Banding system, banding tape and methods of using the same

• US 5,733,652 A
• Filed: 02/10/1995
• Issued: 03/31/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Company
• Original Assignee: 3M Company
• Inventors: Stowman, Alesia A., Kobe, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryan, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAM, CATHY FONG FONG
• Application Number:
  US08/386,854
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 428/192, 428/295, 428/294, 428/195, 428/343, 428/349, 428/218, 428/516, 428/518, 428/520, 428/354, 428/355, 156/60, 156/70
• US Class Current: 428/343
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 63/1009 Adhesive tapes
• 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 7/22 Plastics; Metallised plastics
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 7/38 Pressure-sensitive adhesives [PSA]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24992 Density or compression of components
• 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 428/2826 Synthetic resin or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2848 Three or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2883 including addition polymer of diene monomer [e.g., SBR, SIS, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2887 including nitrogen containing polymer [e.g., polyacrylonitrile, polymethacrylonitrile, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31913 Monoolefin polymer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/3192 Next to vinyl or vinylidene chloride polymer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31928 Ester, halide or nitrile of addition polymer

Abstract

The present invention provides a banding system, banding tape and method of using the same, each of which is particularly useful a variety of items such as flowers, straws, pens, pencils, newspapers, and vegetables. The banding system comprises a first strip and second strip. The first strip comprises an elastic polymeric material having a percent recovery of at least 50% after being elongated to 100% of its original length. The first and second strips are capable of being bonded together. The banding tape comprises a strip of elastic polymeric material having inner and outer surfaces and a nontacky layer on at least a portion of at least one of the surfaces. The method of using the banding system or tape of the invention comprises the steps of collecting one or more objects into a bundle, wrapping, stretching and securing the system or tape around the bundle, and allowing the elastic strip to at least partially recover to exert a compressive force on the bundle which holds the bundle together. The present invention further provides a bundle secured by either the novel banding system or banding tape, and tape comprising an elastic strip that has been printed with a bar code.

Claims

1. A banding system for securing one or more objects in compression, said system comprising:

(a) a first strip of an elastic polymeric material having first and second ends, said material having at least a 50% recovery after being elongated to 100% of its original length; and

(b) a second strip of material having first and second ends, wherein said first ends of said first and second strips are capable of being bonded together and second ends of said first and second strips are capable of being bonded together by a nontacky joining layer to form an enclosure.

2. A banding system according to claim 1, wherein said nontacky layer is a contact-responsive polymer layer.

3. A banding system according to claim 1, wherein said joining layer is fusible.

4. A banding system according to claim 2, wherein the solubility parameter of said nontacky, contact-responsive polymer layer is sufficiently close to the solubility parameter of the material of at least one of said strips to enable the formation of a bond therebetween.

5. A banding system according to claim 1, further comprising a tie layer interposed between said joining layer and said strip to which said joining layer is applied.

6. A banding system according to claim 1, wherein a bond is formed between said first and second strips.

7. A banding system according to claim 6, wherein said bond has a T-Peel Strength or a Dynamic Shear Strength Value upon bond formation at least equal to a remaining recovery force of said first strip.

8. A banding system according to claim 6, wherein said bond is permanent.

9. A banding system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said strips is capable of accepting indicia.

10. A banding system according to claim 1, wherein the material of each of said first and second strips is flexible.

11. A banding system according to claim 1, wherein said second strip comprises an elastic polymeric material.

12. A banding system according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second strips comprises a thermoplastic material.

13. A banding system according to claim 1, wherein said joining layer comprises a normally tacky pressure sensitive adhesive applied to said first strip and wherein said second strip comprises an elastic polymeric material.

14. A banding system according to claim 1, wherein said second strip further comprises a normally tacky pressure sensitive adhesive applied thereto, wherein upon contacting said first strip and said second strip a bond is formed between the joining layer on said first strip and said normally tacky pressure sensitive adhesive on said second strip.

15. A banding system according to claim 1, wherein said first strip further comprises a layer of nontacky, contact-responsive polymer applied to said elastic polymeric material, and said second strip comprises an elastic polymeric material having a solubility parameter sufficiently close to the solubility parameter of said nontacky, contact-responsive polymer so that when said first and second strips are brought into contact so that said nontacky, contact-responsive polymer layer is interposed therebetween, a bond is formed.

