Impregnated With Reflective Material Patents (Class 404/14)
  • Patent number: 5002424
    Abstract: A reflective pavement marker of the type having a shell-like housing of synthetic resin or other moldable material with reflective end walls of light transmitting material and a filler of epoxy or other potting material. Ribbing is formed on the inner surface of the housing. The ribbing has a surface that makes an acute angle with respect to the inner surface of the housing to coact with the filler material to increase the resistance to separation of the filler material from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: Pac-Tec, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Hedgewick
  • 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: 4988555
    Abstract: A retroreflector sheet comprising a base sheet and integral protrusions having a top and a side surface. Selected side surfaces are covered with a bead bond layer including partially embedded retroreflector beads. A process for preparing the retroreflector sheet is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Thomas P. Hedblom
  • Patent number: 4969713
    Abstract: An improved retro-reflective beaded roadway marker strip and the like, formed of successive spaced segmented wedges as rows of trapezoidal blocks containing retro-reflective beads at least on their inclined front, side and rear surfaces and with the blocks of successive rows staggered; the strip being preferably formed of a bottom rubber-like non-memory surface and an upper crosslinked elastomeric self-restoring surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Assignee: Brite Line Corporation
    Inventor: Charles W. Wyckoff
  • Patent number: 4934862
    Abstract: A road marker having a body with an internal slot recess adjacent an edge of the body accessible from the underface of the body, a reflector panel housed in the slot recess with end and width clearance in the slot recess and with a thickness such that the panel is a sliding fit in the slot recess, retaining means to retain the panel in the slot recess and an aperture in an edge of the body communicating with the slot recess to allow viewing of portion of the reflector panel housed in the slot recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Inventor: John Gartlacher
  • 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: 4883384
    Abstract: A roadway pavement marker protective member defined by a single rail for the protection of pavement markers. A pavement marker is placed on the roadway surface and one or two of these rails are placed about the pavement marker for its protection. The protective member deflects potential hazards presented by oncoming traffic, such as snowplow machines, from the pavement marker and prevents it from being dislodged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1989
    Assignee: Pac-Tec, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Hedgewick
  • Patent number: 4875799
    Abstract: A night-visible traffic lane marking device for aircraft landing and takeoff strips, roadways and the like. The markers are installed embedded into the lane with their upper surfaces flush with the traffic surface. Reflective, fluorescent or phosphorescent elements are provided encased within a transparent uppermost layer. Each element extends vertically to provide a substantial profile for long distance visibility. The transparent covering extends a substantial distance from the reflective element in the direction of oncoming traffic, to increase long distance visibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1989
    Inventor: George M. Harrison
  • Patent number: 4876141
    Abstract: A double layer pavement marking sheet material comprises a base sheet made of rubber, synthetic resin or the like in which a multiplicity of glass microspheres are embedded. The base sheet comprises an upper layer in which the glass microspheres are embedded in such a manner that a multiplicity thereof are partially exposed from the surface of the base sheet and a lower layer having hardness within a range of 30.degree.-75.degree. and restoration rate of 50% or less. This double layer pavement marking sheet material has such an excellent conformability to the pavement surface that the sheet material is not separated once it has been adhered to the pavement surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1989
    Assignee: Seibulite International Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sadao Kobayashi, Yuji Ishihara, Katsuyuki Sato, Kouichi Ijichi
  • Patent number: 4875798
    Abstract: A raised retroreflective pavement marker that provides both improved retroreflectivity and longer life has a rigid opaque, synthetic resin body having at its front face septa to which a plastic cube-corner reflector has been bonded to provide a plurality of hermetically sealed cells beneath the reflector. This pavement marker differs from those on the market in that the thickness of its reflector is less than 2 mm, and it has preferably at least 500 cube-corner elements per cm.sup.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1989
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: David C. May
  • Patent number: 4837069
    Abstract: Procedure for making Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 spheroids, 600 micrometers in diameter or less, utilizes an AlOOH sol containing 0.25% weight percent MgO (in the form of Mg(NO.sub.3).sub.2 .multidot.6H.sub.2 O) and HNO.sub.3. The sol is dispersed into droplets in a particle forming fluid (e.g., 2-ethylhexanol) where gelling occurs. The gelled spheroids are collected, dried and pre-fired in air at temperatures less than 1,200.degree. C. for up to about 12 hours. The dried and prefired beads are fired in a 2-step process at temperatures of about 1,850-1,950.degree. C. in the following sequence:a first dry oxygen firing for about ten minutes, followed by a wet hydrogen firing for up to 350 minutes. Reasonably transparent microspheres having crystallites in the range of 5-100 micrometers are obtained with little intergranular porosity, and their density is estimated to be near theoretical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Terrance L. Bescup, Benjamin T. Fellows, Charles J. Leedecke
  • Patent number: 4818138
