Impregnated With Reflective Material Patents (Class 404/14)
  • Patent number: 7204658
    Abstract: A photoluminescence road marking material which is useful for a marking of a lane of a road, has a high photoluminescence performance along with a required wear resistance and weather resistance, can find an application not only in a white line, but also various types of other color lines by suppressing a green color tone and can further be imparted with a non-slip performance. There is provided the photoluminescence road marking material in which a resin paste containing a transparent resin component and a photoluminescence pigment component is applied on a surface of a road to form a photoluminescence layer, and the resin paste is compounded with from 7% by weight to 95% by weight of the transparent resin component based on the entire weight of the resin paste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Availvs Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichiro Saito, Mieko Sakai, Sumiyo Yamanashi
  • Patent number: 7169831
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pavement marking composition comprising ceramic fibers. The ceramic fibers are preferably randomly dispersed within a polymeric material. The polymeric material preferably comprises a substantially non-crosslinked elastomer. The pavement marking composition is preferably formed into a sheet material such as a tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Randall H. Helland, Eric E. Rice
  • Patent number: 7140803
    Abstract: A system and process for detecting a traffic lane boundary before it is potentially violated by a moving vehicle traveling in the lane. Passive RF tags or labels are embedded in a paint stripe running along pavement. A sensor in the vehicle emits an RF signal at a frequency to which the tags or labels are responsive. When the emitted signal is incident on a tag or label with strength indicative of straying of the vehicle from the lane toward incipient violation of the lane boundary defined by the stripe, the tag or label issues a return signal that is received by the sensor for on-board signaling of the potential violation to alter the driver so that corrective action can be taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Inventors: Richard Cummings, Aaron Cummings
  • Patent number: 7077600
    Abstract: A roadway marking system, comprising a roadway marking tape and a plurality of spaced reflective roadway markers having a white reflective front surface, a red reflective rear surface and a elevated crest, is applied to an upper surface of a roadway. The roadway marking tape has a lower surface with an expandable adhesive material and a plurality of contoured roadway spikes, projecting from the reflective roadway markers which are exposed from the lower surface through the adhesive material. When downward pressure is applied to the upper surface of the roadway marking tape and the elevated crest of the reflective roadway markers, the roadway marking system becomes permanently attached to the upper surface of the roadway with the adhesive material providing a permanent adhesive seal between the marking tape and the roadway surface. Once attached to the roadway, the roadway marking system provides an audible, tactile and visual warning to a driver traveling on the roadway over the roadway marking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Inventor: Christopher S. Whinery
  • Patent number: 7025527
    Abstract: A highway marker for implantation in a highway or roadway where a top surface of the marker is just above the roadway surface and is centered in a stripe that separates the lane or roadway from the lane or roadway shoulder. The highway marker includes an outer sleeve formed from a section of five inch steel pipe that is for installation in the road with its top edge level with the road surface and contains a steel core centered in the sleeve in rubber that extends to the inner surface of the outer sleeve, the bonded rubber tending to deflect downwardly and rebound when a force is applied onto the steel core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Inventor: Lynn Mecham
  • Patent number: 7018131
    Abstract: Self-contained solar-powered long-life intelligent illuminated road markers are provided comprising a one-piece housing formed of optionally colored plastic capable of transmitting light. Light is reflected by reflective coating or generated internally by LED which is powered by a long life battery, the charging of which is controlled by electrical circuitry which comprises a peripheral interface controller. The electrical circuitry provides intelligent control for a variety of modes corresponding to diverse driving conditions, and can enter a low-power sleep mode to conserve battery life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Inventor: Wesley B. Jordan
  • Patent number: 6966660
