US3873018A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Easily rupturable band of tape
Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1973-02-20
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Granted: 1975-03-25
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Expires: 1993-02-20
Abstract
Abstract A band of tape that may be easily ruptured is applied around an article by use of a tape assembly that comprises a heatshrinkable backing, a layer of adhesive carried on the backing for adhering the tape assembly to the article, and a non-adhesive tear strip that is narrower than the backing and is positioned between the layer of adhesive and the article. Short longitudinally extending cuts, parallel to, and on both sides of the tear strip, are made in an end of the backing that is exposed when the tape assembly is wrapped around the article. After application of the tape assembly around an article, the tape assembly is subjected to an elevated temperature sufficient to shrink the backing. Since the backing shrinks, while the tear strip adhered to the backing by the layer of adhesive either does not shrink or shrinks less than the backing, the portion of the tape assembly located between the longitudinal cuts in the backing curves outwardly to form a pull-tab.
Inventors
- 👤 James A Donnay
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:47
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D55/00; B65D55/02; B65D55/06; B65D55/08; B65D55/0818; B65D55/0854; B65B; B65B53/00; B65B53/02; B65B61/00; B65B61/02; B65B7/00; B65B7/16; B65B7/28; B65B7/2842; B65B7/2864; B65D2555/00; B65D2555/02; B65D2555/025; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1052; Y10T156/1062; Y10T156/1064; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/15; Y10T428/18; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24273; Y10T428/24298; Y10T428/24314; Y10T428/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
179 words
A method for providing an easily rupturable tape seal on an article comprising: 1. adhering onto the article an elongated tape assembly that comprises (a) an elongated tape backing that is heat-shrinkable at a useful elevated temperature, (b) a layer of adhesive carried on an inside surface of said backing for adhering the tape assembly to the article, and (c) an elongated tear strip that is adhered to the layer of adhesive, is at least substantially less heat-shrinkable at said elevated temperature than the backing, is narrower in width than the backing, and is disposed between the layer of adhesive and the article in longitudinal alignment with the backing and intermediate the outer edges of the backing; 2. making short longitudinal cuts in an end of the backing on each side of the tear strip; and 3. subjecting the tape assembly to said elevated temperature to shrink the backing into tight engagement with the article, whereupon a pull-tab is formed by an outward curving of the portion of the tape assembly located between the longitudinal cuts in the backing.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
179 words
A method for providing an easily rupturable tape seal on an article comprising: 1. adhering onto the article an elongated tape assembly that comprises (a) an elongated tape backing that is heat-shrinkable at a useful elevated temperature, (b) a layer of adhesive carried on an inside surface of said backing for adhering the tape assembly to the article, and (c) an elongated tear strip that is adhered to the layer of adhesive, is at least substantially less heat-shrinkable at said elevated temperature than the backing, is narrower in width than the backing, and is disposed between the layer of adhesive and the article in longitudinal alignment with the backing and intermediate the outer edges of the backing; 2. making short longitudinal cuts in an end of the backing on each side of the tear strip; and 3. subjecting the tape assembly to said elevated temperature to shrink the backing into tight engagement with the article, whereupon a pull-tab is formed by an outward curving of the portion of the tape assembly located between the longitudinal cuts in the backing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
making short longitudinal cuts in an end of the backing on each side of the tear strip; and
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
making short longitudinal cuts in an end of the backing on each side of the tear strip; and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method of claim 1 in which the layer of adhesive on the backing is a pressure-sensitive adhesive.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
making short longitudinal cuts in the exposed overlapping end of the backing on each side of the tear strip; and
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
making short longitudinal cuts in the exposed overlapping end of the backing on each side of the tear strip; and
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
subjecting the tape assembly to said elevated temperature to shrink the backing into tight engagement with the article, whereupon a pull-tab is formed by an outward curving of the portion of the tape assembly located between the longitudinal cuts in the backing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
subjecting the tape assembly to said elevated temperature to shrink the backing into tight engagement with the article, whereupon a pull-tab is formed by an outward curving of the portion of the tape assembly located between the longitudinal cuts in the backing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method of claim 1 in which the longitudinal cuts in the backing are made prior to adhering the tape assembly onto the article.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
subjecting the tape assembly to said elevated temperature to shrink the backing into tight engagement with the article, whereupon a pull-tab is formed by an outward curving of the portion of the tape assembly located between the longitudinal cuts in the backing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
subjecting the tape assembly to said elevated temperature to shrink the backing into tight engagement with the article, whereupon a pull-tab is formed by an outward curving of the portion of the tape assembly located between the longitudinal cuts in the backing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method of claim 1 in which the backing is unwound from a first roll and the tear strip is unwound from a second roll; and the backing and tear strip are brought into assembly and then wrapped around the article.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of claim 1 in which the tape assembly is wrapped around the article to form an overlapping band.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
13 words
A method for providing an easily rupturable tape seal around an article comprising:
Claim 16
Independent Claim
13 words
A method for providing an easily rupturable tape seal around an article comprising:
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method of claim 6 in which the backing is unwound from a first roll and the tear strip is unwound from a second roll; and the backing and tear strip are brought into assembly and then wrapped around the article.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
180 words
An article having an easily rupturable tape seal that comprises (a) an elongated backing that has been heat-shrunk into tight engagement with the article and is adhered to the article by a layer of adhesive carried on one side of the backing, and (b) an elongated tear strip that is narrower in width than the backing and is positioned between the layer of adhesive and the article in longitudinal alignment with the backing and intermediate the outer edges of the backIng; said tear strip being at least substantially less heat shrinkable than said backing at the elevated temperature used to shrink the backing into tight engagement with the article, and being adhered to the backing by the layer of adhesive, the backing having short longitudinal cuts in an exposed end of the backing, and the portion of the backing between the longitudinal cuts and the portion of the tear strip adhered to that portion of the backing curving outwardly away from the article to form a tab that may be grasped and pulled, whereby the tear strip ruptures the seal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
180 words
An article having an easily rupturable tape seal that comprises (a) an elongated backing that has been heat-shrunk into tight engagement with the article and is adhered to the article by a layer of adhesive carried on one side of the backing, and (b) an elongated tear strip that is narrower in width than the backing and is positioned between the layer of adhesive and the article in longitudinal alignment with the backing and intermediate the outer edges of the backIng; said tear strip being at least substantially less heat shrinkable than said backing at the elevated temperature used to shrink the backing into tight engagement with the article, and being adhered to the backing by the layer of adhesive, the backing having short longitudinal cuts in an exposed end of the backing, and the portion of the backing between the longitudinal cuts and the portion of the tear strip adhered to that portion of the backing curving outwardly away from the article to form a tab that may be grasped and pulled, whereby the tear strip ruptures the seal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
An article of claim 8 in which the layer of adhesive on the backing is a pressure-sensitive adhesive.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
An article of claim 8 in which the ends of the backing overlap to form a continuous band extending around the whole article.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |