Abstract: The disclosed retroreflective element includes a polymeric core that is loaded with a plurality of first beads and second beads distributed at the perimeter of the core. The first beads are different than the second beads. Because of the beads in the core, the retroreflective element remains useful for returning light even after portions of the core begins to wear away. Further, when the retroreflective elements get wet, water will settle to the bottom of the perimeter of the core. Therefore, using the second beads with a refractive index suited for wet conditions, while the first beads have a refractive index suited for dry conditions allows the retroreflective element to be useful in both wet and dry conditions even while the retroreflective element wears during use.

Abstract: A flexible abrasion resistant omnidirectionally reflective retractable pet leash has an omnidirectionally reflective pet leash housed within a retractable housing device. The omnidirectionally reflective pet leash reflects an incoming light beam back in the same direction as it was emanated. The reflected light beam provides accurate illumination of the pet leash and the location of the pet during dusk or nighttime hours. This retractable pet leash is created by surrounding a central braided rope of nylon or polyethylene fibers with a cylindrically braided reflective sleeve. The braided reflective sleeve is composed of braided narrow width reflective strips each comprising a plurality of reflective threads worked together to form a weave. Due to the braided weave of the reflective threads and the arrangement of the microscopic reflectors light incident thereon from virtually any angle is reflected back to its source.

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: Retroreflecting optical constructions are disclosed. A disclosed retroreflecting optical construction includes a retroreflecting layer that has a retroreflecting structured major surface, and an optical film that is disposed on the retroreflecting structured major surface of the retroreflecting layer. The optical film has an optical haze that is not less than about 30%. Substantial portions of each two neighboring major surfaces in the retroreflecting optical construction are in physical contact with each other.

Abstract: A flexible reflective flat retractable pet leash is retained within a retractable housing device. The reflective pet leash reflects incoming light beams back in the same direction as emanated. The reflected light beam provides accurate illumination of the pet leash and the location of the pet during dusk or nighttime hours. This retractable pet leash is created by weaving or integrating reflective material fabric/tape within a flat leash portion. The reflective retractable pet leash is composed of a flat leash portion operable to sustain substantial tensile forces having a front and back side. Reflective means are integrated within the flat leash portion being operable to provide reflectivity. A retractable housing device having a handle portion, a retraction control member actuated by a retraction control switch, a housing body with an internal chamber appointed with a reel member, and an extension-retraction aperture is provided for housing the leash.

Abstract: The present application relates to a pavement marker including a core from which extends protrusions and a cavity between adjacent protrusions. The microsphere lenses are fixed within the cavity by one of a softening material disposed in the core and an adhesive agent disposed in the cavity.

Abstract: A method for laminating a functional film on to an optical base element and a tri-layer adhesive system for use in the method. The tri-layer adhesive includes a first latex adhesive layer disposed on the functional film and a second latex adhesive layer disposed on the optical base element. An HMA layer is disposed in between the latex layers to form a tri-layer adhesive to permanently retain the functionalized film on the optical base element. The method includes first coating a latex adhesive on the functional film and second coating a latex adhesive on the optical base element. An HMA is then coated on to one of the dried latex adhesive layers. The film is hot pressed on to the optical base element with the HMA sandwiched in between the latex layers to form a laminated optical device.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a reflective object, which comprises the structure with the following layers sequentially: an adhesive layer embedded with optical components; a color layer; and a reflective layer; wherein the reflective object is characterized that the color layer is not contacted with the optical components. The present invention is also disclosed a method of producing the reflective object.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an anti-counterfeiting film and a process for preparation thereof. The anti-counterfeiting film comprises a protective layer (1), a binder layer (2), a retroreflective layer (3), a photopolymerizable information layer (4) and a reflective layer (5) which are combined in turn. The retroreflective layer (3) is embedded spherically in the binder layer (2), and the photopolymerizable information layer (4) has been recorded with graphics information which can change along with the viewing angle.

