MULTI-LAYERED DECORATIVE WRAP AND METHOD OF USE OF THE SAME

Abstract

A decorative wrap of the type used for covering automotive and other surfaces for decorative or protective purposes. The wrap is multi-layered such that multiple film layers are applied in a single application, but can be individually removed. Tabs or staggered layers can be added to facilitate the initiation of removal of a given film layer.

Claims

1. A decorative wrap for decorating an object, said decorative wrap comprising: at least two layers of a flexible film, said at least two layers comprising a first layer and a second layer, said second layer being disposed over said first layer, said first layer having an upper surface and an undersurface, said second layer having an upper surface and an undersurface, at least one of said layers being decorated with a decoration; a first releasably securable adhesive on said undersurface of said first layer for releasable securement to an exterior surface of said object; and a second releasably securable adhesive interposed between said upper surface of said first layer and said undersurface of said second layer, whereupon when said first releasably securable adhesive is secured to said exterior surface of said object said upper surface of said second layer is visible so that said decoration can be seen, said second layer being configured to be removed from said first layer leaving said first layer in place on the object.

2. The decorative wrap of claim 1, wherein both of said layers are decorated with a respective decoration.

3. The decorative wrap of claim 1, wherein said decoration comprises at least one of a color and a graphic.

4. The decorative wrap of claim 1, additionally comprising a liner layer releasably secured to said first releasably securable adhesive on said undersurface of said first layer, said liner layer being configured for removal from said first releasably securable adhesive to expose said first releasably securable adhesive.

5. The decorative wrap of claim 1, wherein said second layer comprises at least one tab configured for enabling a user to grasp said at least one tab to remove said second layer from said first layer.

6. The decorative wrap of claim 5, wherein said first layer includes a peripheral edge portion, and wherein said second layer includes a peripheral edge portion, said at least one tab extending from said peripheral edge portion of said second layer and beyond said peripheral edge portion of said first layer.

7. The decorative wrap of claim 1, wherein said second layer includes at least one peripheral edge portion and said first layer includes at least one peripheral edge portion, and wherein said at least one peripheral edge portion of said second layer extends beyond said at least one peripheral edge portions of said first layer.

8. The decorative wrap of claim 1, additionally comprising a third layer of a flexible film which is releasably secured to said upper surface of said second layer by a releasably securable adhesive.

9. The decorative wrap of claim 7, wherein said at least one of said first, second and third layer comprises a decoration.

10. The decorative wrap of claim 8, wherein said decoration comprises at least one of a color and a graphic.

11. A decorated vehicle comprising: a vehicle having an exterior surface; and a decorative wrap decorating said exterior surface of said vehicle, said decorative wrap comprising: at least two layers of a flexible film, said at least two layers comprising a first layer and a second layer, said second layer being disposed over said first layer, said first layer having an upper surface and an undersurface, said second layer having an upper surface and an undersurface, at least one of said layers being decorated with a decoration; a first releasably securable adhesive on said undersurface of said first layer for releasable securement to said exterior surface of said r vehicle; and a second releasably securable adhesive interposed between said upper surface of said first layer and said undersurface of said second layer, whereupon when said first releasably securable adhesive is secured to said exterior surface of said vehicle said upper surface of said second layer is visible so that said decoration can be seen, said second layer being configured to be removed from said first layer leaving said first layer in place on said vehicle.

12. The decorated vehicle of claim 11, wherein said decoration comprises at least one of a color and a graphic.

13. The decorated vehicle of claim 11, additionally comprising a third layer of a flexible film which is releasably secured to said upper surface of said second layer by a releasably securable adhesive.

14. The decorated vehicle of claim 13, wherein said at least one of said first, second and third layer comprises a decoration.

15. The decorated vehicle of claim 14, wherein said decoration comprises at least one of a color and a graphic.

16. A method of decorating a vehicle having an exterior surface, said method comprising: providing a decorative wrap comprising at least two layers of a flexible film, said at least two layers comprising a first layer, and a second layer, said first layer having an upper surface and an undersurface, said second layer having an upper surface and an undersurface, at least one of said layers being decorated with a decoration, said first and second layers being releasably secured together by a releasably securable adhesive whereupon said second layer is disposed over said first layer, said undersurface of said first layer including another releasably securable adhesive; and applying said decorative wrap to said exterior surface whereupon said another releasably securable adhesive releasably secures said decorative wrap on said exterior surface such that said decoration is visible, said second layer being configured to be removed from said first layer when desired, leaving said first layer in place on said exterior surface of said vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said second layer comprises at least one tab configured for enabling a user to grasp said at least one tab to remove said second layer from said first layer when desired.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said first layer includes a peripheral edge portion, and wherein said second layer includes a peripheral edge portion, said at least one tab extending from said peripheral edge portion of said second layer and beyond said peripheral edge portion of said first layer.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said second layer includes at least one peripheral edge portion and said first layer includes at least one peripheral edge portion, and wherein said at least one peripheral edge portion of said second layer extends beyond said at least one peripheral edge portion of said first layer.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein said method comprises removing said second layer from said first layer by peeling or separating a portion of said second layer from an underlying portion of said first layer to produce an open interface therebetween and introducing an adhesive remover into said open interface

21. The decorative wrap of claim 1, wherein the object comprises the body of a vehicle having an exterior surface which is curved, and wherein said second layer is transparent to enable the appearance of said first layer to be seen through said second layer.

22. The decorated vehicle of claim 11, wherein the vehicle comprises a body having an exterior surface which is curved, and wherein said second layer is transparent to enable the appearance of said first layer to be seen through said second layer.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the vehicle comprises a body having an exterior surface which is curved, and wherein said second layer is transparent to enable the appearance of said first layer to be seen through said second layer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0029] FIG. 1 is a greatly enlarged cross sectional view of a multi-layered decorative wrap constructed in accordance with this invention and comprising a plurality of readily removable film layers;

[0030] FIG. 2A is a reduced plan view of a portion of a wrap constructed in accordance with this invention and showing a pair of tabs integrally formed with one of film layer of the wrap for facilitating the removal of that layer from the wrap;

[0031] FIG. 2B is a reduced plan view of an alternative configuration of a wrap like shown in FIG. 2A, but with the pair of tabs being releasably secured to the film layer;

[0032] FIG. 2C is a plan view of one of the tabs shown in FIG. 2B;

[0033] FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view of an edge of a surface of an object to be decorated, e.g., the hood of a vehicle, shown decorated with a single layer decorative wrap having tabs like that of FIG. 2A or 2B;

[0034] FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view of an edge of a surface of an object to be decorated, e.g., the hood of a vehicle, shown decorated with a multiple layer decorative wrap having tabs like that of FIG. 2A or 2B;

[0035] FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view of a multi-layered wrap having offset extremities constructed in accordance with another aspect of this invention; and

[0036] FIG. 6 is a reduced plan view of a multi-layered wrap having readily removable film layers manufactured in two colors with a preset margin or border.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0037] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a cross-section of a multi-layered decorative wrap 10 constructed in accordance with one embodiment of this invention. The decorative wrap 10 includes a plurality, in this case three, peelable or easily removable film layers 12. The wrap 10 includes an outermost film layer 14, an adhesive layer 16, an intermediate film layer 18, another adhesive layer 20, an inner film layer 22, a backing adhesive 24, and a backing or removable liner 26. FIG. 1 thus shows three selectively independently peelable layers 12. While the embodiment 10 shows three film layers 12, the subject invention contemplates at least two such layers. In fact, there can be any number of layers, providing that they are independently removable.

[0038] The film layers 12 can be made of vinyl, acrylic, or other materials providing an appearance modification or a protective function to an underlying surface. At least one of the plural film layers is decorated. The decoration can take various forms, e.g., color, graphics and combinations thereof. Moreover, the color and/or graphics may encompass the entire film layer or only a portion of the film layer. For applications wherein the decorative wrap includes two film layers, each of those film layers can be decorated, and the decoration of each layer may be different or the same. Moreover, it is contemplated that for some applications the uppermost of the layers may not itself be decorated, but may be transparent or translucent to enable the decoration of an underlying layer to be seen therethrough.

[0039] The adhesive between film layers is preferably releasably securable, that is strong enough to join the film layers and hold them together during application and use, yet frail or weak enough to allow one layer to be readily removed, e.g., peeled, from the adjacent layer when desired. In this manner, the film layers can be independently removed from one another. Differing strength adhesives can be used between different layers, or laterally within the same adhesive layer. Preferably, after removal of an outer layer, the underlying exposed layer is of good appearance and can be made of high-quality appearance with merely a reasonable amount of cleaning, buffing, washing or similar preparation. During manufacture of the multi-layered wrap 10, the adhesive layer between films may be two layers itself, one being a release material. The backing adhesive 24 can be consistent with backing adhesives currently in use.

[0040] The backing or liner layer 26 is constructed similarly to conventional liner sheets used to cover an adhesive until the adhesive is to be exposed for use. Such backing or liner layers are typically made of a paper type material. The backing or liner layer 26 is removed from the backing adhesive 24 to expose the backing adhesive prior to applying the wrap 10 to an underlying surface of an object to be decorated, e.g., a vehicle.

