Optical: systems and elements – Signal reflector – 3-corner retroreflective
Reexamination Certificate
2005-04-12
2005-04-12
Phan, James (Department: 2872)
Optical: systems and elements
Signal reflector
3-corner retroreflective
C359S529000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06877866
ABSTRACT:
A retroreflective structure is disclosed that has cube corner retroreflective elements. The structure includes a first array of retroreflective elements oriented in a first direction within a plane and a second array of retroreflective elements oriented in a second direction within the plane, wherein said second direction being about 90° to said first direction. The structure further includes a third array of retroreflective elements oriented in a third direction within the plane, wherein said third direction being about 180° to said first direction and a fourth array of retroreflective elements oriented in a fourth direction being about 270° to said first direction. In one embodiment, the retroreflective structure includes the retroreflective elements having cube corner elements having a pitch between elements in the range of between about 0.0035 and 0.0045 inches (0.088 and 0.114 millimeters). In a preferred embodiment, the retroreflective structure includes a metalized layer on the facet side of the retroreflective elements for specular reflection, and the retroreflective elements are tilted by about −3 degrees.
REFERENCES:
patent: 835648 (1906-11-01), Straubel
patent: 1591572 (1926-07-01), Stimson
patent: 2022639 (1935-11-01), Stimson
patent: 2055298 (1936-09-01), Leray
patent: 2161842 (1939-06-01), Allison, Sr.
patent: 2310790 (1943-02-01), Jungersen
patent: 2380447 (1945-07-01), Jungersen
patent: 2538638 (1951-01-01), Wilson
patent: 2911682 (1959-11-01), Ewald
patent: 3258840 (1966-07-01), Hedgewick et al.
patent: 3399477 (1968-09-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 3450459 (1969-06-01), Haggerty
patent: 3469898 (1969-09-01), Altman
patent: 3541606 (1970-11-01), Heenan et al.
patent: 3684348 (1972-08-01), Rowland
patent: 3689346 (1972-09-01), Rowland
patent: 3712706 (1973-01-01), Stamm
patent: 3810804 (1974-05-01), Rowland
patent: 3811983 (1974-05-01), Rowland
patent: 3830682 (1974-08-01), Rowland
patent: 3833285 (1974-09-01), Heenan
patent: 3873184 (1975-03-01), Heenan
patent: 3887268 (1975-06-01), Golden et al.
patent: 3893747 (1975-07-01), Nagel
patent: 3923378 (1975-12-01), Heenan
patent: 3924929 (1975-12-01), Holmen et al.
patent: 3924958 (1975-12-01), Rowland
patent: 3935359 (1976-01-01), Rowland
patent: 3975083 (1976-08-01), Rowland
patent: 3992080 (1976-11-01), Rowland
patent: 4025159 (1977-05-01), McGrath
patent: RE29396 (1977-09-01), Heenan
patent: 4066331 (1978-01-01), Lindner
patent: 4182548 (1980-01-01), Searight et al.
patent: 4202600 (1980-05-01), Burke et al.
patent: 4243618 (1981-01-01), Van Arnam
patent: 4244683 (1981-01-01), Rowland
patent: 4297051 (1981-10-01), Robinson
patent: 4332847 (1982-06-01), Rowland
patent: 4349598 (1982-09-01), White
patent: 4460449 (1984-07-01), Montalbano
patent: 4478769 (1984-10-01), Pricone et al.
patent: 4519675 (1985-05-01), Bar-Yonah
patent: 4533592 (1985-08-01), Bingham
patent: 4555161 (1985-11-01), Rowland
patent: 4576850 (1986-03-01), Martens
patent: 4582885 (1986-04-01), Barber
patent: 4588258 (1986-05-01), Hoopman
patent: 4618518 (1986-10-01), Pricone et al.
patent: 4633567 (1987-01-01), Montalbano
patent: 4668558 (1987-05-01), Barber
patent: 4775219 (1988-10-01), Appeldorn et al.
patent: 4801193 (1989-01-01), Martin
patent: 4875798 (1989-10-01), May
patent: 4895428 (1990-01-01), Nelson et al.
patent: 4938563 (1990-07-01), Nelson et al.
patent: 5022739 (1991-06-01), Bennett et al.
patent: 5069577 (1991-12-01), Murphy
patent: 5115343 (1992-05-01), Bennett
patent: 5117304 (1992-05-01), Huang et al.
