Patents by Inventor Gus Bernard

Gus Bernard 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).

  • Publication number: 20090027775
    Abstract: A reflective tag apparatus has a top layer having micro apertures therein and having a surface message therein and a second layer having a sub surface message thereon mounted over a reflective layer. The reflective layer may be retroreflective using an array of corner cubes and may be a structure that is diffractive or resonates iridescent colors and may contain coatings, dyes and pigments to provide light control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Robert B. Nilsen, Gus Bernard, Garrett L. Nilsen
  • Publication number: 20090025872
    Abstract: A method of making and using retroreflective fibers and especially to the making of retroreflective fibers from finely cut strips from a thin sheet of material having a corner cube array formed on one side thereof. Other layers of materials including a second thin sheet of material having a corner cube array may be attached to the first thin sheet of retroreflective material. The thin strips may be further chopped into shorter strips and added to coating compounds, such as paint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Robert B. Nilsen, Gus Bernard, Garrett L. Nilsen
  • Patent number: 6967053
    Abstract: Retroreflective sheeting and a method for making the same includes a plurality of open-faced cube-corner surfaces formed from a substantially rigid material to keep the cube-corner surfaces from flexing. An optical coating is formed on the surfaces, and a fill layer is attached to at least a portion of the optical coating. A plurality of voids form the open-faced cube-corner surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Reflexite Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick W. Mullen, Gus Bernard, Robert B. Nilsen
  • Publication number: 20050185279
    Abstract: Retroreflective sheeting and a method for making the same includes a plurality of open-faced cube-corner surfaces formed from a substantially rigid material to keep the cube-corner surfaces from flexing. A second plurality of open-faced cube-corner surfaces is formed from the substantially rigid material to keep the second plurality of open-faced cube-corner surfaces from flexing. The first and second open-faced cube-corner surfaces are configured to retroreflect light in opposite directions, that is, formed back-to-back in a particular embodiment. An optical coating can be formed on the surfaces. A plurality of voids forms the open-faced cube-corner surfaces. The retroreflective sheeting can be perforated in a particular embodiment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Applicant: Reflexite Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick Mullen, Gus Bernard, Robert Nilsen, Steven Scott
  • Patent number: 6231797
    Abstract: The method for forming a retroreflective sheeting includes providing a first layer and forming a prism array on the first layer. A second layer is applied to the prism array. The first thermoplastic layer is welded to the second thermoplastic layer, while applying a die to the layers to dislocate a portion of the prism array, thereby allowing the first layer to be bonded to the second layer at the portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Reflexite Corporation
    Inventors: Gus Bernard, Jay Soaft
  • Patent number: 6143224
    Abstract: The method for forming a retroreflective sheeting includes providing a first layer and forming a prism array on the first layer. A second layer is applied to the prism array. The first thermoplastic layer is welded to the second thermoplastic layer, while applying a die having a plurality of cells with multi-course, hatched patterned perimeters to the layers to dislocate a portion of the prism array, thereby allowing the first layer to be bonded to the second layer at the portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Reflexite Corporation
    Inventors: Gus Bernard, Jay Soaft
  • Patent number: 6120636
    Abstract: A continuous process for producing printed patterns on retroreflective material is disclosed, wherein a partially cured pattern is printed on a roll of film and partially cured cube-corner prisms are bonded to the film over the printed matter thereby encapsulating the printed matter to protect the printed matter from the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Reflexite Corporation
    Inventors: Robert B. Nilsen, Gus Bernard, Michael J. Hanrahan
  • Patent number: 6119751
    Abstract: A continuous process for producing printed patterns on retroreflective material is disclosed, wherein a partially cured pattern is printed on a roll of film and partially cured cube-corner prisms are bonded to the film over the printed matter thereby encapsulating the printed matter to protect the printed matter from the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Reflexite Corporation
    Inventors: Robert B. Nilsen, Gus Bernard, Michael J. Hanrahan
  • Patent number: 6039909
    Abstract: The method for forming a retroreflective sheeting includes providing a first layer and forming a prism array on the first layer. A second layer is applied to the prism array. The first thermoplastic layer is welded to the second thermoplastic layer, while applying a die having a plurality of cells with multi-course, hatched patterned perimeters to the layers to dislocate a portion of the prism array, thereby allowing the first layer to be bonded to the second layer at the portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Reflexite Corporation
    Inventors: Gus Bernard, Jay Soaft
  • Patent number: 5643400
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming "seamless" retroreflective sheeting is described. At least two mold surfaces are used, each having alternate areas of arrays of prism recesses and spaces. In a first step, prisms are formed in one of the mold surfaces and applied to a base film or web. Next, prisms are formed on the second mold surface and applied to the spaced areas left in the first step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Reflexite Corporation
    Inventors: Gus Bernard, Robert B. Nilsen, Michael J. Hanrahan
  • Patent number: 5592330
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming retroreflective sheeting with improved daytime whiteness performance is described in which air spheres are encapsulated into the prism structure when the prism base body is laminated to the prisms in a mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Reflexite Corporation
    Inventor: Gus Bernard
  • Patent number: 5558740
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming "seamless" retroreflective sheeting is described. At least two mold surfaces are used, each having alternate areas of arrays of prism recesses and spaces. In a first step, prisms are formed in one of the mold surfaces and applied to a base film or web. Next, prisms are formed on the second mold surface and applied to the spaced areas left in the first step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Reflexite Corporation
    Inventors: Gus Bernard, Robert B. Nilsen, Michael J. Hanrahan