CA2375926A1

CA2375926A1 - Method and flat structure for detachably fixing an object to a surface

Info

Publication number: CA2375926A1
Application number: CA002375926A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Gaby Schilling; Tilwin Lepsius; Wolfgang Klauck
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Henkel AG and Co KGaA
Priority date: 1999-06-24
Filing date: 2000-06-16
Publication date: 2001-01-04
Also published as: EP1187544A1; DE10029627A1; DE10029627C2; JP2003503092A; WO2001000066A1

Abstract

An object (5) is fixed by means of two flat structures, which are coated on one side with a pressure-sensitive adhesive (4). On the other side (1, 2), said flat structures have corresponding connecting elements (10, 11, 12, 13) for connecting these sides in a form-fitting manner. The two flat structures are interconnected at their ends to form just one flat structure (3). This flat structure (3) is coated with the pressure-sensitive adhesive (4) on one side and has the connecting elements (10, 11, 12, 13) on the other. The connecting elements (10, 11, 12, 13), which lie on top of each other when the flat structure (3) is folded, correspond with each other so that the superposed areas (1, 2) are interconnected with a form fit. Part of the side of the flat structure (3) that is coated with the pressure-sensitive adhesive (4) is bonded to the object (5) and another part of the side of the flat structure (3) is bonded to the surface and the flat structure (3) is folded before or after as described. The object can be detached with little force without leaving a residue or causing damage.

Description

Method and Flat Structure for Detachably Fixing an Object to a Surface This invention relates to a method for detachably fixing an object to a surface in which the object is fixed by means of two flat materials coated on one side with a pressure-sensitive adhesive, the flat materials being provided on their other sides with corresponding connecting elements for interlocking these other sides with one another and being made in particular in the form of tapes. In general, the surface mentioned is a vertical wall although it may also be a horizontal or sloping surface, such as a ceiling or an inclined wall.
Prior Art A corresponding system of tapes for practising this method is known by the name of "tesa Klettband selbstklebend" (Beiersdorf AG). The fixing system consists on the one hand of a so-called hook tape which is provided on one side with a pressure-sensitive adhesive and on its other side with a plurality of hooks of the type normally used for velcro fasteners. The other tape of this fixing system is again coated on one side with a pressure-sensitive adhesive, but on its other side carries a nonwoven in which the hooks of the other tape are able to engage. In the known fixing method, the hook tape and the fleece tape are placed with their velcro fastening sides on top of one another and pressed together. Following the removal of a protective paper from the adhesive side of the fleece tape, the adhesive side of the fleece tape is applied to the object to be fixed and pressed firmly thereon. After the protective paper on the adhesive side of the hook tape has been peeled off, the hook tape is applied to the cleaned surface and pressed firmly thereon. In this way, the object on the one hand is fixed to the surface, but on the other hand can easily be removed therefrom by separating the two tapes from one another.
Unfortunately, the disadvantage of this known fixing system and method is that, after the object fixed to the surface has been removed therefrom, the hook tape adheres to the surface which is not only unattractive, but also impractical because this part of the surface can no longer be used for other purposes. If the hook tape is also to be removed from the surface, a small part of one end of the hook tape first has to be detached so that the hand of the user is able to grip the hook tape in order then to peel it off the surface.
Accordingly, in order to find a contact point for the hand for the purpose of detaching the hook tape from the surface, tools such as knives, screwdrivers etc. are frequently used to save the finger nails of the user.
However, where standard tools such as these are used, the surface is often damaged, for example by scratching. In addition, it is almost impossible to avoid residues of adhesive remaining behind on the surface and having to be laboriously removed.
In addition, adhesive strips and corresponding fixing methods are known under the names of "tesa Power Strips" and "tesa Poster Strips" and are available from Beiersdorf AG. The only significant differences between these two products lie in the thickness of the pressure-sensitive adhesive and in their geometric shape. The ca. 2 to 3 cm long and 2 cm wide strips consist essentially of a highly elastic pressure-sensitive adhesive. One end is covered on both sides with a protective film. Finally, the entire surface area of both sides is covered in known manner with another protective paper.
To use these strips, one strip is detached from its protective paper and applied to the back of the object to be fixed. The protective films on both sides of one end of the strip should not be removed. After removal of the protective paper from the other side of the strip, the back of the object is applied to the surface and pressed thereon.