    Abstract: A exposed-lens retroreflective article exhibiting retroreflection under dry and wet conditions is provided. The inventive article comprises a first set of optical elements having a first reflective layer disposed on the embedded portion of the elements. The first set contributes mainly to dry retroreflection. The article further comprises a second set of optical elements having a second reflective layer behind a spacing layer. The second set contributes mainly to wet retroreflection. In one embodiment, the first and second sets of optical elements have substantially the same average diameters, refractive index, and density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Gina M. Buccellato, Thomas P. Hedblom, John L. Vandenberg
  • Patent number: 6887011
    Abstract: A pavement marker includes a base and at least one lens with retroreflective areas aligned to reflect headlights back toward a vehicle for producing a nighttime signal. The lens and/or the base are formed from resins that include a fluorescent material. At least a portion of the lens is free of the retroreflective areas so that the fluorescent material of the lens and/or the base produces a daytime signal emitted from or through the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventor: Paul Snagel
  • Patent number: 6861141
    Abstract: A pavement marking article that has an adhesive composition for adhering the article to a pavement substrate, where the adhesive composition includes a reaction product of an acrylic acid ester of a monohydric alcohol whose homopolymer has a Tg less than 0° C., a non-polar ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and 0-10 parts by weight of a polar ethylenically unsaturated monomer. Preferably the amount of the acrylic acid ester is about 60-90 parts by weight, and the amount of the non-polar ethylenically unsaturated monomer is about 10-40 parts by weight. Also, a raised pavement marker that comprises: (a) a pavement marker body having upper and lower surfaces and an apparent flexural modulus of at least about 50,000 psi and (b) a pressure sensitive adhesive layer disposed upon the lower surface of the marker, wherein the adhesive has: (i) a transition region that begins at a frequency of about 10,000 radians/s or more and extends to a frequency of about 100 radians/s or less at about 25° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Inventors: Gina M. Buccellato, Cristina U. Thomas, Bimal V. Thakkar, Greggory S. Bennett, Sithya S. Khieu, Gary R. Miron
  • Patent number: 6841223
    Abstract: Composite pavement markings with improved wear resistance and other advantages are disclosed. The composite pavement markings typically include a unitary retroreflective article attached to a base pavement marking. With the composite construction, different portions of the pavement marking are provided at different heights. The taller portions of the pavement marking may preferably offer some protection to the shorter portions from wear caused by vehicle traffic and/or snowplow blades. By combining two different retroreflective pavement markings to form the composite pavement markings of the present invention, a combination of features and properties may be obtained that is provided by neither of the pavement markings alone. Methods of manufacturing composite pavement markings are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Eric E. Rice, Thomas P. Heblom
  • Patent number: 6811729
    Abstract: A process of monolithically forming one-piece reflective pavement marker or delineator, including at least one retro reflective face. The process is based on molding the pavement marker or delineator with means to integrally form cube-corner reflective elements and internal hollow cavity air gaps simultaneously. The pavement marker also provides means to enhance agglutination to the roadway. The open ends of hollow cavities at the marker base can be sealed, thereby maximizing the base area for adhesive wetting parameter. The monolithically formed reflective marker can be made, either from one type of plastic, or from two polymers with varied specifications, said polymer is to be from high impact and abrasion resistance thermoplastics. The integrally formed reflective face provided with means to form cube-corner reflective elements on designated cell like areas within the inside surface of said reflective face. The reflective pavement marker further provided with means to enhance abrasion resistant surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Inventor: Adil Attar
  • Patent number: 6808335
