Adhesive tape for sheathing elongate items such as wiring harnesses, and method for sheathing

Abstract

The invention relates to an adhesive tape, in particular for sheathing the length of elongate items such as wiring harnesses in an automobile, the adhesive tape comprising a carrier having an upper face and a lower face, the carrier having a width BT, based the transverse direction, and at least one sealing strip made of an adhesive compound being present on the lower face of the carrier, the at least one sealing strip extending along one of the longitudinal edges of the carrier and having a width BK of at least 3 mm and at most including 50% of the width BT, at least one reinforcing element, extending in the longitudinal direction, being provided on the upper face or on the lower face of the carrier, which reinforcing element preferably has a width BVer at least including 10% to 50% of the width BT.

Description

[0001] Adhesive tape for wrapping elongated goods such as cable harnesses and method for wrapping

[0002] The invention relates to an adhesive tape for sheathing elongated goods, such as in particular cable harnesses in automobiles, and methods for sheathing.

[0003] Adhesive tapes have been used to wrap cable harnesses for some time. The tapes are used to bundle a large number of electrical cables prior to installation or after assembly. For example, they can reduce the space required by the cable bundle by bandaging and also provide additional protective functions such as protection against mechanical and / or thermal stress.

[0004] Common forms of adhesive tapes include film or textile backings, which are usually coated on one side with pressure-sensitive adhesives. Adhesive tapes for wrapping elongated goods are known, for example, from EP 1 848 006 A2, DE 10 2013 213 726 A1, and EP 2 497805 A1. Film adhesive tapes provide a certain degree of protection against liquid ingress; airy and voluminous adhesive tapes based on thick nonwovens or foams as backings provide cushioning properties; the use of abrasion-resistant, stable backing materials provides protection against chafing and rubbing. Special protection against impact is achieved with abrasion-resistant fabrics with additional coatings.

[0005] In addition to traditional vehicles with combustion engines, hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are becoming increasingly important.

[0006] A hybrid electric vehicle is a vehicle with a hybrid drive system, i.e., an electric vehicle powered by at least one electric motor and another energy converter, which draws energy from both its electrical storage device (battery) and an additional fuel tank. A fully electric vehicle is powered exclusively by a battery-powered electric motor and therefore requires no fossil fuel. The battery is charged via external power supplies. The design of electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles also requires more electrical wiring. The use of electrical voltages above 42 V requires additional protection for the wiring, which must also ensure protection in special accident situations beyond normal vehicle use.In all motor vehicles, the number of electrical cables is increasing due to the increased use of electrical components, so that the cable harnesses are becoming more extensive, thicker and more complex, while at the same time the installation space for the cable harness is becoming increasingly smaller, particularly in small vehicles, resulting in sometimes tight and complicated installation situations.

[0007] Cable harnesses are also attached to moving parts (such as seats, seat backs, trunk lid, movable folding mirrors, doors with function switches, etc.) and must permanently fulfill their function. The cable harnesses must be easily and repeatedly movable, especially at these locations.

[0008] Cable routing to moving components is generally well-known. For example, cables to the doors are routed through a movable rubber bellows. The disadvantage is that these bellows must have different designs for different configurations. Therefore, a specific design must be created for each series, which is then manufactured and installed unchanged.

[0009] Cable ducts made of hard plastic can be constructed in any shape. In this application, the cables are pulled into the cavity of the constructed components and then laboriously inserted into the vehicle in their final form.

[0010] EP 2 314 481 A1 describes the installation of electrical cables under the floor pan of a vehicle. The number and diameter of the cables increase, especially when electric drives are installed, to ensure sufficient energy flow. At the same time, the installation depth under the floor pan should be particularly shallow. The large number of round cables is divided into groups, and the small number of cables in each group is fed into a flat cable duct. Several adjacent cable ducts keep the overall installation depth low, but the materials require a high degree of construction complexity, and the installation process is time-consuming and costly.

[0011] A general holder for a cable harness is described in US 2014 / 0131093 A1. In this document, a nonwoven fabric is positioned around a cable harness and pressed into a flat shape. An additional holder secures the cable harness in the dated position. It remains unclear how the shape is permanently held in a flat shape.

[0012] The need to vary the shape of a cable harness over the length of the cable set is described in EP 2 236 360 A1. Bundling a large number of round cables results in a largely round shape of the cable harness if the cables are not explicitly arranged parallel to one another. The need for a flat shape of the cable harness is described if the cable harness is subject to recurring movement or if only a flat installation space is available. Before and after these positions, the cable harness has a round shape. The shape of the sheathing material and whether the shape can be permanently maintained in the desired form remains unanswered.

[0013] EP 2 579 406 A2 describes the use of flat-shaped fixing elements, which, on the one hand, flatten the cable bundle and, on the other hand, fix the shaped cable bundle at a defined location in the vehicle. These fixing elements must be elaborately designed and manufactured for each shape and size of the cable harness.

[0014] EP 3 729 578 A1 describes a covering for sheathing elongated material, in particular for producing a longitudinal sheath for cables in automobiles, comprising a carrier and at least two closure strips made of an adhesive mass arranged on an upper side and / or underside of the carrier, wherein the closure strips run along respective longitudinal edges of the carrier and define a free area between and / or next to them.

[0015] It is known from EP 1 875 573 B1 that the wrapping is constructed from two adhesive tapes, with a third adhesive tape being applied to the wrapping.

[0016] DE 20 2010 014 239 U1 discloses an adhesive tape and a hose sheathing made from it. The adhesive tape is equipped with a carrier and one or more adhesive strips applied to the carrier. The adhesive strip covers between approximately 20% and 50% of the area of ​​the corresponding carrier side. This provides an adhesive tape that allows for particularly flexible wrapping of objects to be bundled, especially cables.

[0017] The task is to provide an adhesive tape for cable bundling that flattens a large number of cables and maintains this shape until installation in the vehicle. The flat cable harness should be able to be bent without significantly affecting its flat shape.

[0018] A bundle of individual wires that are not fixed will move in the direction of gravity during movement of the cable assembly, during transport, or when the cable assembly is bent, forming the tightest possible package. This is usually a round cable bundle.

[0019] The parallel, individual cables for the flat-shaped section are wrapped lengthwise using adhesive tape. This allows the entire length to be wrapped uniformly with the desired flat design.

[0020] This object is achieved by an adhesive tape as set out in the main claim. The subject matter of the subclaims are advantageous developments of the adhesive tape and methods for using the adhesive tape. Accordingly, the invention relates to an adhesive tape, in particular for the longitudinal sheathing of elongated items such as cable harnesses in an automobile, comprising a carrier with a top side and a bottom side, wherein the carrier has a width BT in the transverse direction and at least one closure strip made of an adhesive is present on the underside of the carrier, wherein the at least one closure strip runs along one of the longitudinal edges of the carrier and has a width BK of at least 3 mm and of at most 50% of the width BT inclusive, wherein at least one reinforcing element extending in the longitudinal direction is present on the top side or on the underside of the carrier.

