EP1215643A1

EP1215643A1 - Information carrier

Info

Publication number: EP1215643A1
Application number: EP00204580A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Johannes Wilhelmus Gerardus Hooft
Original assignee: Multifoil BV
Current assignee: Multifoil BV
Priority date: 2000-12-18
Filing date: 2000-12-18
Publication date: 2002-06-19

Abstract

An information carrier comprises a foil (1) which is intended to be adhered with a first side to a substrate and which displays information on an opposite, second side. The foil is provided with at least one intentional weakened portion (3) which extends laterally in the foil and therein divides the foil into a number of elongate strips (10). The weakened portion or weakened portions penetrate from the first side into the foil through only a part of the thickness thereof.

Description

The present invention relates to an information carrier comprising a foil which is intended to be adhered with a first side to a substrate and which displays information on an opposite, second side. More particularly the invention herein relates to such an information carrier which is self-adhesive.
Information carriers of the stated type are applied on a large scale in diverse formats, in particular as carrier of advertising messages for advertising purposes. Such carriers, usually in a self-adhesive embodiment, find particular application in the lettering and printing of vehicles. A fleet of vehicles can thus be given a recognizable form, while for instance public transport vehicles are also provided commercially with advertising for third parties. The existing advertising carriers herein usually comprise a transparent polyester foil, which is provided with a self-adhesive layer on the rear side and communicates an appropriate printed message on the visual side.
Particularly in the case of advertising for third parties the displayed advertising carriers will have to be replaced by others from time to time. For instance if an advertising campaign comes to an end or another company is contracted, the therefore obsolete advertising carriers on all vehicles provided therewith will have to be removed to be replaced by new ones. A drawback of the known advertising carriers is that the lacquer layer of the vehicle is not infrequently partially pulled away or otherwise impaired herein. Not only are there costs associated with the repair of this damage, but even more importantly the vehicle thereby remains out of action for longer than is desirable. Nor is it always simple with the known advertising carriers to remove the foil completely, since it tears into a large number of dissimilar pieces when peeled off.
It is the object of the present invention to provide an information carrier of the type stated in the preamble wherein these drawbacks are obviated, whereby the carrier can be removed markedly more securely and simply.
An information carrier of the type stated in the preamble has for this purpose the feature according to the invention that the foil is provided with at least one intentional weakened portion which extends laterally in the foil and therein divides the foil into a number of elongate strips, and that the at least one weakened portion penetrates from the first side into the foil through only a part of the thickness thereof. Owing to the thus arranged weakened portion or weakened portions in the foil, the foil can be pulled loose from the substrate in separate, readily manageable strips instead of in its entirety. The weakened portions particularly enable division of the information carrier into separately removable strips such that each strip can be peeled off at least practically in the line of the surface of the substrate. The transverse forces which act on the surface of the substrate during removal of the information carrier can hereby be significantly limited, so that damage to the substrate is prevented. Since the weakened portion from the first side of the foil only penetrates therein over a part of the thickness of the foil, the surface on the second side, and therewith the information message visible on this side, remains intact. In a particular embodiment the information carrier according to the invention has in this respect the feature that the weakened portion comprises an incision or perforation.
It is otherwise noted that it is already known per se to apply such incisions in the case of labels and the like. These are for instance price labels, car stickers and specifications relating to motor vehicle inspections. These incisions do not however have the objective of facilitating removal of the label but precisely to make the removal and rearrangement of such a label more difficult. In these cases the incisions therefore extend over the whole thickness thereof. This is in clear contrast to the present invention, wherein the weakened portion essentially does not reach as far as the second surface so as not to intrude upon the information visible there. This weakened portion is furthermore intended to facilitate removal of the information carrier rather than to make it more difficult. It will be apparent that this is not generally important in the case of the above mentioned labels and the like which, because of their dimensions of no more than a few centimetres, can in any case be removed with a comparatively small peeling-off force.
In a preferred embodiment the information carrier according to the invention has the feature that on the second side the foil comprises a top layer which is provided with the printing and that on the first side the foil comprises a base layer which is provided with the weakened portion over at least a part of the thickness thereof. The assembly of a separate top layer and base layer for the foil provides the option of optimal adaptation of the material of both layers to the use of the foil. A relatively tough plastic is thus advantageously applied for the base layer, particularly an optionally substituted polyolefin or a polyurethane, which allows of easy removal of the whole and does not break off too easily when peeled off. The weakened portion arranged therein ensures that the base layer will nevertheless come loose in separate strips so as to limit the peeling-off force.
The top layer can on the other hand be specifically adapted to the durability expected thereof, particularly in the case the information carrier will be exposed to the influence of sometimes severe weather conditions. The top layer in this case protects the base layer located thereunder not only against mechanical damage but also against for instance drying out and degradation under the influence of UV radiation. A further embodiment of the information carrier therefore has the feature according to the invention that the top layer comprises a plastic from a group of polyester, polyamide, polyethylene and polypropylene. These plastics can be manufactured in a relatively inert, weatherproof and durable form, but are usually relatively hard and crumbly, whereby a foil wholly manufactured therefrom can be peeled off only with relative difficulty. Glueing of these plastics to a substrate can also cause problems in practice in the sense of a poor adhesion or, conversely, of glue residues remaining behind after the foil is removed. However, by applying such a robust plastic on a base layer of a (plastic) material which in contrast does allow of relatively simple removal from the substrate and has good glueing properties, this drawback of the top layer can be obviated and the otherwise very advantageous properties thereof can be fully utilized.
A particular embodiment of the information carrier has in this respect the feature that the top layer comprises an oriented plastic, the orientation of which at least in practice lies in the direction of the weakened portion. The orientation in the plastic ensures that it tears relatively easily in that direction, but is relatively strong in a transverse direction thereof. Owing to these mechanical properties the top layer will tear relatively simply together with the strips of the base layer despite the top layer being per se relatively hard and strong.
A further embodiment of the information carrier has the feature according to the invention that the top layer and the base layer are glued to together with a smaller peeling strength than that of the base layer on the substrate. Due to this difference in peeling strength the top layer can be pulled loose separately from the base layer. In order for instance to replace an advertising message, only the top layer provided with the old advertising need in that case be replaced by a new one and the base layer can therefore be retained on the substrate. Not only does this offer material savings, the substrate herein also remains completely unaffected so that no damage is inflicted on the surface thereof.
The invention will now be further elucidated with reference to an embodiment and an associated drawing. In the drawing:

figure 1: shows a bottom view of an information carrier according to a first embodiment of the invention;
figure 2: shows a top view of an information carrier according to a first embodiment of the invention;
figure 3: is a cross-section of the information carrier of figure 1;
figure 4: shows an enlargement of a part of the cross-section of figure 3;
figure 5: shows a corresponding enlargement of a part of a second embodiment of an information carrier according to the invention.

The drawings are herein purely schematic and not drawn to scale. Some dimensions in particular are highly exaggerated for the sake of clarity. Corresponding parts are designated as far as possible in the figures with the same reference numeral.
Figures 1-4 show a first embodiment of an information carrier 1 according to the invention. Here the information carrier forms an advertising poster of about 100 x 200 cm which is intended to be adhered to a substrate with the first side shown in figure 1. Instead of this format the invention can advantageously also be applied to smaller information carriers of for instance 70 x 100 cm or, conversely, larger ones. The invention typically relates however to such a format of information carrier which, if pulled loose in its entirety from the substrate, regularly results in practice in damage to that substrate. Forming the basis of the present invention is the insight that this latter must be attributed particularly to the angle at which the information carrier is peeled off, and that this angle ideally amounts to practically 180°. Because the information carrier according to the invention is divided into a number of separately peelable strips 11, this ideal angle can at least virtually be fully maintained per strip.
On the side shown in figure 2, the advertising poster 1 carries an appropriate advertising message 2 which may comprise purely textual or graphic information or a combination of both, which is clearly visible from a distance. Such an advertising poster is for instance used to placard vehicles of a public transport company which, depending on the contracting party, must be provided with advertising for the one company at one time, and then with advertising for another company at another time.
In order to replace the advertising poster simply and without damage to the lacquer layer of the bodywork, this poster comprises according to the invention a foil in which at least one intentional weakened portion 3 is arranged. In this embodiment there are nine such weakened portions. These weakened portions comprise incisions and divide the foil along the full length into a number of parallel strips 10 with a width typically in the order of magnitude of 10-30 centimetres. Here the strips are about 15 centimetres wide. Since according to the invention the weakened portions penetrate into the foil over only a part of the thickness thereof, there is nothing or hardly any of this visible on the visual side of figure 2.
The foil is manufactured from polyvinyl chloride, another optionally substituted polyolefin, which is characterized by a high transparency and a comparative mechanical toughness. Polyurethane is for instance also a suitable material for the foil instead of a polyolefin. On the rear side shown in figure 1 this foil is provided with a self-adhesive layer, not further indicated, which is covered by a protective sheet of silicone paper, which can be seen in the cross-section of figures 3 and 4.
After the substrate has been made sufficiently clean and grease-free, the foil can be affixed as a whole after removal of protective sheet 4. When foil 1 has to be removed after serving as advertising poster for the contract period, an edge of the foil can simply be peeled loose and the foil can then be pulled off strip 10 by strip 10. Due to the arranged weakened portions 3 the foil tears away cleanly in strips 10, whereby only the peeling-off force for such a strip need be applied. The substrate is thereby exposed to markedly lesser forces than if the foil had to be pulled loose in its entirety, as is the case with existing advertising posters. All in all the advertising carrier 1 according to the invention can be removed without damage to the lacquer layer of the bodywork and leaving negligible glue residues.
In the embodiment shown in figures 1-4 the foil 1 comprises only a single plastic. A foil assembled from a base layer 11 of a first plastic and a top layer 12 of a second plastic can advantageously also be applied instead, as is shown in the second embodiment of an information carrier according to the invention in figure 5. Both plastics can herein be optimally adapted to their specific function in the assembly. A relatively tough, optionally substituted polyolefin, such as polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene or polypropylene, or polyurethane is thus used here for base layer 11, while top layer 12 comprises a relatively hard, robust plastic of a suitable polyester or polyamide. Top layer 12 herein gives the foil the desired durability in wind and weather, and in particular sufficient UV-resistance, while base layer 11 can be glued effectively for the purpose of a good adhesion to a substrate. Here also a number of intentional weakened portions 3 are once again arranged which extend laterally in the foil and thus divide the foil into a number of parallel strips, comparable to the foil of the first embodiment. And the foil of this embodiment also has on the rear side a self-adhesive layer (not further drawn) which is protected by a protective sheet 4.