    Abstract: A method of reconstructing existing roadway (21) on order to restore structural integrity of bridge roadway (23) with minimal disruption of traffic. First elevated roadway (41), which comprises a plurality of interconnected ramp units and bridging units, is erected in multiple steps by initially erecting an initial portion of roadway (41) from entrance/exit ramp units (45) and (46) with their uppermost ends facing each other. Then repeatedly, during periods of off-peak traffic, until roadway (41) is erected, performing a step of creating a gap in a previously erected portion of roadway (41) by moving ramp unit (45) along roadway (21), erecting a bridging unit in the gap, and opening an extended portion of roadway (41) to traffic prior to the next period of peak traffic. Structural integrity of roadway (23) is then restored by repeatedly closing a number of existing travel lanes to traffic, while rerouting traffic onto the newly erected roadway (41), and restoring the closed travel lanes without interruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Inventors: Anna Stamm, Eugenia Stamm, Rolan Stamm
  • Patent number: 6808081
    Abstract: The present invention 10 discloses a refuse and recycling container 12 for cans, bottles or paper that includes a light weight container body 12 with integrally formed bottom 14 and side wall 16 wherein the upper end of the side wall around the periphery thereof defines a mouth 18 for receiving refuse or recycling items and for receiving and supporting a lid 20 having an open grip handle 27. Also shown are a plurality of base 24 and upper 26 disposed handles for easy manipulation of the pail 12. The recycling container also has base apertures 34 for drainage and a reflective element 28 encompassing a portion of the outer periphery that provides address identification blocks 30 for owner identification. In addition, there are interior indicia 32 and indicia lines 38 used to guide the user in the proper use of the recycling container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Inventor: Angelo Citro
  • Patent number: 6796740
    Abstract: Dispensing apparatus (2) for dispensing reflective elements, such as glass beads (4), onto a surface, typically a road surface, the apparatus (2) being attached to a vehicle. The glass beads (4) are placed in an inlet means (6) and directed along a path around a drive means (10), which drive means (10) imparts a velocity to the glass beads for subsequent delivery onto the surface through an outlet means (20). The glass beads (4) exit the outlet means (20) at a velocity having substantially the same magnitude as the magnitude of velocity at which the vehicle travels and a direction substantially opposite to the direction of travel of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Potters Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Joseph Chiron, Colin William Yob, Robert Alexander Carnaby
  • Publication number: 20040146349
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel photoluminescence road marking material which is useful for a marking of a lane of a road, has a high photoluminescence performance along with a required wear resistance and weather resistance, can find an application not only in a white line, but also various types of other color lines by suppressing a green color tone and can further be imparted with a non-slip performance. There is provided the photoluminescence road marking material in which a resin paste containing a transparent resin component and a photoluminescence pigment component is applied on a surface of a road to form a photoluminescence layer, and the resin paste is compounded with from 7% by weight to 95% by weight of the transparent resin component based on the entire weight of the resin paste.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventors: Kenichiro Saito, Mieko Sakai, Sumiyo Yamanashi
  • Patent number: 6703108
    Abstract: Retroreflective pavement marking material comprising on the top surface thereof an enclosed-lens retroreflective sheet that comprises a monolayer of retroreflective elements wherein first portions of the monolayer are arranged in an upwardly contoured profile and second portions of the monolayer are arranged a lower, substantially planar position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Chester A. Bacon, Jr., Louis C. Belisle, Larry K. Stump, Terry R. Bailey, T. Ian Bradshaw, Dale H. Haunschild, Gregory F. Jacobs
  • Patent number: 6695908
    Abstract: A method of producing an improved aggregate product from in inferior initial aggregate material base material. A percentage weight of crushed glass material is introduced into the initial aggregate material to form said aggregate product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Inventor: Douglas E. Raisch
  • Patent number: 6692566
    Abstract: A surface finish for application to a substrate comprises a matrix formed from a combination of at least a cementitious material, water and glass beads of either the same size or a blend of at least two different sizes and an adhesive. The adhesive includes a concrete fortifier and a silicone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Beadcrete Pty, Ltd.