[0021] Preferably, the reinforcing element has a width Bver of at least 10% up to 50% of the width BT, more preferably 20% up to 48% of the width BT, most preferably 30% up to 40% of the width BT.

[0022] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a second closure strip made of an adhesive is present on the underside of the carrier, wherein the second closure strip runs along the other longitudinal edge of the carrier and has a width BK of at least 3 mm and of at most 50% of the width BT, wherein preferably the two closure strips have the same width.

[0023] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the first and the second closure strip each run along one of the longitudinal edges of the carrier and have a width BK of 50% of the width BT, so that the two closure strips touch each other with their inner edges, wherein preferably the two closure strips consist of a single homogeneous adhesive layer.

[0024] In this variant of the invention, both closure strips can be applied as a single homogeneous layer, so that the carrier has a full-surface adhesive coating.

[0025] If the carrier is coated over its entire surface, this is understood in the sense of the invention to mean that two closure strips are applied along one of the longitudinal edges of the carrier, each having a width BK of 50% of the width BT.

[0026] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a second reinforcing element extending in the longitudinal direction is present on the same side of the carrier, which second reinforcing element has a width Bver of at least 10% up to 50% of the width BT, more preferably 20% up to 48% of the width BT, most preferably 30% up to 40% of the width BT, the two reinforcing elements being arranged next to one another at a distance D, which is preferably at least 5 mm.

[0027] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the carrier is widened on a longitudinal edge in the form of a flag, the flag having a width Bflahne of at least 50% up to 150% of the width BT, and a third closure strip made of an adhesive mass is present extending on the underside of the free edge of the flag, the third closure strip having a width BK of at least 3 mm and of at most inclusively the width BFahne.

[0028] This flag allows the cable harness to be wrapped around partially, a second time completely (720°), or several times completely. The width (BFlag) of the flag must be adjusted accordingly.

[0029] Further preferably, the third closure strip has a width BFahn such that the entire area on the underside of the flag is provided with adhesive, wherein preferably the three closure strips cover the entire underside of the carrier and consist of a single homogeneous adhesive layer.

[0030] Further preferably, the at least one longitudinally extending reinforcing element is provided on the underside of the carrier, further preferably two longitudinally extending reinforcing elements are provided on the underside of the carrier.

[0031] The at least one, preferably the two reinforcing elements on the underside of the carrier are preferably fixed to the underside of the carrier by means of an additional adhesive coating which is located between the reinforcing element and the carrier.

[0032] The at least one, preferably the two reinforcing elements on the underside of the carrier are preferably fixed to the underside of the carrier via the adhesive of the closure strips.

[0033] According to a further preferred alternative embodiment of the invention, the at least one longitudinally extending reinforcing element is provided on the upper side of the carrier, further preferably two longitudinally extending reinforcing elements are provided on the upper side of the carrier.

[0034] The at least one, preferably the two reinforcing elements on the upper side of the carrier are preferably fixed to the upper side of the carrier by means of an additional adhesive coating which is located between the reinforcing element and the carrier.

[0035] Further preferably, at least one longitudinally extending reinforcing element is present on the upper side of the carrier and at least one longitudinally extending reinforcing element is present on the underside of the carrier. According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the carrier is designed as a textile carrier, preferably with a basis weight of 30 g / m 2 up to 300 g / m 2 , further preferably selected from the group woven, nonwoven or knitted fabrics.

[0036] In principle, all carrier materials are suitable as a carrier, although textile carrier materials are preferred.

[0037] The term "textile backing" or "textile fabric" includes all known textile backings such as knitted fabrics, scrims, ribbons, braids, needle-punched textiles, felts, woven fabrics (including plain weave, twill and satin weave), warp-knitted fabrics (including warp-knitted fabrics and knitted fabrics) or nonwovens, whereby "nonwoven" is understood to mean at least textile fabrics according to EN 29092 (1988) as well as stitch-bonded nonwovens and similar systems.

[0038] Nonwovens can be made from bonded staple fiber webs, as well as filament, meltblown, and spunbonded webs, which usually require additional bonding. Mechanical, thermal, and chemical bonding are known as bonding methods for nonwovens. While mechanical bonding typically involves purely mechanically holding the fibers together by intermingling individual fibers, intermeshing fiber bundles, or sewing in additional threads, thermal and chemical processes can be used to create adhesive (with binder) or cohesive (binder-free) fiber-fiber bonds. With appropriate formulation and process control, these bonds can be limited exclusively or at least predominantly to fiber nodes, thus forming a stable, three-dimensional network while maintaining the loose, open structure of the nonwoven.

[0039] The above definitions are taken from DIN 6121 1:2005-05 (“Textile fabrics produced on stitch-bonding machines”).

[0040] Stitch-bonded fabrics also include thread layer stitch-bonded fabrics, i.e. textile fabrics with one or more superimposed thread layers as the base material, which are consolidated by the stitch formation of integrated knitted threads, for example Florofol, pile thread stitch-bonded fabrics, i.e. textile fabrics in which knitted threads are formed as a pile and incorporated into a base material by means of stitch formation, for example Malipol and weft pile stitch-bonded fabrics, i.e. textile fabrics in which unmeshed threads formed as a pile are bound to a base material by means of knitted threads by means of stitch formation, for example weft pile.

[0041] Also suitable are nonwoven stitch-bonded fabrics, i.e. textile sheet structures that are produced without the use of threads by stitching knitted threads into a sheet-like base material. These include fiber nonwoven knit fabrics, i.e. textile sheet structures made of fiber nonwoven with a strengthening fiber mesh side and a side with fibers arranged horizontally to the fiber mesh layer, whereby fibers from the fiber nonwoven are formed into fiber meshes, for example Malivlies; pile fiber nonwoven knit fabrics, i.e. textile sheet structures made of fiber nonwoven with or without the use of a base material, which consist of a fiber mesh side and a pile fiber side with fibers arranged almost perpendicular to the fiber mesh layer, for example Voltex, Kunit or Maliknit; stitch nonwoven knit fabrics, i.e. textile sheet structures made of a pile fiber nonwoven knit fabric, from whose pile fibers a second fiber mesh layer is formed, for example Multiknit or Optiknit.

[0042] A Malivlies is characterized by the fact that a cross-fiber nonwoven is consolidated by the formation of meshes from fibers of the nonwoven.

[0043] A Kunit or Multiknit nonwoven can also be used as a carrier. A Kunit nonwoven is characterized by the fact that it is produced by processing a longitudinally oriented fiber nonwoven into a fabric that has stitches on one side and stitch bars or pile fiber folds on the other, but has neither threads nor prefabricated fabrics. Another distinguishing feature of this nonwoven is that, as a longitudinal fiber nonwoven, it can absorb high tensile forces in the longitudinal direction. A Multiknit nonwoven differs from a Kunit nonwoven in that the nonwoven is strengthened by needle piercing on both sides, both on the top and underside. The starting product for a Multiknit is usually one or two single-sided intermeshed pile fiber nonwoven fabrics produced using the Kunit process.In the final product, both nonwoven surfaces are formed into a closed surface by fiber meshing and connected to each other by nearly vertical fibers. The additional integration of additional pierceable fabrics and / or scatterable media is possible.

