US5648145A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Fire-resistant, retroreflective structure
Assignee: Orafol Americas Inc
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Filing: 1993-09-10
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Granted: 1997-07-15
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Expires: 2013-09-10
Abstract
Abstract A fire-resistant retroreflective structure having an array of rigid retroreflective elements and a method for making the structure are disclosed. The retroreflective structure is formed of an array of rigid retroreflective elements having a first side and a second side. A transparent polymeric film is attached to the first side of the array of rigid retroreflective elements. A transparent fire-resistant outerlayer is attached to the transparent polymeric film. A flame-retardant layer is placed proximate to the second side of the array of rigid retroreflective elements. A fire-resistant polymer underlayer is attached to the flame-retardant layer. The fire resistant polymer underlayer can be bonded to the transparent polymeric film through the array of rigid retroreflective elements and the flame-retardant layer.
Inventors
- 👤 David C. Martin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 10:49
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B7/00; B32B7/02; B32B7/023; B32B27/00; B32B27/06; B32B27/08; B32B27/18; B32B27/20; B32B27/30; B32B27/304; B32B27/40; B32B3/00; B32B3/10; B32B3/18; B32B7/04; B32B7/12; G; G02; G02B; G02B5/00; G02B5/12; G02B5/122; G02B5/124; B32B2255/00; B32B2255/10; B32B2255/20; B32B2255/205; B32B2307/00; B32B2307/30; B32B2307/306; B32B2307/3065; B32B2307/40; B32B2307/402; B32B2307/4026; B32B2307/412; B32B2307/416; B32B2327/00; B32B2327/06; B32B2375/00; B32B2377/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/92; Y10S428/921; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24479; Y10T428/24521; Y10T428/2457; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/31507; Y10T428/31551; Y10T428/31573; Y10T428/3158; Y10T428/31786; Y10T428/31797; Y10T428/31855; Y10T428/31909; Y10T428/31913; Y10T428/31917; Y10T428/3192; Y10T428/31928
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A fire-resistant, retroreflective structure, comprising: a) an array of retroreflective transparent polymer prism elements having a light incident side and a light reflective side; b) a transparent polymeric film attached to the light incident side of the array of retroreflective elements; c) a transparent fire-resistant polymer first outerlayer attached to the transparent polymeric film; d) a flame-retardant layer which is attached to the light reflective side of the array of retroreflective elements; and e) a second fire-resistant outerlayer attached to the flame-retardant layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
A fire-resistant, retroreflective structure, comprising: a) an array of retroreflective transparent polymer prism elements having a light incident side and a light reflective side; b) a transparent polymeric film attached to the light incident side of the array of retroreflective elements; c) a transparent fire-resistant polymer first outerlayer attached to the transparent polymeric film; d) a flame-retardant layer which is attached to the light reflective side of the array of retroreflective elements; and e) a second fire-resistant outerlayer attached to the flame-retardant layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The retroreflective structure of claim 1 wherein the prisms have a base side with facets extending from the base which meet at an apex and wherein the base sides of the prisms adjoin each other and a transparent polymeric film is bonded to the second fire-resistant outerlayer through openings formed where the prism bases adjoin each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The retroreflective structure of claim 2 wherein the first outerlayer comprises a crosslinked polyurethane film.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The retroreflective structure of claim 3 wherein the transparent polymeric film is a polyvinyl film.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The retroreflective structure of claim 4 wherein the polyvinyl film is polyvinyl chloride.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The retroreflective structure of claim 5 wherein the polyvinyl chloride contains a colorant.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The retroreflective structure of claim 6 wherein the colorant is lime green in color.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The retroreflective structure of claim 7 wherein the prisms are formed of material selected from a group consisting of epoxy polyacrylates, urethanes, polynitriles, polycarbonates, polyesters, and polyolefins.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The retroreflective structure of claim 8 wherein the array of retroreflective prism elements is formed of a copolymer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The retroreflective structure of claim 9 wherein the flame-retardant layer includes a brominated flame-retardant.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The retroreflective structure of claim 10 wherein the flame-retardant layer includes a mixture of a brominated flame-retardant and an adhesive.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The retroreflective structure of claim 10 wherein the second fire-resistant outerlayer is a polyamide film.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The retroreflective structure of claim 10 wherein the second fire-resistant outerlayer is a fiberglass reinforced vinyl film.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The retroreflective structure of claim 1 wherein the light reflective side is made reflective by a metalized reflective layer formed thereon by a metal selected from a group consisting of aluminum, copper, silver, and gold.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The retroreflective structure of claim 14 wherein the flame-retardant layer is bonded to the reflective layer by an adhesive.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The retroreflective structure of claim 1 wherein the transparent polymeric film and the array of prism elements are attached by an adhesive.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
