Abstract: A safety device includes a body configured for attachment to a structure. The body has a first layer and a second layer. The body is washable, reusable, and attachable to varying surface compositions. An indicia is formed in the first layer, the indicia providing visual stimuli for persons with impaired depth perception.

Abstract: A mobile navigation system includes a directive beamforming antenna carried by the vehicle, emitting first and second sensing beams in first and second directions at first and second time points, respectively; an electromagnetic wave reflector installed in the target zone, receiving the first and second sensing beams, and transmitting first and second retro waves back; and a processor electrically coupled to the directive beamforming antenna, receiving the first and second retro waves, and determining a direction where the vehicle will be guided to move according to information of the first and second retro waves. A coverage area of the first sensing beam and a coverage area of the second sensing beam partially overlaps with each other, and the direction where the vehicle will be guided to move lies between the first direction and the second direction.

Abstract: The present disclosure directs to a light-emitting device configured for attachment onto a container. The device comprises a bottom layer and a filling layer atop with a central cavity to house electronic components arranged onto a circuit board, wherein the filling layer further comprises at least one extension, one cutout notch, and at least one light emitting LED arranged onto the circuit board around the extension. A bonding layer covers the top surface of the filling layer with a removable isolation paper. The circuit board and electronic components are protected form liquid corrosion and from blunt force while adhered onto the container.

Abstract: A traffic warning signal system includes a substrate, and at least one light-emitting device embedded into the substrate and placed in proximity to a traffic signal such as to be visible upon approach to the traffic signal, such as the at least one light-emitting device is synchronized in at least one of a timing, a color, or a frequency with the traffic signal.

Abstract: A method for forming and applying retroreflective pavement markings comprising the steps of a) spraying the area with a hot epoxy binder, b) depositing particles of a microcrystalline ceramic element having a high refractive index onto the fresh epoxy binder, c) depositing relatively large spherical glass beads onto the fresh epoxy binder, and d) depositing relatively small spherical glass beads onto the fresh epoxy binder. The small beads provide high reflectivity in daytime and at night on dry pavement. The large beads provide superior reflectivity at night on damp pavement. The ceramic element particles provide high reflectivity when wet and during heavy rain. Where the pavement is subject to snowplowing, the marking may be inlaid in a recessed area in the pavement, the recess being about 100 mils deep, and the wet epoxy layer being about 20 mils thick.

Abstract: A retroreflector or simple reflector assembly mounted to a road, the assembly comprising a lens having a rear surface, a shell having an outer surface, the lens mounted on the outer surface of the shell, and a reflective or retroreflective sheeting disposed between the rear surface of the lens and the outer surface of the shell thereby allowing light entering the lens from vehicle headlights to reflect efficiently back to the driver of an automotive vehicle where light is emitted from the vehicle headlights. The outer surface of the shell includes a recess adapted to accept the lens, wherein the lens sits within the recess of the outer surface of the shell. The sheeting lines the recess and is disposed between the lens and the recess of the outer surface of the shell.

Abstract: A retroreflective article comprises a) a microporous substrate (52) containing a plurality of pores (56) which are less than 0.5 ?m in diameter; and b) a layer of reflective material (54) located on the surface (58) of the substrate such that the reflective material layer at least partially obscures a plurality of the pores of the substrate. A method for the production of a reflective article comprises the steps of a) providing a substrate which contains pores which have a diameter of less than 0.5 ?m; and b) applying a layer of reflective material to the substrate in such a way that the reflective material layer at least partially obscures a plurality of the pores of the substrate.

Abstract: A continuously formed, low profiled reflective pavement marker comprising a multiple, inclined, low profiled reflective portions, which are integrally connected by horizontally, positioned reflective sheeting. Each raised reflective portion integrally having multiple reflective cube corner elements within two defined inclined reflective faces. Each of the two opposite reflective faces are integrally supported by load carrying structural walls in a multi-directional manner, said load carrying structural walks define cell like areas within each inclined reflective face. A method of making said reflective marker is disclosed that includes the steps of sealing and coloring the lower portion of the reflective marking sheet.

Abstract: A road marking device 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.

Abstract: Sheeting material is disclosed that contains a retroreflective layer and a layer of luminescent material on the bottom or lower surface of the retroreflective layer. The sheeting material can be formed into signage or decorative articles that are highly visible under a variety of lighting conditions. A portion of the retroreflective layer is visible through the luminescent layer or through one or more openings in the luminescent layer which are in the form of slits, perforations, alphanumeric or other patterns. The luminescent layer can be imaged using analog or digital printing processes. The sheeting material can be made from materials that are suitable for back-lit illumination. Adhesives or other conventional attachment means can be employed to anchor the signs in interior or exterior environments.

