CN1910038B - Improvements in or relating to table coverings - Google Patents

Abstract

A table covering, particularly for use with tables, comprises a semi-permanent adhesive layer (2) situated on a transparent polymer carrier layer (3) having a printed display layer (4). The covering may additionally include a release paper backing (1) to facilitate its application. The covering can be used semi-permanently, for example, to cover tables in restaurants and bars, and can be removed after a selected period. The covering can be used to display advertising materials, and users can see the tabletop through the unprinted areas of the covering.

Description

Table coverings or improvements to table coverings

technical field

The present invention relates to coverings for tables or similar surfaces, in particular coverings which are particularly suitable for use in business dining and/or drinking establishments such as restaurants or cafés.

Background technique

In such establishments, it is well known to place promotional materials on the tables. This can be in the form of beer coasters, or the information can be printed on paper or plastic placemats. Naturally, promotional material provided in this manner is removable and limited.

Contents of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a table covering which can be used to transform a tabletop into a promotional medium which is not easily removed or damaged by customers and which can be replaced after a defined period of time. The covering may cover the entire table or may provide a display on only a portion of the table top.

Thus, according to the invention, a covering for surfaces comprising:

i) half of the permanent adhesive layer, which is in contact with the surface,

ii) a transparent carrier layer,

iii) a display layer, which is printed on the carrier layer,

Where the covering is arranged such that, when applied to a surface, the nature of the covering is not easily visible, except in the printed areas, the surface can be seen through a substantial portion of the covering.

Preferably, the covering also includes a backing layer of release paper which is removed before the covering is applied to the surface to aid in the application of the covering to the surface. However, the covering may be rolled alternately with the adhesive layer, with one side of the adhesive layer being exposed when the covering is unrolled for application to a surface.

Preferably, the covering is a table covering for a table top.

The method of using the table cover of the present invention for decorating a table top comprises: providing a smooth table top without protrusions, applying the cover described in the preceding paragraph to the table top, and simultaneously removing the release paper layer (i) from the table cover to make semi-permanent The adhesive layer (ii) adheres to the table top. If necessary, use an appropriate roller or squeegee to dislodge any air pockets trapped under the table covering.

The table covering may be made to cover substantially the entire table top, preferably with no more than 50 mm of any spacing between the covering and the edge of the table. If desired, the table covering may be of such a shape and size that it partially covers one or more edges of the tabletop to which it will be applied, but preferably each piece of covering according to the invention is shaped and sized such that This makes it possible to avoid situations where the covering has to be folded or pleated when it is used on a table.

The printed display layer of the covering may extend over the entire area of the covering, or it may be discontinuous and the printed display may consist of decorative material and/or advertising material.

The table covering of the present invention can be made to basically cover the entire desktop, the area of the display layer is substantially smaller than the area of the table, and the selection of the fixing method of the display layer related to the desktop needs to be suitable for the specific conditions of the example.

If desired, the size and/or shape of the covering can be designed such that it is only suitable to cover a portion of the table top.

If the table covering covers only a portion of the table top, the printed display layer of the covering may extend over substantially the entire area of the covering. On the other hand, the display layer may be on only a small portion of the covering. Printed displays may consist of decorative materials and/or advertising materials.

The invention is characterized in that, for the customer using the table, the nature of the covering is not easily visible except for the printed area, the customer can see the table top through the non-printed area, so the carrier layer consisting of a polymer film and the underlying semi-permanent adhesive The laminate will be completely transparent, so the appearance of the covering becomes a decoration on the tabletop. For such reasons, the thickness of the film is important, and preferred transparent films have a thickness in the range of 10 to 100 microns, more preferably 15 to 70 microns. The polymer used to make the film is preferably a flexible thermoplastic polyester such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

In use, the table covering of the present invention needs to be replaced periodically, for example one month. The role of the semi-permanent adhesive layer is therefore to firmly adhere to the tabletop while the covering is in use, but the covering can be completely removed and replaced at the end of the specified period. A preferred adhesive is a colorless and transparent solvent based acrylic adhesive.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the table cover comprises a second polymer film layer for protecting the printed layer and is adhered to the printed display layer by means of a second adhesive layer. The second polymeric film layer may be composed of a food contact acceptable material. The glue used is preferably an adhesive that can be used for indirect food contact. For the protective polymer layer, the preferred material is a clear oriented polypropylene (OPP) film, and for the glue, a clear EVA adhesive.

