MULIT-LAYER FILM

Abstract

A multi-layer film for an electronic device display having a clear, material base sheet film with a first side used by a user that is scratch resistant; a clear adhesive layer formed on a second side of the material base sheet film; and a synthetic separator film, that has excellent linear directional tear properties, that is temporarily affixed to the adhesive layer so that it can be removed by the user.

Claims

1. A multi-layer film for an electronic device display comprising: a clear, material base sheet film having a first side that is scratch resistant; a clear adhesive layer formed on a second side of said material base sheet film; and a synthetic separator film, that has excellent linear directional tear properties, temporarily affixed to said adhesive layer.

2. The multi-layer film of claim one where said synthetic separator film is a monoaxially oriented film.

3. The multi-layer film of claim two where said synthetic separator film tears cleanly in a straight, linear direction leaving almost no cutting dust on said adhesive layer.

4. The multi-layer film of claim one, further comprising a second adhesive layer formed on the separator temporarily fixed on said first adhesive layer and a second separator temporarily fixed on said second adhesive layer.

5. The multi-layer film of claim three, wherein said separator has at least one slit at an edge of said separator and in said linear direction so that when a user tears said separator at said slit said separator easily tears straight and in said linear direction.

6. The multi-layer film of claim four, wherein at least one of said first and second separators has at least one slit in a direction to be torn such that when said separator is torn at said at least one slit said separator easily tears in said single linear direction.

7. The multi-layer film of claim one, wherein the clear material base sheet has an effective area to be placed on an object and a disposable area.

8. The multi-layer film of Claim four, wherein the clear material base sheet has an effective area to be placed on an object and a disposable area.

9. The multi-layer film of Claim seven, wherein at least one slit is formed on said disposable area.

10. The multi-layer film of Claim eight, wherein at least one slit is formed on said disposable area.

11. The multi-layer film of Claim four, wherein at least one slit is formed on at least one of first and second separators.

12. The multi-layer film of Claim one, wherein at least one slit is formed on the adhesive layer and the separator.

13. The multi-layer film of Claim four, wherein at least one slit is formed on the adhesive layer and at least one of first and second separators.

14. The multi-layer film of Claim one, wherein at least one slit is formed on the material base sheet, the adhesive layer, and the separator.

15. The multi-layer film of Claim four, wherein at least one slit is formed on the material base sheet, the adhesive layer, and at least one of first and second separators.

16. The multi-layer film of Claim seven, wherein a second slit is formed at a boundary between said effective area and said disposable area.

17. The multi-layer film of Claim eight, wherein a second slit is formed at a boundary between said effective area and said disposable area.

18. The multi-layer film of Claim one, wherein the separator is larger than the material base sheet.

19. The multi-layer film of Claim four, wherein said separator is larger than the material base sheet.

20. The multi-layer film of Claim eighteen, wherein at least a portion of a slit is formed on a portion of the separator without superposing the material base sheet.

21. The multi-layer film of Claim nineteen, wherein at least a portion of a slit is formed on a portion of at least one of the separators without superposing the material base sheet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the multi-layer film according to this invention;

[0021] FIG. 2 is a cross section view of the multi-layer film according to the first embodiment taken along the line Y-Y;

[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the multi-layer film according to this invention illustrating the process of tearing the left half of the separator;

[0023] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the multi-layer film according to this invention illustrating the condition after removing the left half of the separator;

[0024] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the multi-layer film according to this invention illustrating the process of tearing the right half of the separator;

[0025] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the multi-layer film according to this invention illustrating the condition after removing the right half of the separator;

[0026] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the multi-layer film according to this invention;

[0027] FIG. 8 is a cross section view of themulti-layer film according to the second embodiment taken along the line Y-Y;

[0028] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the multi-layer film according to this invention;

[0029] FIG. 10 is a cross section view of the multi-layer film according to the third embodiment taken along the line Y-Y;

[0030] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the multi-layer film according to this invention;

[0031] FIG. 12 is a cross section view of the multi-layer film according to the fourth embodiment taken along the line Y-Y;

