U.S. patent application number 10/727778 was filed with the patent office on 2004-06-17 for reflective slide fastener and reflective tape.
Invention is credited to Imai, Shinji.
Application Number | 20040111842 10/727778 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32310727 |
Filed Date | 2004-06-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040111842 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Imai, Shinji |
June 17, 2004 |
Reflective slide fastener and reflective tape
Abstract
In a reflective slide fastener comprising a pair of fastener
tapes, each fastener tape having a row of coupling elements fixedly
secured to and along a longitudinal edge of the fastener tape, and
reflective materials which exhibit retroreflection and are applied
to the surfaces of the fastener tapes and/or coupling elements, the
reflective materials are adapted to allow the color of the fastener
tapes and/or coupling elements to be seen therethrough. The form of
the reflective material includes a tape-like shape, a thread, and a
thread-like shape formed from a tape. The preferred reflective
material is a transparent or translucent retroreflective material
containing a reflective layer formed from a metal compound which
has permeability to light.
Inventors: |
Imai, Shinji; (Toyama-shi,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Michael S. Leonard
Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLC
P.O. Box 1135
Chicago
IL
60690-1135
US
|
Family ID: |
32310727 |
Appl. No.: |
10/727778 |
Filed: |
December 3, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/381 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 24/25 20150115;
G02B 5/128 20130101; A44B 19/34 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
024/381 |
International
Class: |
A44B 019/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 4, 2002 |
JP |
2002-352963 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A reflective slide fastener comprising: a pair of fastener tapes
each having a row of coupling elements fixedly secured to and along
a longitudinal edge of the fastener tape, and reflective materials
which exhibit retroreflection and are applied to the surfaces of
the fastener tapes and/or coupling elements, wherein said
reflective materials are adapted to allow the color of the fastener
tapes and/or coupling elements to be seen therethrough.
2. The reflective slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein said
reflective material is transparent or translucent.
3. The reflective slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein said
reflective material is a transparent or translucent retroreflective
material containing a reflective layer formed from a metal compound
which has permeability to light.
4. The reflective slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein said
reflective material is a transparent or translucent retroreflective
material containing a reflective layer formed from a metal compound
which has permeability to light and a colored reflective layer
containing a reflective pigment and being arranged under said
reflective layer.
5. A reflective tape manufactured by inweaving, interknitting or
incorporating in a tape a thread-like and/or tape-like reflective
material which exhibits retroreflection, wherein said reflective
material is adapted to allow the color of the tape to be seen
therethrough.
6. The reflective tape according to claim 5, wherein said
reflective material is transparent or translucent.
7. The reflective tape according to claim 5, wherein said
reflective tape is a transparent or translucent retroreflective
material containing a reflective layer formed from a metal compound
which has permeability to light.
8. The reflective tape according to claim 5, wherein said
reflective material is a transparent or translucent retroreflective
material containing a reflective layer formed from a metal compound
which has permeability to light and a colored reflective layer
containing a reflective pigment and being arranged under the
reflective layer.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to a reflective slide fastener and a
reflective tape, and more particularly to a reflective slide
fastener and a reflective tape which are adapted to allow the
colors of the fastener tape and/or coupling elements of a slide
fastener or various tapes to be seen through the tape attached
thereto.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Heretofore, as a reflective slide fastener and a reflective
fastener tape, a slide fastener having narrow retroreflective tapes
applied to the surfaces of the fastener tapes and/or coupling
elements thereof and a fastener tape manufactured by inweaving or
interknitting the narrow retroreflective tapes or the threads
prepared therefrom are known in the art, and various products has
been proposed till now (see Japanese Patent Publication No.
4-79242, and Japanese Patent Applications, KOKAI (Early
Publication) No. 9-228205 and No. 10-295417, for example).
