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:
Jul. 27, 1999
Filed:
Jul. 24, 1998
W Scott Thielman, Arlington Heights, IL (US);
Stimsonite Corporation, Niles, IL (US);
Abstract
Cellular retroreflective sheeting comprises a first film of thermoplastic material which has been formed to define arrays of minute cube-corner reflective elements on one face thereof. The reflective elements are covered with a second thin thermoplastic film and the two films together pass over a patterned roller where a series of sonic welding heads rapidly bond the films together forming small cells of retroreflective cube-corner elements in the pattern of the roller. Because the heat generated in the welding process is localized to the pattern of the roller, cell walls may be formed having narrow thickness yet good bonding of the films is achieved. Further, residual heat does not appreciably transfer to adjacent retroreflective elements, therefore, distortion of adjacent elements is minimized and a sheeting construction is achieved having superior brilliance and durability as well as maximum retroreflective capability over a wide angular range of incident light. Also disclosed is a method for forming such sheeting.