TWI901576B - Flexible adhesive mounting articles including intermittently connected body segments - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure provides adhesive mounting articles that can be removed from surfaces without damage by having reduced contribution of a hardgood to the peel force generated by the adhesive article during removal. In some instances, this can be accomplished by a hardgood that is flexible in a peel direction and rigid in a weight hanging direction. Such hardgoods may include a plurality of minimally connected body segments arranged about the transverse axis of the hardgood body.

Description

Includes flexible adhesive mounting items for discontinuous connection segments of the body.

This disclosure generally relates to peelable adhesive articles that are able to adhere to or bond to a substrate and that can be removed from the substrate without causing damage to it. This disclosure also generally relates to methods of manufacturing and using such adhesive articles.

The revolutionary ^Command® Adhesive Strip product line is a range of stretchable adhesive strips that firmly adhere to and cleanly remove from a variety of surfaces, including paint, wood, and tile, leaving no pores, streaks, or sticky residue. These products are typically used for bonding to a wide range of surfaces or substrates for numerous applications.

Generally, these products comprise stretch-release adhesive compositions applied to tapes or other backings. Stretch-release adhesives are high-performance pressure-sensitive adhesives that combine strong holding power with clean removal without surface damage. Stretch-release adhesive products are designed to firmly adhere an item (such as a hook (to hold a design or clothing item) or other decorative or functional element) to a surface (an adhesive), but to be cleanly removed when pulled from the surface at a low angle. Clean removal means that no sticky and/or unsightly residue remains on the surface after the stretch-release adhesive is removed, and the surface is not damaged during the removal process. During the stretch release process, as the backing is stretched, the adhesive layer generally remains adhered to the tape backing but detaches from the surface (adhesive).

Peelable adhesive technology has also been incorporated into products for installation. Some exemplary commercially available peelable installation products (such as Jimmy Hook ^™ , GeckoTech ^™ , Elmer's Freestyle ^™ , and Hook Um ^™ ) rely on suction technology and friction or dry adhesive to generate the holding force of the installation device. The installation device includes a semi-rigid plastic backing and a durable component (such as a rigid hook), both integrated into a one-piece article support. The rigid hook is permanently attached to a first primary flat surface of the semi-rigid plastic backing. A second primary flat surface of the backing can be adhered to a wall surface. The second primary flat surface includes one or more of the following: adsorption technology (e.g., numerous micro-adsorption or nano-adsorption elements) and/or a friction adhesive (where the backing is impregnated with a rubber-based adhesive to increase the friction between the substrate and the backing) or a dry adhesive (which relies on van der Waals force). The entire structure can then be removed by peeling.

Existing peelable adhesive products often fail to perform well on a variety of surfaces, including painted and rough surfaces (e.g., drywall). Furthermore, existing peelable products may exhibit low shear strength, thus holding only a small amount of weight, or alternatively, they require a relatively thick construction, which can increase the likelihood of damage when such products are removed from an adhesive. Additionally, mounting devices typically include relatively rigid and durable components for mounting the desired object, increasing the peeling force required to remove the mounting device. This difficulty in removal often necessitates at least several removal steps or the use of multi-component structures that tend to increase manufacturing complexity and cost. To reduce peeling forces during removal, attempts have been made to replace existing backings with materials having lower stiffness (modulus). For example, soft, elastic backings have been shown to result in lower peeling forces, which are correlated with the perceptible stretch (strain) of the adhesive at the release point. Even with these advantageous modifications to the backing material, the inventors recognize that adhesive articles remain difficult to remove in a single step and still suffer visible damage. Therefore, the inventors of this disclosure seek to formulate peelable installation products that possess at least one of the following: higher shear strength, good performance on painted or rough surfaces, consistent retention of higher weight, and/or easier removal from the substrate by the user without damaging the substrate to which they are applied.

The inventors of this disclosure recognize that existing peel-off adhesive products can be improved or enhanced by reducing or eliminating the contribution of the durable material to the peeling force generated by the adhesive during removal. In some cases, this can be achieved by increasing the flexibility of the durable material in one or more directions offset from the direction of gravity provided by the object to be installed. Increased flexibility tends to reduce the peeling force required to remove the product by reducing the peeling force required to separate the durable material from the substrate; therefore, the adhesive articles of this disclosure can utilize numerous adhesive structures that do not damage or impair removability. In some cases, the reinforced structure of the durable material allows the adhesive article to retain more weight. In some embodiments, enhanced performance allows the adhesive article to be used on new surfaces (e.g., bathroom tiles). In some embodiments, enhanced removability improves or enhances the product's performance on certain surfaces (e.g., rough or textured surfaces, such as wallpaper, drywall, etc.).

The inventors of this disclosure also recognize that providing durable articles with anisotropic flexibility is a novel and effective method for improving the performance of adhesive articles while enhancing the non-destructive characteristics of the products.

In one embodiment, this disclosure provides an adhesive article comprising a flexible body and an adhesive disposed adjacent to one of the rear main surfaces of the body. The flexible body includes a plurality of body segments. These body segments are spaced apart at a certain frequency and connected only at discrete locations. The connections may be located adjacent to the edges and central regions of the body and serve to connect adjacent segments. In some embodiments, the body segments are substantially parallel rails.

The flexible body may further include a protrusion for mounting an object. The protrusion may include protrusion segments spaced at a certain frequency. In the present preferred embodiment, these protrusion segments are not directly connected to each other.