    Inventor: Luke Gregory Kelly
  • Patent number: 6679650
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved thermoplastic pavement marking composition system that comprises a pavement surface that is light in color (white or off-white). A first marking stripe is applied and adheres to the top of the pavement surface. This first marking stripe has a thickness of at least about 40 mils to about 110 mils, and comprises a solidified thermoplastic resin composition. The solidified resin composition comprising a black pigment. A second marking stripe is applied and adheres to the surface of the first marking stripe, the second marking stripe having a thickness of at least 40 mils to about 750 mils or more. It is narrower than said first marking stripe and also comprises a solidified thermoplastic resin composition. The thermoplastic resin composition of the second marking stripe is comprised of a pigment that visibly contrasts with the first marking stripe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Ennis Paint, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry Britt, Darrell Thompson
  • Patent number: 6656567
    Abstract: An adhesive sheet comprises a film substrate layer, a channel breathing layer and a breathing adhesive layer. The channel breathing layer has a plurality of convex parts and a concave part interposed between the convex parts that forms a channel communicating with the outside. When the adhesive sheet is applied to an adherend, gas generated from the adherend passes through the channel and swelling of the adhesive sheet is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Junji Abe, Hidetoshi Abe
  • Patent number: 6602021
    Abstract: A pavement marker includes a solar cell assembly arranged between an upper case defined with a sunlight opening and a lower cover formed with a stem portion. The solar cell assembly has solar cells and light emitting lamps. Reflective plates are respectively attached to both side surfaces of the upper case. The solar cell assembly includes a transparent resin block having an upper wall, support protrusions are formed on an inner surface of the upper wall, and a solar cell set having the solar cells and a printed circuit board is disposed in the transparent resin block to be brought into contact with the support protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventor: Kwung-Chul Kim
  • Patent number: 6579036
    Abstract: A reflective pavement marker comprises an integrally molded one-piece structural body and at least one reflective plate attachment, said structural body having two opposing planar inclined reflective faces, multiple hollow cavities which are defined by partitioning and load carrying walls with wedge shaped top surfaces, said hollow cavities open within a recessed portion of said reflective faces, two arcuate sides and integrally sealed planar base surface with textures and recessed grooves. The reflective plates are welded within the periphery of said recessed portion that includes wedge shaped top surfaces of the hollow cavity walls. This marker provides to enhance the reflective cell sizes, improved impact resistance and improve resistance to flexural stresses due to automobiles impact forces; this is accomplished by maximizing the base surface area for adhesive wetting parameter. The body can be made of various recycled or virgin structural plastics with high impact resistance and UV stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Inventor: Adil Attar
  • Patent number: 6579035
    Abstract: A traffic warning device for temporary placement upon the surface of a road includes a single elongated body with a first side having a reflector, and a second side and top having a bright color such as international orange. The shape and size of the traffic warning device are specifically designed to resist turning over when struck by a vehicle tire. When traffic warning device is placed prone, bottom down, upon the surface of the road, the first and second sides form an elongate barrier which extends along the surface of the road, thereby alerting a motorist to a road obstruction. The present invention comprises a safe, one time deployment of reusable barricades, thus eliminating the need to use conventional highway flares which burn hazardous materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Inventor: Ted J. Watson
  • Patent number: 6572305
    Abstract: A reflective pavement marker includes a shell having a top wall, a side wall extending from an end of the top wall, and reflective end walls extending from an other end of said top wall, wherein the shell forms an interior cavity. The reflective pavement marker also includes a reflective portion integral with the reflective end wall, a reflective coating covering the reflective portion and a bonding coating covering at least the reflective portion. The reflective pavement marker further includes a filler material within the interior cavity of the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Pac-Tec, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas S. Forrer
  • Patent number: 6558069
