Patents by Inventor Ludwig Eigenmann

Ludwig Eigenmann 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).

  • Patent number: 4993868
    Abstract: A continuous horizontal road-marking tape is described. The road-marking tape includes Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) or high intensity microlamps, solar cells and retroreflecting elements. The LEDs may be double and focused for better visibility, their light is pulsing at a regular speed or at an emergency fast speed. The road-marking tape balances the solar energy captured by its solar cells with the emitted light employed to signal or warn motorists. Also described is the use of an emergency fast pulsing for signalling an emergency or the presence of ice, and the use of the tape for controlling situations where a single lane of roadway must alternatively pass traffic from two different directions. Activation of the light emitting sources is by sensing light from headlights of oncoming cars or by traffic lights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Ludwig Eigenmann
  • Patent number: 4990024
    Abstract: The polyurethane-resin layer and adhesive layer marking strip composition is conformant to the roadway without tearing, has a high elongation, a high permanent deformation, and a low elastic return due to high molecular weight and high sterical impediment.One example of a high molecular weight and high sterical impediment is a sterically-impeded high-volume aromatic ring which reduces crystallization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Ludwig Eigenmann
  • Patent number: 4925335
    Abstract: A prefabricated continuous multilayer road-marking tape is described, which includes retroreflecting optical components, light emitting diodes (LEDs), solar cells, storage batteries, and reflectors and transmitters of electromagnetic waves. There are given examples of the use of the reflectors in order to control the speed of a vehicle which travels far from the tape, and examples of the use of EPROMs (erasable programmable read only memory) where messages are recorded, with the purpose of giving information about the conditions of the road, the presence of ice or of traffic jams, and so on, said messages being transmitted by a radio transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Inventor: Ludwig Eigenmann
  • Patent number: 4708518
    Abstract: This invention concerns a process for making a roadway marking strip adhere to a roadway surface without the need for any preliminary preparation, using a flame that simultaneously contacts the self-adhesive primer coating of the roadway strip and the roadway surface itself. This invention also concerns a process for covering the adhesive primer layer on the roadway strip with a thin sealing layer, and thus-formed roadway strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Inventor: Ludwig Eigenmann
  • Patent number: 4685824
    Abstract: The invention deals with a road marking tape which has retroreflective elements and protruding anti-skid elements, and which means is provided for preventing damaging of the retroreflective elements by snow plowing means. The preventing means is designed in accordance with the present invention in a special manner as a compressible element which is composed of a compressible material so that in response to impact of the protruding elements of the tape by the snow plowing means the compressible material of the compressible element compresses and the original thickness of the compressible material reduces to a predetermined thickness which is selected so that the protruding element sink into the groove by the depth at least equal to the height of the protruding elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Inventor: Ludwig Eigenmann
  • Patent number: 4681480
    Abstract: A method is described whereby asymmetric retroreflecting elements are positioned with their hemispherical sides pointing upwards, made to agglomerate in rows and then deposited onto the road surface or onto a road-marking strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1987
    Inventor: Ludwig Eigenmann
  • Patent number: 4652172
    Abstract: This invention regards a method for assuring high retro-reflecting capability and long service life for horizontally-installed roadway-marking strips. The same method also provides for making marking strips that are already installed visible in rainy weather. This invention also concerns the relative equipment for applying the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Inventor: Ludwig Eigenmann
  • Patent number: 4607978
    Abstract: This invention regards a method for assuring high retro-reflecting capability and long service life for horizontally-installed roadway-marking strips. The same method also provides for making marking strips that are already installed visible in rainy weather. This invention also concerns the relative equipment for applying the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1986
    Inventor: Ludwig Eigenmann
  • Patent number: 4565467
    Abstract: An auxiliary apparatus for mounting on machines is used for the spray application of road-markings and provides the machines with the alternate capability of laying prefabricated road-marking strips. The auxiliary apparatus is externally mounted on one side of the machine, and it enables laying of prefabricated strips onto the roadway surface without the interruption while the machine is moving along, by means of a cutting device and a device which presses the strip firmly onto the roadway surface so as to guarantee freedom from the accumulation of dirt. The apparatus is adapted for laying a very large quantity of strips, by providing for the substitution of the empty reel by a full one, without any interruption in the laying operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1986
    Inventor: Ludwig Eigenmann
  • Patent number: 4469645
    Abstract: A new method for producing retro-reflecting assemblies of the type comprising a transparent globule having an essentially part-spherical upper portion uncoated for light impingement, and a lower portion associated to a monolayer of focusing and reflective microspheres, the method comprising forming said globule by subjecting a sheet thermoplastic material to heat and pressure in the bite of counter-rotating forming rollers to provide an essentially planar intermediate product having oppositely located bulges at either faces thereof, the globules being obtained by subdividing said product in parts each comprising a pair of opposite bulges. The invention comprises improved assemblies comprising each an asymmetrical globule having the monolayer of microspheres associated to its essentially bottom face and to its peripheral toroidal side face of a radius of curvature smaller than that of its upper bulging portion exposed for light impingement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1984
