NO754165L - - Google Patents

Description

Light-reflecting elements

It has become common to use light-reflecting elements and markings of various types on streets and roads to mark center lines, edge lines, obstacles, signs etc. at night.

It has become common to use light-reflecting material in large quantities in connection with traffic regulation in general, especially on signs.

Such light-reflecting material does not require a separate power source, but reflects the light back to or in the direction of the light source. Light-reflective material has become particularly important as a safety aid on motorways and works so that light from a car headlight that hits the light-reflective material is reflected back to the driver's eyes and gives the impression that the self-reflective material is shining or illuminated.

Examples of known publications dealing with the light-reflecting material for signs, traffic control bodies, etc. can be found, among other things, in US patents 1,902,440, 2,251,386 and 2,294,930. These patents describe the use of tiny glass spheres, the effect of which is to wash away the spheres' light-reflecting ability. Initially, traffic signs were made by applying a layer of paint or binder to the surface and then applying an even layer of glass beads to the binder while it was wet, so that the beads were partially embedded in the paint, while approximately ^ >0% of the bead diameter was above the malinger layer. These spheres were usually half-silvered, placed on a silvered surface or partially coated with metallic paint to give the desired reflective properties. Signs made according to these known disclosures, such as the above three patents, were effective, except in bad weather conditions. When the signs became wet due to rain against the sign surface, the sign's lens surface composed of a number of glass spheres would be destroyed and thereby the ability of the spheres to act as reflectors would be destroyed.

The solution to this problem consisted mainly in the use of a flat coating on the ball surfaces to prevent that

the spherical lenses of which the surface consisted were destroyed. Examples of various methods used to prevent destruction of the lens surfaces of the glass spheres and which use flat coatings are found in US patents 2,326,634, 2,543,800, 2,592,882 and 2,713,286. The sheet materials described are in all cases self-reflective materials in the form of flat sheets which all have a large number of tiny reflective components, preferably in the form of glass balls.

In the part of road safety that deals with the marking of streets and roads with painted bands or stripes, it has become common everywhere for glass balls to be applied to the roads by

to apply a paint or a binder to the street body and embed or spread tiny glass beads in the wet paint or binder.' An example of this method is described in US patent 2,267,995- The reflectivity of the spheres in such an embedded form is relatively good in dry weather, but is completely ineffective in damp weather and rain due to the reflective surfaces being destroyed (from lens -point of view) in that rainwater is coated on them. Another disadvantage associated with this method for marking streets and roads consists in practice in that you get a limitation of the light colors that can be reflected, namely to either white or yellow, which are the colors that are normally applied to the street body or road with paint or binder .

Although self-reflective materials of the type using a flat coating or covering as discussed above in connection with US patents 2,326,634, 2,543,800, 2,592,882 and 2,713,286 appear appropriate in the vertical plane in connection with stop signs and the like, the materials do not function well when placed on a horizontal surface such as a motorway or the like and are in reality completely ineffective due to known optical principles.

The optical principle that comes into play is that the angle of incidence of the light towards the reflection surface cannot exceed 40 or 45° > if you want to achieve light reflection

tion back to the light source. By angle of incidence one means the angle between the light beam towards the surface and a perpendicular

cool on this surface. Car headlights naturally send the light towards the road at angles of incidence that are usually over 80°

and often approaches 30°, whereby the light beam is parallel to the horizontal surface.

It is known in the field to use raised markings with reflective properties, with some success. The most common of such markings are molded plastic elements that protrude sufficiently high above the road surface to prevent the water from destroying the lens surfaces of the glass balls and thus from destroying the reflectivity. Such markings are expensive, require a long deployment time and can easily be removed accidentally by snow ploughs. Examples of

such raised marker elements are found in the following US patents: 3,043,196, 3,171,827, 3,175,935, 3,252,37<6,>3,254,563, 3,255,2'820g-3,4i8,896.

Although all of these denote improvements pre-

set dry weather, none of them are really effective in bad weather, especially in rain, due to the aforementioned optical destruction of the lens shape of the balls, cylinders, aggregates or the like when they are wet.

The invention relates to new three-dimensional reflection elements which are able to reflect the light even when the angle of incidence of the light exceeds 45°°g even if the elements are externally wet with water. The elements are three-dimensional shapes that can be mixed into or applied to road surfaces or other desired surfaces, where large light incidence angles will occur and where light reflection back to the light source is desired. The elements have more than one surface where the surfaces are at an angle to each other, and where more than one surface is provided with a large number of tiny reflection elements, the outer surfaces of which are protected from lens destruction-

with water. The elements can be made from known flat, reflective sheet material or can be constructed from existing reflective glass balls or other glass shapes that have the desired

light reflective properties, as desired.

