Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6410135
-
Patent Number
6,410,135
-
Date Filed
Friday, January 21, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, June 25, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Zirker; Daniel
- Chang; Victor
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 428 343
- 428 3173
- 428 354
- 428 213
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A stretch releasing adhesive tape article including an elongated length of stretch releasing adhesive tape with side surfaces including at least one potential contact surface area. At least a portion of the potential contact surface area includes an adhesive surface. The potential contact surface area includes a first interface surface area in the uncompressed state and a second interface surface area greater than the first interface surface area in the compressed state. The stretch releasing adhesive tape in the uncompressed state can operate as a pull tab. The potential contact surface area in the uncompressed state can include a plurality of raised portions, a non-planar structure, or a discontinuous surface.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to an elongated stretch releasing adhesive tape article with a geometry that provides differential adhesive properties, and in particular, to a geometry that provides regions of reduced adhesion to form pull-tabs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Stretch releasing adhesive tapes represent an emerging class of high performance pressure-sensitive adhesives combining strong holding power with clean removal and no surface damage. Such stretch releasing adhesive tapes are useful in a wide variety of assembling, joining, attaching, and mounting applications.
Adhesive tape strips that can be cleanly removed from a surface by stretching the tape strip are known in the patented prior art. The Korpman U.S. Pat. No. 4,024,312, for example, discloses a highly conformable adhesive tape including a highly extensible and elastic backing film laminated with an adhesive layer. The backing film possesses a lengthwise elongation at break of at least about 200%. The tape is easily stretchable and may be removed from a surface by stretching the tape lengthwise in a direction substantially parallel to the surface. German Patent No. 33 31 016 discloses a high elasticity, low plasticity adhesive film based on a thermoplastic rubber and tackifying resins, wherein the adhesive bond can be broken by stretching the adhesive film in the direction of the plane of the adhesive bond.
The Kreckel et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,581, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, discloses a removable adhesive tape having a highly extensible and substantially inelastic backing coated with a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive. The adhesive tape can be removed from a substrate without damaging the substrate by stretching the tape in a direction substantially parallel to the surface of the substrate. The tape backing has a lengthwise elongation at break of from about 150% to about 1200%, a Young's modulus of at least about 2,500 psi to about 72,500 psi, and an elastic recovery of less than about 50% after being stretched and removed. PCT International Publication No. WO 95/06691 discloses a removable foam adhesive tape comprising a backing including a layer of polymeric foam, and a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive coated on at least one surface of the backing. The foam layer of the backing has a thickness of about 30 to about 1000 mils, and the backing has a lengthwise elongation at break of from about 50% to about 1200%, and a Young's modulus of less than about 2,400 psi.
Commercial stretch releasing adhesive tapes include the product sold under the trade designation COMMAND by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minn., and the product sold under the trade designation POWER-STRIPS by Beiersdorf A G, Hamburg, Germany. These products are currently manufactured as discrete strips with one end of the strip including a non-adhesive pull tab to facilitate stretching of the strip during removal. The adhesive surfaces of the strip are additionally protected with a release liner.
Desirable for certain applications is an elongated stretch releasing adhesive tape strip of indefinite length which can be formed into a roll or stack from which segments of selected length can be cut depending on the end use application. The difficulty with providing a long length of stretch releasing tape which can be cut to a selected length is the ability to provide a pull tab at a specific location on the cut strip to serve as a grasping area for stretching the strip from a surface at the time of removal.
PCT International Publication No. WO 98/06652 discloses a length cutting fixture that can be used to form a non-adhesive pull tab or “gripper” at the end of a long length of a conventional single-sided adhesive tape. The length cutting fixture also serves to cut the long length of tape, now including the gripper, to any selected length. The gripper is formed by folding the end of the tape back onto itself. Such a length cutting fixture, however, cannot be used to form a non-adhesive pull tab on a double-sided adhesive tape.