[0032] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the fifth embodiment of the multi-layer film according to this invention;

[0033] FIG. 14 is a cross section view of the multi-layer film according to the fifth embodiment taken along the line Y-Y;

[0034] FIG. 15 is a cross section view of the multi-layer film according to the fifth embodiment taken along the line X-X;

[0035] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the sixth embodiment of the multi-layer film according to this invention;

[0036] FIG. 17 is a cross section view of the multi-layer film according to the sixth embodiment taken along the line Y-Y;

[0037] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the seventh embodiment of the multi-layer film according to this invention;

[0038] FIG. 19 is a cross section view of the multi-layer film according to the seventh embodiment taken along the line Y-Y;

[0039] FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the conventional multi-layer film;

[0040] FIG. 21 is a view illustrating the process of separating the conventional separator of FIG. 20;

[0041] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the eighth embodiment of the multi-layer film according to this invention;

[0042] FIG. 23 is a cross section view of the multi-layer film according to the eighth embodiment taken along the line Y-Y;

[0043] FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the ninth embodiment of the multi-layer film according to this invention;

[0044] FIG. 25 is a cross section view of the multi-layer film according to the ninth embodiment taken along the line Y-Y; and

[0045] FIG. 26 is a cross section view of the multi-layer film according to the tenth embodiment taken along the line Y-Y.

[0046] FIG. 27 is a cross section view of the multi-layer film according to the tenth embodiment taken along the sides adjacent to the line Y-Y, showing the slit, s.

EMBODIMENTS OF THIS INVENTION

[0047] Embodiments of this invention will be explained next with accompanied drawings.

[0048] The following embodiments are merely examples of this invention, and therefore this invention is not limited to the descriptions below.

First Embodiment

[0049] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the multi-layer film A according to the first embodiment of this invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross section view of the multi-layer film A of the first embodiment taken along the line Y-Y;

[0050] The multi-layer film A according to this embodiment is a rectangular film having a clear material base sheet 10, an adhesive layer 20, and a separator 30.

[0051] This multi-layer film is structured so that a front surface of the clear material base sheet 10 is exposed to the user and this front surface has scratch resistant properties so as to protect the film surface when used by the user, the adhesive layer 20 is created on a back surface of the clear material base sheet 10, and the separator 30 is temporarily placed and attached to the adhesive layer 20.

[0052] The clear material base sheet 10 for example can be an entirely clear material, it can be a reflection sheet, a polarizing sheet, a clear sheet with decoration, a semi-transparent sheet, a phase difference sheet, a brightness enhancement sheet, a protective sheet, an anti-reflective sheet, an electromagnetic wave shield sheet, an optical compensation sheet, a near-infrared ray filter sheet, and a color matching sheet. However, in any case, the film must be entirely clear or almost entirely clear so that visibility is not obstructed as it is typically placed on the screen surface of an electronic device and the screen surface must be visible to the user or else the film is useless.

[0053] The separator 30 can be a synthetic resin such as polyethylene, polypropylene or polyethylene terephthalate. The separator 30 of this invention preferably has a strong tear directionality, and for example, a monaxial stretching or one-way drawing sheet may be used as the separator 30. During manufacture, the separator 30 is stretched in one direction for facilitating the tearing by the user. In this embodiment, the slit S is made in the drawing direction of the film so as to facilitate the initial tearing step. Preferably, the separator 30 is transparent and is treated with a silicone, long-chain alkyl, and fluorine in order to smoothly detach and remove from the adhesive layer 20. The thickness of the separator 30 is not limited to a particular size; however, generally a thickness of between 20 m and 200 m is a popular thickness.

[0054] A material for the adhesive layer 20 is not particularly limited; however, the adhesive agent such as an acrylic adhesive agent, rubber adhesive agent, or silicone may be used here. In consideration of the cost, transparency, and durability, an acrylic polymer is preferable. The thickness of the adhesive layer 20 is not limited to a particular size either; however, generally the thickness of between 10 m and 100 m is popularly used.