    Abstract: A highway marker for attachment to a roadbed to signal the location of a lane extending longitudinally of the roadbed and to signal the proper direction of movement in a traffic lane while defining the boundaries of the traffic lane. The marker has a bottom surface for attachment to a roadbed, a base and adjacent sides are perpendicularly arranged to the base and describe the boundaries of a triangle. A triangular floor in the form of a triangle has a base coincident with the perpendicular base and sides spaced inwardly from the perpendicular sides with there being a peeked boundary formed between the perpendicular adjacent sides and the adjacent sides of the floor. A reflective surface on the perpendicular adjacent sides form an arrow indicating a direction of travel while another reflective surface on the floor indicates an opposite direction of travel respective to the first arrow and can be of various colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Inventor: Donald M. Brown
  • Patent number: 4772155
    Abstract: A safety roadway delineator includes one or more elongate recessed marker surfaces which are coated with a reflective material, preferably a retroreflective material such as reflective glass beads. The recessed marker surfaces are vertical or at least inclined to the horizontal to insure water run-off and are formed either directly in cast-in-place concrete roadway members or in pre-cast polymer concrete facing panels which are attached to the cast-in-place concrete roadway members. The roadway delineator is substantially continuously protected from normal wear and reliably exhibits reflectivity both under dry and rainy weather conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1988
    Assignee: Transpo Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur M. Dinitz
  • Patent number: 4758469
    Abstract: Pavement marking comprising ceramic microspheres held by a binder, said microspheres being solid, transparent, non-vitreous, ceramic particles which serve as lens elements in the retroreflective pavement markings. The ceramic microspheres formed by various sol gel techniques are characterized by having:A. at least one metal oxide phase; andB. an average minimum dimension of up to 125 micrometers.The inventive pavement markings retain reflectivity for a surprisingly long time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1988
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Roger W. Lange
  • Patent number: 4751140
    Abstract: In a high-brightness pavement marking sheet material, a continuous pattern of a multiplicity of protuberances and depressions is formed on the surface of a base sheet made of rubber, synthetic resin or the like and that glass microspheres are embedded in these protuberances and depressions in such a manner that a depth of embedding of these glass microspheres in the base sheet from the surface is randomly different one from another and a majority of the glass microspheres in these protuberances and depressions are partially exposed from the surface of the base sheet. An excellent initial brightness is obtained and brightness at a high level is continuously maintained despite wear of the base sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1988
    Assignee: Seibu Polymer Kasei Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuji Ishihara
  • Patent number: 4737049
    Abstract: A roadway reflector device to be embedded in a roadway but with the reflector element thereof projecting partly above the roadway surface, to be seen by oncoming motorists and used as a guide. The reflector element is elongated and of circular shape, in cross-section. When the reflector element, located in a roadway so that its lengthwise direction lies in a direction transverse to the direction of travel, is impacted by a horizontally directed force, that force causes the reflector element to rotate, and when impacted by a vertically downward force is pushed downwardly into the housing for the device against a compressible means, which on removal of the downwardly directed force returns to its original vertical location. Thus, the potentially damaging effects of these impacting forces is nullified, leaving the reflective device undamaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1988
    Inventor: Edward J. Callhan
  • Patent number: 4726706
    Abstract: A retro-reflective roadway marker is generally comprised of a one-piece housing, having integrally molded retro-reflective faces.The reflective faces having outside surfaces with abrasing reducing raised members and inside surfaces of light reflecting elements that are preferably formed from three mutually intersecting surfaces.In one form the reflective elements within the housing are integrally molded with partition walls, dividing the reflective elements into small cells, each cell with a plurality of the reflective elements functioning independently without being encapsulated by the filler material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Inventor: Adil H. Attar
  • 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: 4653955
    Abstract: There is disclosed a highway lane divider and road marker, having a relatively low profile, characterized by the inventive feature of a unidirectionally curved retroreflective element, as opposed to planar retroreflective elements used heretofore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Assignee: Ferro Corporation
    Inventor: Robert R. Racs
  • Patent number: 4653854
    Abstract: A reflex-reflecting sheeting of a type having on the surface of the sheeting many isolated small compartments which are respectively hermetically sealed in the form of cells is characterized in the structure in which a support film comprises an upper layer which is in contact with glass beads and a lower layer disposed on the opposite side and having larger cohesive force and rubbery elasticity than the upper layer, and a protective film made of a substantially unoriented resin. The sheeting thus constructed exhibits strong resistance against separation of the protective film and the support film even under high temperature and humidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Assignee: Seibu Polymer Kasei Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Miyata
  • 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: 4648689
