GB2516947A - Reflective Surface Marking - Google Patents

Abstract

A heat bonded plastic surface covering sheet or strip 11 is given a high visibility, reflective appearance by applying to the surface of the sheet or strip reflective microbeads 12 when the sheet or strip is still tacky following a heating operation. The micro-beads are preferably applied to a surface 11 already coated with coarser grit anti-slip agent. The microbeads 12 are preferably transparent, retroreflective microspheres or microprisms, and applied in a pattern, by sprinkling them 12 through a stencil 14, or by transferring them 12 from a backing strip (15, figure 4). The method can be used for surface marking a step.

Description

Reflective Surface Marking This invention relates to reflective surface marking.

Surface marking is usually effected by painling, and it is know Lo provide reileclive surface marking by incorporating reflective glass microheads into a paint, which is usually transparent. The microbeads may he microspheres or microprisms and may be of the order of 100 microns across. They are presented as a free flowing powder.

Surface marking is also elTected by heal bonding plastic sheet or sirip to a surface, ihe heat bonding being effected usually by a gas torch, which melts the sheet. Anti-slip properties arc afforded by addition of grit particles to the sheet or strip. While grit may he incorporaled al point of manufacture, and is apparent on ihe surface before heal bonding, it tends to sing into the plastic when it melts and is there ineffective, and indeed may bc omitted from the manufacturing step altogether. Further grit must be applied to ihe surface while ii has cooled Lo ihe extenl thai it is soil enough br ihe gril to he absorbed into the surface but not to sink below it -the time to apply the further grit is dcicrmincd from expcricnce of particular grit and plastic combinations, but is of the order of a few seconds alter ihe torch has been played over the surface.

Where the appcarancc of thc marking is important, and particularly its colour, the grit is usually of glass or flini so as lo give rise to no colour change when applied. This is importanl in surface markings br school playgrounds, br example, and siep edges, particularly branded step edges bearing the name or logo of a sponsor, for example, of a football club.

Particularly with step edges, an additional safety feature would he providing a high visibility finish to thc whole of the step or at least its edge. We have found that this can he done using rebleclive, parlicularly retroreblective microheads.

the invention compriscs a method for effecting a high visibility, reflective appearanec to a heat bonded plaslic surface covering shed or sirip, comprising applying Lo ihe surface of the sheet or strip reflective microheads when the sheet or strip is still tacky following a heating operation.

Where coarser grit is applied for anti-slip purposes, the microheads may he applied after the coarser grit.

Retroreflective microbeads can be providcd either totally transparent or half silvered.

The totally iranspareni microbeads are preferred for the purposes of the invenlion.

I'hc microbeads may be applied over a large area, such as a whole stcp cover, by sprinkling microheads onto the lacky surface. The microheads may he applied selectively by sprinkling through a stencil. Or they may he applied in a strip along the edge, say, of a slep, by applying a hacking slrip, lo which the microheads are releasahly adhered, to the tacky surface, allowing the plastic to cool further so as to grip the microbeads, and removing thc backing strip. IThe backing strip may itself bc figured so as lo apply the microheads in a patlern.

Methods for cffecting a high visibility, reflective appearancc to a heat bondcd plastic surface covering sheet or strip according lo the invention will now he described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 11) Figure 1 is a view of a step surfacc with a heat bonded plastic surface covering; Figure 2 is a view of the step surface of Figure i wiLh a reilective strip: Figurc 3 is a view of thc stcp surface of Figure 1 rcndcrcd totally rcflective; Figure 4 is a view of the reflective strip of Figure 2 being emplaces; Figure 5 is a view of the application of a lotally reileclive surface as shown in Figure 3; and Figure 6 is a view of relle live beads being applied through a siencil.

I'hc drawings illustrate mcthods for effecting a high visibility, reflcctivc appearance to a heal bonded plaslic surfacc covering shcct or ship 11, comprising applying to Ge surface of the shed or strip ii relleclive microheads 12 when ihe shed or strip is still laclcy following a heating operation.

The drawings all show Ihe applicalion of an anti-sUp surface lo a step comprising Ihe strip or sheet 11 which contains surface-embedded grit, which may be stone, flint or glass particles, ifint or glass being preferred where colour is important. The steps as shown in Figures I, 2 and 3 have embedded signage 13.

I'hc sheet or strip 11 is applied as described in GB24143751) and W02013/021 152 by being melled on lo Ihe slep surface and anti-slip grit applied while the surface is soil alter being heated.

The reiroreileclive microheads are applied alter ihe coarser anli-slip griL Retrorefleetive mierobeads can be provided either totally transparent or half silvered.

I'hc totally transparent mierobeads are preferred for the purposes of the invention, with microprisms offering a higher reflectivity than mierospheres.

Microheads are applied over a large area, such as a whole step cover, as shown in Figure 3, by sprinkling mierobeads, as shown in Figure 5, onto the tacky surface. I'he microheads maybe applied sdectively by sprinkfing lhrough a stencil i4 as shown in Figure 6. Or they may be applied in a strip along the edge of a step, as shown in Figure 2, by applying a hacking strip 14, 10 which Ihe microheads 12 are releasably adhered, Lo the tacky step surface, allowing the plastic 11 to cool further so as to grip the microbeads 12, and rcmoving thc backing strip 14. the backing strip 14 may itself be figured so as to apply the microheads 1 2 in a paltern.

Claims (11)

1. Claims: 1 A method for effecting a high visibility, reflcctivc appearance to a heat bonded plastic surface covering sheet or strip, comprising applying to the surface of the sheet or strip reflective microbeads when the sheet or strip is still tacky following a heating operation.
2. 2 A method according to claim 1, in which, where coarser grit is applied for anti-slip purposes, the microheads are applied after the coarser grit.
3. 3 A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which thc reflectivc microbeads are retrorellecli ye microspheres or micropnsms.
4. 4 A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which thc microbeads arc totally transparent.
5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which thc microbeads are appfled over a large area, such as a whole step cover, by sprinkling microheads onto the tacky surface.
6. 6 A method according to any one of claims I to 4, in which the microheads are applied selectively by sprinkling through a stencil.
7. 7 A mcthod according to any one of claims I to 4, in which the microbeads are appfled in a strip aiong Lhe edge, say, of a step, by applying a backing strip, to which the microheads are releasahly adhered, to the tacky surface, allowing the plastic to cool further so as to grip the microbcads, and removing the backing strip.
8. 8 A method according to claim 7, in which the backing strip itself figured so as to 31) apply thc microbeads in a pattern.
9. 9 A surface such as a step surface having an anti-slip plastic surface incorporating surface-embedded reflective microhcads.
10. 10 A surface according to claim 9, in which the microheads are retroreflective glass microspheres or microprisms.
11. 11 A surface according to any claim 9 or claim 10, in which the microheads are applied in a pattcrn.