WO1998006566A1

WO1998006566A1 - Windscreen repair self-adhesive patch assembly

Info

Publication number: WO1998006566A1
Application number: PCT/NZ1997/000081
Authority: WO
Inventors: Benjamin Edward Ridler
Original assignee: Benjamin Edward Ridler
Priority date: 1996-08-13
Filing date: 1997-06-19
Publication date: 1998-02-19
Also published as: AU3278297A; NZ299165A

Abstract

A two-ply self adhesive patch assembly including an adhesive backed front ply and an underlying release substrate ply. The front ply defines at least one die-cut patch and the underlying release substrate defines a die-cut region which is at least co-extensive with each said patch, so that on peeling off the substrate ply, the die-cut region remains adhered to the front ply. The exposed adhesive backing allows the remainder of the patch assembly to be fixed to a vehicle windscreen for storage of the patch. In the event of windscreen damage, the patch can be removed and placed over the damaged area to prevent deterioration/contamination.

Description

WTNDSCREEN REPAIR SELF-ADHESIVE PATCH ASSEMBLY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improvements in and/or relating to the repair of automobile windscreens and to related means of presenting advertising indicia. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There now exists a widespread practice of repairing expensive laminated windscreens that have been damaged by stone chips or the like. This repair procedure primarily requires the careful insertion of a material into the damaged region which is then made flush with the windscreen and because of its near identical optical characteristics to the windscreen almost renders the damaged region invisible to the human eye.

Important aspect in such repairs is to avoid the gathering of dirt and other materials into the damaged region prior to the repair. Another aspect is to secure the damaged region against dissemination of cracks etc. therefrom.

With this therefore in mind the practice has developed of taping with adhesive tape the damaged region thereby masking the damaged region from such contamination while at the same time providing some integrity for at least the outer layer or layers of the laminated windscreen. The present invention relates to improvements in such procedures and optionally provides the opportunity of presenting advertising indica as well as the convenience of having available materials for such repairs as the occasion requires. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the present invention consists in a self adhesive patch assembly formed as a lamination of at least two plies, one ply being at least a release substrate for self adhesive regions of the other ply (the "patch forming ply") and said patch forming ply defines at least one self adhesive patch removable from the remainder of said patch forming ply and the underlying release substrate ply as a patch suitable, by self adhesive fixing, for placement over stone chip damage of a windscreen, and wherein, by removal of (i) a still further ply or parts thereof or (ii) selective removal of part of said release sheet substrate, the self adhesive patch assembly modified thus can be adhesively affixed to a support surface (such as of a motor vehicle) from whence, as and when required said at least one said self adhesive patch is presented for easy removal from its underlying release substrate sheet. Preferably said release substrate sheet is not itself adhesive on that side remote from the patch forming self adhesive ply.

Preferably said release substrate sheet has been die cut to allow removal of a region thereof from the self adhesive patch forming ply such that the assembly thus modified can be adhesively affixed to a said support surface.

Preferably said release substrate sheet to the extent that it remains after any such removal of a region from the remainder thereof is at least co-extensive with the area of each said patch formed in the patch forming ply.

Preferably said patch forming ply is of a plastics material.

Preferably said plastics material is transparent.

Preferably the area of the patch formmg ply not to be removed to provide a self adhesive patch or patched is printed. Preferably the release substrate sheet on a side remote from the patch forming ply is printed.

Preferably each said removable patch is defined by die cutting the patch forming

Ply- Preferably said die cutting is such as to remove material of the patch forming sheet from about each such patch so as to facilitate its uplifting from said release substrate sheet.

Preferably said release substrate sheet is of paper or other suitable material provided with release characteristics.

Preferably said release substrate sheet is siliconised at least on that surface from which a self adhesive patch is to be removed.

In some forms said release substrate sheet is die cut to allow a peripheral region thereof to be removed from the self adhesive corresponding peripheral regions of the patch forming ply to thereby allow by means of such self adhesive the affixing of the assembly thus modified to a said support surface. In a still further aspect the present invention consists in an assembly substantially as hereinafter described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

In a still further aspect the present invention consists adhesively attached to a motor vehicle, an assembly, in accordance with the present invention or apparatus as hereafter defined. Preferably at least one self adhesive patch has been removed from said assembly and has been affixed over a stone or the like chip of the windscreen of the vehicle.

Preferably said assembly to the extent to which it has been modified is affixed to the windscreen of a motor vehicle.

In still a further aspect the invention consists in apparatus useful in the repair of stone chip damage to a windscreen, said apparatus comprising; a laminate of at least two web materials, a patch forming material having die cut therein at least one patch, said patch(es) being of a plastics material, and a release substrate material, and wherein there is a pressure adhesive between said web materials and said adhesive is such as to allow the peel removal of said at least one patch and the adhesive affixing thereof to a windscreen, and wherein said release sheet web has itself been die cut such that selective removal of part of said release sheet (other than fully under the self adhesive patch(es)) allows the adhesive affixing of the residual assembly substrate material to a support surface for convenient storage of the removable patch(es) on the release. Preferably said plastic material is transparent.

