Method of Storing and Transporting Strips of Adhesive Material

Abstract

A plurality of strips of tape, attached to a single release liner and separated from the adjacent strip of material by a perforated area, i.e. perforated slits separate each strip of adhesive material and separate the base layers into sections. These perforations allow for the base layer featuring the strips of adhesive material to be folded such that the strips of adhesive material are aligned and for easy separation of the different sections of base layer featuring the strips of adhesive material. This configuration allows a single release liner, featuring a plurality of strips of adhesive material to be divided into separate release liners each featuring less than all the strips of adhesive material attached to same. The release liner can be folded along the perforations and packaged into a wrapper featuring a hanging hole making the finished product convenient to display.

Claims

1. A method of storing and transporting strips of adhesive material comprising providing a release liner; dividing the release liner into a plurality of sections by cutting perforations into the release liner; and attaching at least one strip of adhesive material to at least one of the sections of the release liner such that an entirety of the at least one adhesive strip is attached to the release liner.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of strips of adhesive material wherein each section of the release liner has a single strip of adhesive material attached thereto.

3. The method of storing and transporting strips of adhesive material of claim 2 further comprising folding the release liner along the perforations to stack the sections one on top of the other to form a folded product.

4. The method of storing and transporting strips of adhesive material of claim 3 further comprising packaging the folded product in a wrapper that has a hanging hole punched therein.

5. The method of storing and transporting strips of adhesive material of claim 4 further comprising packaging the folded product in a flow wrapper that is closed by heat sealing.

6. The method of storing and transporting strips of adhesive material of claim 2 wherein the perforations separate the release liner into vertically oriented sections that are equal in width and height.

7. The method of storing and transporting strips of adhesive material of claim 2 wherein the perforations separate the release liner into vertically oriented sections having different heights and/or widths.

8. The method of storing and transporting strips of adhesive material of claim 2 wherein the strips of adhesive are all the same length.

9. The method of storing and transporting strips of adhesive material of claim 2 wherein the strips of adhesive are not all the same length.

10. The method of storing and transporting strips of adhesive material of claim 2 further comprising at least two strips of adhesive material being attached to at least one of the sections of the release liner.

11. The method of storing and transporting strips of adhesive material of claim 3 further comprising punching a hole in the release liner after the sections of release liner are folded.

12. The method of storing and transporting strips of adhesive material of claim 2 further comprising packaging a card with the folded release liner that has a hole in it.

13. A method of storing and transporting strips of adhesive material comprising: cutting perforations into a release liner thereby separating the release liner into sections; attaching a strip of adhesive material to each section such that the entire length of the strip of adhesive material is attached to a single section of the release liner; folding the sections of the release liner forming a folded product that is the approximate size and width of a single section of the release liner; and packaging the folded product in a wrapper.

14. The method of storing and transporting strips of adhesive material of claim 13 further comprising attaching two strips of adhesive material of different lengths to a single section of the release liner.

15. The method of storing and transporting strips of adhesive material of claim 13 further comprising using a fastener to secure each section of the release liner in the folded product to each other.

16. The method of storing and transporting strips of adhesive material of claim 13 wherein the perforations separate the release liner into vertically oriented sections that are equal in width and height.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is top plan view of the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 2 is flow chart showing the device being placed into a wrapper;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the folding of the device; and

[0014] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the fully packaged device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the presently disclosed device used in the inventive method. FIG. 1 shows a plurality of strips of adhesive material 10, e.g. tape, attached to a single base layer or release liner 11. Each strip of adhesive material 10 is releasably attached to the release liner 11 and the entire length of each strip of adhesive material 10 is attached to the release liner 11. Each strip of adhesive material 10 is separated from the adjacent strip of adhesive material 10 by a perforated area 12, i.e. perforated slits 13 in the release liner 11 separate each strip of adhesive material 10 and separate the base layer or release liner 11 into sections 14. These perforations 13 allow for the base layer 11 featuring the strips of adhesive material 10 to be folded such that the strips of adhesive material 10 are aligned—a user can fold the base layer/release liner 11 along the perforations 13 such that the sections 14 are stacked one on top of the other while still being held together at the perforations 13 to form a folded product the structure of which is reminiscent of an accordion. In addition, the perforations 13 allow for easy separation of the different sections 14 of base layer 11 featuring the strips of adhesive material 10.

