FASTENING SYSTEM

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a fastening system.

[0002] Fastening systems of various types and for a wide variety of purposes are known from the state of the art. For example, there are fastening systems that can be cyclically and releasably attached to third-party components using adhesives, such as acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesives (EP 0 429 269 B1). Such adhesive fastening systems have the disadvantage that repeated removal from the third-party component is often not residue-free, and that only a limited number of fastening cycles are achievable.

[0003] To avoid these disadvantages, additional fastening systems (DE 10 2012 013 124 A1) have been developed in the past for the full-surface, residue-free, and damage-free covering of third-party components, such as traffic signs. Magnets attached to the back of the third-party component secure simple cover elements made of sheet iron to the third-party component. Furthermore, there are state-of-the-art solutions for directly and detachably attaching magnetic foils to a metallic third-party component. These solutions have the disadvantage that, particularly with non-metallic third-party components such as those made of plastic, an additional magnet is required for securing them, or the magnetic foil provides a solution that cannot be attached to non-magnetic surfaces.

[0004] Furthermore, there are solutions in the state of the art in the form of a masking tape system (DE 10 2016 108 328 B3) which uses silicone as the adhesive layer, whereby the self-adhesive system always proves to be disadvantageous on third-party components when the surfaces to be joined are contaminated with particles, there is a correspondingly high ambient humidity or the surface to which the self-adhesive fastening system is to be applied has a correspondingly high roughness.

[0005] The fastening solutions known above have already been used to attach decorative and informative markings to aircraft, motor vehicles and rail vehicles (EP 0 429 269 B1) or to visibly cross out information content of traffic signs, such as obsolete route information (DE 10 2012 013 124 A1).

[0006] Further fastening systems are known from EP 1520 690 A1, US 2016 / 0270217 A1, DE 100 12 261 A1 and US 2007 / 0063375 A1.

[0007] Based on this prior art, the invention seeks to create a fastening system that helps avoid the aforementioned disadvantages. This object is achieved by a fastening system having the features of patent claim 1.

[0008] The fastening system according to the invention is characterized in that it can be applied multiple times - even in immediate temporal succession - to third-party components with a preferably smooth surface for the purpose of releasably securing it to the same and consists of at least two interconnected functional parts with a planar extension, of which at least one functional part is designed as a film, carries information and at least one further functional part has a plurality of individual elements which adhere with their free end faces to the surface of the respective third-party component by means of adhesion, wherein the individual elements are each formed from stem or stalk parts which are widened in diameter at their free ends in the form of a widening.

[0009] As shown in the prior art, the foil-like information-bearing functional part can be attached decoratively and provided with markings to aircraft, motor vehicles and rail vehicles or can serve to temporarily cover at least parts of traffic signs in order to cross out or thus make unrecognizable the information content that is no longer applicable.

[0010] With the second additional functional part with its multitude of individual elements, an adhesive bonding of the fastening system to any surface of the third component is achieved; in particular, due to the adhesive effect, the fastening system adheres well even to moist, dirty and relatively rough surfaces, whereby the adhesion takes place without leaving residues (even on those with non-magnetic properties).

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, a connecting agent, particularly in the form of an adhesive, is inserted between the two functional parts to hold them together. Preferably, an adhesive is used that is related to at least one of the two functional parts, for example, a silicone adhesive, provided that the one functional part with the plurality of individual elements is made of a polyvinylsiloxane material.

[0012] In a further preferred embodiment, a third functional part is arranged between the two functional parts for a sandwich-like structure. This third functional part, designed as a carrier part, has the connecting layer to at least one of the adjacent functional parts on at least one of its two sides, preferably on both sides. Preferably, the third functional part is designed as a profile carrier layer, which makes it possible to adapt the fastening system accordingly with regard to the required rigidity in each case; in particular, the flexural rigidity of the fastening system can be increased in this way.

[0013] In a further preferred embodiment, all functional parts, including any connecting elements, are provided in layered form and, at least in an initial state prior to use, are plane-parallel, fully aligned, and without any protrusions. Due to the plane-parallel, protrusion-free layered form, conventional film manufacturing processes can be used particularly advantageously to obtain a functionally reliable fastening system at low cost.

