Biased lenticular sign system

• US 5,237,449 A
• Filed: 01/29/1991
• Issued: 08/17/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jordan R. Nelson, Randall E. Mccoy
• Original Assignee: Nelson Optics Company, Inc.
• Inventors: McCoy, Randall E., Nelson, Jordan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): FONT, FRANK G
• Application Number:
  US07/647,549
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 359/515, 359/520, 359/529, 359/531, 359/532, 359/534, 359/542, 359/551, 359/552, 359/726, 359/737, 40/454, 40/582
• US Class Current: 359/532
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0006 Arrays G02B3/02, G02B5/188 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0037 characterized by the distribution or form of lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0043 Inhomogeneous or irregular arrays, e.g. varying shape, size, height
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/005 arranged along a single direction only, e.g. lenticular sheets G02B3/0043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/124 plural reflecting elements forming part of a unitary plate or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/126 including curved refracting surface
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/16 involving the use of mirrors

Abstract

A highway sign includes a reflective back surface and a biased lenticular lens front surface for reflecting light back in the direction of the original light source. The reflective back surface preferably comprises a plurality of corner cubic reflectors arranged in a regular matrix. The biased lenticular lens front surface comprises arcuate surfaces, or flat surfaces having arcuate indentations, separated by relatively flat surfaces which are substantially perpendicular to the plane of the reflective surface and which form a saw-toothed pattern when seen in profile. Printing can be applied to the lens surface to form traffic control messages or indicia. The biased lenticular front surface diffuses the oncoming light, thus providing a uniform reflective surface. The reflective surface and biased lenticular lens system can be formed from a single integrated sheet of polycarbonate plastic or similar material. The sign is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, substantially waterproof and effective in reflecting light back in the direction of an oncoming automobile.

Claims

1. A reflective sign apparatus for reflecting flight from a light source, said apparatus comprising:

a reflective surface; and

,

a biased lenticular lens means located adjacent said reflective surface.

said biased ventricular lens means receiving said light from said light source, focusing said received light to said reflective surface, receiving light reflected off said reflective surface and refracting said reflected light in a direction substantially parallel to the path of light from said light source.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said reflective surface comprises corner cubic reflectors.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said reflective surface comprises a plurality of pyramidal reflectors, and said pyramidal reflectors having at least four faces.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said biased lenticular lens means comprises:

a plurality of substantially arcuate surfaces; and

,

a plurality of substantially flat surfaces,

wherein each arcuate surface is separated from another arcuate surface by a substantially flat surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said reflective surface and said biased lens means are integrally formed from a single piece of optically clear plastic material.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus comprises a traffic sign and said light source comprises head lights from an automobile.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said reflective surface comprises a plurality of pyramidal reflectors and said pyramidal reflectors having at least three faces.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said reflective surface comprises a plurality of conical reflectors.

9. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said corner cubic reflectors are biased.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said reflective surface and said biased lens means are integrally formed from a single pierce of optically clear plastic material which is selected from the group consisting of polycarbonate plastic, acrylic and styrene.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

means located on the surface of said biased lenticular lens means for forming indicia on said apparatus.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said biased lenticular lens means comprises a front surface having a plurality of indentations.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the intensity of said reflected light is maximum at a point between 39°

and 48°

from the perpendicular axis of said sign.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the intensity of said reflected light is maximum at 45°

from the perpendicular axis of said sign.

15. A reflective sign apparatus for reflecting light from a light source, said apparatus comprising:

a reflective surface; and

a biased lenticular lens means located adjacent said reflective surface, said biased lenticular lens means including a plurality of substantially arcuate surfaces and a plurality of substantially flat surfaces, each of said arcuate surfaces being separated from another arcuate surface by a substantially flat surface, the plane of said substantially flat surfaces is substantially perpendicular to the plane of said reflective surface, each substantially arcuate surface has an inferior radius in the range of 2μ

m to 1/2 the thickness of said reflective sign apparatus,

wherein said light from said light source passes through said biased lens means, is reflected off said reflective surface, and passes back through said biased lens means in the approximate direction of said light source.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said reflective surface comprises corner cubic reflectors said corner cubic reflectors are arranged n rows and said biased lenticular lens mean is arranged so that each corner cubic reflector reflects light from one or more arcuate surface.

17. A reflective sign apparatus for reflecting light from a light source, said apparatus comprising:

a reflective surface;

a biased lens means located adjacent said reflective surface; and

a silicone coating on the back surface of said reflective surface opposite from said biased lens means,

wherein said light from said light source passes through said biased lens means, is reflected off said reflective surface, and passes back through said biased lens means in the approximate direction of said light source.

18. A reflective sign apparatus for reflecting light from a light source, said apparatus comprising:

a reflective surface; and

a biased lens means located adjacent said reflective surface, said biased lenticular lens means including a plurality of substantially arcuate surfaces and a plurality of substantially flat surfaces, each of said arcuate surfaces being separated from anther accurate surface by a substantially flat surface, the plane of said substantially flat surfaces is substantially perpendicular to the plane of said reflective surface,

wherein said light from said light source passes through said biased lens means, is reflected off said reflective surface, and passes back through said biased lens mean in the approximate direction of said light source.

19. A reflective sing apparatus for reflecting flight form a light source, said apparatus comprising:

a reflective surface; and

,

a biased lens means located adjacent said reflective surface, said biased lens means including a front surface having a plurality of half spherical indentations,

wherein light from said light source passes through said biased lens means, si reflected off said reflective surface, and passes back through said biased lens mean in the approximate direction of said light source.

20. A reflective sign apparatus for reflecting light form a light source, said apparatus comprising:

a reflective surface; and

,

a biased lens means located adjacent said reflective surface, said biased lens means having a plurality of quarter cylindrical indentations,

wherein light from said light source passes through said biased lens means, is reflected off said reflective surface, and passes back through said biased lens mean in the approximate direction of said light source.

21. A reflective sign apparatus for reflecting light form a light source, said apparatus comprising:

a reflective surface; and

,

a biased lens means located adjacent said reflective surface, said biased lens means including a plurality of half cylindrical indentations,

wherein light form said light source passes through said biased lens means, is reflected off said reflective surface, and passes back through said biased lens means in the approximate direction of said light source.

22. A reflective sign apparatus for reflecting light form a light source, said apparatus comprising:

a reflective surface; and

,

a biased lens means located adjacent said reflective surface, including a front surface having a plurality of quarter cylindrical indentations,

wherein light form said light source passes through said biased lens means, is reflected off said reflective surface, and passes back through said biased lens means in the approximate direction of said light source.