To detach the object from the surface, the fingers of the user grip the end of the strip covered by the protective film and pull in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the strip. By virtue of the high elasticity of the adhesive material, it increases in length and decreases in width, the pressure-s sensitive adhesive separating from the wall. Another important aspect of this process is that the strips are always pulled parallel to the surface. If the strip is pulled obliquely, it is in danger of tearing.
Although the fixed object can be completely removed from the wall without destruction using this fixing system and fixing method, force does have to be applied. In addition, once the object has been applied to the surface, it is not easy to reposition. Repositioning is often desirable for aligning pictures, posters etc. on a wall.
In addition, a tape coated on one side is available under the name of "Duotec" from Binder. On its other side, the tape has mushroom-shaped projections which extend vertically outwards from the surface of the tape.
These projections are spaced at such intervals apart from one another and have such a geometry that, when two pieces of the tape are placed with their adhesive sides on top of one another, the mushroom-like projections interengage on the lines of a velcro fastener. The particular feature of this tape is that the corresponding connecting elements in this case do not differ in shape.
Problem addressed by the invention and solution Accordingly, the problem addressed by the present invention was to provide a method of the type mentioned at the beginning for detachably fixing an object to a surface which would enable both the object and the flat material to be completely and nondestructively removed without significant application of force. In addition, the fixed object would be able to be repositioned on the surface simply, quickly and conveniently.
According to the invention, the solution to this problem in the method mentioned at the beginning is characterized in that both flat materials are joined together at their ends to form only one flat material and, in particular, are in one piece, in that the flat material is coated on one side with the pressure-sensitive adhesive and, on its other side, comprises the connecting elements, the connecting elements which lie on top of one another when the flat material is folded corresponding with one another to interlock the sides lying on top of one another, and in that part of the side of the flat material coated with pressure-sensitive adhesive is stuck to the object and another part of that side of the flat material is stuck to the surface and the flat material is folded in the manner mentioned either before or afterwards.
Although the flat material may assume any shape, it is preferably in the form of a tape.
According to the invention, the flat material may be prefolded by the manufacturer so that the user need only apply the outer sides coated with pressure-sensitive adhesive on the one hand to the object and on the other hand to the surface. The order of application is not important. Normally, however, the flat material is first applied to the back of the object and then to the surface. However, the reverse order is also possible in accordance with the invention.
In the interests of simplicity, the following description refers to a tape although the invention is by no means confined to this particular geometric form.
The method according to the invention affords a considerable advantage over the prior art discussed in the foregoing.
Firstly, an object can be detachably fixed to a wall.
Secondly, complete and nondestructive detachment without significant application of force is possible as follows: the object is unfolded from the wall by separating the corresponding connecting elements from one another (the angle of the folded tape is 0°, the angle of the fully unfolded tape 180°). By then pulling in a direction perpendicular to the surface or at an angle of < 90°, that part of the tape adhering to the surface can be completely peeled off the wall. Since the force for detaching the tape is directed at least partly perpendicularly away from the surface, the 5 pressure-sensitive adhesive adhering to the tape is completely removed from the surface.
Another advantage over the "tesa Poster Strips" and "tesa Power Strips" is that the areas provided with a non-removable protective film, the so-called "leaders", in those strips are no longer necessary. In the known adhesive tapes, these leaders must project beyond the object to be fixed so that they can be gripped by the hand of the user. This results in an unattractive appearance. In addition, if alternatively a foldable object, for example a two-piece towel hook, is to be fixed with the known adhesive tapes, disadvantages arise. Although, in this case, the leader can be completely covered by the object because, to detach the object, the fixed object can be folded away from the wall to expose the "leader" so that the leader does not necessarily have to project beyond the fixed object (instead of unfolding the object, a two-piece object comprising a rail may also be pushed apart), a large part of the adhesive area is lost to the leader provided with the protective film. These disadvantages are not present in the method according to the invention or in the flat material according to the invention as discussed further below.
Another disadvantage which does not arise in the method according to the invention lies in the problems involved in the handling of the above-mentioned adhesive strips provided with a leader. In many cases, the user is not aware that he/she is not supposed to remove the protective film of the leader. Since the user is accustomed to removing protective films from adhesive strips, it happens fairly often that helshe also removes the protective film from the leader so that the actual advantage of the leader, namely its function as a handling aid during removal, is lost.

