Reflecting material

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a retro-reflective shell having a curved or irregular surface for reflecting light in all directions from a laminated product, comprising a substantially flat sheet of a plastic material and a reflective layer on at least one side of said flat sheet plastic material. The reflective layer comprises a transparent adhesive substance and transparent glass or plastic pearls with a diameter between 0.01 and 0.05 mm. The substance adheres to the flat sheet plastic material, to form the laminated product. The product is heated to a thermo-vacuum-forming temperature, whereupon the product is vacuum-formed on a mould having the desired curved or irregular surface shape, in order to form a shell.

1 . A retro reflective shell having a curved or irregular surface for reflecting light in all directions, comprising:
 a flat sheet of a plastic material; and   a reflective layer on at least one side of said flat sheet plastic material, said reflective layer including
 a transparent adhesive substance, and 
 at least one of transparent glass pearls and plastic pearls with a diameter between 0.01 and 0.05 mm, said adhesive substance adhering to said flat sheet plastic material, thereby forming a laminated product having been exposed to a thermo-vacuum-forming method to provide said curved or irregular surface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The retro reflective shell as in  claim 1 , further comprising a protective plastic layer on top of the reflective layer. 
     
     
         3 . The retro reflective shell as in  claim 1 , wherein said plastic material of said flat sheet comprises one of polyvinyl chloride and polyester. 
     
     
         4 . The retro reflective shell as in  claim 1 , wherein the amount of pearls in the reflective layer is more than 25%, preferably more than 50%, and less than 75% of the total volume of the reflective layer. 
     
     
         5 . The retro reflective shell as in  claim 1 , wherein said adhesive substance in the reflective layer is a lacquer, and the amount of pearls in the reflective layer is more than 25%, preferably more than 50%, such as about 85% of the total volume, but no more than 85% of the total volume. 
     
     
         6 . The retro reflective shell as in  claim 2 , wherein said protective layer is composed of polyvinyl chloride on a surface of said reflective layer. 
     
     
         7 . The retro reflective shell as in  claim 1 , further comprising an adhering substance on the reflective layer, wherein said adhering substance is a lacquer. 
     
     
         8 . The retro reflective shell as in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a high gloss material layer and a transparent dye layer over the reflective layer. 
     
     
         9 . The retro reflective shell as in  claim 7 , further comprising at least one of a high gloss material layer and a transparent dye layer on a surface of the adhering substance. 
     
     
         10 . The retro reflective shell as in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a high gloss material layer and a transparent dye layer below said flat sheet. 
     
     
         11 . The retro reflective shell as in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a high gloss material layer and a transparent dye layer between said flat sheet and said reflective layer. 
     
     
         12 . The retro reflective shell as claimed in  7 , further comprising at least one of a high gloss material layer and a transparent dye layer below said flat sheet, wherein the adhering substance is between the reflective layer and at least one of the high gloss material layer and the transparent dye layer. 
     
     
         13 . A helmet, comprising:
 a retro reflective shell having a curved or irregular surface for reflecting light in all directions, the shell including:   a flat sheet of a plastic material; and   a reflective layer on at least one side of said flat sheet plastic material, said reflective layer including
 a transparent adhesive substance, and 
   
       at least one of transparent glass pearls and plastic pearls with a diameter between 0.01 and 0.05 mm, said adhesive substance adhering to said flat sheet plastic material, thereby forming a laminated product having been exposed to a thereto-vacuum-forming method to provide said curved or irregular surface. 
     
     
         14 . The helmet as in  claim 13 , wherein the shell is attached to an inner helmet blank. 
     
     
         15 . The helmet as in  claim 13 , wherein the shell has a protective plastic layer on top of the reflective layer. 
     
     
         16 . The helmet as in  claim 13 , wherein the shell is attached inside the helmet.