or a copolymer comprising a major portion by weight of at least one of ethylene or propylene and a minor portion by weight of a comonomer. Such a cover film affords high flexibility, improved impact resistance, resistance to moisture absorption, and greater toughness to the retroreflective sheeting. In some embodiments the cover film is multi-layer.

Encapsulated-lens retroreflective sheeting having improved cover film

In encapsulated-lens reflective sheeting of the prior art, a monolayer of glass microspheres is embedded in a binder layer, a specularly reflective layer underlies the microspheres, and a cover film encapsulates the microspheres, within a plurality of hermetically sealed cells. In the invention, a HMW thermoplastic binder film, affords improved structural integrity, greater toughness, and better conformability to irregular surfaces without cracking. The cover film preferably is of the same polymer family as said binder film.

Method of making encapsulated-lens retroreflective sheeting

A multi-panel electroluminescent panel assembly is provided in which an area extending over several panels may be uniformly illuminated by light produced by the panels, and over which non-illuminated areas, stripes or the like resulting from electrode contacts are eliminated. Each panel is constructed such that the light produced per unit area is substantially uniform throughout the panel, including that from an area immediately adjacent at least one edge thereof. The panels are assembled in an overlapping arrangement such that non-illuminating areas of one panel are covered by illuminating areas of at least one other panel. The assembly of panels provides a large area source of uniform illumination suitable for back-lighting graphic indicia, and may be desirably included as signboards on the sides of motor vehicles such as transport trucks, buses, etc.

Multi-panel electroluminescent light assembly

A system for providing internally illuminated traffic lane delineators is disclosed. This system includes a delineator device adapted for use with a traffic lane marking film comprising a flexible and pliable polymeric material exhibiting cold flow and reduced elasticity such as unvulcanized rubber. Such a film conforms into intimate contact with a road surface under the influence of road traffic and stays in that deformed state. An array of electrical conductors is embedded within and extends the length of the film. The delineator device includes an electric lamp, a housing enclosing the lamp and a flexible sheet-like body comprising a polymeric material similar to that included in the film. A plurality of such devices may be readily affixed at any desired location along the length of the film by soldering leads from the electric lights to the conductors in the film and by adhering the sheetlike body to the film surface.

Traffic lane delineator system

A flexible electroluminescent device and a preform for use therein, in which the device includes a body of electroluminescent particles in a flexible resin sandwiched between electrode layers, one of which is substantially transparent. The substantially transparent electrode is provided as a preform comprising a transparent polymeric substrate, a transparent conductive thin-film, preferably including transmission enhancing dielectric layers, a conductive film extending along the length of a narrow portion of the transparent thin-film and a contact means which also extends along the length of the conductive film.

Electroluminescent lamp and electrode preform for use therewith

A flexible electroluminescent lamp comprising a laminate of an opaque metal electrode, a flexible resin body having electroluminescent particles embedded therein and a transparent electrically conductive electrode. The transparent electrode comprises a polymeric substrate having a three layer sandwich thereon, which layers comprise a thin-film metal layer between outer dielectric layers having a relatively high index of refraction. The dielectric layers are formed to provide quarter-wavelength interference filters to result in a high degree of transmittance of the sandwich, while yet enabling the metal layer to be sufficiently thick to result in a low resistivity electrode.

Growing community of inventors

Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

Arthur D Dickson