Preferably, the thickness of the second polymer film layer is in the range of 5 to 20 microns.

The method of applying a table covering is simple, but care must be taken to ensure that the surface to which the covering is to be applied is clean and smooth, and that there are no protrusions on the surface which may for example be caused by stains or solid particles such as salt.

Due to the inherent thinness of the carrier layer consisting of a polymer film and the precision required when applying the table covering to the table top, in another embodiment of the invention, on the upper surface of the covering An additional layer of release paper is provided, ie on the surface opposite to the base layer (i). A second layer of release paper is provided to facilitate handling of the table covering. Depending on the nature of the carrier layer of the covering, it can be removed before or after applying the covering to the tabletop. The thinner the carrier layer, the more likely the second release paper layer will remain on the covering until after the covering has been applied to the tabletop.

The invention will now be described in more detail by means of an example with reference to the accompanying drawings, illustrating the application of the covering on a desktop, without however in any way limiting this application to the desktop only.

Description of drawings

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an enlarged cross-section of a part of a covering according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a similar diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a schematic plan view showing a rectangular covering according to the present invention;

Figure 4 is a schematic plan view showing a circular covering on a tabletop according to the present invention;

Figure 5 is a schematic plan view showing another embodiment of a circular covering according to the present invention;

Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the rectangular covering of Figure 3 when placed on a table;

Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view showing a square covering when covered on a square desktop;

Figure 8 is a schematic plan view showing a rectangular table covering according to the present invention; and

Figure 9 is a schematic plan view of a circular table covering over a table top according to the present invention.

Detailed ways

The table cover shown in Figure 1 consists of a release paper base layer 1, a semi-permanent adhesive layer 2 on a polymeric carrier layer 3 with a printed display layer 4, and by means of a second The adhesive layer 2a is composed of a second polymer film layer 3a bonded to the printing layer 4 . However, in an alternative embodiment (not shown), the release paper can be omitted and the covering is rolled before application so that when the covering is unrolled immediately before being applied to the tabletop, the adhesive Layers are exposed.

The semi-permanent adhesive layer 2 is a solvent based colorless transparent acrylic adhesive, and the thickness of the layer 2 is about 25 microns.

The carrier layer 3 is made of a commercially available transparent PET film with a thickness of 38 micrometers, on which the printing layer is printed.

The printed display layer 4 is protected by a second polymer layer 3a made of a transparent oriented polypropylene film with a thickness of about 8 micrometers. The second polymer layer is applied by means of an adhesive layer 2a made of a transparent EVA adhesive.

The embodiment shown in Figure 2 is similar to that shown in Figure 1, except that the table covering of Figure 2 includes a second release paper layer 5 on the second polymer layer 3a to aid in application of the covering on the tabletop.

FIG. 3 shows a plan view from above of a rectangular table covering with a transparent PET film carrier layer 6 with a printed layer 7 whose area is smaller than that of the carrier layer.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a circular table covering in place on a circular table top 8 . The table covering is also circular and is dimensioned such that the edge 9 of the transparent polymer film carrier layer 10 is at a distance of 10 mm from the edge of the table top.

The distance between the edge 11 of the printed area of the table cover and the edge 9 of the transparent polymer film is not critical and depends on the nature of the display material comprising the printed layer.

Figure 5 shows a circular table covering in a plan view from above, wherein the transparent polymeric film carrier layer 12 has tabs (tabs) around its edges, these tabs are designed to cover the edges of the circular table top , provides additional fixation for table coverings.

Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating the method of application of the table covering of the present invention, using the rectangular table covering of Figure 3 as an example.

The table covering is applied from one end of the rectangular table top 14, in this example the length of the carrier layer 15 is sufficient to cover the end 16 of the table top. During application, the release paper layer (not shown in the diagram) is removed from the table covering, exposing the semi-permanent adhesive layer of the table covering and enabling the table covering to adhere to the provided smooth table top.

Figure 7 is a perspective view illustrating the application of another table covering according to the invention to a table top.

In this example, a square table covering 17 is being applied to a square table top 18. When the table covering is applied, a release paper layer 19 is smoothly removed from the table covering to expose the adhesive layer.

The printed display layer of the table covering 17 is spread over the entire area of the table covering and the edge 20 of the table covering 17 is 10 mm from the edge of the table top 18 which in this embodiment does not cover the edge of the table top.