[0041] FIGS. 2A and 2B show the decorative wrap 10 as including tabs 28 projecting outward from a peripheral edge of the wrap. The tabs 28 are useful for assisting in the peeling of a wrap or a wrap layer from an underlying surface. Removal of a wrap from a surface typically involves lifting up an extremity of the wrap and then pulling off the wrapping material from the surface to which it is attached. It can be difficult to start this process, and a tool or fingernail, and sometimes heat, is often used. In accordance with the invention, a tab 28 is simply grabbed and lifted to starts the removal process. The tabs 28 can be made integrally formed with a wrap film layer (as shown in FIG. 2A), or can be separate components, like shown in FIG. 2C, but adhered, e.g., permanently adhesively secure, to the relevant film layer of the wrap (as shown in FIG. 2B). The tabs 28 can be manufactured separately and attached by the laborer working with the wrap.

[0042] If the decorative wrap only includes one film layer, one or more tab 28 can be used with that layer to remove it from the object which has been decorated by that wrap. In particular, FIG. 3 shows the edge 30 of a wrapped surface 32, such as an automobile hood, with a single layer wrap 10 bonded across the top 34 of surface 32 and folded around and under the edge 30. The extremity 36 of the wrap 10 is bonded by adhesive 38 to the bottom 40 of surface 32, and tab 28 is bonded to the wrap 10. A portion 42 of tab 28 can be bonded to the surface 32, and a second portion 44 can be spaced 46 from the bottom 40 of surface 32. The tab 28 can be easily lifted at the spaced 46 area to start the process of removal of the wrap.

[0043] Whereas FIG. 3 shows a wrap with a single film layer, FIG. 4 shows a wrap 10 with multiple, e.g., two, film layers and two adhesive layers. A tab 28 is positioned between consecutive independently peelable film layers. Thus, FIG. 4 shows an outermost film layer 14, an adhesive layer 20, an inner film layer 22, another adhesive layer 20, and a tab 28, with the wrap folded around surface 32. The tab 28 extends beyond the peripheral edge of the inner layer 22 so that it can be grasped and pulled to start the process of removing the outermost layer 14 from the inner film layer 22.

[0044] FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of a wrap 10 constructed in accordance with this invention. In that embodiment there are three staggered film layers 14, 18 and 22, with a peripheral edge of the uppermost layer 14, extending beyond the underlying peripheral edge of the middle layer 18, and with the peripheral edge of the middle layer 18 extending beyond the underlying peripheral edge of the lower layer 22. While not shown in FIG. 5, the undersurface of the layer 22 includes the adhesive layer 24 to secure the wrap of FIG. 5 onto the exterior surface of the object to be decorated. As should be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the configuration of FIG. 5 facilitates the start of removal of one film layer from an underlying film layer of the multi-layered wrap since it enables one to grasp an overhanging peripheral edge portion (the extremity) of any of the layers to lift that layer independently and begin a removal process.

[0045] FIG. 6 shows a plan view of another embodiment of a multi-layered readily independently removable decorative wrap 10 constructed in accordance with this invention, wherein the innermost layer 22 is of a different width than outermost layer 14. This allows, for example, the appearance of a racing stripe 48 on a car hood. The outermost layer 14 can be removed leaving a single color on the underlying surface. Multiple layers each of different width can be utilized.

[0046] It should be pointed out at this juncture that in some cases, depending upon the strength of the particular material making up the film layers and the strength particular releasably securable adhesive that is used therebetween, removal of the top film layer from the underlying layer may not be as easy as desired. In such a case, it is contemplated that a user can make use of a liquid spray adhesive remover to facilitate removal of one film layer from an underlying film layer. In particular, that can be accomplished by starting to peel the top film layer from the underlying film layer and spraying the interface that is created between those layers by the peeling action so that the adhesive remover enters that interface to dissolve the adhesive between those layers, thereby rendering the peeling action extremely easy and neat.

[0047] As should be appreciated by those skilled in the art from the discussion above, the decorative wraps of the subject invention enable one to readily and easily decorate an object, e.g., a vehicle, and to change the decorative appearance of an underlying surface through independently removing an outer film layer from an underlying film adhered to the underlying surface. This can allow for changes in appearance as well as changes in the protective nature of a covering wrap. Moreover, a key benefit of the invention is that multiple independently removable layers can be applied in a single application, significantly reducing the labor involved in changing wraps.

[0048] Without further elaboration the foregoing will so fully illustrate our invention that others may, by applying current or future knowledge, adopt the same for use under various conditions of service.