Abstract: A retroreflective structure includes a retroreflective sheeting having an array of transparent prisms formed into pairs of prisms. Each prism includes a base aperture and three intersecting lateral faces meeting at an apex. Each of the lateral faces includes a base edge which forms a portion of the perimeter of the base aperture. The base edge of each lateral face intersects the base edge of a contiguous lateral face to form a base point, the first face of at least one prism in the array including a first face first planar surface and a first face second planar surface. The first face first planar surface and the first face second planar surface are contiguous along an edge having a first and second end points, wherein the apex, the first end point, and a first base point are coplanar and form a continuous edge from the first base point to the apex.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: A cube corner article having a structured surface of geometric structures, each geometric structure having a plurality of faces at least some of which are arranged as a cube corner element, is made by providing a first substrate having a plurality of grooves therein, replicating the first substrate in a second substrate, and forming a second plurality of grooves in the second substrate. Geometric structures in the second substrate are formed in part by replication of the first plurality of grooves and in part by the formation of the second plurality of grooves.

Abstract: Retroreflective articles provide varying retroreflection using a first surface that includes a plurality of light redirecting structures and a second surface that includes retroreflective areas and separation areas. The light redirecting structures on the first surface are preferably arranged relative to the retroreflective areas and the separation areas on the second surface such that a substantial portion of light incident on the light redirecting structures is superimposed on areas of the second surface. At some angles, it is preferred that substantially all of the light is superimposed on either the retroreflective areas or the separation areas, resulting in varying retroreflection from the retroreflective articles. Together, the two optical surfaces of the retroreflective articles provide varying retroreflection of incident light where the variations can be between, e.g., retroreflection or no retroreflection, retroreflection of different colors, retroreflection at different brightness levels, etc.

Abstract: A road safety reflector assembly has a pair of oppositely disposed finger cradles with a hollow, reinforceable housing, which has one or two reflectors mounted therein.

Abstract: Retroreflective sheeting and articles are formed in which the size of the retroreflective and non-retroreflective surfaces may be varied across an array of microprisms. This is accomplished by varying the location of the reflective coating applied to the microprism side facets, such that, some prism side facets are completely coated with reflective material while others are coated only at the apex area; and still others are coated with a non-reflective coatings, such as, a colored adhesive.

Abstract: A method of making a retroreflective marking material is provided, the method has the steps of: (a) providing an enclosed-lens retroreflective sheet having a top surface and a bottom surface and comprising a cover layer and a monolayer of retroreflective elements; (b) applying a conformance layer to the bottom surface of the retroreflective sheet; and (c) laminating a configuration member to the conformance layer thereby creating first portions and second portions in the sheet, the first portions being arranged in an upwardly contoured profile and the second portions being arranged in a lower, substantially planar position. A retroreflective article made by the method is also provided.

Abstract: Imaging articles and methods are disclosed that use dual-axis retroreflective elements such as 90 degree prisms and linear lenticular elements in which the imaging is either superimposed on the imaged object or displaced therefrom. If the imaging is superimposed on the imaged object, it is accomplished by retroreflection. If the imaging is displaced from the imaged object, it may be accomplished by dual axis retroreflection or retrotransmission.

Abstract: Radiation curable ink compositions and coating compositions contain an aliphatic (meth)acrylate functional macromonomer, a reactive acrylate monomer, and a photoinitiator. Ink compositions also contain an effective amount of a colorant or pigment. These inks, when cured by exposure to actinic radiation, have excellent durability, weatherability, and adhesion to acrylate substrates such as polymethylmethacrylate.

Abstract: A cube corner article and method of manufacturing the article from a series of directly machinable unitary substrates. The method of manufacture comprises the first step of providing an initial unitary directly machinable substrate of material suitable for forming retroreflective surfaces. Then, a first cube corner element array zone is formed having a plurality of geometric structures including cube corner elements. The zone is created by directly machining at least two sets of parallel grooves in the substrate. A replica of the cube corner element array zone is formed as an additional unitary substrate suitable for forming retroreflective surfaces. Portions of the replica substrate material are removed. The removal of these portions forms at least two intersecting cavities bounded by side walls in the replica at a depth at least that of the cube corner elements formed by the groove sets.

Abstract: An optical film having high light transmittance and excellent light diffusibility is provided. The optical film comprises a transparent substrate 1 and a light diffusion layer 2 formed on one or both sides of the substrate 1. As the resin 3 of the light diffusion layer 2, an ionizing radiation curable resin is used in an amount of, preferably, not less than 50% of the resin and a small amount of the light diffusive agent is dispersed therein. The optical film exhibits excellent light diffusion effect even though the content of the light diffusive agent is small and also exhibits high light transmittance because of the small content of the light diffusive agent. Accordingly, this optical film is suitable for applications such as a color liquid crystal display which is required to have a sufficient brightness, and in combination with another optical material such as a prism lens.

Abstract: A retroreflector construction comprises a first transparent layer of a relatively high refractive index having on its rear surface one or more cube corner retroreflector elements; a second thin transparent layer of relatively low refractive index in substantially uninterrupted contact with the rear surface of the first layer; and a third metallic reflective layer in substantially uninterrupted contact with the rear surface of the second layer. The ratio of the indices of refraction of the two transparent layers is sufficient to allow TIR at their interface for at least some of the cube faces. The third, metallic layer assures face reflection when TIR fails. The construction provides greater retroreflectance than would be achieved with a single metallized transparent layer, and provides retroreflectance over a broader range of entrance angles and orientation angles than would be achieved with a single non-metallized (air-backed) transparent layer.