Figure 8 shows a rectangular table 21 in plan view from above with a table cover 22 covering only the central "ridge" of the table top. In this embodiment a transparent PET film carrier layer may cover the end of the tabletop (not shown) with a printed layer covering the entire area of the carrier layer which is located on the upper surface of the table.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a circular table covering 23 in place on a circular table top 24 . The table covering is also circular and is dimensioned such that the edge 25 of the transparent polymer film carrier layer is 10 mm from the edge of the table top.

The printed area of the table covering is a small area in the center of the table covering.

Although described above as being applied to a table, the table covering can be used on similar surfaces, such as bar or counter tops.

Claims (18)

CLAIMS 1. A method of converting a tabletop in a business dining and/or drinking establishment into a promotional medium, wherein the tabletop is used by customers, the method comprising: providing a surface covering having a Transparent polymeric film carrier layer, semi-permanent adhesive layer and a release paper layer covering the semi-permanent adhesive layer, the film carrier layer having a printed area forming a printed display layer constituting a promotional medium , when applied to a table top, the nature of the surface covering is not easily visible except in the printed area; when the surface covering is used by the customer, the release paper layer is removed and the semi-permanent adhesive layer is combined with a clean, smooth Contact with a non-protruding tabletop to firmly adhere to the tabletop, thereby applying the surface covering to the tabletop, while the surface covering cannot be easily removed or damaged by the customer but the surface covering can be removed after a specified period of time. complete removal; and replacement of removed surface coverings after a specified period of time. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the surface covering is replaced periodically. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the regular period is one month. 4. The method of any one of claims 1-3, wherein the transparent polymeric film carrier layer has transparent non-printed areas, the semi-permanent adhesive layer is transparent, and when the surface covering When firmly attached to the table top, the surface covering is of such a nature that it is not readily visible to the customer using the table top, except in the printed areas of the film carrier layer, that the table top is seen through the non-printed areas of the film carrier layer, and the surface covering objects are used to decorate the desktop. 5. The method of any one of claims 1-3, wherein the printed display layer is spread over the entire area of the surface covering. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the semi-permanent adhesive layer is a solvent-based colorless and transparent acrylic adhesive. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transparent polymeric film carrier layer is polyethylene terephthalate. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the transparent polymeric film carrier layer has a thickness not greater than 100 microns. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the transparent polymeric film carrier layer has a thickness of 10 to 100 microns. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the transparent polymeric film carrier layer has a thickness of 15 to 70 microns. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the film carrier layer has opposite surfaces, one surface is printed with a printed display layer, wherein a second polymer film layer is bonded to the surface by means of a transparent adhesive layer. The semi-permanent adhesive layer is printed on the printed display layer to protect the printed display layer, and the opposite surface of the film carrier layer. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second polymeric film layer is a food contact acceptable polymer. 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the second polymeric film layer is clear oriented polypropylene. 14. The method of claim 11 wherein said transparent adhesive layer bonding said second polymeric film layer to said printed display layer is a clear EVA adhesive. 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the second polymer film layer has a thickness of 5 to 20 microns. 16. The method of claim 1, wherein a second release paper layer is placed on the surface of the surface covering opposite the release paper layer, the second release paper layer facilitating The operation of a surface covering on a tabletop and its subsequent removal. 17. A surface covering for use in the method of any one of claims 1-16 to convert a tabletop in a business dining and/or drinking establishment into a promotional medium, where it is used by patrons Use of the tabletop, characterized in that said surface covering is suitable for the tabletop and comprises a transparent polymeric film carrier layer, a semi-permanent adhesive layer and a release paper layer covering the semi-permanent adhesive layer, the film carrier layer with There is a printed area forming a printed display layer that constitutes a promotional medium, the release paper layer is removed when the surface covering is used by customers at a business dining and/or drinking establishment, the semi-permanent adhesive layer In contact with the table top and firmly adhered to the table top, while the surface covering cannot be easily removed or damaged by the customer, but the surface covering can be completely removed and replaced after a specified period. and surface coverings with semi-permanent adhesive layers. 18. A tabletop for use by customers in a business dining and/or drinking establishment, which tabletop is converted into a promotional medium by means of the method of any one of claims 1-16, or the surface covering of claim 17 .

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