ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE TAPE FOR WALLS AND CEILINGS

• US 20100170616A1
• Filed: 09/02/2009
• Published: 07/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: T-Ink Inc. (Winnick & Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: USG Interiors Incorporated (GEBR Knauf Verwaltungsgesellschaft KG)
• Inventors: McDonald, David, Kaiserman, Terrance Z., Wassief, Michael, Chai, Liang, Margolin, Keith J., Boss, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/552,499
• Publication Number:
  US 20100170616A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 156/71
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/0815 covered with gluten for wall-fixing
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/0846 Parallel wires, fixed upon a support layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24273 including aperture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24612 Composite web or sheet

Abstract

An electrically conductive tape for walls and ceilings is provided. The tape includes a substrate configured to be applied to at least one surface including at least one surface of a wall or ceiling and at least one conductive layer applied to the substrate. The conductive layer is penetrable by at least a conductor of an electrical device to provide an electrical connection thereto. In one embodiment the conductive layer is formed from a conductive composition including an electrically conductive material therein. The conductive composition can include a conductive ink. A method of manufacturing an electrically conductive tape or film for walls and ceilings is also provided. The method includes providing a conductive composition including an electrically conductive material therein, and providing a substrate configured to be applied to at least one surface including at least one surface of a wall or ceiling. The method also includes applying the conductive composition to the substrate forming a conductive layer attached to the substrate, the conductive layer being penetrable by a conductor of an electrical device.

Claims

1. An electrically conductive tape for walls and ceilings comprising:

a substrate configured to be applied to at least one surface including at least one surface of a wall or ceiling; and

at least one conductive layer applied to the substrate, wherein the conductive layer is penetrable by a conductor of an electrical device to provide an electrical connection thereto.

2. The tape according to claim 1, wherein the conductive layer is formed from a conductive composition including an electrically conductive material therein.

3. The tape according to claim 2, wherein the conductive composition includes a conductive ink.

4. The tape according to claim 1, wherein the conductive ink includes at least one of silver and copper.

5. The tape according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is configured to be applied to the surface with an adhesive.

6. The tape according to claim 5, wherein the adhesive coating includes at least one of a mastic, glue, tar, sealant, joint compound, and spackling compound.

7. The tape according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is drywall tape.

8. The tape according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is formed having a plurality of apertures formed therein.

9. The tape according to claim 1, further comprising a magnetic strip located in a predetermined position relative to the conductive layer.

10. The tape according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is configured to be applied to the surface of a wall or ceiling with joint compound.

11. The tape according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is configured to be applied to at least one of a planar surface of a wall or ceiling and a curved surface of a wall or ceiling.

12. The tape according to claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive tape is configured to be connected to a power supply or a signal source.

13. The tape according to claim 12, wherein the power supply is a low voltage power supply.

14. The tape according to claim 1, wherein the conductive layer includes a connector.

15. The tape according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is applied to surfaces including at least one of a wall, a ceiling, a beam, a joist, and a stud.

16. A method of manufacturing electrically conductive tape for walls and ceilings comprising:

providing a substrate configured to be applied to at least one surface including at least one surface of a wall or ceiling;

providing a conductive composition including an electrically conductive material therein; and

applying the conductive composition to the substrate forming a conductive layer attached to the substrate, the conductive layer being penetrable by a conductor of an electrical device.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said applying step includes printing.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein printing includes at least one of:

pad printing, gravure printing, rotary printing, offset lithography, dry offset printing, letter press printing, flexographic printing, screen printing, rotary screen printing, and inkjet printing.

19. A method of using electrically conductive tape for walls and ceilings comprising:

affixing an electrically conductive tape to at least one surface including at least one surface of a wall or ceiling, the tape having a substrate and one or more conductive layers applied thereto;

electrically connecting a power supply or signal source to a portion of the tape; and

electrically connecting an electrical device to another portion of the tape.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the affixing step uses an adhesive to affix the tape to the surface, and the adhesive includes at least one of a mastic, glue, tar, sealant, and a joint or spackling compound.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the tape has two or more layers, and a first layer is electrically connected to one or positive side of the power supply or signal source, and a second layer is electrically connected to another or negative side of the power supply or signal source.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the first layer is connected to one or positive side of the electrical device, and the second layer is connected to another or negative side of the electrical device.