Method of producing perforated retroreflective trim

Abstract

A method for producing a perforated retroreflective trim that includes the steps of providing a substrate having first and second sides and a plurality of openings extending between the sides, providing a backing on the first side of the substrate, providing a retroreflective layer on the second side of the substrate, adhering the retroreflective layer to the second side of the substrate and to the backing within the openings of the substrate so that portions of the retroreflective layer are adhered to the backing through the openings in the substrate, and removing the backing from the first side of the substrate to strip away from the retroreflective layer the portions of the retroreflective layer adhered to the backing through the openings in the substrate to provide the perforated retroreflective trim.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A perforated retroreflective composite sheet including:
 a substrate having opposite first and second sides and a film of retroreflective material adhered to one side of the substrate, the substrate being preformed with a plurality of openings extending therethrough between the first and second sides and the film of retroreflective material having removed portions at the openings in the substrate to form the perforated retroreflective composite sheet.   
     
     
         24 . The perforated retroreflective composite sheet of  claim 23 , wherein the film of retroreflective material is adhered to the substrate around edges of the preformed openings and through the preformed openings between the first and second sides of the substrate. 
     
     
         25 . The perforated retroreflective composite sheet of  claim 23 , wherein the film of retroreflective material is formed with smooth edges around the preformed openings in the substrate. 
     
     
         26 . The perforated retroreflective composite sheet of  claim 23 , wherein the retroreflective film is a retroreflective heat transfer film that is heat laminated to the substrate. 
     
     
         27 . The perforated retroreflective composite sheet of  claim 23 , wherein openings are formed in the retroreflective film by having portions of the retroreflective film stripped away after the retroreflective film is adhered to the substrate. 
     
     
         28 . The perforated retroreflective composite sheet of  claim 23 , wherein the retroreflective film around the openings in the substrate has melted or softened and been partially drawn through and into the openings in the substrate. 
     
     
         29 . The perforated retroreflective composite sheet of  claim 23 , further including a coating layer formed over the film of retroreflective material. 
     
     
         30 . The perforated retroreflective composite sheet of  claim 23 , wherein the substrate is preformed with a plurality of rows and columns of the openings. 
     
     
         31 . The perforated retroreflective composite sheet of  claim 23 , wherein the substrate is a woven material. 
     
     
         32 . The perforated retroreflective composite sheet of  claim 23 , wherein the substrate is a polyester mesh. 
     
     
         33 . A perforated retroreflective sheet including:
 a substrate in the form of a sheet of flexible material having opposite first and second sides and being preformed with a plurality of openings extending therethrough between the first and second sides; and   a film of retroreflective material adhered to one side of the substrate, wherein portions of the film of retroreflective material have been removed from within the openings in the substrate to form the perforated retroreflective sheet.   
     
     
         34 . A perforated retroreflective sheet produced by a process including the steps of:
 providing a substrate having first and second sides and a plurality of openings extending between the sides;   adhering a continuous retroreflective film to the second side of the substrate; and   removing portions of the retroreflective film located within the openings of the substrate to provide the perforated retroreflective sheet.   
     
     
         35 . The perforated retroreflective sheet of  claim 34 , wherein the process by which the perforated retroreflective sheet is produced further includes the step of providing a backing on the first side of the substrate before the step of adhering the continuous retroreflective film to the second side of the substrate such that the retroreflective film adheres to the second side of the substrate and to the backing within the openings of the substrate so that portions of the retroreflective film are adhered to the backing through the openings in the substrate. 
     
     
         36 . The perforated retroreflective sheet of  claim 35 , wherein in the process by which the perforated retroreflective sheet is produced the step of removing portions of the retroreflective film located within the openings of the substrate includes removing the backing from the first side of the substrate to remove from the retroreflective film the portions of the retroreflective film adhered to the backing through the openings in the substrate. 
     
     
         37 . The perforated retroreflective sheet of  claim 36 , wherein in the process by which the perforated retroreflective sheet is produced the step of removing the backing includes peeling away the backing from the first side of the substrate to pull out the portions of the retroreflective film adhered to the backing through the openings of the substrate to provide the perforated retroreflective sheet. 
     
     
         38 . A garment including the perforated retroreflective composite sheet of  claim 23 . 
     
     
         39 . A garment including the perforated retroreflective sheet of  claim 33 . 
     
     
         40 . A garment including the perforated retroreflective sheet of  claim 34 .