CONNECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RELEASING AN ADHESIVE CONNECTION

Abstract

A connection system has a first adhesive which has a plurality of adhesive elements. The first adhesive has a first free end and a connection region, wherein the connection region is arranged or formed on a carrier element preferably designed as a flexible tape. A first pivotable part of the first adhesive is movable, in particular, pivotable, relative to the carrier element. The first pivotable part has free edges. In a state in which the first pivotable part is not pivoted relative to the connection region, i.e., in which both lie in a common plane, the free edges in the plane are not directly surrounded by adhesive elements of the first adhesive. The first pivotable part has, in particular, a larger number of adhesive elements than the connection region. A method for releasing such a connection system is disclosed, wherein the connection system has a second adhesive.

Claims

1. A connection system, comprising: a first adhesive means, which has a plurality of adhesive elements; and a carrier element; wherein the first adhesive means has a first free end and is arranged or formed pivotably on the carrier element at a connection region spaced from the first free end; wherein a first pivotable part of the first adhesive means is movable relative to the carrier element and wherein the first pivotable part has a length L from the first free end of the first adhesive means to the beginning of the connection region; wherein, in a state in which the first pivotable part is not angled relative to the connection region, free edges of the first pivotable part are not directly surrounded by the adhesive elements of the first adhesive means; and wherein the first pivotable part has a greater number of adhesive elements than the connection region.

2. The connection system according to claim 1, wherein the first adhesive means has a second free end opposite the first free end, wherein the connection region is located between the first free end and the second free end, wherein the first adhesive means has a second pivotable part.

3. The connection system according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of length L of the first pivotable part of the first adhesive means and a width B of the first adhesive means, the extension of which is perpendicular to L, is between 0.7:1 and 4:1.

4. The connection system according to claim 1, wherein the first adhesive means is arranged in the connection region on the carrier element by means of an adhesive or by means of a thermal joining process.

5. The connection system according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive elements of the first adhesive means are: a) hook elements; and/or b) mushroom-shaped adhesive elements or palm-shaped adhesive elements or hyperboloid-shaped adhesive elements; and/or c) fibers and/or loops of a loop tape or a velour tape or a woven fabric or a nonwoven fabric; and/or d) nano- and/or microstructures for utilizing intermolecular forces.

6. The connection system according to claim 1, wherein the first adhesive means and/or the carrier element comprises plastic, being polypropylene, polyamide, polyethylene, polyurethane, polysiloxane and/or a thermoplastic elastomer.

7. The connection system according to claim 6, wherein the first adhesive means and/or the carrier element comprises a biodegradable plastic material and/or a bio-based plastic material, being polycaprolactone, polybutyrate, polybutylene succinate, cellulose acetate, bio-based polyethylene, bio-based polypropylene, polyethylene furanoate, bio-based polyamide, bio-based polyethylene terephthalate, polylactide, starch-based plastic and/or polyhydroxyalkanoate.

8. The connection system according to claim 1, wherein the carrier element has a free end, wherein a length T of the region of the carrier element from said free end to the beginning of the connection region is at most 500% of length L if T is chosen to be greater than L, or length L is at most 500% of length T if L is chosen to be greater than T.

9. The connection system according to claim 2, wherein the entirety of the adhesive elements of the first adhesive means is arranged or formed on the first pivotable part of the first adhesive means and/or on the second pivotable part of the first adhesive means.

10. The connection system according to claim 1, wherein a further first adhesive means is arranged or formed on the carrier element, wherein the further first adhesive means is rotated by 180 in a plane of the carrier element with respect to the first adhesive mean, wherein the connection region of the first adhesive means and a further connection region of the further first adhesive means are closer to one another than the first free end of the first adhesive means and a further first free end of the further first adhesive means.

11. The connection system according to claim 10, wherein the connection system has a second adhesive means for producing an adhesive connection with the first adhesive means and/or the further first adhesive means, wherein the second adhesive means has: a) hook elements; and/or b) mushroom-shaped adhesive elements or palm-shaped adhesive elements or hyperboloid-shaped adhesive elements; and/or c) fibers and/or loops of a loop tape or a velour tape or a woven fabric or a nonwoven fabric; and/or d) a sufficiently smooth surface for interaction with the micro- and/or nanostructures of the first adhesive means and/or the further first adhesive means.