Thirdly, the method according to the invention enables the object already stuck to the surface to be repositioned. To this end, the object is unfolded from the wall through a small angle, the corresponding connecting elements separating from one another, repositioned and finally pressed back onto the surface, the connecting elements mentioned re-engaging in one another and fixing the object to the wall in the chosen position.
In the method according to the invention, the corresponding connecting elements mentioned may have different shapes. Thus, in one embodiment, the corresponding connecting elements consist of hooks and loops of a velcro fastener.
Alternatively, however, the corresponding connecting elements may also consist of mushroom-shaped pins - of the type already mentioned in the acknowledgement of the prior art - and loops. For fastening, the thickened ends of the mushroom-shaped pins engage in the loops.
In another embodiment, however, the two corresponding connecting elements are of the same shape and more particularly consist of mushroom-shaped pins. In this case, the connection is established in the same way as with the known Binder "Duotec" tape. Tapes consisting of material shaped into parallel waves "phase-shifted" through 180° may also be used. A connection is established by pressing the wave peaks exactly into the wave troughs. Looking from above perpendicularly to the wave direction onto the wave peaks or troughs, there are webs which may be angled in relation to the plane of the tape and which thus prevent accidental separation of the joined parts of the tape.
If two different types of connecting elements are provided, as in another embodiment of the invention, the other side of the tape carrying the two different types of connecting elements is transversely divided in two and, more particularly, is divided into two equal halves, one half comprising connecting elements of one type and the other half comprising connecting elements of the other corresponding type. An optimal connection between the tape halves is established both when the two halves lie exactly on top of one another after folding together and when the two halves have to placed obliquely on top of one another for positioning the object to be fixed.
In another embodiment of the invention, however, the two different types of connecting elements are applied to the above-mentioned side of the tape in a certain pattern. This pattern may be a strip or grid pattern. In this case, a good connection between the two parts of the tape is only established when the corresponding connecting elements lie on top of one another. However, if the two halves of the tape are folded together in such a way that identical connecting elements lie on top of one another, the object is not fixed. Such a possibility could be of advantage in certain cases.
The various connecting elements may also be statistically distributed. Another embodiment of the invention is characterized in that, instead of the connecting elements to be fitted together, pressure-sensitive adhesive is used at least on parts of the inside of the tape, the adhesion of the inner parts of the tape to one another not exceeding 50% of the adhesion of the outer pressure-sensitive adhesive to the substrates (object and wall).
The present invention also relates to a flat material, more particularly an adhesive tape, for detachably fixing an object to a surface, one side of the flat material being coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive and the other side comprising connecting elements of at least one type capable of interlocking with connecting elements of another corresponding type. One such adhesive tape is marketed under the name of "tesa Klettband selbstklebend" by Beiersdorf AG.
To solve the problem stated above, it is proposed in accordance with the invention that the other side of the above-mentioned flat material comprise both corresponding types of connecting elements. These types of connecting elements may be, for example, hooks and loops of a velcro fastener known per se.
Again in the interests of simplicity, the following description refers to a tape or adhesive tape and not to the flat material although the invention is not confined to this particular geometric form.
Here, too, the corresponding connecting elements may assume different forms. In one embodiment, the corresponding connecting elements consist of the hooks and loops of a velcro fastener. In another advantageous embodiment, the corresponding connecting elements consist of mushroom-shaped pins and loops, as mentioned in the foregoing.
The distribution of the two different types of connecting elements on the other side of the tape may differ according to requirements. In a preferred embodiment, however, the other side of the tape is transversely divided in two and, in particular, is divided into two equal halves, one half comprising connecting elements of one type and the other half comprising connecting elements of the other corresponding type. The advantages of such an arrangement were mentioned above.
In addition, in the method according to the invention and the flat material according to the invention, the flat material may have an elastic support. In this case, the tape can be removed by pulling at an angle to the wall of >90°. In another possible embodiment, the "leaders" known from the prior art relating to these adhesive strips may be provided as long as the associated disadvantages are taken into consideration. In this case, the adhesive tape can be removed by pulling parallel to the wall.
Suitable pressure-sensitive adhesives There is no restriction on the use of the various known types of pressure-sensitive adhesives. Pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs for short) are adhesives which, in solventless form, are permanently tacky at 20°C and remain capable of adhesion, are largely non-substrate-specific and adhere immediately to almost all substrates under light pressure.
Pressure-sensitive adhesives are used almost exclusively for coating supports, for example paper or films in tape form, adhesive labels or self-adhesive decorative films. To this end, the actual adhesives are applied to the supports in the form of solutions, dispersions or even melts.
Low-viscosity solventless reactive systems (polyurethane systems) are also used for this purpose. After the adhesive has set, the layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive is present as a thin film on the support and is covered pending use with suitable antiadhesively finished materials, for example silicone paper or siliconized polyethylene film. In some cases the pressure-sensitive adhesive is also applied to the cover material and the adhesive film formed is transferred to the actual support by reverse coating. The dry coating weight varies between 4 and 40 g/m2 according to the particular application and the roughness of the support.
Suitable raw materials for pressure-sensitive adhesives are natural and synthetic rubbers in conjunction with modified natural resins, phenol formaldehyde resins or hydrocarbon resins. Besides rubber, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyvinyl ethers and polyisobutenes are also commonly used, again usually in combination with resins. Silicone resin pressure sensitive adhesives are also known for special applications.
Pressure-sensitive dispersion adhesives are mainly based on polyacrylate dispersions and, in some cases, also on special vinyl acetate copolymers, resins again generally being added. Besides suitable resins, two polymer bases, ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers and styrene/butadiene or styrenelisoprene block copolymers, which are also known as thermoplastic rubbers, are mainly used for pressure-sensitive hotmelt adhesives.
In general, a pressure-sensitive adhesive is made up of a high-polymer base resin which determines cohesion and specific adhesion and tackifying resins (so-called tackifiers), the tackifying resin also being replaceable in some systems by low molecular weight fractions of the base polymer. To increase cohesion, the base resin in some systems is crosslinked after application or vulcanized in the case of rubber-based pressure-sensitive adhesives.

