US20140144370A1

US20140144370A1 - Reflector for marking a road surface and method for manufacturing same

Info

Publication number: US20140144370A1
Application number: US14/117,901
Authority: US
Inventors: Dong Bok Lee
Original assignee: Sci Co Ltd Korea
Current assignee: SCI CO Ltd; Sci Co Ltd Korea
Priority date: 2011-05-24
Filing date: 2012-05-22
Publication date: 2014-05-29
Also published as: WO2012161499A2; WO2012161499A3; KR20120130909A; KR101281153B1; CN103562462A

Abstract

A reflector for a road sign and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The road sign reflector includes a base attached to a road facility or a road surface, light-transmitting bodies mounted on the base and made of a transparent material, and a reflective layer formed on a contact surface between the light-transmitting bodies and the base and reflecting light incident into the light-transmitting bodies. The manufacturing of the road sign reflector is completed by attaching the road sign reflector to a center line and a lane. The road sign reflector can be directly attached to a guardrail and road facilities without installation of an additional post, thereby facilitating the installation work. In the road sign reflector, the reflective layer formed on the light-transmitting bodies is inwardly inserted in the base and exposed surfaces of the light-transmitting bodies are exposed to the outside of the base, thereby increasing reflecting efficiency.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a reflector for a road sign, and more particularly, to a reflector for a road sign, which is attached to a road surface and road facilities to display a destination or a traffic lane of a road by reflecting light emitted from a vehicle back to the vehicle.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, a sign for indicating a destination of a land route or a traffic direction is installed in places along a road. A road sign using a road stud, a noctilucent body or a reflective sheet, reflected by a headlight of a traveling vehicle, is installed on a center line, a lane, a curve or a guardrail of the road.
The road sign, such as the road stud or the noctilucent body, is constructed using a retroreflective material having a retroreflective property to allow a driver of a vehicle to identify a center line or a lane by reflecting light emitted from a head light of the vehicle at night and to be informed of the traffic direction of the vehicle.
The retroreflective material refers to a material having a property of redirecting incident light back towards its originating source. Representative examples of the retroreflective material may include glass beads.
As an exemplary embodiment of glass beads for use in a road sign, Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2007-0102770 discloses glass beads for retroreflection and a manufacturing method thereof. The manufacturing method of the retroreflective glass beads includes the steps of (1) forming resin layers on a polyester polymer film, (2) uniformly coating the glass beads mechanically using a press roller and a support roller positioned at upper and lower parts of the transparent polymer film and placing only a half diameter of each of the glass beads into the coated resin layers at the same time, (3) depositing an aluminum vacuum deposition film on the glass beads, each lower half of which is inserted and each upper half of which is exposed, to increase retroreflective brightness efficiency, and (4) separating the glass beads on which the aluminum vacuum deposition film is half deposited from the polymer film through a glass bead separating roller located at the upper part of the polymer film.
However, when a traffic lane is constructed, the glass beads are randomly scattered on a coating layer. In addition, when a road sign or a sign board is constructed, the glass beads are randomly scattered on a binder holding the glass beads. Therefore, since glass beads fixed to a coating layer or a binder in a state in which exposed surfaces of the glass beads are exposed to the air, and glass beads fixed such that exposed surfaces of the glass beads are inserted into a coating layer or a binder, that is, a vacuum deposition film is exposed to the outside of the coating layer or the binder, coexist, reflection efficiency of the traffic lane may be reduced.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problems

The present invention has been made in an effort to solve the problems of the prior art, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a reflector for a road sign, which can increase an amount of light incident into the road sign reflector by arranging first ends of glass beads having a vacuum deposition film formed all over the entire region of the road sign reflector to be inserted into a coating layer or a binder and second ends of glass beads having exposed surfaces are exposed to the air, thereby enhancing retroreflective brightness efficiency.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a reflector for a road sign, which can be easily installed by directly attaching the same to a lane when a center line or a lane of a road is constructed, without installing a separate post on a guardrail and road facilities.

