GB2255313A - Retro-reflective assembly - Google Patents

Retro-reflective assembly Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2255313A
GB2255313A GB9207617A GB9207617A GB2255313A GB 2255313 A GB2255313 A GB 2255313A GB 9207617 A GB9207617 A GB 9207617A GB 9207617 A GB9207617 A GB 9207617A GB 2255313 A GB2255313 A GB 2255313A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
retro
assembly
reflective assembly
base substrate
reflective
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB9207617A
Other versions
GB2255313B (en
GB9207617D0 (en
Inventor
Harry Vincent Houghton
Peter Wallwork
Michael Philip Booth
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
SWINTEX
Original Assignee
SWINTEX
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB919107444A external-priority patent/GB9107444D0/en
Application filed by SWINTEX filed Critical SWINTEX
Priority to GB9207617A priority Critical patent/GB2255313B/en
Publication of GB9207617D0 publication Critical patent/GB9207617D0/en
Priority claimed from EP92309696A external-priority patent/EP0593826B1/en
Publication of GB2255313A publication Critical patent/GB2255313A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2255313B publication Critical patent/GB2255313B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
    • B32B27/12—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
    • B23K13/00—Welding by high-frequency current heating
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C65/02—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure
    • B29C65/04—Dielectric heating, e.g. high-frequency welding, i.e. radio frequency welding of plastic materials having dielectric properties, e.g. PVC
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C65/02—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure
    • B29C65/34—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated elements which remain in the joint, e.g. "verlorenes Schweisselement"
    • B29C65/36—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated elements which remain in the joint, e.g. "verlorenes Schweisselement" heated by induction
    • B29C65/3604—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated elements which remain in the joint, e.g. "verlorenes Schweisselement" heated by induction characterised by the type of elements heated by induction which remain in the joint
    • B29C65/3656—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated elements which remain in the joint, e.g. "verlorenes Schweisselement" heated by induction characterised by the type of elements heated by induction which remain in the joint being a layer of a multilayer part to be joined, e.g. for joining plastic-metal laminates
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
    • B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
    • B29C66/10—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint cross-sections
    • B29C66/11—Joint cross-sections comprising a single joint-segment, i.e. one of the parts to be joined comprising a single joint-segment in the joint cross-section
    • B29C66/112—Single lapped joints
    • B29C66/1122—Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/40—General aspects of joining substantially flat articles, e.g. plates, sheets or web-like materials; Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles; Joining single elements to substantially flat surfaces
    • B29C66/41—Joining substantially flat articles ; Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles
    • B29C66/43—Joining a relatively small portion of the surface of said articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/40—General aspects of joining substantially flat articles, e.g. plates, sheets or web-like materials; Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles; Joining single elements to substantially flat surfaces
    • B29C66/47—Joining single elements to sheets, plates or other substantially flat surfaces
    • B29C66/472—Joining single elements to sheets, plates or other substantially flat surfaces said single elements being substantially flat
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
    • B32B27/30—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin comprising vinyl (co)polymers; comprising acrylic (co)polymers
    • B32B27/304—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin comprising vinyl (co)polymers; comprising acrylic (co)polymers comprising vinyl halide (co)polymers, e.g. PVC, PVDC, PVF, PVDF
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B5/00—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts
    • B32B5/02—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts characterised by structural features of a fibrous or filamentary layer
    • B32B5/022—Non-woven fabric
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B5/00—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts
    • B32B5/02—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts characterised by structural features of a fibrous or filamentary layer
    • B32B5/024—Woven fabric
