Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Layer or component removable to expose adhesive – Capsule or particulate matter containing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-12
2004-02-24
Pyon, Harold (Department: 1772)
Stock material or miscellaneous articles
Layer or component removable to expose adhesive
Capsule or particulate matter containing
C428S042100, C428S141000, C428S143000, C428S325000, C428S913000, C359S515000, C359S534000, C359S536000, C359S538000, C359S540000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06696126
ABSTRACT:
STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST
The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to methods, apparatuses and compositions for improving visibility, more particularly for improving visibility of objects or locations by implementing visually enhancing materials.
There are numerous settings wherein it is desirable to enhance the visibility of associated markings or demarcations. For instance, emergency signage should be sufficiently visible, under exigent circumstances, so as to provide guidance for locating exits, pathways or escape routes. Ladders, barriers, roadway markings, etc., should be clearly defined at construction sites. Aircraft landing aids should be appreciable to the pilot above under various adverse conditions.
Photoluminescent (sometimes abbreviated “luminescent”) materials, photoreflective materials (sometimes abbreviated “reflective”) and retroreflective materials have each been used effectively in a variety of applications for signage and similar delineative purposes. See, e.g., the following United States patents, each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference: Anders U.S. Pat. No. 5,874,491 issued Feb. 23, 1999; Palazzotto U.S. Pat. No. 5,822,120 issued Oct. 13, 1998; Kozak et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,187 issued Feb. 23 1999; Bilingsley U.S. Pat. No. 5,812,317 issued Sep. 22, 1998; Murakami et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,811,174 issued Sep. 22, 1998; Hedblom U.S. Pat. No. 5,777,791 issued Jul. 7, 1998; Nakajima U.S. Pat. No. 5,777,790 issued Jul. 7, 1998; Moriyama et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,770,111 issued Jun. 23, 1998; Tanaka et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,759,671 issued Jun. 2, 1998; Hachey et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,191 issued May 12, 1998; Yonetani U.S. Pat. No. 5,698,301 issued Dec. 16, 1997; Murayama et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,686,022 issued Nov. 11 1997; Wyckoff U.S. Pat. No. 5,670,209 issued Sep. 23, 1997; Anders U.S. Pat. No. 5,665,793 issued Sep. 9, 1997; Kozak et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,497 issued Aug. 26, 1997; Ishihara U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,621 issued Mar. 4, 1997; Bernard U.S. Pat. No. 5,592,330 issued Jan. 7, 1997; Brown et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,586,787 issued Dec. 24, 1996; Wyckoff U.S. Pat. No. 5,576,097 issued Nov. 19, 1996; Hachey et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,362 issued Nov. 9, 1996; Kozak et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,227 issued May 14, 1996; Murayama et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,424,006 issued Jun. 13, 1995; Hachey et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,515 issued May 23, 1995; Zampa et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,911 issued May 16, 1995; Bradshaw U.S. Pat. No. 5,268,789 issued Dec. 7, 1993; Hedblom U.S. Pat. No. 5,227,221 issued Jul. 13, 1993; Bailey et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,272 issued Nov. 12, 1991; Dejaiffe U.S. Pat. No. 4,983,458 issued Jan. 8, 1991; Kuney U.S. Pat. No. 4,957,335 issued Sep. 18, 1990; Wood et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,772,511 issued Sep. 20, 1998; Lange U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,469 issued Jul. 18, 1988; Lange U.S. Pat. No. 4,564,556 issued Jan. 14, 1986; Quon U.S. Pat. No. 4,546,042 issued Oct. 8, 1985; Trachtenberg U.S. Pat. No. 4,250,646 issued Feb. 17, 1981; Jack et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,989,775 issued Nov. 2, 1976; Bingham U.S. Pat. No. 3,700,305 issued Oct. 24, 1972.
Each kind of visual enhancement material has something different to offer. Retroreflectors are especially effective when light which is impinging thereon is coming from the direction of the observer, as is the case, for example, of a nighttime driver when the light from his motor vehicle's headlights impinges on a traffic sign. Reflectors are especially effective when light which is impinging thereon is coming from a different direction from that of the observer and reflects in the direction of the observer, as is the case, for example, of a nighttime driver when the light from his motor vehicle's headlights misses a traffic sign, but the light from another source (or other sources) impinges on the traffic sign. Luminescents (e.g., phosphorescents, fluorescents and bioluminescents), which derive energy from one or more non-thermal sources and emit their own light, are especially effective under near dark or very dimly lit conditions. Typically, a conventional visual enhancer will be adapted to a particular application in terms of certain anticipated conditions and circumstances; nevertheless, the conventional visual enhancer may still prove deficient on a significant number of occasions or on a too frequent basis.
Moreover, there are certain situations wherein safety is only limitedly furthered by visual indication, albeit such visual indication is imbued with photoluminescent, photoreflective or retroreflective characteristic. For example, in many emergency situations lighting is obscured by smoke or chemicals, thus reducing or thwarting the effectiveness of the photoluminescent, photoreflective or retroreflective indicator. Floors, steps (e.g., stair treads), ladderways, aircraft landing areas, etc., are contexts wherein safety can be augmented by affording manual and/or pedal tactility of a particular indicator, in addition to visibility thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide signs, markers and like articles which are optimally visible when impinged upon by light under a variety of deficient visual conditions.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such signs, markers and like articles which are readily appreciable both visually and tactilely.
A further object of the present invention is to provide methods of making such signs, markers and like articles.
It is another object of the present invention to provide compositions, for being applied to objects in liquid form as a coating therefor, wherein the applied compositions are optimally visible when impinged upon by light under a variety of deficient visual conditions.
A further object of this invention is to provide such compositions wherein the applied compositions are readily appreciable both visually and tactilely.
Another object of this invention is to provide methods of making such compositions.
A further object of the present invention is to provide auxiliary devices for adhering to objects so as to be optimally visible when impinged upon by light under a variety of deficient visual conditions.
It is another object of this invention to provide such auxiliary devices which are readily appreciable both visually and tactilely.
A further object of this invention is to provide methods of making such auxiliary devices.
In accordance with many embodiments of the present invention, an article or device comprises a particulate-containing matrix. The particulate-containing matrix includes: a resinous matrix material; a plurality of retroreflective spheres; a plurality of photoreflective pigments; and, a plurality of photoluminescent pigments. The resinous matrix material contains the retroreflective spheres, the photoreflective pigments and the photoluminescent pigments. The resinous matrix material has a matrix surface portion which is exposable to light from an exterior source. The retroreflective spheres generally are disposed protrudingly at the matrix surface portion. The photoreflective pigments and the photoluminescent pigments generally are disposed beneath the matrix surface portion. According to some such inventive embodiments, the particulate-containing matrix further includes a plurality of abrasive elements (e.g., abrasive grit such as but not limited to aluminum oxide, silica and carbide). The resinous matrix material contains the abrasive elements. The abrasive elements generally are disposed protrudingly at the matrix surface.
In accordance with many inventive embodiments, a method for visually enhancing an object comprises: providing a resinous matrix material which is in an uncured liquid state; mixing photoluminescent pigments in the resinous matrix material; providing photoluminescent pigments; providing photoreflective pigments; mi
Fischer Eugene C.
Holder Albert G.
Sowell Dale A.
Wehrle John P.
Chevalier Alicia
Kaiser Howard
Pyon Harold
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
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