Examples of embodiment Examples of embodiment of the invention are described in detail in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a front elevation of an adhesive tape according to the 10 invention in the direction of the other side carrying the connecting elements.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of an object fixed to a wall with the adhesive tape according to the invention as shown in Fig. 1.
Figure 3 is an elevation corresponding to Fig. 2 during detachment of the fixed object.
Figure 4 is a section through the adhesive tape according to the invention as shown in Figs. 1 to 3.
Figure 5 is a section corresponding to Fig. 4 through another embodiment of the adhesive tape according to the invention.
Figure 6 is a section corresponding to Figs. 4 and 5 through a third embodiment.
In all the drawings, the same reference numerals have the same meaning and, accordingly, may only be explained once.
The adhesive tape according to the invention shown in Fig. 1 is coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive on the side which is not shown.
The side shown has two regions 1,2, the region 1 carrying hooks and the region 2 carrying loops of a velcro fastener known per se.
To fix an object 5 to a surface 6 which, in the present case, is a vertical wall, the adhesive tape 3 is transversely folded together in the middle so that the two regions 1, 2 stick to one another under the effect of the velcro-type fastening. One side of the folded adhesive tape 3 which is coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive 4 - shown as a thin line in Fig. 2 - is then applied to the surface of an object 5 to be fixed. The object 5 may be any of a variety of objects, for example a hook, a clip, a board, a holder, etc. The side opposite the region 1, which is also coated with pressure-sensitive adhesive 4, is then pressed onto the surface 6. The object 5 is now firmly fixed to the wall 6. If its position needs to be altered slightly, it is sufficient to raise the object 5 in the direction of the arrow 7, to reposition it, to let it back down and to press it onto the surface 6 again.
For detachment, which is illustrated in Fig. 3, the procedure is as follows:
The object 5 is first raised in the direction of the arrow 7 in the same way as for repositioning, the connection between the regions 1 and 2 being broken. The object 5 now raised through an angle of <90° or - with elastic tapes - even >90° is pulled in the direction of the arrow 8, i.e. with a linear application of force 9. In this way, the region 1 of the adhesive tape, together with the adhesive adhering thereto, can be completely peeled off the wall 6 without significant effort.
Various connecting elements on the lines of a velcro fastener are shown in Figs. 4 to 6. In Fig. 4, the connection is established by hooks 10 and loops 11 and, in Fig. 5, by mushroom-shaped pins 12, the thickened parts 13 in the form of an ellipsoid engaging in the loops 11. Finally, Fig. 6 shows a connection where the corresponding connecting elements are of the same shape and both connecting elements comprise mushroom shaped pins 12 with thickened parts 13 which engage in the empty spaces between the stalks of the mushrooms of the other region and are interlockingly held by their thickened parts 13. The corresponding connecting elements shown in Figs. 4 to 6 are suitable for use with the adhesive tape according to the invention although other similar connecting elements acting in the same way may also be used.