16. A banding system according to claim 1, wherein said second strip further comprises a layer of nontacky, contact-responsive polymer, and said first strip comprises an elastic polymeric material having a solubility parameter sufficiently close to the solubility parameter of said nontacky, contact-responsive polymer so that when said first and second strips are brought into contact so that said nontacky, contact-responsive adhesive is interposed therebetween, a bond is formed.

17. An elastic banding tape for securing one or more objects in compression comprising:

(a) a strip of elastic polymeric material having first and second ends and an inner surface and an outer surfaces, the strip having at least a 50% recovery after being elongated to 100% of its original length; and

(b) a nontacky joining layer on at least a portion of one of said surfaces capable of joining the first and second ends to form an enclosure.

18. An elastic banding tape according to claim 17, wherein said tape is capable of being extended, wrapped and secured around said object(s) and recovering so as to hold said object(s) in compression.

19. An elastic banding tape according to claim 17, wherein said nontacky layer is a contact-responsive polymer layer.

20. An elastic banding tape according to claim 19, wherein the solubility parameter of said nontacky, contact-responsive polymer layer is sufficiently close to the solubility parameter of said elastic polymeric material so that when said polymer layer is brought into contact with one of said surfaces of said elastic polymeric material, a bond is formed therebetween.

21. An elastic banding tape according to claim 19, wherein said nontacky, contact-responsive polymer layer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of butadiene-acrylonitrile and butadiene-acrylonitrile-isoprene.

22. An elastic banding tape according to claim 17, wherein said nontacky layer is fusible.

23. An elastic banding tape according to claim 17, wherein said elastic polymeric material is flexible.

24. An elastic banding tape according to claim 17, further comprising a tie layer interposed between said nontacky layer and said surface to which it is applied.

25. An elastic banding tape according to claim 17, wherein said elastic banding tape is secured around said object(s) by the formation of one or more bond.

26. An elastic banding tape according to claim 17, wherein said elastic banding tape is secured around said object(s) by the formation of one or more permanent bonds.

27. One or more objects held in place by a compressive force, comprising one or more objects and a banding system securing said object(s) together, said banding system comprising:

(a) a first strip of an elastic polymeric material, said material having at least a 50% recovery after being elongated to 100% of its original length; and

(b) a second strip of material, wherein said first and second strips are capable of being bonded together compressively around the objects by a nontacky joining layer.

28. One or more objects according to claim 27, wherein said banding system has been extended, wrapped and bonded and allowed to at least partially recover to secure said one or more objects by exerting a compressive force thereon.

34. A bundle of objects according to claim 27, wherein said objects comprise a perishable object.

29. One or more objects held in place by compressive force, comprising:

one or more of said objects and an elastic banding tape securing said object(s) together into a bundle, said elastic banding tape comprising;

(a) a strip of an elastic polymeric material having inner and outer surfaces and having at least a 50% recovery after being elongated to 100% of its original length; and

(b) a nontacky layer on at least a portion of one of said surfaces.

30. One or more objects according to claim 29, wherein said elastic banding tape has been extended, wrapped and bonded and allowed to at least partially recover to secure said one or more objects together by exerting a compressive force thereon.

35. A bundle of objects according to claim 29, wherein said objects comprise a perishable object.

31. An elastic band for securing one or more objects in compression, comprising:

(a) a strip of an elastic polymeric material having inner and outer surfaces, first and second ends, and having at least a 50% recovery after being elongated to 100% of its original length, the strip comprising a nontacky joining layer on at least a portion of one of said surfaces capable of joining the first and second ends to form an enclosure; and

(b) a bar code printed on at least a portion of said surfaces of said strip.

32. An elastic banding tape according to claim 31, wherein said tape further comprises a joining layer on at least a portion of one of said surfaces of said strip.

33. An elastic banding tape according to claim 32, wherein said joining layer comprises a normally tacky pressure sensitive adhesive.

36. A banding system for securing one or more objects in compression, said system comprising:

(a) a first strip of an elastic polymeric material, said material having at least a 50% recovery after being elongated to 100% of its original length and

(b) a second strip of material, wherein at least one of said first and said second strips bears a nontacky joining layer on at least a portion thereof such that said first and second strips are capable of being bonded together compressive around the objects.

37. One or more objects held in place by a compressive force, comprising one or more objects and a banding system securing said object(s) together, said banding system comprising:

(a) a first strip of an elastic polymeric material, said material having at least a 50% recovery after being elongated to 100% of its original length; and

(b) a second strip of material, wherein at least one of said first and said second strips bears a nontacky joining layer on at least a portion thereof such that said first and second strips are capable of being bonded together compressively around the objects.