Method and apparatus to prevent ghosting in a recycled road sign

• US 8,096,072 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2010
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Safety Signs
• Original Assignee: Safety Signs
• Inventors: Blanchard, Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): Davis, Casandra
• Application Number:
  US12/774,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20100208345A1
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 405/94, 406/12, 406/30, 406/00
• US Class Current: 40/612
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/00 Signs, name or number plates, letters, numerals, or symbols vehicle registration number plates B60R13/10; Panels or boards show-cards G09F1/00; indicating arrangements for variable information G09F9/00, G09F11/00; illuminated signs G09F13/00; boards for notices or posters G09F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor

Abstract

One example embodiment disclosed herein includes a sign substrate including a front side and a back side, a reflective traffic sign layer to reflect a light to display a traffic message to traffic, the reflective traffic sign layer coupled to the front side of the sign substrate, a light blocking layer masking the reflective traffic sign layer to prevent the light from reflecting a ghost image of the message through the light blocking layer to the traffic and a replacement reflective traffic sign layer disposed on top of the light blocking layer, the replacement reflective traffic sign layer to reflect the light to display a reflected replacement message to the traffic.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

uninstalling a reflective traffic sign;

laminating a light blocking layer onto a reflective portion of the reflective traffic sign;

preventing light from reflecting from the reflective portion with the light blocking layer;

and

laminating a replacement traffic sign layer onto the light blocking reflective layer,

wherein laminating the light blocking layer onto the reflective portion of the reflective traffic sign includes adhering the light blocking layer onto the reflective portion of the reflective traffic sign, and further comprising;

pre-applying an adhesive to the light blocking layer; and

peeling off a release layer from the light blocking layer prior to adhering the light blocking layer onto the reflective portion of the reflective traffic sign.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein laminating the replacement traffic sign layer onto the light blocking reflective layer includes fusing the replacement traffic sign layer onto the light blocking reflective layer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein fusing the replacement traffic sign layer onto the light blocking reflective layer occurs at a field location.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein uninstalling the reflective traffic sign includes uninstalling the reflective traffic sign from a field location,

wherein laminating the light blocking layer onto the reflective portion of the reflective traffic sign includes laminating the light blocking layer onto the reflective portion of the reflective traffic sign at the field location, and

wherein laminating the replacement traffic sign layer onto the light blocking reflective layer occurs at the field location.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein laminating the replacement traffic sign layer onto the light blocking reflective layer includes adhering the replacement traffic sign layer onto the light blocking reflective layer with an adhesive, and further comprising:

pre-applying the adhesive to the replacement traffic sign layer; and

peeling off a release layer from the replacement traffic sign layer prior to adhering the replacement traffic sign layer onto the light blocking reflective layer.

6. A method comprising:

uninstalling a reflective traffic sign;

laminating a light blocking layer onto a reflective portion of the reflective traffic sign;

preventing light from reflecting from the reflective portion with the light blocking layer; and

laminating a replacement traffic sign layer onto the light blocking reflective layer, wherein laminating the replacement traffic sign layer onto the light blocking reflective layer includes adhering the replacement traffic sign layer onto the light blocking reflective layer with an adhesive;

pre-applying the adhesive to the replacement traffic sign layer; and

peeling off a release from the replacement traffic sign layer prior to adhering the replacement traffic sign layer onto the light blocking reflective layer.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein laminating the replacement traffic sign layer onto the light blocking reflective layer includes fusing the replacement traffic sign layer onto the light blocking reflective layer.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein fusing the replacement traffic sign layer onto the light blocking reflective layer occurs at a field location.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein uninstalling the reflective traffic sign includes uninstalling the reflective traffic sign from a field location,

wherein laminating the light blocking layer onto a reflective portion of the reflective traffic sign includes laminating the light blocking layer onto the reflective portion of the reflective traffic sign at the field location, and

wherein laminating the replacement traffic sign layer onto the light blocking reflective layer occurs at the field location.