Abstract: In one aspect, there is provided a retroreflective film, comprising a retroreflective sub-structure, and a transparent polymeric film, having a surface roughness profile where the Arithmetic Mean Deviation of the Roughness Profile (Ra) ranges from about 0.18 microns to about 1.30 microns and where the Mean Spacing of Local Peaks (R-S) in the printing direction ranges from about 10 microns to about 85 microns, located over and coupled to the retroreflective sub-structure and wherein the polymeric film as a Vicat softening point of about 90° or greater.

Abstract: A laminate article preferably including two or more layers adapted to be applied to a surface of a roadway that can function as a reflective marker, such as a lane marker or road feature marker. The article includes one or more reflective compounds, preferably particles, aggregates, or clusters that are partially embedded in an exposed outer surface layer of the article. In order to increase the durability of the material, protective media compounds are also present in the outer layer and extend outward therefrom with the protective material protruding a greater distance than the reflective compounds. The articles of the present invention are weather resistant, durable and resistant to damage by vehicles and snowplows.

Abstract: In one aspect, there is provided a retroreflective film, comprising a retroreflective sub-structure, and a transparent polymeric film, having a surface roughness profile where the Arithmetic Mean Deviation of the Roughness Profile (Ra) ranges from about 0.18 microns to about 1.30 microns and where the Mean Spacing of Local Peaks (R-S) in the printing direction ranges from about 10 microns to about 85 microns, located over and coupled to the retroreflective sub-structure.

Abstract: Properties of turbid or scattering samples are determined using Raman spectroscopy with probe light delivered to and subsequently collected from the sample using a transmission geometry. The technique may be applied to pharmaceutical products such as tablets, diagnostic tests such as lateral flow diagnostic strips, and elsewhere.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treatment of a retroreflective sheet with a treatment composition that comprises a fluorinated compound having one or more silyl groups and an auxiliary compound selected from the group consisting of (i) one or more non-fluorinated compounds of an element M selected from Si, Ti, Zr, B, Al, Ge, V, Pb and Sn and (ii) an organic compound having a Si—H group. The invention also relates to compositions comprising (i) a fluorinated compound comprising one or more silyl groups and (ii) an auxiliary compound selected from the group consisting of organic compounds having a Si—H group.

Abstract: The hue variable retroreflective sheet of the present invention includes: a surface layer (1) composed of at least one layer; and a plurality of retroreflective elements (3, 4, 5) that are positioned beneath the surface layer, wherein the retroreflective elements (3, 4, 5) retroreflect incident light toward a light source direction, at least one layer of the surface layer (1) is an optical coherent layer that changes in color depending on a point of view, and in which an optical coherent coloring material with a core material having a surface that is covered with one or more substantially transparent coating layer is dispersed, and mirror-reflects the incident light toward a direction opposite to the light source side, at least one layer of the retroreflective sheet is a colored layer containing a coloring material that colors retroreflected light, and the retroreflected light and the mirror-reflected light provide different hues.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treatment of a retroreflective sheet with a treatment composition that comprises a fluorinated compound having one or more silyl groups and an auxiliary compound selected from the group consisting of (i) one or more non-fluorinated compounds of an element M selected from Si, Ti, Zr, B, Al, Ge, V, Pb and Sn and (ii) an organic compound having a Si—H group. The invention also relates to compositions comprising (i) a fluorinated compound comprising one or more silyl groups and (ii) an auxiliary compound selected from the group consisting of organic compounds having a Si—H group.

Abstract: The invention relates to retroreflective articles such as retroreflective sheeting that comprises a core sheet comprising retroreflective elements and a topcoat wherein the topcoat comprises certain water-borne acrylic polymer(s).

Abstract: A composite on the surface of a substrate, and a method for producing the composite are disclosed. The composite includes a first coating, reflective beads, and a clear coating. The method for preparing the composite includes the stepwise application of coating compositions and reflective beads. The composite, which is wear-resistant and retroreflective, is useful as a traffic marking.

Abstract: A retroreflective coating system and a method of providing the coating system on a substrate are disclosed. The method includes applying a color-providing composition, such as a pigmented basecoat composition, and applying a clearcoat composition. After application and cure, the color-providing composition forms a color-providing film layer, and the clearcoat composition forms a clearcoat film layer. The color-providing composition and the clearcoat composition are cross-linkable. Either one, or both, of the color-providing composition and the clearcoat composition include retroreflective microspheres. The color-providing composition is applied to the substrate to form an uncured film layer of the color-providing composition. Next, the clearcoat composition is applied wet-on-wet to the uncured film layer of the color-providing composition such that an uncured film layer of the clearcoat composition is formed on the uncured film layer of the color-providing composition.

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 fluorescent yellow retroreflective sheeting article comprises a polymeric matrix, a fluorescent yellow-green dye selected from the group consisting of thioxanthene dyes and benzothiazene dyes, and a second dye selected from the group consisting of thioxanthene dye and thioxanthone dyes, wherein the resulting article has chromaticity coordinates within the area defined by CIE as fluorescent yellow.

Abstract: A dry formulation for an integrated marking material for concrete and asphalt application comprises a cementitious mixture including a hydraulic or cementitious binder, a redispersible polymeric cement modifier, a retroreflective agent filler, and optionally, a reflective agent filler. The formulation preferably includes a pigment, aggregate, a dispersant, a plasticizer, and/or a water reducer. The formulation optionally includes at least one admixture selected from an accelerator, an air entrainer, a defoamer, fibers, an inert filler, a natural clay, a pozzolanic filler, a retarder, a rheology modifier, a shrinkage compensating agent, a synthetic clay, a suspending agent, and a thickening agent. The marking material, when applied, has broadcast onto and embedded into its surface, additional retroreflective agents.

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 minute 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: 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: A fluorescent red article comprising a polymer matrix; and a perylene dicarboximide dye, wherein the article has chromaticity coordinates (x, y) within the area defined by (0.648, 0.351), (0.735, 0.265), (0.629, 0.281) and (0.565, 0.346) in terms of the CIE 1931 Standard Colorimetric System and measured using 0/45 geometry and evaluated with CIE Standard Illuminant D65 and a fluorescence luminance factor of at least about 8, and laminates, retroreflective materials, and methods of making thereof.

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: The present invention comprises a method for making retroreflective elements which are retroreflective under dry and/or wet conditions. The method provides a means for placing optical elements and/or skid-resistant particles on selected surfaces.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel electrophoretic displays and materials useful in fabricating such displays. In particular, novel encapsulated displays are disclosed. Particles encapsulated therein are dispersed within a suspending, or electrophoretic, fluid. This fluid may be a mixture of two or more fluids or may be a single fluid. The displays may further comprise particles dispersed in a suspending fluid, wherein the particles contain a liquid. In either case, the suspending fluid may have a density or refractive index substantially matched to that of the particles dispersed therein. Finally, also disclosed herein are electro-osmotic displays. These displays comprise at least one capsule containing either a cellulosic or gel-like internal phase and a liquid phase, or containing two or more immiscible fluids. Application of electric fields to any of the electrophoretic displays described herein affects an optical property of the display.

Abstract: In an optical sheet 10 having a prism surface 16 formed by providing unit prisms 14 on the upper surface of a transparent base material 12, a coating layer 18 is provided on the reverse surface of the transparent base material opposite to the prism surface 16, spherical beads 20 are arranged projecting from the surface of the coating layer 18 by 1 to 10 .mu.m in height, and the coating layer 18 is brought into contact with the flat and smooth surface 22A of the light-transmissive material 22 through the spherical beads 20 which are put between them. The spherical beads are 1 .mu.m or less in half bandwidth of the distribution of particle diameters and are made uniform in height projecting from the coating layer 18.