The toughness of base layer 11 ensures that the foil can later be peeled off in the form of a number of separate strips relatively simply and with negligible traces on the substrate, wherein the top layer also tears along these strips. In order to enhance the latter, one of the above-mentioned plastics in an oriented form is preferably used as starting point for the top layer, wherein the direction of orientation at least substantially coincides with the length direction of the strips in the foil. In this embodiment weakened portions are used in the form of incisions which penetrate through practically the thickness of base layer 11. Incisions, perforations or other weakened portions can be arranged instead which, in accordance with requirements, penetrate less far or which, conversely, penetrate into top layer 12.
Base layer 11 and top layer 12 can be moulded onto each other during manufacture of the foil, so that an adhesion between the two results without a specific glueing. A choice can however also be made instead to mutually coat or laminate the two layers, wherein the two layers 11,12 mutually adhere by means of an adhesive layer. An adhesive layer can herein be applied with less peeling strength than the optionally self-adhesive layer on the rear side of the foil, so that the top layer can be peeled off while retaining the base layer on the substrate. In that case it will simply suffice to replace the printed top layer 12 with another in order to renew the information of the information carrier, and any force effect on the surface of the substrate is avoided.
The self-adhesive layer on the rear side of the foil is preferably arranged only after the weakened portions in the foil are formed. For this purpose a self-adhesive layer can be applied directly and then covered with a protective sheet, but it is also possible to laminate a self-adhesive layer, together with the protective sheet, round the foil by a transfer process. This latter provides the option of supplying the foil more or less as semi-manufacture and to leave a printer, who will apply the information, to also arrange a self-adhesive layer adapted to a specific substrate. If a choice is made for a direct coating with a self-adhesive layer, this will normally be adapted to a common substrate and the printer has only to arrange the information on the visual side. Both options are possible within the scope of the invention.
Although the invention has been further elucidated solely with reference to these two embodiments, it will be apparent that the invention is by no means limited thereto. On the contrary, many other variations and embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention. The stated plastics are therefore given mainly by way of example and many other, optionally transparent plastics are possible instead. Instead of a continuous incision it is possible to opt for a track of perforations in respect of the weakened portion(s) in the foil. An assembly of more than two layers can optionally also be applied to achieve optimal properties in the foil. The invention generally provides an information carrier which can be deployed in exceptionally versatile manner and therein protects its substrate to at least a considerable extent.

Claims

Information carrier comprising a foil which is intended to be adhered with a first side to a substrate and which displays information on an opposite, second side, characterized in that the foil is provided with at least one intentional weakened portion which extends laterally in the foil and therein divides the foil into a number of elongate strips, and that the at least one weakened portion penetrates from the first side into the foil through only a part of the thickness thereof.
Information carrier as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the weakened portion comprises an incision or perforation.
Information carrier as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that on the second side the foil comprises a top layer which is provided with the printing and that on the first side the foil comprises a base layer which is provided with the weakened portion over at least a part of the thickness thereof.
Information carrier as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the top layer and the base layer are glued together with a smaller peeling strength than that of the base layer on the substrate.
Information carrier as claimed in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the top layer comprises an oriented plastic, the orientation of which at least in practice lies in the direction of the weakened portion.
Information carrier as claimed in claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the top layer comprises a plastic from a group of polyester, polyethylene and polypropylene.
Information carrier as claimed in any of the claims 3-6, characterized in that the base layer comprises a relatively tough plastic, in particular an optionally substituted polyolefin.
Information carrier as claimed in any of the claims 3-7, characterized in that at least one of the two layers is at least virtually transparent.
Information carrier as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the strips in the foil have a width between 10 and 30 centimetres.