Retroreflective article and method of making the same

US5474827A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company · US

Inventors

• Michael D. Crandall · North Oaks, US
• Allen L. Griggs · Windom, US
• Peter M. Olofson · Oakdale, US
• Taun L. McKenzie · Hugo, US
• Theresa M. WATSCHKE · Windom, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 23, 1994
• Grant date: Dec 12, 1995
• Expiry date: Mar 23, 2014

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T428/31938
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A retroreflective article (100, 200, 300) includes a monolayer of retroreflective elements (120, 220, 320), a binder layer (110, 210, 310), and a compound comprising an aromatic bidentate moiety. The retroreflective elements (120, 220, 320) are partially embedded in the binder layer (110, 210, 310), and the compound is chemically associated with the retroreflective elements (120, 220, 320) to provide extraordinary laundering durability to the retroreflective article (100, 200, 300).