AT15700U1 - foam tape - Google Patents

Abstract

A foam tape (10) having a plurality of holes (15) repeating in the tape direction (x).

Description

The invention relates to a foam tape, in particular a foam tape made of plastic, foam or rubber, which is designed to be used as sound insulation and / or to achieve a sealing effect and / or as mechanical protection when installing sanitary facilities.

From EP 1 967 107 A2 a sealing tape is known which can seal the transition between a sanitary object such as a bathtub and an adjacent wall. A sound insulation profile made of a polyethylene foam can be provided for sound decoupling between the object and the wall.

Another sealing tape is known from DE102012111470 A1, which is provided with slots which are produced by cutting, slitting, punching or the like. The described foam tape with the plurality of slits supposedly has the advantage that it can easily be wound up on a roll for storage and transport, since the slits provide the necessary flexibility of the tape even with larger tape thicknesses. It has been shown that the solution can be optimized with slots.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide foam tapes that are easy to handle and above all can be wound up well. In particular, however, the sound-absorbing function of the foam tape should not be impaired, since the foam tape should take over a sound-absorbing function when installing sanitary facilities. In addition, the sealing effect must be maintained in conjunction with the adhesive.

This object is achieved by a foam tape made of plastic, foam or rubber according to claim 1, a sealing tape according to claim 10, and a method according to claim 11. Advantageous refinements are contained in the subclaims.

The foam tape according to the invention is characterized in that it has a plastic, foam or rubber material with a plurality of repeating in the tape direction (similar or different) holes.

By definition, the foam tape should include a (solid) plastic, foam or rubber material or consist of such a material. In all embodiments, this material preferably has a multiplicity of (open or closed) cavities or pores. Typical materials for the foam tape are, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, cellular rubber, polyurethane, rubber, EPDM, TPE or silicone. Furthermore, the term tape is intended to indicate that the geometry extends very far in one direction, the so-called tape direction, while the width and thickness of the tape measured perpendicular to it is very much smaller. Typically, the foam tape has a substantially elongated, rectangular cross-section transverse to the tape direction with a width that is (a multiple) greater than the thickness of the tape. In all embodiments, the width of the foam tape can be, for example, between approximately 5 mm and approximately 100 mm. In all embodiments, its thickness can typically be between approximately 0.5 mm and approximately 20 mm.

The term hole is intended to generally refer to recesses in the material, regardless of how they were produced (for example by cutting out, punching out or the like). Synonymous with the term hole, it is therefore also possible to speak of a recess, for example. At least some of the holes or recesses completely penetrate the material of the foam tape in all embodiments. That they are so-called through holes or through recesses. When these holes or recesses are made, material of the foam tape is removed. The foam tape thus has a lower overall weight after the holes or recesses have been made than before.

The foam tape can be two or more layers in all embodiments, 11th

AT15 700U1 2018-04-15 Austrian

Patent office where a thicker layer is connected to a thinner layer. The thicker of the two layers is provided with the holes mentioned. The thinner layer can be designed without holes and it can optionally be provided with an adhesive (over the entire surface).

Preferably, at least one of the holes runs transversely to the band direction in the sense that its course direction has a component at least at one point transversely to the band direction. The course of the hole therefore does not have to be exact and / or everywhere perpendicular to the tape direction, but can also be oblique to it. In all embodiments, the holes are preferably arranged in a periodic pattern.

The described foam tape with the plurality of holes has the advantage that it can easily be wound up on a roll for storage and transport, since the holes ensure significantly improved flexibility of the tape even with larger tape thicknesses. Because of the holes, there are so-called compression zones into which the material of the tape can dodge around a curve when it is rolled up or installed. Such a foam tape can therefore also be laid around the edges and radii of (sanitary) objects or facilities without kinks and folds. The greater flexibility is advantageously achieved without the insulating properties of the tape being impaired if the tape runs straight.

Preferably, the total area of the holes based on the total area of the foam tape (before making the holes) has a ratio that is between 5 and 40 percent.