A main purpose of the invention is - as mentioned - to provide new reflective elements which are suitable for use in connection with light reflection under a high angle of incidence. The invention also includes methods for producing such elements both from existing reflective materials and known reflective components, as well as new coatings suitable for applying night-reflective coatings to horizontal surfaces, also

when the surfaces are wet, especially on motorways, and in particular, new methods are provided for the production of elements of the present type, intended for the production of road markings, boundary lines and stripes and the like, and finally, according to the invention, reflection elements which reflect lights of any color, both on vertical and horizontal surfaces, which are very durable and hard-wearing, and which can be produced simply and cheaply, preferably using existing equipment and application methods. This is shown in the drawings, where fig. 1 perspectively shows a vfei provided with reflective coating stripes in the horizontal plane, and a sign with text in the vertical plane, where stripes and marks, characters, etc. are constructed according to the invention and contain light-reflecting elements according to the invention.

Fig. 2 shows from the side possible angles of incidence for

light from a given light source on different surfaces arranged horizontally and vertically, in stripes or characters that appear

goes off fig. 1,

fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-section through a

strip shown in fig. 1, along the plane III-III in fig. 1, and where reflective elements distributed or embedded in a paint or a binder appear' in damp weather conditions or in rain.

Fig. 3A is of a similar type to fig. 3>but shows alternative reflection elements,

fig. 3B is again of the same type as fig. 3>but shows a combination of other options for reflective elements.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-section through one of the elements shown in Fig. 3>generally along the plane IV-IV in Fig. 3>

fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-section through a fragment of a suitable reflective plate material which can be used according to the invention,

fig. 6 is of a similar type to fig. 5j but that. another reflective sheet material which is also suitable according to the invention is illustrated,

fig. 7 shows schematically and in perspective a method for producing reflective elements according to an embodiment,

fig. 8 shows in perspective and in an enlarged view an element which is produced according to the method shown in fig. 7,

fig. 9 is a perspective drawing of an element similar to the element of fig. 8, but has a different shape in the longitudinal direction,

fig. 10 schematically and in perspective shows a method for producing another form of reflection element according to the invention,

fig. 11 shows a perspective enlargement of one of the elements produced as shown in fig. 10,

fig. 12, 13 and 14- show perspective drawings of various modified forms of reflective elements according to the invention, each of which has a different geometric shape, but all of which use reflective sheet material on the surface and a core of curable material,

fig. 15 shows schematically and in perspective another method for producing reflection elements according to the invention,

fig. l6 is an enlargement of a reflection element produced according to the method shown in fig. 15>

fig. 16A is an enlarged detail section through elements shown in fig. l6, where the components of the reflective element embedded in a translucent plastic binder are shown more clearly,

fig. 17 is a schematic perspective drawing of a method for applying light-reflecting elements produced according to the invention to paint or binder on a surface such as e.g. a roadway, .

fig. l8 is a section through a three-dimensional

reflective marking according to the invention,

fig. 18A is a similar section as shown in fig. l8,

but through a different type of marking according to the invention,

fig. 19 is a similar section as shown in fig. l8,

but through yet another type of road marking according to the invention,

fig. I9A is similarly a cut through a

. other type of road marking or marking element according to the invention,

fig. 20 is also a section through another type of road marking,

fig. 21 is a low-profile, three-dimensional reflective mark-

ring according to the invention.

With detailed reference to fig. 1 one sees a roadway 20 with a center strip 21 facing oncoming traffic and lane strips 22, 23 and 24.

A signpost 25 is placed along the road with a

sign 26 provided with sign 27..

Filstripe parts 21 to 24 must all have light-reflecting properties according to the invention, and the signs 27

are constructed in the same way.

It will be understood that covers 21 to 24 and the cover

27 can be of the paint type, where a paint, a binder

or the like - is applied to the surface 20 or 26 and reflective elements are then distributed over the painted surface, or alternatively the coating can be in the form of a solid laminate with protruding, embedded reflective elements. As yet another alternative, the coating could be applied as a paint, with the reflective elements already dispersed in the paint prior to application, although this would not be advantageous.

