Removable tape laminate

• US 6,120,867 A
• Filed: 01/27/1998
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Heil, Robert H., Hamerski, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmad, Nasser
• Application Number:
  US09/014,058
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 428/40.1, 428/41.8, 428/41.9, 428/42.1, 428/43, 428/121, 428/194, 428/354, 428/317.1
• US Class Current: 428/40.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/175 Stretch releasing adhesives
• 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: C09J 7/38 Pressure-sensitive adhesives [PSA]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/14 Layer or component removable to expose adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1476 Release layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1481 Dissimilar adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1486 Ornamental, decorative, pattern, or indicia
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/15 Sheet, web, or layer weakened to permit separation through thickness
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2419 Fold at edge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24793 Comprising discontinuous or differential impregnation or bond
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249982 With component specified as adhesive or bonding agent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2848 Three or more layers

Abstract

A tape laminate comprising a support layer having first and second parts, and an anchor portion of one of its opposite major surfaces on each of the parts. The first and second parts of the support layer are disposed with the anchor portions on opposite sides of the support layer and in generally parallel relationship. The anchor portions can be bonded to the opposed surfaces of rigid objects so that the tape laminate supports one object from the other against a static force generally parallel to the anchor portions. One of those bonds is made by an attachment strip having a portion of its outer major surface defined by pressure sensitive adhesive and its inner major surface bonded to one of the anchor portions, and a manually engageable tab portion at one end. The attachment strip is stretchable by pulling its tab portion to release adhesive engagement of its outer major surface from an object to which it is adhered. The first and second parts of the support layer can be torn apart or pivoted away from each other to afford separation of rigid objects to which the anchor portions are bonded, thereby affording access to that tab portion and separation of the attachment strip from one of the rigid objects by stretching the attachment strip.

Claims

1. A tape laminate comprising

a support layer having opposite major surfaces, first and second parts, and two anchor portions of one of said major surfaces with each of said anchor portions being on a different one of said parts, said support layer being folded between said first and second parts to position said anchor portions on opposite sides of said support layer and in generally parallel relationship;

means for bonding said anchor portions to the opposed surfaces of rigid objects so that the tape laminate can support one object from the other against a static force generally parallel to said anchor portions, said means for bonding comprising a first attachment strip having opposite ends and inner and outer opposite major surfaces extending between said ends, said first attachment strip comprising a first layer of adhesive defining at least a portion of said outer major surface and said inner major surface of said first attachment strip being bonded to said anchor portion on said first part; and

means including a tab portion for affording stretching of said first attaching strip by pulling on said tab portion to release adhesive engagement of said first layer of adhesive from an object to which said outer major surface of said first layer of adhesive is adhered,

said fold affording pivotal movement of said first and second portions away from each other to provide separation of said first and second parts of said support layer and thereby sufficient separation of rigid objects to which said anchor portions are bonded by said means for bonding with said tab portion therebetween to afford access to said tab portion and release of adhesive engagement of said first layer of adhesive from one of said rigid objects by stretching said attachment strip.

2. A tape laminate according to claim 1 further including means between said parts for restricting pivotal movement of said first and second parts relative to each other until a predetermined force is applied to separate said first and second parts.

3. A tape laminate according to claim 1 wherein said support layer is of polymeric material and includes means in said support layer between said parts affording ease of pivotal movement of said first and second parts relative to each other.

4. A tape laminate according to claim 1 wherein said support layer is a hinge with said parts each having an edge portion mounted on a pin included in the hinge between said parts for pivotal movement relative to each other.

5. A tape laminate according to claim 4 further including means between said parts for restricting pivotal movement of said first and second parts relative to each other until a predetermined force is applied to separate said first and second parts.

9. A tape laminate according to claim 1 wherein said attachment strip comprises a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive defining said outer major surface, and a layer of stretchable polymeric material having a major surface to which said layer of pressure sensitive adhesive is adhered.

10. A tape laminate according to claim 1 wherein said attachment strip comprises a first layer of stretchable polymeric material having opposite major surfaces with one major surface of the first layer of stretchable polymeric material bonded to said first layer of pressure sensitive adhesive, a layer of polymeric foam having opposite major surfaces with one major surface of said layer of foam bonded on the surface of said first layer of polymeric material opposite said first layer of pressure sensitive adhesive, and a second layer of polymeric material having opposite major surfaces with one of the major surfaces of said second layer of polymeric material adhered to the major surface of said layer of foam opposite said first layer of polymeric material.

11. A tape laminate according to claim 1 wherein said first layer of pressure sensitive adhesive defines both said inner and outer major surfaces of said attachment strip.

12. A tape laminate according to claim 11 wherein said tab portion is on said first layer of pressure sensitive.

13. A tape laminate according to claim 11 wherein said support layer is of stretchable material and said tab portion is on said first part.

