GB2358378A

GB2358378A - A mat with an easy peel protective film covering a self-adhesive layer for use in a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2358378A
Application number: GB0101245A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Margrit Bernhard-Stark; Bruno Guidotti
Original assignee: Gurit Essex AG
Current assignee: Dow Automotive AG
Priority date: 2000-01-18
Filing date: 2001-01-17
Publication date: 2001-07-25
Anticipated expiration: 2021-01-17
Also published as: ES1048100U; ITTO20010006U1; GB0101245D0; ES1048100Y; ITTO20010006V0; GB2358378B; FR2803804A3; DE20021738U1; FR2803804B3; DE10001980A1

Abstract

A mat (1) for damping, insulating and/or reinforcing panels of motor vehicles has a self-adhesive surface which is covered by a removable protective film (2). The protective film (2) is of a two-part design, the one part (3) being folded in a V-shaped manner and applied in the edge region of the mat (1) with the fold inwards, and the other pan (7) having a region (8) which at least partially overlaps the V-shaped part (3). A protective film (2) of this type can be pulled off the mat (1) reliably, easily and quickly even under unfavourable accompanying conditions.

Description

2358378 A- Mat for damping, insulating and/or reinforcing metal sheets of

motor vehicles The invention relates to a mat designed for acoustically damping, insulating and/or 5 reinforcing panels of motor vehicles.

Mats of this type are used in vehicle construction, and in particular in automobile construction, for the acoustic damping, thermal insulation and/or reinforcement of metal sheets. In the present case, the term "metal panel" is, however, to be understood not only as meaning rolled metal in the general sense but also as representative of sheet-like structures of composite materials, plastic parts or the like the kind being used increasingly frequently in automobile construction. Before possible curing, the mats to be applied to such metal sheets generally have viscoelastic characteristics. While one side of the mat is often provided with a metal foil, the other side of the mat, to be facing the metal sheet, has a self-adhesive surface, which is covered with a removable protective film.

One problem with the known mats is that the removal of the protective film often presents problems. Since mats of this type must for example also adhere securely and permanently on oily metal sheets of vehicles, in order also to withstand any subsequent washing operations they have, on the side to be facing the substrate, a surface with a very high adhesion. It is repeatedly found in practice that the removal of the known protective films entails great difficulties, in particular when there are unfavourable accompanying conditions, such as for example high ambient temperatures. The problem is, on the one hand, that it is only possible with difficulty to begin peeling the protective film manually and, on the other hand, that often the protective film is to a great extent destroyed while it is being peeled off. This destruction frequently occurs in particular in the case of mats consisting of butyl or epoxy pastes.

It is therefore the object of the invention to improve a mat of the type which is provided with a self-adhesive surface covered by a removable protective film in such a way that the protective film can be removed quickly and reliably even under unfavourable accompanying conditions.

According to the present invention this object 1S achieved by a mat for damping, insulating and/or reinforcing panels of motor vehicles, wherein the mat is provided with a self-adhesive surface which is covered by a removable protective film which 'is of a two-part design, comprising a first part folded in a V-shaped manner and applied in the edge region of the mat with the fold inwards, and a second part having a regio ti at least partially overlapping the V-shaped first part.

A two-part protective film, one part of which is folded in a V-shaped manner and. js applied in the edge region of the mat with the fold inwards, and the other part qf which has a region at least partially overlapping the V-shaped part, can be removed very easily and without problems. In the case of a mat with a film designed in suc-4 a way, both parts of the fi,",= have a region which can easily and well be manually. gripped and, furthermore, both parts of the film can be pulled off from the inside of the mat outwards, towards the edge of the mat. This 1S by contrast with the know,,i films, which usually have to be pulled off from an edge.

An exemplary embodimene of the invention is explained in more detail with referencle to the single drawing. In the single Figure of this drawing, a mat with an applied protective film is represented in cross section, the elements represented not beinlul reproduced to scale.

Taken as a basis in the present case is a mat for damping metal sheets which consisi:s of a viscous paste with viScoelastic characteristics for achieving the desired propertie5. Polybutene- or epoxy-based mats are for example suitable for tl:iis purpose. Mx.1s which are preferably used for the reinforcement of metal sheets are produced from curable compositions. Of course, if appropriate, mats in the form of composite materials which combine the properties mentioned above are also possible.

On the side which is to face the metal sheet the mat 1 is provided with a 2-part protective film 2. The one part 3 of this protective film 2 is of a V- shaped design and is a plied tothe mat 1 in strip form along the ed-:,-e region of the said mat. The other P 0 part 7 of the protective film 2 covers the large part of the mat 1 and, in the pressed-flat state of the film 2, largely covers over the V-shaped part 3. This region, overlapping the V-shaped part 3 of the protective film 2 bears the reference numeral 8. The fold 6 of the V-shaped part 3 of the protective film 2 is directed inwards, that is to say faces the inside of the mat 1, so that the free leg 5 can easily be gripped manually and the V-shaped part 3 of the film 2 can easily be pulled away from the inside outwards, towards the edge of the mat 1. Similarly, the region 8 of the other part 7 of the protective film 2 overlapping the V-shaped part 3 of the protective film 2 can be easily gripped and this other part 7 can likewise be pulled away from the inside of the mat 1 out-wards, towards the other edge.

In the present case an aluminium foil 9 has been provided on the side of the mat 1 20 facing away from the metal sheet, which improves the damping characteristics of the mat.

If appropriate, -in order to improve further the adhesive behaviour of the mat an acrylate adhesive layer may, for example, also be additionally applied to the surface of the mat 1 intended to face the substrate.

Claims

-4Claims

A mat (1) for damping, insulating and/or reinforcing panels of motoi b vehicles, wherein the mat (1) is provided with a self-adhesive surface which is covered 5 by a removable protective film (2) which 1S of a twopart design, comprising a first part (3) folded in a V-shaped manner and applied in the edge region of the mat (',) with the fold (6) inwards, and a second part (7) having a region (8) at least partially overlapping the V-shaped first part (3).
2. A mat according to Claim 1, wherein the le., (4) of the V-shaped fir,,, t part (3) of the protective film (2) facing the mat (1) terminates flush with the edge c,f the mat (1).
3. A mat according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein, in the pressed-flat state ( the protective film (2), both that leg (5) of the V-shaped first part (3) of the protective film (2) which faces away from the mat (1) and that region (8) of the second part (7) of the protective film (2) which overlaps the V-shaped first part (3) terminate at least approximately flush with. the edge of the mat (1).

b
4. A mat according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the mat (1).1s produced predominantly from amaterial which has viscoelastic characteristics, at least at the time of its use.
5. A mat according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the mat (1) s b produced predominantly from a butyl or epoxy paste.
6. A mat for damping, insulating and/or reinforcing panels of moto vehicles, constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with 11 1 reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.