[0005] In the conventional reflective slide fastener, however,
since colored retroreflective tapes exhibiting no permeability to
light are applied to the surfaces of the fastener tapes and/or
coupling elements, the color and pattern of the coupling elements
or fastener tapes of the applied portions are hidden by the
retroreflective tapes. This is because a reflective layer of the
conventional retroreflective tape is formed by the deposition or
plating of a metal such as aluminum, silver, and copper and has no
permeability to light. In the case of the deposition of silver, for
example, the reflective material has a silver color. Although it is
so satisfactory when the color of the fastener tape is the same as
or similar to this color, in the case of a different color, the
presence of the reflective material is so discernible in appearance
as to affect its design. Therefore, when the same color is required
for a fastener tape or coupling elements and a retroreflective
tape, it is necessary to manufacture the retroreflective tape while
adjusting its color, which poses a problem that the manufacture of
the tape takes a long time to complete. Moreover, for the fastener
tapes and/or coupling elements of many colors, the retroreflective
tapes having various colors should be prepared separately. In
addition thereto, there is a difference in reflection luminance
between the colors of the retroreflective fastener tapes. Such
problems are also applicable to various tapes manufactured by
inweaving or interknitting the retroreflective narrow tapes or
threads in the tapes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to
provide a reflective slide fastener and a reflective tape which
allow the color or pattern of the coupling elements and/or fastener
tape of a slide fastener or other article to be applied to be seen
without no discernible change under the conditions of the usual use
(under the conditions of exposure to diffused light, such as
sunlight) but exhibit the retroreflection when irradiated with
light (under the conditions of retroreflection) and thus do not
require to prepare the reflective materials of different colors
elaborately adapted to fit varying colors of fastener tapes and
coupling elements because they can fit the fastener tapes and
coupling elements of varying colors with one reflective
material.
[0007] To accomplish the object described above, a first aspect of
the present invention provides a reflective slide fastener
comprising a pair of fastener tapes, each fastener tape having a
row of coupling elements fixedly secured to and along a
longitudinal edge of the fastener tape, and reflective materials
which exhibit retroreflection and are applied to the surfaces of
the fastener tapes and/or coupling elements, characterized in that
the reflective materials are adapted to allow the color of the
fastener tapes and/or coupling elements to be seen
therethrough.
[0008] Here, the reflective material which exhibits retroreflection
is desired to be transparent or translucent and its form includes a
tape-like shape, a thread, and a thread-like shape formed from a
tape (hereinafter referred to collectively as "retroreflective
material"). The mode of application thereof includes adhesion or
lamination (by hot-melting), sewing, inweaving, and
interknitting.
[0009] In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a reflective tape manufactured by inweaving,
interknitting or incorporating in a tape a thread-like and/or
tape-like reflective material which exhibits retroreflection,
characterized in that the reflective material is adapted to allow
the color of the tape to be seen therethrough.
[0010] Here, the reflective tape is prepared by inweaving,
interknitting or incorporating the reflective material in a tape.
Particularly preferred is a reflective fastener tape. The
reflective fastener tape has various attachment-detachment means,
stop means, engagement means, etc. Concrete examples of the
reflective fastener tape include a surface fastener, a snap
fastener with tape (as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application,
Early Publication No. 11-318519, for example), a tape or cord for
fastening, etc. besides the fastener tape for a slide fastener.
[0011] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, in either case
mentioned above the reflective material is a transparent or
translucent retroreflective material containing a reflective layer
formed from a metal compound which has permeability to light, or a
transparent or translucent retroreflective material containing a
reflective layer formed from a metal compound which has
permeability to light and a colored reflective layer containing a
reflective pigment and being arranged under the reflective
layer.
[0012] The reflective slide fastener and the reflective tape of the
present invention are adapted to allow the color of the article to
be applied, such as fastener tapes and coupling elements, to be
seen therethrough and particularly use the transparent or
translucent retroreflective material containing the reflective
layer formed from a metal compound which has permeability to light.
Therefore, they allow the color and pattern of the coupling
elements or fastener tapes of a slide fastener, for example, to be
seen without no discernible change under the conditions of the
usual use (under the conditions of exposure to diffused light, such
as sunlight) but exhibit the retroreflection when irradiated with
light (under the conditions of retroreflection).
[0013] In the retroreflective material of the preferred embodiment
of the present invention further including the colored reflective
layer which contains the reflective pigment and is arranged under
the above-mentioned reflective layer, the reflective layer is
formed from a metal compound which has permeability to light.
Accordingly, when it is irradiated with light (under the conditions
of retroreflection), part of the incident light from above is
retroreflected by the reflective layer, and part of light which has
passed through the reflective layer is further retroreflected in
the opposite direction to the incident direction of the light by
the reflective pigments contained in the colored reflective layer.