[0055] In this embodiment, a short slit S is located at an intermediate portion of the multi-layer film A, and the slit S is only formed in the separator 30. The slit S is a cut in the tearing direction of the separator 30 along an invisible drawing line of the separator 30.

[0056] The slit S can be made for example by Timpson Press Blade; however, because of the quality of the finished end surface, a laser cutter is preferable.

[0057] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the multi-layer film according to the first embodiment in the process of tearing a first portion of the separator 30, and FIG. 4 illustrates the film condition after removing the first portion of the separator 30.

[0058] Here, the installment process of the multi-layer film on the electronic device display will be explained with reference to the drawings. The user picks a first side edge of the slit S on the separator 30 and starts to tear straight down and across as shown in FIG. 3. The first portion of the separator 30 is torn from the slit S in the direction of orientation or along the vertical arrow in FIG. 3. Because of the characteristics of the separator 30 being a one-way drawing sheet, tearing away the first portion of the separator 30 is easy.

[0059] It is preferable to tear the first portion of the separator 30 nearly straight, and at least when the tearing starts at the slit S in the vertical direction, the tearing line should be straight enough to end at the opposite side thereof at the opposite side line of the separator 30.

[0060] The separator 30 is positioned and adhered on the adhesive layer 20 which is layered on a back surface of the clear material base sheet 10, and therefore when the first portion of the separator 30 is being torn at the slit 5, the second portion of the separator 30 is still adhered to the adhesive layer 20, which makes it easier to tear the first portion of the separator 30.

[0061] After removing the first portion of the separator 30, the first portion of the adhesive layer 20 is exposed, as shown in FIG. 4. Then, the first portion of the adhesive layer 20 is placed on the display.

[0062] The process of installing the right portion of the multi-layer film is illustrated in FIG. 5. While the left portion of the adhesive layer 20 is positioned and adhered to the display, the right portion of separator 30 is removed from the remaining edge of the slit S.

[0063] The right portion of the adhesive layer 20 can now be gradually placed on the display as removing the right portion of the separator 30, thereby completing the installation of the multi-layer film onto the electronic device display screen.

[0064] Accordingly, positioning and aligning the film on the display is extremely easy.

[0065] Because of the easy, clean tearability of the separator sheet, the slit S can be very short, and therefore the blade and the S slit does not need to go into the clear material base sheet 10 during the slitting process at the film manufacturing site and this prevents damage to the clear material base sheet.

[0066] Cutting dust that is typically and generally generated while tearing the separator 30 can hardly be seen in this invention because of the one-way drawing separator 30, thereby leaving no cutting dust to adversely affect the appearance of the film after installation.

[0067] The slit S can be short because the separator 30 can easily be torn straight along the drawing line of the one-way drawing sheet.

Second Embodiment

[0068] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the multi-layer film A according to the second embodiment of this invention, and FIG. 8 is a cross section view of the multi-layer film A of the second embodiment taken along the line Y-Y.

[0069] The multi-layer film sheet A of the second embodiment has the slit S in an intermediate portion of the separator 30, as in the first embodiment, but the slit S is deeper than the slit S in the first embodiment so that it goes into the adhesive layer 20. Although the slit S is short and should stop at the adhesive layer 20, the quality of the film A after completion of the installation would not be affected even if the blade accidentally goes into the clear material base sheet 10. The installation process is the same as the first embodiment and the explanation of which will be omitted here.

Third Embodiment

[0070] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the multi-layer film A according to the third embodiment of this invention, and FIG. 10 is a cross section view of the multi-layer film A of the third embodiment taken along the line Y-Y. The multi-layer film A of the third embodiment has an effective area P1 which is installed on the electronic device display and a disposable area P2 which can be disposed after installing the film on the display. The effective area P1 is a film placed on the display and the disposable area P2 is disposed after tearing and separating from the effective area P1. A detach line D is formed on the clear material base sheet 10 and the adhesive layer 20 between the effective area P1 and the adjacent disposable area P2. The disposable area P2 can be in any shape but in this embodiment the disposable area P2 has the same width along the detach line D.