Technical Solution

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by providing a reflector for a road sign, comprising a base attached to a road facility or a road surface, light-transmitting bodies mounted on the base and made of a transparent material, and a reflective layer formed on a contact surface between the light-transmitting bodies and the base and reflecting light incident into the light-transmitting bodies.
The base may have a flat bottom portion and a convexly dome-shaped top portion, and each of the light-transmitting bodies may have a portion inserted into the base while having a portion of its outer circumferential surface exposed to the top surface of the base.
The base may have a flat bottom portion and a top portion having a plurality of inclined surfaces, and each of the light-transmitting bodies may have a portion inserted into the base while having a portion of its outer circumferential surface exposed to a top surface of the base.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by providing a manufacturing method of a reflector for a road sign, the manufacturing method including preparing a mold having a cavity provided therein, arranging light-transmitting bodies in the cavity such that the reflective layer is spaced apart from an inner circumferential surface of the cavity, the light-transmitting bodies formed using a transparent material and having a reflective layer provided on portions of the light-transmitting bodies, injecting a resin into the cavity to form a base, and separating the base from the cavity after the base is hardened.
The preparing of the mold may include forming hemi-spherical recessed grooves on the inner circumferential surface of the cavity, and the arranging of the light-transmitting bodies may include arranging the light-transmitting bodies such that exposed surfaces of the light-transmitting bodies, other than the reflective layer, are inserted into the recessed grooves.
An adhesive layer may be formed between the light-transmitting bodies and the reflective layer.
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by providing a manufacturing method of a reflector for a road sign, the manufacturing method including preparing a mold having a cavity provided therein, arranging light-transmitting bodies made of a transparent material in the cavity, forming a reflective layer on portions of surfaces of the light-transmitting bodies facing the inner circumferential surface of the cavity, injecting a resin into the cavity to form a base, and separating the base from the cavity after the base is hardened.
The preparing of the mold may include coating a binder on the inner circumferential surface of the cavity, the arranging of the light-transmitting bodies may include scattering the light-transmitting bodies such that portions of the outer circumferential surfaces of the light-transmitting bodies are inserted into the binder, and the forming of the reflective layer may include forming the reflective layer on an outwardly exposed surface of the binder.
The preparing of the mold may include forming hemi-spherical recessed grooves on the inner circumferential surface of the cavity, the arranging of the light-transmitting bodies may include inserting the light-transmitting bodies into the recessed grooves, and the forming of the reflective layer may include forming the reflective layer on a surface of the binder exposed to the cavity.
The forming of the reflective layer may include forming the reflective layer after coating an adhesive on surfaces of the light-transmitting bodies.

Advantageous Effects

As described above, in the road sign reflector according to the present invention, construction of the road sign reflector can be completed by attaching the road sign reflector to a center line and a traffic lane. In addition, since the road sign reflector can be directly attached to a guardrail and road facilities without installation of a separate post, construction of the road sign reflector can be facilitated.
Further, in the road sign reflector according to the present invention, since a reflective layer formed on light-transmitting bodies is inserted into a base and exposed surfaces of the light-transmitting bodies are exposed to the outside of the base, reflection efficiency can be enhanced.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In the figures:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of a reflector for a road sign according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded enlarged perspective view of the road sign reflector shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a reflector for a road sign according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a reflector for a road sign according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the road sign reflector shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a reflector for a road sign according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a reflector for a road sign according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a processing diagram illustrating a manufacturing method of a reflector for a road sign according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a processing diagram illustrating a manufacturing method of a reflector for a road sign according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a processing diagram illustrating a manufacturing method of a reflector for a road sign according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a processing diagram illustrating a manufacturing method of a reflector for a road sign according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a processing diagram illustrating a manufacturing method of a reflector for a road sign according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 13 is a processing diagram illustrating a manufacturing method of a reflector for a road sign according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