The adhesive can be applied directly to the main surface of one of the body segments.

In other embodiments, the flexible body may include a back plate, at least one of its length and width dimensions being greater than the corresponding dimensions of the body segments. The back plate functions as a connector between adjacent body segments and has a thickness significantly smaller than the maximum thickness of the body segments.

As used herein, a "layer" refers to a single layer, which may be continuous or discontinuous on a surface.

As used herein, the terms "height," "depth," "top," and "bottom" are for illustrative purposes only and do not necessarily define the relationship or orientation between surfaces and intrusive features. Therefore, the terms "height" and "depth," as well as "top" and "bottom," should be considered interchangeable.

The use of the term "comprise" and its variations in this specification and the scope of the patent application is not intended to be restrictive.

The terms "preferred" and "preferably" used in the embodiments of this invention indicate that certain benefits may be provided under certain circumstances. However, other embodiments may also be preferred under the same or other circumstances. Furthermore, the reference to one or more preferred embodiments does not imply that other embodiments are not useful, nor is it intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of this invention.

As discussed in this article, all quantities should be considered as modified by the term "about".

As used herein, "a/an," "the," "at least one," and "one or more" are interchangeable. Therefore, for example, an adhesive article containing "an" adhesive layer can be interpreted as an article containing "one or more" adhesive layers.

Furthermore, in this document, the range of numbers described with endpoints includes all numbers falling within that range (e.g., 1 to 5 includes 1, 1.5, 2, 2.75, 3, 3.80, 4, 5, etc.).

As used herein, the term "generally" as a modifier of a characteristic or attribute, unless otherwise specifically defined, means that the characteristic or attribute can be easily identified by someone of ordinary knowledge in the relevant technical field, but absolute precision or perfect match is not required (e.g., within +/- 20% of a quantifiable characteristic). Unless otherwise specifically defined, the term "substantially" indicates a high degree of approximation (e.g., within +/- 10% of a quantifiable characteristic), but again, absolute precision or perfect match is not required. It should be understood that terms such as "same," "equal to," "consistent," "absolute," and "similar" apply to specific situations within common tolerances or measurement errors, rather than requiring absolute precision or perfect match.

The foregoing summary of this disclosure is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment or every embodiment of the invention. The following description more specifically illustrates illustrative embodiments. Guidance is provided in several places throughout this application by a list of examples, which can be used in various combinations. In each case, the cited lists are intended as representative groups only and should not be interpreted as an exhaustive list.

100: Adhesive items/installation items/items

110: Body/Structure

111: First primary surface/front primary surface/primary surface

112: Second primary surface/Rear primary surface/Primary surface

118:Shaft

120: Section/Track

123: Remote

124: Proximal end

125: Length

126: Width

128: First primary surface / Primary surface

129: Second primary surface/surface

130: Connecting tape/Connector tape/Tape

130a, 130b, 130c: Connector with/with tape

131: Section

132: Width

134: Second primary surface/surface

135: Second Primary Surface

140: Adhesive layer

145: Outer surface

150: Install the convex part/convex part

151: Installation Section

153: Remote

154: Proximal

155:Wall

157: concave part

159: Bottom/Bottom Surface

200: Adhesive Items

210: The Body

212: The Later Lord's Surface

220: Rails

240: Adhesive layer

300: Backplate

D: Pitch

S: Thickness

T: Thickness

X: Axis

Y: direction/axis

Z: Direction/Axis

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an illustrative adhesive article of the generally described type herein; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the adhesive article of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of the adhesive articles of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an illustrative adhesive article of the generally described type herein; Figure 5 is a top plan view of the adhesive article of Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a side view of the adhesive articles of Figures 4 and 5.

Layers in some of the illustrated embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to define the thickness (relative or otherwise) or absolute position of any component in an absolute manner. While the foregoing figures illustrate several embodiments of this disclosure, other embodiments mentioned in this specification are contemplated. In all cases, this disclosure is presented in a representative rather than limiting manner. It should be understood that many other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art, which remain within the scope and spirit of the principles of this disclosure.

Various embodiments and implementation schemes will be described in detail. These embodiments should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of this application in any way, and variations and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, only some end uses are described herein, but end uses not specifically mentioned herein are included within the scope of this application. Therefore, the scope of this application should be determined from the scope of the patent application.

This disclosure generally relates to adhesive articles that can be removed from a substrate, wall, or surface (generally, the adhesive) without damaging at least some components of the adhesive or article (e.g., the flexible body described below). As used herein, the terms "without damage/damage-free" or similar mean that the adhesive article can be separated from the substrate without causing visible damage to paint, coatings, resins, coverings, or the underlying substrate, and/or leaving residue. Visible damage to the substrate can take the form of scratches, tears, delamination, breakage, chipping, strain, or the like on any layer of the substrate. Damage can manifest as discoloration, weakening, changes in gloss, changes in haze, or other changes in the appearance of the substrate.

The adhesive article includes one or more peelable adhesive layers adjacent to (2) a flexible mounting body (1). As used herein, the term "peelable" means that the adhesive article can be removed from a substrate or surface by peeling at an angle between about 1° and about 180°. In some embodiments, the adhesive article can be removed from the substrate or surface by peeling at an angle between about 30° and about 120°. In some embodiments, the adhesive article can be removed from the substrate or surface by peeling at an angle of at least about 35°.

