Reflective articles and method of making

• US 20040013856A1
• Filed: 04/17/2003
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Araki, Yoshinori, Takamatsu, Yorinobu
• Application Number:
  US10/418,000
• Publication Number:
  US 20040013856A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/167
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/30 characterised by a layer formed with recesses or projections, e.g. hollows, grooves, protuberances, ribs apertured layer B32B3/266; layer with cavities or internal voids B32B3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/124 plural reflecting elements forming part of a unitary plate or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2457 Parallel ribs and/or grooves

Abstract

A reflective sheet comprising a prismatic layer and a seal layer is provided. The prismatic layer comprises cells of prismatic projections surrounded by raised elements. The height of the raised elements is greater than the height of the prismatic projections. The seal layer is adhered to the raised projections. A space or gap is provided between the peaks of the prismatic projections and the seal layer. The seal layer comprises a crystalline polymer, a self-adherent polymer and an inorganic pigment. The seal layer acts as an adhesive layer to adhere the reflective sheet to a substrate. The self-adherent polymer is compatible with the crystalline polymer at a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point of the crystalline polymer. There is a high peel strength between the seal layer and raised elements. The reflective sheet is easily positioned on the substrate prior to it being finally adhered the substrate.

Claims

1. A reflective laminate comprising:

a prismatic sheet which has a back surface having a plurality of prismatic projections and a front surface opposite to said back surface, wherein said prismatic projections reflect light incident on said front surface of said prismatic sheet;

a support having a first surface having a plurality of raised walls on said first surface and valleys between said raised walls, and a second surface opposite said first surface;

an adhesive layer on said first surface of said support;

a gap between said support and said prismatic sheet;

wherein said adhesive adheres said raised walls of said first surface of said support are adhered to said prismatic projections of said prismatic sheet.

2. The reflective laminate according to claim 1, wherein said support is a substrate of an information-displaying board.

3. The reflective laminate according to claim 1, wherein said support comprises an assembly of a plurality of support units each of which comprises a unit surface and at least one unit raised wall fixed to said unit surface, and said unit surfaces of the substrate units are combined to form said front surface of the support, and said unit raised walls are combined to form said raised walls, when said substrate units are assembled.

4. The reflective laminate according to claim 1, wherein said adhesive layer comprises an adhesive containing a self-adherent polymer and a crystalline polymer which are compatible each other at a temperature higher than the melting point of said crystalline polymer.

5. The reflective laminate according to claim 1, wherein said support consists of a metal plate or a metal sheet, which is processed or formed so that said support and said raised walls are integrally bonded.