Netting material with reflective or luminescent marker

Abstract

A netting material includes reflective and/or luminescent markers that make the netting visible in low light or reduced light situations, and in certain embodiments also marks the roll end in a manner visible in low light situations. The strip reflects a source of light even from a distance and even at a sharp angle, or alternatively emits light itself. The reflective or luminescent strip may be incorporated into the net in addition to and optionally alongside colored roll-end markers that are easily visible in daylight.

1 . A netting comprising longitudinal ribbons and interconnecting transverse ribbons, said netting including at least one reflective indicator extending from an end of the netting along a longitudinal direction of the netting.  
   
   
       2 . The netting of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one reflective indicator is at least one of the longitudinal ribbons.  
   
   
       3 . The netting of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one reflective indicator is at least one of the transverse ribbons.  
   
   
       4 . The netting of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one reflective indicator is a reflective indicator strip arranged adjacent to at least one of the longitudinal ribbons.  
   
   
       5 . The netting of  claim 4 , wherein the reflective indicator strip is threaded through one of the longitudinal ribbons.  
   
   
       6 . The netting of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one reflective indicator is a reflective indicator strip arranged adjacent to at least one of the transverse ribbons.  
   
   
       7 . The netting of  claim 6 , wherein the reflective indicator strip is threaded through one of the longitudinal ribbons.  
   
   
       8 . The netting of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of openings are formed from the longitudinal ribbons and the interconnecting transverse ribbons.  
   
   
       9 . The netting of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one reflective indicator is a reflective indicator strip arranged adjacent to one of the longitudinal ribbons and extends through the openings.  
   
   
       10 . The netting of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one reflective indicator is a reflective indicator strip arranged adjacent to one of the transverse ribbons and extends through the openings.  
   
   
       11 . The netting of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one reflective indicator comprises at least two different reflective indicators, one of which is at least one of the longitudinal ribbons, and the other of which is at least one of the transverse ribbons.  
   
   
       12 . The netting of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one reflective indicator extends over the entire length of the netting.  
   
   
       13 . The netting of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one reflective indicator extends over a part of the netting length.  
   
   
       14 . The netting of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one reflective indicator strip extends over the entire length of the netting.  
   
   
       15 . The netting of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one reflective indicator strip extends over a part of the netting length.  
   
   
       16 . The netting according to  claim 2 , wherein a plurality of the longitudinal ribbons are reflective.  
   
   
       17 . The netting according to  claim 3 , wherein a plurality of the transverse ribbons are reflective.  
   
   
       18 . The netting of any one of  claim 1 , wherein the netting is knitted netting and the interconnecting transverse ribbons are schuss ribbons that zig-zag laterally between adjacent longitudinal franze ribbons.  
   
   
       19 . A netting comprising: 
 longitudinal ribbons and interconnecting transverse ribbons; and    at least one reflective indicator which is in strip form.    
   
   
       20 . The netting of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one reflective indicator strip is arranged adjacent to one of the longitudinal ribbons.  
   
   
       21 . The netting of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one reflective indicator strip is threaded through one of the longitudinal ribbons.  
   
   
       22 . The netting of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one reflective indicator strip arranged adjacent to one of the transverse ribbons.  
   
   
       23 . The netting of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one reflective indicator strip is threaded through one of the longitudinal ribbons.  
   
   
       24 . The netting of  claim 19 , wherein a plurality of openings are formed from the longitudinal ribbons and the interconnecting transverse ribbons.  
   
   
       25 . The netting of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one reflective indicator strip is arranged adjacent to one of the longitudinal ribbons and extends through the openings.  
   
   
       26 . The netting of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one reflective indicator strip is arranged adjacent to one of the transverse ribbons and extends through the openings.  
   
   
       27 . The netting of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one reflective indicator strip extends over the entire length of the netting.  
   
   
       28 . The netting of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one indicator strip extends over a part of the netting length.  
   
   
       29 . The netting according to  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the longitudinal ribbons and/or at least one the transverse ribbons is reflective.  
   
