US20050262787A1

US20050262787A1 - Magnetic wall border, system and method

Info

Publication number: US20050262787A1
Application number: US11/124,872
Authority: US
Inventors: Patrick Goss
Original assignee: Avery Dennison Corp
Current assignee: Avery Dennison Corp
Priority date: 2004-05-28
Filing date: 2005-05-09
Publication date: 2005-12-01

Abstract

A magnetic wall border system and a method of using the system is described. A magnetic wall border may be a removable portion, and may have a magnetic or magnet-attracting layer and a decorative layer.

Description

This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60/575,777 filed on May 28, 2004, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to decorative wall elements, and particularly to magnetic wall borders.

BACKGROUND

Flexible commercially available permanent magnetic materials may be supplied in sheet form. The magnetic materials may include a ferrite material as a filler in a polymeric binder. The polymeric binder may be cut and/or stamped into a desired shape.
Magnetic sheets may adhere to a magnet-attracting substrate, such as the surface of an iron or steel sheet. The magnetic force can attract the magnetic sheet to the magnet-attracting surface even through, for example, paper, cardboard and plastic, provided the distance between the magnetic sheet and magnet-attracting sheet is not too great.
The magnetic sheets may be adorned with decorative layers. For example, a printer may print matter onto a web or sheet. Some magnetic web or sheet materials may be glued or adhered to a printable paper or ink-receptive substrate, or a pre-printed sheet, to form a composite or laminate. After forming such a laminate, the printable paper or ink-receptive substrate may be printed to form text, graphics, designs, colors, and other decorations. These decorative magnetic laminates may then be placed on a magnetically attracted surface such as a refrigerator, file cabinet, or other surface. They may be used as reminders, and may be used to hold sheets of paper such as notes, recipes, lists, children's artwork, etc.
Advances in magnetic sheet production technology have allowed for relatively thin magnetic sheets to be produced. The thin magnetic sheet may be cut, trimmed, die cut, and perforated. Unfortunately, applications that may involve folding and creasing a magnetic layer continue to be problematic. In addition, adapting a wall surface to become magnetic or magnet-attracting can be labor intensive and economically undesirable.
It would be desirable to have a system for decoration of a wall, in particular a wall border, that allows for ease of placement, and replacement, of differing decorative layers. It would be desirable to have a magnetic wall border that can follow the contours of a room, and in particular the corners defined by the walls.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to a magnetic wall border, a magnet wall border decoration system, and a method of using the system. A magnetic wall border according to the present invention may include a decorative indicia supportable layer. The decorative indicia supportable layer may include a magnetic or magnet-attracting layer. In one embodiment, the decorative indicia supportable layer includes decorative indicia. In one embodiment, the decorative indicia supportable layer is operable to receive decorative indicia.
The magnetic wall border system includes the decorative indicia supportable layer and a base assembly for supporting the decorative indicia supportable layer. The decorative indicia supportable layer may be a removable portion of the system relative to the base assembly. The base assembly may be relatively permanently attachable to a substrate. In one embodiment, the magnetic wall border system comprises a magnetic material in the removable portion, and a magnet-attracting material in the relatively permanently placeable portion. In another embodiment, the magnetic wall border system comprises a magnet-attracting material in the removable portion, and the magnetic material in a relatively permanently placeable portion. The removable portion may be adhered by magnetic attraction to the base layer. The removable portion may be one of a plurality of similar removable portions having different decorative indicia supported thereon. When desired, any of the plurality of removable portions may be removed and replaced by another removable portion.
In one embodiment, the removable portion may be folded or creased to follow the contour of a wall. For example, a wall can define a corner that has an obtuse or acute angle. The removable portion can be creased to allow a close match of the wall border to the wall contour.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a cross-sectional side view of a magnetic wall border comprising an embodiment in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a cross-sectional side view of a magnetic wall border comprising another embodiment in accordance with the invention;