    Abstract: A pavement marker having improved daytime visibility comprises a transparent fluorescent top portion having smooth flat parallel top and bottom surfaces with a front edge therebetween and air interfacing most of the bottom surface. Light received by the smooth flat top surface of the top portion is directed internally through the top portion and emitted from the front edge, to provide a visible signal to drivers of oncoming vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Flader, Dennis Couzin, Robert M. Pricone
  • Patent number: 6551014
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to improved raised pavement markers having a totally-internal-reflective lens. The disclosure also relates to methods of manufacturing the raised pavement marker. The raised pavement markers described below include a housing connected to a totally-internal-reflective lens. The totally-internal-reflective lens includes a retroreflective element having a smooth surface generally opposite a plurality of cube corner elements. A film is attached to the retroreflective element at the apexes of the cube corner elements to form spaces, i.e., an air gap, between the film and the cubes. The film and retroreflective element cooperate to form the totally-internal-reflective lens. Light entering the retroreflective element through the smooth surface is retroreflected at the cube/air interface. Methods of manufacturing include, for example, forming a shell with the retroreflective element and attaching the film to the apexes of the cube corner elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Sithya S. Khieu, Gregory E. Gilligan, Thomas R. Borden
  • Patent number: 6514595
    Abstract: A dry formulation for an integrated marking material for concrete and asphalt application comprises a cementitious mixture including a hydraulic or cementitious binder, a redispersible polymeric cement modifier, a retroreflective agent filler, and optionally, a reflective agent filler. The formulation preferably includes a pigment, aggregate, a dispersant, a plasticizer, and/or a water reducer. The formulation optionally includes at least one admixture selected from an accelerator, an air entrainer, a defoamer, fibers, an inert filler, a natural clay, a pozzolanic filler, a retarder, a rheology modifier, a shrinkage compensating agent, a synthetic clay, a suspending agent, and a thickening agent. The marking material, when applied, has broadcast onto and embedded into its surface, additional retroreflective agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: MBT Holding AG
    Inventor: Sandra R. Sprouts
  • Patent number: 6511256
    Abstract: A pavement marker having improved daytime visibility comprises a transparent fluorescent top portion having a top surface and a front edge. Light received by the top surface of the top portion results in light being directed internally through the top portion and emitted from the front edge, thereby providing a daytime signal to drivers of oncoming vehicles. In an alternative embodiment, the top portion can comprise a polymer having in its backbone moieties that either absorb U.V. light or that are capable of undergoing rearrangement to moieties that absorb U.V. light, to provide greater fluorescent durability. The polymer can be present either within the fluorescent top portion or as a U.V. light screening layer on top of the top portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Flader, Dennis I. Couzin, Robert M. Pricone, Guang-Xue Wei, Drew J. Buoni
  • Patent number: 6511259
    Abstract: When mounted to a vehicle, a dispenser ejects optical elements so that they have a component of movement that is parallel with the surface of the pavement to which the optical elements are to be applied. Preferably, the component of movement in that direction is more significant than a component of movement directly toward the pavement surface. A fluid assist causes the optical elements to be ejected from the dispenser nozzle at a velocity to at least partially counteract, and preferably match, the forward velocity of movement of the vehicle to which the dispenser is attached. Thus, in accordance with one specific aspect of the present invention, optical elements can be laid down upon marking material that has been applied to a pavement surface at a substantially reduced relative velocity to the road surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Sithya S. Khieu, Mark D. Zender, David C. May, John L. Marty
  • Publication number: 20030012599
    Abstract: The invention relates to a surface marking for roads with a fixed road surface, such as asphalt, concrete or like receiving surface, which marking essentially comprises resin, thermoplastic polymers, softeners, reflecting material for better reflection of light, and friction material for increasing the friction between the roadway and the vehicle wheels, said marking comprising at least two layers, of which a first, upper layer (1) constitutes a wear layer, and a second, lower layer (2) is made of a heat-activatable adhesive material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventors: Magnus Wallgren, Toni Ogemark, Peder Ude Moth
  • Patent number: 6479132
