GB2540805A

GB2540805A - Self-adhesive marking tape

Info

Publication number: GB2540805A
Application number: GB1513352.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Miles Bowen Kenneth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-07-29
Filing date: 2015-07-29
Publication date: 2017-02-01
Also published as: GB201513352D0

Abstract

A self-adhesive marking tape 10 for marking a surface comprises a tape body 11 and at least one transparent marking 13a-d on the tape body. The tape body is substantially colourless, and the at least one marking is a coloured marking to provide a contrast with the surface. The marking may comprise a portion of the body which is coloured with a dye. An adhesive disposed at one side of the tape body provides a detachable coupling of the tape body to the surface. The tape may be wound round a core and/or may be provided with a release liner. A method of marking a surface with the tape is also disclosed.

Description

SELF-ADHESIVE MARKING TAPE

The present invention relates to self-adhesive marking tape.

It is often desirable to deface a surface of an item to highlight or provide an easy reference to a particular location on the surface. For example, it is frequently desirable to mark a chart or map to plot a flight path of an aircraft, highlight sections of text within a printed document, and mark an item for assembly or structural modification, such as when cutting a length of wood to size. However, it is often difficult, if not impossible to remove a defacement without damaging the item. Moreover, when defacing a surface, such as a chart or map with ink from a pen, the marking will obscure the features of the chart beneath the marking, so that a user can no-longer discern the particular features. I have now devised a self-adhesive marking tape.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided self-adhesive marking tape for marking a surface of an adherend, the tape comprising a tape body and an adhesive disposed at one side of the body, the adhesive providing a detachable coupling of the tape body to the surface, the tape further comprising at least one transparent marking on the tape body, wherein the tape body is substantially colourless and wherein the at least one marking comprises a coloured marking to provide a contrast with the surface.

Preferably, the adhesive is arranged to form a temporary bond with the surface of the adherend.

In an embodiment, the at least one marking extends along the tape body.

In an embodiment, the at least one marking may be orientated substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tape body, non-parallel with the longitudinal axis of the tape body, or comprise portions which are parallel and non-parallel with the longitudinal axis of the tape body.

In an embodiment, the at least one marking comprises at least one continuous marking which extends along the tape body. Alternatively, the at least one marking comprises a plurality of separated sub-markings which extend along the tape body.

In an embodiment, the at least one marking comprises a substantially linear marking. Alternatively, the at least one marking may comprise a substantially nonlinear marking.

In yet a further embodiment, the at least one marking may comprise a plurality of pre-defined images or symbols which extend along the tape body.

In an embodiment, tape comprises a core, and the tape body is wound upon a core, such that the adhesive disposed at the one side of the body is arranged to detachably couple with the other side of the tape body. In this respect, the tape body is wound upon itself.

In a further embodiment, the tape comprises a removable release liner, such as a paper based sheet, which is disposed at the one side of the tape body. The line is preferably detachably coupled to the tape body by the adhesive.

In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of marking a surface, the method comprising: a) positioning self-adhesive tape according to any preceding claim proximate to the surface; b) aligning the at least one marking on the tape body with a preferred position on the surface; c) applying pressure upon the tape body to cause the adhesive to contact the surface and form a temporary bond therewith.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a self-adhesive marking tape according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view along the self-adhesive marking tape illustrated in figure 1;

Figures 3a-3e are plan views of self-adhesive tapes according to various embodiments of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a side view of a self-adhesive tape according to an embodiment of the present invention provided upon a core; and,

Figure 5 is side view of a self-adhesive tape according to an embodiment of the present invention comprising a release liner.

Referring to figures 1 and 2 of the drawings there is illustrated a self-adhesive marking tape 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The marking tape 10 comprises a substantially planar tape backing or body 11. The body 11 may comprise an elongate strip of plastics film formed of a polymeric material, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, and is substantially transparent with a substantially colourless, namely clear appearance.

The tape 10 further comprises an adhesive 12, such as a pressure sensitive adhesive, disposed at one side of the body 11 for providing a detachable coupling with a surface adherend (not shown), such as a map, chart, wall, item of furniture or similar. The adhesive 12 may comprise a synthetic or rubber based pressure-sensitive adhesive layer to provide a temporary bond with the surface, so that the tape 10 can be removed and re-coupled with the surface without damaging the surface or leaving an adhesive residue on the surface. In situations where the tape 10 may be secured for prolonged periods, then the adhesive 12 may comprise low acid adhesive to minimise damage to the surface.

The tape 10 further comprises at least one marking 13 formed thereon. The marking 13 is substantially transparent but coloured, to provide a contrast against the surface to which the tape 10 is to be secured. In this respect, the marking 13 may comprise a portion of the body 11 which is coloured with a dye or similar. In the embodiment illustrated in figure 1 of the drawings, the marking 13 comprises a continuous unbroken line 13a which extends along a central portion of the tape body 11, substantially along a longitudinal axis of the body 11.