It is therefore desirable to provide a stretch releasing adhesive tape article in a long length or a roll that can be cut into discrete strips having any selected length, wherein each strip can be provided with a pull tab or stretch removal tab that can be grasped and pulled by a user to remove the adhesive tape from a substrate.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to various embodiments of a stretch releasing adhesive tape with a geometry that provides differential adhesive properties in a compressed state and an uncompressed state. Adhesion and tack can thus be controlled by varying the amount of compression. Additionally, the present stretch releasing adhesive tape can be easily repositioned prior to compression. A portion of the present stretch releasing adhesive tape can be left in the uncompressed state, thereby providing one or more pull tabs. The stretch releasing adhesive tape of the present invention can be provided in strips of varying lengths, in roll form, or in a stack.
In one embodiment, the stretch releasing adhesive tape article includes an elongated length of stretch releasing adhesive tape with side surfaces comprising at least one potential contact surface area. At least a portion of the potential contact surface area comprises an adhesive surface having raised portions. The potential contact surface area comprises a first interface surface area in the uncompressed state and a second interface surface area greater than the first interface surface area in the compressed state. The stretch releasing adhesive tape in the uncompressed state can operate as a pull tab.
In another embodiment, the stretch releasing adhesive tape article comprises an elongated length of stretch releasing adhesive tape with adhesive on all side surfaces. The side surfaces have at least one potential contact surface area. The potential contact surface area has a first interface surface area in an uncompressed state and a second interface surface area greater than the first interface surface area in a compressed state.
In one embodiment, the stretch releasing adhesive tape comprises a multi-layered structure. The stretch releasing adhesive tape can have one or more elastic or inelastic structural members. The structural member can be foam, film, a monofilament or a variety of other materials. A film can optionally be interposed between the adhesive and the structural member or located at the interior of the structural member. The stretch releasing adhesive tape can be one of a pressure sensitive adhesive tape with an elastic structural member, a pressure sensitive adhesive tape with a highly extensible and substantially inelastic structural member, or a solid pressure sensitive adhesive.
In the various embodiments, the potential contact surface area in the uncompressed state can be a plurality of raised portions, a non-planar structure, a discontinuous surface, or combinations thereof The stretch releasing adhesive tape in the uncompressed state comprises a cross-section selected from circular, star-shaped, oval, multifaceted or any other geometric shape that provides less surface area in the uncompressed state than in the compressed state. In another embodiment, the potential contact surface area comprises a rectangular cross-section of stretch releasing adhesive tape twisted to form helical ridges. The potential contact surface area can have adhesive regions and non-adhesive regions.
The elongated length of stretch releasing adhesive tape can be segments or a roll. A release liner may optionally be used. Frangible connections can be formed intermittently along the stretch releasing adhesive tape.
The present invention is also direct to a method of using a stretch releasing adhesive tape article with differential adhesive properties, including the steps of positioning a potential contact surface area of an elongated length of stretch releasing adhesive tape on a substrate to form a first interface surface area; compressing a portion of the stretch releasing adhesive tape to form a second interface surface area, the second interface surface area being greater than the first interface surface area; and retaining an uncompressed portion of the stretch releasing adhesive tape as a pull tab.
In another method the steps include providing an elongated length of stretch releasing adhesive tape with a generally rectangular cross section; twisting at least a portion of the stretch releasing adhesive tape to form a twisted portion with a plurality of helical ridges; positioning the stretch releasing adhesive tape on a substrate, the twisted portion defining a first interface surface area; compressing an untwisted portion of the stretch releasing adhesive tape against the substrate to form a second interface surface area greater than the first interface surface area; and retaining the twisted portion in an uncompressed state to form a pull tab.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
The present invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1
is a front view of an article attached to a substrate using a stretch releasing adhesive.
FIG. 2
is perspective view of a stretch releasing adhesive tape with a rectangular shape.
FIG. 3A
is a perspective view of a stretch releasing adhesive tape in an uncompressed state in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 3B
is a perspective view of the stretch releasing adhesive tape of
FIG. 3A
in a compressed state.
