WO2020214625A1

WO2020214625A1 - Tape with cutouts

Info

Publication number: WO2020214625A1
Application number: PCT/US2020/028180
Authority: WO
Inventors: III Robert G. FINKENAUR
Original assignee: Rgf Materials Company
Priority date: 2019-04-15
Filing date: 2020-04-15
Publication date: 2020-10-22

Abstract

A tape stencil includes a substrate having a cutout formed therein. The cutout is defined by a first longitudinal strip, a second longitudinal strip extending parallel to the first longitudinal strip, a first lateral strip connecting the first longitudinal strip to the second longitudinal strip on one side of the cutout, and a second lateral strip connecting the first longitudinal strip to the second longitudinal strip on an opposing side of the cutout.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

Tape with Cutouts

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a stencil-type tape that can be applied to a generally horizontal surface so that a material, such as an epoxy, can be applied to the surface through cutouts in the tape without having to measure and cut individual pieces of tape to make a stencil form.

[0003] Prior Art

[0004] Prior art stenciling tape is typically a 30mil foam tape with a release liner. The tape has to be measured out and cut, liner removed, and then the long length of tape has to be applied to the surface being stenciled without binding or picking up dirt. Additionally, the cuts may not be uniform, resulting in a poor final appearance.

[0005] It would be beneficial to provide a tape with stenciled cutouts already provided.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0007] In one embodiment, the present invention is a tape stencil comprising a substrate having a cutout formed therein. The cutout is defined by a first longitudinal strip, a second longitudinal strip extending parallel to the first longitudinal strip, a first lateral strip connecting the first longitudinal strip to the second longitudinal strip on one side of the cutout, and a second lateral strip connecting the first longitudinal strip to the second longitudinal strip on an opposing side of the cutout. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part of this specification, illustrate the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the features of the invention. In the drawings:

[0009] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a tape with cutouts according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0010] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the tape of FIG. 1, with the bottom plan view being the same;

[0011] FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the tape of FIG. 1, with a rear perspective view being the same;

[0012] FIG. 4 is a left side perspective view of the tape of FIG. 1, with a right side perspective view being the same;

[0013] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the tape of FIG. 1, taken through lines 5—5 of FIG. 2;

[0014] FIG. 5A is a side elevational view of the tape with cutouts formed into a roll; and

[0015] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the tape of FIG. 1 being used on a stair tread.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] In the drawings, like numerals indicate like elements throughout. Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the present invention. The terminology includes the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. The embodiments illustrated below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. These embodiments are chosen and described to best explain the principle of the invention and its application and practical use and to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention.

[0017] Reference herein to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase "in one embodiment" in various places in the

specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments necessarily mutually exclusive of other embodiments. The same applies to the term "implementation."

[0018] As used in this application, the word "exemplary" is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or

advantageous over other aspects or designs. Rather, use of the word exemplary is intended to present concepts in a concrete fashion.

[0019] Additionally, the term "or" is intended to mean an inclusive "or" rather than an exclusive "or". That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from context, "X employs A or B" is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then "X employs A or B" is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. In addition, the articles "a" and "an" as used in this application and the appended claims should generally be construed to mean "one or more" unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form.

[0020] Unless explicitly stated otherwise, each numerical value and range should be interpreted as being approximate as if the word "about" or "approximately" preceded the value of the value or range.

[0021] The use of figure numbers and/or figure reference labels in the claims is intended to identify one or more possible embodiments of the claimed subject matter in order to facilitate the interpretation of the claims. Such use is not to be construed as necessarily limiting the scope of those claims to the embodiments shown in the corresponding figures.

[0022] FIGS. 1-6 show a first exemplary embodiment of a tape stencil 100

("stencil 100") with cutouts 120 that allows a user to apply the stencil 100 to a surface 50 (shown in FIG. 6), apply paint, epoxy, or other marker material 52 to the surface 50 through the cutouts 120, and then remove the stencil 100 so that the marker material 52 remains on the surface 50. [0023] In an exemplary embodiment, surface 50 can be a stair tread, a floor, or other surface that is walked on. Surface 50 can be an interior surface or an exterior surface.

[0024] Stencil 100 is similar to a stencil, but includes additional features. Stencil 100 includes a substrate 110 having a cutout 120 formed therein such that material of substrate 110 forms a perimeter around cutout 120. Cutout 120 can be repeated at predetermined distances along the length of substrate 110. In an embodiment shown in FIG. 1, cutout 120 is generally rectangular, although those skilled in the art will recognize that cutout 120 can be any shape.

[0025] Cutout 120 is defined by a first longitudinal strip 122 and a parallel second longitudinal strip 124, with a first lateral strip 126 connecting first

longitudinal strip 122 to second longitudinal strip 124 on one side of cutout 120, and a second lateral strip 128 connecting first longitudinal strip 122 to second longitudinal strip 124 on an opposing side of cutout 120. Optionally, first and second lateral strips 126, 128 can be perforated for easy removal from first and second longitudinal strips 122, 124. Alternatively, first and second lateral strips 126, 128 can be omitted in their entirety.

[0026] As further shown in FIG. 1, substrate 110 can be 2 inches wide, with cutouts 120 being 1 inch wide x 5-1/2 inches long and spaced Vi inch from either side edge of substrate, with a Vi inch distance of substrate material between adjacent cutouts 120, although those skilled in the art will recognize that other dimensions can be used.

[0027] Instead of a standard stencil, which is typically very thin to minimize the height of the paint above the surface 50, substrate 110 has a significant thickness, such as between about 1/32 inch and up to about ¹A inch thick, to provide a tread like surface with traction. By way of example only, substrate 110 can be

constructed from masking tape 112, such as Pro® 795 masking tape. Masking tape 112 can be adhered to a foam layer 116.

[0028] Masking tape 112 can have a top surface 113 and a bottom surface 114.

Bottom surface 114 can be an adhesive surface. Layer 116 can have a top adhesive 117 that is an adhesive to bond with masking tape 112. Additionally, layer 116 has a bottom adhesive 118 to releasably adhere to surface 50. Bottom adhesive 118 has less of a bond strength than the combination of bottom surface 114 of masking tape 112 and top adhesive 117 of layer 116 so that the entirety of substrate 110 can readily be pulled off substrate 50 after stencil 100 has been used.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 5, a first layer of stencil 100 from top down is masking tape 112, top adhesive 117, foam layer 116, and bottom adhesive 118. Stencil 100 can be provided on a roll, shown in FIG. 5A, that can be unrolled for use. The roll provides for more efficient storage and transfer of stencil 100. When stencil 100 is in a roll, bottom adhesive 118 adheres to top surface 113 of masking tape 112 of a second layer of stencil 100. The structure repeats for each successive layer of the roll.

[0030] FIG. 6 shows stencil 100 being applied to a stair tread as the substrate 50, with marker material 52 on substrate 50. When stencil 100 is provided in a roll, the roll is unwound so that bottom adhesive 118 of the first layer of stencil 100 is peeled from top surface 113 of masking tape 112 of the second layer of stencil 100 and exposed. Bottom adhesive 118 is then adhered to substrate 50. Marker material 52 is applied so that stencil 100 defines a border around marker material 52 on substrate 50. After marker material 52 has been applied and is sufficiently dry or tacky enough not to flow, stencil 100 can be removed from substrate 50 and discarded after a single use, making stencil 100 a "one and done" use. Those skilled in the art will recognize that stencil 100 can have other uses as well.

[0031] It will be further understood that various changes in the details, materials, and arrangements of the parts which have been described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of this invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS I claim :

1. A tape stencil comprising :

a tape having a cutout formed therein, the cutout being defined by: a first longitudinal strip;

a second longitudinal strip extending parallel to the first longitudinal strip;

a first lateral strip connecting the first longitudinal strip to the second longitudinal strip on one side of the cutout;

and

a second lateral strip connecting the first longitudinal strip to the second longitudinal strip on an opposing side of the cutout;

a top adhesive adhered to a bottom surface of the substrate;

a foam layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface being attached to the first adhesive; and

a bottom adhesive attached to the bottom surface of the foam layer.

2. The tape stencil according to claim 1, wherein the stencil is provided in a roll.

3. The tape stencil according to claim 2, wherein the tape further comprises a top surface.

4. The tape stencil according to claim 3, wherein, when the stencil is provided in the roll, the bottom adhesive is adhered to the top surface of the tape.

5. The tape stencil according to claim 1, wherein the cutout comprises a

plurality of cutouts in a repeating pattern.

6. The tape stencil according to claim 5, wherein adjacent cutouts are separated by about 1/2 inch.

7. The tape stencil according to claim 1, wherein the cutout is rectangular in shape.

8. The tape stencil according to claim 1, further wherein the bottom adhesive has a lower adhesion strength than the top adhesive.

9. A method of applying the tape stencil according to claim 4, comprising the steps of:

(a) peeling the bottom adhesive from the top surface of the tape such that the bottom adhesive is exposed;

(b)adhering the bottom adhesive to a substrate;

(c) applying a marker material to the cutout; and

(d) peeling the tape stencil from the substrate.

The method according to claim 9, wherein step (a) comprises unwinding the tape stencil from the roll.

The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of discarding the tape stencil after a single use.

The method according to step 9, wherein step (d) comprises the top adhesive continuing to adhere the tape to the foam layer.