FIGS. 3(a)-3(b) show schematic diagrams of orientations of poles within a magnetic layer; and
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a cross-sectional side view of part of a magnetic wall border system comprising a base assembly in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is directed to a magnetic wall border, a magnetic wall border decoration system and a method of use. The magnetic wall border comprises a decorative indicia supportable layer, and, when combined with a base assembly, which is described further below, can define a magnetic wall border decoration system according to the present invention.
The decorative indicia supportable layer can be magnetically supported, and can thus be removed from the magnetic support with relative ease. The decorative indicia supportable layer may be referred to as a removable portion, while the magnetic support may be referred to as a relatively more permanently placed portion. Due to the nature of magnetic attraction, the decorative wall system may have several embodiments involving the placement of magnetic materials relative to the placement of magnet-attracting materials. That is, the magnetic wall border system may have a first embodiment in which a magnetic material is in the removable portion, and a magnet-attracting material is in the relatively permanently placed portion. The magnetic wall border system may have a second embodiment in which a magnet-attracting material is in the removable portion, and the magnetic material is in a relatively permanently placed portion. In yet another embodiment, magnetic material may be included in both the removable portion and in the permanent portion. Examples of several embodiments are described with reference to the drawing figures.
A removable magnetic wall border 100 comprising an embodiment according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The magnetic wall border 100 includes a decorative layer 110 and a magnet-attracting layer 120 that is adjacent to the decorative layer 110. A magnetic wall border 200 comprising another embodiment according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 2. When the magnetic wall border 200 includes parts that are substantially the same as corresponding parts of the magnetic wall border 100 shown in FIG. 1, the same reference numbers are used to identify such corresponding parts. The magnetic wall border 200 differs from the previously described magnetic wall border 100 in that it includes a magnetic layer 220 rather than the magnet-attracting layer 120.
Suitable decorative layers may have an outward-facing surface that may be adorned with print, text, graphics, patterns, colors, textures, and the like. In one embodiment, the decorative layer may be receptive to print, text, graphics, patterns, colors, textures, and the like. In one embodiment, the decorative layer may be a print or print receptive layer. In one embodiment, the decorative layer may be an embossed or embossable layer having a texture or raised pattern.
Suitable print or print receptive layers may be extruded, or may be otherwise formed, and may be a monolayer film, a multi-layered film, or a composite. The print layer may include material selected from non-ethylenic olefin polymers (linear or branched); polyolefinic materials, such as polyethylene and polypropylene (low-density and/or high density); polyamides; polystyrenes; nylon; polyesters; polyester copolymers; polyurethanes; polyacrylates; polysulfones; styrene-maleic anhydride copolymers; styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers; ionomers based on sodium or zinc salts of ethylene methacrylic acid; polymethyl methacrylates; cellulosics, including both paper and wood products; fluoroplastics such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF); polycarbonates; polyacrylonitriles; polycyanurates; ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers; metal foils; metallized films; silicones; and combinations thereof. The polyacrylates may include acrylates such as those derived from ethylene methacrylic acid, ethylene methyl acrylate, ethylene acrylic acid and ethylene ethyl acrylate.
The print layer may be receptive to print, for example, ink and laminates. Examples of suitable printers that can print onto the print layer include offset, flexographic, digital, ink jet, silk screen, dye sublimation, and laser jet printers.
In one embodiment, the decorative layer comprises a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) extruded film. A suitable HDPE may be FORMOLINE LH5206, which is commercially available from Formosa Plastics Corporation (Point Comfort, Tex.). In one embodiment, the HDPE has a density in a range of from about 0.9 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³) to about 1.0 g/cm³, but in alternative embodiments other densities can be selected to achieve specific desired properties.
In one embodiment, the decorative layer comprises polypropylene. Bi-axially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) may be particularly suited to a wide range of applications in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Included may be polypropylene homopolymers and copolymers. In one embodiment, the polypropylene homopolymer has a melt flow rate (MFR) in a range of from about 0.5 to about 20 (as determined by ASTM Test D 1238). In one embodiment, the polypropylene has an MFR in a range of from about 4 to about 10. In other embodiments according to the invention, the propylene homopolymer may have a density in a range of from about 0.88 g/cm³to about 0.92 g/cm³.
In one embodiment, the decorative layer comprises polyamide. A suitable polyamide resin is commercially available from American Grilon Inc. (Sumter, S.C.) under the tradename GRIVORY G-21. GRIVORY G-21 is an amorphous nylon copolymer having a glass transition temperature (T_g) of about 126 degrees Celsius, a melt flow index (MFI) of about 90 milliliters per 10 minutes (mm/10 min) as measured by DIN 53735, and an elongation at break of about 15 as measured by ASTM D638. In one embodiment, the decorative layer comprises polystyrene. Suitable polystyrenes include homopolymers of styrene as well as copolymers and substituted styrene. An example of a commercially available suitable styrene is KR-10 of Phillips Petroleum Co. (Bartlesville, Okla.).
In one embodiment, the decorative layer comprises a cellulosic material. Suitable cellulosic materials include papers having a base weight in a range of from about 20 pounds per ream to about 150 pounds per ream (lb/ream). In one embodiment, paper having a base weight average in a range of from about 30 lb/ream to about 60 lb/ream may be used. A cellulosic decorative layer may be polymer-coated paper, having one or both sides of a paper sheet coated with a polymer layer. The polymer layer may comprise high, medium or low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, and combinations thereof. The polymer layer may be added to increase strength and/or provide dimensional stability. The polymer-coated paper may have a weight in a range of from about 5 lb/ream to about 50 lb/ream. The polymer layer may comprise an amount of the total weight of the decorative layer may be in a range of from about 10 percent by weight to about 50 percent by weight. If the decorative layer is polymer-coated on two sides, the quantity of polymer may be about equally divided between the two sides, or may be present on one side in a greater amount relative to the other side.
In one embodiment, the decorative layer may have an overall thickness average in a range of from about 2.5 micrometers (0.1 mil) to about 635 micrometers (25 mils), and in one embodiment the average thickness may be in the range of from about 25 micrometers to about 250 micrometers, and in one embodiment the average thickness may be in the range of from about 300 micrometers to about 600 micrometers. In one embodiment, the thickness may be in a range of greater than 600 micrometers. In one embodiment, the decorative layer has a texture, as described above. The texture may be selected to have an embossed height that is large relative to the thickness of the decorative layer.
The decorative layer may include a topcoat film. The topcoat film may be transparent, colorless and/or biaxially-oriented. In one embodiment, the decorative layer can be a machine direction oriented film or a transverse oriented film. The decorative layer may be transparent or opaque, and may be colored, colorless or patterned. In one embodiment, the biaxial orientation may be accomplished via a hot-stretch and annealed orientation process. In one embodiment, the orientation may be achieved by another orientation process selected with reference to production specific criteria, such as cost, speed, available equipment, and the like.
Decorative layers in accordance with embodiments of the invention may include a migratory and/or a non-migratory additive. Suitable migratory additives include, for example, a flexibilizer, a plasticizer, and an antioxidant. And, suitable non-migratory additives can include a blocking agent, an anti-blocking agent, a flame retardant, an opacifier, a heat and light stabilizer, a UV light blocker, an anti-static agent, and other additives selected with reference to application specific criteria. The flexibilizer can be, for example, a rubber, rubber-based derivative or thermoplastic. In one embodiment, the flexibilizer may be a rubber methacrylate. In one embodiment, the flexibilizer may be a carboxy-terminated butadiene-nitrile rubber (CTBN).