[0044] Finally, stitch-bonded nonwovens are also particularly suitable. A stitch-bonded nonwoven is made from a nonwoven material with numerous parallel seams. These seams are created by sewing in or stitch-bonding continuous textile threads. This type of nonwoven (also known as Maliwatt) is best known for its "Malimo" stitch-bonding machines from Karl Mayer.

[0045] Such bonded nonwovens are produced, for example, on stitch-bonding machines of the “Malimo” type from Karl Mayer, formerly Malimo, and are available from Tenowo GmbH, among others.

[0046] Needle-punched nonwovens are also suitable. In needle-punched nonwovens, a fiber web is formed into a flat structure using barbed needles. By alternately inserting and withdrawing the needles, the material is consolidated on a needle bar, whereby the individual fibers intertwine to form a solid flat structure. The number and design of the needling points (needle shape, penetration depth, needling on both sides) determine the strength and rigidity of the fiber structures, which are generally lightweight, permeable to air, and elastic. Also advantageous is a staple fiber nonwoven that is pre-consolidated in a first step by mechanical processing or is a wet-laid nonwoven that has been laid hydrodynamically, with between 2% and 50% by weight of the fibers in the nonwoven being melt-bonded fibers, in particular between 5% and 40% by weight of the fibers in the nonwoven.

[0047] Such a nonwoven fabric is characterized in that the fibers are laid wet or, for example, a staple fiber nonwoven fabric is pre-consolidated by forming loops from fibers of the nonwoven fabric by needling, sewing, air and / or water jet processing.

[0048] In a second step, thermosetting takes place, whereby the strength of the fleece is further increased by melting or melting the melt fibers.

[0049] For the use of nonwovens, the adhesive consolidation of mechanically pre-consolidated or wet-laid nonwovens is of particular interest. This can be achieved by adding binders in solid, liquid, foamed, or pasty form. After consolidation, the nonwoven exhibits no (self-)adhesive properties. In principle, a wide variety of dosage forms are possible, for example, solid binders as powder for trickling in, as film or mesh, or in the form of binding fibers. Liquid binders can be applied dissolved in water or organic solvents or as a dispersion. Binder dispersions are predominantly chosen for adhesive consolidation: thermosets in the form of phenolic or melamine resin dispersions, elastomers as dispersions of natural or synthetic rubbers, or, more often, dispersions of thermoplastics such as acrylates, vinyl acetates, polyurethanes, styrene-butadiene systems, PVC, etc., as well as their copolymers.Normally these are anionic or non-ionic stabilized dispersions, but in special cases cationic dispersions can also be advantageous.

[0050] The type of binder application can be carried out according to the state of the art and can be found, for example, in standard works on coating or nonwoven technology such as “Vliesstoffe” (Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart, 1982) or “Textiltechnik-Vliesstofferzeugung” (Arbeitgeberkreis Gesamttextil, Eschborn, 1996).

[0051] For mechanically pre-consolidated nonwovens that already have sufficient bond strength, the one-sided spray application of a binder is recommended in order to specifically change surface properties.

[0052] In addition to the economical use of binder, this method also significantly reduces the energy required for drying. Since squeezing rollers are eliminated and the dispersions remain primarily in the upper part of the nonwoven, undesirable hardening and stiffening of the nonwoven can be largely prevented.

[0053] To ensure sufficient adhesive bonding of the nonwoven backing, a binder must generally be added in a range of 1% to 50%, particularly 3% to 20%, based on the weight of the nonwoven. The binder can be added during nonwoven production, during mechanical pre-bonding, or in a separate process step, which can be performed in-line or offline. After the binder is added, a state must be temporarily created for the binder in which it becomes adhesive and adhesively bonds the fibers. This can be achieved during the drying of dispersions, for example, or by heating, with further variations possible through the application of surface or partial pressure. The activation of the binder can take place in conventional drying channels, but with a suitable binder selection, it can also be activated by infrared radiation, UV radiation, ultrasound, high-frequency radiation, or similar methods.

[0054] Another special form of adhesive bonding involves activating the binder by dissolving or swelling it. In principle, the fibers themselves or admixed special fibers can also act as the binder. However, since such solvents are environmentally harmful or problematic to handle for most polymer fibers, this process is rarely used.

[0055] Spacer fabrics and knitted fabrics with lamination can also be used.

[0056] Spacer fabrics are double-faced textiles in which the warp-knitted fabric surfaces are held apart by spacer connecting threads, so-called pile threads. These spacer fabrics are knitted or warp-knitted fabrics that have been extended to include a third dimension. Spacer fabrics also have two spaced-apart fabric layers that are held apart by filaments, threads, or fibers. Such spacer fabrics are disclosed in EP 0 071 212 B1.

[0057] Advantageously, and at least in some areas, the carrier can have a smooth-ground surface on one or both sides, preferably a completely smooth surface in each case. The smooth-ground surface may be chintzed, as explained in detail, for example, in EP 1 448 744 A1.

[0058] Furthermore, the carrier can be calendered in a rolling mill for compaction. Preferably, the two rollers rotate in opposite directions and at the same peripheral speed, so that the carrier is pressed and compacted.

[0059] If the peripheral speed of the rollers differs, the carrier is additionally ground smooth.

[0060] The carrier can be a fabric.

[0061] Particularly preferred fabrics are constructed as follows:

[0062] • the thread count in the warp is 10 to 60 / cm • the thread count in the weft is 10 to 40 / cm

[0063] • the warp threads have a yarn weight between 40 and 400 dtex, in particular between 44 and 330 dtex, particularly preferably 167 dtex

[0064] • the weft threads have a yarn weight between 40 and 660 dtex, in particular between 44 and 400 dtex, particularly preferably 167 dtex

[0065] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the thread count in the warp is 40 to 50 / cm, preferably 44 / cm.

[0066] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the thread count in the weft is 18 to 22 / cm, preferably 20 / cm.

[0067] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the fabric is a polyester fabric or a blended fabric of polyester and polyamide or viscose.

[0068] More preferably, the thickness of the fabric is at most 300 pm, particularly preferably 170 to 230 pm, most preferably 190 to 210 pm.

[0069] The starting materials for the carrier material for the adhesive tape are, in particular, (chemical) fibers (staple fibers or continuous filaments) made of synthetic polymers, also called synthetic fibers, made of polyester, polyamide, polyimide, aramid, polyolefin, polyacrylonitrile, or glass, (chemical) fibers made of natural polymers such as cellulosic fibers (viscose, modal, lyocell, cupro, acetate, triacetate, cellulon), such as rubber fibers, such as plant protein fibers and / or animal protein fibers and / or natural fibers made of cotton, sisal, flax, silk, hemp, linen, coconut, or wool. However, the present invention is not limited to the materials mentioned; rather, a multitude of other fibers can be used to produce the carrier, as will be apparent to the person skilled in the art without requiring inventive step.

