Reflecting material

Abstract

A material for thermoforming comprises a plastic layer as well as a layer of reflecting pearls in an adhering transparent substance. The material is suitable for the manufacturing of a reflecting product by means by vacuum forming.

1 . Use of a material comprising a reflecting layer ( 2 ,  5 ) of pearls of transparent glass or plastic at least partially embedded in an adhering transparent substance, said layer being arranged at one side thereof adjacent to a first transparent plastic layer ( 1 ) comprising polyvinyl chloride or polyester, for manufacturing, by means of thermoforming, a retro-reflecting shell which, after cooling, has a curved or irregular surface shaped as a helmet with the capability of reflecting light in all directions.  
     
     
         2 . Use as in  claim 1 , characterized in that the thermoforming is vacuum forming.  
     
     
         3 . Use as in  claim 1  or  2 , characterized in that the material is a plane sheet or a foil.  
     
     
         4 . Use as in  claim 1  or  2 , characterized in that a second transparent plastic layer ( 3 ) comprising polyvinyl chloride or polyester is arranged on the other side of the layer of pearls, opposite to said first transparent plastic layer ( 1 ).  
     
     
         5 . Use as in  claim 1  or  2 , characterized in that the adhering substance comprises a first and a second layer ( 4   a ,  4   b ) surrounding the layer ( 5 ) of pearls, the first layer ( 4   a ) being arranged adjacent to said first transparent plastic layer ( 1 ).  
     
     
         6 . Use as in  claim 5 , characterized in that the pearls in the layer ( 5 ) form a monolayer.  
     
     
         7 . Use as in any of claims  1 - 6 , characterized in that the pearls have a diameter between 0.01 and 0.05 mm.  
     
     
         8 . Use as in  claim 4 , characterized in that when the second plastic layer ( 3 ) comprises polyvinyl chloride it is high-frequency welded to the reflecting layer ( 2 ).  
     
     
         9 . Use as in any of claims  1 - 8 , characterized in that the adhering transparent substance is a lacquer.  
     
     
         10 . Use as in  claim 9 , characterized in that the lacquer is a screen printing lacquer.  
     
     
         11 . Use as in any of claims  1 - 5 , characterized in that a layer ( 6 ) of a transparent dye is arranged adjacent to said first transparent plastic layer ( 1 ).  
     
     
         12 . Use as in  claim 5 , characterized in that a high gloss material layer ( 7 ) is arranged adjacent to said second layer ( 4   b ) of the adhering substance opposite to the reflecting layer ( 5 ) of pearls.  
     
     
         13 . Use as in  claim 12 , characterized in that the high gloss material layer ( 7 ) comprises aluminium particles.