Stretch releasing adhesive tape article with flexible cover

• US 6,811,126 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2001
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Johansson, Ronald C., Hamerski, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHULTERBRANDT, KOFI A
• Application Number:
  US09/953,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20030047654A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 248/205.3, 248/205.4, 248/683, 248/902, 248/316.7, 248/314, 248/111
• US Class Current: 248/205.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 1/175 Stretch releasing adhesives
• 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 7/20 characterised by their carriers

Abstract

An article for use with a stretch releasing adhesive tape strip having a non-adhesive pull tab includes a unitary attachment member having a base plate portion sized to overlay the entire stretch releasing adhesive tape strip. The base plate portion includes a first portion that overlays the adhesive portion of tape strip and a flexible cover portion that overlays the non-adhesive pull tab. A user can manually urge the cover portion away from the pull tab, thereby accessing the pull tab and allowing the user to stretch remove the tape strip from the unitary attachment member and a substrate to which it is adhered.

Claims

1. An article to be mounted on a substrate using a stretch releasing adhesive tape strip having an adhesive portion and a non-adhesive pull tab, said article comprising a unitary attachment member including a base plate portion sized to overlay said tape strip, said base plate portion including a first portion overlaying said tape strip adhesive portion and a flexible cover portion overlaying said tape strip non-adhesive pull tab, wherein a user can manually urge said cover portion away from said pull tab to access said pull tab, thereby allowing the user to stretch remove said tape strip from said unitary attachment member and the substrate, wherein said base plate first portion is formed of a first material and said cover portion is formed of a second material.

2. An article as defined in claim 1, wherein said first material comprises as least one of polypropylene and polystyrene.

3. An article as defined in claim 2, wherein said second material is an elastomer.

4. An article as defined in claim 1, wherein said base plate first portion said cover portion cohere along a connective interface.

5. An article as defined in claim 1, wherein said base plate first portion said cover portion are adhesively bonded along a connective interface.

6. An article as defined in claim 5, wherein said first and said second material forming said connective interface between said base plate first end portion and said cover portion do not move relative to each other when said cover portion is moved relative to said base plate first end portion.

7. An article as defined in claim 6, wherein said connective interface is arranged adjacent the interface between said adhesive portion of said tape strip and said non-adhesive pull tab.

8. An article as defined in claim 5, wherein said connective interface defines the beginning of a flex area between said base plate first end portion and said cover portion, and further wherein said connective interface is located in a region of said tape strip to allow a user to flex said cover portion away from said pull tab and thereby provide access to said pull tab.

15. An article as defined in claim 1, wherein said second material has a flexibility greater than said first material.

9. An article to be mounted on a substrate using a stretch releasing adhesive tape strip having an adhesive portion and a non-adhesive pull tab, said article comprising a unitary attachment member including a base plate portion sized to overlay said tape strip, said base plate portion including a first portion overlaying said tape strip adhesive portion and a flexible cover portion overlaying said tape strip non-adhesive pull tab, wherein a user can manually urge said cover portion away from said pull tab to access said pull tab, thereby allowing the user to stretch remove said tape strip from said unitary attachment member and the substrate, wherein said unitary attachment member includes opposite first and second major surfaces, said first surface being generally planar for adhesive attachment with said tape strip, and further wherein said unitary attachment member includes a holding portion extending outwardly from said second major surface.

10. An article as defined in claim 9, wherein said holding portion comprises a hook extending outwardly from said second major surface.

11. An article at defined in claim 9, wherein said holding portion comprises a pair of opposed cooperating resiliently flexible arcuate jaws extending outwardly from said second major surface.

12. A stretch releasing adhesive tape article to be mounted on a substrate, comprising:

(a) a stretch releasing adhesive tape strip having an adhesive portion and a non-adhesive, pull tab; and

(b) a unitary attachment member including;

(I) a base plate portion sized to overlay said tape strip, said base plate portion including;

(1) a first portion defining a first end portion of said base plate portion that extends from adjacent said tape strip pull tab along said tape strip adhesive portion and;

(2) a resiliently flexible cover portion defining a second end portion of said base plate portion extending from adjacent said tape strip adhesive portion along said tape strip pull tab;

wherein said base plate first portion includes generally planar first and second opposed major surfaces and said cover portion includes generally planar first and second opposed major surfaces, said base plate first portion first major surface and said cover portion first major surface being coplanar, and said base plate first portion second major surface and said cover portion second major surface being coplanar, and

further wherein said base plate first portion is formed of a first material and said cover portion is formed of a second material, said second material having a flexibility greater than said first material, and said base plate first portion and said cover portion cohere along a connective interface, and

(ii) a holding portion extending outwardly from said second major surface for supporting an item to be mounted on the substrate;

wherein a user can manually urge said cover portion away from said pull tab to access said pull tab, thereby allowing the user to stretch remove said tape strip from said unitary attachment member and the substrate.

13. A stretch releasing adhesive tape article as defined in claim 12, wherein said adhesive tape strip includes first and second ends, said tape strip adhesive portion being provided adjacent said tape strip first end and said pull tab being provided adjacent said tape strip second end, further wherein said tape strip adhesive portion includes first and second opposed adhesive major surfaces each having primary ends adjacent said tape strip first end and secondary ends adjacent said pull tab, wherein said second adhesive surface secondary and is arranged closer to said tape strip second end than said first adhesive surface secondary end and said second adhesive surface adhesively bonds to said base plate first portion and a portion of said flexible cover portion adjacent said base plate first portion, whereby when said cover portion is urged away from said tape strip to access said pull tab, said pull tab flexes away from the substrate, thereby facilitating access to the pull tab.

14. A stretch releasing adhesive rape article to be mounted on a substrate, comprising:

(a) a stretch releasing adhesive tape strip having an adhesive portion and a non-adhesive pull tab; and

(b) a unitary attachment member including a base plate portion sized to overlay said tape strip, said base plate portion including;

(i) a stiff first portion overlaying said tape strip adhesive portion, said stiff first portion defining a first end portion of said base plate portion extending from adjacent said tape strip pull tab along said tape strip adhesive portion, said stiff first portion having first and second opposed major surfaces and including a tongue portion adjacent said pull tab;

(ii) a cover portion, said cover portion being formed of a material more flexible than said stiff first portion, said cover portion including

(A) a first end portion overlaying and fixed relative to said base plate tongue portion;

(B) a second portion extending from said cover portion first end portion in overlaying relation with said tape strip pull tab, whereby a user can manually urge said second portion away from said pull tab to access said pull tab and stretch remove said tape strip from said unitary attachment member and the substrate;

(C) an elongate strap portion extending from said second portion; and

(D) an interengaging end portion extending from said strap portion; and

(iii) a saddle shaped retaining portion extending outwardly from said stiff first portion second major surface for receiving said interengaging portion, thereby to maintain said interengaging portion in fixed relation with said base plate portion.