Claims
- 1. A raised pavement marker, comprising:
a housing having at least one side that is a retroreflective element, wherein the retroreflective element includes a generally smooth surface opposite a structured surface, the structured surface having a plurality of cube corner elements with three generally mutually perpendicular surfaces, the perpendicular surfaces of the cube corner elements forming a plurality of apexes protruding from the retroreflective element; and a film contacting the structured surface at at least some of the plurality of apexes such that at least a portion of the cube corner elements are spaced apart from the film to form a totally-internal-reflective lens.
- 2. The raised pavement marker of claim 1 wherein the retroreflective element is integrally formed with the housing.
- 3. The raised pavement marker of claim 1 wherein the housing and retroreflective element are formed of different materials and the totally-internal-reflective lens is attached to the housing.
- 4. The raised pavement marker of claim 1 wherein the housing includes two opposing sides and wherein each opposing side includes a retroreflective element formed into a totally-internal-reflective lens.
- 5. The raised pavement marker of claim 1 wherein the housing is filled with a potting mixture.
- 6. The raised pavement marker of claim 1 wherein generally all of the apexes contact the film.
- 7. A raised pavement marker, comprising:
a housing having a base surface and at least one side having a receiving area, wherein the side is inclined from an angle that is perpendicular to the base; a totally-internal-reflective lens connected to the housing at the receiving area, the totally-internal-reflective lens having a retroreflective element connected to a film, wherein the retroreflective element includes a generally planar surface opposite a structured surface, the structured surface having a plurality of cube corner elements, each cube corner element having three generally mutually perpendicular surfaces, the perpendicular surfaces of the cube corner elements forming a plurality of apexes protruding from the retroreflective element; and a flexible film contacting the structured surface at the plurality of protruding apexes such that at least a portion of each of the cube corner elements are spaced apart from the film to form gaps between the film and the portions of the cube corner elements.
- 8. The raised pavement marker of claim 7 wherein the housing includes a generally concave shell such that the at least one side and receiving area are formed on the shell.
- 9. The raised pavement marker of claim 8 wherein the receiving area includes an aperture, and at least a portion of the totally-internal-reflective lens is disposed within the aperture.
- 10. The raised pavement marker of claim 9 wherein aperture includes a rim and the totally-internal-reflective lens is adhered to the rim.
- 11. The raised pavement marker of claim 8 wherein the generally concave shell is filled with a potting material to form the housing.
- 12. The raised pavement marker of claim 7 wherein the housing includes a planar receiving area wherein the totally-internal-reflective lens is attached to the housing on top of the receiving area.
- 13. The raised pavement marker of claim 8 wherein the cube corner elements of the retroreflective element are canted cubes.
- 14. The raised pavement marker of claim 7 wherein the film includes a backing and an adhesive, and the adhesive contacts the cube corner elements at the adhesive.
- 15. The raised pavement marker of claim 7 wherein the housing includes a plurality of receiving areas, and wherein one totally-internal-reflective lens is connected to each receiving area.
- 16. A method of making a raised pavement marker, comprising:
forming a shell having a retroreflective element, wherein the retroreflective element includes a generally smooth surface opposite a structured surface, the structured surface having a plurality of cube corner elements with three generally mutually perpendicular surfaces, the perpendicular surfaces of the cube corner elements forming a plurality of apexes protruding from the retroreflective element; and attaching a film to the structured surface at at least some of the plurality of apexes such that at least a portion of the cube corner elements are spaced apart from the film to form a totally-internal-reflective lens.
- 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the shell is injection molded.
- 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the shell is injection molded around the retroreflective element.
- 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the film is attached to the retroreflective element before the shell is molded around the retroreflective element.
- 20. The method of claim 17 wherein the retroreflective element is attached to the shell after the shell is injection molded.
- 21. The method of claim 20 wherein the film is attached to the structured surface of the retroreflective element before the retroreflective element is attached to the shell.
- 22. The method of claim 16 wherein the retroreflective element is integrally formed with the shell.
- 23. The method of claim 16 wherein the shell is filled with a potting compound after the film is attached to the structured surface of the retroreflective element.
- 24. The method of claim 16 wherein the retroreflective element is attached to the shell after the shell is formed.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/184,714, filed Feb. 24, 2000.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60184714 |
Feb 2000 |
US |