EP1187544A1

EP1187544A1 - Method and flat structure for detachably fixing an object to a surface

Info

Publication number: EP1187544A1
Application number: EP00943817A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gaby Schilling; Tilwin Lepsius; Wolfgang Klauck
Original assignee: Henkel AG and Co KGaA
Current assignee: Henkel AG and Co KGaA
Priority date: 1999-06-24
Filing date: 2000-06-16
Publication date: 2002-03-20
Also published as: WO2001000066A1; DE10029627C2; JP2003503092A; DE10029627A1; CA2375926A1

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 fabric for releasably attaching an object to a surface

The invention relates to a method for releasably attaching an object to a surface, the object being fastened by means of two flat structures coated on one side with a pressure sensitive adhesive, the flat structures on the other side having corresponding connecting elements for the positive connection of these other sides to one another and the fabrics are in particular formed as tapes. As a rule, the surface mentioned is a vertical wall, but it can also be horizontal or sloping surfaces such as ceilings or sloping walls.

State of the art

Such a system of tapes for carrying out this method is known as "tesa Velcro tape self-adhesive" from Beiersdorf AG. The fastening 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 the other side with a large number of hooks which are usually used for Velcro fasteners. The other band of this fastening system is in turn coated on one side with a pressure sensitive adhesive, but on the other side carries a fleece into which the hooks of the other band can engage. In the known fastening method, the hook tape and the fleece tape with their Velcro connection sides are placed on top of one another and pressed together. After removing a cover paper from the adhesive side of the loop tape, the adhesive side of the loop tape is glued to the object to be fastened and pressed firmly. After peeling off the cover paper on the adhesive side of the hook tape, it is glued to the cleaned surface and pressed firmly. The object is thus attached to the surface on the one hand, but can be removed from the surface again by detaching the two bands from one another. A disadvantage of this known fastening system and method, however, is that after the attached object has been detached, the hook band remains on the surface, which is not only unsightly, but is also impractical, since this surface area can no longer be used for other purposes. If the hook band is also to be removed from the surface, it is necessary to first detach a small part of one end of the hook band so that the user's hand can grip the hook band at all and then pull it off the surface.

In order to find a point of attack for the hand to detach the hook strap from the surface, tools such as knives, screwdrivers, etc. are therefore often used if one wants to avoid that the user's fingernails break off. When using such conventional tools, however, damage often occurs, e.g. B. scratching the surface. In addition, it is almost unavoidable that adhesive residues remain on the surface, which then have to be laboriously removed.

Adhesive strips and corresponding fastening methods are also known, which are available from Beiersdorf AG under the trade names "tesa Power Strips" or "tesa Poster-Strips". The only difference between the two types is the strength of the pressure sensitive adhesive and the geometric shape. The approximately 2 to 3 cm long and 2 cm wide strips essentially consist of a very elastic pressure sensitive adhesive. The area of one end is covered on both sides with a cover film. Finally, the entire surface of both sides is covered with a further protective paper in a manner known per se.

To use these strips, a strip is removed from its protective paper and glued to the back of the object to be fastened. The cover films on both sides of one end of the strip cannot be removed. After the protective paper has been removed from the other side of the strip, the back of the object is glued to the surface and pressed on.

To detach the object from the surface, the user's fingers grasp the end of the strip covered by the cover film and pull in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the strip. Due to the high elasticity of the Adhesive material increases its length and shortens its width, whereby the pressure sensitive adhesive detaches from the wall. It is also important in this process that the strips are always drawn parallel to the surface. If you pull at an angle, there is a risk that the strip will tear.

With this fastening system and fastening method, the fastened object can be detached from the wall without residue and without destruction, but a great deal of effort is required to detach it. In addition, after the object has been glued to the surface for the first time, it is no longer possible to easily correct the position of the object. Such a correction is often desirable in order to align pictures, posters etc. straight on a wall.

A tape coated on one side is also known under the trade name "Duotec" from Binder. The band has on the other side mushroom-shaped projections which extend vertically outwards from the surface of the band. These projections are at such a distance from one another and such a geometry that when two pieces of the tape are placed one on top of the other with the adhesive sides facing outwards, the mushroom-shaped projections engage in the manner of a Velcro fastener. The special thing about this tape is that the corresponding connecting elements do not have a different shape in this case.

Task and solution according to the invention

The invention is therefore based on the object of developing a method of the type mentioned at the outset, which enables detachable fastening of the object to the surface and residue-free and non-destructive detachment of the object and of the flat structure, which does not require any great effort. In addition, the attached object should be able to be aligned on the surface in a simple, quick and problem-free manner.

This object is achieved according to the invention in the method of the type mentioned at the outset in that the two flat structures are connected to one another at their ends to form only one flat structure and in particular are formed in one piece, in that the flat structure is coated on one side with the pressure-sensitive adhesive and on the other side the connecting elements has, the connection elements lying one upon the other when folding the flat structure correspond to each other for the positive connection of the areas lying on top of one another, that part of the pressure-sensitive adhesive-coated one side of the fabric is glued to the object and another part of one side of the fabric to the surface and before or after the sheet is folded in the manner mentioned.

The fabric can have any shape, but the shape of a band is preferred.

It is within the scope of the invention that the fabric is already pre-folded by the manufacturer, so that the user only has to glue the sides, which are only on the outside, coated with pressure-sensitive adhesive, on the one hand to the object and on the other hand to the surface. The order of sticking does not matter. Usually, however, you first glue the fabric to the back of the object and only then to the surface. But the reverse order is also within the scope of the invention.

For the sake of simplicity, the following is referred to as a volume, without the invention being restricted to this special geometric shape.

The method according to the invention offers a considerable advantage over the known prior art mentioned above.

First, detachable attachment of an object to a wall is possible.

Secondly, residue-free and non-destructive detachment is possible without any significant effort in the following way: You can fold the object off the wall by loosening the corresponding connecting elements (the angle of the folded band is 0 °, that of the fully opened 180 °. ). Then, by pulling in a direction perpendicular to the surface or at an angle <90 °, the part of the tape adhering there can be peeled off from the wall without leaving any residue. Since the force for detaching the tape is at least partially directed perpendicularly away from the surface, the pressure-sensitive adhesive adhering to the tape is removed from the surface without residue. - O -

Another advantage over the "tesa poster strips" or "tesa power strips" is that the areas required there, which are provided with a cover film that cannot be removed, the so-called "handles", are not required. In the known adhesive tapes, these handles have to protrude beyond the object to be fastened so that they can be gripped by the hand of the consumer. This leads to an unsightly appearance. Also if, alternatively, a collapsible object, e.g. B. a two-part towel hook is attached with the known tapes, there are disadvantages. In this case, the handle can be completely covered by the object, since the attached object can be folded away from the wall to detach the object so that the "handle" is accessible, so that this handle does not necessarily have to protrude beyond the attached object. Instead of the object being folded down, a two-part object having a rail can also be pushed apart. But due to the handle provided with the cover film, a considerable part of the adhesive surface is lost. These disadvantages do not exist in the method according to the invention or in the sheet-like structure mentioned below.

Another disadvantage, which does not occur with the object according to the invention, lies in the problems with the handling of the said adhesive strip provided with a handle. In many cases, the consumer is not aware that he should not remove the cover film of the handle. Since the consumer is used to remove protective films from adhesive strips, it is therefore more common that he also removes the cover film from the handle, so that the actual advantage of the handle, namely to be a handling aid when detaching, is lost.

Thirdly, the method according to the invention enables the object already glued to the surface to be adjusted. For this purpose, the object is folded away from the wall at a small angle, the corresponding connecting elements detaching from one another, the object is adjusted and finally pressed onto the surface again, the said connecting elements intermeshing again and fixing the object in the selected position on the wall , In the method according to the invention, the corresponding connecting elements mentioned can be designed differently. On the one hand, it is proposed that the corresponding connecting elements consist of hooks and loops of a Velcro connection.

Alternatively, the corresponding connecting elements can also consist of mushroom-shaped pins, as have already been mentioned above in the explanation of the prior art, and loops. For connection, the thickened ends of the mushroom-shaped lugs engage in the loops.

On the other hand, it is also possible that the two corresponding connecting elements are constructed in the same way and in particular consist of mushroom-shaped pins. In this case, the connection is achieved similarly to the well-known volume with the trade name "Duotec" from Binder. It is also possible to use belts made of material which is formed into waves arranged in parallel and 180 ° out of phase. A connection is obtained by pressing wave crests with a precise fit into wave valleys. Seen from above, perpendicular to the direction of the waves, there are webs on the wave crests or valleys that can be angled relative to the band plane and thus prevent accidental separation of the band parts that are connected to one another.

If two different types of connecting elements are provided, it is further proposed that the other side of the band carrying the two different types of connecting elements is divided in two in the transverse direction and in particular divided into two halves of equal size, one area being one type of connecting element and the other Area which has a different, corresponding type of connecting elements. An optimal connection between the band halves is achieved both when both band halves lie flush on one another after folding, and when it should be necessary to align the object to be fastened, to lay the band halves at an angle to one another.

However, it is also possible and within the scope of the invention if the two different types of connecting elements are applied in a certain pattern on the mentioned side of the band. This can be a stripe or raster pattern. In this case there is a good connection between the two band parts only when the corresponding connecting elements lie one on top of the other. However, if the band halves are folded together in such a way that connecting elements of the same type lie on one another, the object is not fixed. Such a possibility could be advantageous in certain cases. A statistical distribution of the different connecting elements is also possible. Furthermore, it is also possible and within the scope of the invention that, instead of the joining elements to be joined together, pressure-sensitive adhesive is used at least on parts of the inner side of the tape, the adhesion of the inner tape parts to one another not exceeding 50% of the adhesion of the outer pressure-sensitive adhesive to the substrates object and wall.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a flat structure, in particular adhesive tape, for releasably attaching an object to a surface, one side of the flat structure being coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive and the other side having at least one type of connecting element which is of a different, corresponding type of Connection elements is capable of positive connection. Such an adhesive tape is known under the trade name "tesa Velcro tape self-adhesive" from Beiersdorf AG.

In order to achieve the object already mentioned, it is proposed according to the invention that the other side of the flat structure of the type mentioned has both corresponding types of connecting elements. These types of fasteners can e.g. B. are hooks and loops of a known Velcro connection.

Here, too, for the sake of simplicity, we speak of a tape or adhesive tape instead of the flat structure, without the invention being restricted to this special geometric shape.

Here, too, the corresponding connecting elements can be designed in different ways. On the one hand, it is proposed that the corresponding connecting elements consist of hooks and loops of a Velcro connection. However, it is also possible and advantageous if the corresponding connecting elements consist of mushroom-shaped pins and loops, as has already been stated above. The distribution of the two different types of fasteners on the other side of the belt can vary depending on the requirements. However, it is preferred that the other side of the band is divided in two in the transverse direction and in particular is divided into two halves of equal size, one area having one type of connecting element and the other area having the other corresponding type of connecting element. The advantages of such an arrangement have already been mentioned above.

In the method according to the invention and in the fabric according to the invention, it can also be provided that the fabric has an elastic support. In this case, the tape can be removed by pulling at an angle to the wall of> 90 °. It is also possible that the "handles" known from the prior art for these adhesive strips are attached, if one is willing to accept the associated disadvantages. In this case the tape can be removed by pulling parallel to the wall.

Applicable pressure sensitive adhesives

There is no restriction for the use of the known different types of pressure sensitive adhesives. Pressure sensitive adhesives, which are also called "pressure sensitive adhesives" and are abbreviated to "PSA", are adhesives that remain permanently sticky and tacky in solvent-free form at 20 ° C and adhere immediately to almost all substrates with low substrate specificity and light pressure.

Pressure sensitive adhesives are used almost exclusively for coating substrates, e.g. B. paper or foil tapes, adhesive labels or self-adhesive decorative foils used. For this purpose, the actual adhesives are applied to the carrier in the form of solutions, dispersions or melts. Low-viscosity, solvent-free, reactive systems (polyurethane systems) are also used for this. After the adhesive has set, the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is present as a thin film on the carrier and is coated with suitable anti-adhesive materials, e.g. As silicone paper or siliconized polyethylene film covered. Sometimes you apply the pressure-sensitive adhesive to the cover material and transfer the pressure-sensitive adhesive film formed to the actual carrier in a reverse process. The dry order weight WO 01/00066 _ g _ PCT7EP00 / 05536

varies between 4 and 40 g / m ² depending on the area of application and the roughness of the substrate.

Natural and synthetic types of rubber in combination with modified natural resins, phenol formaldehyde resins or hydrocarbon resins serve as raw materials for pressure sensitive adhesives. In addition to rubber, polyacrylic acid esters, polymethacrylic acid esters, polyvinyl ethers and polyisobutene types are also frequently used, likewise mostly in combination with resins. Silicone resin pressure sensitive adhesives are also known for special applications.

The dispersion pressure sensitive adhesives are primarily based on dispersions of polyacrylic acid, eg. T. also built on special vinyl acetate copolymers, with resins usually being added here too. In addition to suitable resins, hotmelt PSAs mainly use two polymer bases, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers and styrene-butadiene or styrene-isoprene block copolymers, which are also referred to as thermoplastic rubbers.

As a rule, a pressure-sensitive adhesive is made up of a high-polymer base resin, which determines the cohesion property and the specific adhesion, and tackifying resins (so-called tackifiers), whereby the tackifying resin can also be replaced by low-molecular-weight portions of the base polymer in some systems. To increase the cohesion, the base resin is crosslinked in some systems after application or vulcanized in the case of rubber pressure sensitive adhesives.

embodiments

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings. Show it

1 shows the front view of an adhesive tape according to the invention in

Direction to the other side carrying the connecting elements,

FIG. 2 shows a side view of an object fastened to a wall with the adhesive tape according to the invention from FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows a view corresponding to FIG. 2 during the detachment of the fastened object,

4 shows a section through the adhesive tape according to the invention

Figures 1 to 3,

5 shows a section corresponding to Figure 4 of an adhesive tape according to the invention, but according to another embodiment, and

Figure 6 shows a section corresponding to Figures 4 and 5 after a third

Embodiment.

In all drawings, the same reference symbols have the same meaning and are therefore only explained once, if appropriate.

The adhesive tape according to the invention shown in Figure 1 is coated on the side not shown with a pressure sensitive adhesive. The side shown has two areas 1, 2, area 1 carrying hooks and area 2 loops of a Velcro connection known per se.

To attach an object 5 to a surface 6, which in the present case is a vertical wall, the adhesive tape 3 is folded transversely in the middle, so that the two areas 1, 2 adhere to one another as a result of the Velcro connection. One side of the folded adhesive tape 3, which is coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive 4, which is shown in FIG. 2 as a thin line, is now with the surface of an object 5 to be fastened glued. It can be a wide variety of objects such. B. hooks, clips, signs, brackets, etc. act. Then the side opposite area 1, also coated with pressure-sensitive adhesive 4, is pressed onto surface 6. The object 5 is now securely fixed to the wall 6. If its position is to be changed slightly, it is sufficient to fold up the object 5 in the direction of the arrow 7, to adjust it and to fold it back again and press it on.

To detach, which is shown in FIG. 3, the procedure is as follows: First, as with a subsequent change in the adjustment, the object 5 is folded up in the direction of the arrow 7, the connection between the areas 1 and 2 being released. On the object 5 then folded up at an angle of <90 °, each elastic band also of> 90 °, pull in the direction of the arrow 8, that is to say with a linear force application 9, and in this way the area 1 of the adhesive tape can be pulled together peel the adhesive adhering to it from the wall 6 without leaving any residue and without great effort.

In the figures 4 to 6 different connection elements are shown according to the type of Velcro connection. In FIG. 4 the connection is formed by hooks 10 and loops 11 and in FIG. 5 by mushroom-shaped projections 12, the thickenings 13, which have the shape of an ellipsoid, engaging in the loops 11. Finally, FIG. 6 shows a connection, the corresponding connection elements being constructed identically, and both connection elements having mushroom-shaped projections 12 with thickenings 13 which engage in the free spaces between the stems of the mushrooms of the other area and are held in a form-fitting manner by their thickenings 13. The corresponding connecting elements shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 are suitable for use with the adhesive tape according to the invention, but other similar and equivalent connecting elements can also be used. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

Area (check mark)

Area (loops)

duct tape

adhesive

object

Surface (wall)

arrow

Direction of arrow line-shaped force attack

hook

Loops mushroom-shaped approaches (pins)

thickening

Claims

claims

1. A method for releasably attaching an object (5) to a surface (6), the object (5) being fastened by means of two flat structures coated on one side with a pressure sensitive adhesive (4), the flat structures on the other side (1, 2) have corresponding connecting elements (10, 11, 12, 13) for the positive connection of these other sides to one another and the flat structures are in particular formed as strips, characterized in that the two flat structures are joined together to form only one at their ends

Flat structures (3) are connected and in particular are formed in one piece, that the flat structure (3) is coated on one side with the pressure sensitive adhesive (4) and on the other side the connecting elements (10, 11,

12, 13), the connecting elements (10, 11, 12, 13) lying one on top of the other when the flat structure (3) is folded corresponding to one another for the positive connection of the areas (1, 2) lying on top of one another, that part of the adhesive (4) coated one side of the

The sheet (3) sticks to the object (5) and another part of one side of the sheet (3) to the surface and before or after it folds the sheet (3) in the manner mentioned.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the corresponding connecting elements consist of hooks (10) and loops (11) of a Velcro connection.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the corresponding connecting elements consist of mushroom-shaped pins (12) and loops (11). WO 01/00066 - "14 _λ - PCT / EP00 / 05536

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that both corresponding connecting elements are constructed identically and in particular consist of mushroom-shaped pins (12).

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the other side of the fabric, in particular tape, carrying the two different types of connecting elements, is divided in two in the transverse direction and in particular is divided into two halves of equal size, the one area (1) which has one type of connecting element and the other area (2) the other, corresponding type of connecting element.

6. Flat structure, in particular adhesive tape (3), for releasably attaching an object (5) to a surface (6), one side of the flat structure (3) being coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive (4) and the other side being at least one type of Has connecting elements which is capable of a positive connection with another, corresponding type of connecting elements, characterized in that the other side (1, 2) has both corresponding types of connecting elements (10, 11, 12, 13).

7. A flat structure according to claim 6, characterized in that the corresponding connecting elements consist of hooks (10) and loops (11) of a Velcro connection.

8. A flat structure according to claim 6, characterized in that the corresponding connecting elements consist of mushroom-shaped pins (12) and loops (11). - 1θ -

9. fabric according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the other side of the fabric, in particular tape, is divided in two in the transverse direction and in particular divided into two halves of equal size, the one region (1) the one type of connecting elements and the other area (2) has the other, corresponding type of connecting elements.