14. A tape laminate according to claim 1 wherein said means for bonding further comprises:

a second attachment strip having opposite ends and inner and outer opposite major surfaces extending between said ends, said second attachment strip comprising a first layer of adhesive defining at least a portion of the outer major surface of said second attachment strip, and said inner major surface of said second attachment strip being bonded to said anchor portion on said second part; and

means including a second tab portion for affording stretching of said second attaching strip by pulling on said second tab portion to release adhesive engagement of said second layer of adhesive from an object to which said outer major surface of said second layer of adhesive is adhered so that after the tape laminate has attached two objects together with the adhesive on the outer major surface of each of said attachment strips adhered to a different one of the objects, and the first and second parts of the support layer have been separated, the attachment strips can both be stretched by manually engaging said tab portions to separate the attachment strips from the objects to which they were adhered.

6. A tape laminate comprising

a support layer having opposite major surfaces, first and second parts, and two anchor portions of one of said major surfaces with each of said anchor portions being on a different one of said parts, said support layer being folded between said first and second parts to position said anchor portions on opposite sides of said support layer and in generally parallel relationship;

means for bonding said anchor portions to the opposed surfaces of rigid objects so that the tape laminate can support one object from the other against a static force generally parallel to said anchor portions, said means for bonding comprising a first attachment strip having opposite ends and inner and outer opposite major surfaces extending between said ends, said first attachment strip comprising a first layer of adhesive defining at least a portion of said outer major surface and said inner major surface of said first attachment strip being bonded to said anchor portion on said first part; and

means including a tab portion for affording stretching of said first attaching strip by pulling on said tab portion to release adhesive engagement of said first layer of adhesive from an object to which said outer major surface of said first layer of adhesive is adhered,

said support layer being adapted to be torn along said fold to provide separation of said first and second parts of said support layer and thereby separation of rigid objects to which said anchor portions are bonded by said means for bonding with said tab portion therebetween to afford access to said tab portion and release of adhesive engagement of said first layer of adhesive from one of said rigid objects by stretching said attachment strip.

7. A tape laminate comprising

a support layer having opposite major surfaces, first and second parts, and two anchor portions of said major surfaces with each of said anchor portions being on a different one of said parts and on a different one of said major surfaces, said support layer being generally planar to thereby position said anchor portions on opposite sides of said support layer and in generally parallel relationship;

means for bonding said anchor portions to the opposed surfaces of rigid objects so that the tape laminate can support one object from the other against a static force generally parallel to said anchor portions, said means for bonding comprising a first attachment strip having opposite ends and inner and outer opposite major surfaces extending between said ends, said first attachment strip comprising a first layer of adhesive defining at least a portion of said outer major surface and said inner major surface of said first attachment strip being bonded to said anchor portion on said first part; and

means including a tab portion for affording stretching of said first attaching strip by pulling on said tab portion to release adhesive engagement of said first layer of adhesive from an object to which said outer major surface of said first layer of adhesive is adhered,

said support layer being manually tearable between said parts to provide separation of said first and second parts of said support layer and thereby separation of rigid objects to which said anchor portions are bonded by said means for bonding with said tab portion therebetween to afford access to said tab portion and release of adhesive engagement of said first layer of adhesive from one of said rigid objects by stretching said attachment strip.

8. A tape laminate comprising

a support layer having opposite major surfaces, first and second parts, and two anchor portions of said major surfaces with each of said anchor portions being on a different one of said parts and on a different one of said major surfaces, said support layer being generally planar to thereby position said anchor portions on opposite sides of said support layer and in generally parallel relationship;

means for bonding said anchor portions to the opposed surfaces of rigid objects so that the tape laminate can support one object from the other against a static force generally parallel to said anchor portions, said means for bonding comprising a first attachment strip having opposite ends and inner and outer opposite major surfaces extending between said ends, said first attachment strip comprising a first layer of adhesive defining at least a portion of said outer major surface and said inner major surface of said first attachment strip being bonded to said anchor portion on said first part; and

means including a tab portion for affording stretching of said first attaching strip by pulling on said tab portion to release adhesive engagement of said first layer of adhesive from an object to which said outer major surface of said first layer of adhesive is adhered,

said support layer includes means releasably attaching said parts together to provide said means for affording separation of said first and second parts of said support layer and thereby separation of rigid objects to which said anchor portions are bonded by said means for bonding with said tab portion therebetween to afford access to said tab portion and release of adhesive engagement of said first layer of adhesive from one of said rigid objects by stretching said attachment strip, said means releasably attaching said parts together to provide said means for affording separation of said first and second parts of said support layer comprising a generally J-shaped lip along the edge of each of said parts with said lips being engaged with each other to provide said means for releasably attaching said parts together.