The plasticizer can be a high-boiling temperature liquid solvent or a softening agent. Specifically, the plasticizer can be an ester made from an anhydride or acid and a suitable alcohol having from about 6 carbon atoms to about 13 carbon atoms. Other suitable plasticizers include adipate, phosphate, benzoate or phthalate esters, polyalkylene oxides, sulfonamides, and the like. These plasticizers include dioctyl adipate plasticizer (DOA), triethylene glycol di-2-ethylhexanoate plasticizer (TEG-EH), trioctyl trimellitate plasticizer (TOTM), glyceryl triacetate plasticizer (TRIACETIN), 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol diisobutyrate plasticizer (TXIB), diethyl phthalate plasticizer (DEP), dioctyl terephthalate plasticizer (DOTP), dimethyl phthalate plasticizer (DMP), dioctyl phthalate plasticizer (DOP), dibutyl phthalate plasticizer (DBP), polyethylene oxide, toluene sulfonamide, and dipropylene glycol benzoate. Other commercially available plasticizers may be interchangeable therewith with reference to such considerations as compatibility and intended purpose.
The antioxidant provides radical trapping activity and may be selected generally with reference to at least some of the following considerations: the compatibility with the matrix of the decorative layer, the effective stability of the antioxidant at the processing temperatures, whether the antioxidant will cause undesirable coloring, and whether the antioxidant will interact with other additives. Further, the antioxidant should inhibit ageing during processing, during storage and during the end use. Useful antioxidants include tert-butylhydroquinone, propyl gallate, sodium nitrate, sodium nitrite, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and analogs and derivatives. Suitable additives are commercially available from such suppliers as Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Inc. (Tarrytown, N.Y.) and Ferro Corp. (Independence, Ohio).
The decorative layer may optionally include reinforcement throughout its matrix. In one such embodiment, the reinforcement may be in the form of tough multi-directionally oriented fibers. The fibers can be, for example, polyamide, metal, or selected from other difficult to cut or break materials. In one embodiment, the reinforcement includes randomly oriented fibers or unidirectionally oriented fibers.
In one embodiment, the magnetic layer includes magnetic particles, magnetic material, magnetized material, and/or magnetizable material suspended in a polymer matrix. Suitable magnetic particles include magnetite, ferrite, and the like, as well as magnetized and magnetizable particles. In one embodiment, the magnetic material is selected from aluminum powder (Al), cobalt iron/steel powder, copper powder (Cu), tin powder, aluminum-nickel powder, aluminum-nickel-cobalt powder (AlNiCo), iron powder, magnetite powder, nickel powder (Ni), cobalt powder (Co), cobalt iron nickel powder, samarium-cobalt powder (SmCO₅and Sm₂CO₁₇), nickel-iron, such as MUMETAL™, a high nickel iron alloy, neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) powder, nickel-iron alloy, such as PERMALLOY™, iron-cobalt-vanadium alloy, such as PERMENDUR™ powder (Fe 49%-Co 49%-V 2%), iron powder, hematite powder (Fe₂O₃), rare earth powder, strontium-ferrite powder, neodymium powder, manganese-aluminum-carbon powder, combinations thereof, and like permanent magnetic materials. PERMALLOY™, MUMETAL™ and PERMENDUR™ are commercially available from Goodfellow Corporation (Berwyn, Pa.). ALNICO is commercially available from Arnold Engineering Company (Rochester, N.Y.). Ceramic permanent magnetic particles may also be used. Suitable magnetic layers include commercially available magnetic sheets and webs from, for example, Kane Graphical Corporation (Chicago, Ill.), Magnet Notes, Ltd. (Toledo, Ohio), and Magnum Magnetics Corporation (Marietta, Ohio).
In one embodiment, the polymeric matrix material may include olefin polymers (linear or branched), such as polyethylene and polypropylene (low-density and/or high density); polyamides; polystyrenes; nylon; polyesters; polyester copolymers; polyurethanes; polyacrylates; polysulfones; styrene-maleic anhydride copolymers; styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers; polymethyl methacrylates; cellulosics; fluoroplastics such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF); polycarbonates; polyacrylonitriles; polycyanurates; ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers; metallized films; silicones; and combinations of two or more thereof.
With reference to the illustrated embodiments of FIGS. 3(a)-3(b), a magnetic or magnet-attracting layer may be magnetic and have a single pole per side as shown by magnetic or magnet-attracting layer 220(a), or the magnetic layer may have multiple, alternative poles per side as shown by magnetic layer 220(b). Another suitable magnet-attracting substrate may be a metal foil, a metal mesh, a matrix layer filled with metal particles, and the like.
In one embodiment, the decorative layer may be integrally formed with the magnetic or magnet-attracting layer. For example, the decorative layer may be co-extruded with the magnetic or magnet-attracting layer. In one embodiment, the decorative layer is laminated to the magnetic or magnet-attracting layer. For example, the decorative layer may be heat-sealed to the magnetic or magnet-attracting layer. In one embodiment, the decorative layer is adhered to the magnetic or magnet-attracting layer. For example, the wall border may have an intervening tie-layer that includes an adhesive material to adhere the decorative layer to the magnetic or magnet-attracting layer.