MODE FOR INVENTION

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, such that those skilled in the art can easily practice the present invention.
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a reflector for a road sign according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the road sign reflector 1, which is installed on a center line 2 or a guardrail 3 of a road, retroreflects light emitted from a headlight of a vehicle 4 toward the vehicle 4 to inform a vehicle driver of a destination and a traffic direction of the road, and includes a base 10, light-transmitting bodies 21 and a reflective layer 30.
The base 10 has a planar bottom portion and a dome-shaped top portion. An adhesion part 10 a is formed on a bottom surface of the base 10 to be adhered to the center line 2 of the road, the guardrail 3 and a sign board. The adhesion part 10 a may be formed by coating an adhesive on the bottom surface of the base 10. Alternatively, a double-sided tape having an adhesive layer may be bonded to the bottom surface of the base 10.
Portions of the light-transmitting bodies 21 are inserted into the base 10 to retroreflect the light emitted from the vehicle 4. The light-transmitting bodies 21 are made of glass or transparent plastic and are shaped of a sphere.
The reflective layer 30 is formed between the base 10 and the light-transmitting bodies 21, that is, on a contact surface of the base 10 and the light-transmitting bodies 21 to reflect the light emitted from the vehicle 4 and incident into the light-transmitting bodies 21. The reflective layer 30 is formed by depositing aluminum on portions of outer circumferential surfaces of the light-transmitting bodies 21.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a reflector for a road sign according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 3, a base 11 has planar top and bottom portions and upwardly tapering inclined side surfaces. The light-transmitting bodies 21 are arranged such that the reflective layer 30 coated on each of the light-transmitting bodies 21 is inserted into the top portion and the inclined side surfaces of the base 11.
A protection layer 17, which is made of a transparent material and surrounds the top portion of the base 11 and the upwardly exposed surfaces of the light-transmitting bodies 21, is formed on the base 11 to prevent the light-transmitting bodies 21 from being separated from the base 11 or being contaminated by a contaminant, such as dust or dirt. An adhesion part 11 a is formed on a bottom surface of the base 11 to be adhered to a road surface, a guardrail, a sign board, etc.
FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a reflector for a road sign according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a base 12 has planar top and bottom portions, upwardly tapering inclined side surfaces and a bottom surface having an adhesion part 12 a formed thereon.
Unlike in FIGS. 1 to 3, each of light-transmitting bodies 22 has a planar bottom portion, and a plurality of incident surfaces 22 a are formed on an outer circumferential surface to be adjacent to each other. A first groove 22 b, shaped to conform with its outer profile, is recessed from the bottom portion. An reflective layer 30 having aluminum deposited thereon is formed on an inner circumferential surface of the first groove 22 b, and the first groove 22 b is filled with a blocking layer 18 blocking the reflective layer 30 from making contact with air to prevent the reflective layer 30 from corroding. Although not shown, the protection layer 17 shown in FIG. 3 may further be provided on the base 12.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a reflector for a road sign according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 6, a base 12 has planar top and bottom portions, upwardly tapering inclined side surfaces and a bottom surface having an adhesion part 12 a formed thereon.
Each of light-transmitting bodies 23 has a convexly dome-shaped top portion and a planar bottom portion, and hemi-spherical second grooves 23 a having smaller diameters than light-transmitting bodies 23 are recessed from the bottom portions of the light-transmitting bodies 23. A reflective layer 30 having aluminum deposited thereon is formed on an inner circumferential surface of each of the second grooves 23 a and a bottom surface of each of the light-transmitting bodies 23 to reflect light transmitting through insides of the light-transmitting bodies 23.
Each of the second grooves 23 a is filled with a blocking layer 18 blocking the reflective layer 30 from making contact with air, and a protection layer 17 made of a transparent material is formed on the base 12 to prevent the light-transmitting bodies 23 from being separated from the base 12 or being damaged by a vehicle and to prevent the light-transmitting bodies 23 from being contaminated by dust or dirt.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a reflector for a road sign according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 7, the road sign reflector 5 includes a base 13, light-transmitting bodies 21 and a reflective layer 30.
The base 13 has a planar bottom portion, a plurality of inclined top surfaces 13 b having normals extending in different directions to be adjacent to each other, and a bottom surface having an adhesion part 13 a formed to be adhered to a road surface. The plurality of inclined top surfaces 13 b are arranged on a bottom surface of the base 13 such that surfaces having corresponding angles of inclination cross each other, forming ridges and grooves.
Each of the light-transmitting bodies 21 is formed of glass and is shaped of a sphere. A reflective layer 30 having aluminum deposited thereon is formed on an outer circumferential surface of each of the light-transmitting bodies 21. Portions of the light-transmitting bodies 21 without the reflective layer 30 are exposed to the outside of the inclined top surfaces 13 b and portions of the light-transmitting bodies 21 with the reflective layer 30 are inserted inside the inclined top surfaces 13 b, that is, into the base 10. The overall outer circumferential surface of each of the light-transmitting bodies 21 may be inserted into the base 13. In this case, the base 13 is preferably made of a transparent material to allow light to be incident into the light-transmitting bodies 21.