In fig. 2 it can be seen that the light source 28, which e.g. can

be headlights of a car or the like, shines down the road 20 and depending on the speed of the vehicle, the orientation of the light beam (i.e. whether the main beam or dipped beam is on), the curvature of the road etc., the light will be able to see the road markings or the dividing strips 23 and 24 as indicated.- F. e.g. can light from the light source 28 hit the file strip 23 in the direction shown by the arrows 30

with an angle of incidence "a" (the angle between the perpendicular 31

and the surface 20). By hitting the reflective elements

32 in the coating 23, the light will be sent back towards the light source as indicated by the arrows 34. The light from the light source 28 is also shown as it hits and is reflected from the reflective elements 35 on the middle strip or marking 24> as the light falls on the elements 35 in the direction of the arrow shown at 36 with angle of incidence "b" and is thrown back from the elements 35 indicated by arrows 37.

It will be seen that the angles "a" and "b" are substantially above 4f° and in reality above 80°.

It will further be seen that light from the light source 28, as shown in fig. 2, hit the light-reflecting surfaces 27 on the sign 26 in the direction of the arrow 38, and are thrown back in the direction of the arrow 40 with an angle of incidence "c" of approx. 15° or thereabouts.

The binder in strips 23, 24 and in characters 27

on the sign 26 can consist of a paint, plastic or the like, preferably an initially liquid mixture that can harden into a solid substance. The binder 23,24 is generally applied to the road surface 20 when it is wet or damp. Different compositions of the binders can be used, including but not limited to binders described in various US patents mentioned, e.g. pigmented binder film described in US patent .2,267,995 with carrier medium of organic silicate, or other desired types of binder. It will usually be an advantage that the binder is pigmented and in the case of marking stripes, preferably white or yellow pigments are desired. However, red pigments or other warning colored pigments can also be used.

From fig. 3 shows a cross section through the stripes

21 in fig. 1 containing many randomly oriented elements 41 which protrude from the strip 21 on the road 20. All the elements 41 have several reflection surfaces which are partially embedded in the fmarking strip 21 and are preferably shaped so that it has the largest dimension across the shape within the area - approx. 0-.38 mm to 2.3 mm" but the size of the elements can vary from approx. 0.13 to 6.3 mm or up to any size that can be practicably glazed or produced from existing light-reflecting material. The above numerical values are favorable for motorway or asphalt markings, but larger elements can be used if desired as a substitute for expensive raised plastic markings. In addition, larger elements 41 can be used either with or without binder or coating material 21, either as a component of sign 27 or separately

for use on vertical surfaces such as central rebates, posts, joints, etc.

The range of numbers indicated can be applied to different types of light-reflecting elements covered by the invention, regardless of the particular method of manufacture.

On.fig. 3, a rain film 42 is shown which covers the elements 41*

In fig. 3A shows a hardened binder 43 applied in liquid form to the road with an alternative element form 44 embedded, and fig. ^B shows another coating or binder 45 on the road /\. 6, with four different alternative element shapes 47>4^, 50°g 51 in the nested state, these shapes are respectively cylindrical, spherical, triangular or prism-like, as well as recangular. In addition, other shapes such as conical, truncated conical and irregular (not shown) can be used.

In fig. 4 shows one of the elements 41 in the form of a

pair of initially planar sheet-shaped portions of light-reflecting material of any known and marketed type, 52, 53>joined by means of any suitable adhesive or binder 54?°g which are bent into a V-shape as shown in fig. 4>so that an angle is formed between the inner surfaces 55°g 5^ and an external angle between the inner surfaces 57°g 5^. The originally planar sheets 53°g 5<2> can be produced by one of the methods indicated for the production of flat light-reflecting sheet material, or as indicated in various US patents, but preferred constructions of sheet material can be found in one of US patents 2,326 .634,'2,713,286, 2,592,882 and 2,543,8OO. Most of these descriptions require the use of glass balls, although the balls may possibly be made of plastic or the like. In fig. 5 shows a typical structure of the sheet material consisting of an eventual bottom layer of paper, plastic or the like, 60, applied with a metal seal (e.g. aluminum foil) 62 with recesses that accommodate micro-sized glass balls 63. The glass balls 63 have a refractive index i

the range 2.0 to 2.9j more often within 2.2 to 2.6, the most appropriate index is 2.9• A translucent, but possibly colored paint, plastic or the like forms a layer 64 arranged above and around the layer of spheres 6 -3»where layer 64

has a refractive index around that of water, or of approx. 1.4, more specifically 1.33°' (usually a fluoroplastic). up to approx. 1.70 (phenol formaldehyde or phenol furfural),' preferably within a narrower range of approx. 1.4 to 1.65. By using color in the translucent layer 64, the light that is thrown back to a light source from a surface of the type 65 can have any desired color, e.g. red for danger, yellow for caution, etc. The surface 65 will also generally be flat for effective light bending towards the balls. Water 66 from overlying water will usually have a refractive index of approximately the same magnitude as compound 64 to prevent lens destruction or interference with the light reflection properties of such an element.