Therefore, the satisfactorily high reflective luminance can be
realized. Further, in the case of the colored retroreflective
material provided with the colored reflective layer, since the
color of the reflected light can be adjusted to a different color
depending on the kind of pigment incorporated into the colored
reflective layer, it is possible to adjust the color of the
reflected light to a different color from that of the coupling
elements or fastener tapes of a slide fastener. On the other hand,
since the color and pattern of the coupling elements or fastener
tapes of a slide fastener can be seen without no discernible change
under the conditions of the usual use (under the conditions of
exposure to diffused light, such as sunlight), the colored
retroreflective material will not impair the appearance of the
slide fastener and enjoys excellent design.
[0014] Therefore, the reflective slide fastener and the reflective
tape of the present invention do not require to prepare the
reflective materials in various colors elaborately adapted to fit
such varying colors of fastener tapes and/or coupling elements
because they can fit fastener tapes and/or coupling elements of
varying colors with one reflective material. They also fit fastener
tapes and/or coupling elements having a design or a pattern
depicted thereon beside a color and can be widely used in various
applications.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention
will become apparent from the following description taken together
with the drawings, in which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view schematically illustrating
an embodiment of a reflective slide fastener of the present
invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view schematically
illustrating another embodiment of a reflective slide fastener of
the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view schematically illustrating
yet another embodiment of a reflective slide fastener of the
present invention;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view
schematically illustrating an embodiment of the fundamental
structure of a retroreflective material to be used in the present
invention;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view
schematically illustrating another embodiment of the fundamental
structure of a retroreflective material to be used in the present
invention;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view
schematically illustrating yet another embodiment of the
fundamental structure of a retroreflective material to be used in
the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view
schematically illustrating an embodiment of a colored
retroreflective material to be used in the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view
schematically illustrating another embodiment of a colored
retroreflective material to be used in the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view
schematically illustrating yet another embodiment of a colored
retroreflective material to be used in the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view
schematically illustrating a further embodiment of a colored
retroreflective material to be used in the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 11 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view
schematically illustrating a still further embodiment of a colored
retroreflective material to be used in the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 12 is a fragmentary plan view schematically
illustrating an embodiment of a reflective fastener tape of the
present invention having narrow retroreflective tapes woven
therein;
[0028] FIG. 13 is a fragmentary plan view schematically
illustrating an embodiment of a warp-knit tape for a reflective
slide fastener of the present invention having narrow
retroreflective tapes knitted therein; and
[0029] FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a texture of a warp-knit
tape for the reflective slide fastener shown in FIG. 13.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0030] Now, the present invention will be described more concretely
below by explaining the preferred embodiments shown in the
accompanying drawings.
[0031] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a reflective slide fastener of
the present invention which comprises a pair of stringers 3 each
having a fastener tape 1 and a row of coupling elements 2 secured
to and along a longitudinal inner edge of the fastener tape 1 at
fixed intervals. The individual coupling elements 2 are formed by
injection molding a synthetic resin material. A slider 4 is
slidably mounted on the rows of coupling elements 2 for engaging
and disengaging the coupling elements in a manner well known to
open and close the fastener. A narrow retroreflective material
(retroreflective tape) 10 is fixedly secured to the surfaces of
each raw of coupling elements 2 of this slide fastener in such a
manner that it extends in the longitudinal direction of the
fastener tape 1 over the coupling elements 2. The retroreflective
tape 10 is fixedly secured to each raw of coupling elements 2 by
adhesion, welding or sewing so as to partially cover the upper
surfaces of leg portions 2a of the coupling elements 2 and also
extend between the leg portions 2a, 2a of the adjoining coupling
elements 2. Incidentally, the retroreflective material 10 may be
secured to the upper surface only of the leg portion 2a of the
individual coupling element 2 discretely. Needless to say, the
coupling elements are not limited to those manufactured by
injection molding a synthetic resin and may be those manufactured
by extrusion molding a synthetic resin or by die-casting a metal
material.
