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:
Aug. 14, 2001
Filed:
Jan. 29, 1999
Kenneth L. Smith, White Bear Lake, MN (US);
Jaime R. Ojeda, Woodbury, MN (US);
Ronald J. Tabar, St. Paul, MN (US);
3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
A novel microprismatic retroreflective film or sheeting is provided which comprises a transparent semicrystalline polymer. The microprismatic retroreflective film or sheeting of the present invention offers superior retroreflective brightness at large angles of incidence and at large observational angles. Syndiotactic vinyl aromatic polymers, especially syndiotactic polystyrene and copolymers thereof, are preferred semicrystalline polymers, as they impart good dimensional stability and resistance to moisture, and can be made resistant to UV radiation. Signing materials comprising these microprismatic retroreflective films provide improved performance for off-angle illumination and viewing in traffic control and other signing applications.