The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 29, 2022
Filed:
Nov. 16, 2020
3m Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Matthew D. Wilding, White Bear Lake, MN (US);
Stephen L. Lieder, Wyoming, MN (US);
Eugene H. Carlson, Apple Valley, MN (US);
Kenton D. Budd, Woodbury, MN (US);
Joseph D. Engebretson, St. Croix Falls, WI (US);
3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
The disclosed retroreflective element includes a polymeric core that is loaded with a plurality of first beads and second beads distributed at the perimeter of the core. The first beads are different than the second beads. Because of the beads in the core, the retroreflective element remains useful for returning light even after portions of the core begins to wear away. Further, when the retroreflective elements get wet, water will settle to the bottom of the perimeter of the core. Therefore, using the second beads with a refractive index suited for wet conditions, while the first beads have a refractive index suited for dry conditions allows the retroreflective element to be useful in both wet and dry conditions even while the retroreflective element wears during use.