[0032] FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the reflective slide
fastener of the present invention. In this embodiment, coiled
coupling elements 5 are attached to the inner longitudinal edges of
the respective fastener tapes 1 and the both side retroreflective
tapes 10a, 10a are brought into contact to each other when the
coiled coupling elements 5, 5 are meshed. This reflective slide
fastener is constructed such that the retroreflective surface is
formed substantially as a whole on the front surfaces of the areas
of rows of coupling elements in the meshed state and allows the
patterns in the surfaces of the fastener tapes to be seen
therethrough. The retroreflective tape may be attached to the
surface of the fastener tape other than the inner longitudinal edge
thereof as shown by the imaginary line.
[0033] FIG. 3 shows yet another embodiment of the reflective slide
fastener of the present invention. This embodiment is similar to
the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 in that the coiled coupling elements
5 are attached to the inner longitudinal edges of the respective
fastener tapes 1, but differs therefrom in that the retroreflective
tapes 10 are respectively attached to a pair of fastener tapes 1 on
both sides by adhesion or sewing in such a manner that they extend
in the longitudinal direction in parallel to each other.
[0034] Next, some embodiments of the retroreflective material
(retroreflective tape) mentioned above will be described with
reference to FIG. 4 through FIG. 11.
[0035] Incidentally, for the sake of facilitating the explanation,
FIG. 4 through FIG. 11 to be described hereinafter depict only a
fragment of the retroreflective tape extending in the planar
direction of the sheet in such a manner that spherical glass beads
are arranged regularly without being cut and each layer has a
uniform thickness in the planar direction of the layer extending.
Practically, however, the spherical glass beads may be distributed
at relatively random with some thickness, and the size of the
spherical glass beads and the thickness of each layer are not
necessarily illustrated in the exact proportion to the thickness of
other layer etc. They may be illustrated in the increased thickness
or reduced thickness for easy explanation.
[0036] FIG. 4 through FIG. 6 are fragmentary enlarged
cross-sectional views schematically illustrating the fundamental
structures of two embodiments of the retroreflective material to be
used in the present invention.
[0037] The retroreflective material 10c shown in FIG. 4 comprises a
base layer 11, a cover layer 12, spherical glass beads 13, and a
reflective layer 14 superposed sequentially in the order mentioned
from the upper part. The reflective layer 14 covers the underside
surfaces of the spherical glass beads 13 (or the surface of the
cover layer 12 in the gaps between adjoining spherical glass beads
13). That is, this retroreflective material is the type containing
spherical glass beads directly covered with a reflective layer.
[0038] On the other hand, the retroreflective material 10d shown in
FIG. 5 comprises a base layer 11, a cover layer 12a, spherical
glass beads 13, a resin layer 12b, and a reflective layer 14
superposed sequentially in the order mentioned from the upper
part.
[0039] The retroreflective material 10e shown in FIG. 6 comprises
an embossed cover layer 12 and a reflective layer 14 superposed
sequentially in the order mentioned from above, and the
undersurface of the cover layer 12 is formed by embossing it into a
multiple cubic shape.
[0040] The base layer 11 mentioned above is formed from a resin
film, such as a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) film, paper, etc.,
and may be removed from the retroreflective material at the time of
use.
[0041] The cover layers 12, 12a and the resin layer 12b mentioned
above are made of a colorless and transparent resin such as, for
example, polyurethane and polyvinyl chloride.
[0042] The reflective layer 14 mentioned above is made of a metal
compound. It is desirable that the thickness of the reflective
layer be in the approximate range of 300 .ANG. to 800 .ANG. in
order to secure the balance of the required rate of reflection
luminance and required transparency, preferably in the approximate
range of 350 .ANG. to 500 .ANG. so that the sufficient rate of
reflection luminance can be realized and the processing speed of
the vacuum deposition or sputtering may be increased to shorten the
processing time.
[0043] As the metal compound mentioned above, titanium oxide
(TiO.sub.2), bismuth oxide (Bi.sub.2O.sub.3), zirconium oxide
(ZrO.sub.2), silicon oxide (SiO.sub.2), zinc oxide (ZnO), zinc
sulfide (ZnS), etc. may be cited. These metal compounds are
colorless, have high transparency, and allow processing for forming
a thin reflective layer by vacuum deposition etc. Among other metal
compounds, particularly titanium oxide is desirable from the
viewpoint that it can be deposited in a controlled thickness of the
layer by the sputtering process, and zinc oxide is desirable from
the viewpoint that it allows the formation of a reflective layer
more quickly and at a low cost.
