Tape strip pads and dispenser and method of dispensing individual tape strips

• US 20030129346A1
• Filed: 12/31/2002
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Pearson, Scott D., Crawford, Dennis L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,756,100 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/40.1
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2301/204 the adhesive coating being discontinuous
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2433/00 Presence of (meth)acrylic polymer
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 7/20 characterised by their carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/10 by an adhesive layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/14 Layer or component removable to expose adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1476 Release layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1481 Dissimilar adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1486 Ornamental, decorative, pattern, or indicia
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24793 Comprising discontinuous or differential impregnation or bond
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24851 Intermediate layer is discontinuous or differential
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2486 with outer strippable or release layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24942 including components having same physical characteristic in differing degree
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2848 Three or more layers

Abstract

A W-stacked pads of tape strips dispensable at a low peel angle, comprising a plurality of superimposed tape strips longitudinally reversed so as to align the first end of each tape strip with the second end of an immediately overlaying and an immediately underlying tape strip. The individual tape strips having first and second longitudinal end portions with differential release characteristics, with the second end portion of each tape strip adhered to the first end portion of an adjacent tape strip at an adhesion level having an adhesive strength sufficient to allow release of the second end portion of an intermediate tape strip relative to the first end portion of an immediately underlying tape strip when an immediately overlying tape strip is dispensed from the pad at a low peel angle, while preventing any appreciable longitudinal movement of the second end portion of an intermediate tape strip relative to the first end portion of an immediately underlying tape strip when an immediately overlying tape strip is dispensed from the pad at a high peel angle.

Claims

1. A W-stacked pad of adhesive tape strips comprising a plurality of superimposed tape strips wherein:

a. the tape strips include;

b. a substrate having first and second opposite major surfaces, first and second opposite longitudinal ends, a first longitudinal end portion adjacent the first end and a second longitudinal end portion adjacent the second end; and

c. a layer of an adhesive on the second major surface of the substrate;

d. sequential tape strips are longitudinally reversed so as to align the first end of each tape strip with the second end of an immediately overlaying and an immediately underlying tape strip;

e. the adhesive layer of each tape strip is releasably adhered to an adjacent tape strip;

f. the adhesive layer of each tape strip adheres the second end portion of each tape strip to the first end portion of an adjacent tape strip at a second adhesion level having an adhesive strength sufficient to prevent any appreciable longitudinal movement of the second end portion of an intermediate tape strip relative to the first end portion of an immediately underlying tape strip when an immediately overlying tape strip is dispensed from the pad at a high peel angle; and

g. the adhesive layer of each tape strip adheres the first end portion of each tape strip to the second end portion of an adjacent tape strip at a first adhesion level, with (i) the first adhesion level having a adhesive strength greater than about 1½

times the adhesive strength of the second adhesion level, and (ii) the first adhesion level having an adhesive strength effective for affording a complete release of the overlying tape strip from the intermediate tape strip after the second end portion of the intermediate tape strip is released from the first end portion of the immediately underlying tape strip and before the intermediate tape strip is completely peeled from the second end portion of the immediately underlying tape strip.

2. The pad of claim 1 having an uppermost tape strip having an exposed first major surface, and a lowermost tape strip having an exposed second major surface, and further comprising a leader strip aligned with and superimposed over the exposed first major surface of the uppermost tape strip with:

a. a tacky longitudinal end portion of the leader strip positioned over and adhesively bonded to the second longitudinal end portion of the exposed first major surface of the uppermost tape strip at an initiatory adhesion level, with (i) the initiatory adhesion level having an adhesive strength sufficiently greater than the adhesive strength of the second adhesion level that the second end portion of the uppermost tape strip releases from the first end portion of an immediately underlying tape strip prior to complete release of the second end portion of the uppermost tape strip from the tacky end portion of the leader strip as the leader strip is peeled from the pad, whereby the second end of the uppermost tape strip is lifted from the pad as the leader strip is pulled from the pad; and

b. a nontacky longitudinal end portion of the leader strip is positioned intermediate the first and second longitudinal ends of the uppermost tape strip so as to form a nontacky pull tab.