[0014] In a further preferred embodiment, at least some of the functional elements themselves have a multi-layer structure. This allows a respective functional element designed in this way to be constructed with layers that provide different functions from one another, which together result in the desired overall function of the respective functional element.

[0015] In a further preferred embodiment, the further functional part as a whole, including the individual elements, is divided into groups that are spaced apart from one another at least in a longitudinal and / or transverse direction relative to the film path of the one functional part by a predeterminable distance, which preferably has a gap size that is preferably smaller than the film thickness of each of the functional parts. Preferably, one group member of the group is formed from a single sub-element, which, together with further sub-elements, forms the further functional part as a whole.The additional functional part, preferably manufactured using a so-called chill-roll process as a microreplication process, with the multitude of individual elements, can only be available in a certain maximum width, for example, 100 mm, due to manufacturing constraints. This allows several of one type of functional part to be applied side by side in a transverse direction to the film path. Since the aforementioned strips that form the additional functional part also only have a certain manufacturing length, gaps also arise in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinally oriented film path of the one functional part. The sub-elements applied in groups to the one functional part then form the additional functional part as a whole with the other groups of sub-elements.

[0016] In a further preferred embodiment, it is provided that the functional parts arranged adjacent to one another are connected to one another without adhesive by means of a lamination or coating process.

[0017] For example, the individual functional parts made of plastic materials still retain a certain amount of residual heat due to their manufacturing process and are therefore not yet fully cross-linked. A conventional roller mill can then be used to apply such high contact pressure that the film-like functional parts are intrinsically bonded to one another, thus forming a single product. However, it is also possible to apply a film-like acrylate adhesive layer between the films, using the reaction heat to bond them together, virtually in situ. This leads to an improved, long-lasting adhesive bond between the functional parts.

[0018] In a further preferred embodiment, the respective functional part is made of a plastic material, such as polyethylene, and the further functional part is formed, at least to the extent of its individual elements with adhesive properties, from a polyvinylsiloxane material. However, it is also possible to use materials from the class of poly(organo)siloxanes. Preferably, the entire further functional part, including its individual elements, is formed from a polyvinylsiloxane material, whose adhesive properties lead to improved adhesion of the fastening system to third-party components, with, in particular, increased adhesion, peel, and shear strength values.

[0019] In a further preferred embodiment, one functional part is designed to carry information in a color, printed with symbols, reflective, fluorescent, luminous, matte, glossy, or equipped with AI. This allows the one functional part to transmit information, including warnings, to people viewing the fastening system. When AI (artificial intelligence) is mentioned in this context, this refers to intelligent systems such as transponders, computer chips, digital displays, etc.

[0020] In a further preferred embodiment, at least one of the functional parts is equipped with additional functions, such as flame-retardant, recyclable, biodegradable, incinerable, magnetizable or having magnetic properties, resistant to electrostatic charging, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), and abrasion-resistant. This allows the basic function of the respective functional part to be modularly expanded.

[0021] In a further preferred embodiment, the additional functional part with the adhesive individual elements can be manufactured using a forming screen in the chill-roll process. This allows the additional functional part with the adhesive individual elements to be manufactured on an industrial scale using a microreplication process, and the extruded product produced in this way can be continuously manufactured with the other functional parts of the fastening system in film construction using lamination or coating processes, whereby the process can be largely automated.

[0022] In a further preferred embodiment, it is provided that it is designed as a roll or winding material, which can be supplied in the unrolled or unwound state and cut into predefined lengths for the respective intended use. This allows the fastening system to be transported and stored in a particularly space-saving manner.

[0023] The invention also relates to a tradable product unit consisting of several such fastening systems, which are combined on a carrier tape as small, separable parts, detached from the carrier tape, and intended for detachable connection to the third-party component. Particularly in the context of construction site applications, the fastening systems, which are assembled in various ways, can be made available on-site.

[0024] The invention also relates to the use of such a fastening system that serves to deactivate the information content of traffic signs of any kind and / or serves as a warning sign for identifying vehicles, such as construction vehicles. The deactivation or identification is removed without leaving any residue by detaching the fastening system from such third-party components. This allows the fastening system to be adhered with high repeatability to dirty, rough, damp, and / or non-magnetic traffic signs or vehicles without leaving any residue on the respective third-party component.

[0025] In the following, a fastening system according to the invention is explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. In a schematic and non-authoritative representation, the Fig. 1 shows a perspective top view of a part of the fastening system with upwardly projecting individual elements as part of an adhesive film, which forms the further adhesive functional part, which is arranged on the underlying film, which forms the one information-carrying functional part; Fig. 2 shows a side view of a fastening system according to the invention, consisting of the one functional part and the further functional part according to the illustration according to Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 in a side view the fastening system Fig. 2 , wherein a connecting means is provided between the two functional parts; Fig. 4 in a side view the fastening system of Fig. 3 , wherein between the one functional part and the further functional part a third functional part in the form of a support part is provided, between which and the one functional part a connecting means is introduced; Fig. 5 in a side view the fastening system from Fig. 4 , wherein a connecting means is provided between the one functional part and the support part as well as between the support part and the further functional part; Fig. 6 in a side view the fastening system from Fig. 2 , wherein the further functional part is shown divided into sub-elements belonging to a group; Fig. 7 in a side view the fastening system from Fig. 3 , whereby the further functional part is Fig. 6 shown divided into sub-elements; Fig. 8 in a side view the fastening system of Fig. 7 , wherein in addition to the further functional part, the connecting means is divided according to the sub-elements of the further functional part; and Fig. 9 in a perspective oblique view a tradable product unit with several fastening systems according to the invention from Fig. 1 bis 8 .

[0026] The figures show a fastening system for multiple, releasable attachment to third-party components with a preferably smooth surface (not shown). The fastening system comprises at least two interconnected functional parts 2, 6 with a planar extension, namely at least one first functional part 2 formed as a film and carrying information, and at least one second, further functional part 6 comprising a plurality of individual elements 4. The individual elements 4 adhere, by means of their free end faces 8, to the surface of the respective third-party component, for example, the surface of a traffic sign or a motor vehicle, by means of adhesion.

[0027] Fig. 1 shows the individual elements 4 extending essentially at a right angle from a first free and flat side surface 10 of a base part 12 of the further functional part 6. On its second flat side surface 14 opposite the first side surface 10, the further functional part 6 is firmly connected to a first flat side surface 16 of the one functional part 2.

[0028] The individual elements 4 are each formed from stem or rod parts 18, which are enlarged in diameter at their free ends 8 in the form of a widened portion 20. Furthermore, the individual elements 4 are configured such that the widened portions 20 adhere to a third component primarily by means of van der Waals forces.

[0029] The further functional part 6 designed in this way can be manufactured very cost-effectively on a large industrial scale and can be connected to the surface of any third component in a repeatedly releasable manner by the individual elements 4 with their widenings 20 interacting directly with the surface of the third component via the Van der Waals forces.

[0030] Because the van der Waals forces only act over a short distance, all individual elements 4 preferably correspond in length and height, respectively, so that the free ends 8 of the individual elements 4 are arranged in one plane. To prevent the individual elements 4 from buckling away from the surface of the third component to be contacted, the individual elements 4 have sufficient inherent rigidity. To ensure sufficiently good detachment behavior, the widened portions 20 of the individual elements 4 can each be connected to the stem part 18 via a corresponding diameter reduction in the transition area to the stem part 18, so that a type of joint is formed at the transition point.As a result, when the fastening system is released from a third component, the base part 12 of the further functional part 6 can be peeled off together with the stem parts 18, and the widened portion 20 of the individual elements 4, which is still attached at the same time, can follow the peeling movement in the sense of a rolling movement over the respective joint. Very good adhesion results have been achieved when approximately 16,000 individual elements 4 or more are present per square centimeter of material of the base part 12, with the individual elements 4 having a length of approximately 100 µm or less in combination with a diameter of the head-side widened portion 20 in width of approximately 60 µm or less.

[0031] Fig. 2 shows the combination of the only functional part 2 and the only further functional part 6, which is firmly connected to one another without any fasteners, in a schematic principle representation.

[0032] Between two adjacent functional parts 2, 6, a connecting means 22 can be introduced for a firm holding together or a firm connection of the two functional parts 2, 6 with each other. Fig. 3 between the first side surface 16 of the only one functional part 2 and the second side surface 14 of the only further functional part 6, such a connecting layer 22 is introduced, in particular in the form of an adhesive suitable for this purpose.