    Abstract: A lane delineation tape is disclosed comprising a strip of cellular polymer having a reflecting layer on top and an adhesive on the bottom surface for adhering it to a road surface. Preferably it is made of elastomeric foam having a relatively low compressive strength, e.g. 100 kPa at 25% compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: David C. May
  • Patent number: 4626127
    Abstract: Described is a raised pavement marker comprised of (referring to FIG. 1) a hollow, flexible, elastomeric body 2, a reflective film 4, and a pressure-sensitive adhesive 3. Raised portion 5 provides back support for the reflective film. The hollow body has a compressive strength of less than about 100 kiloPascals at 25 percent compression so that it yields readily to vehicle wheels traversing the marker, but it regains its approximate original shape after the wheels have passed over it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Inventor: David C. May
  • 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: 4597691
    Abstract: A traffic delineator is capable of being depressed so that its upstanding light reflective surface is depressed into a plane coincident with, or subterranean with that of the surrounding pavement, when the delineator is located in a highway, or on any other over travelling vehicle surface. The depression of the light reflective surface of the retractable delineator is activated either by horizontal or vertical thrust. Specifically when a combination of both is experienced as in the case of the movement of vehicular traffic over the delineator or of grading instruments or equipment such as snow ploughs and the like which are used for cleaning the surface of the travelled highway during winter conditions. After the travelling vehicle has passed, the light reflecting surface, as a result of biasing action within the delineator, relocates the light reflective surface again into an elevation above the surface of the road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1986
    Assignee: Animotion Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald A. W. Clarke
  • Patent number: 4594021
    Abstract: A marker block for divisions on trafficways is provided in form of an oblong prismatic body and includes a lower bottom surface, and two lateral faces. The block is made of an elastic material, preferably vulcanized rubber and especially recycled rubber, and has reflective means on at least one of the lateral faces especially a cat's-eye or a reflective foil. The block exhibits recesses in the form of passholes for screws, which allow a point by point fixation of said block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1984
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1986
    Inventors: Hartmut Schafer, Franz Linder
  • Patent number: 4575278
    Abstract: A lane marker for a road is defined by a generally convex strip formed, for example, from an asphalt slurry. The marker strip is placed on the road surface as by extrusion, the strip then compacted and provided with a reflective coating such as a light colored paint carrying glass particles. The coating may cover the entire strip, or may be defined by two parallel stripes. Rain drainage grooves also reflectively coated may be provided, the grooves extending across the marker strip. The marker strip exhibits particular utility during normal rainfall at night hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1986
    Inventor: James R. Whitney
  • Patent number: 4573763
    Abstract: A reflector is disclosed as comprising a base member of elastomeric material forming a support body for said marker, and a plurality of individual resilient members of elastomeric material integrally formed with said base member and projecting therefrom, each of said resilient members having embedded therein and throughout a plurality of reflective glass beads. At least the distal ends of the resilient members have a surface portion of the elastomeric material removed to expose a portion of the glass beads thereat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1986
    Assignee: Eagle Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4566820
    Abstract: A "catseye" mounting has a base 2 of circular cross-section enabling it to be mounted readily and securely within a circular hole 9 formed in a road surface using a core-drilling machine. The machine can cut a larger upper recess 8 which receives a rim 3 of the mounting. A passageway 10 allows adhesive material to be injected into the narrow space between the mounting and the hole 9 and the tapered wall 12 of the base 2 results in a wedge 13 of adhesive material being formed which tends to hold the mounting securely in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1986
    Inventors: Paul F. Egan, William D. Broadfoot, Peter Alden
  • Patent number: 4557624
    Abstract: A snow plowable pavement marker having a low-profile, including a base member comprising a generally flat circular element having an annular peripheral depending rim adapted to be installed in an annular drilled recess in a highway pavement, the flat lower surface being disposed, in use, directly upon the road surface and the upper surface of the base member providing cavities supporting reflective devices, and the top surface of the base member defining an inclined ramp surface from at least two directions of approach when installed in place in a pavement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1985
    Inventor: Floyd E. Walker
  • Patent number: 4534673
    Abstract: Described is a raised pavement marker comprised of (referring to FIG. 1): a flexible foam body 2, a reflective film 4, and a pressure-sensitive adhesive 3. Raised portion 5 provides back support for the reflective film. This pavement marker has significant advantages over existing markers in terms of cost and ease of placement on the road surface. A lane delineation tape is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1985
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: David C. May
  • Patent number: 4504169
    Abstract: A reflective road stud comprises a resilient shell having a recess in which a reflective device is mounted. In order that an block insert having an array of reflective elements may be used, a flange is formed integrally with the shell behind the recess, and the block insert is bonded to the flange. In order to provide for a self-wiping action, slots are formed between the shell and the sides of the flange, and a shearable connection is provided between the shell and the bottom of the flange. Upon shearing or cutting of the connection, a wiper lip is formed which wipes the reflective elements, upon depression of the shell by a vehicle tire. In an alternative embodiment the block insert is mounted on a flap behind the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1985