[0071] The slit S in this embodiment is positioned at a central portion of the multi-layer film A within the disposable area P2, and therefore slitting deeply into the clear material base sheet 10 has no adverse effect to the pro-installed film.

[0072] The blade can cut through the clear material base sheet 10, adhesive layer 20, and separator 30 as long as the slit S does not extend beyond the disposable area P2, and no sensitive half cut process without reaching the clear material base sheet 10 is not necessary.

[0073] A process of installing the film A is the same as the description in the first embodiment; however, the disposable area P is preferably removed from the detach line D prior to the installment.

Fourth Embodiment

[0074] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the multi-layer film A according to a fourth embodiment of this invention, and FIG. 12 is a cross section view of the multi-layer film A of the fourth embodiment taken along the line Y-Y. The multi-layer film A according to the fourth embodiment has the effective area P1 in the middle of the disposable area P2, where the effective area P1 is surrounded by the disposable area P2. The only difference in this embodiment from the third embodiment is that the detach line D is formed on the clear material base sheet 10 and the adhesive layer 20 between the effective area P1 and the adjacent disposable area P2, and the explanation of the identical members and installation process will be omitted.

Fifth Embodiment

[0075] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the fifth embodiment of the multi-layer film according to this invention. FIG. 14 is a cross section view of the multi-layer film according to the fifth embodiment taken along the line Y-Y; and FIG. 15 is a cross section view taken along the line X-X. The multi-layer film A according to the fifth embodiment is the same as the fourth embodiment except that multiple slits are provided in the disposable area P2, and therefore the explanation of the identical members and installing process will be omitted. Here, two slits S are provided on each horizontal parallel line and one slit S is provided on each vertical parallel line of the multi-layer film A as shown in FIG. 13. The user can decide to tear from any slit S depending upon the user's convenience and the type of device. For example, the user can tear two middle slits S, S to remove the middle portion of the separator 30, thereby exposing only the middle part of the adhesive layer 20. Then, the adhesive layer 20 can be placed on the display. Both sides of the separator 30 remain, which can be removed thereafter to complete the installation.

Sixth Embodiment

[0076] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the multi-layer film A according to the sixth embodiment of this invention, and FIG. 17 is a cross section view of the multi-layer film A of the sixth embodiment taken along the line Y-Y. The multi-layer film A of the sixth embodiment also has an effective area P1 which is installed on the display and a disposable area P2 which can be disposed after installing the film on the display, and the explanation of the identical members and the process is omitted. The only difference here is the area of the disposable area P2 is very small as shown in FIG. 16, thereby maximizing the yield rate of the material.

Seventh Embodiment

[0077] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the multi-layer film A according to an eighth embodiment of this invention, and FIG. 19 is a cross section view of the multi-layer film A of the eighth embodiment taken along the line Y-Y. The multi-layer film A according to this embodiment has the clear material base sheer 10, the adhesive layer 20, separator 30, a second adhesive layer 40 which is applied on the separator 30, and a second separator 50 temporarily placed on the second adhesive layer 40. The slit S in this embodiment is formed in an intermediate portion on the top horizontal line of the second separator 50 in FIG. 18. The slit S needs to reach the separator 30 preferably without reaching the clear material base sheet 10.

[0078] In order to install the multi-layer film A of this embodiment, the left portion of the second separator 50 is removed first. Here, the left portion of the second separator 50 is torn from the slit S in the direction of orientation or along the vertical line in FIG. 18. Because of the characteristics of the second separator 50 being a one-way drawing sheet, tearing the left portion of the second separator 50 is easy.

[0079] The second separator 50 is positioned and adhered on the second adhesive layer 40, and therefore when the left portion of the second separator 50 is torn from the slit S, the right portion of the second separator 50 is still adhered to the second adhesive layer 40, which makes it easier to tear the left portion of the second separator 50.