[0044] Such retroreflective materials can be manufactured by the
conventional manufacturing methods.
[0045] For example, in the case of the retroreflective material 10c
shown in FIG. 4, polyurethane is applied to the upper surface
(hereinafter explained by turning the arrangement shown in FIG. 4
upside down) of the base layer 11 to form the cover layer 12
thereon, the spherical glass beads 13 are spread on the cover
layer, and the cover layer is heated to about 80.degree. C. to
about 100.degree. C. so that the spherical glass beads 13 may be
partially embedded in polyurethane (cover layer 12). After the
cover layer 12 has cooled down and hardened, a metal compound such
as titanium oxide is deposited on the hemisphere surfaces of the
spherical glass beads 13 opposite to the portions embedded in the
cover layer 12 to the extent of predetermined thickness, thereby
forming the reflective layer 14 thereon.
[0046] In the case of the retroreflective material 10d shown in
FIG. 5, after the lower portions of the spherical glass beads 13
are embedded in the cover layer 12a in the same way as mentioned
above, a polyurethane resin is applied to the glass beads to form
the resin layer 12b thereon. The thickness of the resin layer 12b
is precisely controlled based on the focal distance of the
spherical glass bead 13. Then, titanium oxide or the like is
deposited on the upper surface of the resin layer 12b to the extent
of predetermined thickness, thereby forming the reflective layer 14
thereon.
[0047] On the other hand, in the case of the retroreflective
material 10e shown in FIG. 6, the cover layer 12 subjected to
embossing by means of a micro-cube mold is firstly formed, and then
a metal compound such as titanium oxide is deposited on the upper
surface (undersurface in FIG. 6, the same holds good for the
following description) of the cover layer, thereby forming the
reflective layer 14 thereon.
[0048] The retroreflective material to be used in the present
invention may be provided with a patterned layer. If the patterned
layer is transparent or translucent, since the pattern will be seen
in the state that it is colored thinly with the color of the base
material, it is possible to maintain the identity of color. Some
examples of such colored retroreflective material are shown in FIG.
7 through FIG. 11.
[0049] A colored retroreflective material 10f shown in FIG. 7
comprises a base layer 11, a cover layer 12, spherical glass beads
13, a reflective layer 14, and a colored reflective layer 15
superposed sequentially in the order mentioned from the upper part.
This colored retroreflective material is welded to an article "A"
to be applied, such as coupling elements and fastener tapes.
Incidentally, when the retroreflective material is not constructed
as the colored retroreflective material, the colored reflective
layer 15 may be formed as a colorless and transparent layer.
[0050] On the other hand, the colored retroreflective material 10g
shown in FIG. 8 comprises a base layer 11, a cover layer 12,
spherical glass beads 13, a reflective layer 14, a colored
reflective layer 15, and an adhesive layer 16 superposed
sequentially in the order mentioned from the upper part and this
colored retroreflective material is adhered to an article "A" to be
applied. Although the adhesive layer 16 is colorless and
transparent, it may be colored unless its transparency is
impaired.
[0051] The colored retroreflective material 10f shown in FIG. 7 has
the colored reflective layer 15 laminated on the underside of the
reflective layer 14, and the colored retroreflective material 10g
shown in FIG. 8 has further the adhesive layer 16 applied to the
colored reflective layer. Incidentally, the adhesive layer 16 has
been covered with a release paper (not shown) prior to the
application to the article.
[0052] The colored reflective layer 15 is made of a transparent
resin containing a reflective pigment. As the reflective pigment,
any pigments usually used for the conventional retroreflective tape
may be used. As concrete examples thereof, mica, a pearl powder, a
colored pearl powder, an aluminum powder, etc. may be cited. In
proportion as the amount of the reflective pigment increases, the
luminance of the colored retroreflective material naturally
increases, but the fastness properties thereof may decrease
conversely. Accordingly, the amount of the reflective pigment is
preferred to be in the approximate range of 10 to 30% by weight,
preferably about 20% by weight, of the total weight of the colored
reflective layer, though depending on the kind of reflective
pigment.