12. A sanitary product, being a diaper, which has a connection system according to claim 1, wherein a closure tab of the sanitary product comprises the carrier element.

13. A method for releasing an adhesive connection with the connection system according to claim 11, comprising: pulling the carrier element in a direction away from an attached end of the carrier element; or pulling on the carrier element transversely to a direction from the attached end of the carrier element to the free end of the carrier element; wherein separation of the first adhesive means and/or the further first adhesive means from the second adhesive means takes place.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] In the drawings:

[0034] FIG. 1a shows a perspective view of a first adhesive means and a section of a carrier element;

[0035] FIG. 1b shows a further perspective view of the first adhesive means and a section of the carrier element of FIG. 1a;

[0036] FIG. 2a shows a section of a connection system comprising the first adhesive means, the carrier element and a second adhesive means, in a side view;

[0037] FIG. 2b shows a graph schematically illustrating the amount of force required to release the connection system of FIG. 2a, relative to a peel angle;

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a sectional side view of a further embodiment variant of a connection system;

[0039] FIG. 4 shows a sectional side view of a further embodiment variant of a connection system;

[0040] FIG. 5 shows a sectional side view of a further embodiment variant of a connection system;

[0041] FIG. 6a shows a perspective view of a further embodiment variant of a first adhesive means and of a section of a carrier element;

[0042] FIG. 6b shows a further perspective view of the first adhesive means and of the carrier element of FIG. 6a;

[0043] FIG. 6c shows a sectional side view of a connection system with the first adhesive means and the carrier element of FIGS. 6a and 6b and with a second adhesive means;

[0044] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a first adhesive means and of a further first adhesive means and a section of a carrier element;

[0045] FIG. 8 shows a sanitary product in the form of a diaper with a connection system;

[0046] FIG. 9 shows a diagram illustrating a method for releasing an adhesive connection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0047] FIG. 1a shows a perspective view of a connection system 10 with a first adhesive means 12, which has three free edges 11, 13, and 15. The free edge 13 forms at the same time a first free end 20 of the first adhesive means 12. The first adhesive means 12 is arranged in a connection region 16 on a carrier element 14. A first pivotable part 24 of the first adhesive means 12 adjoins the connection region 16.

[0048] The first pivotable part 24 can be pivoted relative to the carrier element 14 and the connection region 16 and has a length L from the free edge 13 to the beginning of the connection region 16 and a width B from free edge 11 to free edge 15. The carrier element 14 is shown in section. It has a free end 22, wherein a length T defines the maximum length of the carrier element 14 from the free end 22 to the beginning of the connection region 16. In this case the length T is greater than the length L.

[0049] In the embodiment variant shown, the first adhesive means 12 carries a plurality of mushroom-shaped adhesive elements 18. The adhesive elements 18 occupy both the first pivotable part 24 and the connection region 16. The first pivotable part 24 has a larger number of mushroom-shaped adhesive elements 18 than the connection region 16. In the exemplary embodiment shown, approximately 70% of the existing adhesive elements 18 are located on the first pivotable part 24. In further embodiment variants (see FIGS. 6a and 7), the connection region 16 has no adhesive elements 18. It is also conceivable for the first pivotable part 24 to be formed on the carrier element 14 such that the connection region 16 is not perceivable as a separate region or as a separate layer on the carrier element 14, i.e., is part of the material of the carrier element 14 (not shown). Regions of the carrier element 14 that are not connected to the first adhesive means 12 can be pivoted equally relative to the first adhesive means 12 if the carrier element 14 is designed to be flexible.

[0050] FIG. 1b shows a further perspective view of the connection system 10 of FIG. 1a. The carrier element 14 is shown in section and the first pivotable part 24 of the first adhesive means 12 is pivoted relative to the carrier element 14 and the connection region 16. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the first adhesive means is arranged on the carrier element 14 by means of an adhesive 26.

