Structured surface articles containing geometric structures with compound faces and methods for making same

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 7261425
APP PUB NO 20030133194A1
SERIAL NO

10336287

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ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)

Importance

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Abstract

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A process for making molds for retroreflective sheeting and like articles includes making a substrate having a structured surface of geometric structures such as cube corner elements. The structured surface is in one embodiment partially replicated from a previous generation structured surface, and partially machined in the substrate. At least one of the faces of the structured surface is a compound face that has one machined portion and one non-machined portion, such as a replicated portion. The process can be used to manufacture substrates with desirable geometry cube corner elements, such as cube corner elements having a hexagonal outline in plan view, without requiring the use of pin bundling techniques or laminae. The process can also be used to manufacture articles having cube corner elements in which at least one face of the cube corner element has two constituent faces disposed on opposed sides of a transition line that is nonparallel to a nondihedral edge of such cube corner element.

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY3M CENTER POST OFFICE BOX 33427 SAINT PAUL MINNESOTA 55133-3427 55133-3427

International Classification(s)

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Benson, Gerald M Woodbury, MN 71 2443
Smith, Kenneth L White Bear Lake, MN 172 4321

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