The light-transmitting bodies 21 may be inserted into only the inclined surfaces 13 a downwardly inclined from the respective ridges formed by the inclined surfaces 13 b to a location of the vehicle. Alternatively, the light-transmitting bodies 21 may also be inserted into the overall inclined surfaces, respectively.
A protection layer 17 made of a transparent material may be provided on the base 12 to prevent the light-transmitting bodies 21 from being separated from the base 13 or being damaged due to the vehicle and to prevent the light-transmitting bodies 21 from being contaminated due to dirt or dust
Hereinafter, a manufacturing method of a reflector for a road sign according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 8 is a processing diagram illustrating a manufacturing method of a reflector for a road sign according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 8, the manufacturing method of the road sign reflector 6 includes preparing, arranging, injecting and separating.
In the preparing, a mold 41 including a hemi-spherical cavity 41 a is prepared. The mold 41 has an open top portion to fill the cavity 41 a with a resin 50 to later be described.
In the arranging, light-transmitting bodies 21 made of a transparent material and having a reflective layer coated on some portions thereof are arranged on an inner circumferential surface of the cavity 41 a. Here, the light-transmitting bodies 21 are arranged such that the reflective layer is spaced apart from the inner circumferential surface of the cavity 41 a, that is, exposed surfaces of the light-transmitting bodies 21 make contact with the inner circumferential surface of the cavity 41 a.
In the injecting, the resin 50 is injected into the cavity 41 a to form a base for supporting the light-transmitting bodies 21. Here, the light-transmitting bodies 21 are shaped of spheres and made of glass.
The forming of the reflective layer 30 on the light-transmitting bodies 21 includes uniformly applying the light-transmitting bodies 21 made of a transparent material to a sheet having an adhesive layer formed thereon, and pressing the resultant sheet using a roller to make portions of the light-transmitting bodies 21 inserted into the adhesive layer. Thereafter, the reflective layer 30 is formed by depositing aluminum on outer circumferential surfaces of the light-transmitting bodies 21 exposed to the outside of the adhesive layer, and the light-transmitting bodies 21 are then separated from the sheet. As described above, the reflective layer may be formed by depositing aluminum on the light-transmitting bodies 21. Alternatively, the reflective layer may also be formed by coating aluminum paint prepared by mixing aluminum powder as a pigment with oil-based varnish.
In the separating, after the resin 50 is hardened, an adhesive sheet 60 is attached to the resin 50 and separated from the mold 41. The thus-formed road sign reflector 5 is configured such that the light-transmitting bodies 21 are completely inserted into the resin 50, the reflective layer 30 formed on each of the light-transmitting bodies 21 faces the inside of the base formed by the resin 50, and exposed surfaces of the light-transmitting bodies 21 face the outside of the base.
FIG. 9 illustrates a manufacturing method of a reflector for a road sign according to a second embodiment of the present invention, the road sign reflector configured such that portions of the light-transmitting bodies 21 are exposed from the resin 50 and remaining portions of the light-transmitting bodies 21, that is, the reflective layer 30, are inserted into the resin 50. Referring to FIG. 9, the manufacturing method of the road sign reflector 7 includes preparing, arranging, injecting and separating.
The preparing further includes forming a plurality of hemi-spherical recessed grooves 41 b on an inner circumferential surface of a cavity 41 a in a mold 41 to expose a portion of an outer circumferential surface of the cavity 41 a to the outside of a resin 50 without completely burying light-transmitting bodies 21 into the resin 50.
The recessed grooves 41 b formed in the mold 41 are preferably formed to be adjacent to each other such that as many light-transmitting bodies 21 as possible are arranged in the cavity 41 a.
The road sign reflector is manufactured by inserting the exposed surfaces of the light-transmitting bodies 21 into the recessed grooves 41 b in the arranging, followed by injecting and separating.
The injecting and the separating are the same as those of the manufacturing method of the road sign reflector according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and repeated descriptions will be omitted.
FIG. 10 is a processing diagram illustrating a manufacturing method of a reflector for a road sign according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 10, the manufacturing method of the road sign reflector 8 according to the third embodiment of the present invention include preparing a mold 41 including a cavity 41 a provided therein, arranging light-transmitting bodies 21 made of a transparent material in the cavity 41 a, forming a reflective layer 30 on portions of surfaces of the light-transmitting bodies 21 facing an inner circumferential surface of the cavity 41 a, injecting a resin 50 into the cavity 41 a to form a base, and separating the resin 50, that is, the base, from the cavity 41 a after the base is hardened.
In the arranging, the light-transmitting bodies 21 are arranged to be adjacent to each other in a state in which they make contact with the inside of the mold 41 having a hemi-spherical cavity 41 a, that is, the inner circumferential surface of the cavity 41 a, to receive the light-transmitting bodies 21. In the forming of the reflective layer 30, a paint including a reflective material is sprayed on outer circumferential surfaces of the light-transmitting bodies 21 arranged on the inner circumferential surface of the cavity 41 a to form the reflective layer 30. In the forming of the reflective layer 30, the reflective layer 30 is formed on only a region facing the inner circumferential surface of the cavity 41 a but is not formed on a portion contacting the inner circumferential surface of the cavity 41 a and regions surrounding the contact portion. The forming of the reflective layer 30 may be performed by depositing aluminum. Since the following steps of injecting and separating are the same as those of the manufacturing method of the road sign reflector according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and repeated descriptions will be omitted.