Fig. 6 shows an alternative structure of the layers

52 and 53" covering several outer surfaces of the elements 44 Pa

fig. 3-^-' In fig. 6 shows a substrate 70 of paper, plastic or the like with a foil 71 of the same type as 62- in fig. 5 and with glass balls 72 in depressions in the foil layer, but in the present case the balls 72 are of such a type. that they have a refractive index of approx. 1.90 to 1.92 (optimal) and with many spacers 73»74 or similar made of paper, plastic etc.

as shown in fig. 3^ during the formation of a cloth-like web which serves to separate the outer transparent layer 75 from the foil 71, as there is only air 76 between and around the balls 72. The transparent layer 75, like the layer 64 in fig. 5 be colored or tinted and can consist of any suitable laminate, paint, plastic or the like that has the desired refractive index, namely refractive index like water, within the range approx. 1.33" to 1.70, and preferably within 1.40 to 1.65. The advantage of a construction as shown in Fig. 6 for sheet material used for the production of elements 41, 44 or the like is that the glass balls 72 do not need to be of the same high quality as will provide the high refractive index required by the spheres 63 of Fig. 5 in the composition of Fig. 6. A water layer 77 is also shown in Fig. 6 in a similar manner to

fig. 5.

Sheet materials 52 and 53°g materials with a similar structure as shown in fig. 5°g 6 or other suitable structures can be obtained commercially, e.g. "Scotchlite" and "Flat-Top" are trademarks of reflective webs (all grades) manufactured by 3^ Company, USA. Other factories which manufacture suitable sheet material for the manufacture of elements according to the invention are Morgan Adhesives Company, Ohio, which supplies reflective webs under the trademark "Maclite" (7200 series). Similar material is produced by other factories, and many could be used according to the invention. Thus products from the Fasson Products Company and a new corner cube material manufactured by the Rowland Development Company under the trademark "Reflexite". Many of these products come in several colors and the color of reflected light can be determined by choosing sheets with the appropriate color.

From fig. §B one sees in particular that the elements according to the present invention 47 > 50>51 > 44 and 41 (the last two are not particularly shown in Fig. 3B) can be used separately or together with other element forms according to the invention, or separately or in conjunction with glass balls 48. The reason for this is that for application e.g. as road strips, the glass balls 48 function very effectively in dry weather. By mixing known glass spheres with elements according to the invention, a saving is achieved in that elements constructed according to the invention have such a high reflectivity that the degree of saturation that must normally be used for glass spheres is not necessary for elements according to the invention. Consequently, a certain percent of solids that are dispersed on the surface of the binder 45 consist of elements according to the present invention and another percentage of the reflection elements can consist of glass balls 48 which together will provide the desired reflection both in dry and humid weather.

Fig. 7 shows a method for producing elements according to the invention, based on known reflective bands or tapes of such material, 81, 82 and 83, which are unrolled in the direction of arrow 84 in Fig. 7 and passes through the joining point 85, formed by forming wheels or rollers 86 which produce a long strip 87, containing composite layers of the output strips in the form of three continuous legs each having two surfaces of reflective material, and each leg standing at an angle to each other , after which the formed string 87 is cut up by passing it under a cutter knife 88 and knife block 90 for the production of elements 91*

In fig. 8 shows the element 91 in an enlarged view with the three projecting angular legs 92,93°g 94 with two opposite surfaces composed of originally flat light-reflecting material of the above-mentioned marketed type. Fig. 9 shows an example of another shape that may be desired, somewhat similar to the shape in Fig. 8, with three legs 95»96 and 97»but made from flat circular disks of light-reflecting material. Elements produced according to fig. 9 will not usually be mass-produced according to the method in fig. 7" but will be somewhat larger for attachment to posts, bridge pillars, bicycle spokes, etc., as the size is selected based on the area of use.. Fig. 10 shows another manufacturing method according to the invention, where three-dimensional elements 100,

which is shown somewhat enlarged in fig. 11, is formed from sheet-shaped reflective material 101 around a triangular core 102. This element is produced by starting from a roll 103 of reflective tape of the marketed type, which has one or both (preferably both) surfaces coated with reflective material , the strip is run through a series of rollers or the like 104, which contains a forming nozzle which shapes the strip 105 into a triangular or trough-like shape 106. A thermosetting resin or similar curable material 107 is applied in the trough 106 through a suitable distribution nozzle 108 and the entire pro- the session is run continuously, as the chute with the plastic material is led past or under a heating device 110 as the curing resin, after which the hardened or almost hard composition 100 passes under a cutting mechanism 111 which comprises a blade 112 and a suitable substrate 113* The result is a fixed light-reflecting element 100 with surfaces of reflective sheet material.

If the material consists of two webs or sheets of reflective material back to back, and if the resin 107 is transparent, the element 100 is more effective.

Reference is made to the embodiments Figs. 11 to 14>where the core may, if desired, consist of any suitable material, different from those mentioned above. E.g. extruded polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonates or cellulose acetate butyrate are plasters that can typically be used. Olefin plastics such as polyethylene are generally not suitable due to adhesion problems to the reflective sheet materials or tapes, although these plastics will be suitable once the adhesion problems are overcome.

Typical plasters that can be used in connection with the designs in fig. 10 to 14 can be polyesters such as e.g. "Polylite" polyester from Reichhold Chemicals and epoxy resin of the "Bakelite" type from Union Carbide. Suitable special resins, e.g. of the thermosetting type can be chosen from these examples and from other known plastic materials.

Figs. 12 to 14 show other forms. In general, the shape of fig. 12, with number 114j be constructed by bending sheet-shaped or web-shaped reflective material into a circular shape, into spirals or in another way, after which the hollow cylinder shape is filled with hardenable resin or other suitable material and the composition is cut into desired lengths. An alternative manufacturing method would be to extrude a core of resin and wrap the extruded core with a tape of reflective material. In a similar way, the rectangular shape in fig. 13 and the triangular shape in fig. 14 is built up either by first producing the covering element of reflective material and filling it with curable mass or by first extruding a core or string of curable compound with the desired cross-sectional shape and wrapping or otherwise enveloping this with a coating of original sheet or band-shaped reflective material. The core material can also be wood, metal etc. or in principle any rigid or hardenable substance and can have any desired shape, e.g. triangular, semicircular, etc., where. the reflective material is wrapped, stapled or otherwise applied to the surface of the elements. Furthermore, the core could consist of a rigid, but not compact construction, e.g. a metal angle fitted with a reflector

abrasive material on one or more surfaces.

Fig. 15 shows another manufacturing technique in extrusion apparatus 120, in which resin and glass beads are continuously added, and the extruder 120 is motor-driven or otherwise driven and delivers a continuous rod 121 of circular or other desired cross-section, the string containing a mixture of the resin and balls distributed or embedded in the mass, at least near the surface of the string, whereupon the assembled string 121 is passed past the knife 122 and counter-holders 123 for cutting to desired lengths of reflective elements 124 • The element 124 is shown somewhat enlarged on fig. l6, and one sees a number of glass spheres 125 embedded in resin 126. The spheres 125 have half-silvered surfaces, where this silvering or metallization can be applied in various known ways. The balls 125 will be randomly oriented so that light passing through the transparent colored or uncolored plastic or other proprietary binder 126 will in all probability hit some of the balls under the desired angle of incidence for reflection from the silvered or metallized back surface back towards the light source. It will be understood that colored reflective light can be obtained by introducing transparent pigments into the resin or other suitable binder 126. Furthermore, the surface of the element 124 can advantageously be smooth and even for easy light penetration.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 15 to 16A, the glass beads will all have a refractive index of at least 2.0 and up to 2.9 and the binder 126 a refractive index between 1.33 and 1.70, preferably 1.40 to 1.65.

The binder in connection with fig. 15»l6--and l6A can consist of a thermoplastic resin, e.g. "Lexan" which is a polycarbonate marketed by the General Electric Company.

Another method for producing the elements 124 is casting. A mixture of clear cast polyester and semi-silvered glass spheres which preferably have a refractive index of 2.2 to 2.6, when poured into a metal mold with a V-shaped groove in the surface after hardening, will give small triangular strips or strings with embedded glass spheres which can be cut to the desired length . The binder 124 will usually be 'pigmented' in a suitable way such as e.g. described in US-pafcent no.

2.543'8.00, or you can use other known resins or available binders either with pigment already mixed from the supplier or with added pigments for the desired colour. The cast or extruded elements can have different shapes and can also be hollow, e.g. be hollow cylinders, hollow rectangles or the like, where they. tiny reflective elements lie close to but embedded below the surface. Said small reflective elements can instead of semi-silvered spheres consist of small shavings or particles of sheet-shaped reflective material, where both sides have reflective properties.