[0070] Furthermore, yarns made from the specified fibers are also suitable.

[0071] In woven or non-woven fabrics, individual threads may be made from a blended yarn, meaning they may contain both synthetic and natural components. However, the warp and weft threads are usually made from pure yarns.

[0072] The yarns or threads of the fabrics can be in the form of filaments. For the purposes of this invention, a filament is understood to be a bundle of parallel, straight individual fibers / individual filaments, often referred to in the literature as a multifilament. If necessary, this fiber bundle can be consolidated by twisting; in this case, it is referred to as spun or twisted filaments. Alternatively, the fiber bundle can be consolidated by intermingling with compressed air or a water jet. In the following, the term "filament" will be used for all these embodiments. The filament can be textured or smooth, and point-bonded or unbonded.

[0073] Polyester is preferably used as the material for the textile carrier due to its excellent aging resistance and excellent resistance to chemicals and operating fluids such as oil, gasoline, antifreeze, etc. Furthermore, polyester has the advantage of resulting in a highly abrasion-resistant and temperature-resistant carrier, which is particularly important for the specific application of bundling cables in automobiles, for example, in the engine compartment. According to one embodiment of the invention, a PET nonwoven or PET woven fabric is used as the carrier.

[0074] The basis weight of the textile carrier is advantageously between 30 g / m 2 and 300 g / m 2 further advantageous between 50 g / m 2 and 200 g / m 2 , particularly advantageous between 50 g / m 2 and 150 g / m 2 , particularly advantageous between 70 g / m 2 and 130 g / m 2 .

[0075] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, after application to the carrier, the adhesive has sunk more than 10%, preferably more than 25%, more preferably more than 50% into the carrier. A numerical value of, for example, 25% means that the adhesive has penetrated over a layer thickness of 25% of the thickness of the textile carrier, i.e., for a carrier with a thickness of 100 μm, over a layer thickness of 25 μm within the carrier, starting from the surface of the carrier on which the adhesive is coated and in a direction perpendicular to the plane spanned by the longitudinal or transverse direction.

[0076] A carrier material made of paper, a laminate, a film (e.g. PP, PE, PET, PA, PU), foam or a foamed film is also suitable for the adhesive tape.

[0077] These non-textile flat materials are particularly suitable when special requirements require such a modification of the invention. Films, for example, are usually thinner than textiles, offer additional protection against the penetration of chemicals and operating fluids such as oil, gasoline, antifreeze, etc. into the actual cable area thanks to their closed layer, and can be largely adapted to requirements through appropriate material selection: polyurethanes and polyolefin copolymers, for example, can be used to create flexible and elastic sheaths, while polyesters and polyamides achieve good abrasion and temperature resistance.

[0078] Foams or foamed films, on the other hand, offer the properties of greater spatial coverage and good noise dampening. If, for example, a cable harness is installed in a duct or tunnel-like area of ​​a vehicle, annoying rattling and vibration can be prevented from the outset by applying a sheathing tape of suitable thickness and dampening. A laminate consisting of the textile carrier and a film or plastic layer applied to at least one side of the textile carrier is preferred. Films or plastic layers can also be applied to the top and bottom of the textile carrier.

[0079] The application can be done by lamination or by extrusion.

[0080] A preferred variant is one in which the textile carrier is provided with a film on the underside and a pressure-sensitive adhesive on the other side.

[0081] Suitable film or plastic materials include films such as PP, PE, polyester, PA, PU, ​​or PVC. The films themselves can consist of several individual layers, for example, layers coextruded into film.

[0082] Polyolefins are preferred, but copolymers of ethylene and polar monomers such as styrene, vinyl acetate, methyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, or acrylic acid are also included. It can be a homopolymer such as HDPE, LDPE, MDPE, or a copolymer of ethylene with another olefin such as propene, butene, hexene, or octene (e.g., LLDPE, VLDDE). Polypropylenes (e.g., polypropylene homopolymers, polypropylene random copolymers, or polypropylene block copolymers) are also suitable.

[0083] The film preferably has a thickness of 12 pm to 100 pm, more preferably 28 to 50 pm, in particular 35 pm.

[0084] The film can be colored and / or transparent.

[0085] All known adhesive systems can be used for the adhesive. In addition to natural or synthetic rubber-based adhesives, silicone adhesives and polyacrylate adhesives are particularly suitable.

[0086] If further adhesive layers are present on the exposed surfaces of the first or second carrier, these can also be selected from the adhesives listed below.

[0087] The adhesive is preferably a pressure-sensitive adhesive, i.e., an adhesive that allows for a permanent bond to almost all substrates even under relatively light pressure and can be removed from the substrate after use, leaving essentially no residue. A pressure-sensitive adhesive is permanently tacky at room temperature, meaning it has a sufficiently low viscosity and high tackiness so that it wets the surface of the respective substrate even under light pressure. The bondability of the adhesive is based on its adhesive properties, and its removability on its cohesive properties. Pressure-sensitive adhesives can be considered extremely viscous liquids with an elastic component. Pressure-sensitive adhesives therefore have special, characteristic viscoelastic properties that lead to their permanent inherent tack and adhesive strength.

[0088] They are characterized by the fact that when they are mechanically deformed, both viscous flow processes and the buildup of elastic restoring forces occur. The respective contribution of both processes is proportional to each other, depending on the precise composition, structure, and degree of crosslinking of the respective pressure-sensitive adhesive, as well as the speed and duration of the deformation and the temperature.

[0089] The viscous flow component is necessary to achieve adhesion. Only the viscous components, caused by macromolecules with relatively high mobility, enable good wetting and flow onto the substrate to be bonded. A high proportion of viscous flow leads to high pressure-sensitive adhesion (also referred to as tack or surface adhesion) and thus often also to high adhesive strength. Highly cross-linked systems, crystalline, or glass-like polymers, are generally not or at least only slightly tacky due to the lack of flowable components.

[0090] The proportional elastic restoring forces are necessary to achieve cohesion. They are caused, for example, by very long-chain and highly entangled macromolecules, as well as by physically or chemically cross-linked macromolecules, and enable the transfer of forces acting on an adhesive bond. They ensure that an adhesive bond can sufficiently withstand continuous loading, for example, in the form of permanent shear stress, over an extended period of time.

[0091] Particularly preferred is a pressure-sensitive adhesive in the form of a dried polymer dispersion, wherein the polymer is composed of:

[0092] (a) 95.0 to 100.0 wt.% n-butyl acrylate and / or 2-ethylhexyl acrylate

[0093] (b) 0.0 to 5.0 wt.% of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer having an acid or acid anhydride function

[0094] Preferably, the polymer consists of 95.0 to 99.5 wt.% n-butyl acrylate and / or 2-ethylhexyl acrylate and 0.5 to 5 wt.% of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer having an acid or acid anhydride function, more preferably of 97.0 or 98.0 wt.% to 99.0 wt.% n-butyl acrylate and / or 2-ethylhexyl acrylate and 1.0 to 2.0 wt.% or 3 wt.% of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer having an acid or acid anhydride function.