124 words
A fire-resistant retroreflective structure, comprising: a) an array of elements comprised of solid transparent prism elements each having a base facet and side facets extending therefrom and meeting at an apex; b) a transparent polymeric film attached to the base facets of the array of elements; c) a transparent first fire-resistant polymer outerlayer which is attached to the transparent polymeric film; d) light reflector means formed over the side facets; e) a first flame-retardant layer which is attached to the light reflector means; f) a second flame-retardant layer which is attached to the first flame-retardant layer; g) a third flame-retardant layer which is attached to the second flame-retardant layer; and h) a second fire-resistant polymer outerlayer which is attached to the third flame-retardant layer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
124 words
A fire-resistant retroreflective structure, comprising: a) an array of elements comprised of solid transparent prism elements each having a base facet and side facets extending therefrom and meeting at an apex; b) a transparent polymeric film attached to the base facets of the array of elements; c) a transparent first fire-resistant polymer outerlayer which is attached to the transparent polymeric film; d) light reflector means formed over the side facets; e) a first flame-retardant layer which is attached to the light reflector means; f) a second flame-retardant layer which is attached to the first flame-retardant layer; g) a third flame-retardant layer which is attached to the second flame-retardant layer; and h) a second fire-resistant polymer outerlayer which is attached to the third flame-retardant layer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The retroreflective structure of claim 17 wherein the first flame-retardant layer includes a brominated flame-retardant contained in a rubber-based adhesive film.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The retroreflective structure of claim 18 wherein the second flame-retardant layer includes tricresyl phosphate in a polyvinyl chloride film.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The retroreflective structure of claim 19 wherein the third flame-retardant layer includes a brominated flame-retardant contained in a rubber-based adhesive film.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a retroreflective structure having an array of polymer prism elements having a light incident side and a light reflective side: the improvement comprising a transparent first fire-resistant polymer outerlayer attached to the light incident side and a flame-retardant layer which is attached to the light reflective side and a second fire-resistant polymer outerlayer which is attached to the flame-retardant layer, whereby the combination of layers is sufficient to prevent significant charring, melting and ignition of the retroreflective structure when the structure is exposed to a temperature of about 500° F. for at least five minutes.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a retroreflective structure having an array of polymer prism elements having a light incident side and a light reflective side: the improvement comprising a transparent first fire-resistant polymer outerlayer attached to the light incident side and a flame-retardant layer which is attached to the light reflective side and a second fire-resistant polymer outerlayer which is attached to the flame-retardant layer, whereby the combination of layers is sufficient to prevent significant charring, melting and ignition of the retroreflective structure when the structure is exposed to a temperature of about 500° F. for at least five minutes.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
85 words
A fire-resistant, retroreflective structure comprising: a) an array of elements comprised of solid prisms having a base facet and side facets meeting at an apex; b) a transparent polymeric film attached to the base facets of the array of elements; c) a transparent first fire-resistant polymer outer layer attached to the transparent polymeric film; d) light reflector means over the side facets; e) a flame-retardant layer which is attached to the light reflector means; and f) a second fire-resistant outerlayer attached to the flame-retardant layer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
85 words
A fire-resistant, retroreflective structure comprising: a) an array of elements comprised of solid prisms having a base facet and side facets meeting at an apex; b) a transparent polymeric film attached to the base facets of the array of elements; c) a transparent first fire-resistant polymer outer layer attached to the transparent polymeric film; d) light reflector means over the side facets; e) a flame-retardant layer which is attached to the light reflector means; and f) a second fire-resistant outerlayer attached to the flame-retardant layer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
The retroreflective structure of claim 22 wherein the base facets adjoin each other in a plane and the transparent polymeric film is bonded to the second fire-resistant outerlayer through openings formed wherein the prism bases adjoin each other.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The retroreflective structure of claim 22 wherein prisms are formed of material selected from a group consisting of epoxy polyacrylates, urethanes, polynitriles, polycarbonates, polyesters, and polyolefins.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-07-14 | 2001-01-13 | 2001-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-07-14 | 2005-01-13 | 2005-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-07-14 | 2009-01-13 | 2009-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |