Metallized retroreflective sheeting with increased daytime brightness
View Patent ↗A retroreflective sheeting ( 10 ) comprising a cube layer ( 20 ) having a front light-receiving surface ( 30 ) and a rear retroreflecting surface ( 32 ), and a metallic layer ( 22 ) covering the rear retroreflecting surface ( 32 ). The rear surface ( 32 ) comprises an array of retroreflective elements ( 34 ) and diffusing patches ( 36 ) within such array (without retroreflective elements ( 34 )). The metallic layer ( 22 ) covers the retroreflective elements ( 34 ) and the diffusing patches ( 36 ), whereby diffusing patches ( 36 ) scatter incoming light increasing daytime brightness to a desired level.
1. A method of making the tool plate ( 62 ), said method comprising the steps of:
providing a substrate ( 60 ) having a topography with forming elements ( 64 ) corresponding to an array of the retroreflective elements ( 34 );
charting patch-location regions, corresponding to a desired brightness and brightness, in the topography; and
modifying the patch-location regions to remove the forming elements ( 64 ) therein.
2. A method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the element-removing step comprises the application of energy.
3. A method as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the energy-applying step is selected from a group including electrical energy and thermal energy.
4. A method as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the energy-applying step melts or otherwise disintegrates the effected forming elements ( 64 ).
5. A method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the element-removing step comprises the application of chemicals.
6. A method as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the chemical-applying step comprises administering an acidic chemical to the patch-location regions to dissolve the forming elements ( 64 ).
7. A method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the element-removing step comprises the application of pressure.
8. A method as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the pressure-applying step comprises flattening the forming elements ( 64 ) within the patch-location regions.
9. A method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the element-removing step comprises mechanical erosion.
10. A method as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the mechanical eroding step comprises engraving the patch-location regions.
11. A method as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the mechanical eroding step comprises cutting the patch-location regions.
12. A method as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the mechanical eroding step comprises particle-impingement of the patch-location regions.
13. A method as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the mechanical eroding step comprises drilling of the patch-location regions.