FIG. 11 is a processing diagram illustrating a manufacturing method of a reflector for a road sign according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 11, the manufacturing method of the road sign reflector 9 includes preparing, arranging, forming a reflective layer, injecting and separating. Since the forming of the reflective layer, injecting and separating are the same as those of the manufacturing method of the road sign reflector according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and repeated descriptions will be omitted.
The preparing further includes coating a binder 70 on an inner circumferential surface of a cavity 41 a to allow approximately half diameters of the light-transmitting bodies 21 to be inserted into the cavity 41 a. The binder 70 coated in the preparing provides a binding force for coupling the light-transmitting bodies 21 to one another and functions as a mask to form the reflective layer 30 on only some portions of the light-transmitting bodies 21 while masking remaining portions of the light-transmitting bodies 21.
In the arranging, the light-transmitting bodies 21 are arranged such that some portions of outer circumferential surfaces, preferably approximately half diameters, of the light-transmitting bodies 21, are inserted into the binder 70 coated on the inner circumferential surface of the cavity 41 a. In the forming of the reflective layer 30, the reflective layer 30 is formed by depositing a paint including a reflective material or aluminum on an outwardly exposed surface of the binder 70.
Although not shown, the binder 70 may be coated on the inner circumferential surface of the cavity 41 a, and between the scattering the light-transmitting bodies 21 or the arranging and the forming of the reflective layer, an adhesive layer may be formed by coating an adhesive for tightly coupling the outer circumferential surfaces of the light-transmitting bodies 21, that is, the exposed surfaces of the light-transmitting bodies 21 exposed to the outside of the binder 70 and the reflective layer 30.
FIG. 12 is a processing diagram illustrating a manufacturing method of a reflector for a road sign according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 12, the manufacturing method of the road sign reflector 10 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention includes preparing, arranging, forming a reflective layer, forming a base, and separating. In the preparing, a mold 41 including a cavity 41 a is prepared and hemispherical recessed grooves 41 b are formed on an inner circumferential surface of the cavity 41 a. In the arranging, light-transmitting bodies 21 made of a transparent material in the cavity 41 a are arranged by inserting the light-transmitting bodies 21 into recessed grooves 41 b. In the forming of the reflective layer, the reflective layer 30 is formed on portions of surfaces of the light-transmitting bodies 21 facing the inner circumferential surface of the cavity 41 a, that is, exposed surfaces of the light-transmitting bodies 21 exposed to the cavity 41 a. In the forming of the base, the base is formed by injecting a resin 50 into the cavity 41 a. In the separating, the resin 50, that is, the base, is separated from the cavity 41 a after the base is hardened. The recessed grooves 41 b formed in the preparing are preferably formed to be adjacent to each other, such that as many light-transmitting bodies 21 as possible are received in the cavity 41 a. In addition, the recessed grooves 41 b are preferably formed to have depths equivalent to half diameters of the light-transmitting bodies 21.
In the forming of the reflective layer 30, the reflective layer 30 is formed using a paint including a reflective material or aluminum. Although not shown, in order to increasing a coupling force between the reflective layer 30 and the light-transmitting bodies 21, before the forming of the reflective layer 30, coating of an adhesive on outer circumferential surfaces of the light-transmitting bodies 21 may further be performed.
In the forming of the reflective layer 30, the reflective layer 30 is formed not only on the outer circumferential surfaces of the light-transmitting bodies 21 but also on the inner circumferential surface of the cavity 41 a. Here, the reflective layer 30 formed on the inner circumferential surface of the cavity 41 a may remain on the road sign reflector 10 completed through the injecting and the separating, that is, the surface of the base, and may reflect light.
FIG. 13 is a processing diagram illustrating a manufacturing method of a reflector for a road sign according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 13, the manufacturing method of the road sign reflector 11 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention includes preparing, arranging, injecting and separating.
In the preparing, a mold 42 including a cavity 42 a is prepared. The mold 42 has an open top portion to fill the cavity 42 a with a resin 50. A bottom surface of the cavity 42 a is shaped of triangular waves having ridges and grooves alternately formed.
In the arranging, light-transmitting bodies 21 having a reflective layer formed on portions of outer circumferential surfaces thereof are arranged on inclined bottom surfaces of the cavity 42 a. The light-transmitting bodies 21 are arranged such that exposed surfaces of the light-transmitting bodies 21, that is, surfaces without a reflective layer are brought into contact with the bottom surface of the cavity 42 a.
In the injecting, the resin 50 is inserted into the cavity 42 a to form a base for supporting the light-transmitting bodies 21.
In the separating, after the resin 50 is hardened to be firmly fixed with the light-transmitting bodies 21, the resin 50 is separated from the mold 42
Although the foregoing embodiments have been described to practice the road sign reflector and the manufacturing method thereof according to the present invention, these embodiments are set forth for illustrative purposes and do not serve to limit the invention. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications and variations can be made, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims, and such modifications and variations are encompassed within the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A reflector for a road sign, comprising