    Abstract: The articles of the present invention comprise pavement marking articles which are retroreflective under dry and/or wet conditions. The articles comprise a monolayer of exposed-lens optical elements, a spacing layer, and a reflective layer. The present invention also provides a method of making said pavement marking articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Thomas P. Hedblom, Eric E. Rice, Terry L. Bescup, Joseph M. McGrath
  • Publication number: 20020159834
    Abstract: A road marking device of the present invention comprises: a tubular, bottomed casing which has an open top end; a cover mounted over an opening in the casing and having a window; a self-luminous marking system composed of a condenser housed in the casing, an illuminant which emits light by receiving a power supplied from the condenser, and a circuit for driving the illuminant; and a transparent element which transmits and outwardly radiates the light emitted from the illuminant. The transparent element is fixed between the cover and the casing which cooperatively hold a periphery of the transparent element, with a part of the transparent element protruding outwardly from the window in the cover. In a self-luminous marking system, an LED is utilized without application of voltage so as to detect the quantity of light in the road environment and to generate an electromotive force in response to an incident light. Based on the electromotive force generated by this LED, the drive of a display LED is controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Hamakawa, Yasuo Kaneko, Katsuhito Inagaki
  • Patent number: 6468678
    Abstract: Magnetic, conformable articles for use with traffic bearing surfaces are disclosed which comprise an organic binder having magnetic particles distributed therein. The articles may be employed in intelligent vehicle guidance systems, and in systems to guide other mobile objects such as farm animals, pets, or visually impaired pedestrians. Methods of making the articles and methods of using the systems to control and/or guide a mobile object using the magnetic field generated from the articles are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Dahlin, Gregory F. Jacobs, David M. Hopstock, Robert L. Keech, Richard E. Fayling, Richard G. Newell, Claud M. Lacey, Bernard A. Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 6461077
    Abstract: A road marker base having locators or protrusions which are frangibly connected to the base. The pair of protrusions extend horizontally from the base in opposite directions and transverse to the direction of travel and include a bottom surface for engaging the top surface of the roadway adjacent the recess. The bottom surface defines the height of the reflector support surface relative to the road's top surface. A unidirectional base includes a reflector support surface adjacent one end of the base in the direction of travel capable of receiving and providing visibility of both faces of a standard bidirectional reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Hallen Products, Ltd.
    Inventor: Allen D. Siblik
  • Patent number: 6451408
    Abstract: A retroreflective article that exhibits suitable retroreflective luminance under dry and dynamic wet conditions. The article includes an enclosed-lens retroreflective sheeting that, under dry conditions, exhibits a coefficient of retroreflective luminance of about 40 (millicandela/m2)/lux as measured by ASTM D 4061-94 and, under dynamic wet conditions the sheeting increases in coefficient of retroreflective luminance. The article further includes a plurality of retroreflective elements partially embedded in a light transmissible bonding layer on the front, reflective surface of the retroreflective sheeting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Dale H. Haunschild, John L. Ethen, Mark D. Zender, Robert A. Haenggi, Larry K. Stump
  • Patent number: 6439803
    Abstract: A very low-profile snowplowable pavement marker mounted in an elongated groove formed in a highway pavement, the groove extending longitudinally of the highway and exposing the reflective highway marker to the headlights of oncoming motor vehicles when their approach distance from the reflective highway marker is adequate for highway guidance purposes. The reflective highway marker is a metal casting with a reflector mounted in a pocket formed in the casting. The casting is adhesively installed in a deepened section of the groove. The protective rails of the casting are situated slightly above the pavement surface, but are significantly lower than rails of prior art snowplowable castings. The leading edge of the reflector support is below pavement level and allows light from oncoming headlights to enter the reflector without the shadowing effect prevalent in conventional low-profile marker castings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Inventor: Harry E. Lowe
  • Patent number: 6431788