Preferably said apparatus is an assembly.

In yet a still further aspect the prevent invention consists as a roll, a plurality of assemblies.

In still a further aspect the present invention consists in a roll of structures (apparatus) as previously defined.

Preferably said structure or apparatus has been formed with the adhesive having first being applied to the first mentioned web.

In some forms of the present invention said substrate may be provided with contouring means, for example, a foam plastics material which is applied either as a longitudinal continuous strip (especially when dealing with a roll form) or as individual incrementally applied means to underlie at least part of each said patch or grouping of patches to assist ready removal thereof when the assembly after partial removal of the release sheet web has been applied to a flat surface such as for example an inside region of a windscreen of an automobile. In yet a further aspect the present invention consists in the use of such structures.

In a further aspect the present invention consists in a method of forming an assembly, structure or apparatus to provide at least one self adhesive (preferably transparent) patch in accordance with the present invention which comprises; die cutting a release sheet or assembly (hereafter "sheet) and, before, simultaneously with, or after the die cutting of said release sheet, die cutting a sheet of a (preferably transparent) (preferably plastics) material to which a pressure adhesive previously has been applied, is simultaneously being applied or is subsequently applied and then bringing the two sheets together to a laminated condition reliant upon such pressure adhesive, the die cutting of said release sheet and the die cutting of patch(s) in the (preferably transparent) sheet being such as to ensure a region or regions of said release sheet that extends beyond the extent of said patch or patch(s) thereby enabling the patch or patch(s) still to be supported on said release sheet when, rehant on the die cutting of the release sheet, a peripheral region at the very least of said release sheet is removed from the overlying adhesive sheet to allows its attachment to a support surface.

As used herein the term "transparent" preferably means clear of any colour. Ideally it is as clear as the windscreen glass.

The invention consists in the foregoing and also envisages constructions of which the following gives examples. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which;

Figure 1 shows a roll of assemblies structures or apparatus in accordance with the present invention capable of being cut transversely to provide the individual structures or assemblies or which optionally is perforated insofar as one or both of the webs is concerned to allow separation of individual assemblies or structures, the arrangement most preferably however having the roll being continuous in respect of the release web only and being intermittent in relation to the patch defining web of transparent plastics material,

Figure 2 shows an individual assembly or structure viewed from the front showing as wavy lines the available positioning (around a preferred transparent area) for advertising indica or the like which can be applied by an appropriate printing procedure to the clear plastics material, and showing at least two circular die cut and thus easily removed patches from preferably a greater area of the web left transparent through not being over printed or under printed,

Figure 3 shows the reverse side of me arrangement shown in Figure 3 but with the peripheral region of the die cut release sheet removed thus to present an adhesive periphery of the upper plastics web which allows the fixing thereof to a support surface such as a car, dashboard, windscreen or the like,

Figure 4 shows an exploded view of two webs, the cross hatching showing the printed area of the upper web of preferably a self adhesive clear plastics film material, the die cut patch(s) in a transparent region thereof and showing in the second web (the release sheet web) a die cut area that is more than co-extensive with preferably the grouping of patches of the first sheet,

Figure 5 is a similar arrangement to that of Figure 4 but showing an optional positioning of a relief feature provided by appropriate contouring or the attachment of a contouring material to the release sheet (thereby defining a fabricated "release sheet") prior to lamination (eg; discs of a foam plastics material having some release characteristics), Figure 6 is a variation of the arrangement as shown in Figure 5 in that a strip of material is provided on the release sheet which strip can be intermittent as shown so that only a small part there is on each release sheet web or which alternatively can be continuous along the longitudinal length of a roll, Figure 7 is another variation of the arrangement shown in Figure 7 showing another relief or contouring feature on the relief sheet,

Figure 8 shows how the arrangement as shown in the foregoing figures can have a removable patch pulled from the residual part of the release sheet (with or without any underlying contour providing feature to ease such removal), and Figure 9 shows an arrangement as shown in Figure 9 attached to die inside of a windscreen thus providing not only a display of the advertising indicia but also enabling the easy piying of a transparent patch off of the supported release sheet so ti at the same might be applied to the outside of the windscreen over the stone chip depicted. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In the preferred form of the present invention preferably a clear and colourless plastics material is provided as a film strip and is printed on one side and has the clear region thereof die cut to provide the patches. Such die cutting can be before, during or after the lamination with the underlying substrate sheet or modified substrate sheet (ie; to include contouring features previously referred to). The transparent material has a pressure adhesive of a known kind useful for attachment to glass of any such film material applied at some appropriate time prior to lamination.

Ideally d e substrate sheet is a die cut sheet of a siliconised paper but any other appropriate material can be used as can any of the assemblages referred to previously in relation to the drawings. The present invention provides for an adhesive affixing of release sheet removable patches of a clear (preferably) plastics material for windscreens while preferably at die same time providing area for me presentation of advertising material, for example, the advertising of a windscreen repair business.