[0051] FIG. 2a shows a sectional side view of a further variant of a connection system 10, wherein the connection system 10 has a first adhesive means 12 and a carrier element 14, which are designed analogously to the embodiment in FIGS. 1a and 1b. The connection system 10 furthermore has a second adhesive means 28, here in the form of a loop tape 32. Loops 30 of the loop tape 32 are partially hooked with mushroom-shaped adhesive elements 18 of the first adhesive means 12. FIG. 2a schematically shows a state during detachment of the first adhesive means 12 from the second adhesive means 28. The carrier element 14 is held at its free end 22 (see FIG. 1a), pulled in the direction of the region still attached in the illustration and at the same time lifted off the second adhesive means 28 (which in the illustration corresponds to a direction of pull indicated by an arrow 52).

[0052] Once the connection region 16 has been separated from the second adhesive means 28, a peel front with a peel angle is formed (see FIG. 2b). In a hypothetical separation attempt by intuitively peeling the carrier element 14 off (along a direction of pull 53), the first adhesive means 12 would not be peeled off the second adhesive means 28. Rather, the first adhesive means 12 would have to be peeled off the second adhesive means 28 evenly across the surface with significant force.

[0053] FIG. 2b shows in simplified form a relationship between the peel angle in a range of 180 to 90 and a force F to be initially applied to detach the first adhesive means 12 (see FIG. 2a) from the second adhesive means 28 (see FIG. 2a). is preferably between 160 and 90.

[0054] FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 each show sectional views of further variants of a connection system 10. In analogy to FIG. 2a, the illustration includes a section of a first adhesive means 12 and of a second adhesive means 28, which are partially adhered to one another. The connection systems 10 differ in the type of adhesive means 12, 28 used. In FIG. 3, a first adhesive means 12 has palm-shaped adhesive elements 34 while a second adhesive means 28 has loops 30 of a woven fabric 36. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the palm-shaped adhesive elements 34 could equally be referred to as hyperboloid-shaped adhesive elements 34. In FIG. 4, a first adhesive element 12 has hook elements 38 for interaction with loops 30 of a velour tape 40. In FIG. 5, however, a first adhesive means 12 has nano- and/or microstructures 42 while a second adhesive means 28 has a smooth surface 44.

[0055] FIG. 6a shows a perspective view of a further variant of a connection system 10, wherein a first adhesive means 12 has a first free end 20 and a second free end 21. A carrier element 14 is again shown in section. A connection region 16 of the first adhesive means 12 is located between the first free end 20 and the second free end 21. In the embodiment variant shown, the connection region 16 does not carry any of the mushroom-shaped adhesive elements 18.

[0056] FIG. 6b shows a further perspective view of the connection system 10 of FIG. 6a. It becomes clear that the first adhesive means 12 comprises a first pivotable part 24 having a length L and a second pivotable part 25 having a length l. The lengths L and l can have the same value, as shown. However, this is not mandatory. The length of the connection region 16 can be selected depending on the application.

[0057] FIG. 6c shows a sectional side view of a connection system 10. The connection system 10 has the first adhesive means 12 shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b with the first pivotable part 24 and the second pivotable part 25 as well as the carrier element 14. In addition, the connection system 10 has a second adhesive means 28 which is partially adhered to the first adhesive means 12. The second adhesive means 28 has fibers 29 of a nonwoven fabric 31.

[0058] FIG. 7 shows a sectional perspective view of a further variant of a connection system 10. A first adhesive means 12 has a first free end 20, a connection region 16 and a first pivotable part 24. A further first adhesive means 12 is arranged on a carrier element 14 such as to be rotated by 180 relative to the first adhesive means 12. In analogy to the first adhesive means 12, the further first adhesive means 12 has a further first free end 20, a further connection region 16 and a further first pivotable part 24. The connection system 10 shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b is reproduced in a functionally equivalent manner by means of the arrangement shown. As shown, one length L of the further first pivotable part 24 can correspond to length L (see FIG. 1a) of the first pivotable part 24 or can differ therefrom. It is also conceivable for the first two adhesive means 12, 12 to differ in terms of their width or with regard to the dimensions of their respective connection regions 16, 16. It is also conceivable for the first adhesive means 12 and the further first adhesive means 12 to each be provided with different adhesive elements 18 (cf. FIGS. 3, 4 and 5).