Reference is made to fig. 17?where one sees a method for applying the reflective elements to roads and streets, where paint is delivered from a spray gun or the like and is sprayed onto the road surface 131>where the spray gun 130 is advantageously attached to the back of a truck or the like, whereby it will -a string or band of paint 132 is placed when the car is moving forward, as another truck or a lower part of the same vehicle is provided with a -distributor 133 for reflective elements according to the invention-, and applies these elements from the container 133 Pa the wet paint or other suitable binding agent 132 from an ordinary glass ball dispensing apparatus. It will be realized that elements applied from the container 133 can either be entirely according to the invention or a mixture of such elements with balls or other forms of suitable elements as previously discussed. The thickness of the binder or the paint 132 will be regulated so that suitable adhesion is achieved between the binder and the road surface 131 and especially with a view to achieving a suitable degree of embedment of the elements 134 in the binder 132". Optionally, a separate distributor of a similar type to 133 can be used to application of glass balls to the binder 132, separately in relation to the distributor of elements according to the invention. The binder can, in addition to maiing, consist of any other type of binder which, for example, has been previously mentioned for this purpose, i.a. thermoplastic binders or the like, particularly depending on the desired strength and wear resistance for the marking.

The reflective particles or components according to the invention (which can also be reflective elements, if they have a surface coated with a compound, which has approximately the same refractive index as water) can be made of reflective sheet material with a reflective side, which is bent to the shown forms or to other forms. E.g. the tape or sheet material can be wound in a spiral, into hollow cylinder shapes or can be laminates of several sheet layers if desired. When such sheets will be of a type with two reflective sides, the shapes may be as shown (see e.g. fig. 8, 9>H) or as shown in fig. -4" or as the embodiments shown in fig. 3'B, or also L-shaped figures or have just about any other shape.

For the manufacture of fixed or essentially

■ solid components of this type which do not have parts of sheet or web-shaped material on the surface as shown in fig. 11-14" but is constructed more in accordance with the production process in fig..l6 and l6A, it will again be clear that a number of different forms can be used. In these cases, the components may consist of spheres arranged near or above . metal surfaces, which are coated with a coating of a similar type as in compound 126 in fig. l6A. Optionally, the balls can be semi-silver plated. In other cases, a metallic foil core may be coated with a large number of glass spheres around which are all embedded in a connection of the type 126 in fig. l6A. In this embodiment, the metal core will have the same function as the balls 125 in fig. l6Å.. Reflective elements - of the present type will, as you can see, have many forms. However, all these forms will have a surface coating (which is the same or different from the compound in which the elements are embedded), - that is, which has essentially the same refractive index as water, "and" with "some other medium that reflects the light

back towards the light source. In many cases, these reflective elements can consist of spheres that are semi-silvered or the spheres can be attached to an embedded metal surface. Another alternative is to build up the reflective elements by embedding them in a compound that -126 on fig. 16A or another suitable resin of tiny pieces of reflective material dispersed randomly in the resin, which elements together form a reflective element according to the invention. A method for producing such pieces consists of starting from either single or double-sided reflective material and

freeze this quickly, -e.g. by passing it through liquid carbon dioxide, and'while the sheet material is. frozen run it between a pair of crushing rollers that will crush the path into single particles. These particles can then be dispersed in larger spheres (up to e.g. 6 mm if desired) randomly or in an ordered pattern, if desired in resin drops or other three-dimensional shapes such as cylinders, tetrahedra etc.

Furthermore, various irregular shapes may persist

of cores provided with silver-plated balls attached to the surface and which are coated with a smooth coating of a resin which, previously mentioned, and which will be suitable e.g. as the resin 126. in fig.

16A.

When tiny, semi-silvered spheres or pieces of flat sheet-shaped reflective material are embedded in micro-resin droplets that have the same or approximately the same refractive index as water, these micro-droplets can, if desired, be sprayed with a spray gun and made to solidify in various forms. Another method consists in using sheets of reflective material such as described in connection with fig. 5°g 6, which sheets are either laid back to back, or not., and then extrude an overlying layer of a compound like 12.6 on fig. 16A in one of many different possible forms for later cutting up these extrudate/sheet materials into individual elements.

Fig. 18 shows a road surface -140 provided with larger reflective elements 141. These elements 141 can on many roads or motorways or in other applications protrude above the road surface at a height which can be 20 mm or more. The elements 141 are provided with an adhesive 142 which glues the element to the road surface 140. The elements 141- consist of many particles 143 embedded in a shaped resin part 144- This resin or plastic part can, like many other components according to the invention, be of the same plastic material as mentioned in connection with fig. 15". for producing the water-like coating 126 in fig. l6Å, or of another suitable and preferably transparent or translucent coating material with a similar refractive index as water.

