Patent ID: 7036944
Filing Date: 2006-05-02
Classification: B29C,B29D,G02B

Abstract:
1. An article having a retrochromic pattern, the pattern comprising first and second viewable retroreflective regions having substantially different retroreflective colors if viewed using the same illumination source, wherein at least one of the viewable retroreflective regions comprises at least 10 intrinsically retrochromic beads and is retrochromic, and wherein the intrinsically retrochromic beads are selected from the group consisting of: i) intrinsically retrochromic beads having a spherical core, wherein the spherical core has a uniform and complete concentric optical interference layer thereon, and wherein the spherical core has a refractive index of at least 1.8, and ii) intrinsically retrochromic beads having microcrystalline regions therein, wherein the microcystalline regions have a size of from 50 to 250 nanometers, and iii) combinations thereof.