A preformed thermoplastic roadway line marking includes a preformed thermoplastic substrate layer capable of being attached to a roadway, and a preformed thermoplastic upper layer in contact with the substrate layer. Advantageously, such an upper layer includes a surface area having a plurality of spaced-apart slits. The slits penetrate through an entire cross-sectional thickness of the upper layer and are in fluid communication with the substrate layer. When heated to a liquid state, the substrate layer has a morphed shape and is at least partially displaced upwardly through the slits and disposed on the upper layer such that the upper layer is fixedly locked to the substrate layer and maintained at a substantially stable position relative to the substrate layer. Such a structural configuration provides an unexpected and unpredictable result of insuring the marking is locked into place relative to the roadway, thereby reducing labor costs and improving durability.

A preformed thermoplastic roadway line marking includes a preformed thermoplastic substrate layer capable of being attached to a roadway, and a preformed thermoplastic upper layer in contact with the substrate layer. Advantageously, such an upper layer includes a surface area having a plurality of spaced-apart slits. The slits penetrate through an entire cross-sectional thickness of the upper layer and are in fluid communication with the substrate layer. When heated to a liquid state, the substrate layer has a morphed shape and is at least partially displaced upwardly through the slits and disposed on the upper layer such that the upper layer is fixedly locked to the substrate layer and maintained at a substantially stable position relative to the substrate layer. Such a structural configuration provides an unexpected and unpredictable result of insuring the marking is locked into place relative to the roadway, thereby reducing labor costs and improving durability.

A reflective pavement marker for a roadway includes a body having a bottom adapted to be secured to the roadway and at least one a reflector on the body. The reflector includes an outer face for receiving light and an inner face comprising a plurality of light reflecting elements for receiving and reflecting the light back through the outer face. The reflector comprises a light transmitting and thermochromatic polymer adapted to transition at a predetermined transition temperature so as to change the color of the light reflected by the reflector depending on the temperature of the polymer. The predetermined transition temperature can be selected so that the color change of the light reflected by the reflector indicates freezing or near freezing road conditions.

A reflective pavement marker for a roadway includes a body having a bottom adapted to be secured to the roadway and at least one a reflector on the body. The reflector includes an outer face for receiving light and an inner face comprising a plurality of light reflecting elements for receiving and reflecting the light back through the outer face. The reflector comprises a light transmitting and thermochromatic polymer adapted to transition at a predetermined transition temperature so as to change the color of the light reflected by the reflector depending on the temperature of the polymer. The predetermined transition temperature can be selected so that the color change of the light reflected by the reflector indicates freezing or near freezing road conditions.

A polymer compatible retroreflective bead. The bead can be used in typical retroreflective uses such as paints tapes and films in highway marking and signs having high retroreflectivity both when initially installed and over the bead lifetime, allowing vehicle drivers to see highway marking lines at night and in adverse conditions during nighttime. When installed the retroreflective beads essentially retroreflect the base color of the highway marking material in which the retroreflective beads are embedded.

A polymer compatible retroreflective bead. The bead can be used in typical retroreflective uses such as paints tapes and films in highway marking and signs having high retroreflectivity both when initially installed and over the bead lifetime, allowing vehicle drivers to see highway marking lines at night and in adverse conditions during nighttime. When installed the retroreflective beads essentially retroreflect the base color of the highway marking material in which the retroreflective beads are embedded.

This invention is a novel retroreflective traffic stripe comprising a widely spaced repeating pattern of linear light turning prisms over cube corner retroreflective prisms in a critical optimal configuration. The light turning prisms comprise at least two exposed surfaces, one approximately vertical facing the headlights of oncoming traffic, and another opposing the first and sloped by approximately 45 degrees. The approximately vertical surface efficiently accepts light from the headlights and transmits such light to the sloped surface which totally internally reflects such light downward onto an array of cube corner retroreflective prisms, which totally internally reflect such light in approximately the reverse direction. Such reflected light once more encounters the sloped face of the light turning prisms which totally internally reflects the light toward the approximately vertical surface, where such light exits and returns toward the headlights and, more importantly, toward the eyes of the driver of the vehicle.

This invention is a novel retroreflective traffic stripe comprising a widely spaced repeating pattern of linear light turning prisms over cube corner retroreflective prisms in a critical optimal configuration. The light turning prisms comprise at least two exposed surfaces, one approximately vertical facing the headlights of oncoming traffic, and another opposing the first and sloped by approximately 45 degrees. The approximately vertical surface efficiently accepts light from the headlights and transmits such light to the sloped surface which totally internally reflects such light downward onto an array of cube corner retroreflective prisms, which totally internally reflect such light in approximately the reverse direction. Such reflected light once more encounters the sloped face of the light turning prisms which totally internally reflects the light toward the approximately vertical surface, where such light exits and returns toward the headlights and, more importantly, toward the eyes of the driver of the vehicle.

The disclosed retroreflective element includes a polymeric core that is loaded with a plurality of first beads and second beads distributed at the perimeter of the core. The first beads are different than the second beads. Because of the beads in the core, the retroreflective element remains useful for returning light even after portions of the core begins to wear away. Further, when the retroreflective elements get wet, water will settle to the bottom of the perimeter of the core. Therefore, using the second beads with a refractive index suited for wet conditions, while the first beads have a refractive index suited for dry conditions allows the retroreflective element to be useful in both wet and dry conditions even while the retroreflective element wears during use.

The disclosed retroreflective element includes a polymeric core that is loaded with a plurality of first beads and second beads distributed at the perimeter of the core. The first beads are different than the second beads. Because of the beads in the core, the retroreflective element remains useful for returning light even after portions of the core begins to wear away. Further, when the retroreflective elements get wet, water will settle to the bottom of the perimeter of the core. Therefore, using the second beads with a refractive index suited for wet conditions, while the first beads have a refractive index suited for dry conditions allows the retroreflective element to be useful in both wet and dry conditions even while the retroreflective element wears during use.