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B7/00—Layered products characterised by the relation between layers; Layered products characterised by the relative orientation of features between layers, or by the relative values of a measurable parameter between layers, i.e. products comprising layers having different physical, chemical or physicochemical properties; Layered products characterised by the interconnection of layers
    • B32B7/04—Interconnection of layers
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01F—ADDITIONAL WORK, SUCH AS EQUIPPING ROADS OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORMS, HELICOPTER LANDING STAGES, SIGNS, SNOW FENCES, OR THE LIKE
    • E01F13/00—Arrangements for obstructing or restricting traffic, e.g. gates, barricades ; Preventing passage of vehicles of selected category or dimensions
    • E01F13/02—Arrangements for obstructing or restricting traffic, e.g. gates, barricades ; Preventing passage of vehicles of selected category or dimensions free-standing; portable, e.g. for guarding open manholes ; Portable signs or signals specially adapted for fitting to portable barriers
    • E01F13/028—Flexible barrier members, e.g. cords; Means for rendering same conspicuous; Adapted supports, e.g. with storage reel
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01F—ADDITIONAL WORK, SUCH AS EQUIPPING ROADS OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORMS, HELICOPTER LANDING STAGES, SIGNS, SNOW FENCES, OR THE LIKE
    • E01F9/00—Arrangement of road signs or traffic signals; Arrangements for enforcing caution
    • E01F9/50—Road surface markings; Kerbs or road edgings, specially adapted for alerting road users
    • E01F9/535—Kerbs or road edgings specially adapted for alerting road users
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01F—ADDITIONAL WORK, SUCH AS EQUIPPING ROADS OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORMS, HELICOPTER LANDING STAGES, SIGNS, SNOW FENCES, OR THE LIKE
    • E01F9/00—Arrangement of road signs or traffic signals; Arrangements for enforcing caution
    • E01F9/60—Upright bodies, e.g. marker posts or bollards; Supports for road signs
    • E01F9/604—Upright bodies, e.g. marker posts or bollards; Supports for road signs specially adapted for particular signalling purposes, e.g. for indicating curves, road works or pedestrian crossings
    • E01F9/619—Upright bodies, e.g. marker posts or bollards; Supports for road signs specially adapted for particular signalling purposes, e.g. for indicating curves, road works or pedestrian crossings with reflectors; with means for keeping reflectors clean
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01F—ADDITIONAL WORK, SUCH AS EQUIPPING ROADS OR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLATFORMS, HELICOPTER LANDING STAGES, SIGNS, SNOW FENCES, OR THE LIKE
    • E01F9/00—Arrangement of road signs or traffic signals; Arrangements for enforcing caution
    • E01F9/60—Upright bodies, e.g. marker posts or bollards; Supports for road signs
    • E01F9/658—Upright bodies, e.g. marker posts or bollards; Supports for road signs characterised by means for fixing
    • E01F9/669—Upright bodies, e.g. marker posts or bollards; Supports for road signs characterised by means for fixing for fastening to safety barriers or the like
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B5/00—Optical elements other than lenses
    • G02B5/12—Reflex reflectors
    • G02B5/126—Reflex reflectors including curved refracting surface
    • G02B5/128—Reflex reflectors including curved refracting surface transparent spheres being embedded in matrix
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F13/00—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising
    • G09F13/04—Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
    • G09F13/0418—Constructional details
    • G09F13/0472—Traffic signs
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F13/00—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising
    • G09F13/16—Signs formed of or incorporating reflecting elements or surfaces, e.g. warning signs having triangular or other geometrical shape
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C65/02—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure
    • B29C65/34—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated elements which remain in the joint, e.g. "verlorenes Schweisselement"
    • B29C65/36—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated elements which remain in the joint, e.g. "verlorenes Schweisselement" heated by induction
    • B29C65/3672—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated elements which remain in the joint, e.g. "verlorenes Schweisselement" heated by induction characterised by the composition of the elements heated by induction which remain in the joint
    • B29C65/3676—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using heated elements which remain in the joint, e.g. "verlorenes Schweisselement" heated by induction characterised by the composition of the elements heated by induction which remain in the joint being metallic
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
    • B29C66/71—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2327/00—Polyvinylhalogenides
    • B32B2327/06—PVC, i.e. polyvinylchloride
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2437/00—Clothing

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geometry (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Illuminated Signs And Luminous Advertising (AREA)
  • Optical Elements Other Than Lenses (AREA)

Abstract

A retro-reflective assembly has a base substrate (10) with an optional binder layer (12), in either of which a layer of partially metallised glass microspheres (14) is embedded. The substrate and/or binder layer is attached to a support (20) by means of a high frequency weld. <IMAGE>

Description

RETRO-REFLECTIVE ASSEMBLY This invention relates to retro-reflective assemblies and more particularly retro-reflective assemblies that are intended to be secured to a support.
Retro-reflective patches are now commonly fixed to articles of clothing so that the wearer can be identified in the dark. They are, for example, particularly helpful in this regard for the police cyclists, and other road users who wish to ensure that motorists will notice their presence at night time.
Patches of retro-reflective material usually comprise a substrate on which a metal reflective layer is deposited. A binder layer is coated on to the metal layer and optical glass beads are partially embedded in the binder layer so as to contact the metal layer. In another arrangement the metal and binder layers may be combined together in the form of a binder layer having metal particles distributed therethrough. A transparent or translucent cover layer may extend over part or all of the assembly. Often the assembly is used without a cover layer. One of the problems with these kinds of assemblies is that they cannot be secured to a support surface by high frequency welding.This is because high frequency welding at sites where there is a metal reflective layer present causes shorting, arcing or a minor explosion with possible consequent injury to the operator of the welding equipment and damage to the equipment itself and to the assembly being welded. The normal methods for fixing such patches to a substrate, therefore, is by means of adhesive, for example pressure sensitive adhesives or heat sensitive adhesive which enable the patch to be ironed on, or by means of stitching. Adhesives require an extra coating operation in the production of the assembly. Stitching is a relatively slow process. In addition since it involves penetration of the substrate to which the patch is to be secured it cannot always be used to fix patches to a substrate which is to be weatherproof.
The present invention has been made with these problems in mind.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a retro-reflective assembly comprising a base substrate, a layer of glass microspheres some or all of which are partially metallised and partially embedded in either the base substrate or a binder layer carried upon the base substrate; said substrate and/or binder layer being attached by means of a high frequency weld to a support.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a retro-reflective assembly comprising a base substrate, a layer of glass microspheres some or all of which are partially metallised and are partially embedded in either the base substrate or a binder layer carried on the base substrate; and a substantially transparent or translucent to light top cover which is attached by means of a high frequency welding method to the binder layer and/or the base substrate, the whole assembly being attached by means of a high frequency welding method via the top cover to a support.
According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a retro-reflective assembly comprising a base substrate, a layer of glass microspheres some or all of which are partially metallised and are partially embedded in either the base substrate or a binder layer carried on the base substrate, said substrate and/or binder layer being attached by means of high frequency welding to a support, and a substantially transparent or translucent to light top cover attached to the support.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a retro-reflective assembly comprising layers of materials that are capable of being welded together by means of high frequency radio energy not confined to but including the 27 megahertz waveband that has present, at a place where a welded join is effected, one or more partially metallised glass microbeads.
The invention rests on the surprising discovery that when the retro-reflective assembly includes metal coated optical glass beads instead of the conventional reflective metal layer high frequency welding can be carried out without the undesirable consequences of shorting, arcing and so on which occur when high frequency welding of prior art assemblies is attempted.
The major requirement for the invention to work satisfactorily is for the surfaces of the assembly and the support that are to be secured together to be weldable by high frequency welding. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a material which is very easy to weld by high frequency welding. One or more of the base substrate, optional binder layer and the substantially translucent cover may be made of PVC and/or may be pigmented. Such pigmentation may be fluorescent.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the binder layer of the retro-reflective assembly is coated on a substrate for example of polyvinyl chloride. A patch of the desired size is cut from the assembly and then welded by high frequency welding in the appropriate location on to the support.
The retro-reflective assembly can be covered with a transparent or translucent cover, for example of plastics material, which may be high frequency welded to the substrate and/or the binder layer and/or a support, or the retro-reflective assembly may be used with the optical glass beads exposed. It is also possible to provide a cover over part of the assembly, for example around the edges of the assembly and which may be where the assembly is to be welded to the support.
The retro-reflective assembly may be over printed.
One or more partially metallised glass microspheres may be partially or totally encapsulated at the point where welding together of layers of the assembly takes place and/or where the assembly as a whole is welded to a support.
The high frequency radio energy used may be in the 27 megahertz waveband. The retro-reflective assembly may form part of or comprise a road sign, article of clothing for human or animal safety or fashion, a fashion accessory such as a bag or backpack, a protective cover, sheet or tarpaulin, a warning tape or band, a collar, strap, belt or decorative or structural webbing, or patches or shapes attached to such items.
One or more of the layers of the retro-reflective assembly may be rigid or flexible. The substrate may be reinforced, for example by woven or non-woven textiles. The layer of partially metallised beads may include other particles and preferably covers between 5% and 75% of the substrate surface area.
It is within the scope of the invention to weld the retro-reflective assembly as defined above to another like retro-reflective assembly so as to construct a complete item such as a garment.
Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig.1 is a section through a product produced by the method of the invention; and Fig.2 is a plan view of a part of another product produced by the invention.
Referring to Fig.1 a retro-reflective assembly comprises a substrate 10, for example of polyvinyl chloride and a binder layer 12 coated onto the substrate. Optical glass beads 14 are partially embedded in the binder layer. The surfaces of the optical glass beads that are embedded in the binder layer are coated with a reflective metal 16.
The assembly is secured to a support 20 by high frequency welding. The site of the weld is indicated in the drawing by reference numeral 22. As can be seen in the drawing the weld has been made at a location where metal coated optical glass beads are present.
In the embodiment of Fig.1 there is no cover over the optical glass beads. A transparent or translucent cover can be provided over a part or all of the assembly. In the embodiment of Fig.2 a retro-reflective assembly 23 of the kind described with reference to Fig.1 is provided with a strip of transparent or translucent covers 24 for example of polyvinyl chloride at its edges. The assembly is then high frequency welded to a support 26 along the edges of the assembly where the cover is positioned and as indicated by the line referenced 28.
The invention is not restricted to the above described embodiments and many variations and modifications can be made.