According to a preferred embodiment, the holes are shaped and arranged so that material bridges result in the foam tape. The material bridges can act like joints, which connect the adjacent belt sections in an articulated manner and thus enable the foam belt to fold or roll without creases.

[0014] At least one edge of the foam tape can optionally be sawtooth-shaped in all embodiments.

Such a foam strip can be laid even better in radii (in the plane defined by the strip surface), since the gaps between the saw teeth and the holes in the foam strip prevent wrinkling. Such a foam tape can particularly preferably be provided with the aforementioned material bridges, which are arranged between adjacent saw teeth.

The holes extend from a first surface of the foam tape through the material of the foam tape to the opposite second surface of the foam tape. This enables a corresponding stretching and compression of this surface or of the material when the foam tape is rolled up, for example.

Furthermore, the holes can extend over approximately 10% to approximately 90%, preferably approximately 20% to approximately 80%, of the width of the foam tape.

According to another preferred embodiment, the holes are arranged alternately (starting from opposite edges of the foam tape). In this way, a symmetrical stretchability of the foam tape can be achieved. The arrangement of the holes can also be asymmetrical in all embodiments.

At least one surface of the foam tape can optionally be provided with an adhesive in all embodiments in order to attach the tape to an object (bathtub, shower channel, wall, etc.) or another product part (sealing film, tub tape, cut protection strips, etc.) ,

So that this adhesive can be applied to the entire surface of one side of the foam tape, it is preferably designed so that it does not penetrate through the holes. Therefore, all embodiments which are provided with an adhesive preferably comprise a multilayer adhesive.

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Patent Office [0021] A multilayer butyl adhesive, which comprises at least one film and at least one butyl layer, can preferably be used in all embodiments. Such a structure is dimensionally stable and it prevents butyl from penetrating through the holes in the foam tape.

The invention further relates to a sealing tape or tub tape for sanitary facilities, which comprises a foam tape of the type described above. The sealing tape or trough tape will typically also comprise a water-impermeable carrier, for example a plastic film, on which the foam tape is or can be attached (completely or only partially overlapping). Furthermore, the sealing tape or trough tape can optionally have adhesive surfaces or penetration areas which are set up for the adhesion of a material such as, for example, a tile adhesive. Furthermore, the sealing tape or trough tape can comprise a cut protection strip in order to prevent a silicone seal from being removed by cutting the tape with a carpet knife. Such a cut protection strip, if present, overlaps the foam tape of the invention only along a narrow strip.

The invention further relates to the use of a foam tape of the type described above for sound decoupling and / or for sealing and / or as mechanical protection between objects, in particular between sanitary facilities and surrounding parts of the building.

Finally, the invention also relates to a method for producing a foam tape, in which a plurality of holes repeating in the tape direction and preferably running transversely to the tape direction are introduced into a given foam tape, these holes completely penetrating the foam tape. Furthermore, an adhesive is preferably applied in all embodiments. In all embodiments, a multi-layer butyl adhesive is preferably applied, which comprises at least one film and at least one butyl layer.

Further details and advantages of the invention are described below using exemplary embodiments and with reference to the drawing. It should be noted that the drawings are not to scale. Above all the thickness of the different elements are not shown in real relation to each other.

Fig. 1, Fig. 2A, 2B, Fig. 3A, [0030] Fig. 3B, [0031] Fig. 3C, Fig. 3D shows a schematic view of a first foam Soundproofing tape according to the present invention;

shows a schematic cross section along the line II-II of Fig. 1;

shows a schematic cross section along the line II-II of Figure 1, wherein three exemplary layers of a multi-layer adhesive are shown in an exploded view;

shows a schematic perspective view of a short length section of a second foam sound insulation tape according to the present invention;

shows a schematic perspective view of a short length section of a third foam sound insulation tape according to the present invention;

shows a schematic perspective view of a short length section of a fourth foam sound insulation tape according to the present invention;

shows a schematic perspective view of a short length section of a fifth foam sound insulation tape according to the present invention;

