Adhesive articles with improved air egress

• US 20040213993A1
• Filed: 05/25/2004
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Hannington
• Original Assignee: Michael Hannington
• Inventors: Hannington, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,820,288 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/343
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2301/204 the adhesive coating being discontinuous
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2301/206 the adhesive layer comprising non-adhesive protrusions
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 7/10 without carriers
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 7/35 Heat-activated
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 7/38 Pressure-sensitive adhesives [PSA]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/14 Layer or component removable to expose adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1471 Protective layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1476 Release layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24612 Composite web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]
• 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 428/2813 Heat or solvent activated or sealable
• 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 428/2902 Channel shape

Abstract

This invention relates to an adhesive article which provides air egress. Air egress is provided by supplying a route, such as areas of no initial adhesion for the air to flow out from under the construction. The invention relates to an adhesive article comprising a facestock having a front surface and a back surface, a continuous layer of adhesive having an upper surface and a lower surface wherein the upper surface of the adhesive layer is adhered to the back surface of the facestock, and a plurality of spaced-apart non-adhesive material which is in contact with the lower surface of the adhesive layer. These articles have usefulness as industrial graphics images, as well as decorative coverings, etc. The articles provide air egress and optionally repositionability and slideability.

Claims

1. An adhesive article comprising:

a facestock having a front surface and a back surface;

a continuous layer of adhesive having an upper surface and a lower surface and end edges, wherein the upper surface of the adhesive is adhered to the back surface of the facestock; and

a pattern of non-adhesive material forms that provide a path for air egress to an end edge, wherein the non-adhesive material forms are embedded into the upper surface of the adhesive layer, each of said non-adhesive material forms having a top surface, wherein the top surfaces of the non-adhesive material forms are even with or below the plane of the upper surface of the adhesive layer.

2. The adhesive article of claim 1 wherein the non-adhesive material forms have an average thickness of about 30 nanometers to about 100μ

.

3. The adhesive article of claim 1 wherein the non-adhesive material comprises a UV curable ink.

4. The adhesive article of claim 1 wherein the pattern of non-adhesive material forms is applied by vacuum metallization or sputtering.

5. The adhesive article of claim 4 wherein the non-adhesive material forms have an average thickness of about 30 to about 3000 nanometers.

6. The adhesive article of claim 1 wherein the pattern of non-adhesive material forms comprises a plurality of dots, lines or combinations thereof.

7. The adhesive article of claim 6 wherein the lines of non-adhesive material have an average width of from about 12μ

to about 250μ and

an average thickness of from about 30 nanometers to about 100μ

.

8. The adhesive article of claim 6 wherein at least 50% of the lines intersect the end edges of the adhesive layer.

9. The adhesive article of claim 6 wherein the plurality of lines forms a grid pattern.

10. The adhesive article of claim 1 wherein the adhesive layer comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive.

11. The adhesive article of claim 1 wherein the adhesive layer comprises a heat-activated adhesive.

12. The adhesive article of claim 1 wherein the non-adhesive material comprises a porous non-adhesive material.

13. The adhesive article of claim 12 wherein the porous non-adhesive material comprises an elastomer.

14. The adhesive article of claim 1 wherein the article is wound so that the lower surface of the adhesive is in adhesive contact with the front surface of the facestock.

15. The adhesive article of claim 14 wherein the front surface of the facestock has a release surface.

16. The adhesive article of claim 1 further comprising a release liner having a release surface, wherein said release surface is adhered to the lower surface of the adhesive layer.

17. The adhesive article of claim 16 wherein the release surface of the release liner has a textured surface.

18. The adhesive article of claim 17 wherein the release surface has a random texture.

19. The adhesive article of claim 17 wherein the release surface has a patterned finish.

20. The adhesive article of claim 17 wherein the lower surface of the adhesive layer has a textured surface corresponding to the textured surface of the release liner.

21. The adhesive article of claim 16 wherein the release surface of the release liner has randomly distributed non-adhesive particulate material thereon.

22. The adhesive article of claim 21 wherein the randomly distributed non-adhesive particulate material is at least partially embedded into the release surface.

23. The adhesive article of claim 16 wherein the release surface of the release liner has a non-adhesive material printed thereon.

24. The adhesive article of claim 23 wherein the non-adhesive material printed on the release surface of the release liner is embedded into the release surface.

25. The adhesive article of claim 1 further comprising a second adhesive layer having an upper and lower surface, said lower surface adhered to the front surface of the facestock.

26. The adhesive article of claim 25 wherein a pattern of non-adhesive material forms is embedded into the lower surface of the second adhesive layer, each of said non-adhesive material forms having a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surfaces of the non-adhesive material forms are even with or above the plane of the lower surface of the second adhesive layer.

27. An adhesive article comprising:

a release liner having a release surface and a back surface;

a continuous layer of adhesive having an upper surface and a lower surface and end edges, wherein the upper surface of the adhesive is adhered to the release surface of the release liner; and

a pattern of non-adhesive material forms embedded into the lower surface of the adhesive layer, each of said non-adhesive material forms having a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surfaces of the non-adhesive material forms are even with, above, or below the plane of the lower surface of the adhesive layer.

28. The adhesive article of claim 27 wherein the non-adhesive material forms have an average thickness of about 30 nanometers to about 100μ

.

