Coreless lint-removing tape roll

• US 5,878,457 A
• Filed: 02/25/1997
• Issued: 03/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co (3M Company)
• Inventors: Wood, Thomas L., Cox, Sheila F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spisich, Mark
• Application Number:
  US08/810,155
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 15/104.002, 428/40.1, 428/43, 428/906
• US Class Current: 15/104.002
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 25/005 using adhesive or tacky surfaces to remove dirt, e.g. lint removers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/906 Roll or coil
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/14 Layer or component removable to expose adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/15 Sheet, web, or layer weakened to permit separation through thickness

Abstract

A linerless, coreless roll of tape includes a backing layer having an adhesive layer formed on one side. The tape is formed into a roll having a plurality of wraps with the adhesive side facing outwardly. The tape is sufficiently stiff and self-supporting to obviate the need for support material, and the entire roll, including the last wrap, is completely usable for its intended purpose without wasting any tape. As lint removal tape, the tape is used while it is still on the roll, and the tape is removed from the roll only after use, to discard it. The roll can be sufficiently compressible to create a plane of contact during use to remove lint. The roll of tape can be mounted on an applicator.

Claims

1. A lint removal device comprising:

an applicator comprising a handle portion and a tape-receiving portion, wherein the handle portion has a free end and a connecting end;

the tape-receiving portion has a free end and a connecting end wherein the handle portion connecting end is connected to the tape-receiving portion connecting end, and wherein the tape-receiving portion further comprises;

a cylindrical tape-receiving surface;

an inner lip adjacent the handle portion which extends radially beyond the tape-receiving surface; and

an outer lip adjacent the free end and which extends radially beyond the tape-receiving surface, wherein the outer lip is tapered on the side facing the free end of the tape-receiving portion, and after a roll of tape traverses over the outer lip it is locked in place on the tape-receiving surface and cannot be removed by sliding it back over the outer lip; and

a linerless, coreless roll of tape mounted on the tape-receiving portion of the applicator and comprising a backing layer having a first side and a second side, and an adhesive layer formed on the first side of the backing layer, wherein the tape is formed into a roll having a plurality of wraps with the adhesive side facing outwardly by rolling the tape on only itself, such that, when forming a roll, the tape is sufficiently stiff and self-supporting to obviate the need for support material, and such that the entire roll, including the last wrap, is completely usable for its intended purpose of lint removal without wasting any tape, wherein the linerless, coreless roll of tape is stretchable, and can be stretched over the outer lip such that once the roll is in place, the tape recovers into the tape-receiving portion to allow seating of the roll of tape.