US5585164A — Dual groove set retroreflective cube corner artic…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 84 words

A retroreflective cube corner article which is a replica of a directly machined substrate in which a plurality of geometric structures including cube corner elements are machined in the substrate using only two sets of parallel grooves with each set comprising a plurality of grooves comprising optical surfaces arranged at side angles relative to a groove axis and to a base reference plane, and at least two of the grooves in at least one of the groove sets are at a different groove depth.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 84 words

A retroreflective cube corner article which is a replica of a directly machined substrate in which a plurality of geometric structures including cube corner elements are machined in the substrate using only two sets of parallel grooves with each set comprising a plurality of grooves comprising optical surfaces arranged at side angles relative to a groove axis and to a base reference plane, and at least two of the grooves in at least one of the groove sets are at a different groove depth.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 80 words

A retroreflective cube corner article which is a replica of a directly machined substrate in which a plurality of geometric structures including cube corner elements are machined in the substrate using only two sets of parallel grooves with each set comprising a plurality of grooves comprising optical surfaces arranged at side angles relative to a groove axis and to a base reference plane, and at least two of the cube corner elements have different heights above a common reference plane.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 80 words

A retroreflective cube corner article which is a replica of a directly machined substrate in which a plurality of geometric structures including cube corner elements are machined in the substrate using only two sets of parallel grooves with each set comprising a plurality of grooves comprising optical surfaces arranged at side angles relative to a groove axis and to a base reference plane, and at least two of the cube corner elements have different heights above a common reference plane.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 97 words

A retroreflective cube corner article which is a replica of a directly machined substrate in which a plurality of geometric structures including cube corner elements are machined in the substrate using only two sets of parallel grooves with each set comprising a plurality of grooves comprising optical surfaces arranged at side angles relative to a groove axis and to a base reference plane, and at least two of the cube corner elements are machined so that the size of the active apertures differ in both an x direction and a y direction at a non-zero entrance angle.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 97 words

A retroreflective cube corner article which is a replica of a directly machined substrate in which a plurality of geometric structures including cube corner elements are machined in the substrate using only two sets of parallel grooves with each set comprising a plurality of grooves comprising optical surfaces arranged at side angles relative to a groove axis and to a base reference plane, and at least two of the cube corner elements are machined so that the size of the active apertures differ in both an x direction and a y direction at a non-zero entrance angle.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 67 words

A retroreflective cube corner article which is a replica of a directly machined substrate in which a plurality of different geometric structures including cube corner elements having parallel bisectors are machined in the substrate using only two sets of parallel grooves with each set comprising a plurality of grooves comprising optical surfaces arranged at side angles relative to a groove axis and to a base reference plane.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 67 words

A retroreflective cube corner article which is a replica of a directly machined substrate in which a plurality of different geometric structures including cube corner elements having parallel bisectors are machined in the substrate using only two sets of parallel grooves with each set comprising a plurality of grooves comprising optical surfaces arranged at side angles relative to a groove axis and to a base reference plane.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 21 words

The article of claim 4 in which at least two of the cube corner elements have symmetry axes which are non-parallel.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 56 words

The article of claim 1, 2, 3 or 4 in which the spacing of grooves within at least one of the groove sets having at least three grooves is varied so that the spacing between a first groove and an adjacent second groove differs from the spacing between the second groove and an adjacent third groove.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 92 words

A retroreflective cube corner article which is a replica of a directly machined substrate in which a plurality of geometric structures including cube corner elements having parallel symmetry axes are machined in the substrate using only two sets of parallel grooves comprising optical surfaces arranged at side angles relative to a groove axis and to a base reference plane, and the spacing between a first groove and an adjacent second groove in a groove set differs from the spacing between the second groove and an adjacent third groove in the groove set.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 92 words

A retroreflective cube corner article which is a replica of a directly machined substrate in which a plurality of geometric structures including cube corner elements having parallel symmetry axes are machined in the substrate using only two sets of parallel grooves comprising optical surfaces arranged at side angles relative to a groove axis and to a base reference plane, and the spacing between a first groove and an adjacent second groove in a groove set differs from the spacing between the second groove and an adjacent third groove in the groove set.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 23 words

The article of claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 7 in which at least two of the cube corner elements have different lengths.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 81 words

