| abstract |
The present invention relates to a three dimensional article having a high intensity retroreflective outer surface, comprising: na base layer (3) of thermoformable plastic sheet material; na layer of retroreflective microbeads (6) having variable diameters adhered to an outer surface of the base material (3), and na protective sheet of transparent thermoformable sheet material (15) having a lower surface (19) overlying the layer of microbeads (7) the protective sheet (15) and the retroreflective microbeads (7) contact only at a tangential point (20) contact between the lower surface (19) of the protective sheet (15) and tops of the highest microbeads (7) after cooling of the protective sheet (15) resulting in a plurality of air spaces (21a, 21b, 21c), nwherein the base layer (3), layer of microbeads (7), and protective transparent sheet (15) are formed into a self supporting three dimensional article having a pre-selected shape and an encapsulated bead retroreflective surface. |