FIG. 4A
is a perspective view of an alternate stretch releasing adhesive tape in an uncompressed state in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 4B
is a perspective view of the stretch releasing adhesive tape of
FIG. 4A
in the compressed state.
FIG. 5A
is perspective view of a stretch releasing adhesive tape in an uncompressed state in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 5B
is perspective view of the stretch releasing adhesive tape of
FIG. 5A
in the compressed state.
FIG. 6A
is perspective view of a stretch releasing adhesive tape in an uncompressed state in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 6B
is a perspective view of the stretch releasing adhesive tape of
FIG. 6A
in the compressed state.
FIG. 7
is a perspective view of a stretch releasing adhesive tape with helical ridges in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 8
is a perspective view of a stretch releasing adhesive tape with a rectangular portion and a portion with helical ridges in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 9A
is perspective view of a stretch releasing adhesive tape with discontinuous adhesive regions in an uncompressed state in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 9B
is a perspective view of the stretch releasing adhesive tape of
FIG. 9A
in the compressed state.
FIG. 10
is a front view of an article attached to a substrate using a stretch releasing adhesive tape in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 11
is a front view of an article attached to a substrate using an alternate stretch releasing adhesive in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 12
is a perspective view of a stretch releasing adhesive tape in roll form in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 13
is a perspective view of an alternate roll of stretch releasing adhesive tape in accordance with present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1
is a front view of an article
20
attached to a substrate
22
using a stretch releasing adhesive tape
24
. A portion
21
of the stretch releasing adhesive tape
24
is compressed between the article
20
and the substrate
22
to form an adhesive bond. The stretch releasing adhesive
24
includes a pull tab
26
that extends beyond the perimeter of the article
20
. The pull tab
26
typically includes non-adhesive surfaces that prevent bonding with the substrate
22
or the article
20
.
Removing the stretch releasing adhesive tape
24
from the article
20
and substrate
22
can be carried out by simply stretching the stretch releasing adhesive tape
24
in the direction
28
and at an angle of less than about 35 degrees with respect to the substrate
22
. Removal at the appropriate angle will result in no appreciable adhesive residue on the substrate
22
and in preventing damage to the substrate
22
.
FIG. 2
is a perspective view of a segment of a stretch releasing adhesive tape
30
having a generally rectangular cross section. The stretch releasing adhesive tape
30
has a length
32
, a width
34
, and a thickness
36
. The stretch releasing adhesive tape
30
has a potential contact surface area
38
and a first interface surface area
40
defined by the length
32
times the width
34
. As used herein, “potential contact surface area” refers to the surface area on a stretch releasing adhesive tape that can potentially contact a planar substrate, whether or not there is adhesive at the interface with the substrate. For stretch releasing adhesive tapes with a more complex geometry, the potential contact surface area can also be understood as the portion of the side surfaces that are illuminated by a light shined perpendicular through transparent substrate
22
onto the stretch releasing adhesive tape. The “first interface surface area” refers to the surface area formed at the actual physical interface between the stretch releasing adhesive tape and the substrate
22
in the uncompressed state. Due to the geometry of the stretch releasing adhesive tape
30
, the potential contact surface area
38
on the stretch releasing adhesive tape
30
and the first interface surface area
40
with the substrate
22
are substantially the same.
In the embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 2
, portion
42
of the stretch releasing adhesive
30
is compressed against the substrate
22
, while portion
44
remains uncompressed. No pull tab is provided. The portion
42
forms a strong adhesive bond with the substrate
22
, while the portion
44
initially forms less of an adhesive bond. Over time, however, the uncompressed portion
44
will wet-out against the substrate
22
and build adhesion. Consequently, the interface surface area
40
is effectively the same whether all or a portion of the stretch releasing adhesive tape
30
is compressed against the substrate
22
.
