Abstract: A retroreflective device securable to a highway by bonding thereto preferably with a viscous strip applied to the highway prior to solidifying cure of the strip includes a generally globular glass central member, a desirably pigmented adhesive layer over the central member and a plurality of peripheral globular glass members connected to the central member by the pigmented adhesive layer. A method for fabricating the retroreflective device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A retroreflective device securable to a highway by bonding thereto preferably with a viscous strip applied to the highway prior to solidifying cure of the strip includes a generally globular glass central member, a desirably pigmented adhesive layer over the central member and a plurality of peripheral globular glass members connected to the central member by the pigmented adhesive layer. A method for fabricating the retroreflective device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A nautical sign with reflective and photoluminescent qualities that is used to enhance the safety of nautical travelers on waterways in conditions where visibility is limited. The nautical sign comprises a front rigid sheet having an upper surface and a lower surface, a back rigid sheet having an upper surface and a lower surface, alternating layers of round reflective disks having an upper surface and a lower surface and a photoluminescent film having an upper surface and a lower surface. The alternating layers of round reflective disks and photoluminescent film are contained in between the front rigid sheet and the back rigid sheet. When a light source is shown on the nautical sign, a portion of the light is reflected by the reflective disks and the photoluminescent film is activated resulting in heightened visibility of the nautical sign.

Abstract: A light tunnel includes a first optical element, a second optical element, a third optical element and a fourth optical element. The first optical element has a first recess. The second optical element is disposed opposite to the first optical element and has a second recess. The third optical element connects the first optical element with the second optical element and has one end disposed in the first recess or the second recess. The fourth optical element is disposed opposite to the third optical element, connects the first optical element with the second optical element, and has one end disposed in the first recess or the second recess. Inner surfaces of the first to fourth optical elements form a light passage. A projection system is also disclosed.

Abstract: Color shifting retroreflective articles can provide features such as decorative effects, evidence of tampering, security authentication or positional information. In some embodiments, the color shifting retroreflective article includes a layer of microspheres, and a reflective coating that is disposed in optical association with the layer of microspheres. The reflective coating includes a spacer layer disposed between a semitransparent first reflective layer and a second reflective layer. The first reflective layer includes a reflective layer disposed adjacent the layer of microspheres. At least one layer of the reflective coating includes a non-uniform thickness associated with each of a plurality of microspheres such that light incident on the article from a first direction is retroreflected at a first color and light incident on the article from a second direction is retroreflected at a second color visibly different from the first color.

Abstract: Encapsulated-lens retroreflective sheeting is described which contains an improved binder layer. The binder layer is obtained from a film-forming mixture which comprises: (A) a vinyl chloride copolymer, (B) a thermoplastic polyurethane, and (C) an aminoplast resin. Such binder layer exhibits improved adhesion to metallized beads and to a variety of cover films such as acrylic films.

Abstract: A micro-structure template for fabricating ordered arrays of particles includes a top surface and a bottom surface, with the top surface having a plurality of closely-spaced depressions. Particles are disposed in the closely-spaced depressions to form at least one layer of particles.

Abstract: To provide a retroreflective sheet which is suitable for co-molding by injection molding or the like, wherein the retroreflective sheet can be laid within a mold and molded with a resin to form a molded product, and, after molding, the sheet retains a significant portion of its reflection luminance and appearance as compared with the reflection luminance value before molding. A retroreflective sheet used for a co-molding, comprising a metallic reflective layer, a microspherical lens layer disposed as a single layer, and a transparent focal resin layer disposed between the reflective layer and the microspherical lens layer, in which the focal resin layer comprises a mixture of cellulose ester and polyvinyl butyral resin.

Abstract: Surface coverings for marking road surfaces are disclosed including elastic particles for application to the road surface, the elastic particles including a plurality of light reflectors such as glass beads or ceramic particles, which can also include various pigments.

Abstract: To provide a vehicle lamp having a high quality lens and a method for manufacturing the same and make it possible to reliably separate a pre-molded lens member while being securely held in the movable die during composite lens molding in a multi-color molding process.

Abstract: A method for cutting and edge sealing cells of cellular retroreflective sheeting is disclosed using a specially designed apparatus and tool. Sheeting having a thickness T is heated to a thermoforming temperature to form a heated sheeting. Pressing the unheated tool, the heated sheeting, and a substrate together results in cutting and edge sealing of the heated sheeting. The tool has a radiused ridge for cutting and edge sealing with the shape of the ridge similar to the shape desired for the edge seal. A height H of the ridge is defined relative to the thickness of the sheeting. The fraction of the ridge height to the thickness of the sheeting is less than one and more than 0.2. The tools may be mounted on a perimeter of a wheel for continuously slitting and edge sealing strips of cellular sheeting. The retroreflectivity of the sheeting is maximized by (1) minimizing the width of the sealed edges while (2) maximizing the number of closed cells along the sealed edges that can withstand a water holdout test.

