Adhesive electrostatic sheets

• US 6,660,352 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2001
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Lee, Charles C., Hsu, Chih-Chung, Morris, Terry L., Austin, Steven R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmad, Nasser
• Application Number:
  US09/757,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20020090480A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 428/40.1, 428/42.1, 428/42.2, 428/41.8, 428/203, 428/354, 156/273.1, 156/267, 405/93, 405/94, 406/11
• US Class Current: 428/40.1
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2301/302 the adhesive being pressure-sensitive, i.e. tacky at temperatures inferior to 30°C
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2301/412 presence of microspheres
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 7/22 Plastics; Metallised plastics
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/108 Flash, trim or excess removal
• 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 428/1486 Ornamental, decorative, pattern, or indicia
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/149 Sectional layer removable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2486 with outer strippable or release layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24868 Translucent outer layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2848 Three or more layers

Abstract

Electrostatically charged graphic sheets are additionally provided with a preapplied activatable adhesive. Such sheets may be oriented on a display substrate using the electrostatically induced adhesion, and more securely fastened to the display substrate using the activatable adhesive.

Claims

1. A graphic sheet comprising a film having a top and bottom surface, said film having an electrostatic charge, said bottom surface further comprising a preapplied activatable adhesive, said electrostatic charge being sufficient to support said sheet on a vertical clean insulated surface and said activatable adhesive having an exposed surface.

2. The graphic sheet of claim 1, wherein the activatable adhesive is pattern coated on said bottom surface of the film.

3. The graphic sheet of claim 2, wherein the activatable adhesive covers less than 10% of the bottom surface of the film.

4. The graphic sheet of claim 1, wherein the activatable adhesive is microencapsulated.

5. The graphic sheet of claim 1, wherein the sheet is rectangular or square, and the activatable adhesive is located at the corners of the film.

6. The graphic sheet of claim 1, wherein the sheet is imageable.

7. The graphic sheet of claim 1, wherein the top surface of the film is imageable.

8. The graphic sheet of claim 1, wherein the sheet is a laminate comprising an image receptive layer on the top surface of the film.

9. The graphic sheet of claim 1, wherein the sheet is a preimaged. wallcovering.

10. The graphic sheet of claim 9, wherein said wallcovering is provided in a roll form that is at least 20 feet in one dimension.

11. The graphic sheet of claim 1, wherein the graphic sheet is a writing surface capable of being written upon after placement on a display substrate.

12. The graphic sheet of claim 1, wherein the graphic sheet is a writing surface capable of being written upon with dry erase markers after placement on a display substrate.

13. The graphic sheet of claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of the graphic sheet is provided with a surface topography such that fluid is allowed to escape as the bottom surface of the graphic sheet is applied to the display substrate.

14. A graphic sheet comprising a film having a top and bottom surface, said film having an electrostatic charge, said bottom surface of said film further comprising a preapplied pressure sensitive adhesive with a removable release liner, said electrostatic charge being sufficient to support said sheet on a vertical clean insulated surface.

15. The graphic sheet of claim 14, wherein the activatable adhesive is a pressure sensitive repositionable adhesive.

16. The graphic sheet of claim 15, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive comprises inherently tacky microspheres.

17. The graphic sheet of claim 14, wherein the activatable adhesive is a pressure sensitive positionable adhesive.

18. The graphic sheet of claim 17, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive comprises nontacky projections from a pressure sensitive adhesive surface.

19. The graphic sheet of claim 14, wherein the activatable adhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive provided on both sides of an extensible backing.

20. A graphic sheet comprising a film having a top and bottom surface, said film having an electrostatic charge sufficient to support said sheet on a vertical clean insulated surface, said bottom surface of said film further comprising preapplied activatable adhesive.

21. A method of applying a graphic sheet of claim 20 to a display substrate, comprising:

a) applying the bottom surface of the film to the intended location on the display substrate, thereby temporarily adhering the sheet to the display substrate through the electrostatic charge of the film;

b) orienting said sheet on the display substrate; and

c) securely adhering the sheet to the display substrate by activating the activatable adhesive.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the activatable adhesive is microencapsulated, and wherein the adhesive is released from said microcapsules after orienting the sheet on the display substrate.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the activatable adhesive is a positionable pressure sensitive adhesive that is activated by pressure, and wherein the adhesive is activated by applying pressure to the sheet at the location of the adhesive after orienting the sheet on the display substrate.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the activatable adhesive is a repositionable pressure sensitive adhesive, and wherein additional pressure is applied to the adhesive at the location of the adhesive to assure good contact of the adhesive to the display substrate after orienting the sheet on the display substrate.

25. A method of applying a graphic sheet to a display substrate, comprising:

a) providing a graphic sheet comprising a film having a top and bottom surface, said film having an electrostatic charge, said bottom surface of said film further comprising a preapplied pressure sensitive adhesive with a removable release liner, said electrostatic charge being sufficient to support said sheet on a vertical clean insulated surface;

b) applying the bottom surface of the film to the intended location on the display substrate, thereby temporarily adhering the sheet to the display substrate through the electrostatic charge of the film;

c) orienting said sheet on the display substrate;

d) removing the release liner from the pressure sensitive adhesive, thereby exposing said adhesive; and

e) applying said exposed adhesive to the display substrate, thereby securely adhering the sheet to the display substrate.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive is a stretch adhesive comprising an extensible backing;

wherein the method further comprises the step of removing the sheet from the display substrate, comprising stretching the backing of the stretch adhesive at an angle no greater than about 35°

from the surface of the display substrate, thereby removing the stretch adhesive without damage to the display substrate.