US 12,271,010 B2
Retroreflective article comprising locally-laminated reflective layers
Kevin W. Gotrik, Hudson, WI (US); Kui Chen-Ho, Woodbury, MN (US); Scott J. Jones, Woodbury, MN (US); Michael A McCoy, St. Paul, MN (US); Christopher A. Merton, St. Louis Park, MN (US); Shri Niwas, Maple Grove, MN (US); Ramasubramani Kuduva Raman Thanumoorthy, Woodbury, MN (US); and Ying Xia, Woodbury, MN (US)
Assigned to 3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US)
Filed by 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY, St. Paul, MN (US)
Filed on May 12, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/742,867.
Application 17/742,867 is a continuation of application No. 15/733,033, granted, now 11,366,252, previously published as PCT/US2018/057553, filed on Oct. 25, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/739,506, filed on Oct. 1, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/578,343, filed on Oct. 27, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2022/0276417 A1, Sep. 1, 2022
Int. Cl. G02B 5/128 (2006.01); A41D 31/32 (2019.01); B32B 37/00 (2006.01); B32B 37/26 (2006.01); B32B 38/10 (2006.01); C03C 12/02 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 5/128 (2013.01) [A41D 31/325 (2019.02); B32B 37/0076 (2013.01); B32B 37/025 (2013.01); B32B 38/10 (2013.01); C03C 12/02 (2013.01); B32B 2037/268 (2013.01); B32B 2305/073 (2013.01); B32B 2305/30 (2013.01); B32B 2307/416 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of making an intermediate article comprising a plurality of transparent microspheres at least some of which comprise a locally-laminated, isolated reflective layer, the method comprising:
bringing areas of a pre-made reflective layer into contact with portions of protruding areas of at least some transparent microspheres that are borne by a carrier layer and that are partially embedded therein;
physically transferring the areas of the pre-made reflective layer to the portions of the protruding areas of the transparent microspheres with which the areas of the pre-made reflective layer are in contact, so that the transferred areas of the pre-made reflective layer are bonded to the portions of the protruding areas of the transparent microspheres;
wherein during the physically transferring process, the physically transferred areas of the pre-made reflective layer are detached from regions of the pre-made reflective layer that previously laterally surrounded the physically transferred areas, with the regions of the pre-made reflective layer that previously laterally surrounded the physically transferred areas not being transferred and not being present in the intermediate article.