In an alternative embodiment, the at least one marking 13 may comprise two or more markings 13 which extend along the tape body 11 as illustrated in figure 3a and 3b of the drawings. The at least one or each marking may extend in a linear (13b) or non-linear path (13c) along the tape body 11, and may comprise a plurality of linear sub-markings or dashes 14. The dashes 14 of the marking 13 may be orientated parallel with the longitudinal axis of the tape body 11 as illustrated in figures 3a and 3b of the drawings, or non-parallel as illustrated in figure 3c with reference to marking 13d. In a further embodiment as illustrated in figure 3d of the drawings, the marking 13e may comprise a combination of dashes 14, which are orientated parallel and non-parallel with the longitudinal axis of the tape body 11. In a further embodiment, as illustrated in figure 3e of the drawings, the at least one marking 13f may comprise a plurality of images or symbols 15 which extend along the tape body 11, such as a plurality of X’s to indicate a cross-out of a text.

The tape 10 may be provided in the form of a roll of tape 20 as illustrated in figure 4 of the drawings, in which the tape 10 is wound upon a core 21 having a substantially circular cross-section. In this embodiment, the tape 10 is wound upon itself, so that the adhesive layer 12 formed at the one side of the tape body 11, at one portion there-along, is arranged to detachably couple with the other side of the tape body 11 at a different position along the tape 10. In a further embodiment, as illustrated in figure 5 of the drawings, the tape 10 may alternatively be provided with a release liner 16 disposed at the one side of the tape body 11. The release liner 16 may be formed of a paper or plastics based film, and is arranged to detachably couple with the adhesive 12, so that the tape body 11 and liner 16 effectively minimise any debris from contacting the adhesive 12 until the tape 10 is ready to be used.

Referring to figure 6 of the drawings, there is illustrated the steps associated with a method 100 of marking a surface using the self-adhesive tape 10 described above. The following embodiment describes the use of the tape 10 when marking a chart (not shown), but the skilled reader will recognise the tape 10 may be used to provide a marking or highlighting of the surface of any adherend, such as the text of a page of a book (not shown), a construction piece (not shown), such as a length of wood, a portion of a wall (not shown) and the like. When plotting a flight path on a chart for example, a user (not shown) would first remove a section of tape 10 from a roll 20 of the tape 10, or remove a portion of the liner 16 from the tape body 11 at step 101. The user subsequently positions the tape body 11 proximate the chart at step 102, with the adhesive layer 12 facing the chart. The user subsequently aligns the marking 13 (or preferred marking if the tape is provided with two or more) on the tape 10 with the desired locations on the chart (not shown) at step 103 and then brings the tape 10 into contact with the chart at step 104, so that the adhesive 12 can detachably couple with the chart to secure the tape 10 in place. The user subsequently sweeps their finger or similar over the tape body 11 at said other side at step 105, along the length thereof to cause the length of the tape 10 to contact with the chart and form a temporary bond therewith. The detachable nature of the tape 10 enables the user to remove and reposition the tape 10 as required at step 106, without damaging the chart or permanently marking the chart.

From the foregoing therefore it is evident that the tape provides for a simple yet effective means of providing a temporary marking upon a surface.

Claims

1. Self-adhesive marking tape for marking a surface, the tape comprising a tape body and an adhesive disposed at one side of the body, the adhesive providing a detachable coupling of the tape body to the surface, the tape further comprising at least one transparent marking on the tape body, wherein the tape body is substantially colourless and wherein the at least one marking comprises a coloured marking to provide a contrast with the surface.

2. Self-adhesive marking tape according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive is arranged to form a temporary bond with the surface.

3. Self-adhesive marking tape according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one marking extends along the tape.

4. Self-adhesive marking tape according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one marking is orientated substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tape body.

5. Self-adhesive marking tape according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one marking is orientated substantially non-parallel with the longitudinal axis of the tape body.

6. Self-adhesive marking tape according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one marking comprises portions which are parallel and non-parallel with a longitudinal axis of the tape body.

7. Self-adhesive marking tape according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one marking comprises at least one continuous marking which extends along the tape body.

8. Self-adhesive marking tape according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the at least one marking comprises a plurality of separated sub-markings which extend along the tape body.

9. Self-adhesive marking tape according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one marking comprises a substantially linear marking.

10. Self-adhesive marking tape according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the at least one marking comprises a substantially non-linear marking.

11. Self-adhesive marking tape according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one marking comprises a plurality of pre-defined images or symbols which extend along the tape body.

12. Self-adhesive marking tape according to any preceding claim, further comprising a core, the tape body being wound upon the core, such that the adhesive disposed at the one side of the body is arranged to detachably couple with the other side of the tape body.

13. Self-adhesive marking tape according to any of claims 1 to 11, further comprising a removable release liner, which is disposed at the one side of the tape body.

14. Self-adhesive marking tape according to claim 13, wherein the liner is detachably coupled to the tape body by the adhesive.

15. A method of marking a surface, the method comprising: a) positioning self-adhesive marking tape according to any preceding claim proximate to the surface; b) aligning the at least one marking on the tape body with a preferred position on the surface; c) applying pressure upon the tape body to cause the adhesive to contact the surface and form a temporary bond therewith.

16. Self-adhesive marking tape substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. A method of marking a surface substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.