patent: 5122902 (1992-06-01), Benson
patent: 5128787 (1992-07-01), Blonder
patent: 5138488 (1992-08-01), Szczech
patent: 5171624 (1992-12-01), Walter
patent: 5175645 (1992-12-01), Bennett et al.
patent: 5189553 (1993-02-01), Smith
patent: 5200851 (1993-04-01), Coderre et al.
patent: 5234740 (1993-08-01), Reeves et al.
patent: 5264063 (1993-11-01), Martin
patent: 5450235 (1995-09-01), Smith et al.
patent: 5467208 (1995-11-01), Kokawa et al.
patent: 5491586 (1996-02-01), Phillips
patent: 5508084 (1996-04-01), Reeves et al.
patent: 5557836 (1996-09-01), Smith et al.
patent: 5558740 (1996-09-01), Bernard et al.
patent: 5565151 (1996-10-01), Nilsen
patent: 5596429 (1997-01-01), Kokawa et al.
patent: 5637173 (1997-06-01), Martin et al.
patent: 5642222 (1997-06-01), Phillips
patent: 5648145 (1997-07-01), Martin
patent: 5706132 (1998-01-01), Nestegard et al.
patent: 5822121 (1998-10-01), Smith et al.
patent: 5898523 (1999-04-01), Smith et al.
patent: 5926314 (1999-07-01), Smith et al.
patent: 5936770 (1999-08-01), Nestegard et al.
patent: 6015214 (2000-01-01), Heenan et al.
patent: 785139 (1968-05-01), None
patent: 42 40 680 (1994-06-01), None
patent: 0 137 736 (1985-04-01), None
patent: 0 390 344 (1990-10-01), None
patent: 0 555 847 (1993-08-01), None
patent: 0 724 737 (1998-07-01), None
patent: 0 875 008 (1998-11-01), None
patent: 748 391 (1933-06-01), None
patent: 795 186 a (1936-03-01), None
patent: 2 386 059 (1978-10-01), None
patent: WO 9204647 (1992-02-01), None
patent: WO 9304858 (1993-03-01), None
patent: WO 9511464 (1995-04-01), None
patent: WO 9511465 (1995-04-01), None
patent: WO 9511466 (1995-04-01), None
patent: WO 9511471 (1995-04-01), None
patent: WO 9610148 (1996-04-01), None
patent: WO 96 10197 (1996-04-01), None
patent: WO 96 30786 (1996-10-01), None
patent: WO 9642023 (1996-12-01), None
patent: WO 9642025 (1996-12-01), None
patent: WO 9726567 (1997-07-01), None
patent: WO 9728468 (1997-08-01), None
patent: WO 9811471 (1998-03-01), None
Meeting notes from the CEN TC226/WG3 ad hoc group on sign performance at the Hans Busch Institute, Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany, on Feb. 9-10, 1993.
Sorensen, Kai, “Microprismatic Sheetings for Road Signs,” DELTA Light & Optics, Mar. 1994.
Finster, Schmidt-Clausen, “Optimum Identification of Trucks for Real Traffic Situations, Report on Research Project 1.9103 of the Federal Highways Agency,” Apr. 1992.
Notice of Opposition to European Patent EP 0 875 008 B1, date of mention of the grant in the European Patent Bulletin (Art. 97(4), 99(1)EPC) Jul. 31, 2002, from Dr. Carsten Rocke, dated Apr. 30, 2003.
Notice of Opposition to European Patent EP 0 875 008 B1, date of mention of the grant in the European Patent Bulletin (Art. 97(4), 99(1)EPC) Jul. 31, 2002, from Christopher Furlong, dated Apr. 30, 2003.
Notice of Opposition to European Patent EP 0 875 008 B1, date of mention of the grant in the European Patent Bulletin (Art. 97(4), 99(1)EPC) Jul. 31, 2002, from F. A. Brandl, dated Apr. 30, 2003.
Schumann, J., et al. “Brightness of Colored Retroreflective Materials” The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, Report No. UMTRI-96-33, Nov., 1996.
Venable, W.H. and Hale, W.N., “Color and Nighttime Pedestrian Safety Markings” Color Research and Application 21(4): 305-309, Aug., 1996.
Brochure and information regarding Stimsonite Metalized Retroreflective Sheeting sold in the United States prior to 1993.
Gauer Gary J.
Lu Xiao Jing
Nilsen Robert B.
Hamilton Brook Smith & Reynolds P.C.
Phan James
Reflexite Corporation
LandOfFree
Multi-orientation retroreflective structure does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Multi-orientation retroreflective structure, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Multi-orientation retroreflective structure will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3423948