[0033] In Fig. 4 In a sandwich-like structure between these two functional parts 2, 6, a third functional part 26 in the form of a support part 28 is arranged, which is firmly connected to the other functional part 6 without the need for any connecting means. Furthermore, a connecting means 22 is provided between the support part 28 and the one functional part 2. Fig. 5 is just like in Fig. 4 A connecting means 22 is provided between the third functional part 26, designed as a carrier part 28, and the one functional part 2, as well as between the carrier part 28 and the further functional part 6. The carrier part 28 can be referred to as a profile carrier layer. The respective connecting means 22 can be formed from an adhesive layer, for example, using an acrylate adhesive.

[0034] Fig. 6 shows the combination of the only one functional part 2 and the only further functional part 6. The further functional part 6, including its individual elements 4, is divided into groups 30 as a whole, at least in the longitudinal direction of the fastening system. Each group 30 has at least one individual sub-element 32, which has a predeterminable distance 34 from the adjacent sub-element 32 of a further group 30, at least in the longitudinal direction of the fastening system, which distance is smaller than the film thickness of each of the functional parts 2, 6. The fastening system from Fig. 7 differs from the fastening system Fig. 6 only in that a continuous layer of the connecting means 22 is provided between the two functional parts 2, 6, whereas in Fig. 8 in addition to the further functional part 6, the connecting or adhesive means is divided according to the partial elements 32 of the further functional part 6, forming the predeterminable distance 34.

[0035] All functional parts 2, 6, 26, 28 and connecting means 22 are formed in a layered form, whereby each functional part 2, 6, 26, 28 may have a multi-layer structure not shown in the figures. All layers of the fastening system are in contact with one another, plane-parallel, over the entire surface, and without any protrusion, at least in an initial state before the fastening system is first attached.

[0036] The further functional part 6 is formed from a polyvinylsiloxane material at least in the scope of its individual elements 4 with adhesion properties.

[0037] One functional part 2 is at least partially made of a plastic material, such as polyethylene material, and can be designed to carry information in color, printed with symbols including text, reflective, fluorescent, luminous, and / or matte or glossy finishes. It is also conceivable for a human-machine interface, a display, for example a digital display, a sensor, a data and / or a transponder interface, to be integrated into one functional part 2, each of which is connected for data processing to a computing unit on which self-learning algorithms in the sense of machine learning can be implemented. A functional part 2, 6, 26, 28 configured in this way is referred to herein as being equipped with artificial intelligence.

[0038] Each functional part 2, 6, 26, 28 may have at least one additional property; for example, it may be flame-retardant, recyclable, biodegradable, incinerable, magnetizable or magnetic, resistant to electrostatic charging, electromagnetically compatible, and / or abrasion-resistant.

[0039] A fastening system designed in this way can be used to disable information on traffic signs of any kind and / or as a warning sign to identify vehicles, such as construction vehicles. Once the fastening system is removed from these third-party components, the disablement or identification is completely removed without leaving any residue. This allows the fastening system to be adhered with high repeatability, even to dirty, rough, damp, and / or non-magnetic third-party components such as traffic signs or vehicles, without leaving any residue on the respective third-party component.

[0040] Fig. 9 shows a carrier tape 38 on which several fastening systems are arranged as small, separable parts 40, so-called patches 40, which are detachably arranged using a commercially available adhesive. These patches can be detached from the carrier tape 38 and repeatedly re-attached to a third-party component. It is also conceivable for the fastening system to be designed for transport or storage purposes as a roll or winding material, which, in the unrolled or unwound state and in predeterminable lengths, for example, by cutting, can be repeatedly re-attached to third-party components.

[0041] The manufacturing process for such a fastening system is explained in more detail below: First, the further functional part 6 is produced using a so-called chill-roll process (not shown in the figures). In this process, a plastic is fed to a shaping zone designed as a conveyor gap, which is formed between a pressure tool in the form of a pressure roller and a molding tool in the form of a molding roller. The molding tool has a forming screen on its circumference, into which mold cavities are regularly distributed over its outer circumference. Viewed in longitudinal section (perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the respective roller), the mold cavities have two opposing boundary walls, preferably each with a continuously convex path. The distance between the boundary walls increases from the outer circumference of the forming screen in the direction of the axis of rotation of the molding tool.When the two rollers are driven in opposite directions of rotation, they convey the plastic through the conveying gap, whereby the base part 12 or carrier part of the further functional part 6 is formed and the individual elements 4 are formed on the side of the base part 12 adjacent to the forming roller by means of the forming cavities of the forming roller.