Get fig. 18A shows an element 150 of a similar type to 141 in fig. l8, mén with hollow middle part l^ l.

In fig. 19 a similar structure is seen in the form of an element 153, but instead of the light-reflecting components 125 being tiny pieces of reflective material 141 as shown in fig. l8, the particles 154 in fig- 19 consist of semi-silvered spheres or the like. It will further be seen that the particles either of type 143 or type 154 can be mixed, and a certain element 141 or 153 can contain one or the other type of reflection elements or both. Fig. 19A shows an element 155 which is of a similar type to element 153, but which has a hollow central part 156. Fig. 20 illustrates an element 158 which is also provided with adhesive material 160 for attachment to the road surface 16l, but where part of a sheet of reflective material 162 passes through essentially the entire element' 158 and protrudes from the bottom of this or vertically onto the element's surface 163 for reflecting light at a desired angle from a car headlight as previously discussed. Fig. 21 finally shows a low profile road marking 170 which can be easily molded or extruded and cut into lengths with a shape as shown in fig. 21, and is made of a resin as previously mentioned in connection with fig. 16, l6A or l8 to 21, provided with embedded components 171 - The components 171 can be of the same type as 154»143»125 or another suitable type, also of type 162 as mentioned. The markings of the type shown in fig. 21 may extend 2.5 cm or more above the roadway, at height T', as indicated and may be 10 cm lancrp pil pr1 miar»Qnm snø-n •f-.-h vpH H-i m^n q inn pn T. now f i cr_ 91 .

Claims (36)