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«JxS austrian patent office AT15 700U1 2018-04-15 Figure 3E shows a schematic perspective view of a short length section of a sixth foam soundproofing tape according to the present invention; Figure 3F shows a schematic perspective view of a short length section of a seventh foam soundproofing tape according to the present invention; Fig. 3G shows a schematic perspective view of a short length section of an eighth foam sound insulation tape according to the present invention; Figure 3H shows a schematic perspective view of a short length section of a ninth foam sound insulation tape according to the present invention; Fig. 31 shows a schematic perspective view of a short length section of a tenth foam soundproofing tape according to the present invention; Figure 4A shows a schematic perspective view of a short length section of an eleventh foam soundproofing tape according to the present invention; Figure 4B shows a schematic perspective view of a short length section of a twelfth foam soundproofing tape according to the present invention; Figure 4C shows a schematic perspective view of a short length section of a thirteenth foam sound insulation tape according to the present invention; Figure 4D shows a schematic perspective view of a short length section of a fourteenth foam soundproofing tape according to the present invention; Figure 4E shows a schematic perspective view of a short length section of a fifteenth foam soundproofing tape according to the present invention.

In the following, location and directional information are used to better describe the invention. This information relates to the respective installation situation and should therefore not be understood as a restriction. In order to be able to better localize the location and direction, a reference to the wall (also called vertical surface) is sometimes made, in which e.g. an element close to the wall, a surface facing or facing away from the wall or a parallel installation.

[0044] The invention is described below with the aid of a few exemplary embodiments.

The foam tape 10 shown in FIGS. 1,2A, 2B, in FIGS. 3A to 3I and in FIGS. 4A to 4E can be made of polyethylene, polypropylene, cellular rubber, polyurethane or silicone, for example, and it is specially designed as a soundproofing profile designed for the installation of sanitary items (bathtubs, shower trays, wash basins etc.). The foam tape 10 usually extends virtually endlessly in the x direction (tape direction), only to a limited extent due to practical aspects such as the desired size of a pre-assembled roll on which the foam tape 10 is delivered to the consumer.

The foam tape 10 has a width b (in the y direction) of typically about 10 to 100 mm and a thickness d (in the z direction) of about 0.5 mm to about 10 mm transverse to the tape direction.

In one embodiment, the width is, for example, b = 30 mm and

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Patent Office

Thickness d = 4 mm. The foam tape 10 can also optionally be equipped on one, two or more sides with an adhesive. A corresponding example is shown in Fig. 2B. The example of FIG. 2B can be transferred to all other images.

In order to increase the flexibility of the foam tape 10 and to enable simple, wrinkle-free rolling, a plurality of holes 15 are provided in all embodiments. In the example of FIGS. 1 and 2, the holes 15 all run parallel to the y direction and have an elongated shape with round end regions. 1 shows a first upper side 13 of the foam tape 10. The holes 15 extend through the entire foam tape 10, as can be seen in the section along the section line II-II in FIG. 2A.

Furthermore, the holes 15 do not extend over the entire width b of the foam tape 10. In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A or 2B, the width b _{s of} the holes 15 is approximately 2/3 of the total width b. In the example of FIGS. 1 and 2, the holes 15 are each centered (in relation to the width b). In all embodiments, the holes 15 can also sit off-center, or they can be alternately offset from one another (as is the case, for example, in FIGS. 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, 3F, 3G).

In order to impart symmetrical properties to the foam tape 10, the holes 15 are preferably provided alternately in all embodiments, i.e. Upper holes 15 start from a first upper edge 11 of the foam tape 10 and alternate with lower holes 15 which extend from the opposite lower edge 12 of the foam tape 10 (as for example in FIGS. 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, 3F, 3G the case).

The distance Δ between two adjacent holes 15 can be, for example, approximately 2 to 10 mm in all embodiments.

Of course, the dimensions mentioned are only to be understood as examples and can be varied in a wide range in all embodiments depending on the desired properties of the foam tape 10. For example, the hole spacing Δ can be larger than shown and can be up to more than 10 mm.

In particular, the distances Δ in all embodiments between adjacent holes 15 can be greater than the thickness d of the foam tape.