    Inventor: Ludwig Eigenmann
  • Patent number: 4461862
    Abstract: There are described certain polymeric compositions which are made flame retarding, provide an incandescent char-forming crust, are not dropping and do not promote toxic fumes, in view of the addition, on 100 parts in weight of polymer, of 5-40 parts in weight of the reaction product between an acid of the phosphorus and at least a hydroxyalchyl derivative of at least a compound selected between the isocyanuric acid, the melamine and the urea, and, in a modified embodiment, in addition to the above indicated reaction product, of 5-30 parts in weight of a polymer of an ammonium polyphosphate of formula (NH.sub.4 PO.sub.3).sub.n", wherein n" is greater than 20. In a further modified embodiment there is added amine phosphate, such as the ortho- or pyrophosphate of melamine, in amount of 1-10 parts in weight. The reaction product as above comprises in its molecule the formulaN--(R).sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1984
    Inventor: Ludwig Eigenmann
  • Patent number: 4416510
    Abstract: An improved retroreflective structure designed to be associated to a roadway pavement principally for improving nighttime visibility of traffing regulating signs and areas, formed from selectively dividing a primary calandered and printed material, the structure including interconnected and cooperating retroreflectore arranged for defining said signs and areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1983
    Inventor: Ludwig Eigenmann
  • Patent number: 4411553
    Abstract: Improved retro reflecting globules of vertically asymmetrical configuration and of geometry such as to provide at least another asymmetry in plan view, to provide an optimum light response to light beams impinging under differing zenithal and azimuthal angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1983
    Inventor: Ludwig Eigenmann
  • Patent number: 4376007
    Abstract: A method for forming a traffic regulating line or like sign on a roadway pavement even if the surface pavement is very wet and generally during very unfavorable weather, the method comprising maintaining the surface area on which the sign is to be formed and the means for forming it into a confined environment sheltered from the weather, and includes the sequential steps of washing said area, drying it and locally heating the pavement up to a temperature near to that at which a primer layer composition essentially melts where contacted to said surface, and then applying on said surface an at least predominantly thermoplastic primer layer and a sign forming tape material bonded thereabove. There is also described a machine designed to be driven along said road pavement and including means designed for performing the said sequential steps in said sheltered environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1983
    Inventor: Ludwig Eigenmann
  • Patent number: 4369001
    Abstract: Method for forming a retro reflective traffic regulating road surface marking and roadable areas produced therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1983
    Inventor: Ludwig Eigenmann
  • Patent number: 4322177
    Abstract: Method for forming a retro reflective traffic regulating road surface marking and roadable areas produced therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1982
    Inventor: Ludwig Eigenmann
  • Patent number: 4288487
    Abstract: A pressure regulating marking on a roadway area is formed by applying onto a surface area a traffic-wear resistant layer having a small thickness and constituted by a pigmented resin material, providing a plurality of retroreflective globules having a minimum dimension which is many times greater than the thickness of the traffic-wear resistant layer, wetting the globules by a wetting resin material which is compatible with the pigmented resin material of the traffic-wear resistant material, and applying the globules which are wetted by the wetting resin material, onto the traffic-wear resistant layer, so that the wetting resin material forms, in the region of each of the globules a collar which firmly connects each globule to the traffic-wear resistant layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1981
    Inventor: Ludwig Eigenmann
  • Patent number: 4279534
    Abstract: Method and device for orienting asymmetrical retro-reflective elements while spreading horizontal road marking material and for applying the oriented asymmetrical retro-reflective elements to the anchoring road marking surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1981
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois, Inc.
    Inventor: Ludwig Eigenmann
  • Patent number: RE31291
    Abstract: A prefabricated road surface marking tape material consisting of a factory prefabricated and assembled structure comprising a tape component and a plurality of retroreflective sheltered elements bulging above said tape, spacedly distributed lengthwise of the tape, and secured thereon in a such position that the light emitted by headlamps of a vehicle travelling on the road in the direction of the tape and impinging on said reflective means comprised in each element, will be retroreflected in form of a relatively narrow beam of light precisely directed towards the driver of the vehicle, for improved nighttime visibility of the sign.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1983
    Inventor: Ludwig Eigenmann
  • Patent number: RE31669
    Abstract: An improved multi-layer surface marking tape material for use on roadway pavements so as to provide a traffic regulating indicium thereon, and having an anti-skid and wear-resisting upper layer and a lower primer layer for connecting the material to said pavement, the new multi-layer tape material comprising further an intermediate relatively thin, pliable, essentially inextensible and tensionally resistant intermediate layer compatible with and intimately connected to both said layers for distributing and transferring over a large primer layer-roadway pavement interfacial area horizontally directed stresses tangentially applied to said anti-skid upper layer at localized upper layer-vehicle wheel treads interfacial areas. .Iadd.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1984
    Inventor: Ludwig Eigenmann