[0016] In this embodiment, one or more of the sections 14 of release liner 11 have a second, shorter strip of adhesive material 10 sometimes referred to as a “tack down strip.” The user can peel the tack down strip 20 away from the release liner 11 first and use it to secure a flap on a box or other structure that needs to be taped down while the user pulls a longer strip of adhesive material away from the release liner and properly sets it where desired. This makes for a simpler and neater package closure.

[0017] FIG. 2 demonstrates the packaging of the release liner 11 to form a “booklet.” The release liner/base layer 11 is folded along the perforations 13 to create the partially folded structure 15 that is shown in FIG. 3. There are a number of different ways to fold the partially folded structure 15 into a completely folded structure 16. One basic method is shown in FIG. 3. In this method the user starts with a section 14 that is at one end of the unfolded structure and either folds that section over on top of a second adjacent section 14 or, as is shown in FIG. 3, underneath a second, adjacent section 14. Then the first and second sections 14 are folder over the next section, in top of the next, third section in this case. This process is repeated until the user has a completely folded structure 16. The completely folded structure 16 is then inserted into a wrapper 18 (represented by the shading in the completely folded structure shown in FIG. 2).

[0018] A preferred process of folding the sections is shown in FIG. 3. The inventor has determined that folding one or two sections 14 on top of the rest of the release liner 11 first, then continuing to fold sections 14 of the partially folded structure 15 underneath other sections 14 until the completely folded structure 16 results. FIG. 4 shows that the first two sections 14 on the right side of the release liner 11 can be folded first over onto the adjacent second two sections 14 that are situated to the left of and adjacent to the first two sections 14. This process is repeated until the partially folded structure 15 is three sections 14 wide and there is a single section 14 that has not been folded at the end opposite the end where the user started folding. That single section 14 is then folded underneath the rest of the partially folded structure 15 and the portion having two sections 14 folded repeatedly on top of each other is folded to form a completely folded structure 16 that is the width of and length of a single section of the release liner 11. Preferred embodiments and the inventor's anticipated best mode of the method use a release liner 11 that is divided into sections 14 that are equal in length and width or approximately equal in length and width. Approximately in this context means within 1 centimeter of being equal in length or width.

[0019] FIG. 4 shows the finished folded product 16 packaged in its final form. Preferred embodiments and the inventor's anticipated best mode of this method include a folded product 16 that has a fastener 21 at either end attaching the sections to each other and an optional card 22 that is included with the completely folded structure 16. The wrapper 18 itself has a hanging hole 19 punched into it, ideally at a point that extends away from the folded product 16. If there is a card enclosed with the completely folded structure, then there will be a hanging hole 19 punched into that structure as well.

[0020] This configuration allows a single release liner, featuring a plurality of strips of adhesive material to be divided into separate release liners each featuring less than all of the strips of adhesive material attached to same. While the inventor anticipates that it will be more commercially practical for the perforations to separate each of the strips of adhesive material, a skilled artisan can appreciate that more than one strip of adhesive material can be attached to a single section of the base layer. This configuration allows the user to easily store the correct amount of packing material needed to seal a paper-based container without storing an entire roll of tape. In addition, it allows the user to place the strips of tape anywhere on the container that they desire. The design also helps the device lay flat which is more aesthetically pleasing as the sections of the folded “booklet” can be stapled or glued together. When the user opens the device, they have access to a booklet of tape strips and release liners. A hole punched in the top of the device allows the device to be folded and then hung from a hook, such as a in a point-of-sale display.

[0021] Reference throughout the specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout the specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.

[0022] Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.

[0023] It is understood that the above described embodiments are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiment, including the best mode, is to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, if any, in conjunction with the foregoing description.

[0024] While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above-described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.