FIGS. 3A and 3B
illustrate a stretch releasing adhesive tape
50
with differential adhesive properties in accordance with the present invention. Side surfaces
54
of the stretch releasing adhesive tape
50
include a pressure sensitive adhesive. The pressure sensitive adhesive can cover some or all of the side surfaces
54
. For example, the pressure sensitive adhesive can be a continuous or discontinuous region on the side surfaces
54
. In the illustrated embodiment, the stretch releasing adhesive tape
50
is a multi-layered structure, including a structural member
51
, such as an elastic or inelastic foam, and a film
53
interposed between the structural member
51
and the adhesive layer
55
that defines the side surfaces
54
. The structural member
51
can be concentric or non-concentric with the adhesive layer
55
, hollow or solid, or symmetrical or asymmetrical with the adhesive layer
55
. Any conventionally known stretch releasing tape, however, can be used in the various embodiments of the present invention, including a pressure sensitive adhesive tape with an elastic core, a pressure sensitive adhesive tape with a highly extensible and substantially inelastic core, or a solid pressure sensitive adhesive. These various structures can be used with any embodiment of the present invention.
Specific tapes suitable for use in the various embodiments of the present invention include the pressure sensitive adhesive tapes with elastic backings described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,024,312 (Korpman), the pressure sensitive adhesive tapes with highly extensible and substantially inelastic backings described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,581 (Kreckel et al.) and PCT International Publication No. WO 95/06691 (Bries et al); and the solid pressure sensitive adhesive described in German Patent No. 33 31 016. In addition, the stretch releasing adhesive tape of the present invention can include a splittable layer such as the layers described in PCT International Publication No. WO 98/21285, or a re-fastenable layer such as the layers described in PCT International Publication No. WO 99/31193.
FIG. 3A
illustrates the stretch releasing adhesive tape
50
adhered to a substrate
22
in an uncompressed state
52
. The adhesive side surfaces
54
have a potential contact surface area
56
defined by arc length
60
times length
62
. The first interface surface area
58
, however, is defined by arc length
64
times the length
62
. The circular cross section of the stretch releasing adhesive
50
causes the first interface surface area
58
with the substrate
22
to be significantly smaller than the potential contact surface area
56
.
FIG. 3B
illustrates the stretch releasing adhesive tape
50
of
FIG. 3A
in the compressed state
70
. In the compressed state
70
, the potential contact surface area
56
defines a second interface surface area
72
greater than the first interface surface area
58
. The “second interface surface area” refers to the surface area formed at the actual physical interface between the stretch releasing adhesive tape and the substrate
22
in the compressed state. In the embodiment of
FIG. 3B
, the second interface surface area
72
is defined by the width
71
times the length
62
. As illustrated in
FIG. 3B
, the second interface surface area
72
is less than the potential contact surface area
56
, although in some embodiments, they can be substantially the same.
Due to the increase in surface area, the stretch releasing adhesive tape
50
has greater adhesion with the substrate
22
in the compressed state
70
than in the uncompressed state
52
. By selectively leaving portions of the stretch releasing adhesive tape
50
in the uncompressed state, those portions can be later removed from the substrate
22
and used as pull tabs (see FIGS.
10
and
11
). Additionally, the first interface surface area
58
can be made sufficiently small that the pressure sensitive adhesive tape
50
can be easily repositioned prior to compression into the compressed state
70
.
FIG. 4A
illustrates an alternate stretch releasing adhesive tape
80
in an uncompressed state
82
in accordance with the present invention. The stretch releasing adhesive tape
80
includes a series of raised portions
96
A,
96
B,
96
C,
96
D. A non-planar adhesive contact surface
86
includes raised portions
96
C,
96
D. Raised portions
96
C,
96
D define a pair of narrow, discrete first interface surface areas
92
,
94
, respectively, with the substrate
22
in the uncompressed state
82
. Rather than the single continuous interface surface area
58
of
FIG. 3A
, the interface surface areas
92
,
94
are discrete and discontinuous. In the uncompressed state
82
, the level of adhesion generated by the first interface surface areas
92
,
94
is sufficiently low that a user can reposition the stretch releasing adhesive tape
80
or detach a portion of the stretch releasing adhesive tape
80
from the substrate
22
and use the detached portion as a pull tab.
FIG. 4B
illustrates the stretch releasing adhesive tape
80
of
FIG. 4A
in a compressed state
84
. In the compressed state
84
, the first interface surface areas
92
,
94
are expanded to form the second interface surface area
95
that is defined by the width
97
times the length
99
. In the embodiment of
FIG. 4B
, the second interface surface area
95
is substantially the same as the potential contact surface area
86
. Once the stretch releasing adhesive tape
80
is compressed against the substrate
22
, as illustrated in
FIG. 4B
, it cannot be easily removed without a pull tab. By selectively leaving portions of the stretch releasing adhesive tape
80
in the uncompressed state, the uncompressed portions can be used as pull tabs.
FIGS. 5A and 5B
illustrate a cross sectional view of an alternate stretch releasing adhesive tape
100
in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 5A
illustrates the stretch releasing adhesive tape in the uncompressed state
102
. In the uncompressed state
102
, the stretch releasing adhesive tape
100
includes a series of raised portions
104
A,
104
B,
104
C,
104
D,
104
E. Potential contact surface area
110
is defined by the segments
105
,
107
times the length
109
. In the uncompressed state
102
, however, tips of the raised portions
104
B,
104
C times the length
109
define a pair of discontinuous, non-planar first interface surface areas
106
,
108
with the substrate
22
. The sum of the first interface surface areas
106
,
108
is significantly smaller than the potential contact surface area
110
. If a portion of the stretch releasing adhesive tape
100
is retained in the uncompressed state
102
, that portion can be removed from the substrate
22
and used as a pull tab or repositioned.
FIG. 5B
illustrates the stretch releasing adhesive tape
100
of
FIG. 5A
in a compressed state
116
. Raised portions
104
B and
104
C have been collapsed against the substrate
22
so that the second interface surface area
118
is the sum of the segments
105
,
107
times the length
109
, substantially the same as the potential contact surface area
110
.
FIG. 6A and 6B
illustrate an alternate stretch releasing adhesive tape
130
in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 6A
illustrates the stretch releasing adhesive tape
130
in the uncompressed state
132
. The stretch releasing adhesive tape
130
includes a series of longitudinal ridges or raised portions
134
that define the first interface surface area
136
. The raised portions
134
can be formed on one or more surfaces of the stretch releasing adhesive tape
130
. In the embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 6A
, the first interface surface area
136
is a series of elongated strips that correspond to the tips of the raised portions
134
. The potential contact surface area
138
is defined by the contour of the raised portions
134
times the length
142
of the stretch releasing adhesive tape
130
. The first interface surface area
136
, however, is significantly smaller than the potential contact surface area
138
due to the non-planar structure defined by the ridges
134
.
FIG. 6B
illustrates the stretch releasing adhesive tape
130
of
FIG. 6A
in the compressed state
146
. In the embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 6B
, the second interface surface area
144
is greater than the first interface surface area
136
, but less than the potential contact surface area
138
. This result is due to incomplete compression of the stretch releasing adhesive tape
130
at the locations
148
against the substrate
22
. In an alternate embodiment, the stretch releasing adhesive tape
130
is fully compressed so that the second interface surface area
144
is substantially the same as the potential contact surface area
138
.
FIG. 7
illustrates an alternate stretch releasing adhesive tape
150
with a generally rectangular cross section
152
that has been twisted to form a series of helical ridges or raised portions
154
. The helical ridges
154
form discrete raised portions that define a first interface surface area
155
significantly smaller than the potential contact surface area
158
defined by the width
160
and length
162
of the stretch releasing adhesive tape
150
in the un-twisted state.
FIG. 8
illustrates an alternate stretch releasing adhesive tape
170
having a generally rectangular cross section
172
. Portion
171
of the stretch releasing adhesive tape
170
is compressed against the substrate
22
in its rectangular form. Distal end
174
is twisted to define a plurality of helical ridges or raised portions
176
. The distal end
174
is retained in its uncompressed state so that the helical ridges
176
define a first interface surface area
175
significantly smaller than the potential contact surface area
178
for the distal portion
174
(as defined by the width
180
and length
182
). The ridges
176
permit that the distal end
174
to be removed from the substrate
22
to serve as pull tab for detaching the compressed portion
171
from the substrate
22
.