Figures 1 through 3 illustrate exemplary embodiments of an adhesive article 100 as generally described herein. The adhesive article 100 includes a flexible mounting body 110 having opposing first and second main surfaces 111 and 112. Figure 1 shows the adhesive article 100 in perspective, wherein an adhesive layer 140 (shown in Figure 3) is disposed beneath the body 110. In some embodiments, the adhesive layer 140 may be substantially optically transparent, making it not particularly visible on the surface of the body 110. In other embodiments, the adhesive layer 140 may be substantially opaque. As seen in Figure 1, the flexible body 110 has a generally rectangular shape defined by an upper edge, a lower edge, and side edges. The shape of the flexible body 110 is not particularly limited and may include any suitable shape or combination of shapes.

The flexible mounting body 110 includes body segments 120 and connecting strips 130. The flexible body 110 in Figures 1 to 3 includes a plurality of rails (i.e., linear body segments) 120 and three connecting strips 130a to 130c. The plurality of linear body segments 120 are each spaced apart from each other by a certain pitch (e.g., edge-to-edge distance) "D" and are directly connected to any adjacent linear segments only at strips 130a to 130c. A first connecting strip 130a directly couples to an adjacent linear segment 120 at its respective distal end 123, while a second connecting strip 130b couples to an adjacent linear segment at its respective proximal end 124. A third connector 130c extends through approximately the center of the flexible body 110. Therefore, the linear segment 120 is freely flexible, at least in the horizontal direction, during attempted peeling and removal of the adhesive article 100.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the linear segment 120 is arranged in a repeating manner around the central horizontal axis 118 of the body 110. The linear segment 120 extends perpendicular to the central axis 118 and is continuous in the y-direction. Alternatively, the linear segment 120 may be configured as a triangular wave, a zigzag wave, or a radial pattern to identify several non-limiting examples.

For reference, Figures 1 to 3 include a Cartesian x-y-z coordinate system. The first and second main surfaces 111, 112 extend substantially parallel to the x-y plane, and the thickness "T" of the body 110 corresponds to the z-axis. The body 110 includes a transverse direction substantially along the x-axis and a longitudinal direction substantially along the y-axis. The arrangement of linear segments 120 includes a defining pitch "D" between the nearest adjacent linear segments in the transverse direction. The repetitive, parallel arrangement of the rails 120 in the flexible body 110 results in the pitch "D" being substantially the same length along each relevant linear segment. Flexibleness can be affected by increasing or decreasing the pitch "D" (i.e., frequency) between or along the length of adjacent segments. The linear segment 120 can be separated by a pitch D within an illustrative range of approximately 0.02 inches to 0.3 inches.

Flexibleness can also be affected by changing the configuration of the linear segments or by increasing or decreasing the number of linear segments 120, meaning that the absolute number of linear segments is not critical; depending on the desired end use, a number of more than three or more than five can provide sufficient performance.

Each body segment 120 includes a cross-sectional thickness "T" in the z-direction. In the depicted mounting article 100, the cross-sectional thickness is continuous over most of the length of the flexible body 110, wherein the thickness gradually decreases towards the proximal and distal connector strips 130a, 130b. In other embodiments, the cross-sectional thickness T at the connector strip of the linear segment 120 may be thicker than at the rest of the body. In some such embodiments, the cross-sectional thickness may include a thickness that gradually decreases towards the center of the body 110. The body segment 120 has a maximum thickness between about 2 mils and about 200 mils, which is the thickest point in the z-direction.

As depicted, connector strips 130a to 130b are substantially continuous across the width of the flexible body 110, while connector strip 130c includes individual strip segments 131 between adjacent rails 120. Rails 220 and connector strips 130a to 130c thus cooperate to define the second primary surface 112 of the body 110. The flexibility and usable adhesive area (as defined below) can also be affected by changing the amount of additional surface area provided by the connector strip 130 to the second primary surface 112, either by increasing or decreasing the number of strips or by changing the size of one, some, or all of the strips.

Not all connector bands 130a to 130c need to extend the full lateral width of the flexible body 110. For example, the center band 130c may only extend the width of the mounting protrusion 150 (described below). Alternatively, only the center band 130c may extend the full lateral width, while either or both of the distal and proximal bands 130a and 130b may only extend a portion of their width.

Each connector band 130 includes a cross-sectional thickness "S" in the z-direction. In the depicted mounting article 100, the cross-sectional thickness is continuous in both width 132 and length of each connector band 130 or band segment 131. In other embodiments, the cross-sectional thickness S at the connector may be thicker than, or vice versa, at the linear segment 120. In any case, the connector band 130 is significantly thinner than the linear segment 120. In some embodiments, the linear segment band is at least twice as thick, in some embodiments at least three times as thick, and in some embodiments at least four times as thick. In one exemplary embodiment, the connector band has a maximum cross-sectional thickness "S" of approximately 0.035 inches, while the linear segment has a maximum thickness T of approximately 0.080 inches. In another exemplary embodiment, the connector strip has a maximum cross-sectional thickness "S" of approximately 0.022 inches, while the linear section has a maximum thickness T of approximately 0.080 inches. In another exemplary embodiment, the connector strip has a maximum cross-sectional thickness "S" of approximately 0.025 inches, while the linear section has a maximum thickness T of approximately 0.130 inches.