A wall border according to an embodiment of the invention may be folded or creased and may hold that fold or crease to allow for the contours of a wall or substrate to be followed. The contours may include the corners and turns. The creasing may be facilitated, for example, by the inclusion of a malleable foil layer, or by a crenellated configuration of the magnetic or magnet-attracting layer. Suitable foils include metal foils. The foil may accept a crease or fold and maintain the crease or fold to make a crisp turn. In one embodiment, the metal foil is magnet-attracting and is also the magnet-attracting layer.
In one embodiment, the magnetic or magnet-attracting layer is rigid, frangible, friable or inelastic relative to paper or polymeric films. As such, the magnetic or magnet-attracting layer may snap rather than bend. In one embodiment, the magnetic or magnet-attracting layer is malleable and may be creased and may bend. The bend angle for snapping or for creasing may be in a range of from about 20 degrees to about 100 degrees. In one embodiment, the angle is in a range of from about 45 degrees to about 90 degrees. In one embodiment, the angle is about 90 degrees relative to planar. In embodiments where the magnetic or magnet-attracting layer is rigid, the magnetic or magnet-attracting layer may be adapted to allow for conformations that allow the magnetic or magnet-attracting layer to follow, for example, wall contours such as corners. In one such embodiment, the magnetic or magnet-attracting layer is scored in a pre-selected orientation, for example, in a vertical orientation when a wall border is supported on a wall. In another such embodiment, the magnetic or magnet-attracting layer is ridged or crenellated in a pre-selected orientation. Configurations having, for example, scored or ridged magnetic or magnet-attracting layers allow the magnetic or magnet-attracting layer to fold or crease along the oriented scores or ridges. Thus, sharp, crisp creases or folds may be obtained in desired directions. These folds or creases may be at turns or corners in a wall contour. The folds and creases allow for a wall border to follow the contour of the wall, and make crisp turns at the corners and follow along the wall.
In one embodiment, the wall border may have a height dimension in a range of from about 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) to about 25 centimeters (10 inches). In one embodiment, the height dimension is about 30 centimeters (12 inches). In one embodiment, the height is in a range of from about 10 centimeters (4 inches) to about 15 centimeters (6 inches).
FIG. 4 shows a base assembly 400 for use with the magnetic wall borders 100, 200 described above. The base assembly 400 includes a magnetic or magnet-attracting base layer 410 and an adhesive layer 420. An optional release liner 430 may also be removably disposed on a surface of the adhesive layer 420 that is opposite the base layer 410.
Whether the base layer is magnetic or magnet-attracting is determined by whether a wall border to be used with it is magnetic or magnet-attracting. That is, the base layer may have a corresponding magnetic property to allow a magnetic or magnet-attracting wall border to magnetically adhere thereto.
With reference to the adhesive layer, the adhesive layer may be able to adhere to a substrate that is not necessarily magnetic or magnet-attracting in itself. For example, interior house walls may be made of gypsum board or dry wall, which is neither magnetic nor magnet attracting. The adhesive layer can adhere the substrate to the wall and provide a magnetic or magnet-attracting base to which a corresponding magnetic or magnet-attracting wall border may be magnetically adhered.
Suitable adhesives for use in an adhesive layer may include pressure sensitive adhesives, curable adhesives, pastes and glues, and the like. A pressure sensitive adhesive may be a contact adhesive that uses, for example, wetting principles and elasticity to form an adhesive bond with a substrate. Thus, in one embodiment, a pressure sensitive adhesive can allow for repositioning of an adhesive layer prior to adhesive placement for an extended time. The pressure sensitive adhesive generally firmly adheres to a variety of dissimilar surfaces upon mere contact without the need of more than light pressure, and may remain tacky after cure or set to allow for repositionability. Some of the more tenacious pressure sensitive adhesives suitable for use make repositioning difficult to impossible, but by selecting a pressure sensitive adhesive with a predetermined tenacity or bond strength it may be possible to obtain an initially repositionable or an initially non-repositionable pressure sensitive adhesive characteristic, as desired.