Figures 3A to 3I show schematic perspective views of short lengths of nine different foam sound insulation tapes 10, according to the present invention. These nine different foam soundproofing tapes 10 all have the same thickness d and width b, but differ in the basic shape of the holes 15 and / or in the dimensions of the holes 15 and / or in the arrangement of the holes 15. From each of the nine different ones Foam sound insulation tapes 10 are each shown only a length section (measured in the x direction) of a few centimeters.

The already mentioned upper and lower edges 11 and 12 are identified in Fig. 3A and in Fig. 4A. This marking can be transferred to the other figures.

In the second embodiment of FIG. 3A, the holes 15 are configured similarly in terms of the basic shape, dimension and arrangement as in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 2A and 2B.

In the third embodiment of Fig. 3B, the holes 15 are formed similarly in terms of the basic shape as in Fig. 3A. However, the dimension and arrangement is different. In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 3B, the holes 15 are less wide (viewed in the y direction) and they are arranged offset from one another. That is, b _s is smaller than, for example, in FIG. 1.

With an offset arrangement, such as e.g. 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, 3F, 3G, part of the holes 15 is closer to the upper edge 11 and another part of the holes 15 is closer to the lower edge 12.

In the fourth embodiment of FIG. 3C, the holes 15 have a circular basic shape. They are also staggered.

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Patent Office In the fifth exemplary embodiment in FIG. 3D, the holes 15 have an oval basic shape. They are also staggered.

In the sixth embodiment of FIG. 3E, the holes 15 have a rectangular (preferably square) basic shape. They are also staggered.

In the seventh embodiment of FIG. 3F, the holes 15 have a triangular (preferably isosceles) basic shape. They are also offset and arranged in opposite directions.

In all embodiments with opposing (or offset) arrangement, the holes 15 can alternately be mirrored with respect to an axis of symmetry, this axis of symmetry preferably running parallel to the x-direction in all these embodiments with opposing arrangement. In all embodiments, such an axis of symmetry can be arranged centrally or off-center.

In the eighth embodiment of FIG. 3G, the holes 15 have a trapezoidal basic shape. They are also offset and arranged in opposite directions.

In the ninth embodiment of Fig. 3H, the holes 15 have a serpentine or meandering basic shape. In addition, they are offset and arranged in an interlocking manner.

In the tenth embodiment of FIG. 3I, the holes 15 have a diamond-shaped basic shape. In addition, the diamond shape of these holes 15 has a larger width dimension b _s than a length dimension parallel to the x direction.

FIGS. 4A to 4E show schematic perspective views of short length sections of five further different foam sound insulation tapes 10, according to the present invention. These five different foam soundproofing tapes 10 all have the same thickness d and width b, but differ in the basic shape of the holes 15 and / or in the dimensions of the holes 15 and / or in the arrangement of the holes 15. From each of these five further ones Different foam sound insulation tapes 10 each only show a length section (measured in the x direction) of a few centimeters.

Unlike in Figures 3A to 3I, the foam sound insulation tapes 10 of Figures 4A to 4E are thinner, i.e. the thickness d is smaller. The choice of the thickness d is only to be understood as an example.

In the eleventh embodiment of FIG. 4A, the holes 15 have a rectangular basic shape. In addition, the rectangular shape of these holes 15 has a larger width dimension b _s than a length dimension parallel to the x direction. In the example shown in FIG. 4A, the width b _{s of} the holes 15 is approximately 1/2 of the total width b.

In the twelfth embodiment of FIG. 4B, the holes 15 have a very slim rectangular basic shape. That is, the rectangular shape of these holes 15 has a significantly larger width dimension b _s than the length dimension parallel to the x direction. Nevertheless, they are holes in the sense of the invention. The linear expansion parallel to the x direction is between 0.5 mm and 2 mm for a very slim rectangular basic shape.

In the thirteenth embodiment of FIG. 4C, the holes 15 in turn have a very slim rectangular basic shape (similar to that in FIG. 4B). That is, the rectangular shape of these holes 15 has a significantly larger width dimension b _s than the length dimension parallel to the x direction. The length extension parallel to the x-direction is also between 0.5 mm and 2 mm. The holes 15 open into the upper edge 11 and only extend to approximately the middle of the band 10.