[0053] Further, the above-mentioned colored reflective layer may be
made of a transparent resin containing a coloring pigment and/or a
dye. For example, the colored reflective layer may be produced by
coloring a transparent resin such as polyurethane, polyethylene,
polyester, and silicone resin used as a base material with a
coloring pigment and/or a dye and incorporating a reflective
pigment thereinto. Although the dye and the coloring pigment are
not restricted to the particular kinds insofar as they can color
the base material, it is desirable to select dyes and pigments of
high transparency. As typical examples thereof, organic pigments
such as isoindolinone, chlorinated copper phthalocyanine,
phthalocyanine, disazo, and anthraquinone may be cited. The color
of the colored reflective layer is substantially not restricted to
a particular one and may be selected from all the colors including
white, black, and also a metallic color. For example, the colored
retroreflective material of high whiteness can be obtained by
selecting titanium oxide (TiO.sub.2) powder as the coloring
pigment. Particularly in the case of the inorganic pigment like the
colored pearl pigment, the reflective pigment may be tinged with
color.
[0054] The colored retroreflective material 10h shown in FIG. 9 is
a modification of the colored retroreflective material 10g shown in
FIG. 8 mentioned above. It comprises a base layer 11, a cover layer
12a, spherical glass beads 13, a reflective layer 14, a colored
reflective layer 15 in combination with a colored layer 17, and an
adhesive layer 16 superposed sequentially in the order mentioned
from the upper part and this colored retroreflective material is
adhered to an article "A" (coupling elements, fastener tapes, etc.)
to be applied. Incidentally, the adhesive layer 16 has been covered
with a release paper (not shown) prior to the application to the
article. The formation of the colored reflective layer 15 and the
colored layer 17 may be performed by a conventional printing
technique, such as offset printing, gravure printing, and silk
screen printing. The colored reflective layer and/or the colored
layer may also be a colorless and transparent layer or any layer
having the other function, such as an adhesive layer.
[0055] The colored reflective layer 15 has a different color from
the colored layer 17 and thus one can see the pattern under the
conditions of diffused light. Further, since the colored reflective
layer 15 contains a pearl pigment etc., the portion of the colored
reflective layer 15 has a higher rate of retroreflection luminance
as compared with that of the portion of the colored layer 17.
Therefore, one can visually confirm the pattern also under the
retroreflective conditions. Although in this embodiment the colored
retroreflective material contains the colored layer 17 in addition
to the colored reflective layer 15, it is needless to say that
another colored reflective layer 15 of a different color may be
formed in place of the colored layer 17 so that another pattern
appears.
[0056] In the manufacture of the colored retroreflective material
10h shown in FIG. 9, the reflective material having the structure
shown in FIG. 4 is firstly prepared, then the colored reflective
layer 15 and the colored layer 17 are applied to the reflective
layer 14 by a screen printing process, and the adhesive layer 16
and a release paper are further adhered thereon. In the case of the
open type, the base layer 11 and the cover layer 12 are separated
therefrom. At the time of use, the release paper is removed and the
adhesive layer 16 is brought into close contact with the article
"A" to be applied.
[0057] Incidentally, in the case of the colored retroreflective
materials shown in FIG. 7 through FIG. 9 mentioned above, as the
spherical glass beads 13 arranged under the cover layer 12, those
having a refractive index of about 1.9 are selected. For example, a
refractive index is 1.92 and a diameter is in the approximate range
of 38-50 .mu.m or 45-90 .mu.m, for example. When the spherical
glass bead 13 of this refractive index is used, a focal point is in
agreement with the surface of the lower hemisphere of the spherical
glass bead 13, as shown in FIG. 7 through FIG. 9.
[0058] In the colored retroreflective materials shown in FIG. 7
through FIG. 9 mentioned above, since the base layer 11, the cover
layer 12, the spherical glass beads 13, and the reflective layer 14
are all transparent and further the colored reflective layer 15 and
the colored layer 17 are also transparent or translucent though
they are colored, the color and design of the article A (fastener
elements, fastener tape, etc.) to be applied can be visually
confirmed from above without no discernible change under the
conditions of diffused light. Under the conditions of
retroreflection, the incident light from above is refracted as it
passes through the spherical glass bead 13, part of the incident
light is reflected at the upper surface of the reflective layer 14
lying under the spherical glass beads 13 and thus retroreflected at
the same angle as that of incidence. Further, part of the light
passes through the reflective layer 14 and reaches the colored
reflective layer 15 (further the colored layer 17 in the case of
the embodiment shown in FIG. 9). Part of the light which has
reached the colored reflective layer 15 is reflected by the
reflective pigment, such as a pearl pigment, and retroreflected
through the spherical glass bead 13 again. Part of the light which
has passed through the reflective layer 14 and reached the colored
layer 17 diffuses in the colored layer and is absorbed thereby.