[0095] In addition to the listed acrylate polymers, tackifiers and / or additives such as light stabilizers or anti-aging agents may be added to the pressure-sensitive adhesive, in addition to any residual monomers present. In particular, no other polymers such as elastomers are contained in the pressure-sensitive adhesive; this means that the polymers of the pressure-sensitive adhesive consist only of monomers (a) and (b) in the specified proportions.

[0096] Preferably, n-butyl acrylate forms the monomer (a).

[0097] Advantageous monomers (b) include, for example, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid and / or maleic anhydride.

[0098] Preferred is (meth-)acrylic acid of the formula I, where R 3 = H or CH3; preference is given to using a mixture of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid. Acrylic acid is particularly preferred.

[0099] According to a particularly preferred variant, the polymer has the following composition:

[0100] (a) 95.0 to 100.0 wt.%, preferably 95.0 to 99.5 wt.%, more preferably 98.0 to 99.0 wt.% of n-butyl acrylate and

[0101] (b) 0.0 to 5.0 wt.%, preferably 0.5 to 5.0 wt.%, more preferably 1.0 to 2.0 wt.% acrylic acid

[0102] The polymer dispersion is prepared by emulsion polymerization of the aforementioned components. Descriptions of this process can be found, for example, in "Emulsion Polymerization and Emulsion Polymers" by Peter A. Lovell and Mohamed S. El-Aasser - Wiley-VCH 1997 - ISBN 0-471-96746-7 or in EP 1 378 527 B1.

[0103] During polymerization, it cannot be ruled out that not all monomers will be converted into polymers. It is obvious that the residual monomer content should be as low as possible.

[0104] Preferably, adhesive compositions comprising the polymer dispersion having a residual monomer content of less than or equal to 1 wt.%, in particular less than or equal to 0.5 wt.% (based on the mass of the dried polymer dispersion) are provided.

[0105] According to the general understanding of the expert, an “adhesive resin” is understood to be an oligomeric or polymeric resin which improves the autoadhesion (the tack, the inherent stickiness) of the pressure-sensitive adhesive in comparison to the adhesive which does not contain an adhesive resin but is otherwise identical.

[0106] Pressure sensitive adhesive increased.

[0107] The use of tackifiers to increase the bond strength of pressure-sensitive adhesives is generally known. This effect also occurs when up to 15 parts by weight (equivalent to < 15 parts by weight) or 5 to 15 parts by weight of tackifier (based on the mass of the dried polymer dispersion) are added to the adhesive. Preferably, 5 to 12, more preferably 6 to 10 parts by weight of tackifier (based on the mass of the dried polymer dispersion) are added.

[0108] In principle, all known classes of substances are suitable as tackifiers, also known as adhesive resins. Examples of tackifiers include hydrocarbon resins (e.g., polymers based on unsaturated Cs or Cg monomers), terpene-phenolic resins, polyterpene resins based on raw materials such as α- or β-pinene, aromatic resins such as coumarone-indene resins, or resins based on styrene or α-methylstyrene, such as rosin and its derivatives, such as disproportionated, dimerized, or esterified rosin, for example, reaction products with glycol, glycerin, or pentaerythritol, to name just a few. Preferred resins are those without easily oxidizable double bonds, such as terpene phenol resins, aromatic resins, and particularly preferred resins produced by hydrogenation, such as hydrogenated aromatic resins, hydrogenated polycyclopentadiene resins, hydrogenated rosin derivatives, or hydrogenated polyterpene resins.

[0109] Resins based on terpene phenols and rosin esters are preferred. Adhesive resins with a softening point above 80°C according to ASTM E28-99 (2009) are also preferred. Resins based on terpene phenols and rosin esters with a softening point above 90°C according to ASTM E28-99 (2009) are particularly preferred. The resins are advantageously used in dispersion form. They can thus be easily mixed into the polymer dispersion to form a finely dispersed mixture.

[0110] Particularly preferred is the variant in which no adhesive resins are added to the pressure-sensitive adhesive. In particular, the following substances are not added to the pressure-sensitive adhesive:

[0111] • Hydrocarbon resins (e.g. polymers based on unsaturated Cs or Cg monomers)

[0112] • Terpene phenolic resins

[0113] • Polyterpene resins based on raw materials such as a- or ß-pinene

[0114] • aromatic resins such as coumarone-indene resins or resins based on styrene or cc-methylstyrene such as rosin and its derivatives, for example disproportionated, dimerized or esterified rosin, for example reaction products with glycol, glycerol or pentaerythritol Due to their particular suitability as adhesive for adhesive tapes of automotive cable harnesses with regard to freedom from fogging, solvent-free acrylate hotmelt compounds are to be preferred, as described in more detail in DE 198 07 752 A1 and in DE 100 1 1 788 A1.

[0115] Fogging (see DIN 75201 A) refers to the phenomenon whereby, under unfavorable conditions, low-molecular compounds can outgas from adhesive tapes and condense on cold parts. This can, for example, impair visibility through the windshield.

[0116] A suitable adhesive composition is one based on acrylate hotmelt which has a K value of at least 20, in particular greater than 30 (measured in each case in 1 wt.% solution in toluene, 25 °C), obtainable by concentrating a solution of such a composition to a system which can be processed as a hotmelt.

[0117] Concentration can take place in appropriately equipped kettles or extruders; a vented extruder is particularly preferred for the associated degassing.

[0118] Such an adhesive is described in DE 43 13 008 C2. The solvent is completely removed from the acrylic compounds produced in this way in an intermediate step.

[0119] The K value is determined in particular in analogy to DIN EN ISO 1628-1:2012-010.

[0120] In addition, other volatile components are removed. After coating from the melt, these compounds contain only small amounts of volatile components. Thus, all monomers / recipes claimed in the above-mentioned patent can be used.

[0121] The solution of the composition may contain 5 to 80 wt.%, in particular 30 to 70 wt.%, of solvent. Commercially available solvents are preferably used, in particular low-boiling hydrocarbons, ketones, alcohols, and / or esters.

[0122] Furthermore, single-screw, twin-screw or multi-screw extruders with one or in particular two or more degassing units are preferably used.

[0123] Benzoin derivatives, such as benzoin acrylate or benzoin methacrylate, or acrylic or methacrylic acid esters, can be polymerized into the acrylate hotmelt-based adhesive. Such benzoin derivatives are described in EP 0 578 151 A.

[0124] The acrylate hotmelt-based adhesive can be UV-cured. Other crosslinking methods are also possible, such as electron beam crosslinking.

