Stretch release adhesive article with enhanced removal feature

• US 6,106,937 A
• Filed: 06/05/1998
• Issued: 08/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Hamerski, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIRKER, DANIEL R
• Application Number:
  US09/092,630
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 428/343, 428/40.1, 248/205.3, 248/467, 248/683
• US Class Current: 428/343
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/175 Stretch releasing adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2300/14 Water soluble or water swellable polymers, e.g. aqueous gels
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 9/0004 Use of compounding ingredients, the chemical constitution of which is unknown, broadly defined, or irrelevant
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2301/124 the adhesive layer being present on both sides of the carrier, e.g. double-sided adhesive tape
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2301/302 the adhesive being pressure-sensitive, i.e. tacky at temperatures inferior to 30°C
• 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: Y10T 428/14 Layer or component removable to expose adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/28 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and having an adhesive outermost layer

Abstract

An adhesive article adapted for removable mounting on a support surface includes a stretch release adhesive tape strip and a base member. The adhesive article includes an abutment adapted to engage the support surface when the article is pressed against the support surface, and thereby prevents the base member from rebonding to the adhesive strip. The abutment thereby allows the article to be pressed against the support surface during removal to hold the article in place without interfering with the removal process. The abutment can be projections protruding from the base member on opposite sides of the adhesive strip, a pair of side walls extending longitudinally along the adhesive strip, a flexible abutment tab extending from the base member which can be manually pressed against the support surface, a projection arranged adjacent the adhesive strip which engages the support surface and acts as a fulcrum when the user applies pressure to a particular location of the base member, or a portion of an article support member which is slidably connected with the base member.

Claims

1. An adhesive article adapted to be removably affixed to a support surface, comprising:

(a) a base member having first and second end portions, each said first and second end portion having a bottom surface; and

(b) a stretch release adhesive strip arranged between said base member bottom surface and the support surface;

and further comprising abutment means adapted to engage the support surface when said abutment means is urged in the direction of the support surface.

2. An adhesive article as defined in claim 1, wherein said adhesive strip extends along a portion of each of said base member first and second end portion bottom surfaces, and wherein said adhesive strip includes a tab portion extending beyond said base member second end portion, thereby allowing a user to manually grasp and pull said tab portion to stretch said adhesive strip.

3. An adhesive article as defined in claim 2, wherein said adhesive strip has a thickness and said abutment means include at least one projection extending from said base member second end portion bottom surface, said projection projecting a distance less than said adhesive strip thickness, whereby when said base member is urged toward the support surface, said adhesive strip is compressed and said projection engages the support surface.

4. An adhesive article as defined in claim 3, wherein said projection projects a distance equal to generally greater than 40 percent of the adhesive strip thickness.

5. An adhesive article as defined in claim 4, wherein said abutment means include a pair of spaced projections extending from said base member second end portion bottom surface adjacent opposite sides of said adhesive strip.

6. An adhesive article as defined in claim 2, wherein said abutment means include a pair of spaced longitudinally extending walls.

7. An adhesive article as defined in claim 1, wherein said first end portion is pivotally connected with said second end portion, said first end portion being movable between a folded position wherein said first end portion is arranged adjacent said second end portion, and an unfolded position wherein said first end portion extends outwardly from said second end portion.

8. An adhesive article as defined in claim 7, wherein said first end portion is connected with said second end portion with a hinge, and further wherein said first end portion includes a projection adapted to engage the support surface when a force directed toward the support surface is applied to said first end portion.

9. An adhesive article as defined in claim 1, wherein said abutment means include at least one flexible abutment tab adapted to be urged into contact with the support surface.

10. An adhesive article as defined in claim 1, wherein said adhesive strip extends only along said second end portion bottom surface.

11. An adhesive article as defined in claim 10, and wherein said abutment means include a projection projecting from said first end portion bottom surface adjacent said adhesive strip, whereby when a force is applied to said base member first end portion outer surface, said projection serves as a fulcrum, thereby causing said first end portion to pivot in the direction of the support surface and causing said second end portion to pivot away from the support surface.

12. An adhesive article as defined in claim 11, wherein said projection is tapered having a wide end adjacent said adhesive strip.

13. An adhesive article as defined in claim 10, wherein said first end portion is formed of a flexible material, such that when a force is applied to said first end portion outer surface, said first end portion bends into engagement with the support surface and said second end portion is urged away from the support surface.

14. An adhesive article as defined in claim 1, and further comprising an article support member slidably connected with said base member, said article support member being movable relative to said base member between a mounted position wherein said article support member overlaps said base member and said adhesive strip, and a displaced position wherein said adhesive strip tab portion is exposed, and further wherein said article support includes an abutment portion extending beyond said base member, whereby said abutment portion can be manually urged into contact with the support surface.

15. An adhesive article adapted to be removably affixed to a support surface, comprising:

(a) a base member having first and second end portions, each said first and second end portion having a bottom surface; and

(b) a stretch release adhesive strip arranged between said base member bottom surface and the support surface;

and further comprising an abutment arranged to engage the support surface when said base member is urged in the direction of the support surface.

16. An adhesive article as defined in claim 15, wherein said adhesive strip has a thickness and said abutment comprises at least one projection extending from said base member second end portion bottom surface, said projection projecting a distance less than said adhesive strip thickness, whereby when said base member is urged toward the support surface, said adhesive strip is compressed and said projection engages the support surface.

17. An adhesive article as defined in claim 16, wherein said abutment includes a pair of spaced projections extending from said base member second end portion bottom surface adjacent opposite sides of said adhesive strip.

18. An adhesive article as defined in claim 15, wherein said abutment includes a pair of spaced longitudinally extending walls.

19. An adhesive article as defined in claim 15, wherein said first end portion is pivotally connected with said second end portion, said first end portion being movable between a folded position wherein said first end portion is arranged adjacent said second end portion, and an unfolded position wherein said first end portion extends outwardly from said second end portion.

20. An adhesive article as defined in claim 19, wherein said first end portion is connected with said second end portion with a hinge, and further wherein said abutment is arranged on said first end portion to engage the support surface when a force directed toward the support surface is applied to said first end portion.

21. An adhesive article as defined in claim 15, wherein said abutment includes at east one flexible abutment tab adapted to be urged into contact with the support surface.

22. An adhesive article as defined in claim 15, wherein said abutment includes a projection projecting from said first end portion bottom surface adjacent said adhesive strip, whereby when a force is applied to said base member first end portion outer surface, said projection serves as a fulcrum causing said first end portion to pivot in the direction of the support surface and causing said second end portion to pivot away from the support surface.

23. An adhesive article as defined in claim 22, wherein said projection is tapered, having a wide end adjacent said adhesive strip.

24. An adhesive article as defined in claim 15, and further comprising an article support member slidably connected with said base member, said article support member being movable relative to said base member between a mounted position wherein said article support member overlaps said base member and said adhesive strip, and a displaced position wherein said adhesive strip tab portion is exposed, and further wherein said article support includes an abutment portion extending beyond said base member, whereby said abutment portion can be manually urged into contact with the support surface.