Colorized retroreflective material and method

Abstract

A colorized retroreflective materials for use on clothing are colorized by including a substantially transparent colorizing overlayer composition applied to a retroreflective layer, the overlayer further comprising an amount of a suitable pigmented ink; an amount of at least one species of polyurethane material; and an amount of a silane material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A colorized retroreflective material for use on clothing comprising:
 (a) a reflective layer of transparent reflective elements partially embedded in a binder layer; and   (b) a substantially transparent colorizing overlayer composition applied to said retroreflective layer, said overlayer further comprising:
 1) an amount of a suitable pigment; 
 2) an amount of at least one species of polyurethane material; and 
 3) an amount of a silane material. 
   
     
     
         2 . A colorized retroreflective material for use on clothing comprising:
 (a) a retroreflective layer of transparent reflective elements carried by and partially embedded in a binder layer;   (b) a coat of reflective material on an embedded portion of said retroreflective elements such that light passing through said reflective elements is reflected by said reflective layer;   (c) a colorizing overlayer of a substantially transparent composition applied to said retroreflective layer, said overlayer further comprising:
 1) an amount of a suitable pigment; 
 2) an amount of at least one species of polyurethane material; and 
 3) an amount of a silane material. 
   
     
     
         3 . A colorized composition as in  claim 1  wherein said components of said colorizing overlayer are water-based. 
     
     
         4 . A colorizing composition as in  claim 1  wherein said polyurethane materials are selected from the group consisting of water-based polyester-based, polyether-based and polycarbonate-based polyurethanes. 
     
     
         5 . A colorizing composition as in  claim 1  wherein said silane is selected from the group consisting of an epoxide-functional, amine-functional silane and glycidoxy-functional silanes. 
     
     
         6 . A colorizing composition as in  claim 4  wherein said polyester-based polyurethanes comprise at least one crystalline and at least one amorphous polyester-based polyurethane material. 
     
     
         7 . A colorizing composition as in  claim 6  wherein said crystalline and amorphous polyester-based polyurethanes are provided in generally equal amounts. 
     
     
         8 . A colorizing composition as in  claim 1  wherein said pigment is contained in a pigmented ink. 
     
     
         9 . A coating composition suitable for application as an overlayer for colorizing retroreflective material for use on clothing, said composition comprising:
 (a) a retroreflective material comprising a translucent colorizing composition further comprising:
 1) an amount of a suitable pigment; 
 2) an amount of at least one species of polyurethane material; and 
 3) an amount of a silane material. 
   
     
     
         10 . A colorizing composition as in  claim 9  wherein said pigment is contained in a pigmented ink. 
     
     
         11 . A coating composition as in  claim 10  wherein the components are water-based. 
     
     
         12 . A coating composition as in  claim 10  wherein said polyurethane materials are water-based polyester-based polyurethanes. 
     
     
         13 . A coating composition as in  claim 12  wherein said polyurethane materials include crystalline polyester-based polyurethanes. 
     
     
         14 . A coating composition as in  claim 12  wherein said polyurethane materials include amorphous polyester-based polyurethanes. 
     
     
         15 . A coating composition as in  claim 12  wherein said polyurethane materials include both crystalline and amorphous polyester-based polyurethanes. 
     
     
         16 . A coating composition as in  claim 9  wherein said silane is selected from the group consisting of vinyl, methyl, amino, isocyanato, ureido, epoxy, mercapto, methacryloxy, glycidoxy functional silanes. 
     
     
         17 . A coating composition as in  claim 16  wherein said silane is an epoxide-functional silane. 
     
     
         18 . A coating composition as in  claim 17  wherein said silane is gamma-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane. 
     
     
         19 . A coating composition as in  claim 16  wherein said silane is present in an amount of 0.01-15% weight/weight. 
     
     
         20 . A coating composition as in  claim 18  wherein said silane is present in an amount of 0.01-15% weight/weight. 
     
     
         21 . A coating composition as in  claim 15  wherein said crystalline and amorphous polyester-based polyurethanes are present in substantially equal amounts. 
     
     
         22 . A coating composition as in  claim 9  further comprising an amount of cross-linking agent. 
     
     
         23 . A coating composition as in  claim 22  wherein said cross-linking agent is a silane. 
     
     
         24 . A coating composition as in  claim 10  wherein said composition is heat setting. 
     
     
         25 . A method of colorizing retroreflective material comprising:
 (a) providing a retroreflective material suitable for colorizing; and   (b) applying a substantially transparent colorizing overlayer composition to said retroreflective material wherein said colorizing overlayer comprises:
 1) an amount of a suitable pigment; 
 2) an amount of at least one species of polyurethane material; and 
 3) an amount of a silane material. 
   
     
     
         26 . A method of colorizing retroreflective material as in  claim 25  further comprising forcing said colorizing composition into said retroreflective material and removing excess overlayer material. 
     
     
         27 . A method as in  claim 26  wherein said excess overlayer material is removed using a squeegee-type device. 
     
     
         28 . A colorizing composition as in  claim 4  including a plurality of polyurethane materials. 
     
     
         29 . A colorizing composition as in  claim 5  wherein said silane is a glycidoxy-functional silane.