[0125] In a further preferred embodiment, copolymers of (meth)acrylic acid and its esters having 1 to 25 C atoms, maleic, fumaric and / or itaconic acid and / or its esters, substituted (meth)acrylamides, maleic anhydride and other vinyl compounds, such as vinyl esters, in particular vinyl acetate, vinyl alcohols and / or vinyl ethers, are used as self-adhesive compositions.

[0126] The residual solvent content should be below 1 wt.%. One adhesive that has proven particularly suitable is a low-molecular-weight acrylic hotmelt pressure-sensitive adhesive, such as those sold by BASF under the name acResin UV or Acronal®, especially acResin A 260UV. This adhesive, with its low K value, achieves its application-specific properties through a final radiation-induced crosslinking.

[0127] Other outstandingly suitable adhesives are described in EP 3 540 024 A1, EP 2 520 627 A1, EP 2 522 705 A1, EP 2 520 628 A1, EP 2 695 926 A1 and EP 2 520 629 A1.

[0128] The adhesive coating also preferably consists of an adhesive based on synthetic rubber, namely, in particular, an adhesive comprising at least one vinylaromatic block copolymer and at least one adhesive resin. Typical application concentrations for the block copolymer are in the range between 30 wt.% and 70 wt.%, in particular in the range between 35 wt.% and 55 wt.%.

[0129] Other polymers that may be present are those based on pure hydrocarbons, such as unsaturated polydienes such as natural or synthetically produced polyisoprene or polybutadiene, chemically substantially saturated elastomers such as saturated ethylene-propylene copolymers, a-olefin copolymers, polyisobutylene, butyl rubber, ethylene-propylene rubber, and chemically functionalized hydrocarbons such as halogen-containing, acrylate-containing or vinyl ether-containing polyolefins, which can replace up to half of the vinyl aromatic-containing block copolymers.

[0130] Tackifiers used are adhesive resins that are compatible with the elastomer block of the styrene block copolymers.

[0131] Plasticizers such as liquid resins, plasticizer oils or low molecular weight liquid polymers such as low molecular weight polyisobutylenes with molecular weights < 1500 g / mol (number average) or liquid EPDM types are typically used.

[0132] Light stabilizers such as UV absorbers, sterically hindered amines, antiozonants, metal deactivators, processing aids and endblock reinforcing resins can be added as further additives to all of the above-mentioned types of adhesives.

[0133] Fillers such as silicon dioxide, glass (ground or in the form of solid or hollow spheres), microballoons, aluminum oxides, zinc oxides, calcium carbonates, titanium dioxides, carbon blacks, silicates, and chalk, to name just a few, as well as color pigments and dyes and optical brighteners, can also be used. Primary and secondary antioxidants are typically added to pressure-sensitive adhesives to improve their aging stability. Primary antioxidants react with oxy- and peroxy radicals, which can form in the presence of oxygen, to form less reactive compounds. Secondary antioxidants, for example, reduce hydroperoxides to alcohols. It is well known that there is a synergistic effect between primary and secondary anti-aging agents, so that the protective effect of a mixture is often greater than the sum of the two individual effects.

[0134] If flame retardancy is desired for the described adhesive tape, this can be achieved by adding flame retardants to the carrier and / or the adhesive. These can be organobromine compounds, if necessary with synergists such as antimony trioxide. However, in view of the halogen-free nature of the adhesive tape, red phosphorus, organophosphorus, mineral, or intumescent compounds such as ammonium polyphosphate are preferred, either alone or in combination with synergists.

[0135] The production and processing of pressure-sensitive adhesives can be carried out from solution, dispersion, or melt. Preferred production and processing methods are from the melt. For the latter case, suitable production processes include both batch and continuous processes.

[0136] The adhesive application, based on the adhesive tape surface, is preferably between 40 and 160 g / m 2, preferably between 60 and 130 g / m 2 , further preferably between 80 and 100 g / m 2 lies.

[0137] For the purposes of this invention, the general term "adhesive tape" encompasses all flat structures such as films or film sections extended in two dimensions, tapes with an extended length and a limited width, tape sections, and the like, as well as die-cuts or labels. The adhesive tape is particularly available in web form. A web is understood to be an object whose length is many times greater than its width.

[0138] The adhesive tape thus has a longitudinal dimension and a lateral dimension. The adhesive tape also has a thickness perpendicular to both dimensions, with the lateral and longitudinal dimensions being many times greater than the thickness. The thickness of the backing is as uniform as possible, preferably exactly the same, across the entire surface area of ​​the adhesive tape, determined by its length and width. Only in the area of ​​the reinforcing elements is the adhesive tape thicker.

[0139] The adhesive tape can be manufactured in roll form, i.e., wound upon itself in the shape of an Archimedean spiral. A backing coating (functional layer) can be applied to the exposed surface of the carrier to favorably influence the unwinding properties of the adhesive tape wound into an Archimedean spiral. This backing coating can contain silicone or fluorosilicone compounds, as well as polyvinyl stearyl carbamate, polyethyleneimine stearyl carbamide, or fluoroorganic compounds as adhesive agents.

[0140] The adhesive is applied in the longitudinal direction of the adhesive tape in the form of at least two sealing strips.

[0141] Depending on the application, several parallel closure strips can also be coated on the carrier material.

[0142] The position of the closure strips on the carrier can be freely selected, although an arrangement directly on the long edges of the carrier is preferred.

[0143] Preferably, the closure strips are designed such that the adhesive is applied over the entire surface of the carrier.

[0144] If flame retardancy is desired for the described adhesive tape, this can be achieved by adding flame retardants to the carrier and / or the adhesive. These can be organobromine compounds, if necessary with synergists such as antimony trioxide. However, in view of the halogen-free nature of the adhesive tape, red phosphorus, organophosphorus, mineral, or intumescent compounds such as ammonium polyphosphate are preferred, either alone or in combination with synergists.

[0145] Finally, the adhesive tape can have a release liner that covers one or two layers of adhesive until use. All of the materials listed in detail above are also suitable as release liners.

[0146] A non-linting material such as a plastic film or a well-glued, long-fiber paper is preferred.

[0147] The reinforcing element(s) can be made of plastics such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC), polyetherimide (PEI), polysulfone (PSU), polyethersulfone (PES), polyamideimide (PAI), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or (less preferred) paper or cardboard. However, paper is sensitive to moisture.

[0148] Furthermore, films can also be used as reinforcing elements.

[0149] The thickness of the foils is preferably between 100 and 1500 μm, more preferably between 300 and 1000 μm. Even larger thicknesses can be easily realized, although the foil sections become less flexible and more rigid with increasing thickness. Furthermore, the reinforcing element(s) can be made of metal or metal foils. Suitable metals include silver, copper, gold, platinum, aluminum and aluminum compounds, tin, nichrome, stainless steel, titanium, and preferably aluminum.

[0150] According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the reinforcing element(s) are not made of metal or do not contain any metallic additives.

[0151] The thickness of the reinforcement element(s) is selected so that they do not bend or deform during the winding process, or at most only slightly.

[0152] Preferably, the thickness is between 100 and 1500 pm, more preferably between 150 and 1000 pm.

