Methods of making a master and replicas thereof
US6843571B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 11, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jan 18, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 11, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/2457
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The invention relates to methods of making a master and replicas thereof including tooling and retroreflective sheeting. The invention further relates to the corresponding master, tooling and in particular retroreflective sheeting. The method comprises forming V-shaped grooves in a substrate (e.g. metal plate) wherein the intersections of three grooves form cube-corner elements. The cube-corner elements are substantially the same size throughout the array. The master as well as corresponding tooling and sheeting preferably have an average groove spacing within the range of about 0.0005 inches (0.0127 mm) to about 0.007 inches (0.1778 mm) throughout the array and more preferably an average groove spacing of less than about 0.004 inches (0.1016 mm).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.