Abstract: A retroreflective article that has a layer of optical elements and a multilayer reflective coating disposed on the optical elements. The reflective coating reflects light back into the optical elements so that it can be returned toward the light source. The multilayer reflective coating has multiple polymer layers and has layers that possess different refractive indices.

Abstract: A method of machining a substrate to produce a cube corner element optical array. The method includes steps of directly machining a plurality of groove sets into a directly machinable substrate to form an array having a plurality of geometric structures including cube corner elements, and machining at least two of the groove sets along the same path in the substrate but at different depths of groove to produce a geometric structure side surface having both an optical portion and a non-optical portion.

Abstract: A multi-layer article comprises a fluoropolymer layer comprising interpolymerized units derived from vinylidene fluoride, and a melt-processable, substantially non-fluorinated polymer layer comprising a polyamide, polyimide, polyurethane, or a carboxyl, anhydride, or imide functionalized polyolefin. The non-fluorinated polymer layer further contains an aliphatic di-, or polyamine which provides increased adhesion between the fluoropolymer layer and the non-fluorinated polymer layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a retroreflective sheeting having a front surface and a back surface, the retroreflective sheeting retroreflecting light entering through the front surface, wherein the retroreflective sheeting comprises encapsulated-lens retroreflectors. The retroreflective sheeting includes a plurality of indentations in the back surface of the retroreflective sheeting and seal coat at least partially filling the indentations.

Abstract: The present invention provides a retroreflective sheeting including: optical elements arranged in substantially a monolayer; a spacing layer in which the optical elements are at least partially embedded; a specularly reflecting layer underlying the spacing layer; and a bead bond layer in which the optical elements are at least partially embedded. The bead bond layer includes an aminoplast-crosslinked polymer comprising urethane groups, wherein prior to crosslinking the polymer has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of less than about 0.degree. C.

Abstract: Conformable cube corner retroreflective sheetings comprising a plurality of discrete cube corner segments which are conformably bonded together, each cube corner segment comprising a plastic body portion having a substantially planar front major surface and at least one minutes cube corner retroreflective element projecting rearwardly from the body portion and defining a cube corner point side of the cube corner segment. The peripheries of the cube corner segments can be defined by a plurality of separations extending from the cube corner point sides to the front major surfaces, the separations being disposed between adjacent cube corner segments. Adjacent cube corner segments are conformably bonded together in the sense that they are either: (1) separated by a gap of less than about 1 millimeter and bonded together through a conformable carrier layer; or (2) separated by a gap which is substantially filled with a conformable resin that bonds the side walls of adjacent cube corner segments together.

Abstract: Method and apparatus is disclosed for manufacturing a reflex mold wherein a flexible or bendable, thin plate is provided for use in the manufacturing process. A reflex prism assembly is clamped together and metal is applied over the surface of the prisms to make a flat, thin layer of bendable material. A model of curvature is then provided and the thin layer is clamped on the model to assume the desired configuration. More metal is then applied over the back surface of the thin layer until sufficient thickness is obtained to make the reflex mold suitable to receive deposition of lens material for the production of a reflex lens.

Abstract: A method of machining a substrate to produce a cube corner element optical array. The method includes steps of directly machining a plurality of groove sets into a directly machinable substrate to form an array having a plurality of geometric structures including cube corner elements, and machining at least two of the groove sets along the same path in the substrate but at different depths of groove to produce a geometric structure side surface having both an optical portion and a non-optical portion.

Abstract: A retroreflective cube corner article which is a replica of a directly machined substrate in which a plurality of geometric structures including cube corner elements are machined in the substrate using only two sets of parallel grooves. At least two of the grooves in at least one of the groove sets are at a different groove depth.

Abstract: The invention relates to a glass for at least one signalling lamp, in particular for a motor vehicle. The glass includes a plurality of non-catadioptric elements that have the appearance of catadioptric needles but without performing the same function. At least a portion of the non-catadioptric elements have conical ends on the inside face of the glass. This makes it much easier to make a mold for mass-producing such a glass.

Abstract: A microprism retroreflector material has a body portion with a planar front face and closely spaced microprisms extending thereacross in a plane spaced from and parallel to the front face. The microprisms are formed with three side surfaces disposed along three intersecting planes, and at least some of the microprisms have at least one side surface which is arcuate along one of the intersecting planes and over at least the major portion of its height. At least some adjacent pairs of microprisms have their prism axes tilted relative to the intersecting plane extending therebetween. The microprisms retroreflect light in six circumferentially spaced radially extending exit-energy patterns, and at least 70 percent of the retroreflected light is within a spread of not more than 0.6.degree. from the light rays impinging thereon.