[0153] The width of the reinforcement element(s) is determined by the available installation space. Preferably, the entire width of the installation space is utilized. Typically, and preferably, the reinforcement element(s) have widths between 30 and 80 mm, more preferably between 45 and 60 mm.

[0154] Particularly preferred are one or two reinforcement elements which

[0155] • made of polyethylene or polyethylene terephthalate (PET),

[0156] • a thickness between 150 and 1000 pm and

[0157] • have a width between 30 and 80 mm.

[0158] If two or more reinforcing elements are used, they are preferably identical in material and dimensions, particularly with regard to material and width.

[0159] Preferably, the reinforcement elements are selected so that they can be plastically and / or elastically deformed upon application of a certain force when the cable harness covered with the adhesive tape is bent. This keeps the cable harness in its flat shape while still allowing it to be bent around curves, for example.

[0160] Preferably, the material for the reinforcement element and / or the number of reinforcement elements are selected such that, when measuring the flexural rigidity on the flat cable harness in the test cable harness (see below), a force F1 of less than 4 N results. A higher flexural rigidity results in the cable harness formed with one or more reinforcement elements being too inflexible to be bent around curves or corners.

[0161] Preferably, the material for the reinforcement element and / or the number of reinforcement elements are further selected such that, when measuring the flexural rigidity on the flat cable harness in the test cable harness, a force F2 of greater than 3.5 N and more preferably less than 20 N results. Further preferably, the material for the reinforcement element is selected such that, when measuring the flexural force F3 according to the test specified below, a value for the force F3 of greater than 1 N / 60 mm to 20 N / 60 mm (single layer) results, preferably 3 N / 60 mm to 10 N / 60 mm.

[0162] The results from the test harness determine the criteria for the reinforcement material and / or the number of reinforcement elements. The size and number of reinforcement elements should be selected within the scope of professional skill, depending on the type and number of cables to be sheathed.

[0163] In particular, in the case of the cable harnesses described as preferred, which comprise a bundle of 10 to 70 cables, the cables having a cross-sectional area of ​​0.35 mm 2 up to 2.5 mm 2 The material for the reinforcement element and / or the number of reinforcement elements can be determined by testing the test harness. The reinforcement elements that achieve the required measurement values ​​reliably produce the desired effects in such cable harnesses.

[0164] According to a preferred variant, the reinforcing element is bent in the transverse direction, preferably in the form of a circular arc with a central angle between 5° and 90°, wherein the inner arc rests against the material to be wrapped.

[0165] The reinforcing elements can be additionally provided with an adhesive layer on their free side, the “back”, which is preferably applied over the entire surface.

[0166] Due to the positive properties described, the adhesive tape is ideal for insulating and wrapping wires or cables.

[0167] The elongated material is wrapped axially by the adhesive tape. The wrapping of a cable harness with the adhesive tape described is not done in a helical manner, but rather in such a way that the longitudinal axis of the tape is essentially parallel to the direction of the cable harness. Viewed in cross-section, the adhesive tape wraps around the cable harness in the shape of an Archimedean spiral. This type of wrapping is also called "wrapping the cable harness" or "cigar wrapping."

[0168] Also encompassed by the inventive concept is a sheathed elongated product, such as in particular a cable harness, sheathed with an adhesive tape according to the invention, as well as a vehicle containing such a sheathed elongated product.

[0169] According to one embodiment of the invention, the elongated product is a cable harness comprising a bundle of several cables, such as 3 to 1000 cables, preferably 10 to 500 cables, in particular between 50 and 300 cables. Cable harnesses comprising between 10 and 70 cables, more preferably between 15 and 60 cables, are particularly preferably sheathed with the adhesive tape according to the invention. The cables have a (typical) cross-sectional area of ​​0.35 mm 2 up to 2.5 mm 2 on.

[0170] According to a preferred variant of the invention, the elongated product consists of a cable harness comprising a bundle of 10 to 70 cables, the cables having a cross-sectional area of ​​0.35 mm 2 up to 2.5 mm 2 have.

[0171] The adhesive tape can be designed in the form of a sheathing in which an adhesive tape according to the invention is provided, in which at least in one edge region there is a further self-adhesive adhesive tape which is bonded to the adhesive tape in such a way that the further adhesive tape extends over one of the longitudinal edges of the adhesive tape, preferably in an edge region which is narrow compared to the width of the adhesive tape.

[0172] Such a product and optimized embodiments thereof are disclosed in EP 1 312 097 A1. EP 1 300 452 A2, DE 102 29 527 A1, and WO 2006 / 108871 A1 describe further developments for which the adhesive tape according to the invention can also be very well used.

[0173] To ensure correct application of the adhesive tape, especially on cable harnesses, at least one longitudinal marking line can be provided on the upper side of the carrier. Two marking lines are preferred. These marking lines are visually and / or haptically distinct from the surrounding surface.

[0174] The marking is applied to the carrier, for example, by printing. Alternatively, or additionally, the marking can also be incorporated into the first carrier. This allows the marking to be realized as a woven warp thread.

[0175] EP 3 245 265 A1 describes the use of such a marking line on an adhesive tape.

[0176] Furthermore, the adhesive tape according to the invention can be used in a method for sheathing elongated material, such as in particular cable harnesses, in which two strip-shaped adhesive tapes enclose the material in a tube-like manner, so that the material is located essentially centrally between the adhesive tapes, wherein the adhesive tapes are brought together in such a way that the adhesive tapes are bonded to one another in the contacting edge regions. At least one of the two adhesive tapes is designed according to the invention, preferably both adhesive tapes. The method and the design of the sheathing are disclosed in detail in EP 1 367 608 A2. To enable particularly simple work for the user, perforations are provided in the adhesive tape, which are aligned in particular at right angles to the running direction of the adhesive tape and / or arranged at regular intervals.

[0177] The perforation primarily serves as a tear-off aid for cutting the tape to the specified length. Perforations should be avoided in the portion of the tape that wraps the item, as this could negatively impact the shielding properties.

[0178] Particularly advantageously, the perforations can be produced discontinuously with flat punches or transverse perforation wheels as well as continuously using rotary systems such as spiked rollers or punching rollers, if necessary using a counter roller (Vulkollan roller) which forms the counter wheel during cutting.

[0179] Further possibilities include controlled intermittent cutting technologies such as lasers, ultrasound, high-pressure water jets, etc. If part of the energy is introduced into the substrate as heat, as in laser or ultrasonic cutting, the fibers can be fused in the cutting area, thus largely preventing disruptive fraying and producing sharp cutting edges. These latter processes are also suitable for achieving special cutting edge geometries, such as concave or convex cutting edges.

[0180] The adhesive tape can be used flexibly on different cable diameters.

[0181] The advantageous labeling makes it safe and easy to check that the adhesive tape has been used correctly.

[0182] In the following, the adhesive tape will be explained in more detail using several figures, without wishing to create any kind of restriction.