1. Reflective coating for surfaces, comprising a large number of three-dimensional shapes, a carrier for these shapes, which carrier includes aids for attaching the shapes to the surface to be coated and where at least a significant part of the shapes has at least one outer surface, of which in at least one part has light-reflecting properties and a) protrudes from the carrier and away from the surface to be coated at a height of approx. 0.13 to 6.4 mm,. b) forms an angular surface in relation to the surface to be coated,■ c) is provided with devices for reflecting the light back towards the light source at an angle of incidence towards the surface to be coated of between 45°g 90°°g d) whose exterior has a refractive index approximately the same as that of water, or within approx. 1.33$ to 1.70. 2. Coating as specified in claim 1, characterized in that said device for reflection of the light is effective for light with an angle of incidence to the surface to be coated of over 80°. 3. Coating as stated in claim 1, characterized in that the carrier is a solid which was originally liquid. 4. Coating as stated in claim 3, characterized in that the carrier is a resin. 5. Coating as specified in claim 3> characterized in that the carrier is paint. 6. Coating as specified in claim 1, characterized in that said shapes consist of light-reflecting sheet-shaped material which originally consisted of an essentially flat sheet or band. 7« Coating as specified in claim 1, characterized in that the shapes have a three-dimensional geometric core construction with several surfaces, at least one of which is provided with light-reflecting sheet material attached to this surface. 8. Coating as stated in claim 1, characterized in that the shapes are three-dimensional with several surfaces and consist of many reflective elements embedded in a translucent binder. 9. Coating as specified in claim 1, characterized in that the light reflection from the surface of the forms is washed off a composite sheet construction containing a layer of tiny spheres with a refractive index in the range 2.4 to 2.95> arranged. up to reflective devices, and where the outer side of the surfaces of the molds are provided with a coating or protective layer, in which the balls are partially embedded, laminated between the reflection devices and the protective layer. 10. Coating as stated in claim 1, characterized in that the reflective properties of the surfaces of the molds are rinsed a composite sheet construction comprising a layer of tiny spheres with a refractive index in the range of 1.8 to 1.95 on a reflective layer, where the outside of the molds surfaces are provided with a protective layer, in which the tiny spheres are not embedded, which protective layer is arranged at a distance from the reflection layer and forms a laminate of spheres between said reflection layer and the protection layer. 11. Coating as specified in claim 1, characterized in that the reflective properties for the surfaces of the forms are washed with tiny glass spheres that have reflective coatings on parts of their surfaces and have a refractive index in the range of approx. 0.9 to 2.95 g which is embedded in an essentially transparent binder with a refractive index approximately the same as that of water or approx. 1.338 to 1.70. 12. Light-reflecting element intended to provide light reflection when the element is applied to a surface, even when the angle of incidence of the light in relation to the surface exceeds 45° and even when the surface of the element is wet with water, which element comprises a three-dimensional shape, the exterior of which has a number of surface portions, at least some of which are at an angle to other surface portions, and at least one of the surface portions is provided with a large number of tiny reflective components which are coated with an outer coating having a refractive index approximately that of water, or within the range about. 1.338 to 1.70. 13. Element as stated in claim 12, characterized in that at least part of said surface part is provided with a number of tiny light-reflecting components. 14. Safety marking for roads and the like in the form of a light-reflecting element that reflects the light even at an angle of incidence in relation to the surface of more than 45° > and even when the surface of the element is wet with water, which element consists of a three-dimensional shape, whose outer surface includes a number of surface parts, of which at least some are at an angle in relation to other surface parts, and at least one surface part is provided with a large number of tiny light-reflecting components which are coated with an external protective coating with a refractive index approximately the same as that of water, or within the area of approx. 1.33^ to 1.70. 15. Marking as stated in claim 14" characterized in that the element surface parts consist of essentially flat surfaces of light-reflecting, originally sheet-shaped material. 16. Marking as stated in claim 15> characterized in that the surface parts are at an angle in relation to other surface parts forming at least two colliding and connected, generally planar surface parts. 17. Security marking as stated in claim 15, characterized in that the element form comprises an internal material with a geometric shape coated with light-reflecting original sheet-shaped material on the outside. 18. Marking as stated in claim 14j, characterized in that the element is three-dimensional and fixed. 19. Marking as stated in claim l8, characterized in that the surface parts consist of original sheet-shaped material on the surface of said solid material. 20. Marking as stated in claim 18, characterized in that the components consist of individual light-reflecting particles embedded in said solid material near its surfaces. 21. Element as stated in claim 12, characterized in that said three-dimensional shape further comprises three flat", projecting legs with light-reflecting coating on both sides and common joining, which legs stand at an angle in relation to each other. 22. Element as stated in claim 21, characterized in that three legs stand at an angle approx. l80° apart. 23. Element as stated in claim 22, characterized in that each leg is approximately rectangular when viewed from the side. 24. Element as stated in claim 22, characterized in that each leg is roughly semi-circular when viewed from the side. 25. Element as stated in claim 12, characterized in that the surface parts of the element are provided with a binder and the light-reflecting components are embedded in the binder and said protective external coating consists of said binder. 26. Element as stated in claim 13, characterized in that the surface parts of the element consist of different parts of the same non-planar shape. 27. Element as stated in claim 13, characterized in that said light-reflecting components consist of pieces of flat, originally sheet-shaped light-reflecting material. 28. Element as stated in claim 13, characterized in that said light-reflecting components are glass spheres which are all connected by a reflective body. 29. Element as stated in claim 13, characterized by . that said protective outer coating has a different refractive index within the range approx. 1.40 to 1.65. 30. Element as stated in claim 12, characterized in that said surface parts consist of different parts of the element's exterior, and where the components are dispersed in said protective outer coating, and that the element is at least approx. 13 mm high. 31. Method for the production of three-dimensional reflective elements that reflect visible light, characterized in that, from several strips of web-shaped light-reflecting material in a continuous forming station, the strips are continuously joined into a long, continuous shape, after which the elongated string thus formed is cut up in individual elements. 32. Method for the production of three-dimensional light-reflecting elements that reflect visible light, characterized in that, from a strip of light-reflecting web material that is continuously delivered to a forming station, the strip is continuously shaped into an elongated gutter-like shape, the formed gutter is filled with a liquid, curable compound to which the strip will adhere after curing, curing the compound into a solid structure and cutting up the formed strand into individual elements. 33* Method as stated in claim 32"characterized in that said compound is a thermosetting resin which is hardened by the application of heat. 34- Method for the production of three-dimensional light-reflecting elements, characterized in that the original sheet-shaped, reflective material is shaped so that it can absorb a curable mass, a liquid curable mass is extruded into the shaped material to which the mass will adhere after curing, and the hardened structure is cut to elements. 35' Method for producing three-dimensional light-reflecting elements, characterized in that tiny light-reflecting components are embedded as a aggregate in a liquid curable mass that is translucent to visible light, a continuous rod of the mass containing reflective components distributed below the surface is extruded with a specific cross-sectional shape, whereupon that rod is cut into individual elements. 36. Method for the production of three-dimensional light-reflecting elements, characterized in that a large number of light-reflecting components are distributed in a resin or similar substance with a refractive index approximately the same as water, or approx. 1.33$ to 1.70, which resin is then cured.