Claims

1. A self adhesive patch assembly formed as a lamination of at least two plies, one ply being at least a release substrate for self adhesive regions of the other ply (d e "patch forming ply") and said patch forming ply defines at least one self adhesive patch removable from die remainder of said patch forming ply and me underlying release substrate ply as a patch suitable, by self adhesive fixing, for placement over stone chip damage of a windscreen, and wherein, by removal of (i) a still further ply or parts thereof or (ii) selective removal of part of said release sheet substrate, the self adhesive patch assembly modified tiius can be adhesively affixed to a support surface (such as of a motor vehicle) from whence, as and when required said at least one said self adhesive patch is presented for easy removal from its underlying release substrate sheet.

2. .An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said release substrate sheet is not itself adhesive on tiiat side remote from d e patch forming self adhesive ply.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said release substrate sheet has been die cut to allow removal of a region thereof from me self adhesive patch forming ply such that the assembly thus modified can be adhesively affixed to a said support surface.

4. .An assembly of claim 3 wherein said release substrate sheet to the extent mat it remains after any such removal of a region from the remainder thereof is at least co- extensive with die area of each said patch formed in me patch forming ply.

5. .An assembly of any one of the preceding claims wherein said patch forming ply is of a plastics material.

6. .An assembly of claim 5 wherein said plastics material is transparent.

7. .An assembly of any one of the preceding claims wherein the area of the patch forming ply not to be removed to provide a self adhesive patch is printed.

8. An assembly of any one of the preceding claims wherein the release substrate sheet on a side remote from the patch forming ply is printed.

9. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein each said removable patch is defined by die cutting the patch forming ply.

10. An assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein said die cutting is such as to remove material of the patch forming sheet from about each such patch so as to facilitate its uplifting from said release substrate sheet.

11. An assembly as claimed in any one of die preceding claims wherein said release substrate sheet is of paper or omer suitable material provided with release characteristics.

12. An assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein said release substrate sheet is siliconised at least on mat surface from which a self adhesive patch is to be removed.

13. An assembly as claimed in any one of die preceding claims wherein said release substrate sheet is die cut to allow a peripheral region thereof to be removed from the self adhesive corresponding peripheral regions of the patch forming ply to thereby allow by means of such self adhesive d e affixing of the assembly tiius modified to a said support surface.

14. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims substantially as hereinbefore described witii reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

15. Adhesively attached to a motor vehicle, an assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

16. The arrangement of claim 15 wherein at least one self adhesive patch has been removed from said assembly and has been affixed over a stone chip of the windscreen of the vehicle.

17. The arrangement as claimed in claim 15 or claim 16 wherein said assembly to me extent to which it has been modified is affixed to the windscreen of a motor vehicle.

18. Apparatus useful in the repair of stone chip damage to a windscreen, said apparatus comprising; a laminate of at least two web materials comprising, a patch forming material having die cut ti erein at least one patch, said patch(es) being of a plastics material, and a release substrate material, and wherein mere is a pressure adhesive between said web materials and said adhesive is such as to allow the peel removal of said at least one patch and the adhesive affixing thereof to a windscreen, and wherein said release sheet web has itself been die cut such tiiat selective removal of part of said release sheet (otiier tiian fully under die self adhesive patch(es)) allows the adhesive affixing of die residual assembly substrate material to a support surface for convenient storage of the removable patch(es) on the release sheet.

19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein said plastic material is transparent.

20. Apparatus as claimed in claim in 18 or claim 19 wherein said apparatus is an assembly of any one of claims 1 to 14.

21. As a roll, a plurality of assemblies as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14 or apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 18 to 20.

22. A method of forming an assembly, structure or apparatus to provide at least one self adhesive transparent patch as defined in any one of claims 1 to 14 which comprises; die cutting a release sheet or assembly (hereafter "sheet) and, before, simultaneously witii, or after die die cutting of said release sheet, die cutting a sheet of a patch forming material to which a pressure adhesive previously has been applied, is simultaneously being applied or is subsequentiy applied and then bringing the two sheets together to a laminated condition reliant upon such pressure adhesive, the die cutting of said release sheet and me die cutting of patch(es) in the patch forming sheet being such as to ensure a region or regions of said release sheet tiiat extends beyond die extent of said patch or patch(s) tiiereby enabling the patch or patch(es) still to be supported on said release sheet when, reliant on the die cutting of the release sheet, a peripheral region at the very least of said release sheet is removed from the overlying adhesive sheet to allows its attachment to a support surface.

23. A method as claim in claim 22 wherein said patch forming material is of a plastics material.

24. A method as claimed in claim 22 or claim 23 wherein said patch forming material is a transparent plastics material at least over the extent of the patches to be removable for die remainder of said assembly when such an assembly is engaged to a support surface by a partial removal of said release sheet (except under the patches).