a base attached to a road facility or a road surface;

light-transmitting bodies mounted on the base and made of a transparent material; and

a reflective layer formed on a contact surface between the light-transmitting bodies and the base and reflecting light incident into the light-transmitting bodies.

2. The road sign reflector of claim 1, wherein the base has a flat bottom portion and a convexly dome-shaped top portion, and each of the light-transmitting bodies has a portion inserted into the base while having a portion of its outer circumferential surface exposed to the top surface of the base.

3. The road sign reflector of claim 1, wherein the base has a flat bottom portion and a top portion having a plurality of inclined surfaces, and each of the light-transmitting bodies has a portion inserted into the base while having a portion of its outer circumferential surface exposed to a top surface of the base.

4. A manufacturing method of a reflector for a road sign, the manufacturing method comprising:

preparing a mold having a cavity provided therein;

arranging light-transmitting bodies in the cavity such that the reflective layer is spaced apart from an inner circumferential surface of the cavity, the light-transmitting bodies formed using a transparent material and having a reflective layer provided on portions of the light-transmitting bodies;

injecting a resin into the cavity to form a base; and

separating the base from the cavity after the base is hardened.

5. The manufacturing method of claim 4, wherein the preparing of the mold comprises forming hemi-spherical recessed grooves on the inner circumferential surface of the cavity, and the arranging of the light-transmitting bodies comprises arranging the light-transmitting bodies such that exposed surfaces of the light-transmitting bodies, other than the reflective layer, are inserted into the recessed grooves.

6. The manufacturing method of claim 4, wherein an adhesive layer is formed between the light-transmitting bodies and the reflective layer.

7. A manufacturing method of a reflector for a road sign, the manufacturing method comprising:

preparing a mold having a cavity provided therein;

arranging light-transmitting bodies made of a transparent material in the cavity;

forming a reflective layer on portions of surfaces of the light-transmitting bodies facing the inner circumferential surface of the cavity;

injecting a resin into the cavity to form a base; and

separating the base from the cavity after the base is hardened.

8. The manufacturing method of claim 7, wherein the preparing of the mold comprises coating a binder on the inner circumferential surface of the cavity, the arranging of the light-transmitting bodies comprises scattering the light-transmitting bodies such that portions of the outer circumferential surfaces of the light-transmitting bodies are inserted into the binder, and the forming of the reflective layer comprises forming the reflective layer on an outwardly exposed surface of the binder.

9. The manufacturing method of claim 7, wherein the preparing of the mold comprises forming hemi-spherical recessed grooves on the inner circumferential surface of the cavity, the arranging of the light-transmitting bodies comprises inserting the light-transmitting bodies into the recessed grooves, and the forming of the reflective layer comprises forming the reflective layer on a surface of the binder exposed to the cavity.

10. The manufacturing method of claim 7, wherein the forming of the reflective layer comprises forming the reflective layer after coating an adhesive on surfaces of the light-transmitting bodies.