The connector strip 130 is substantially parallel to the desired peelable face. In Figures 1 through 3, the desired peelable face is transverse (i.e., horizontal) across the center of the flexible body 110. The relatively thin cross-sectional dimension of the connector strip tends to reduce its contribution to the stiffness of the flexible body in the transverse direction, thereby allowing the body to maintain its desired flexibility for peeling removal. The flexible body 110 can be removed (i.e., peeled) at other angles to the transverse axis, while the linear segment 120 resists peeling in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction. This designed resistance allows the flexible body to retain its mounting weight and exhibit the necessary shear strength, while still allowing for segment manipulation to facilitate removal. Without being bound by theoretical constraints, the configuration of the linear segment 120 and the thin connector strip 130 tends to increase the vertical stiffness of the body to enhance holding strength, while reducing horizontal stiffness to aid peeling removal and providing an enhanced adhesive surface area for attachment to the adhesive.

As illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the linear segment 120 is generally square in cross-section; however, the linear segments of the flexible body can have various cross-sectional shapes. For example, one or more linear segments 120 may have a polygonal cross-sectional shape (e.g., square, tetrahedron, rhombus, trapezoid), which may or may not be a regular polygon, or the cross-sectional shape of the linear segment may be curved (e.g., circular or elliptical). Each linear segment 120 has a length 125 and a width 126, wherein the length is generally substantially greater than the width. When weight is applied in the y-direction, the relatively larger length contributes to the shear holding force of the flexible body. In an exemplary embodiment, the length-to-width ratio is at least 15:1. The illustrative range for the length of each linear segment 125 is between approximately 0.8 inches and 6 inches, while the illustrative range for the width 126 is between approximately 0.05 inches and approximately 0.3 inches.

The first primary surface 128 of the linear segment 120 defines the front primary surface 111 of the flexible body 110. The second primary surface 129 of the linear segment and the second primary surface 134 of the connector strip define the rear primary surface 112. The primary surface 128 defines a first body plane, and the second primary surfaces 129 and 134 cooperate to define a second body plane. The body planes shown are parallel, but in other embodiments they may intersect and form an oblique angle. In the present preferred embodiment, the second primary surfaces 129 and 134, or segment 120 and strip 130, are coplanar, as this tends to ideally increase the available adhesive area. In other alternative embodiments, surfaces 129 and 134 may lie in parallel planes.

A mounting protrusion 150 extends outward from the front main surface 111 of the flexible body 110. The protrusion 150 includes a plurality of mounting segments 151 coupled to a corresponding linear segment 120. Unlike the linear segment 122, the mounting segments 151 are not directly coupled to each other. The lack of coupling allows the article 100 to bend at the mounting protrusion 150 and elsewhere in the body 110. As best identified in FIG3, a recess 157 formed between an upper portion of the linear segment 120 and the mounting segment 151 accepts attachment to a thread or other structure of the object to be mounted. The mounting segments 151 and the corresponding linear segments 122 form an integral structure (wall 155) from the proximal end 154 of the protrusion 150 to the bottom 159 of the recess 157. One edge of the wall 155 of each linear segment-installation segment assembly thus provides the bottom surface 159 of the recess 157.

The distal end 153 of each installation segment 151 extends substantially parallel to the plane of its corresponding linear segment 122.

In the present preferred embodiment, all components of the flexible body are integral or monolithic because they are made from a single piece of material. In other embodiments, the constituent components may be manufactured separately and then joined together to form the flexible body.

A peelable adhesive layer 140 may be disposed on the rear main surface 112 of the flexible body 110, as most clearly depicted in FIG. 3. The adhesive layer 140 may be a single layer or multiple layers. The adhesive layers 140 may each be continuous or discontinuous (e.g., patterned) across the main surface of the body 110. The available mating area of the article 100 includes the total area defined by the surface 145 outside the adhesive layers. In the embodiment lacking a backplate, as detailed below, the available mating area does not include the gaps between the linear segments 120 in the area outside the connector strip 130. The available mating area of the main surface 145 is used to couple the adhesive-mounted article 100 to, for example, a wall surface. In some advantageous embodiments, the adhesive layer 140 may be disposed only across the second primary surface 135 of one or more of the connector strips 130a to 130c, and may not otherwise be present on the remaining surfaces 129 of the rail 120. In other words, the adhesive layer 140 itself will comprise one or more discrete adhesive strips corresponding in position to the connector strips 130. Preferably, all three connector strips will include a co-extended adhesive strip for jointly defining the adhesive layer 140.

In other exemplary embodiments, an article 100 may not have an adhesive layer on the second primary surface 112. For example, the second primary surface may include a component of a detachable connector (e.g., a hook or ring structure). Suitable detachable connectors can be found in U.S. Patents 6,692,807 (Bries et al.) and 9,920,786 (Runge et al.).

As illustrated, the adhesive layer 140 extends no more than the main surfaces 111 and 112 of the flexible body. In other embodiments not shown, the adhesive layer may extend beyond the perimeter of the body 110. The thickness of the (multiple) adhesive layers is not particularly limited, but they are generally substantially continuous across the second main surface 112. In presently preferred embodiments, the thickness of the adhesive layer is no more than 95%, no more than 90%, no more than 80%, no more than 75%, no more than 60%, no more than 50%, no more than 40%, no more than 30%, no more than 20% of the body thickness "T", and in some embodiments, no more than 10% of the body thickness "T". In general embodiments, the adhesive layer 140 has a thickness between about 1 mil and about 8 mils.