A retroreflective cube corner article which is a replica of a directly machined substrate in which a plurality of geometric structures including cube corner elements are machined in the substrate using only two sets of parallel grooves comprising optical surfaces arranged at side angles relative to a groove axis and to a base reference plane, and the spacing in at least one of the groove sets is varied so that at least two of the cube corner elements have different lengths.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 81 words

A retroreflective cube corner article which is a replica of a directly machined substrate in which a plurality of geometric structures including cube corner elements are machined in the substrate using only two sets of parallel grooves comprising optical surfaces arranged at side angles relative to a groove axis and to a base reference plane, and the spacing in at least one of the groove sets is varied so that at least two of the cube corner elements have different lengths.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 24 words

The article of claim 1, 2, 4, 7 or 9 which exhibits at least two different active aperture sizes at a non-zero entrance angle.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 70 words

A retroreflective cube corner article which is a replica of a directly machined substrate in which a plurality of geometric structures including cube corner elements are machined in the substrate using only two sets of parallel grooves comprising optical surfaces arranged at side angles relative to a groove axis and to a base reference plane, and at least two of the elements have opposing orientations of element non-retroreflective triangular faces.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 70 words

A retroreflective cube corner article which is a replica of a directly machined substrate in which a plurality of geometric structures including cube corner elements are machined in the substrate using only two sets of parallel grooves comprising optical surfaces arranged at side angles relative to a groove axis and to a base reference plane, and at least two of the elements have opposing orientations of element non-retroreflective triangular faces.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 16 words

The article of claim 11 in which the opposing non-retroreflective triangular faces share a common edge.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 16 words

The article of claim 11 in which the elements having an opposing relationship are geometrically identical.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 29 words

The article of claim 1, 2, 4, 7, 9 or 11 in which at least two of the cube corner elements have different heights above a common reference plane.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 44 words

The article of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9 or 11 in which a plurality of cube corner elements are at different heights, and a plurality of higher cube corner elements provide support for a sealing medium spaced above lower cube corner elements.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 46 words

The article of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9 or 11 in which at least one of the grooves in at least one of the groove sets defines geometric structures including cube corner elements having lateral faces which form boundary edges of a separation surface.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 13 words

The article of claim 16 in which the article is partially light transmissive.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 28 words

The article of claim 16 in which each of the separation surfaces, taken at any point along any surface in which it lays, has a curved cross section.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 28 words

The article of claim 16 in which each of the separation surfaces, taken at any point along any surface in which it lays, has a flat cross section.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 37 words

The article of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9 or 11 comprising a structure selected from the group of structures including traffic control materials, retroreflective vehicle markings, directional reflectors, internally illuminated retroreflective articles, and retroreflective markings.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 47 words

The article of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9 or 11 comprising at least one groove side angle in at least one set of grooves which differs from the angle that would produce an orthogonal intersection with other faces of elements defined by the groove sides.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 38 words

The article of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9 or 11 in which at least one of the sets of grooves includes, in a repeating pattern, at least two groove side angles that differ from one another.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 38 words

The article of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9 or 11 in which at least one cube face is arcuate over a significant portion of the cube face to modify the shape of the retroreflected light pattern.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 15 words

The article of claim 23 in which the shape of the arcuate face is concave.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 15 words

The article of claim 23 in which the shape of the arcuate face is convex.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 34 words

The article of claim 23 in which the shape of the arcuate face is substantially cylindrical, so that the axis of the cylinder is approximately parallel to the groove which bounds the arcuate face.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 18 words

The article of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9 or 11 in which the article is transparent.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 22 words

The article of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9 or 11 in which a portion of the article is reflectively coated.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 25 words

The article of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9 or 11 in which at least two cube corner elements share a common optical surface.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 37 words

The article of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9 or 11 in which at least one of the cube corner elements comprises a bisector which intersects a base reference plane at an angle other than 90°.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 75 words

A retroreflective cube corner element composite sheeting comprising a plurality of zones of retroreflective cube corner elements, each zone comprising a replica of a directly machined substrate in which a plurality of cube corner elements are machined, the composite sheeting comprising at least one zone in which at least two geometric structures including cube corner elements are formed from two sets of parallel grooves, the geometric structures having different heights above a common reference plane.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 75 words