Abstract: A retroreflective article (100, 200, 300) that has a retroreflective layer (120, 220, 320) that includes optical elements (121, 221, 321) and a specularly reflective layer (122, 222, 322), and a binder layer (110, 210, 310), that is the reaction product of an epoxy resin and polymer that has a silicon-containing, crosslinkable, terminal, functional groups. Retroreflective articles of this construction can demonstrate good abrasion resistance and laundering durability.

Abstract: Retroreflective articles provide modulating retroreflection using a front surface that includes at least first and second areas having different transmission characteristics and a back surface that includes retroreflective areas and separation areas. The first and second areas on the front surface are arranged relative to the retroreflective areas and the separation areas on the back surface such that a substantial portion of light incident on the first areas of the front surface at a first angle is transmitted through the first areas of the front surface to the retroreflective areas on the back surface where it is retroreflected back through the front surface. In addition, a substantial portion of light incident on the first areas of the front surface at a second angle is transmitted through the first areas on the front surface to the separation areas.

Abstract: Luminous retroreflective sheetings have a transparent cover layer, an optical layer disposed beneath the cover layer, and a reflective layer. The optical layer includes a first polymer layer and a monolayer of beads at least partially embedded therein. The reflective layer is disposed proximate a focal plane of the monolayer of beads. The monolayer of beads includes transparent beads that, in combination with the reflective layer, retroreflect incident light. The monolayer also includes light-emitting beads that emit light under the influence of an applied voltage or ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Processes for making such sheetings are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to lens type functional retroreflective sheeting having retroreflective regions and visual functionality presenting regions, the retroreflective sheeting comprising:a base sheet consisting of a support comprising a functional resin layer containing a functional pigment having light-storing or fluorescent properties, microspherical lens-embedding regions in which microspherical lenses are densely distributed on the surface of the functional resin layer of the support so as to form a mono-layer, and microspherical lens-free regions in which substantially no microspherical lens is embedded and the functional resin layer is exposed;a transparent protective film disposed above the microspherical lens-bearing surface of the base sheet; andbonds at which said base sheet and said transparent protective film are partly bonded together. This lens type functional retroreflective sheeting not only afford good visibility to viewers positioned in the direction of the light source (e.g.

Abstract: The present invention discloses lens-type retroreflective sheeting excellent in appearance and having constant thickness and desired retroreflective performance, wherein the transparent microspheres in the retroreflective layer are composed of transparent microspherical lenses (A) having a refractive index of 1.8 or more and transparent microspherical fillers (B) having a refractive index different by at least 5% from the refractive index of the lenses (A).

Abstract: A retroreflective article (10) has retroreflective elements (12) partially embedded in a binder layer (14) that contains a solid polyurethane. The polyurethane includes soft segments, hard segments, silicon moieties, and urethane moieties. The specific chemical identities and relative amounts of the segments and moieties are sufficient to impart desired high elongation and low modulus to the polymer. The inventive retroreflective article is capable of demonstrating extraordinary laundering durability under industrial wash conditions and tumble and tunnel drying.

Abstract: A retroreflective article utilizing a solventless bead bond composition wherein the bead bond composition includes a urethane/acrylate interpenetrating polymer network in which the urethane polymer is a thermoplastic and the acrylate component is a thermoset. The solventless bead bond is applied as a mixture of diisocyanates, diols, multifunctional acrylates and additives and thermally cured to a rubbery, thermoplastic solid. At this point the bead bond can be softened or molded with the application of heat or stored for a period of time without loss of thermoplasticity. Final retroreflective sheeting constructions which possess superior adhesion to acrylics, toughness and high retroreflectance are achieved by curing the multifunctional acrylates with radiation.

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: A material such as fabric, plastic, leather or paper incorporates retroreflective properties which result from the application of metal coated microbeads. Methods for the application of microbeads to various surfaces as well as the formulation of printing inks containing microheads are disclosed.