    Abstract: A pavement marking and methods of making pavement markings are disclosed in which the pavement markings exhibit enhanced wear resistance to, e.g., snowplow blades. The pavement markings include elongated protuberances in which successive elongated protuberances overlap along at least the longitudinal direction and may also overlap in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis. Other protuberances are interspersed between the elongated protuberances to improve retroreflectivity. The elongated protuberances are provided to support, e.g., a snowplow blade moving over the pavement marking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Thomas P. Hedblom, Eric E. Rice, Curtis W. Meverden, Gregory E. Gilligan, Thomas D. Krech
  • Patent number: 6413010
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a traffic directional mat 10 which is expected to be made of black, rubber-like material. The mat 10 is a relatively thin, generally rectangular body which is designed to be placed on a roadway in a pre-selected pattern or line in order to indicate the direction of travel for the traffic. The mat has an indented 20 arrow 18, which arrow may be painted in reflective paint 32 so as to be clearly visible to the driver 34 of a vehicle 24. The mats 10 are expected to be about 4′×5′ being about ⅝ inch thick having a 3′×4′ arrow with about a ¼ inch indention. The mat is stored in the trunk of a police vehicle and placed on a roadway to re-direct traffic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Inventor: Max F. Coleman
  • Publication number: 20020061226
    Abstract: A left-turn driving support device at an intersection is characterized in that a luminescent material emitting light upon sensing blinking of the turn signal of a second oncoming vehicle following a forefront oncoming vehicle arriving at the intersection, is installed in a position from which the driver of a vehicle waiting to make a left turn is able to visually check the luminescent material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Kohichiro Kodama, Yoshihiro Kodama
  • Patent number: 6365262
    Abstract: The articles of the present invention comprise pavement marking articles which are retroreflective under dry and/or wet conditions. The articles comprise a monolayer of exposed-lens optical elements, a spacing layer, and a reflective layer. The present invention also provides a method of making said pavement marking articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Thomas P. Hedblom, Eric E. Rice, Terry L. Bescup, Joseph M. McGrath
  • Patent number: 6347906
    Abstract: An approximately cuboidal or frustopyramidal, partially hollow marking element has a flat bottom plate and a main body which is stiffened by ribs and which is connected at two mutually opposite sides to preferably reflecting bars. The marking element comprises only the bars and the main body which is integral with the bottom plate and in the interior of which a plurality of ribs extend normal to the bars. At most one rib extends parallel to the bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: D. Swarovski & Co.
    Inventor: Gerhard Schuler
  • Publication number: 20020006313
    Abstract: Traffic element with illumination, at least comprising an element body having a transparent plastic component which comprises illumination means encapsulated by the plastic of the component, which transparent plastic component is fabricated by casting a preferably resilient multicomponent plastic in a closed mould. Examples of traffic elements are kerbs, traffic island elements, roundabout elements, a road surface etc. Traffic elements according to the invention are experienced as light-emitting elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Inventor: Ireneus Johannes Theodorous Maria Pas
  • Publication number: 20020003987
    Abstract: An approximately cuboidal or frustopyramidal, partially hollow marking element provided with a flat bottom plate, with a main body which is stiffened by ribs and which is connected at two mutually opposite sides to preferably reflecting bars, wherein the marking element only comprises the bars (1) and the main body (2) which is integral with the bottom plate (3) and in the interior of which a plurality of ribs (5) extend normal to the bars (1) but on the other hand at most one rib (4) extends parallel to the bars (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 1999
    Publication date: January 10, 2002
    Inventor: GERHARD SCHULER
  • Patent number: 6315491
    Abstract: A roadway marker device for marking a roadway with marker embedded in the roadway. The roadway marker device includes an elongate member having a first end and a second end. The elongate member has a top wall and a bottom wall. A reflective strip enhances night time visibility of the elongate member. The reflective strip has a first side and a second side. The first side of the strip is adapted to reflect light. The second side of the strip has adhesive thereon. The second side of the strip is adhesively coupled to a surface of the top wall of the elongate member. The elongate members are placed in the roadway such that the top wall of the elongate member is generally flush with the roadway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Inventors: William C. Scribner, Valerie Scribner
  • Publication number: 20010028824