A retroreflective cube corner element composite sheeting comprising a plurality of zones of retroreflective cube corner elements, each zone comprising a replica of a directly machined substrate in which a plurality of cube corner elements are machined, the composite sheeting comprising at least one zone in which at least two geometric structures including cube corner elements are formed from two sets of parallel grooves, the geometric structures having different heights above a common reference plane.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 79 words

A retroreflective cube corner element composite sheeting comprising a plurality of zones of retroreflective cube corner elements, each zone comprising a replica of a directly machined substrate in which a plurality of cube corner elements are machined, and the composite sheeting comprising at least one zone in which the grooves are formed from two sets of parallel grooves and at least two of the grooves in at least one of the groove sets are at a different groove depth.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 79 words

A retroreflective cube corner element composite sheeting comprising a plurality of zones of retroreflective cube corner elements, each zone comprising a replica of a directly machined substrate in which a plurality of cube corner elements are machined, and the composite sheeting comprising at least one zone in which the grooves are formed from two sets of parallel grooves and at least two of the grooves in at least one of the groove sets are at a different groove depth.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 78 words

A retroreflective cube corner element composite sheeting comprising a plurality of zones of retroreflective cube corner elements, each zone comprising a replica of a directly machined substrate in which a plurality of cube corner elements are machined, and the composite sheeting comprising at least one zone in which at least two geometric structures including cube corner elements are machined using two sets of grooves so that the size of the active apertures differ at a non-zero entrance angle.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 78 words

A retroreflective cube corner element composite sheeting comprising a plurality of zones of retroreflective cube corner elements, each zone comprising a replica of a directly machined substrate in which a plurality of cube corner elements are machined, and the composite sheeting comprising at least one zone in which at least two geometric structures including cube corner elements are machined using two sets of grooves so that the size of the active apertures differ at a non-zero entrance angle.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 29 words

The sheeting of claim 32 or 33 in which at least one zone comprises at least two cube corner elements which have different heights above a common reference plane.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 13 words

The sheeting of claim 31, 32 or 33 which exhibits asymmetric entrance angularity.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 13 words

The sheeting of claim 31, 32 or 33 which exhibits symmetric entrance angularity.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 23 words

The sheeting of claim 33 in which the size of the active apertures differ in both an x direction and a y direction.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 63 words

A retroreflective cube corner element composite sheeting comprising a plurality of zones of retroreflective cube corner elements, each zone comprising a replica of a directly machined substrate in which a plurality of cube corner elements are machined, and the composite sheeting comprising at least one zone in which a plurality of geometric structures including cube corner elements are formed using two groove sets.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 63 words

A retroreflective cube corner element composite sheeting comprising a plurality of zones of retroreflective cube corner elements, each zone comprising a replica of a directly machined substrate in which a plurality of cube corner elements are machined, and the composite sheeting comprising at least one zone in which a plurality of geometric structures including cube corner elements are formed using two groove sets.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 29 words

The sheeting of claim 38 in which all of the cube corner elements in at least one of the zones formed using two groove sets have parallel bisector axes.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 35 words

The sheeting of claim 38 in which at least two of the cube corner elements in at least one of the zones formed using two groove sets have opposing orientations of element non-retroreflective triangular faces.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 81 words

A retroreflective cube corner element composite sheeting comprising a plurality of zones of retroreflective cube corner elements, each zone comprising a replica of a directly machined substrate in which a plurality of cube corner elements are machined, and the composite sheeting comprising at least one zone formed using two sets of parallel grooves in which the spacing of grooves within at least one of the groove sets varies so that at least two of the cube corner elements have different lengths.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 81 words

A retroreflective cube corner element composite sheeting comprising a plurality of zones of retroreflective cube corner elements, each zone comprising a replica of a directly machined substrate in which a plurality of cube corner elements are machined, and the composite sheeting comprising at least one zone formed using two sets of parallel grooves in which the spacing of grooves within at least one of the groove sets varies so that at least two of the cube corner elements have different lengths.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 52 words

The sheeting of claim 32, 33, 34, 38 or 41 in which the spacing of grooves within at least one of the groove sets is varied so that the spacing between a first groove and an adjacent second groove differs from the spacing between the second groove and an adjacent third groove.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-12-17	2000-06-17	2000-12-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-12-17	2004-06-17	2004-12-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-12-17	2008-06-17	2008-12-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Dual groove set retroreflective cube corner article and method of manufacture

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