   
       30 . The netting according to  claim 29 , wherein a plurality of the longitudinal ribbons and/or a plurality of the transverse ribbons are reflective.  
   
   
       31 . The netting of  claim 19 , wherein the netting is knitted netting and the interconnecting transverse ribbons are schuss ribbons that zig-zag laterally between adjacent longitudinal franze ribbons.  
   
   
       32 . The netting of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one reflective indicator strip is located continuously between an end of the netting and a point spaced a predetermined distance from the end, thereby acting as a visual signal to a user that an end of the netting is approaching.  
   
   
       33 . A netting according to  claim 1 , wherein the reflective indicator has first and second faces and comprises reflective material on both faces  
   
   
       34 . The netting according to  claim 1 , wherein the reflective indicator has first and second faces and comprises reflective material only on one face.  
   
   
       35 . The netting according to  claim 1 , wherein the reflective indicator comprises a polymeric material.  
   
   
       36 . The according to  claim 1 , wherein a substrate of the reflective indicator is made reflective by the addition of refractive particles.  
   
   
       37 . The according to  claim 36 , wherein the refractive particles are very small glass beads.  
   
   
       38 . A roll of netting comprising, a length of netting having longitudinal ribbons and interconnecting transverse ribbons, and at least one reflective indicator extending over at least a part of the length of the netting.  
   
   
       39 . The roll of netting of  claim 38 , wherein the at least one reflective indicator extends over the entire length of the netting.  
   
   
       40 . The roll of netting of  claim 38 , wherein the at least one reflective indicator extends over only a part of the netting length, and acts as a visual signal to a user that an end of the netting is approaching.  
   
   
       41 . A roll of netting comprising the netting according to  claim 1 .  
   
   
       42 . A round bale wrapped about its circumference with the netting of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       43 . A round bale wrapped about its circumference with Raschel netting, the Raschel knitted netting having substantially longitudinal franzes and interconnecting zigzag schusses, the Raschel netting having a reflective strip adjacent to at least one of the longitudinal franzes, at least one of the interconnecting zigzag schusses or both.  
   
   
       44 . A wrapped bale according to  claim 43 , wherein the at least one reflective indicator strip extends along the entire length of the wrapped netting.  
   
   
       45 . A wrapped bale according to  claim 43 , wherein the at least one reflective indicator strip extends along only a part of the length of the wrapped netting.  
   
   
       46 . A round bale wrapped about its circumference with Raschel netting, the Raschel knitted netting having substantially longitudinal franzes and interconnecting zigzag schusses, the Raschel netting having a reflective strip in place of at least one of the longitudinal franzes, for the portion of the netting where the reflective indicator strip is present.  
   
   
       47 . A round bale wrapped about its circumference with Raschel netting, the Raschel knitted netting having substantially longitudinal franzes and interconnecting zigzag schusses, the Raschel netting having a reflective strip in place of at least one of said zigzag schusses, for the portion of the netting where the reflective indicator strip is present.  
   
   
       48 . A round bale wrapped about its circumference with Raschel netting, the Raschel knitted netting having substantially longitudinal franzes and interconnecting zigzag schusses, at least one of the longitudinal franzes and/or zigzag schusses being reflective and having at least one reflective strip in addition to the longitudinal franzes and zigzag schusses.  
   
   
       49 . A netting material comprising: 
 a plurality of substantially longitudinal netting ribbons, arranged substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the netting material, the longitudinal netting ribbons traversing a length of the netting material;    a plurality of substantially transverse netting ribbons, arranged substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis of the netting material; and    a reflective indicator arranged longitudinally on the netting material continuously from one end of the netting material to a point located at a predetermined distance from said one end, the reflective indicator acting as a visual signal to a user that an end of the netting material is approaching.    
   
   
       50 . The netting material of  claim 49 , wherein the reflective indicator is applied to the netting material in a substantially liquid form.  
   
   
       51 . The netting material of  claim 49 , wherein the reflective indicator is in the form of a tape applied to a surface of the netting material.  
   