FIG. 9A
illustrates a hollow stretch releasing adhesive tape
280
having a center aperture
282
and a series of adhesive regions
283
a,
283
b,
283
c,
283
d
(referred to collectively as
283
) each having a plurality of discrete raised portions or bumps
284
a,
284
b,
284
c,
284
d
(referred to collectively as
284
). The adhesive regions
283
can be continuous or discontinuous, regularly shaped or irregularly shaped, longitudinally oriented or spiral strips, or a variety of other configurations. The raised portions or bumps
284
can be a variety of shapes, such as cones, pyramids, hemispherical projections, or irregular shape protrusions. A series of non-adhesive regions
285
a,
285
b,
285
c,
285
d
are positioned between the adhesive regions
283
. In the uncompressed state
286
, only the tips of the raised adhesive portions
284
c
are in contact with the substrate
22
, defining a relatively small first interface surface area
288
. In the uncompressed state
286
, the first interface surface area
288
permits the stretch releasing adhesive tape
280
to be repositioned or removed from the substrate
22
to serve as a pull tab.
Potential contact surface area
290
is defined by the arc length
292
times the length
294
. As is clear from
FIG. 9A
, the potential contact surface area
290
includes adhesive region
283
c,
portions of adhesive regions
283
b,
283
d
and non-adhesive regions
285
b,
285
c.
FIG. 9B
illustrates the stretch releasing adhesive tape
280
of
FIG. 9A
in the compressed state
296
. Aperture
282
facilitates compression. In the compressed state
296
, second interface surface area
298
is greater than the first interface surface area
288
. The second interface surface area
298
is defined by the width
300
times the length
294
. The second interface surface area
298
includes the adhesive region
283
c,
portions of the adhesive regions
283
b,
283
d
and the non-adhesive regions
285
b,
285
c.
In the embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 9B
, the second interface surface area
298
is less than the potential contact surface area
290
, although in some embodiments, they can be substantially the same.
FIG. 10
is a front view of an article
20
attached to a substrate
22
using a stretch releasing adhesive tape
190
in accordance with the present invention. Portion
192
of the stretch releasing adhesive tape
190
is compressed between the substrate
22
and the article
20
. Compressed portion
192
defines a second interface surface area
196
having a length
198
and a width
200
.
Exposed portion
202
of the stretch releasing adhesive tape
190
is retained in an uncompressed state
204
. The geometry of the exposed portion
202
defines a first interface surface area
206
with the substrate
22
that is less then the potential contact surface area available for engagement with the substrate
22
. Consequently, the level of adhesion of the exposed portion
202
is low enough to permit it to serve as a pull tab for removing the compressed portion
192
from the substrate
22
.
FIG. 11
is a front view of an alternate stretch releasing adhesive tape
210
in accordance with the present invention. Compressed portion
212
is located between the article
20
and substrate
22
. Due to the geometry of the stretch releasing adhesive tape
210
, the compressed portion
212
can follow a serpentine or other non-linear path, thereby increasing the size of the interface surface area
214
, and hence the adhesive bond between the substrate
22
and article
20
.
The exposed portion
216
is retained in an uncompressed state
218
. Due to the geometry of the stretch releasing adhesive tape
210
, the first interface surface area
220
of the exposed portion
216
is formed by raised portions, non-planar surfaces, discontinuous surfaces and other structures that define a surface area significantly less than the potential contact surface area. Therefore, the exposed portion
216
can be easily removed from the substrate
22
to form a pull tab for removing the stretch releasing adhesive tape
210
.
FIG. 12
illustrates a roll
250
of a stretch releasing adhesive
252
in accordance with the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, release liner
254
is located on the stretch releasing adhesive tape
252
to facilitate unrolling. Frangible connections
256
may optionally be formed in the stretch releasing adhesive tape
252
to facilitate removal of sections without the use of a cutting instrument. Frangible connections
256
may be a perforation, slit, cut or other locations of weakness along the length of the stretch releasing adhesive tape
252
.
FIG. 13
is an alternate roll
260
of a stretch releasing adhesive tape
262
in accordance with the present invention. The stretch releasing adhesive tape is spiral wound on a core
264
. The core preferably includes a low adhesion surface or release liner to facilitate removal of the stretch releasing adhesive tape
262
.
Examples of materials suitable for use as liners include kraft papers, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester or composites of any of these materials which can be coated with release agents such as fluorochemicals or silicone. U.S. Pat. No. 4,472,480 describes low surface energy perfluorochemical liners. The preferred liners are papers, polyolefin films, or polyester films coated with silicone release materials. Examples of the silicone coated release papers are Polyslik trade silicone release papers supplied by James River Co., H.P. Smith Division (Bedford Park, Ill.), and silicone coated papers supplied by DCP-Lohja Inc. (Willowbrook, Ill.).
While several embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be recognized that various changes and modifications may be made without deviating from the inventive concept set for the above. Any of the features of the various embodiments disclosed herein can be combined.
The patents, patent documents, and patent applications cited herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety as if each were individually incorporated by reference. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without deviating from the inventive concept set forth above. Thus, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the structures described in this application, but only by the structures described by the language of the claims and the equivalents of those structures.
Claims
- 1. A stretch releasing adhesive tape article with differential adhesive properties in an uncompressed state and a compressed state, comprising:an elongated length of stretch releasing adhesive tape comprising at least one potential contact surface area, at least a portion of the potential contact surface area comprising an adhesive surface having at least one raised portion, the potential contact surface area comprising a first interface surface area in the uncompressed state and a second interface surface area substantially greater than the first interface surface area in the compressed state.
- 2. The article of claim 1 wherein a portion of the stretch releasing adhesive tape in the uncompressed state comprises a pull tab.
- 3. The article of claim 1 wherein the stretch releasing adhesive tape comprises a multi-layer structure.
- 4. The article of claim 1 wherein the stretch releasing adhesive tape comprises a structural member.
- 5. The article of claim 4 wherein the structural member is selected from one of a film, an elastic foam, an inelastic foam, a monofilament.
- 6. The article of claim 1 wherein the stretch releasing adhesive tape comprises a hollow portion.
- 7. The article of claim 1 wherein the stretch releasing adhesive tape is selected from the group consisting of a pressure sensitive adhesive tape with an elastic structural member, a pressure sensitive adhesive tape with a highly extensible and substantially inelastic structural member, and a solid pressure sensitive adhesive.
- 8. The article of claim 1 wherein the potential contact surface area in the uncompressed state comprises a non-planar structure.
- 9. The article of claim 1 wherein the potential contact surface area in the uncompressed state comprises a discontinuous surface.
- 10. The article of claim 1 wherein the potential contact surface area in the compressed state comprises a substantially continuous surface.
- 11. The article of claim 1 wherein the stretch releasing adhesive tape in the uncompressed state has a cross-section selected from the group consisting of circular, star-shaped, oval, and multi-faceted.
- 12. The article of claim 1 wherein the stretch releasing adhesive tape in the uncompressed state comprises a geometric shape that provides less surface area in the uncompressed state than in the compressed state.
- 13. The article of claim 1 wherein the potential contact surface area comprises a rectangular cross-section of stretch releasing adhesive tape twisted to form helical ridges.
- 14. The article of claim 1 wherein the elongated length of stretch releasing adhesive tape comprises a roll of stretch releasing adhesive tape.
- 15. The article of claim 1 comprising a release liner adhered to the potential contact surface area.
- 16. The article of claim 1 comprising frangible connections formed intermittently along the stretch releasing adhesive tape.
- 17. The article of claim 1 wherein the stretch releasing adhesive tape comprises adhesive on the entire potential contact surface area.
- 18. The article of claim 1 wherein the potential contact surface area comprises adhesive regions and non-adhesive regions.
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