Claims (21)

1. A retro-reflective assembly comprising a base substrate, a layer of glass microspheres some or all of which are partially metallised and partially embedded in either the base substrate or a binder layer carried upon the base substrate; said substrate and/or binder layer being attached by means of a high frequency weld to a support.
2. A retro-reflective assembly as claimed in Claim 1 and comprising a substantially transparent or translucent to light top cover attached to the assembly by means of a high frequency radio energy weld to either or both the base substrate and/or the binder layer.
3. A retro-reflective assembly comprising a base substrate, a layer of glass microspheres some or all of which are partially metallised and are partially embedded in either the base substrate or a binder layer carried on the base substrate; and a substantially transparent or translucent to light top cover which is attached by means of a high frequency welding method to the binder layer and/or the base substrate, the whole assembly being attached by means of a high frequency welding method via the top cover to a support.
4. A retro-reflective assembly comprising a base substrate, a layer of glass microspheres some or all of which are partially metallised and are partially embedded in either the base substrate or a binder layer carried on the base substrate, said substrate and/or binder layer being attached by means of high frequency welding to a support, and a substantially transparent or translucent to light top cover attached to the support.
5. A retro-reflective assembly as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the top cover is attached to the support by means of high frequency welding.
6. A retro-reflective assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support comprises a retro-reflective assembly.
7. A retro-reflective assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein one or more of the base substrate, the optional binder layer and the substantially transparent to light top cover comprise a layer or layers of PVC in their make up.
8. A retro-reflective assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein any of the base substrate, the optional binder layer and the top cover are pigmented.
9. A retro-reflective assembly as claimed in Claim 8, wherein one or more pigment present is fluorescent.
10. A retro-reflective assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the assembly is over printed.
11. A retro-reflective assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one partially metallised glass microsphere is partially or totally encapsulated at the point where welding together of layers of the assembly takes place and/or where the assembly as a whole is welded to a support.
12. A retro-reflective assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the high frequency radio energy used is in the 27 megahertz wave band.
13. A retro-reflective assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the said assembly forms parts of or comprises a road sign, article of clothing for human or animal safety or fashion, a fashion accessory such as a bag or backpack, a protective cover, sheet or tarpaulin, a warning tape or band, a collar, strap, belt or decorative or structural webbing, or patches or shapes attached to such items.
14. A retro-reflective assembly comprising layers of materials that are capable of being welded together by means of high frequency radio energy not confined to but including the 27 megahertz waveband that has present, at a place where a welded join is effected, one or more partially metallised glass microbeads.
15. A retro-reflective assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the layers is rigid.
16. A retro-reflective assembly as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 14, which is flexible.
17. A retro-reflective assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the substrate is reinforced, preferably by woven or non-woven textiles.
18. A retro-reflective assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the layer of partially metallised beads includes other particles.
19. A retro-reflective assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the layer of partially metallised beads covers less than 75% of the surface area of the substrate.
20. A retro-reflective assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the layer of partially metallised beads covers more than 5% of the surface area of the substrate.
21. A retro-reflective assembly substantially hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
GB9207617A 1991-04-09 1992-04-08 Retro-reflective assembly Expired - Fee Related GB2255313B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9207617A GB2255313B (en) 1991-04-09 1992-04-08 Retro-reflective assembly

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB919107444A GB9107444D0 (en) 1991-04-09 1991-04-09 Retro-reflective
GB9207617A GB2255313B (en) 1991-04-09 1992-04-08 Retro-reflective assembly
EP92309696A EP0593826B1 (en) 1991-04-09 1992-10-23 Retro-reflective assembly

