Patents by Inventor Dan E. Luttrell

Dan E. Luttrell has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Cube corner sheeting mold and of making the same
    Patent number: 6386855
    Abstract: Laminae suitable for use in molds for forming retroreflective cube corner elements and methods for making such laminae are disclosed. A representative lamina includes a first row of cube corner elements disposed in a first orientation and a second row of optically opposing cube corner elements disposed. The working surface of a lamina is provided with a plurality of cube corner elements formed by the optical surfaces defined by three groove sets. Opposing first and second groove sets are formed in the working surface of a lamina. The first groove set forms a plurality of structures having first and second optical surfaces disposed in mutually perpendicular planes that intersect along a reference edge. The second groove set forms a corresponding plurality of structures on the opposite side of the lamina. A third groove is formed in the working surface of the lamina along an axis substantially perpendicular to the axes of the grooves of the first and second groove sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Dan E. Luttrell, Robert L. Erwin, Kenneth L. Smith, Gerald M. Benson
  • Cube corner sheetiing mold and of making the same
    Publication number: 20020028263
    Abstract: Laminae suitable for use in molds for forming retroreflective cube corner elements and methods for making such laminae are disclosed. A representative lamina includes a first row of cube corner elements disposed in a first orientation and a second row of optically opposing cube corner elements disposed. The working surface of a lamina is provided with a plurality of cube corner elements formed by the optical surfaces defined by three groove sets. Opposing first and second groove sets are formed in the working surface of a lamina. The first groove set forms a plurality of structures having first and second optical surfaces disposed in mutually perpendicular planes that intersect along a reference edge. The second groove set forms a corresponding plurality of structures on the opposite side of the lamina. A third groove is formed in the working surface of the lamina along an axis substantially perpendicular to the axes of the grooves of the first and second groove sets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Dan E. Luttrell, Robert L. Erwin, Kenneth L. Smith, Gerald M. Benson
  • Cube corner sheeting mold and method of making the same
    Patent number: 6318987
    Abstract: Laminae suitable for use in molds for forming retroreflective cube corner elements and methods for making such laminae are disclosed. A representative lamina includes a first row of cube corner elements disposed in a first orientation and a second row of optically opposing cube corner elements disposed. The working surface of a lamina is provided with a plurality of cube corner elements formed by the optical surfaces defined by three groove sets. Opposing first and second groove sets are formed in the working surface of a lamina. The first groove set forms a plurality of structures having first and second optical surfaces disposed in mutually perpendicular planes that intersect along a reference edge. The second groove set forms a corresponding plurality of structures on the opposite side of the lamina. A third groove is formed in the working surface of the lamina along an axis substantially perpendicular to the axes of the grooves of the first and second groove sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Dan E. Luttrell, Robert L. Erwin, Kenneth L. Smith, Gerald M. Benson
  • Cube corner sheeting mold and method of making the same
    Patent number: 6257860
    Abstract: Laminae suitable for use in molds for forming retroreflective cube corner elements and methods for making such laminae are disclosed. A representative lamina includes a first row of cube corner elements disposed in a first orientation and a second row of optically opposing cube corner elements disposed. The working surface of a lamina is provided with a plurality of cube corner elements formed by the optical surfaces defined by three groove sets. Opposing first and second groove sets are formed in the working surface of a lamina. The first groove set forms a plurality of structures having first and second optical surfaces disposed in mutually perpendicular planes that intersect along a reference edge. The second groove set forms a corresponding plurality of structures on the opposite side of the lamina. A third groove is formed in the working surface of the lamina along an axis substantially perpendicular to the axes of the grooves of the first and second groove sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Dan E. Luttrell, Robert L. Erwin, Kenneth L. Smith, Gerald M. Benson