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:
Nov. 28, 2000
Filed:
Aug. 25, 1998
Vera L Lightle, Hudson, WI (US);
Britton G Billingsley, St. Paul, MN (US);
3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
A retroreflective article has first and second segments each comprising a binder layer and a multitude of microspheres partially embedded in the front surface of the binder layer. The first segment also has an opaque reflective metal layer disposed on the embedded portions of the microspheres; whereas, the second segment lacks such an opaque reflective metal layer and thereby allows the color of the underlying binder layer to be seen from the front side of the retroreflective article. The first and second segments display noticeably different colors under daytime lighting conditions, and each possesses a distinctly different retroreflective efficiency when viewed under retroreflective lighting conditions. The first and second segments therefore stand out in contrast to each other to enhance the conspicuity of the retroreflective article.