    Assignee: Inoventors Limited
    Inventor: Graham R. Jones
  • Patent number: 4498733
    Abstract: A reflector structure for reflecting light back toward the source thereof and adapted to be secured to an associated support surface, the reflector structure comprising a lens member of light-transmitting synthetic resin having a front face and a rear face. The lens member has a plurality of integrally formed retrodirective reflector elements formed in the rear face and extending outwardly therefrom. Each of the reflector elements in use is individually surrounded by a peripheral wall defining a cell around the individual reflector element. The peripheral walls extend between the plane of the rear face of the lens member and the plane of the associated support surface, the lens member being adapted to be sealed to the associated support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1985
    Assignee: Amerace Corporation
    Inventor: Robert M. Flanagan
  • Patent number: 4490432
    Abstract: Pavement-marking sheet material which comprises a non-crosslinked elastomeric precursor such as acrylonitrile-butadiene polymer; a thermoplastic polymer such as polyethylene which reinforces the sheet material, e.g., by orientation of the thermoplastic polymer so that the calendered product exhibits greater tensile strength downweb than crossweb; and a particulate inorganic filler, which preferably includes platelet-type fillers such as talc, mica, or magnesium silicate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1984
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Stanley J. Jordan
  • Patent number: 4443510
    Abstract: A multilayer reflective tape for use on roadways to provide temporary marking and demarcation of traffic lanes is disclosed. The tape has a thin malleable strip of aluminum, the top of which is coated with a high visibility paint in which reflective glass beads are embedded. Bonded to the bottom of the aluminum strip is a nylon felt scrim, the bottom of which is provided with a pressure-sensitive adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1984
    Assignee: Lukens General Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles W. Watt
  • Patent number: 4428320
    Abstract: An inexpensive reflective paving marker, which may be used to delineate traffic lanes in construction zones, and is especially useful at night and during wet conditions, has a light weight molded plastic support structure and a reflective element composed of a thin strip of reflective polycarbonate tape. The tape is placed on a surface that is inclined to reflect incident light, such as the light from automobile headlights. The surface on which the reflective tape is mounted has a slight recess to protect the tape from the abrasive effects of traffic, such as automobile tires, to retain the reflective properties of the structure. The support structure has recesses in the bottom which provide additional grip in an adhesive, such as an epoxy or a butyl sheet, which secures the structure in place. Nails or other fasteners may also be used to secure the marker; the support structure has preformed guide holes for fasteners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1984
    Assignee: Lukens General Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Oplt, Fred G. Peil
  • Patent number: 4303305
    Abstract: The reflectivity of a reflex reflector device comprising a reflex reflector element having corner cube reflecting elements on a rear surface thereof is improved, particularly at high entrance angles, by the provision of a second reflex reflector element behind the first reflex reflector element. The second reflex reflector element has corner cube reflecting elements which are on a rear surface thereof and which have a linear size five to ten times smaller than that of the corner cube reflecting elements of the first reflex reflector. Further improvements can be obtained if the corner cube reflecting elements of the second reflex reflector are angled relative to the front surface of the first reflex reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1981
    Assignee: Lucas Industries Limited
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Jones
  • Patent number: 4299874
    Abstract: Removable pavement-marking sheet material incorporates a stretchable porous fibrous web, such as a nonwoven web of randomly distributed fibers, preferably embedded in a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer carried on a backing. The fibrous web comprises closely spaced durable weather-resistant fibers and exhibits good tear strength in any direction. The complete sheet material exhibits a high tensile strength and a low residual force after stretching, i.e., a low force tending to retract the sheet material back to its prestretched dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1981
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: David C. Jones, Timothy D. Bredahl
  • Patent number: 4284365
    Abstract: This invention describes a reflective lane marker for roads which is mounted so that the upper surface of the marker is flush with the road surface. It is so arranged as to reflect light from headlights back in the same general direction from which it comes and which can operate when covered with a film of water. Because it is flush with the road surface, snowplowing can be used without harm to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1981
    Assignee: Hall & Myers
    Inventor: Jacob Rabinow
  • Patent number: 4252409
    Abstract: A warning reflector construction is provided comprising a transparent plate having a rear surface opposite a light-entrance surface. The rear surface comprises toric surfaces arranged side-by-side and supporting an outermost reflective layer. The optical axes of the toric surfaces can be arranged at an angle to the perpendicular to the light-entrance surface. The warning reflector can be produced by injection moulding or stamping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1981
    Assignee: D. Swarovski & Co.