Since the pattern formed by the colored reflective layer 15 and the
colored layer 17 reflects the luminance of retroreflection as it
is, the pattern formed can be visually confirmed even under the
retroreflective conditions.
[0059] The colored retroreflective material 10i shown in FIG. 10
comprises a base layer 11, a cover layer 12a, spherical glass beads
13, a resin layer 12b, a reflective layer 14, a colored reflective
layer 15 in combination with a colored layer 17, and an adhesive
layer 16 superposed sequentially in the order mentioned from the
upper part and this colored retroreflective material is adhered to
an article "A" to be applied.
[0060] In this colored retroreflective material 10i, the glass bead
of a refractive index of 2.2, for example, is used as the spherical
glass bead 13 and, therefore, the focal point of the spherical
glass bead 13 is at a position outside at a distant from the
surface of the spherical glass bead 13. Therefore, under the
retroreflective conditions, the incident light from above passes
through the base layer 11 and the cover layer 12a, is refracted at
the interface between the spherical glass beads 13 and the cover
layer 12a and further refracted at the interface between the
spherical glass beads 13 and the resin layer 12b, passes through
the resin layer 12b, and reaches the upper surface of the flat
reflective layer 14. Part of the light undergoes the specular
reflection at the upper surface of the flat reflective layer 14, is
reflected at the same angle as that of the incidence, passes
through the resin layer 12b, the spherical glass bead 13, the cover
layer 12a, and the base layer 11, and is retroreflected at the same
angle as that of the incidence. Another part of the light passes
through the reflective layer 14 and reaches the colored reflective
layer 15 and the colored layer 17. Part of the light which has
reached the colored reflective layer 15 is reflected by the
reflective pigment contained in the colored reflective layer 15 and
retroreflected by passing through the upper layers again. Part of
the light which has reached the colored layer 17 diffuses in the
colored layer and is absorbed thereby. The pattern formed by the
colored reflective layer 15 and the colored layer 17 can be
visually confirmed even under the retroreflective conditions owing
to the difference in luminance thereof.
[0061] The colored retroreflective material 10j shown in FIG. 11
comprises a cover layer 12 having the undersurface embossed into a
multiple cubic shape, a reflective layer 14, a colored reflective
layer 15, and an adhesive layer 16, and this colored
retroreflective material is adhered to an article "A" to be
applied. The colored reflective layer 15 extends discontinuously in
the planar direction. The underside of the colored reflective layer
15 is covered with the adhesive layer 16 so that the colored
reflective layer 15 may not touch the article "A" to be applied.
Although the adhesive layer 16 is colorless and transparent, it may
be colored unless its transparency is impaired.
[0062] In the manufacture of this colored retroreflective material
10j, first the cover layer 12 is formed by subjecting to embossing
by means of a micro-cube mold, and then a metal compound such as
titanium oxide is deposited on the upper surface (undersurface in
FIG. 11) of the cover layer, thereby forming the reflective layer
14 thereon. Further, the colored reflective layer 15 is partially
printed on the upper surface of the reflective layer 14.
Thereafter, the adhesive layer 16 is applied to the upper surfaces
of the reflective layer 14 and the colored reflective layer 15, and
the adhesive layer is covered with a release paper (not shown). The
colored retroreflective material 10j is attached to the article "A"
to be applied by removing the release paper and bonding the
adhesive layer 16 onto the surface of the article "A".
[0063] In the colored retroreflective material 10j having the
structure mentioned above, the color and design of the article A
can be visually confirmed under the conditions of diffused light.
Under the retroreflective conditions, part of the incident light
from above undergoes the specular reflection at the reflective
layer 14 and again undergoes the specular reflection at the
reflective layer 14, and is retroreflected in the opposite
direction to that of the incidence. Although part of the light
passes through the reflective layer 14 in any case of reflection
occurred twice, since part of the transmitted light is reflected by
the colored reflective layer 15, part of the light is
retroreflected in the opposite direction to that of the
incidence.