15. An object adapted to be releasably adhered to a vertical surface, said object including a support layer having opposite major surfaces, first and second parts, and an anchor portion of one of said major surfaces on said second part, said first part being attached to or incorporated in said object, and said support layer being folded between said first and second parts to position said anchor portion facing away from said object generally parallel to the portions of said major surfaces on said first part;

and

an attachment strip having opposite ends, inner and outer opposite major surfaces extending between said ends with a portion of said outer major surface being defined by pressure sensitive adhesive and said inner major surface being bonded to said anchor portion, and a manually engageable tab portion at one end, said attachment strip being stretchable by being pulled at said tab portion to release adhesive engagement of said outer major surface of said attachment strip from an object to which said outer major surface of the attachment strip is adhered,

said support layer being adapted to be torn along said fold to afford separation of said first and second parts of said support layer and separation of said object from a surface to which said object is bonded by said attachment strip with said tab portion therebetween to afford access to said tab portion and thereby separation of said attachment strip from that surface by stretching said attachment strip.

18. An object according to claim 15 wherein said attachment strip comprises a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive defining said outer major surface, and a layer of stretchable polymeric material having a major surface to which said layer of pressure sensitive adhesive is adhered.

19. An object according to claim 15 wherein said attachment strip comprises a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive defining said outer major surface, a first layer of stretchable polymeric material having opposite major surfaces with one major surface of the first layer of stretchable polymeric material bonded to said layer of pressure sensitive adhesive, a layer of polymeric foam having opposite major surfaces with one major surface of said layer of foam bonded on the surface of said first layer of polymeric material opposite said layer of pressure sensitive adhesive, and a second layer of polymeric material having opposite major surfaces with one of the major surfaces of said second layer of polymeric material adhered to the major surface of said layer of foam opposite said first layer of polymeric material.

20. An object according to claim 15 wherein said attachment strip comprises a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive defining said inner and outer major surfaces.

16. An object adapted to be releasably adhered to a vertical surface, said object including a support layer having opposite major surfaces, first and second parts, and an anchor portion of one of said major surfaces on said second part, said first part being attached to or incorporated in said object, and said parts of said support layer being generally coplanar to position said anchor portion facing away from said object generally parallel to the portions of said major surfaces on said first part;

and

an attachment strip having opposite ends, inner and outer opposite major surfaces extending between said ends with a portion of said outer major surface being defined by pressure sensitive adhesive and said inner major surface being bonded to said anchor portion, and a manually engageable tab portion at one end, said attachment strip being stretchable by being pulled at said tab portion to release adhesive engagement of said outer major surface of said attachment strip from an object to which said outer major surface of the attachment strip is adhered,

said support layer being perforated to define certain sides of said second part with an attached side of said second part being joined to said first part, and said support layer being adapted to be broken along said perforations and manually torn between said parts to provide separation of said first and second parts of said support layer and separation of said object from a surface to which said object is bonded by said attachment strip with said tab portion therebetween to afford access to said tab portion and thereby separation of said attachment strip from that surface by stretching said attachment strip.

17. An object adapted to be releasably adhered to a vertical surface, said object including a support layer having opposite major surfaces, first and second parts, and an anchor portion of one of said major surfaces on said second part, said first part being attached to or incorporated in said object, and said parts of said support layer being coplanar to position said anchor portion facing away from said object generally parallel to the portions of said major surfaces on said first part;

and

an attachment strip having opposite ends, inner and outer opposite major surfaces extending between said ends with a portion of said outer major surface being defined by pressure sensitive adhesive and said inner major surface being bonded to said anchor portion, and a manually engageable tab portion at one end, said attachment strip being stretchable by being pulled at said tab portion to release adhesive engagement of said outer major surface of said attachment strip from an object to which said outer major surface of the attachment strip is adhered,

said support layer being perforated to define certain sides of said second part with an attached side of said second part being joined to said first part, and said support layer being adapted to be broken along said perforations and bent between said parts to provide separation of said first and second parts of said support layer and separation of said object from a surface to which said object is bonded by said attachment strip with said tab portion therebetween to afford access to said tab portion and thereby separation of said attachment strip from that surface by stretching said attachment strip.