    Inventor: Kurt Schwab
  • Patent number: 4245888
    Abstract: The device is designed for attaching on the rear parts of automotive vehicles and serves, especially during the night, for visual informing of drivers about the presence, the distance, the width and the length of a preceding vehicle. The device consists of light-reflecting elements, for instance, reflex foil, or of light-emitting elements, for instance, lamps. The said elements 1 arranged in two rows, one above the other, with the same spacing between the said elements, form a single module 4, and a pair of such modules arranged one above the other form a double warning-information module 5. The number of modules in a single strip /FIG. 1/ and in a double strip /FIG. 2/ depends on the width of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1981
    Assignee: Ministerstwo Komunikacji Department Komunikacji Drogowej of Ul.Chalubinskiego
    Inventor: Andrzej Wardecki
  • Patent number: 4236950
    Abstract: A compound machine for mechanically forming traffic dividing and regulating lines on a roadway pavement, comprising a motor driven vehicle adapted to travel along a desired direction on said pavement, the machine being implemented by a first apparatus supplied and adapted for forming spaced line segment by applying on said pavement spaced lengths of a multilayer road marking prefabricated tape material, and by a second apparatus supplied and adapted for forming painted marking line lengths aligned with and in the intervals between the spaced road marking tape segments, whereby a discontinuous marking line including alternatively arranged tape segments and painted segments is formed on the roadway pavement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1980
    Inventor: Ludwig Eigenmann
  • Patent number: 4236788
    Abstract: This disclosure is concerned with providing a marker strip for attachment to roadways and other surfaces, comprising an upper layer of spaced transverse prisms and a lower layer of retroreflective sheeting, providing direction color discrimination, where desired, and substantially constant brightness of light retroreflection with distance over wide angles of incident light upon the strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1980
    Inventor: Charles W. Wyckoff
  • Patent number: 4231830
    Abstract: A reflective sheeting is disclosed having spaced apart cavities extending along one face and light-reflecting beads lining both wall and bottom portions of the cavities to impart a wide angle retroreflective response to incident light and improved brightness or intensity. The sheet is prepared by forming in a deformable carrier sheet a network of relatively depressed cavities having wall and bottom portions and spaced apart by intervening ridges, and then coating the wall and bottom portions of the cavities and the ridges with light-reflecting beads. After filling the cavities and covering the ridges with a solidified layer of a resinous organic matrix having a greater adherence to the beads than the carrier sheet has, the sheet is stripped away. This transfers the beads to the organic matrix and locates them in similarly shaped cavities and ridges molded in the matrix by the carrier sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1980
    Assignee: Ferro Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Ryan, Paul Shalita
  • Patent number: 4208090
    Abstract: There is disclosed a reflector structure that is highly visible both in daylight and at night, the structure including a body of transparent material having a front face and a rear face, the rear face including a continuous support surface having therein a plurality of recesses each defining a cell surrounded by a support wall, a plurality of retrodirective reflector elements disposed in the recesses for reflecting light falling upon the front face back toward the source thereof to render the reflector structure highly visible at night, and a backing member covering the rear face and hermetically sealed to the support surface thus hermetically to seal each of the cells to prevent entry of water, dirt and the like thereinto so as to preserve the reflecting properties of the reflector elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1980
    Assignee: Amerace Corporation
    Inventor: Sidney A. Heenan
  • Patent number: 4203878
    Abstract: Rapid-drying, one-package, epoxy traffic paint composition comprises (1) an adduct of an epoxy resin and a polymerized fatty acid, (2) a thermoplastic resin and (3) one or more pigments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1980
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Ronald S. Bauer
  • 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