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9207617D0 GB9207617D0 (en) 1992-05-27
GB2255313A true GB2255313A (en) 1992-11-04
GB2255313B GB2255313B (en) 1995-03-01

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9207617A Expired - Fee Related GB2255313B (en) 1991-04-09 1992-04-08 Retro-reflective assembly

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2255313B (en)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1993010985A1 (en) * 1991-12-04 1993-06-10 Ulrich Oppenhejm A tarpaulin provided with a decoration of a reflecting material and a method of making it
EP0590405A1 (en) * 1992-10-02 1994-04-06 E. DITTRICH KG "Schlüssel"-Erzeugnisse Sheet material with a foamed substrate layer
US5637173A (en) * 1993-02-17 1997-06-10 Reflexite Corporation Method for forming a retroreflective structure having free-standing prisms
US5805339A (en) * 1993-02-17 1998-09-08 Reflexite Corporation Retroreflective structure
EP1008869A2 (en) * 1993-11-17 2000-06-14 Reflective Technology Industries Limited Retroreflective materials
US6958179B2 (en) 1999-12-30 2005-10-25 3M Innovative Properties Company Segmented sheeting and methods of making and using same
NL1025360C2 (en) * 2004-01-29 2006-10-24 Dox Vako Internat B V Applying reflective layer to plastic substrate, e.g. water repellent clothing, by hot pressing layer comprising synthetic support web, metal and glass particles to substrate
EP3286383A4 (en) * 2015-04-22 2019-05-08 Strada Sign Supply Inc. Compliance method and system for traffic control devices

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ZA744273B (en) * 1974-07-02 1975-10-29 N Anderson Retro-reflective materials
US4075049A (en) * 1976-09-01 1978-02-21 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Method of preparing retroreflective sheeting
JPH0617921B2 (en) * 1984-03-15 1994-03-09 西武ポリマ化成株式会社 Cellular reflection sheet
US5055347A (en) * 1988-12-09 1991-10-08 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Retroreflective sheeting adapted to be bonded to vulcanizable or curable substrate
US5110655A (en) * 1990-10-17 1992-05-05 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Removable, high temperature resistant retroreflective marking material
GB2255044B (en) * 1991-03-28 1993-03-24 Swintex Retro-reflective assembly

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1993010985A1 (en) * 1991-12-04 1993-06-10 Ulrich Oppenhejm A tarpaulin provided with a decoration of a reflecting material and a method of making it
EP0590405A1 (en) * 1992-10-02 1994-04-06 E. DITTRICH KG "Schlüssel"-Erzeugnisse Sheet material with a foamed substrate layer
US6114011A (en) * 1993-02-17 2000-09-05 Reflexite Corporation Retroreflective structure
US5805339A (en) * 1993-02-17 1998-09-08 Reflexite Corporation Retroreflective structure
US5831766A (en) * 1993-02-17 1998-11-03 Reflexite Corporation Retroreflective structure
US5637173A (en) * 1993-02-17 1997-06-10 Reflexite Corporation Method for forming a retroreflective structure having free-standing prisms
US6537649B1 (en) 1993-02-17 2003-03-25 Reflexite Corporation Retroreflective structure
EP1008869A2 (en) * 1993-11-17 2000-06-14 Reflective Technology Industries Limited Retroreflective materials
EP1008869A3 (en) * 1993-11-17 2001-08-08 Reflec PLC Retroreflective materials
US6958179B2 (en) 1999-12-30 2005-10-25 3M Innovative Properties Company Segmented sheeting and methods of making and using same
US7025847B2 (en) 1999-12-30 2006-04-11 3M Innovative Properties Company Segmented sheeting and methods of making and using same
NL1025360C2 (en) * 2004-01-29 2006-10-24 Dox Vako Internat B V Applying reflective layer to plastic substrate, e.g. water repellent clothing, by hot pressing layer comprising synthetic support web, metal and glass particles to substrate
EP3286383A4 (en) * 2015-04-22 2019-05-08 Strada Sign Supply Inc. Compliance method and system for traffic control devices
US11560677B2 (en) 2015-04-22 2023-01-24 Smart Infrastructure Maintenance Applications Inc. Compliance method and system for traffic control devices

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2255313B (en) 1995-03-01
GB9207617D0 (en) 1992-05-27

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Date Code Title Description
727 Application made for amendment of specification (sect. 27/1977)
727A Application for amendment of specification now open to opposition (sect. 27/1977)
727B Case decided by the comptroller ** specification amended (sect. 27/1977)
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20080408