IRRADIATION MARKING OF RETROREFLECTIVE SHEETING

• US 20120281285A1
• Filed: 11/10/2010
• Published: 11/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Orensteen, Bruce D., Smithson, Robert L. W.
• Granted Patent: US 10,082,609 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/530
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/10 Registration, licensing, or like devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/124 plural reflecting elements forming part of a unitary plate or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/16 Signs formed of or incorporating reflecting elements or surfaces, e.g. warning signs having triangular or other geometrical shape

Abstract

A method of marking prismatic retroreflective sheeting includes providing prismatic retroreflective sheeting having a front side and a back side, the back side having prismatic features and directing a radiation source at the back side of the prismatic retroreflective sheeting and irradiating a plurality of the prismatic features. The radiation forms a mark in the prismatic retroreflective sheeting.

Claims

1. A method of marking prismatic retroreflective sheeting, comprising:

providing prismatic retroreflective sheeting having a front side and a back side, the back side comprising prismatic features;

directing a radiation source at the back side of the prismatic retroreflective sheeting and irradiating a plurality of the prismatic features;

wherein the radiation forms a mark in the prismatic retroreflective sheeting.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiation source is a laser source.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the directing step comprises directing the radiation source at a plurality of the prismatic features at the same time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiation source changes the structure of the plurality of prismatic features.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mark is selected from a group consisting essentially of a shape, figure, symbol, design, letter, number, alphanumeric character, and indicia.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the directing step comprises directing the radiation source through a mask and onto the back side of the prismatic retroreflective sheeting.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the directing step comprises directing the radiation source directly onto the back side of the prismatic retroreflective sheeting.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the directing step comprises directing a laser at the back side of the prismatic retroreflective sheeting and the laser irradiates a plurality of prismatic features at the same time.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a reflective coating on the mark and prismatic retroreflective sheeting.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiation source is an ultraviolet radiation source.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiation source is an infrared radiation source.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the prismatic retroreflective sheeting comprises a reflective coating.

20. Prismatic retroreflective sheeting formed by the method according to claim 1.

21. A license plate, comprising:

prismatic retroreflective sheeting of claim 20.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

forming a license plate.

13. A method of marking prismatic retroreflective sheeting, comprising:

providing prismatic retroreflective sheeting having a front side and a back side, the back side comprising prismatic features;

directing a laser at the back side of the prismatic retroreflective sheeting and irradiating a plurality of the prismatic features;

wherein the laser forms a mark in the prismatic retroreflective sheeting.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the laser changes the structure of the plurality of prismatic features or alters the flatness of the plurality of prismatic features.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the mark is selected from a group consisting essentially of a shape, figure, symbol, design, letter, number, alphanumeric character, and indicia.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the directing step comprises directing the laser through a mask and onto the back side of the prismatic retroreflective sheeting.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the directing step comprises directing the laser directly onto the back side of the prismatic retroreflective sheeting.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing a reflective coating on the mark and prismatic retroreflective sheeting.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the prismatic retroreflective sheeting comprises a reflective coating.

23. Prismatic retroreflective sheeting formed by the method according to claim 13.

24. A license plate, comprising:

prismatic retroreflective sheeting of claim 23.

25. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

forming a license plate.