[0080] Accordingly, the left portion of the second separator 50 is removed to expose the second adhesive layer 40, which is placed on the display. The right portion of the second separator 50 is removed to place the exposed right portion of the second adhesive layer 40 on the display. Then, the left portion of the film A is lifted to detach from the display, and the left portion of the separator 30 is torn from the slit S to expose the left portion of the adhesive layer 20 to be placed on the left portion of the display. The right portion of the separator 30 is removed in the same manner and the adhesive layer 20 is placed on the display to complete the installation. A significant advantage of this embodiment is to provide the cleaning function to the film A, because any remaining dust or particles on the display are removed by the second adhesive layer 40 temporarily placed on and removed from the display.

Eighth Embodiment

[0081] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the multi-layer film A according to the eighth embodiment of this invention, and FIG. 23 is a cross section view of the multi-layer film A of the eighth embodiment taken along the line X-X. In this embodiment, the separator 30 is designed to be larger than the clear material base sheet 10, and two slits S are formed on the top horizontal line of the separator 30 as shown in FIG. 22. In this embodiment, either the left or right portion of the separator 30 is removed and the exposed adhesive layer 20 is placed on the display, and then the remaining portion of the separator 30 is removed to place the exposed adhesive layer 20 on the display.

Ninth Embodiment

[0082] FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the ninth embodiment of the multi-layer film according to this invention; and FIG. 25 is a cross section view of FIG. 24 taken along the line X-X. In this embodiment, the separator 30 is larger than the clear material base sheet 10, thereby leaving an unlayered section on the separator 30 as shown in FIG. 24. In this embodiment, there are two slits S vertically formed at an upper end line of the unlayered portion of the separator 30. The user may pick the middle portion between the two slits S to tear an almost straight line down to cut the middle portion of the separator 30, exposing the adhesive layer 20, that is thereafter placed on the display. Both sides of the remaining separator 30 are removed in turn to complete the installment. Also, the user can decide which portion of the separator 30 is to be removed first depending upon the user's convenience, and therefore the left or right side of the separator 30 can be removed first. Also, the number of slits S can be selected according to the needs of the user.

Tenth Embodiment

[0083] FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the tenth embodiment of the multi-layer film according to this invention. The multi-layer film A of this embodiment has the clear material base sheet 10, the adhesive layer 20 layered on the clear material base sheet 10, the separator 30 on the adhesive layer 20, the second adhesive layer 40 on the separator 30, and the second separator 50 on the second adhesive layer 40. The separator 30 of this embodiment is larger than the clear material base sheet 10, and the exposed portion of the separators 30, 50 out from the clear material base sheet 10 has a slit S formed in the same manner as in the ninth embodiment. The installation process of the film A is similar to the above-embodiments especially the seventh embodiment, and the explanation of which is omitted.

Eleventh Embodiment

[0084] FIG. 26 is a cross section view of the eleventh embodiment of the multi-layer film according to this invention. This embodiment is identical to the tenth embodiment except that there are two slits S, S rather than one slit S in the ninth embodiment. The installation process of this embodiment is similar to the ninth and tenth embodiments, and the explanation of which is omitted here.

[0085] This invention was described and explained as above; however, embodiments of this invention are not limited to the above-embodiments, and many modifications and arrangements are possible. For example, the disposable area P2 can be in any shape and not limited to the above-examples. Slits can be formed in a various way such as by perforating and cutting in a V-shape. The second slit T can be perforated. Also, for example, the film A in the seventh embodiments can be applied to preceding embodiments. The adhesive layer can be formed by many different materials such as a viscoelastic material and adhesive material. Furthermore, the shape of the film sheet A is not limited to rectangular and can be any shape to confirm with the display. Furthermore, any guide mean can be provided in the separator 30 to facilitate to place the film A on an appropriate place. In addition, the first and second separators 30, 50 or any alternative separators can be used to accomplish the cleaning function only.

[0086] While the embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein are presently considered to be preferred embodiments, various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention is indicated in the appended claims, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalents are intended to be embraced therein.