21. In combination an object having a rear surface and a tape laminate said tape laminate comprising:

a support layer having opposite major surfaces, first and second parts, and two anchor portions of one of said major surfaces with each of said anchor portions being on a different one of said parts, said support layer is being folded between said first and second parts to position said anchor portions on opposite sides of said support layer and in generally parallel relationship;

means for bonding the anchor portion on said first part to the rear surface of said object; and

a first attachment strip having opposite ends, inner and outer opposite major surfaces extending between said ends with a portion of said outer major surface being defined by pressure sensitive adhesive and said inner major surface being bonded to the anchor portion on said second part, and a manually engageable tab portion at one end, said first attachment strip being stretchable by being pulled at said tab portion to release adhesive engagement of said outer major surface of said first attachment strip from a surface to which said outer major surface of the first attachment strip is adhered, and

said support layer being adapted to be torn along said fold to provide separation of said first and second parts of said support layer and separation of said object from a surface to which said object and tape laminate are bonded by said first attachment strip with said tab portion therebetween to afford access to said tab portion and thereby separation of said first attachment strip from said surface by stretching said first attachment strip.

22. In combination an object having a rear surface and a tape laminate, said tape laminate comprising:

a support layer having opposite major surfaces, first and second parts, and two anchor portions of said major surfaces with each of said anchor portions being on a different one of said parts and on a different one of said major surfaces, said support layer being generally planar to thereby position said anchor portions on opposite sides of said support layer and in generally parallel relationship;

means for bonding the anchor portion on said first part to the rear surface of said object; and

a first attachment strip having opposite ends, inner and outer opposite major surfaces extending between said ends with a portion of said outer major surface being defined by pressure sensitive adhesive and said inner major surface being bonded to the anchor portion on said second part, and a manually engageable tab portion at one end, said first attachment strip being stretchable by being pulled at said tab portion to release adhesive engagement of said outer major surface of said first attachment strip from a surface to which said outer major surface of the first attachment strip is adhered,

said support layer being manually tearable between said parts to provide separation of said first and second parts of said support layer and separation of said object from a surface to which said object and tape laminate are bonded by said first attachment strip with said tab portion therebetween to afford access to said tab portion and thereby separation of said first attachment strip from said surface by stretching said first attachment strip.

23. In combination, an object having a rear surface and a tape laminate, said tape laminate comprising:

a support layer having opposite major surfaces, first and second parts, and two anchor portions of one of said major surfaces with each of said anchor portions being on a different one of said parts, said support layer being folded between said first and second parts to position said anchor portions on opposite sides of said support layer and in generally parallel relationship;

means for bonding the anchor portion on said first part to the rear surface of said object; and

a first attachment strip having opposite ends, inner and outer opposite major surfaces extending between said ends with a portion of said outer major surface being defined by pressure sensitive adhesive and said inner major surface being bonded to the anchor portion on said second part, and a manually engageable tab portion at one end, said first attachment strip being stretchable by being pulled at said tab portion to release adhesive engagement of said outer major surface of said first attachment strip from a surface to which said outer major surface of the first attachment strip is adhered,

said fold affording pivotal movement of said first and second parts away from each other to provide separation of said first and second parts of said support layer and separation of said object from a surface to which said object and tape laminate are bonded by said first attachment strip with said tab portion therebetween to afford access to said tab portion and thereby separation of said first attachment strip from said surface by stretching said first attachment strip.

24. A combination according to claim 23 wherein said support layer is of polymeric material and includes means between said parts affording ease of pivotal movement of said first and second parts relative to each other.

25. A combination according to claim 23 wherein said support layer is a hinge, and said parts each have an edge portion mounted on a hinge pin included in the hinge for pivotal movement relative to each other.

26. A combination according to claim 23 wherein said first attachment strip comprises a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive defining said outer major surface, and a layer of polymeric material having a major surface to which said layer of pressure sensitive adhesive is adhered.

27. A combination according to claim 23 wherein said first attachment strip comprises a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive defining said outer major surface, a first layer of stretchable polymeric material having opposite major surfaces with one major surface of the first layer of stretchable polymeric material bonded to said layer of pressure sensitive adhesive, a layer of polymeric foam having opposite major surfaces with one major surface of said layer of foam bonded on the surface of said first layer of polymeric material opposite said layer of pressure sensitive adhesive, and a second layer of polymeric material having opposite major surfaces with one of the major surfaces of said second layer of polymeric material adhered to the major surface of said layer of foam opposite said first layer of polymeric material.

28. A combination according to claim 23 wherein said first attachment strip comprises a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive defining both said inner and outer major surfaces of the first attachment strip.

29. A combination according to claim 23 wherein said means for bonding comprises a second attachment strip, said second attachment strip having opposite ends, inner and outer opposite major surfaces extending between said ends with a portion of said outer major surface being defined by pressure sensitive adhesive and said inner major surface being bonded to said anchor surface on said first part, and a manually engageable tab portion at one end, said second attachment strip being stretchable by being pulled at said tab portion to release adhesive engagement of said outer major surface to the rear surface of the object, so that after the tape laminate has attached the object to a surface and the first and second parts of the support layer have been separated, the attachment strips can both be stretched by manually engaging said tab portions to separate the attachment strips from the object and surface to which they were adhered.