Reflector for marking a road surface and method for manufacturing same

Abstract

A reflector for a road sign and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The road sign reflector includes a base attached to a road facility or a road surface, light-transmitting bodies mounted on the base and made of a transparent material, and a reflective layer formed on a contact surface between the light-transmitting bodies and the base and reflecting light incident into the light-transmitting bodies. The manufacturing of the road sign reflector is completed by attaching the road sign reflector to a center line and a lane. The road sign reflector can be directly attached to a guardrail and road facilities without installation of an additional post, thereby facilitating the installation work. In the road sign reflector, the reflective layer formed on the light-transmitting bodies is inwardly inserted in the base and exposed surfaces of the light-transmitting bodies are exposed to the outside of the base, thereby increasing reflecting efficiency.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reflector for a road sign, comprising
 a base attached to a road facility or a road surface;   light-transmitting bodies mounted on the base and made of a transparent material; and   a reflective layer formed on a contact surface between the light-transmitting bodies and the base and reflecting light incident into the light-transmitting bodies.   
     
     
         2 . The road sign reflector of  claim 1 , wherein the base has a flat bottom portion and a convexly dome-shaped top portion, and each of the light-transmitting bodies has a portion inserted into the base while having a portion of its outer circumferential surface exposed to the top surface of the base. 
     
     
         3 . The road sign reflector of  claim 1 , wherein the base has a flat bottom portion and a top portion having a plurality of inclined surfaces, and each of the light-transmitting bodies has a portion inserted into the base while having a portion of its outer circumferential surface exposed to a top surface of the base. 
     
     
         4 . A manufacturing method of a reflector for a road sign, the manufacturing method comprising:
 preparing a mold having a cavity provided therein;   arranging light-transmitting bodies in the cavity such that the reflective layer is spaced apart from an inner circumferential surface of the cavity, the light-transmitting bodies formed using a transparent material and having a reflective layer provided on portions of the light-transmitting bodies;   injecting a resin into the cavity to form a base; and   separating the base from the cavity after the base is hardened.   
     
     
         5 . The manufacturing method of  claim 4 , wherein the preparing of the mold comprises forming hemi-spherical recessed grooves on the inner circumferential surface of the cavity, and the arranging of the light-transmitting bodies comprises arranging the light-transmitting bodies such that exposed surfaces of the light-transmitting bodies, other than the reflective layer, are inserted into the recessed grooves. 
     
     
         6 . The manufacturing method of  claim 4 , wherein an adhesive layer is formed between the light-transmitting bodies and the reflective layer. 
     
     
         7 . A manufacturing method of a reflector for a road sign, the manufacturing method comprising:
 preparing a mold having a cavity provided therein;   arranging light-transmitting bodies made of a transparent material in the cavity;   forming a reflective layer on portions of surfaces of the light-transmitting bodies facing the inner circumferential surface of the cavity;   injecting a resin into the cavity to form a base; and   separating the base from the cavity after the base is hardened.   
     
     
         8 . The manufacturing method of  claim 7 , wherein the preparing of the mold comprises coating a binder on the inner circumferential surface of the cavity, the arranging of the light-transmitting bodies comprises scattering the light-transmitting bodies such that portions of the outer circumferential surfaces of the light-transmitting bodies are inserted into the binder, and the forming of the reflective layer comprises forming the reflective layer on an outwardly exposed surface of the binder. 
     
     
         9 . The manufacturing method of  claim 7 , wherein the preparing of the mold comprises forming hemi-spherical recessed grooves on the inner circumferential surface of the cavity, the arranging of the light-transmitting bodies comprises inserting the light-transmitting bodies into the recessed grooves, and the forming of the reflective layer comprises forming the reflective layer on a surface of the binder exposed to the cavity. 
     
     
         10 . The manufacturing method of  claim 7 , wherein the forming of the reflective layer comprises forming the reflective layer after coating an adhesive on surfaces of the light-transmitting bodies.