Abstract: A retroreflective element that exhibits exceptional wet retroreflectivity, and a method of manufacturing the same. The retroreflective element includes an assembly having a multi-sided retroreflector and a clear thermoplastic. In one embodiment, the clear thermoplastic is at least partially thermally deformed to create a convex retroreflective dome for capturing high incident angle light rays. The retroreflective elements may be used in a pavement marking system, such as attached to pavement marking tape or deposited in pavement marking paint.

Abstract: A cube corner article has a plurality of geometric structures formed by at least three intersecting groove sets. Each geometric structure has three faces arranged as a cube corner element. Some of the geometric structures also have a fourth face which is not a part of a cube corner element. At least one of the grooves in the three intersecting groove sets has a first and second side surface extending uniformly from a groove vertex, the first side surface forming one of the three faces and the second side surface forming the fourth face.

Abstract: A method for making retroreflective sheeting comprising the steps of placing a light-transmittable protective film on glass beads in a support sheet which consists of a binder layer and a reinforcing layer, and which is provided with retroreflective glass beads embedded in the binder layer, and thermoforming parts of the support sheet under heating and pressure so as to partially bond the binder layer of the support sheet to the protective film, which is characterized in that the reinforcing layer of the support sheet consists of a crosslinkable resin having shearing stress S in the range of 6.times.10.sup.6 -1.2.times.10.sup.7 dyne/cm.sup.2 before the thermoforming. A retroreflective sheeting made by this method has a high uniformity of the joint portions of the support sheet and protective film. Even when this retroreflective sheeting is used outdoors for a long period of time, troubles including peeling-off of the protective film do not substantially occur.

Abstract: Ultraviolet luminescent retroreflective sheeting includes a retroreflective portion containing retroreflective elements and an ultraviolet luminescent portion to facilitate nighttime viewing by persons not located at or near a source of light being retroreflected by the retroreflective portion. At least part of the ultraviolet luminescent portion is provided as the bonding lines for bonding the transparent cover sheet to the support sheet to form a series of sealed cells in which the retroreflective elements, which may be of the encapsulated lens-type or the encapsulated cube-corner-type, are disposed. The ultraviolet luminescenct portion includes fluorescent agent which emits light when irradiation by ultraviolet irradiation.

Abstract: Retroreflective sheeting and articles are formed in which the size of the retroreflective and non-retroflective surfaces may be varied across an array of microprisms. This is accomplished by varying the location of the reflective coating applied to the microprism side facets, such that, some prism side facets are completely coated with reflective material while others are coated only at the apex area; and still others are coated with a non-reflective coatings, such as, a colored adhesive.

Abstract: A retroreflective structure and a method for forming the structure are disclosed. The structure has a window side and a facet side. The facet side has a plurality of steps with treads and risers intersecting at an angle. The risers include an array of retroreflective elements. Preferably, the elements are cube-corner prisms.

Abstract: A retro-reflective sign is provided having a front face member attached to a back member. The face member has a plurality of cube corners disposed along its back surface. The sign can be of any shape or color and provides superior light reflection at night as compared to conventional signs. Thus, the sign can be easily seen while driving at night. In an alternative embodiment, the cube corners are disposed along the inner surface of the back member. The front face member or the entire sign can be coated with a silicone material to provide added protection to the sign from scratching and vandalism.

Abstract: A retroreflective article and a method for making same are taught. The retroreflective article comprises transparent microspheres and both specular and diffuse reflective pigments dispersed in a binder layer. The utilization of both types of pigments results in improved retroreflectivity over a greater range of entrance angles than if only one or the other pigment alone were used.

Abstract: Reflective tape for pinstriping of automobiles or other vehicles. The tape has strips of retroreflective material sandwiched between a bottom release liner of polyethylene coated paper and a clear top release liner having an adhesive undersurface for retaining the tape composite intact with the strips parallel one another prior to and during application to a vehicle. The retroreflective material is highly visible at night for safety. The strips include pressure-sensitive adhesive. When the tape is applied to a vehicle, thin pinstripes of retroreflective material are seen. The material may be colored to contrast with the color of the vehicle paint, which is visible on either side of the tape and also through the open middle section between the pinstripes of retroreflective material. The strips are applied by peeling away the bottom liner as the top liner and strips are applied to a surface; thereafter, the top release liner is peeled away leaving only the two retroreflective material strips on the surface.

Abstract: A low profile pavement marker (30) for bonding to a pavement with an adhesive for marking traffic lanes and areas is described. The marker has a smooth upper reflective surface (36) which scatters overhead light in all horizontal directions for daytime visibility and a vertical retroreflective strip (42) for reflecting incident light to its source for nightime visibility. The marker (30) has a lip bonded to its base (34) to keep the pavement adhesive away from the retroreflective strip (42) which allows the strip to be located adjacent to the pavement. This, in turn, allows for the low profile and the optimal vertical placement of the retroreflective strip (42). A visor (46) extends smoothly outward from the upper surface (36) and protects the retroreflective strip (42) from tire abrasion. A clear coating (44) protects the retroreflective strip (42) from moisture and ultraviolet radiation. Other embodiments are also provided.