[0059] FIG. 8 shows a sanitary product 46, wherein in one of the presented variants a connection system 10 represents a closure tab 48 of the sanitary product 46. A first adhesive means 12 (not visible herein, see e.g., FIG. 1a) is adhered to a loop tape 32, which in turn is arranged or formed on the sanitary product 46. A carrier element 14 of the connection system 10 has an end 50 attached to the sanitary product 46 and a free end 22. Assuming that the connection system 10 is designed as shown in FIG. 2a, the closure tab 48 can be easily released by pulling on the free end 22 of the carrier element 14 in a direction from its attached end 50 towards the free end 22. However, if the free end 22 of the carrier element 14 is peeled off intuitively in the direction of the attached end 50, the closure tab 48 can be detached only with comparatively high force.

[0060] FIG. 9 shows a diagram of a method 100 for releasing a connection system 10 (see e.g., FIG. 8). Method step i involves pulling a carrier element 14 (see FIG. 8) in a direction away from an attached end 50 (see FIG. 8) of the carrier element 14 or, in particular, in a case where a second free end 21 (see FIG. 6a) and/or a further first free end 20 (see FIG. 7) is present on a first adhesive means 12 (see e.g., FIG. 7), pulling the carrier element 14 transversely to a direction from the attached end 50 of the carrier element 14 to tv01he free end 22 of the carrier element 14. This results in the separation of the first adhesive means 12 and/or a further first adhesive means 12 (see FIG. 7) from a second adhesive means 28 (see e.g., FIG. 2a).

[0061] As apparent from a combination of the figures of the drawing, the invention relates to a connection system 10 having a first adhesive means 12, which has a plurality of adhesive elements 18, 29, 30, 34, 38, 42. The first adhesive means 12 has a first free end 20 and a connection region 16, wherein the connection region 16 is arranged or formed on a carrier element 14 preferably designed as a flexible tape. A first pivotable part 24 of the first adhesive means 12 is movable, in particular, pivotable, relative to the carrier element 14. The first pivotable part 24 has free edges 11, 13, 15. In a state in which the first pivotable part 24 is not pivoted relative to the connection region 16, i.e., in which both lie in a common plane, the free edges 11, 13, 15 in said plane are not directly surrounded by adhesive elements 18, 29, 30, 34, 38, 42 of the first adhesive means 12. The first pivotable part 24 has, in particular, a larger number of adhesive elements 18, 29, 30, 34, 38, 42 than the connection region 16. The invention also relates to a method 100 for releasing such a connection system 10, wherein the connection system 10 has a second adhesive means 28.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0062] 10 Connection system [0063] 11 Free edge [0064] 12 First adhesive means [0065] 12 Further first adhesive means [0066] 13 Free edge [0067] 14 Carrier element [0068] 15 Free edge [0069] 16 Connection region [0070] 16 Further connection region [0071] 18 Mushroom-shaped adhesive element [0072] 20 First free end [0073] 20 Further first free end [0074] 21 Second free end [0075] 22 Free end of the carrier element [0076] 24 First pivotable part [0077] 24 Further first pivotable part [0078] 25 Second pivotable part [0079] 26 Adhesive [0080] 28 Second adhesive means [0081] 29 Fiber [0082] 30 Loop [0083] 31 Nonwoven fabric [0084] 32 Loop tape [0085] 34 Palm-shaped/hyperboloid-shaped adhesive element [0086] 36 Woven fabric [0087] 38 Hook element [0088] 40 Velour tape [0089] 42 Microstructure [0090] 44 Smooth surface [0091] 46 Sanitary product [0092] 48 Closure tab [0093] 50 Attached end of the carrier element [0094] 52 Intended direction of pull [0095] 53 Intuitive direction of pull [0096] 100 Method for releasing a connection system [0097] L Length of the first pivotable part [0098] L Length of the further first pivotable part [0099] l Length of the second pivotable part [0100] B Width of the first adhesive means [0101] T Free length of the carrier element [0102] Peel angle [0103] F Force