WO2003078076A1

WO2003078076A1 - Trim masking tape

Info

Publication number: WO2003078076A1
Application number: PCT/GB2003/001163
Authority: WO
Inventors: Oliver Jevons
Original assignee: Jevtec Limited
Priority date: 2002-03-14
Filing date: 2003-03-14
Publication date: 2003-09-25
Also published as: AU2003216832A1; GB0206004D0

Abstract

A trim masking tape (11), for masking panels with overlying trim, such as windscreen trim, during spraying during automobile refinishing, has a first strip (12) of sufficient thinness and stiffness to be readily inserted between the trim and the underlying panel beneath the trim and a second, flexible adhesive strip (15) attached to the first strip (12), the first strip being scored to facilitate bending. The scoring facilitates bending the tape around (11) contours without affecting the ability to insert it beneath the trim.

Description

Trim Masking Tape

This invention relates to masking tape, more particularly to masking tape of the kiond used to mask the trim of vehicles undergoing refinishing.

Conventional trim masking tape comprises a relatively stiff plastic strip, which slides between the trim and the body panel or glass panel which the trim overlies, and a flexible adhesive strip attached to the stiff strip. In use, the adhesive strip is folded back over the trim, once the stiff strip is in place, and a masking sheet is attached to the adhesive strip, the strip holding the masking sheet in place during spraying.

A problem is that the depth of overlay of trim on the surface it edges varies from vehicle to vehicle, so that sometimes the mask fits well, other times it does not. One manufacturer supplies trim masking tape in different widths of plastic strip to cater for different sizes of trim.

Another problem is that conventional trim masking tape does not conform very well to curved and bowed contours at the edges of panels. Solutions to both these problems are provided by the present invention.

The invention comprises a trim masking tape having a first strip of sufficient thinness and stiffness to be readily inserted between the trim and the underlying panel beneath the trim and a second, flexible adhesive strip attached to the first strip, the first strip being scored to facilitate bending.

The first strip may be scored along a line or lines running along the strip. A typical such strip may be 20 mm wide, and be scored every 2 mm. The first strip may be of plastic. The second, flexible adhesive strip may be of conventional crepe paper masking strip up to, say, 50 mm wide.

In use, the first strip is inserted as usual beneath the trim. Because of the lengthwise score lines, any of the strip that does not fit beneath the trim can be simply bent back along the score line nearest the edge ofthe trim.

The first strip may have score lines running slantwise across the strip. These will impart to the strip a degree of flexibility in the plane thereof, allowing it to conform to curved and bowed edges ofthe panel being masked.

The slantwise score lines may be inclined at a shallow angle, say between 5° and 15°, possibly 10° to the lengthwise direction ofthe strip, and there maybe two or more sets of lines at different angles. The slantwise lines may be spaced a few millimetres apart. The first strip may also be scored transversely t6o its lengthwise direction to facilitate tearing to length; conventional trim masking tapes need to be cut with scissors, and scissors are not always to hand in a body shop. The score lines, or some of them, where a tape has multiple score lines, can be made in the face of the first strip opposite the face attached to the adhesive strip. However, putting score lines on the face of the first strip which is against the adhesive strip has advantage, inasmuch as the strip is easier to insert fully between panel and trim, The exposed face of the first strip may be covered with a thin layer of foam or other absorbent material, such as blotting paper, which can absorb sprayed primer and lacquer and avoid the same running over the surface or the strip with the possibility of contaminating masked areas. Embodiments of trim masking tape according to the invention will now be describer with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of tape; Figure 2 is a cross section of a second embodiment of tape;

Figure 3 is a cross section of a modification;

Figure 4 is a cross section of a further modification; and

Figure 5 is a cross section of a trim mask situation, showing tape ofthe invention in position for masking.

The drawings illustrate trim masking tape 11 having a first strip 12 of sufficient thinness and stiffness to be readily inserted between the trim and the underlying panel 14 beneath the trim 13 and a second, flexible adhesive strip 15 attached to the first strip 12, the first strip 12 being scored, as at 16, to facilitate bending.

