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 . 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;   adhering a continuous retroreflective layer to the second side of the substrate; and   
       removing portions of the retroreflective layer located within the openings of the substrate to provide the perforated retroreflective trim. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further including the step of providing a backing on the first side of the substrate before the step of adhering the continuous retroreflective layer to the second side of the substrate such that the retroreflective layer adheres 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. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of removing portions of the retroreflective layer located within the openings of the substrate includes removing the backing from the first side of the substrate to remove from the retroreflective layer the portions of the retroreflective layer adhered to the backing through the openings in the substrate. 
     
     
         4 . 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. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of either of  claim 3 , wherein 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 layer adhered to the backing through the openings of the substrate to provide the perforated retroreflective trim. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of adhering the retroreflective layer includes heat laminating the retroreflective layer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein steps of providing the substrate, the backing and retroreflective layer includes providing the substrate, the backing and retroreflective layer continuously. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step of adhering the retroreflective layer includes continuously 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 continuously adhered to the backing through the openings in the substrate. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of removing the backing from the first side of the substrate includes continuously removing the backing from the first side of the substrate to continuously strip away from the retroreflective layer the portions of the retroreflective layer adhered to the backing through the openings in the substrate to continuously provide the perforated retroreflective trim. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of adhering a retroreflective layer to the second side of the substrate includes adhering a retroreflective layer that is a retroreflective heat transfer film. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a polyester mesh. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the backing is selected from a group that includes coated paper, pvc and an elastomer. 
     
     
         13 . The method of,  claim 2 , wherein the step of adhering the retroreflective layer includes feeding the substrate, backing and retroreflective layer into a heat press set at a predetermined temperature, for a predetermined time. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of adhering the retroreflective layer includes feeding the substrate, backing and retroreflective layer into a heat laminating machine set at a predetermined temperature, for a predetermined time. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the temperature is about 110° C. and the period of time is about 15 seconds. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the method further includes cooling the retroreflective layer before the step of removing the backing. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 3 , further including heating the retroreflective layer at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time after the step of removing the backing. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of heating the retroreflective layer includes placing the retroreflective layer and substrate in a heat press set to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined time. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the temperature is about 16O° C. and the period of time is about 25 seconds. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method produces perforated retroreflective trim meeting visibility standards of AS/NZS 1906.4. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled)