Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A tape system for marking pipes, comprising: a front protective layer having a transparent window area; a pressure sensitive adhesive layer formed on a back side of the protective layer; a release backing releasably deployed against the adhesive layer behind the front protective layer, the release backing having a pre-cut window backing portion generally registered with said transparent window area and a handling portion defined by the remainder of the release backing; said pre-cut window backing portion being removable from the adhesive layer and the handling portion so as to expose a portion of the adhesive layer adjacent the transparent window, while leaving another portion of the adhesive layer covered by the handling portion; and an information card sized to be adhered against the back of the transparent window area within the area which is exposed by the removal of the pre-cut window backing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
A tape system for marking pipes, comprising: a front protective layer having a transparent window area; a pressure sensitive adhesive layer formed on a back side of the protective layer; a release backing releasably deployed against the adhesive layer behind the front protective layer, the release backing having a pre-cut window backing portion generally registered with said transparent window area and a handling portion defined by the remainder of the release backing; said pre-cut window backing portion being removable from the adhesive layer and the handling portion so as to expose a portion of the adhesive layer adjacent the transparent window, while leaving another portion of the adhesive layer covered by the handling portion; and an information card sized to be adhered against the back of the transparent window area within the area which is exposed by the removal of the pre-cut window backing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
93 words
A tape system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the handling portion of the backing is pre-cut by transverse cuts so as to be divided into a starter section on the lead side of the window backing portion, a middle portion surrounding the window backing portion, and an end section on the opposide side of the window backing portion from the starter section, said starter, middle and end sections being formed such that each can be readily removed from the adhesive layer separately from each other and separately from the window backing portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
A tape system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the information card has a front information containing side and a rear side having a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive, whereby the window backing portion may be adhered to the information card rear side following installation of the information card against the back of the transparent window area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
A tape system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the pre-cut window backing portion is joined with the handling portion along a hinge line, whereby the window backing portion may be folded away from the adhesive layer along the hinge to allow installation of the information card, and may be pivoted back to cover substantially all of the exposed adhesive remaining in the transparent window area after the information card has been installed.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
248 words
A method of installing a marking tape on a pipe, the tape including a front protective layer with a transparent window area, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer formed on a back side of the protective layer, a release backing releasably deployed against the adhesive layer behind the front protective layer the release backing having a pre-cut window backing portion generally registered with said transparent window area, and an information card sized to be adhered against the back of the transparent window area within the area which is exposed by the removal of the pre-cut window backing, with the information cord being substantially surrounded by a portion of the backing comprising the steps of: selecting a length of the tape which is greater than the outer circumference of the pipe; removing a portion of the release backing adjacent the window area from the adhesive layer so as to expose the back side of the window area, while leaving a handling portion of the backing in place against the adhesive layer; installing the information card against the exposed window area; removing at least a starter portion of the handling portion adjacent the lead end of the tape so as to expose the adhesive under the starter portion, and positioning that end of the tape on the pipe; wrapping the remainder of the selected tape length around the pipe until the tape overlaps on itself; and pressing the overlapped portion of the tape onto the top of the tape beneath it.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
248 words
A method of installing a marking tape on a pipe, the tape including a front protective layer with a transparent window area, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer formed on a back side of the protective layer, a release backing releasably deployed against the adhesive layer behind the front protective layer the release backing having a pre-cut window backing portion generally registered with said transparent window area, and an information card sized to be adhered against the back of the transparent window area within the area which is exposed by the removal of the pre-cut window backing, with the information cord being substantially surrounded by a portion of the backing comprising the steps of: selecting a length of the tape which is greater than the outer circumference of the pipe; removing a portion of the release backing adjacent the window area from the adhesive layer so as to expose the back side of the window area, while leaving a handling portion of the backing in place against the adhesive layer; installing the information card against the exposed window area; removing at least a starter portion of the handling portion adjacent the lead end of the tape so as to expose the adhesive under the starter portion, and positioning that end of the tape on the pipe; wrapping the remainder of the selected tape length around the pipe until the tape overlaps on itself; and pressing the overlapped portion of the tape onto the top of the tape beneath it.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 5, wherein a portion of the backing substantially surrounding the information card remains on the adhesive even after the tape has been installed.