3. The pad of claim 1 packaged for retail sale.

4. The pad of claim 1 wherein the ratio of the adhesive strength of the second adhesion level and the adhesive strength of the first adhesion level is between about 1:

4 to 1;

8.

5. The pad of claim 1 further comprising a layer of LAB on the first end portion of the first major surface of the substrate.

6. The pad of claim 1 further comprising a layer of a superior release LAB on the first end portion of the first major surface of the substrate and a layer of a basic LAB on the second end portion of the first major surface of the substrate.

7. The pad of claim 1 further comprising a layer of LAB on the first major surface of the substrate wherein the exposed layer of LAB is a coating of an ink receptive first LAB on the first end portion of the substrate and a coating of an ink receptive second LAB on the second end portion of the substrate, wherein the first and second low adhesion backsides have different release characteristics so as to be effective for contributing to the differential adhesive strengths between the first and second end portions of the tape strip.

8. The pad of claim 1 further comprising a layer of LAB on the first major surface of the substrate wherein the layer of LAB is a continuous coating of LAB on the first end portion of the substrate and a discontinuous coating of LAB on the second end portion of the substrate, wherein the areas having continuous and discontinuous coatings of LAB have different release characteristics so as to be effective for contributing to the differential adhesive strengths between the first and second end portions of the tape strip.

9. The pad of claim 1 wherein the layer of adhesive is a coating of a first pressure sensitive adhesive on the first end portion of the substrate and a coating of a second pressure sensitive adhesive on the second end portion of the substrate, wherein the first and second pressure sensitive adhesives have different adhesion levels so as to be effective for contributing to the differential adhesives strengths between the first and second end portions of the tape strip.

10. The pad of claim 1 wherein the layer of adhesive is a continuous coating of a pressure sensitive adhesive on the first end portion of the substrate and a discontinuous coating of a pressure sensitive adhesive on the second end portion of the substrate, wherein the areas having continuous and discontinuous coatings of pressure sensitive adhesives have different adhesion levels so as to be effective for contributing to the differential adhesive strengths between the first and second end portions of the tape strip.

23. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the engagement means is positioned within the retention chamber and engages only the first longitudinal end portion of the overlaying adhesive tape strip as the overlaying adhesive tape strip is dispensed.

11. A dispenser for dispensing a W-stacked pad of adhesive tape strips comprising:

a. a housing defining a retention chamber configured and arranged to hold a W-stacked pad of adhesive tape strips, and having a top with an opening configured and arranged for accepting passage of an adhesively bonded combination of a first longitudinal end portion of an overlaying adhesive tape strip and a second longitudinal end portion of an immediately adjacent intermediate tape strip, as the overlaying adhesive tape strip is dispensed through the opening, from a W-stacked pad of adhesive tape strips within the retention chamber; and

b. a means for engaging the overlaying adhesive tape strip as the overlaying adhesive tape strip is dispensed through the opening so as to invariably provide a low peel angle between the overlaying adhesive tape strip and the immediately adjacent intermediate adhesive tape strip at the point of release of the second end portion of the intermediate adhesive tape strip from an adjacent underlying adhesive tape strip.

13. The dispenser of claim 11 further comprising means for accessing the retention chamber to replace a depleted W-stacked pad of adhesive tape strips with a new W-stacked ad of adhesive tape strips.

16. The dispenser of claim 11 further comprising means for transversely repositioning a W-stacked pad of adhesive tape strips held within the retention chamber relative to the engagement means as individual adhesive tape strips are dispensed from the pad, so as to maintain a substantially constant distance between the top of the pad and the engagement means throughout dispensing of the entire supply of adhesive tape strips in the pad.

17. The dispenser of claim 11 further comprising means for transversely repositioning the engagement means relative to a W-stacked pad of adhesive tape strips held within the retention chamber as individual adhesive tape strips are dispensed from the pad, so as to maintain a substantially constant distance between the top of the pad and the engagement means throughout dispensing of the entire supply of adhesive tape strips in the pad.