The adhesive layer 140 may include a backing or may be unbacked. Unbacked adhesive constructions are described, for example, in U.S. Publication No. 2016/0068722 (Schmitz-Stapela et al.). The adhesive construction 110 may include one or more adhesive layers disposed on a core, as described in International Application No. PCT/US2018/047864 (Krull et al.), which is assigned to the assignee. Other suitable backing materials are found in PCT Applications PCT/US2017/016039 (Runge et al.) and PCT/US2018/039553 (Hoffman et al.). The adhesive layer 140 may be single-layered or multi-layered. The backing and/or core layer can also be single-layered or multi-layered.

Even without any continuous material, the flexible body 110 provides sufficient strength to ensure structural integrity is maintained during mounting of an object onto a surface using the adhesive article 100, depending on the specific application. The body 110 advantageously provides sufficient static shear strength and stiffness in the y-direction to support an object and provide an appropriate degree of resilience to the article 100.

Another exemplary embodiment of an adhesive article 200 is illustrated in Figures 4 through 6. Unless otherwise noted, all other considerations relating to adhesive article 100 also apply to adhesive article 200. Adhesive article 200 includes a flexible body 210 comprising a plurality of linear rails 220 and a backplate 300 extending between the rails 220. The backplate 300 essentially functions as a single connecting strip coupling all linear segments 220.

As depicted, the backplate 300 extends beyond the periphery of the flexible body 210 and includes a length exceeding the corresponding dimensions of the flexible body 210. Although the backplate 300 is generally a single piece, its thickness is generally substantially less than the corresponding thickness of the body 210, allowing for greater flexibility. An adhesive layer 240 (shown in Figure 6) can be fixed to one of the rear main surfaces 212 of the body 210.

A backplate can help conceal unsightly adhesive layers and provide additional rigidity to the adhesive item to help support the weight of the mounted object. The backplate can be manufactured integrally with the flexible body or separately and then fixed together; currently, an integral backplate is preferred.

The thickness of rail 220 is generally at least 3 to 4 times that of the backplate 300. A significant difference in thickness is typically required to offset the potential increase in lateral stress, necessitating additional material between rails 220.

The constituent elements of the adhesive-mounted article disclosed herein will be explored in more detail below.

Flexible entity

In some embodiments, the flexible body is made of a thermoplastic polymer. In some embodiments, the flexible body is made of a thermosetting polymer. In some embodiments, the flexible body is made of a polyolefin material. In some embodiments, the flexible body is made of a polycarbonate material. In some embodiments, the flexible body is made of high-impact polystyrene (HIP). In some embodiments, the flexible body is made of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) trimer. In some embodiments, the flexible body is made of poly(ethylene ether ketone) (PEEK). In some embodiments, the flexible body is made of nylon. In some embodiments, the flexible body is made of two or more polymers. In some embodiments, the flexible body is made of metal. In some embodiments, the flexible body is made of stainless steel. In some embodiments, the metal is painted, glazed, dyed, painted, or coated to alter its appearance. In some embodiments, the flexible body is made of ceramic. In some embodiments, the flexible body is made of glazed ceramic. In some embodiments, the flexible body is made of unglazed ceramic. In some embodiments, the flexible body comprises natural materials, such as wood, bamboo, particleboard, cloth, canvas, or materials derived from biological sources. In some embodiments, the natural materials may be painted, glazed, dyed, or coated to alter their appearance. In some embodiments, the flexible body is made of two or more materials from the above list. In some embodiments, the flexible body is made of two pieces that are reversibly or irreversibly attached, joined, or welded together.

The flexible body can be made of rigid materials, such as (for example) thermoplastics, including polycarbonate, polyester, and ABS. In some embodiments, depending on the specific application, rigid PVC, HIP, PEEK, or nylon may be used. It should be understood that the flexible body can be made of any suitable material that provides adequate load-bearing strength in the y-direction.

The flexible body can be fabricated using any method known in the relevant art field. In a preferred embodiment, the flexible body is fabricated as a single unit by means of injection molding, lamination (e.g., 3D printing, selective laser sintering, selective laser melting, rapid prototyping, etc.), resin transfer molding, compression molding, and similar methods.

In some embodiments, the flexible body comprises two parts, wherein a first part serves as a mounting surface for attaching an adhesive article to a substrate, and a second part serves as a suspension component for suspending or mounting the object to the substrate. The two parts can be reversibly attached using mechanical fasteners, hook and loop material, or an additional layer of adhesive.

In some embodiments, multiple peelable adhesive layers may be attached to a flexible body using a single lamination process. In some embodiments, multiple peelable adhesive layers and a body may be attached to a flexible body using multiple lamination processes.

In some embodiments, two or more injection molding steps may be used, employing one or more molds to attach the mounting protrusion to the flexible body.

In some embodiments, multiple peelable adhesive layers can be manually attached by the end user.

(Multiple) peelable adhesive layers

The adhesives used in the adhesive articles described herein may include any adhesive having the desired properties. In some embodiments, the adhesive is peelable. In some embodiments, the adhesive is cleanly released from the surface of the adhesive when the surface of the self-adhesive is peeled off at an angle of about 35° or less. In some embodiments, the peelable adhesive is released from a surface of an adhesive when the surface of the self-adhesive is peeled off at an angle of about 35° or greater, such that substantially no adhesive residue remains on the surface of the adhesive.

The adhesive may be any adhesive described in, for example, any of the following patent applications, all of which are incorporated herein by reference: International Publications Nos. WO/2015/035556, WO/2015/035960, WO/2017/136219, WO/2017/136188, and U.S. Patent Application No. 2015/034104, the entire text of which is incorporated herein by reference.

In some embodiments, the peelable adhesive is a pressure-sensitive adhesive. Any suitable composition, material, or ingredient can be used in pressure-sensitive adhesives. A general description of useful pressure-sensitive adhesives can be found in the Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Engineering, Vol. 13, Wiley-Interscience Publishers (New York, 1988). Additional descriptions of useful pressure-sensitive adhesives can be found in the Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Technology, Vol. 1, Interscience Publishers (New York, 1964). Pressure-sensitive adhesive compositions are well known to those skilled in the art to which they belong, possessing properties including: (1) adhesiveness; (2) adhesion with pressure not exceeding that of a finger; (3) the ability to hold firmly to the adhesive; and (4) sufficient cohesive strength to allow for clean removal from the adhesive. Materials found to be effective as pressure-sensitive adhesives are polymers designed and formulated to exhibit the necessary viscoelasticity, resulting in a desired balance between adhesiveness, release tack, and shear retention. Suitable PSAs may be based on cross-linked or non-cross-linked (meth)acrylic polymers, rubber, thermoplastic elastomers, polysiloxanes, polyurethanes, and the like, and may include tackifiers to provide the desired adhesiveness, as well as other additives. In some embodiments, the PSA is based on (meth)acrylate PSA or at least one (meth)acrylate, wherein (meth)acrylate refers to both acrylate and methacrylate groups. In some embodiments, the PSA is an adhesive based on an olefin block copolymer. For example, acrylic-based pressure-sensitive adhesives are described in U.S. Patent No. 4,726,982 (Traynor et al.) and U.S. Patent No. 5,965,256 (Barrera). Polysiloxane-based pressure-sensitive adhesives are described in, for example, U.S. Patent No. 6,730,397 (Melancon et al.) and U.S. Patent No. 5,082,706 (Tangney), and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/721,958, filed August 23, 2018 and assigned to the assignee. For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0137375 (Hansen et al.) describes pressure-sensitive adhesives based on polyurethanes. For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0335299 (Wang et al.) describes pressure-sensitive adhesives based on olefin block copolymers.

Exemplary pressure-sensitive adhesives employ one or more thermoplastic elastomers, for example, bonded to one or more tackifying resins. In some embodiments, the adhesive is not a pressure-sensitive adhesive.

In some embodiments, the peelable adhesive layer may include at least one of rubber, polysiloxane, or acrylic-based adhesives. In some embodiments, the peelable adhesive layer may include... This includes pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSA). In some embodiments, the peelable adhesive may include adhesive rubber adhesives, such as natural rubber; alkenes; polysiloxanes, such as polysiloxane polyurea or polysiloxane block copolymers; synthetic rubber adhesives, such as polyisoprene, polybutadiene, and styrene-isoprene-styrene, styrene-ethylene-butene-styrene, and styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers, and other synthetic elastomers; and adhesive or unadhesive acrylic adhesives, such as copolymers of isooctyl acrylate and acrylic acid, which can be polymerized by radiation, dissolution, suspension, or emulsification techniques; polyurethane; polysiloxane block copolymers; and combinations thereof.

Generally, it may also include any known additives applicable to adhesive formulations. Additives include plasticizers, anti-aging agents, UV stabilizers, colorants, heat stabilizers, anti-infective agents, fillers, crosslinking agents, and mixtures and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the adhesive may be reinforced with fibers or fiber veneers, which may include inorganic and/or organic fibers. Suitable fiber veneers may include woven, nonwoven, or knitted webs or veneers. For example, the fibers in a mesh screen may include metal wires, ceramic fibers, glass fibers (e.g., fiberglass), and organic fibers (e.g., natural and/or synthetic organic fibers).

In some embodiments, the adhesive includes a tackifier. Some exemplary tackifiers include at least one of the following: polyterpenes, terpene phenols, rosin esters, and/or rosin acids.

In some embodiments, the peelable adhesive is a flowable adhesive that can be applied to the backing. In some embodiments, the peelable adhesive is a more solid adhesive, as generally described in, for example, German Patent No. 33 31 016.

In some embodiments, the peelable adhesive has a Tg between approximately -125°C and approximately 20°C, as determined by dynamic mechanical analysis of the tan δ peak value. In some embodiments, the peelable adhesive has a Tg between approximately -70°C and approximately 0°C. In some embodiments, the peelable adhesive has a Tg between approximately -60°C and approximately -20°C. In some embodiments, the peelable adhesive has a Tg greater than -80°C, greater than -70°C, greater than -60°C, greater than -50°C, greater than -40°C, or greater than -30°C. In some embodiments, the peelable adhesive has a Tg less than 20°C, 10°C, 0°C, -10°C, -20°C, or -30°C.

Some peelable adhesives used in the adhesive articles disclosed herein have a storage modulus at 25°C of about 300,000 Pa or greater, about 400,000 Pa or greater, about 500,000 Pa or greater, or about 1,000,000 Pa or greater, as determined by dynamic mechanical analysis. In other embodiments, the adhesive has a storage modulus at 25°C of 750,000 Pa or less, 500,000 Pa or less, 400,000 Pa or less, 300,000 Pa or less, or 250,000 Pa or less, as determined by dynamic mechanical analysis.

In some embodiments, the thickness of the peelable adhesive on at least one of the first or second main surfaces of the core is about 1 μm to about 1 mm.

In some embodiments, the adhesive properties of the adhesive are in the range of 0.1 N/dm to 25 N/dm. In some embodiments, the adhesive properties of the adhesive are in the range of 0.5 N/dm to 10 N/dm. In some embodiments, the adhesive properties of the adhesive are in the range of 1 N/dm to 5 N/dm.

In some embodiments, the peelable adhesive can provide, for example, a shear strength of 1 to 20 pounds per square inch, as measured by ASTM Test Method D3654M-06.

In some embodiments, the peelable adhesive is customized to achieve peeling with minimal or no damage. Exemplary methods and articles for doing so are described, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 6,835,452 and International Publications Nos. WO/2018/039584 and WO/2017/136188, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

(Multiple) adhesive items

In some embodiments, the adhesive article further includes one or more release linings. The release lining may be, for example, on any or both of the main surfaces of the adhesive layers. The release lining protects the adhesive during manufacturing, shipping, and prior to use. When a user wishes to use the adhesive article, the user can peel off or remove the release lining to expose the adhesive. Examples of suitable linings include paper (e.g., kraft paper) or polymer films (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyester). At least one surface of the lining may be treated with a release agent (such as polysiloxane, fluorinated compounds, or other release materials based on low surface energy) to provide a release lining. Suitable release liner materials and methods for treating them are described in, for example, U.S. Patents 4,472,480, 4,980,443, and 4,736,048, which are incorporated herein by reference. A preferred release liner material is fluoroalkyl silicone polycoated paper. Release liner materials may be printed with lines, brand logos, or other information.

In some embodiments, the adhesive article disclosed herein can be removed from a substrate or surface without causing damage. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the adhesive article can be removed from at least one of painted drywall and wallpaper without causing damage.

Some adhesive articles disclosed herein exhibit excellent shear strength. Some embodiments of this disclosure have shear strengths exceeding 1600 minutes, as measured according to ASTM D3654-82. Some embodiments of this disclosure have shear strengths exceeding 10,000 minutes, as measured according to ASTM D3654-82. Some other embodiments of this disclosure have shear strengths exceeding 100,000 minutes, as measured according to ASTM D3654-82.

Some adhesive articles disclosed herein exhibit lower peel strength, making them easier to remove. Others exhibit higher peel strength but still allow for non-destructive removal. Some adhesive articles disclosed herein may have higher peel strength to allow users to handle the adhesive article without accidental separation. Some embodiments of this disclosure have peel strength between about 5 oz/in and 50 oz/in. Some embodiments of this disclosure have peel strength between about 10 oz/in and 40 oz/in. Some embodiments of this disclosure have peel strength between about 15 oz/in and 30 oz/in.

Some adhesive articles disclosed herein exhibit improved load-bearing capacity, holding a weight of 10 lb for at least 72 hours. In a presently preferred embodiment, the adhesive articles disclosed herein exhibit improved load-bearing capacity, holding a weight of 10 lb for at least one week. In a presently preferred embodiment, the adhesive articles disclosed herein exhibit improved load-bearing capacity, holding a weight of 10 lb for at least two weeks.

Some of the adhesive articles disclosed herein possess sufficiently high tensile strength at break, such that the adhesive article will not break before being removed from the self-adhesive at an angle of 35° or greater.

In some embodiments, the adhesive articles of this disclosure exhibit enhanced conformability to substrates or surfaces compared to prior art adhesive articles. In some embodiments, when adhered to or attached to a substrate or surface, the adhesive articles of this disclosure retain more weight than prior art adhesive articles. In some embodiments, when adhered to or attached to a substrate or surface, the adhesive articles of this disclosure retain more weight for a longer period than prior art adhesive articles. In some embodiments, the adhesive articles of this disclosure maintain adhesion to textured, rough, or irregular surfaces for a longer period than prior art adhesive articles. In some embodiments, when adhered to textured, rough, or irregular surfaces, the adhesive articles of this disclosure retain a greater amount of weight than prior art adhesive articles.

The adhesive article disclosed herein advantageously provides enhanced load-bearing capacity while reducing or eliminating substrate damage during removal. Therefore, the presently preferred embodiment of this disclosure demonstrates effective load-bearing capacity, stronger adhesion per square inch of usable adhesive area, and peelability from painted drywall substrates without damage. Furthermore, after removal of the article from the adhesive, at least one of the flexible body and the adhesive layer is generally reusable. Generally, the flexible body can be reused with a new adhesive layer. In other embodiments, the entire adhesive article is repositionable or reusable.

Method for making the adhesive items described in this article

The adhesive articles described herein can be manufactured in various ways. One embodiment involves disposing an adhesive on or adjacent to a main surface of a flexible body.

The adhesive can be applied to the flexible body in any known manner, including, for example, applying the pressure-sensitive adhesive composition to a release liner, applying it directly to the body, or forming it as a separate layer (e.g., applying it to a release liner) and then laminating it onto the body. An adhesive can be deposited onto a flexible substrate using a known deposition method, including, for example, solvent coating methods, aqueous coating methods, or hot melt coating methods, such as scraper coating, roller coating, reverse roller coating, gravure coating, wire rod coating, narrow-slit orifice coating, narrow-slit die coating, extrusion coating, or similar methods.

Methods of using adhesive articles as described in this article

The peelable article disclosed herein can be used in various ways. In some embodiments, the adhesive article is applied, attached to, or pressed into the adhesive. In this manner, the adhesive article comes into contact with the adhesive. If a release liner is present, the release liner is removed before the adhesive article is applied, attached to, or pressed into the adhesive. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the adhesive is wiped with alcohol before the adhesive article is applied, attached to, or pressed into the adhesive.