List of reference numerals:
1 region (hook) 2 region (loop) 3 adhesive tape 4 pressure-sensitive adhesive 5 object 6 surface (wall) 7 a rrow 8 a rrow 9 linear application of force 10 hooks 11 loops 12 mushroom-shaped pins 13 thickened parts

Claims

1. A method for detachably fixing an object (5) to a surface (6) in which the object (5) is fixed by means of two flat materials coated on one side with a pressure-sensitive adhesive (4), the flat materials being provided on their other sides (1,2) with corresponding connecting elements (10,11,12,13) for interlocking these other sides with one another and being made in particular in the form of tapes, characterized in that both flat materials are joined together at their ends to form only one flat material (3) and, in particular, are in one piece, in that the flat material (3) is coated on one side with the pressure-sensitive adhesive (4) and, on its other side, comprises the connecting elements (10,11,12,13), the connecting elements (10,11,12,13) which lie on top of one another when the flat material (3) is folded corresponding with one another to interlock the sides (1,2) lying on top of one another, and in that part of the side of the flat material (3) coated with pressure-sensitive adhesive (4) is stuck to the object (5) and another part of that side of the flat material (3) is stuck to the surface and the flat material (3) is folded in the manner mentioned either before or afterwards.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the corresponding connecting elements consist of hooks (10) and loops (11) of a velcro fastener.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the corresponding connecting elements consist of mushroom-shaped pins (12) and loops (11).

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the two corresponding connecting elements are of the same shape and more particularly consist of mushroom-shaped pins (12).

5. A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the other side of the flat material, more particularly the tape, carrying the two different types of connecting elements is transversely divided in two and, more particularly, is divided into two equal halves, one half (1) comprising connecting elements of one type and the other half (2) comprising connecting elements of the other corresponding type.

6. A flat material, more particularly an adhesive tape (3), for detachably fixing an object (5) to a surface (6), one side of the flat material (3) being coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive (4) and the other side comprising connecting elements of at least one type capable of interlocking with connecting elements of another corresponding type, characterized in that the other side (1,2) of the flat material comprises both corresponding types of connecting elements (10,11,12,13).

7. A flat material as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the corresponding connecting elements consist of hooks (10) and loops (1) of a velcro fastener.

8. A flat material as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the corresponding connecting elements consist of mushroom-shaped pins (12) and loops (11).

9. A flat material as claimed in any of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the other side of the flat material, more particularly the tape, is transversely divided in two and, more particularly, is divided into two equal halves, one half (1) comprising connecting elements of one type and the other half (2) comprising connecting elements of the other corresponding type.