19. The dispenser of claim 11 wherein the retention chamber has a longitudinal length of between about 3 to 10 cm, a lateral width of between about 1 to 4 cm, and a depth of between about 0.2 to 3 cm.

20. The dispenser of claim 11 wherein the retention chamber has a depth sufficient to hold a W-stacked pad of adhesive tape strips containing between about 20 to 100 adhesive tape strips.

21. The dispenser of claim 11 wherein the opening has a longitudinal length of between about 0.1 and 0.5 cm.

28. The dispenser of claim 11 wherein the opening is configured and arranged so as to permit dispensing of the overlaying adhesive tape strip at a peel angle of greater than or less than 45°

and the engagement means is configured and arranged to engage the overlying adhesive tape strip only when the overlying adhesive tape strip is dispensed at a peel angle of greater than 45°

.

12. A dispenser for dispensing a W-stacked pad of adhesive tape strips comprising:

a. a housing defining a retention chamber configured and arranged to hold a W-stacked pad of adhesive tape strips and having a top with an opening configured and arranged for accepting simultaneous passage of a first longitudinal end portion of an overlaying adhesive tape strip and a second longitudinal end portion of an intermediate tape strip adhered to the first longitudinal end of the overlaying adhesive tape strip from a W-stacked pad of adhesive tape strips held within the retention chamber; and

b. a means for engaging the overlaying adhesive tape strip as the overlaying adhesive tape strip is dispensed through the opening so as to invariably limit the peel angle between the overlaying adhesive tape strip and the immediately adjacent intermediate adhesive tape strip to an angle of less than 45°

with a longitudinal length of at least 0.2 cm of the first longitudinal end portion of the overlaying adhesive tape strip still adhered to the second end portion of the intermediate adhesive tape strip.

14. The dispenser of claim 12 further comprising means for securing a W-stacked pad of adhesive tape strips within the retention chamber so as to prevent longitudinal movement of the pad in the housing as individual adhesive tape strips are dispensed from the pad through the opening.

15. The dispenser of claim 14 wherein the housing has a bottom surface and the securing means comprises double-faced adhesive tape effective for adhesively attaching the pad to the bottom surface of the housing.

18. The dispenser of claim 12 further comprising means for anchoring the dispenser to a substrate.

22. The dispenser of claim 12 wherein the retention chamber has a longitudinal length and the opening has a minimum longitudinal length of 2 cm and a maximum longitudinal length of 2 cm less than the longitudinal length of the retention chamber.

24. The dispenser of claim 12 wherein the engagement means is attached to the housing proximate the opening through the top of the housing.

25. The dispenser of claim 12 wherein the engagement means is effective for limiting the peel angle between the overlaying adhesive tape strip and the intermediate adhesive tape strip to an angle of less than 20°

.

26. The dispenser of claim 12 wherein the engagement means is effective for limiting the peel angle to an angle of less than 45°

with a longitudinal length of at least 0.5 cm of the first longitudinal end portion of the overlaying adhesive tape strip still adhered to the second end portion of the intermediate adhesive tape strip.

27. The dispenser of claim 12 wherein the engagement means is effective for limiting the peel angle to an angle of less than 20°

with a longitudinal length of at least 0.5 cm of the first longitudinal end portion of the overlaying adhesive tape strip still adhered to the second end portion of the intermediate adhesive tape strip.

29. The dispenser of claim 25 wherein the opening is configured and arranged so as to permit dispensing of the overlying adhesive tape strip only at a peel angle of greater than 20°

until the overlaying adhesive tape strip is engaged by the engagement means.