In order to remove the adhesive article from the adhesive body, at least a portion of the adhesive article is peeled or pulled off the adhesive body. In some embodiments, the flexible body and the adhesive are removed together. In other embodiments, the flexible body is removed first to access the adhesive layer.

Adhesive items can be used individually, as one of many items attached to a surface, or as part of a stack of adhesive items. In a later embodiment, the resulting structure will include a plurality of adhesive items arranged perpendicularly to each other.

Applications

Adhesives can be used in humid or high-humidity environments, such as those found in bathrooms. For example, they can be adhered to toilets (e.g., toilet tanks), bathtubs, sinks, and walls. Adhesives can also be used in shower rooms, changing rooms, steam rooms, swimming pools, hot tubs, and kitchens (e.g., kitchen sinks, dishwashers, back splash areas, refrigerators, and coolers). Adhesives are also suitable for low-temperature applications, including outdoor applications and refrigerators. Suitable outdoor applications include bonding items, such as those marked, to outdoor surfaces, such as windows, doors, and vehicles.

Adhesives can be used to mount various objects and surfaces, such as painted drywall, plaster, concrete, glass, ceramics, fiberglass, metal, or plastic. Mountable items include, but are not limited to, wall mounts, storage racks, brackets, baskets, containers, decorations (such as holiday decorations), calendars, posters, distributors, cable clips, body side moldings on vehicles, handles, and signage applications (such as road signs, vehicle markings, transport markings, and reflectors).

Adhesive items can also be initially repositionable and even reused multiple times until one layer of the adhesive loses its stickiness. As used herein, "repositionable" means applying an adhesive item to a substrate, removing it, and reapplying it without twisting, damaging, or destroying the adhesive item or the substrate.

The patents, patent documents, and patent applications cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety, just as each of the aforementioned documents is incorporated herein by reference individually. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the inventive concept. Therefore, the scope of this disclosure should not be limited to the structures described herein. Those skilled in the art will understand that many variations can be made to the above embodiments and implementations without departing from their fundamental principles. Furthermore, various modifications and variations in this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art and will not depart from the spirit and scope of this invention. Therefore, the scope of this application should be determined solely by the following scope of the claims and their equivalents.

100: Adhesive items/installation items/items

110: Body/Structure

111: First primary surface/front primary surface/primary surface

118:Shaft

120: Section/Track

123: Remote

124: Proximal end

125: Length

130a, 130b, 130c: Connector with/with tape

131: Section

134: Second primary surface/surface

150: Install the convex part/convex part

151: Installation Section

153: Remote

154: Proximal

D: Pitch

X: Axis

Y: direction/axis

Z: Direction/Axis

Claims (19)

An adhesive article for mounting an object to a surface, the article comprising: an adhesive layer; a flexible body having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, and having a plurality of discrete body segments extending along the longitudinal direction, the body segments being arranged at a defined pitch along the transverse direction, wherein the flexible body is more rigid in the longitudinal direction than in the transverse direction, wherein the body segments are coupled together by one or more connector straps and respectively disposed between the adhesive layer and the body segments. As in claim 1, the thickness of one of the body sections is at least twice the thickness of one of the connector strips. As in claim 2, the thickness of the adhesive article, wherein the thickness of the body section is at least three times the thickness of the connector strip. As in claim 1, the adhesive article wherein the one or more connector strips include one connector strip disposed at each of a top edge and a bottom edge of the body. As in claim 4, the adhesive article wherein the one or more connector strips further comprises a connector strip extending across the center of the flexible body. An adhesive article for mounting an object to a surface, the article comprising: an adhesive layer; a flexible body having a longitudinal and a transverse direction, and having a plurality of discrete body segments extending along the longitudinal direction and a backplate extending between the body segments, the backplate being configured as a single connecting strip coupling all the body segments, wherein the adhesive layer is fixed to the backplate, wherein the body segments are arranged at a defined pitch along the transverse direction, and wherein the flexible body is more rigid in the longitudinal direction than in the transverse direction; wherein the thickness of the backplate is less than the thickness of the corresponding flexible body, allowing for greater flexibility; wherein the thickness of one of the body segments is at least three times the thickness of one of the backplate segments. For example, in any of the adhesive articles described in requests 1 to 6, each body segment is arranged parallel to an adjacent linear segment. For example, in the adhesive item of request item 7, all body segments are arranged parallel to each other. An adhesive article as described in any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the adhesive layer is disposed on a rear main surface of the flexible body. An adhesive article as described in any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the adhesive layer includes a peelable adhesive. An adhesive article as described in any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the flexible body includes a mounting protrusion. As in claim 11, the adhesive article wherein the mounting protrusion includes a plurality of discrete mounting segments, each of which extends outward from a main body segment. As in claim 11, the adhesive article wherein the mounting protrusion defines a recess located between the mounting protrusion and the body segments. For example, in the adhesive article of claim 11, the flexible body and the mounting protrusion are a single piece. The adhesive article according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the flexible body comprises one of polycarbonate, polyester, HIPS, PEEK, nylon, ABS, and combinations thereof. For example, the adhesive article according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the body segments are oriented perpendicular to the horizontal axis of the body. An adhesive article as described in any of requests 1 through 6, containing at least three body segments. Such as the adhesive item in claim 17, and containing at least five body segments. As in claim 6, the adhesive article wherein the body segments comprise a plurality of linear tracks.