Abstract: Retroreflective article that provides effective retroreflective brightness at very high entrance angles as well as low entrance angles.

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: A retroreflective article comprising a monolayer of microspheres partially embedded in and protruding from a binder layer and specular reflector underlying the microspheres, wherein the monolayer of microspheres comprises a mixture of a first class of microspheres having a first refractive index and a second class of microspheres having a second refractive index wherein the second refractive index is higher than the first refractive index. As a result, the sheeting exhibits superior observation angle angularity.

Abstract: Retroreflective articles, for example in the form of pavement markers or retroreflective elements, exhibit both wet and dry retroreflectivity by using a plurality of Type A microspheres and a plurality of Type B microspheres partially embedded in a binder layer containing specular pigments. The Type A and Type B microspheres have different average indices of refraction.

Abstract: All-ceramic retroreflective elements which may be used in pavement markings comprising an opacified ceramic core and ceramic optical elements partially embedded into the core.

Abstract: Retroreflective signage articles comprise a colorant layer directly thermally transferred to a top layer of a reretroreflective sheeting, the top layer devoid of priming treatments and extraneous print-receptive layers. Systems or kits are also described comprising a retroreflective base sheeting in combination with a thermal mass transfer donor element, the donor elements comprising a carrier and a colorant layer adhered thereto, the colorant layer of the signage articles and the donor elements comprising a binder and a colorant. Methods of producing the signage articles employing the systems or kits are also presented.

Abstract: Encapsulated retroreflective element comprising a retroreflective assembly made up of a transparent optical body and a reflective member and essentially completely encapsulated within a dense, substantially transparent oxide coating. Also a method for making such retroreflective elements and articles and compositions comprising such retroreflective elements.

Abstract: This invention relates to glass microsphere (bead) coated articles having an upper surface comprising a layer of low refractive index transparent glass microspheres such as those made from recycled ordinary glass. The articles of the invention have an extremely smooth tactile feel and a low friction surface even though they can be prepared from glass microspheres intermixed with abrasive irregularly shaped glass particles. The invention also relates to the method making the bead coated articles of the invention and transfer articles that can be used to make the bead coated articles of the invention.

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 article (100, 200, 300) includes a monolayer of retroreflective elements (120, 220, 320), a binder layer (110, 210, 310), and a compound comprising an aromatic bidentate moiety. The retroreflective elements (120, 220, 320) are partially embedded in the binder layer (110, 210, 310), and the compound is chemically associated with the retroreflective elements (120, 220, 320) to provide extraordinary laundering durability to the retroreflective article (100, 200, 300).

Abstract: Retroreflective appliques comprising a monolayer of retroreflective elements partially embedded in and protruding from the front surface of a binder layer and an optional layer of adhesive on the rear surface of the binder layer, wherein the binder layer, the adhesive layer, or both contain a metal-azo dye to camouflage the color of any exposed portions of said binder layer. Appliques comprising micropheres with aluminum reflectors as retroreflective elements and a black metal-azo dye in the binder layer will exhibit a pleasing silver appearance even after portions of the binder layer have been visibly exposed due to degradation of the aluminum reflectors, typically as a result of subjecting the applique to harsh laundering conditions.

Abstract: A conformable marking tape having improved mechanical properties comprises a support base and a top-coat layer, the support base comprising a highly saturated acrylonitrile elastomer grafted with a zinc salt of methacrylic acid. The top-coat layer preferably comprises a polyurethane resin having about 50 to about 65% by weight of rigid segments and about 35 to about 50% by weight of flexible segments. The rigid segments are derived from diisocyanates and aliphatic and/or cycloaliphatic chain extenders, and the flexible segments are derived from polymeric compounds having at least two active hydrogen atoms and having weight average molecular weights ranging from about 400 to about 4000.