Removable adhesive tape

• US 20030134112A1
• Filed: 01/21/2003
• Published: 07/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1990
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Rickert, James H., Hager, Patrick J., Kreckel, Karl W.
• Application Number:
  US10/348,394
• Publication Number:
  US 20030134112A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/343
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/175 Stretch releasing adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2301/308 the adhesive tape or sheet losing adhesive strength when being stretched, e.g. stretch adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 7/24 based on macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions involving only carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1147 Using shrinking or swelling agent during delaminating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1303 Paper containing [e.g., paperboard, cardboard, fiberboard, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24752 Laterally noncoextensive components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249983 As outermost component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/28 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and having an adhesive outermost layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2839 with release or antistick coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2848 Three or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2861 having readily strippable combined with readily readhearable properties [e.g., stick-ons, etc.]

Abstract

A removable adhesive tape comprising a highly extensible and substantially inelastic backing and a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive. The backing has a high tensile strength, has a lengthwise elongation at break of at least about 150% with less than about 50% elastic recovery after stretching. The adhesive can be a normally tacky and pressure-sensitive adhesive and is coated on at least one surface of the film backing. The adhesive is preferably highly extensible, does not separate from the backing during stretching, and has higher cohesion than adhesion to any suitable substrate. After being applied to a substrate, the adhesive tape of the present invention becomes firmly bonded, but can be easily removed without damaging the substrate by simply stretching it in a direction substantially parallel, i.e., less than about 35°, to the surface of the substrate.

Claims

1. A tape comprising a highly extensible, substantially non-recoverable backing bearing on at least one major surface thereof a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive, said tape being capable of being firmly bonded to a substrate and further being capable of being removed therefrom after only being stretched at an angle no greater than about 35°

from the surface of the substrate.

2. The tape of claim 1, wherein said backing has a Young'"'"'s modulus of at least about 2,500 psi and less than about 50,000 psi.

3. The tape of claim 1, wherein said backing has an elastic recovery of less than about 50% after being stretched.

4. The tape of claim 1, wherein said backing has a lengthwise elongation at break of at least about 150%.

5. The tape of claim 1, wherein said pressure-sensitive adhesive having an adhesion value of from about 3 N/dm to about 200 N/dm at a peel angle of 180°

at a peel rate of 12.7 cm/min.

6. The tape of claim 1, wherein said backing is made from a material selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, vinyl copolymers, olefinic copolymers, acrylic polymers and copolymers, and combinations of the foregoing.

7. An article suitable for adhering to a surface comprising a substrate bearing on one major surface thereof a tape according to claim 1, wherein said tape can be removed from the surface to which said article is adhered by causing said backing to elongate at least about 150% of its initial length.

8. The article of claim 7, wherein said substrate bears on one major surface thereof a means for hanging articles.

9. A closure assembly for a container comprising a tape according to claim 1, wherein said tape can be removed from two surfaces by causing said backing to elongate to at least about 150% of its initial length.

10. The closure assembly of claim 9, wherein said container is a box comprising a bottom panel, at least one side panel projecting upwardly from said bottom panel, at least two top panels projecting from said at least one side panel and joining to close said container.

11. The closure assembly of claim 9, wherein said container has a gabled-top.

12. Assembly comprising two coplanar surfaces, and a tape according to claim 1, wherein said coplanar surfaces are joined by means of said tape, wherein said tape can be removed from said coplanar surfaces by causing said backing to elongate at least about 150% of its initial length.

13. A label comprising the tape of claim 1.

14. The tape of claim 1, wherein both major surfaces of said backing bear a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive.

15. A closure assembly for a container comprising a tape according to claim 14, wherein said tape can be removed from two surfaces by causing said backing to elongate to at least about 150% of its initial length.

16. The closure assembly of claim 15, wherein said container is a box comprising a bottom panel, at least one side panel projecting upwardly from said bottom panel, at least two top panels projecting from said at least one side panel and joining to close said container.

17. The closure assembly of claim 16, wherein said container has a gabled-top.

18. Assembly comprising two coplanar surfaces, and a tape according to claim 14, wherein said coplanar surfaces are joined by means of said tape, wherein said tape can be removed from said coplanar surfaces by causing said backing to elongate at least about 150% of its initial length.