Protective overlay bearing a graphic and retroreflective articles comprising the overlay

US8506095B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY · US

Inventors

• Chester A. Bacon, Jr. · Oakdale, US
• Bradley R. Ray · Woodbury, US
• Stewart H. Corn · Windom, US
• Timothy S. Skogland · Scandia, US
• Thomas G. Cheesebrow · Hugo, US
• Michael J. Petrich · Lake Elmo, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 20, 2009
• Grant date: Aug 13, 2013
• Expiry date: Apr 4, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B5/128
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A transfer article, a retroreflective article and methods of making the same. The transfer article can include an overlay. The retroreflective article can include an optical layer and an overlay. The optical layer can include a front surface and a rear surface, and can include retroreflective optical elements. The overlay can include a front surface and a rear surface adapted to be coupled to the front surface of a substrate, such as the optical layer. The overlay can further include a graphic, such that the graphic is buried with respect to the front surface of the overlay. A method of making the retroreflective article can include applying a graphic to the rear surface of the overlay, and coupling the overlay bearing the graphic to the front surface of a substrate, such as the optical layer.