    Abstract: A snowplowable pavement marker includes a frame member having primary spaced keel members with ramp surfaces which have upwardly inclined contours beginning at a forward end portion of each keel member and extending at a first acute angle, then transitions to a second portion having a second acute angle which is greater than the first angle. Further, the frame member includes an auxiliary keel member having ramp surfaces disposed between the primary keel members and having the same contour as the primary ramp surfaces. The auxiliary keel member ramp surfaces extend inwardly of the frame member to a point proximate the marker's reflector and serve to prevent damage by a snowplow blade set at a wide angle to the direction of blade travel. Advantageously, the contour of ramp surfaces permits a higher frame member installation above the pavement and allows for greater exposure of the reflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 1999
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Inventors: MICHAEL E. FLADER, ANISH A. DESAI, JACOB E. STEELE, STEPHEN M. BEDNARZ
  • Patent number: 6267530
    Abstract: A reflective pavement marker having integrally molded one-piece structural body with multiple hollow cavities that are open only at the top reflective faces of the marker, two arcuate sides and integrally sealed planar base surface with textures and discontinuous grooves. This marker provides a device to enhance agglutination to the roadway, improve resistance to flexural stresses due to automobiles impact forces; this is accomplished by maximizing the base surface area for adhesive wetting parameter. The reflective plates are welded on wedge like tops of the partition walls separating hollow cavities from each other. The body can be made of various recycled or virgin structural plastics with high impact resistance and UV stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Inventor: Adil Attar
  • Patent number: 6247872
    Abstract: A traffic stripe including a first profiled portion having improved reflectivity and a second raised portion which provides an audible indication of its presence to a driver. Also, a method and apparatus for applying the traffic stripe including a vehicle having an apparatus for applying the traffic stripe, an applying assembly for dispersing a reflective material over the traffic stripe, another applying apparatus for applying an anti-adhesion agent, and a deformation apparatus disposed rearward thereof for forming interval grooves in the traffic stripe. The application of the anti-adhesion agent directly onto the traffic stripe or onto the deformation apparatus prevents the freshly applied traffic stripe from lifting off the road surface and adhering to the deformation apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: The RainLine Corporation
    Inventor: Forrest C. Marcato
  • Patent number: 6234712
    Abstract: A snowplowable pavement marker includes a frame member having primary spaced keel members with ramp surfaces which have upwardly inclined contours beginning at a forward end portion of each keel member and extending at a first acute angle, then transitioning to a second portion having a second acute angle which is greater than the first angle. Further, the frame member includes an auxiliary keel member having ramp surfaces disposed between the primary keel members and having the same contour as the primary ramp surfaces. The auxiliary keel member ramp surfaces extend inwardly of the frame member to a point proximate the marker's reflector and serve to prevent damage by a snowplow blade set at a wide angle to the direction of blade travel. Advantageously, the contour of ramp surfaces permits a higher frame member installation above the pavement and allows for greater exposure of the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Flader, Anish A. Desai, Jacob E. Steele, Stephen M. Bednarz
  • Patent number: 6217254
    Abstract: Road markings disposed on a fixed road surface are disclosed including reflective material disposed on a first portion of the fixed road surface for improving light reflection and friction material disposed on a second portion of the fixed road surface for increasing the friction between the fixed road surface and the wheels of a vehicle, these two portions of the road surface being separate portions of the fixed road surface. Methods are also disclosed for disposing road markings on a fixed road surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Cleanosol AB
    Inventors: Magnus Wallgren, Toni Ogemark
  • Patent number: 6200064
    Abstract: A road marker having a collar for mounting a reflector to the surface of the road. The collar is a generally flat disk, having a pair of diametrically opposed projections. The projections have inner planar surfaces to receive a reflector therebetween and curved outer surfaces to facilitate the passage of tires over the marker. The projections have a width and height greater than that of the reflector to protect the ends of the reflector from abrasion. A recess is provided for mounting the reflector to the collar. A plurality of shallow apertures are formed on the bottom surface for receiving a mounting compound for adhering the collar to the road surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Pac-Tec, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter H. Hedgewick