Abstract A temporary support for web materials is disclosed. Such support is normally provided to permit convenient handling or processing of a web. For example, webs that are so limp, fragile, subject to distortion, or otherwise mutable as to prevent them from being handled by normal handling and processing equipment are stabilized by a temporary support so that they may later be either restabilized by other means (such as a permanent backing web) before or at removal of the temporary support, or destabilized by removal of the temporary support. In other instances, relative stable articles such as labels, tags or the like may be temporarily supported for printing or other processing operations and subsequently removed for use. The temporary support includes a temporarily adherent web-contacting layer adapted to provide a temporary non-chemical bond with the web, and may also include a dimensionally stable base such as paper. The web-contacting layer may be directly bonded to the base or may be indirectly bonded thereto as by the use of an intermediate layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive. The web may be laminated to the temporarily adherent layer by heat and pressure and, after processing and handling, may be delaminated therefrom without residue by applying diverging forces.
A temporary laminate as set forth in claim 1 wherein said web is mutable, and said heat activable layer softens at a laminating temperature between 150*F. and 350*F.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
16 words
A temporary laminate as set forth in claim 2 wherein said heat activable layer is polyethylene.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A temporary laminate as set forth in claim 2 wherein said base is paper.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A temporary laminate as set forth in claim 4 wherein said heat activable layer is bonded to said base by a layer of adhesive material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A temporary laminate as set forth in claim 1 wherein said heat activable layer is bonded to said base by a layer of adhesive material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A temporary laminate as set forth in claim 2 wherein said web tends to shrink when subjected to heat, and wherein the stresses in said web are normalized while it is unsupported by said base layer so that said web is substantially free of internal stress.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A temporary laminate as set forth in claim 1 wherein said web includes a plurality of separate and spaced pieces of web material all bonded to said heat activable layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A temporary laminate as set forth in claim 8 wherein said hEat activable material is a copolymer of vinylidene chloride and vinyl chloride.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A temporary laminate as set forth in claim 1 wherein said activable layer is bonded directly to said base layer.