3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

James C Coderre

Kenneth L Smith

Tzu-Li J Huang

Gerald M Benson

Lee A Pavelka

Vera L Lightle

Chi F Tung

Kenneth M White

James E Lasch

Bruce Brandon Wilson

Cheryl M Frey

Chester A Bacon, Jr

Eugene H Carlson

Jeffrey D Janovec

David W Meitz

Colleen C Nagel

Christopher L Harvey

Stephen A Johnson

Walton J Hammar

Susan K Nestegard

Paul Edward Humpal

David M Burns

John W Frank

Michele A Craton

Michael P Daniels

Daniel J McGurran

Dennis J Chirhart

Mark D Nachbor

Roger E Luehrs

Tzu Li Huang

Mirian D Nave

Michael Ruehlemann

Retroreflective sheeting includes a body layer having a structured surface with recessed faces forming cube corner cavities. A reflective film is disposed at least on the recessed faces, and a fill material fills the cube corner cavities. The fill material comprises radiation-curable materials, adhesives, or both, and preferably transparent radiation-curable pressure-sensitive adhesives. The fill material preferably forms a continuous layer covering both the recessed faces and upper portions of the structured surface. A transparent cover layer preferably contacts the fill material layer.

Cube corner cavity based retroreflectors with transparent fill material

A retroreflective articlehas a body portionand a multitude of cube-corner elementsthat project from a rear sideof the body portion. The body portionincludes a body layerthat contains a light-transmissible polymeric material having an elastic modulus less than 7&#xd7;10pascals. The cube-corner elementscontain a light transmissible polymeric material having an elastic modulus greater than 16&#xd7;10pascals. A retroreflective article of this construction can be highly flexed while maintaining good retroreflective performance.

Flexible cube-corner retroreflective sheeting

A durable colored article having fluorescent properties comprises a substantially solventless polyvinyl chloride matrix, a thioxanthene fluorescent dye, and a secondary or tertiary hindered amine light stabilizer having a molecular weight less than about 1000 grams/mole. The invention has the advantage in that it provides a flexible polyvinyl chloride film that exhibits durable fluorescent colors.

Stabilization of fluorescent dyes in vinyl articles using hindered amine light stabilizers

Flexible cube-corner retroflective sheeting

The present invention provides a new sheeting article that may suitably include: a carrier having a first major surface and a second major surface; and a plurality of discrete segments of a sheeting (e.g., a retroreflective sheeting), wherein the sheeting has a first major viewing surface and a second major opposing surface, and the first major viewing surface of the sheeting is preferably removably attached to the second major surface of the carrier. Preferably, the first major surface of the carrier comprises a release surface, the second major opposing surface of the sheeting comprises an adhesive, the article is provided in the form of a roll, and the adhesive surface of the sheeting is adjacent the release surface of an adjacent layer of the roll. In a presently preferred embodiment the present invention provides novel easy-to-use truck conspicuity sheeting.

Segmented sheeting and methods of making and using same

Retroreflective sheeting includes a body layer having a structured surface with recessed faces and top surfaces, the recessed faces forming cube corner cavities. The recessed faces have a high specular reflectivity, while the top surfaces have a low specular reflectivity. In some embodiments a substantially continuous film of reflective material covers the structured surface, and a masking substance is provided over the reflective material at the top surfaces. Alternatively, the top surfaces are given a non-smooth surface finish so that the film of reflective material on those portions has a diffuse reflectivity. In other embodiments the film of reflective material is discontinuous, disposed selectively on the recessed faces and not on the top surfaces. A cover layer is also provided, and can bond at least to the top surfaces. Keeping the top surfaces substantially free of reflective material inhibits corrosion and can enhance the bond integrity. The top surfaces are preferably flat, and diffusely reflective to enhance the daytime whiteness of the sheeting.

Cube corner cavity based retroreflectors and methods for making same

Stabilization of fluorescent dyes in vinyl chloride articles using hindered amine light stabilizers

A retroreflective article has a body portion and a multitude of cube-corner elements that project from a rear side of the body portion . The body portion includes a body layer that contains a light-transmissible polymeric material having an elastic modulus less than 7&times;10 pascals. The cube-corner elements contain a light transmissible polymeric material having an elastic modulus greater than 16&times;10 pascals. A retroreflective article of this construction can be highly flexed while maintaining good retroreflective performance.

Retroreflective sheeting includes a transparent film, a pigmented layer having pigmented indicia thereon, and a retroreflective cube layer. The cube layer includes a number of cube corner elements bounded by at least two sets of intersecting grooves. A metallic film is disposed on at least some of the cube corner elements. The pigmented layer is interposed between the transparent film and the cube layer, and has pigmented indicia aligned with at least one of the sets of intersecting grooves.

Cube corner retroreflective article with enhanced pigmentation

Cube corner cavity based retroeflectors with transparent fill material

Growing community of inventors

Lake Elmo, MN, United States of America

James C Coderre