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Publication Number
US-10092455-B2
Publication Date
2018-10-09
Expiration Date
Abstract
A removable covering for an object includes an adhered section that is adhered to the object (e.g., adhered to a receiving surface of the object via an adhesive layer) and a free section that is not adhered to the object. The removable covering is sufficiently flexible to allow at least partial removal of the adhered section from the object by application of a force to the removable covering. Typically, the removable covering is adhered to the object such that resistance to removal of the covering from the object varies at different zones of attachment between the removable covering and the object. The resistance variation may be achieved, for example, by employing tabs, loops, folds, varying-strength adhesive strips, textures and/or release coatings. Exemplary packaging systems (e.g., containing removable coverings and/or objects) include features such that resistance to removal of the packaging system from an object varies at different phases of removal.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a substantially planar removable covering for an object. The removable covering includes first and second free sections that are not adhered to the object, and first and second adhered sections that are adhered to the object. The first adhered section and the second adhered section are connected to opposite ends of the first free section so that the first free section is positioned between the first adhered section and the second adhered section, and the second free section is positioned between the first free section and the second adhered section.
The removable covering is sufficiently flexible to allow at least partial removal of the first adhered section from the object by application of a force to the removable covering. The arrangement supports removal behavior initiated by applying force to the removable covering, rather than requiring the entire covering to be removed as a single unit.
In further embodiments, the force required to remove the removable covering from the object varies at different zones of attachment between the removable covering and the object. The zone-dependent removal resistance is described through features that affect releasability and resistance, including zones of attachment with different attachment resistance, varied peel strength resistance, and structural or surface features that provide different resistance along a peel axis or at different attachment zones.
Claims Coverage
The document contains three independent claims (clm-00001, clm-00017, clm-00019). Across these independent claims, the coverage centers on a substantially planar removable covering with alternating free and adhered sections that enable at least partial removal of an adhered section by applying force, and further specifies that removal resistance varies by zone of attachment.
Substantially planar removable covering with alternating free and adhered sections
A substantially planar removable covering for an object comprising a first free section that is not adhered to the object; a second free section that is not adhered to the object; a first adhered section that is adhered to the object; and a second adhered section that is adhered to the object, where the first adhered section and the second adhered section are connected to opposite ends of the first free section so that the first free section is positioned between the first adhered section and the second adhered section, and where the first free section and the second free section are connected to opposite ends of the second adhered section so that the second adhered section is positioned between the first free section and the second free section.
Flexibility enabling at least partial removal by applying force
The removable covering is sufficiently flexible to allow at least partial removal of the first adhered section from the object by application of a force to the removable covering.
Zone-dependent variation of the force required to remove
The force required to remove the removable covering from the object varies at different zones of attachment between the removable covering and the object.
Zone-dependent variation of resistance to removal
The removable covering is adhered to the object such that resistance to removal of the removable covering from the object varies at different zones of attachment between the removable covering and the object.
Overall, the independent claims collectively cover a flexible, substantially planar removable covering with alternating non-adhered and adhered sections configured to permit at least partial removal of an adhered section by applied force, while further requiring that the force or resistance to removal varies across zones of attachment.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
Packaging/envelope systems that peel away by applying opposite forces to opposite ends, where the packaging and backing interact to provide staged increases in removal resistance and can expose an object or allow alignment without direct manipulation.
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