Masking tape with stiffened edge

• US 5,654,055 A
• Filed: 06/06/1995
• Issued: 08/05/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Company
• Original Assignee: 3M Company
• Inventors: Johnson, Daryl D., Perron, Steven J., Magee, Sidney Jr., Cox, Sheila F.
• Primary Examiner(s): CANNON, JAMES
• Application Number:
  US08/467,233
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 118/504, 118/505, 428/40, 428/124, 428/192, 428/195, 428/343, 428/202, 428/354
• US Class Current: 428/41.7
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/24 made at least partly of flexible material, e.g. sheets of paper or fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/40 Devices for making a normally hidden area accessible for the spray material
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2203/31 as a masking tape for painting
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 7/20 characterised by their carriers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/906 Roll or coil
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1011 Overedge bending or overedge folding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1471 Protective layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24215 Acute or reverse fold of exterior component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24777 Edge feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2486 with outer strippable or release layer
• 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 428/2848 Three or more layers

Abstract

A masking tape is provided that is suitable for insertion under many moldings and gaskets which not only masks the molding or gasket but also facilitates refinishing under at least a portion of the molding or gasket. The masking tape is constructed to include a longitudinal non-adhesive portion and a longitudinal adhesive portion, wherein the non-adhesive portion is stiffer than the adhesive portion and is sufficiently stiff to facilitate easy insertion of the non-adhesive portion beneath at least a portion of the molding or gasket to be masked while the adhesive portion is sufficiently flexible to permit the wrapping thereof around the molding or gasket. The stiffened portion advantageously provides a dual purpose of facilitating the easy insertion of the non-adhesive portion beneath the molding or gasket and creating a lever action during application between the molding or gasket and the wall or panel to which the molding or gasket is mounted. This lever action creates a force which tends to separate or lift an edge of the molding or gasket from the wall or panel to open the wall or panel under the molding or gasket for refinishing. The masking tape is especially applicable for masking flexible gaskets that include a leg portion that overlies an adjacent panel that is to be refinished.

Claims

1. An elongate masking tape structure for use in masking flexible gaskets while mounted in place relative to a panel to be refinished, the gasket being of the type including a free leg portion that overlaps the panel, said masking tape structure being divided along a major surface thereof into a first longitudinal zone, a second longitudinal zone, and a third longitudinal zone provided on the opposite edge of the first longitudinal zone than the second longitudinal zone, and comprising:

a backing layer;

an adhesive layer covering at least a portion said backing layer within said first longitudinal zone wherein a non-adhesive portion of said backing layer comprises said third longitudinal zone; and

stiffening means for making said second longitudinal zone stiffer in the transverse direction thereof than said first longitudinal zone in the transverse direction thereof, said stiffening means comprising a strip connected with said backing layer, wherein said first zone is flexible for wrapping about a gasket to which said masking tape is to be applied and said second zone is sufficiently stiff in the transverse direction thereof so that said strip remains generally linear in its transverse direction so as to create a lever action against a free leg gasket portion when the second zone is inserted under the free leg gasket portion and when a force is applied in the transverse direction of the masking tape from the first zone.

2. The masking tape structure of claim 1, wherein said strip of said stiffening means comprises a layer of material that is stiffer than said backing layer which covers at least a portion of said backing layer.

3. The masking tape structure of claim 2, wherein the material of the layer of said stiffening means has a Taber stiffness value of at least 20 g-cm in the transverse direction of said masking tape.

4. The masking tape structure of claim 3, wherein said backing layer comprises a polymeric material.

5. The masking tape structure of claim 4, wherein said polymeric material of said backing layer is stretchable by a significant amount.

6. The masking tape structure of claim 4, wherein said material of the layer of said stiffening means comprises a different polymeric material than that of said backing layer.

7. The masking tape structure of claim 1, wherein said strip comprises a portion of said backing layer folded upon said backing layer.

8. The masking tape structure of claim 1, further including a protective liner covering said first longitudinal zone and adhered to said adhesive layer.

9. The masking tape structure of claim 1, wherein said adhesive layer covers said first longitudinal zone.

10. The masking tape structure of claim 1, wherein a second stiffening strip of a different caliper than said strip of said second longitudinal zone comprises said third longitudinal zone.