As discussed above, pressure sensitive adhesives can be either permanent or removable and/or repositionable. In one embodiment according to the present invention, a permanent pressure sensitive adhesive may be used, and in an alternative embodiment, a removable pressure sensitive adhesive may be used. A pressure sensitive adhesive in accordance with the present invention may be an adhesive having a strong and tenacious initial tack when contacted to a surface, the contact requiring no more than low or minimal pressure to form the initial adhesive bond.
Suitable alternative pressure-sensitive adhesive materials include synthetic rubber-based and natural rubber-based adhesives, vinyl ether adhesives, silicone adhesives, and mixtures of two or more thereof. Also included are pressure sensitive adhesive materials described in Adhesion and Bonding, Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Engineering, Vol. 1, pages 476-546, Interscience Publishers, 2nd Ed. 1985, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Some of the above-referenced suitable pressure sensitive adhesive materials contain as a major constituent resin-based material such as acrylic type polymers, block copolymers, natural, reclaimed or styrene butadiene rubbers, tackified natural or synthetic rubbers, random copolymers of ethylene and vinyl acetate, ethylene-vinyl-acrylic terpolymers, polyisobutylene, poly(vinyl ether), and the like.
Suitable silicone-based pressure sensitive adhesives generally include two components, a polymer and a tackifying resin. The polymer can be a high molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane or polydimethyldiphenylsiloxane containing a terminal silanol group (SiOH), or a block copolymer that includes polydiorganosiloxane soft segments and urea terminated hard segments. The tackifying resin may be generally a silicate endcapped with trimethylsiloxy groups (OSiMe₃) and which contains a silanol group. Commercially available tackifying resins include SR 545 from General Electric Co., Silicone Resins Division (Waterford, N.Y.) and MQD-32-2 from Shin-Etsu Silicones of America, Inc. (Torrance, Calif.).
Suitable additives for use in the adhesive layer include solid and liquid tackifiers (also referred to as plasticizers), antioxidants, fillers, pigments, waxes, and commercially available equivalents. Useful additives are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,192,612 and 5,346,766, both assigned to Avery International Corporation (Pasadena, Calif.), and which are incorporated herein by reference.
Suitable methods for applying the adhesive layer to a base layer may include a lamination method. A layer of adhesive may be produced and disposed between two release sheets. The release sheets can be formed of, for example, a low surface energy material such as silicone. A first one of the liner release sheets may be removed. The adhesive may be contacted against the desired substrate while being supported by the remaining second one of the release liner sheets. When the second release liner sheet may be removed, all that remains is the adhesive layer supported by the desired substrate. Other useful techniques for applying the adhesive layer to a surface of the base layer may include gravure, reverse gravure, offset gravure, roller coating, brushing, knife-over roll, metering rod, reverse roll coating, doctor knife, dipping, die coating, spraying, curtain coating, slot head, flat screen and other similar methods. In one embodiment, the adhesive layer may have a thickness in a range of from about 12.7 micrometers (0.5 mils) to about 127 micrometers (5 mils). In one embodiment, the thickness may be in a range of from about 25.4 micrometers (1 mil) to about 76 micrometers (3 mils). In one embodiment, the coat weight of the pressure sensitive adhesive in this embodiment may be in a range of from about 10 grams per square meter (gsm) to about 20 gsm. In another embodiment according to the invention, the coat weight may be in a range of about 21 gsm to about 50 gsm.
If a substrate is inherently magnetic or magnet-attracting, a base layer having complimentary magnetic or magnet-attracting properties may or may not be used depending on the strength of the magnetic field. In addition, it is possible to modify walls to be magnetic or magnet-attracting by, for example, coating with a magnetic or magnet-attracting coating, filling with magnetic or magnet-attracting filling material, physically attaching a magnetic or magnet-attracting article thereto, and the like.
The processes and embodiments described herein are examples of structures, systems and methods having elements corresponding to the elements of the invention recited in the claims. This written description may enable those skilled in the art to make and use embodiments having alternative elements that likewise correspond to the elements of the invention recited in the claims. The intended scope of the invention thus includes other structures, systems and methods that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, and further includes other structures, systems and methods with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.