29. The adhesive article of claim 27 wherein the pattern of non-adhesive material forms are applied by vacuum metallization or sputtering.

30. The adhesive article of claim 27 wherein the non-adhesive material comprises a UV curable ink.

31. The adhesive article of claim 27 wherein the pattern of non-adhesive material forms comprises a plurality of dots, lines or combinations thereof.

32. The adhesive article of claim 31 wherein the lines of non-adhesive material have an average width of from about 12μ

to about 250μ and

an average thickness of from about 30 nanometers to about 100μ

.

33. The adhesive article of claim 31 wherein at least 50% of the lines intersect the end edges of the adhesive layer.

34. The adhesive article of claim 31 wherein the plurality of lines forms a grid pattern.

35. The adhesive article of claim 27 wherein the adhesive layer comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive.

36. The adhesive article of claim 27 wherein the adhesive layer comprises a heat-activated adhesive.

37. The adhesive article of claim 27 wherein the non-adhesive material comprises a porous non-adhesive material.

38. The adhesive article of claim 37 wherein the porous non-adhesive material comprises an elastomer.

39. The adhesive article of claim 27 further comprising a second release liner having a release surface, wherein said release surface is applied to the lower surface of the adhesive layer.

40. The adhesive article of claim 39 wherein the release surface of the second release liner has a textured surface.

41. The adhesive article of claim 40 wherein the release surface of the second release liner has a random texture.

42. The adhesive article of claim 40 wherein the release surface of the second release liner has a patterned finish.

43. The adhesive article of claim 40 wherein the lower surface of the adhesive layer has a textured surface that is complementary to the textured surface of the second release liner.

44. The adhesive article of claim 27 wherein the back surface of the release liner has a release coating thereon, the release coating having a higher release value than that of the release surface.

45. The adhesive article of claim 44 wherein the article is wound so that the patterned lower surface of the adhesive is in adhesive contact with the back surface of the release liner.

46. The adhesive article of claim 27 wherein the release surface of the release liner has a non-adhesive material printed thereon.

47. The adhesive article of claim 46 wherein the non-adhesive material printed on the release surface of the release liner is embedded into the release surface.

48. The adhesive article of claim 27 wherein the lower surface of the adhesive layer has randomly distributed non-adhesive particulate material embedded therein.

49. An adhesive article comprising:

a facestock having a front surface and a back surface;

a continuous layer of adhesive having an upper surface and a lower surface and end edges, wherein the upper surface of the adhesive is adhered to the back surface of the facestock; and

a pattern of non-adhesive material forms embedded into the lower surface of the adhesive layer, each of said non-adhesive material forms having a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surfaces of the non-adhesive material forms are even with or above the plane of the lower surface of the adhesive layer; and

wherein the pattern of non-adhesive material forms is applied by vacuum metallization or sputtering.

50. The adhesive article of claim 49 wherein the non-adhesive material forms have an average thickness of about 30 to about 3000 nanometers.

51. The adhesive article of claim 49 wherein the pattern of non-adhesive material forms comprises a plurality of dots, lines or combinations thereof.

52. The adhesive article of claim 51 wherein the lines of non-adhesive material have an average width of from about 12μ

to about 250μ and

an average thickness of from about 30 nanometers to about 3000 nanometers.

53. The adhesive article of claim 52 wherein at least 50% of the lines intersect the end edges of the adhesive layer.

54. The adhesive article of claim 52 wherein a plurality of lines forms a grid pattern.

55. The adhesive article of claim 49 wherein the adhesive layer comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive.

56. The adhesive article of claim 49 wherein the adhesive layer comprises a heat-activated adhesive.

57. The adhesive article of claim 49 wherein the article is wound so that the patterned lower surface of the adhesive is in adhesive contact with the front surface of the facestock.

58. The adhesive article of claim 57 wherein the front surface of the facestock has a release surface.

59. The adhesive article of claim 49 further comprising a release liner having a release surface, wherein said release surface is adhered to the lower surface of the adhesive layer.

60. The adhesive article of claim 59 wherein the release surface of the release liner has a textured surface.

61. The adhesive article of claim 60 wherein the release surface has a random texture.

62. The adhesive article of claim 59 wherein the release surface has a patterned finish.

63. The adhesive article of claim 59 wherein the lower surface of the adhesive layer has a textured surface that is complementary to the textured surface of the release liner.

64. The adhesive article of claim 59 wherein the release surface of the release liner has randomly distributed non-adhesive particulate material thereon.

65. The adhesive article of claim 64 wherein the randomly distributed non-adhesive particulate material is at least partially embedded into the release surface.

66. The adhesive article of claim 59 wherein the release surface of the release liner has a non-adhesive material printed thereon.

67. The adhesive article of claim 66 wherein the non-adhesive material printed on the release surface of the release liner is embedded into the release surface.

68. The adhesive article of claim 49 further comprising a second adhesive layer having an upper and lower surface, wherein the lower surface of the second adhesive is adhered to the front surface of the facestock.

69. The adhesive article of claim 68 wherein a pattern of non-adhesive material forms is embedded into the upper surface of the second adhesive layer, each of said non-adhesive material forms having a top surface, wherein the top surfaces of the non-adhesive material forms are even with or below the plane of the upper surface of the second adhesive layer.