[0064] The retroreflective materials as mentioned above may be
formed into the shape of a narrow tape or thread by cutting the
sheet-like material, or the retroreflective thread can be
manufactured by twisting the narrow tape. Further, the colored
reflective layer may also be colorless and can be subjected to the
piece dyeing after the product such as a fabric and a twisted yarn
is manufactured by cutting the material. If the fabric containing
the conventional retroreflective tape using aluminum as the
reflective layer is subjected to dyeing, relax processing, etc.,
the reflective performance will decrease because aluminum is
attacked by acids and alkalis. On the contrary, since the
reflective layer used in the present invention consists of a metal
compound, it can considerably withstand the attack by acids and
alkalis. The high degree of resistance to washing of clothing is
also very important for the clothing provided with a slide fastener
or a fastener tape using the retroreflective material.
[0065] Next, some embodiments of the woven or knitted fastener
tapes prepared by using the retroreflective material (narrow tape
or thread) will be described.
[0066] FIG. 12 shows a reflective fastener tape 20 having a narrow
retroreflective tape woven therein. When warp yarns 21 and weft
yarns 22 of a synthetic fiber such as polyamide and polyester are
woven by means of a needle loom, the narrow retroreflective tape
10k is woven therein to form a reflective part. Incidentally, the
reflective part may also be formed by inweaving a plurality of
narrow retroreflective tapes arranged in parallel by the weft yarns
at the intervals of several yarns, or by alternately weaving a
plurality of narrow retroreflective tapes and warp yarns in the
portion destined to be the reflective part.
[0067] On the other hand, FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 show another
reflective warp-knit tape 30, for a slide fastener, which has the
narrow retroreflective tape knitted therein.
[0068] The reflective warp-knit tape 30 for a slide fastener
according to this embodiment is a warp-knit tape composed of a
plurality of kinds of warp-knit structures. The warp-knit tape
comprises a mounting portion 31 to which the coupling elements "E"
are attached as shown in FIG. 13 and other flexible main portion
32, and reflective portions 33 are knitted in the main portion 32
at several wales inwardly of the mounting portion 31.
[0069] The warp-knit tape 30 has the warp-knit structure as shown
in FIG. 14, for example. The knitting yarns are the thermoplastic
synthetic fiber yarns in the form of a monofilament or
multifilament, such as polyamide and polyester. With each of all
wales of W.sub.1-W.sub.18 of the warp-knit tape 30, a plurality of
tricot-stitch yarns 35 having a knitting pattern of 1-2/1-0 and a
plurality of weft-inlaid yarns 36 having a knitting pattern of
0-0/4-4 are interlooped or interlaced, and further in each of wales
W.sub.1-W.sub.4, W.sub.15-W.sub.18, a chain-stitch yarn 34 is
knitted in a pattern of 1-0/0-1, which fairly restrict the
longitudinal stretchability of the knitted foundation. The coupling
elements E are sewn with a sewing thread or the like onto this
knitted foundation portion of which longitudinal stretchability is
restricted.
[0070] The narrow retroreflective tapes 10k are arranged adjacent
to each other and between the fifth and sixth adjacent wales
W.sub.5-W.sub.6 and between the sixth and seventh adjacent wales
W.sub.6-W.sub.7 of the warp-knit tape 30, respectively. The
interknitting of the narrow retroreflective tapes is performed by
arranging the weft-inlaid yarns 36 on the reverse side of the
retroreflective tapes and the tricot-stitch yarns 35 on the obverse
side thereof, thus sandwiching the retroreflective tapes 10k to
form continuous reflective portions 33. The tricot-stitch yarns 35,
which are exposed over the front surfaces of the retroreflective
tapes, are thermoplastic synthetic fiber yarns of a transparent
monofilament or multifilament. Alternatively, the material in the
form of a suitable core cord or knitting yarn with a
retroreflective tape wound around it may be used as the
retroreflective material.
[0071] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention
has been described above, the present invention is not limited to
the above-mentioned embodiments. The described embodiments are
therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not
restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the
appended claims rather than by the foregoing description and all
changes which come within the meaning and the range of equivalency
of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.
* * * * *