   
       52 . The netting according to  claim 19 , wherein the at least one reflective indicator strip includes first and second reflective indicator strips arranged on the netting material in different patterns to facilitate distinction between the indicators.  
   
   
       53 . The netting material of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one reflective indicator strip includes first and second reflective indicator strips arranged on the netting in different locations relative to a center line of the netting material to facilitate distinction between the indicators.  
   
   
       54 . The netting according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one indicator includes first and second reflective indicators of different colors to facilitate distinction between the indicators.  
   
   
       55 . A method of wrapping a bale of agricultural produce in a baler comprising: 
 supplying a baling machine with a roll of netting having:    a plurality of substantially longitudinal netting ribbons, arranged substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the netting material, the longitudinal netting ribbons traversing a length of the netting material;    a plurality of substantially transverse netting ribbons, arranged substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis of the netting material; and    a reflective indicator arranged longitudinally on the netting material continuously from one end of the netting material to a point located at a predetermined distance from said one end, the reflective indicator alerting a user that an end of the netting material is approaching; and    wrapping said bale in said netting using said baling machine.    
   
   
       56 . A method of wrapping a bale of agricultural produce in a baler comprising: 
 supplying a baling machine with a roll of netting having:    a plurality of substantially longitudinal netting ribbons, arranged substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the netting material, the longitudinal netting ribbons traversing a length of the netting material;    a plurality of substantially transverse netting ribbons, arranged substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis of the netting material; and    a reflective material arranged longitudinally on the netting material continuously from one end of the netting material to a point located at a predetermined distance from said one end; and    wrapping said bale in said netting using said baling machine, said reflective material adapted to illuminate the ends of said wrapped bale in reduced natural light environments.    
   
   
       57 . The method according to  claim 56 , wherein the netting provided to the baler also includes reflective indicators strips to identify the end of the netting roll.  
   
   
       58 . A method of providing a reflective netting, comprising: 
 (a) providing a netting having longitudinal ribbons and lateral ribbons that zig-zag between adjacent lateral ribbons and form a series of triangular openings; and    (b) arranging at least one reflective indicator strip adjacent at least one of the longitudinal and/or lateral ribbons.    
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the netting has length and the at least one reflective indicator is threaded through the series of triangular openings along at least a portion of said netting length.  
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the netting has length and the at least one reflective indicator extends through loops in the longitudinal ribbons along at least a portion of said netting length.  
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the at least a portion of the netting length is the entire length of the netting.  
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 60 , wherein the at least a portion of the netting length is less than the entire length of the netting.  
   
   
       63 . A method of providing a netting with a reflective indicator comprising: 
 (a) providing a first roll of netting having longitudinal and interconnecting lateral ribbons;    (b) incorporating at least one reflective indicator to a predetermined length of the outermost portion of said first roll of netting; and    (c) rewinding the netting from said first roll to form a second roll, such that the outermost portion of netting of the first roll becomes the innermost portion of netting on the second roll.    
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the at least one reflective indicator is incorporated by applying a reflective material to at least one of said longitudinal and lateral ribbons.  
   
   
       65 . A roll of netting produced according to the method of  claim 58 .  
   
   
       66 . A reflective knitted netting comprising longitudinal ribbons and interconnected transverse ribbons, said netting including at least one reflective indicator having a retroreflection value of at least 30, said reflective indicator identifying at least one of an approaching end of the knitted netting and a boundary of the knitted netting.  
   
   
       67 . A roll of netting comprising the knitted netting according to  claim 66 .  
   
   
       68 . A bale wrapped about its circumference with the knitted netting according to  claim 66 .  
   
   
       69 . A reflective knitted netting comprising longitudinal ribbons and interconnected transverse ribbons, said netting including at least one reflective indicator with a retroreflection of sufficient value to permit the netting to be identified at night at distances of at least about 50 meters upon illumination by artificial light, said reflective indicator identifying at least one of an approaching end of the knitted netting and a boundary of the knitted netting.