[0042] Subsequently, the further adhering functional part 6 is formed according to the respective Fig. 1 bis 8 , optionally in a layered construction with the intermediate arrangement of the carrier part 28 and / or the connecting means 22 or without connecting means, by means of a lamination or coating process, firmly connected to the one information-bearing functional part 2, whereby the respective in Fig. 1 bis 8 shown fastening system is formed.

Claims

1. A fastening system which can be applied repeatedly to third components, preferably having a smooth surface, for the purpose of detachable fastening to the same, consisting of at least two interconnected functional parts (2, 6) of planar shape, of which at least one functional part (2) has the form of a film and bears information and at least one further functional part (6) has a plurality of individual elements (4), the free end faces (8) of which adhere to the surface of the respective third component by means of adhesion, wherein the individual elements (4) are each formed of stem parts or stalk parts (18), the diameters of which are increased at their free ends (8) in the form of a widening (20).

2. The fastening system according to claim 1, characterized in that a connecting means (22), in particular in the form of a glue, is introduced between the two functional parts (2, 6) for keeping them together.

3. The fastening system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that for a sandwich-like structure between the two functional parts (2, 6) a third functional part (26) is arranged, which, designed as a support part (28), has the connecting means (22) to at least one of the adjacent functional parts (2, 6) on at least one of its two sides, preferably on both sides.

4. The fastening system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that all functional parts (2, 6, 26, 28), including any connecting means (22), are provided as layers and, at least in an initial state prior to use, are in contact with one another in a plane-parallel and full-contact manner and without any protrusions.

5. The fastening system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least some of the functional parts (2, 6, 26, 28) themselves have a multilayer structure.

6. The fastening system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the further functional part (6) as a whole together with the individual elements (4) is subdivided into groups (30), which, at least in a longitudinal and / or transverse direction to the extension of the film of the one functional part (2), have a predeterminable distance (34) from one another, which preferably has a gap size that is smaller than the film thickness of each of the functional parts (2, 6, 26, 28).

7. The fastening system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a group member (30) of the groups (30) is formed of a single segment (32) which, in conjunction with further segments (32), forms the further functional part (6).

8. The fastening system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the functional parts (2, 6, 26, 28) arranged adjacent to one another, are connected to each other without glue by means of a coating or lamination process.

9. The fastening system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective functional part (2, 6, 26, 28) consists of a plastic material, such as polyethylene material, and in that the further functional part (6), at least to the extent of its individual elements (4), has adhesion properties of the class of poly(organo)siloxanes, preferably of a polyvinylsiloxane material.

10. The fastening system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the one functional part (2) is designed bearing information and - colored - with symbols, preferably with text printed thereon - reflective - fluorescent - luminous - matte or glossy - provided with AI.

11. The fastening system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the functional parts (2, 6, 26, 28) is equipped with additional functions, such as being - flame retardant - recyclable - biodegradable - incinerable - magnetizable or exhibiting magnetic properties - resistant to electrostatic charge or electro-magnetically compatible (EMC) - abrasion resistant.

12. The fastening system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the further functional part having the individual elements, capable of adhesion, can be produced using a forming screen in a chill-roll process.

13. The fastening system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening system, designed as rolled or wound material, in the unrolled or unwound state and divided into predeterminable lengths can fulfill the respective purposes.

14. A tradable merchandise item consisting of a plurality of fastening systems according to any one of the preceding claims, which, combined on a carrier strip (38), as small parts (40) that can be separated from one another, after they have been detached from the carrier strip (38), are provided for the application for detachable adhesion to the third component.

15. Use of a fastening system according to any one of the claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the fastening system is used to render the information content of traffic signs of any kind ineffective and / or is used as a warning to make vehicles, such as construction vehicles, recognizable, and for which, by detaching the fastening system from such third components, the ineffective-rendering or the making-recognizable is removed without leaving any residue.