Claims

1. An wall decoration system for decorating a wall, comprising:

at least one wall border comprising a decorative indicia supportable layer operable to be magnetically adhered to a magnetic or magnet-attracting substrate.

2. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the decorative indicia supportable layer is operable to accept and maintain a fold or a crease.

3. The system as defined in claim 1, comprising a plurality of like wall borders, each of which has a different decorative indicia supported on a surface thereof.

4. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the decorative indicia supportable layer comprises a multi-layer construction.

5. The system as defined in claim 4, wherein the decorative indicia supportable layer comprises a print layer.

6. The system as defined in claim 5, wherein the print layer is operable to receive printing from a printer selected from offset, flexographic, digital, ink jet, silk screen, dye sublimation, and laser jet.

7. The system as defined in claim 4, wherein the multi-layer construction comprises a magnetic material containing layer or a magnet-attracting material containing layer.

8. The system as defined in claim 7, wherein the magnetic material containing layer or the magnet-attracting material containing layer comprises a polymer.

9. The system as defined in claim 7, wherein the magnetic or magnet-attracting material is selected from magnetite, ferrite, magnetized iron and combinations of two or more thereof.

10. The system as defined in claim 7, wherein the magnetic material is selected from aluminum, cobalt-iron/steel, copper, stannum, aluminum-nickel, aluminum-nickel-cobalt, iron, magnetite, nickel, cobalt, cobalt-iron-nickel, samarium-cobalt, nickel-iron, neodymium-iron-boron, iron-nickel, iron-cobalt-vanadium, hematite, rare earth powder, strontium-ferrite, neodymium, manganese-aluminum-carbon, and combinations of two or more thereof.

11. The system as defined in claim 7, wherein the magnetic material containing layer or the magnet-attracting material containing layer is malleable or is configured to snap along a pre-selected orientation.

12. The system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a base assembly comprising a magnetic or magnetically attractable material.

13. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the base assembly comprises a coating that can be applied to a wall.

14. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the base assembly comprises a wall portion.

15. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the base assembly comrpises a multi-layer construction comprising an adhesive layer.

16. The system as defined in claim 15, wherein the adhesive layer comprises a permanent adhesive.

17. The system as defined in claim 15, wherein the adhesive layer comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive.

18. The system as defined in claim 15, wherein the base assembly further comprises a release liner overlaying a surface of the adhesive layer.

19. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the base assembly comprises magnetic material.

20. The system as defined in claim 19, wherein the magnetic material is selected from aluminum, cobalt-iron/steel, copper, stannum, aluminum-nickel, aluminum-nickel-cobalt, iron, magnetite, nickel, cobalt, cobalt-iron-nickel, samarium-cobalt, nickel-iron, neodymium-iron-boron, iron-nickel, iron-cobalt-vanadium, hematite, rare earth powder, strontium-ferrite, neodymium, manganese-aluminum-carbon, and combinations of two or more thereof.

21. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the base assembly comprises a magnet-attracting material.

22. The system as defined in claim 21, wherein the magnet-attracting material is selected from iron, magnetite, and magnetized iron.

23. The system as defined in claim 12, wherein the base assembly has a height in the range of from about 2.5 centimeters to about 25 centimeters, and the decorative indicia supportable layer has a height that is at least as wide as the base assembly.

24. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the base assembly and the decorative indicia supportable layer have substantially the same dimensions.

25. A method of decorating a substrate, comprising:

providing a base assembly having a first magnet or magnet-attracting material layer;

adhering a base assembly to a substrate surface; and

magnetically adhering a removable portion to the base assembly, the removable portion comprising a decorative layer and a second magnet or magnet-attracting material layer that is complimentary to the first magnet or magnet-attracting material layer.

26. The method as defined in claim 25, further comprising creasing the removable portion to adapt the removable portion to a corner or edge.