The first strip 12 is of plastics material, such as polyethylene terephthalate, of with 20 mm. The second strip 15 is of conventional crepe paper masking tape, 50 mm wide.

The plastic strip 12 is scored in a number of ways. It is scored in lines 16a running along the strip, these lines being spaced every 2 mm. It is also scored in lines 16b running slantwise across the strip, spaced every few millimetres and inclined in opposite directions. Finally, it is scored in lines 16c running transversely to its lengthwise direction.

The score lines 16a impart to the trip the facility to be folded back, as seen in Figure 5. when it has been inserted between trim 13 and underlying panel 14. The tape 11 has, therefore, the ability to mimic a trim masking tape of any width - one size will serve for all trims, a universal trim masking tape. The score lines 16b impart a flexibility within the plane ofthe plastic strip 12, allowing it better to conform to curves and bows in the panel edge contours. Sections of strip 12 can, using the slantwise score lines, be picked out by the user at intervals along the tape to provide increased flexibility without interfering with the ability of the tape to be inserted into masking position.

The score lines 16c allow the strip 12 to be torn off to any required length without having to find scissors.

The exposed face of the strip 12 is covered with a thin layer of foam 17 which absorbs primer and lacquer to stop runs which might contaminate masked areas.

In the cross section, Figure 2, an embodiment is illustrated in which the score lines 16a are formed in the face ofthe strip 12 which is against the adhesive strip 15. This reduces the degree by which the stiffness of the strip 12 is reduced by the score lines, as compared to their being on the exposed surface, as illustrated in Figure 1, and make it easier to insert the strip for masking purposes, without, however, detracting from the facility for bending back after insertion.

In the modifications of Figures 3 and 4, additional adhesive paper tape 18, in Figure 3 a double adhesive faced tape, in Figure 4 a single adhesive faced tape, re attached to the adhesive strip 15 to provide adhesive on the opposite face to that of the strip 15 - adhesive faces are indicated by surface arrows and marked "A".

Claims

Claims:

1 A trim masking tape having a first strip of sufficient thinness and stiffness to be readily inserted between the trim and the underlying panel beneath the trim and a second, flexible adhesive strip attached to the first strip, the first strip being scored to facilitate bending.

2 A tape according to claim 1, in which the first strip is scored in lines running along the strip.

3 A tape according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which, the first strip is 20 mm wide.

4 A tape according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is scored every 2 mm. 5 A tape according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the first strip is of plastic.

6 A tape according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which then second, flexible strip is of conventional crepe paper marking strip. 7 A tape according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the second tape is up to 50 mm wide.

8 A tape according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the first strip has score lines running slantwise across the strip.

9 A tape according to claim 9, in which the score lines are inclined at a shallow angle to the lengthwise direction ofthe strip.

10 A tape according to claim 9, in which the score lines are inclined at between 5° and 15° to the lengthwise direction ofthe strip.

11 A tape according to claim 10, in which the score lines are inclined at 10° to the lengthwise direction ofthe strip. 12 A tape according to any one of claims 9 to 11, in which the slantwise lines are spaced a few millimetres apart.

13 A tape according to any one of claims 9 to 12, in which there are slantwise lines running in opposite slantwise directions.

14 A tape according to any one of claims 1 to 13, in which the first strip is scored transversely to its lengthwise direction to facilitate tearing to length.

15 A tape according to any one of claims 1 to 14, in which score lines are made in the face ofthe first strip opposite the face attached to the adhesive strip. 16 A tape according to any one of claims 1 to 15, in which score lines are made in the face ofthe first strip which is against the adhesive strip.

17 A tape according to any one of claims 1 to 16, in which the exposed face o the first strip is covered with a thin layer of absorbent material which can absorb sprayed primer and lacquer.

18 A tape according to claim 16, in which the absorbent material is foam. 19 A tape according to claim 16, in which the absorbent material is blotting paper.