30. A method of dispensing an overlying tape strip from a W-stacked pad of differential release tape strips at a restricted peel angle, wherein the pad has sequential tape strips longitudinally reversed so as to align a first longitudinal end of each tape strip with a second longitudinally end of an immediately overlaying and an immediately underlying tape strip and the pad includes at least (i) an overlying tape strip having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, (ii) an intermediate tape strip immediately underneath the overlying tape strip and having a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end, and (iii) an underlying tape strip immediately underneath the intermediate tape strip, sequentially comprising:

a. pulling the second longitudinal end of the overlying tape strip away from the pad so as to effect peeling of the overlying tape strip from the intermediate tape strip in a progressive fashion from the second longitudinal end of the overlying tape strip towards the first longitudinal end of the overlying tape strip;

b. contacting the overlying tape strip so as to restrict the peel angle between the overlying tape strip and the intermediate tape strip to an angle of less than 45°

prior to complete separation of the overlying tape strip from the intermediate tape strip and prior to release of a second longitudinal end section of the intermediate tape strip from the underlying tape strip, and

c. continuing to pull the overlying tape strip away from the pad to sequentially effect (i) release of the second longitudinal end section of the intermediate tape strip from the underlying tape strip, and (ii) complete separation of the overlying tape strip from the intermediate tape strip.

31. The dispensing method of claim 30 further comprising supporting the second longitudinal end section of the intermediate tape strip released from the underlying tape strip above the pad so as to facilitate subsequent dispensing of the intermediate tape strip.

32. The dispensing method of claim 30 wherein the overlying tape strip is contacted proximate the first longitudinal end of the overlying tape strip for purposes of restricting the peel angle between the overlying tape strip and the intermediate tape strip to less than 45°

.

33. The dispensing method of claim 30 wherein the peel angle between the overlying tape strip and the intermediate tape strip is restricted to an angle of less than 35°

.

34. The dispensing method of claim 30 wherein the peel angle between the overlying tape strip and the intermediate tape strip is restricted to an angle of less than 30.

35. The dispensing method of claim 30 wherein the peel angle between the overlying tape strip and the intermediate tape strip is restricted to an angle of less than 20°

.

36. The dispensing method of claim 30 wherein the peel angle is restricted to an angle of less than 45°

with a longitudinal length of between about {fraction (1/16)} to about {fraction (1/2)} inch of the first longitudinal end of the overlying tape strip adhered to the second longitudinal end of the intermediate tape strip.

37. The dispensing method of claim 30 wherein the peel angle is restricted to an angle of less than 45°

with a longitudinal length of between about {fraction (1/16)} to about {fraction (1/8)} inch of the first longitudinal end of the overlying tape strip adhered to the second longitudinal end of the intermediate tape strip.

38. The dispensing method of claim 33 wherein the peel angle is restricted to an angle of less than 35°

with a longitudinal length of between about, {fraction (1/16)} to about ½

inch of the first longitudinal end of the overlying tape strip adhered to the second longitudinal end of the intermediate tape strip.

39. The dispensing method of claim 34 wherein the peel angle is restricted to an angle of less than 30°

with a longitudinal length of between about {fraction (1/16)} to about {fraction (1/2)} inch of the first longitudinal end of the overlying tape strip adhered to the second longitudinal end of the intermediate tape strip.

40. The dispensing method of claim 30 wherein (i) the tape strips have an adhesive layer, (ii) the adhesive layer of each tape strip adheres the second end portion of each tape strip to the first end portion of an adjacent tape strip at a second adhesion level having an adhesive strength sufficient to prevent any appreciable longitudinal movement of the second end portion of an intermediate tape strip relative to the first end portion of an immediately underlying tape strip when an immediately overlying tape strip is dispensed from the pad at a high peel angle;

and (iii) the adhesive layer of each tape strip adheres the first end portion of each tape strip to the second end portion of an adjacent tape strip at a first adhesion level, with (A) the first adhesion level having an adhesive strength greater than about 1½

times the adhesive strength of the second adhesion level, and (B) the first adhesion level having an adhesive strength effective for affording a complete release of the overlying tape strip from the intermediate tape strip after the second end portion of the intermediate tape strip is released from the first end portion of the immediately underlying tape strip and before the intermediate tape strip is completely peeled from the second end portion of the immediately underlying tape strip.