The fourteenth embodiment of FIG. 4D is a variant of the embodiment of FIG. 4C.

However, the holes 15 open here into the lower edge 12 and only extend to approximately the middle of the band 10.

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Patent Office In the fifteenth embodiment of FIG. 4E, the holes 15 have a round or slightly oval basic shape. In addition, they are arranged offset.

The holes 15 can be arranged regularly or irregularly offset in all embodiments. In addition, holes 15 of different basic shape and / or dimension and / or arrangement can also be combined with one another in all embodiments.

The foam tape 10 can have a sawtooth shape with a straight upper edge 11 and a serrated lower edge 12 in all embodiments. This variant is not shown.

The foam tape 20 can be constructed in two or more layers in all embodiments. In these embodiments, a thicker layer is connected to a thinner layer. The thicker of the two layers is provided with the holes 15 mentioned. The thinner layer can be formed without holes and it can optionally be provided with an adhesive K1 or K2 (over the entire area).

In all embodiments, the holes 15 can be arranged centrally with respect to a longitudinal axis Lx, which runs parallel to the band direction x (see, for example, FIGS. 1, 3A, 3I, 4A, 4B).

In all embodiments, the holes 15 can be arranged off-center with respect to a longitudinal axis Lx, which runs parallel to the band direction x.

In all embodiments, at least one (upper) surface of the foam tape 10 can optionally be provided with an adhesive K1, K2 to attach the tape 10 to an object (bath tub, shower channel, wall, etc.) or another product part (sealing film, Tub strap, cut protection strips, etc.). Such a cut protection strip, if present, overlaps the foam tape 10 of the invention only along a narrow strip.

So that this adhesive K1, K2 can be applied over the entire surface on one side or (top) surface of the foam tape 10, it must be designed such that it does not penetrate through the holes 15. Therefore, all embodiments which are provided with an adhesive K1, K2 preferably comprise a multilayer adhesive K1, F1, K2, as shown in FIG. 2B in an exploded view.

In all embodiments, a multilayer butyl adhesive is preferably used, which comprises at least one film F1 and at least one butyl layer K2. Such a structure is dimensionally stable and it prevents butyl from penetrating through the holes 15 of the foam tape 10. In all embodiments, a three-layer structure with an outer adhesive layer K2, a film F1 which serves as an intermediate layer, and with an inner adhesive layer K1, as shown in an exploded view in FIG. 2B, is particularly preferred.

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Claims (11)

Expectations 1. foam tape (10), characterized by a plurality of holes (15) repeating in the tape direction (x). 2. foam tape (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the holes (15) extends at least locally transverse to the tape direction (x). 3. foam tape (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the holes (15) completely penetrate the foam tape (10). 4. foam tape (20) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the holes (15) are arranged centrally with respect to a longitudinal axis (Lx) which runs parallel to the tape direction (x). 5. foam tape (20) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the holes (15) are arranged eccentrically with respect to a longitudinal axis (Lx) which runs parallel to the tape direction (x). 6. foam tape (20) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the holes (15) are alternately staggered. 7. foam tape (20) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the holes (15) are arranged irregularly. 8. foam tape (20) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the holes (15) are alternately mirrored with respect to an axis of symmetry, said axis of symmetry running parallel to the direction of the tape (x). 9. foam tape (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that at least one surface of the foam tape is provided with adhesive (K1, F1, K2). 10. Sealing or tubing tape for sanitary facilities, comprising a foam tape (10) according to at least one of claims 1 to 9. 11. A method for producing a foam tape (10), characterized by the introduction of a plurality of holes (15) repeating in the tape direction (x) which completely penetrate the foam tape (10). With 3 sheets of drawings 8/11 AT15 700U1 2018-04-15 Austrian patent office Figure 2A Figure 2B 9.11 AT15 700U1 2018-04-15 Austrian Patent Office < ά ΐΖ 11/11