[0183] It shows

[0184] Figure 1 shows several sections of a cable harness covered with adhesive tape in top view and side view,

[0185] Figure 2 shows an adhesive tape according to the invention in a particularly advantageous embodiment,

[0186] Figure 3 shows an adhesive tape according to the invention in a further particularly advantageous

[0187] embodiment,

[0188] Figure 4 shows the adhesive tape wound around the cable according to Figure 3, Figure 5 shows an adhesive tape according to the invention in a further particularly advantageous embodiment,

[0189] Figure 6 shows the adhesive tape wrapped around the cable according to Figure 5,

[0190] Figure 7 shows an adhesive tape according to the invention in a further particularly advantageous embodiment,

[0191] Figure 8 shows the adhesive tape wrapped around the cable according to Figure 7,

[0192] Figure 9 shows an adhesive tape according to the invention in a further particularly advantageous embodiment,

[0193] Figure 10 shows the adhesive tape wrapped around cables according to Figure 9.

[0194] Figure 1 shows several sections of a cable harness in plan and side views, in which the middle section 101 is covered with an adhesive tape according to the invention. Due to the reinforcement elements integrated into the adhesive tape, the covered cable harness is held in a flat shape. The sections in front of the middle section 101 and the rear section 102 are covered with a conventional adhesive tape for cable sheathing, with the adhesive tape being wound in a helical winding. This results in a cylindrical shape of the covered cable harness (circular in cross-section).

[0195] When a conventional adhesive tape is guided in a helical or screw-like movement around the elongated material, the shape of a helix is ​​created (also called a screw, helical line, cylindrical spiral or helix; a helix is ​​a curve that winds around the surface of a cylinder with a constant pitch).

[0196] Figure 2 shows an adhesive tape 1 according to the invention, in which the carrier 10, which has a width BT, is equipped with two closure strips 11, 12 made of adhesive.

[0197] These closure strips 11, 12 run in the longitudinal direction of the carrier 10, also called the machine direction, and both end flush with the longitudinal edges of the carrier 10. Both closure strips have a width BK of 50% of the width BT.

[0198] If the adhesive of the two closure strips 11, 12 is identical, a homogeneous and continuous adhesive layer is formed on the underside of the carrier 10. Two longitudinally extending plastic reinforcement elements 21, 22 are provided on the closure strips 11, 12 made of adhesive. The reinforcement strips have an identical width Bver of 40% of the width BT.

[0199] The distance D between the two reinforcement elements is 25% of the width BT.

[0200] Furthermore, the carrier 10 is widened on a longitudinal edge in the form of a flag 13, the flag having a width Bpahne of 100% of the width BT, a third closure strip 14 made of an adhesive mass extending on the underside of the free edge of the flag 13, the third closure strip 14 having a width BK which is equal to the width Bpahne, i.e. the flag 13 is coated over its entire surface with adhesive mass.

[0201] If the adhesive of the three closure strips 11, 12, 13 is identical, a homogeneous and closed adhesive layer results on the underside of the carrier 10 and the flag 13.

[0202] A flat cable harness section can contain one or more layers of parallel-aligned individual wires. It is particularly advantageous if each layer of parallel-aligned individual wires is in contact with an adhesive coating, thus holding it in a specific position.

[0203] Figure 3 shows an adhesive tape 1 according to the invention in a further particularly advantageous embodiment.

[0204] The adhesive tape 1 comprises a carrier 10 having a width BT and equipped on its underside with two sealing strips 11, 12 made of adhesive, which extend across the entire width BT. On the sealing strips 11, 12 made of adhesive, there are two longitudinally extending reinforcing elements 21, 22 made of plastic, which are additionally provided on their free side with an adhesive layer 23, 24 covering the entire free side. A layer of several adjacent cables 2 is provided on each of the adhesive layers 23, 24.

[0205] The adhesive tape 1 can be folded according to Figure 4 in such a way that a flat cable set is formed due to the reinforcing elements 21, 22 and the two protruding adhesive tape ends 11a, 12a ensure a secure closure.

[0206] Figure 5 shows an adhesive tape 1 according to the invention in a further particularly advantageous embodiment.

[0207] The adhesive tape 1 has a carrier 10 which has a width BT and which is equipped with two closure strips 11, 12 made of adhesive which extend across the entire width BT. On the closure strips 11, 12 made of adhesive there is a longitudinally extending reinforcing element 21 made of plastic. On each of the closure strips 11, 12 made of adhesive there is a layer of several adjacent cables 2. The adhesive tape 1 can be folded together according to Figure 6 such that a flat cable set is formed due to the reinforcing element 21 and the two protruding adhesive tape ends 11a, 12a ensure a secure closure.

[0208] Figure 7 shows an adhesive tape 1 according to the invention in a further particularly advantageous embodiment.

[0209] The adhesive tape 1 comprises a carrier 10 having a width BT and equipped with two closure strips 11, 12 made of adhesive, which extend across the entire width BT. On the upper side of the carrier 10, there is a longitudinally extending reinforcing element 21 made of plastic. The surface of the reinforcing element 21 facing the carrier 10 is provided with a layer of adhesive 25 covering the entire side. On each of the closure strips 11, 12 made of adhesive, there is a layer of several adjacent cables 2.

[0210] The adhesive tape 1 can be folded according to Figure 8 in such a way that a flat cable set is formed due to the reinforcing element 21 and the two protruding adhesive tape ends 11a, 12a ensure a secure closure.

[0211] Figure 9 shows an adhesive tape 1 according to the invention in a further particularly advantageous embodiment.

[0212] The adhesive tape 1 comprises a carrier 10 having a width BT and equipped with two adhesive closure strips 11, 12 extending across the entire width BT. Two longitudinally extending plastic reinforcing elements 21, 22 are provided on the adhesive closure strips 11, 12.

[0213] On the reinforcing elements 21, 22 there are one or two layers of several adjacent cables 2.

[0214] The adhesive tape 1 can be folded according to Figure 10 in such a way that a flat cable set is formed due to the reinforcing elements 21, 22 and the two protruding adhesive tape ends 11a, 12a ensure a secure closure.

[0215] Examples

[0216] Carrying out the tests

[0217] Unless expressly stated otherwise, the measurements are conducted at a test temperature of 23 ± 1 °C and 50 ± 5% relative humidity. Measurement of flexural rigidity on a flat cable harness:

[0218] The flat cable harness has the advantage of having a low profile on components while remaining easily formable. Force F1 (Fig. 11) is measured using a spring balance when the 10 cm overhang is bent through an angle of 90°. A similar force measurement on the flat cable harness in the flat orientation is performed on a firmly clamped cable harness at the overhanging 10 cm length. Force F2 (Fig. 11) is measured using a spring balance until the cable harness leaves a clamped mold.

[0219] The measurement is stopped at values ​​for F2 greater than 12 N because twisting may occur, so that a reliable measurement can no longer be guaranteed.

[0220] Measurement of the flexural stiffness of different reinforcing elements

[0221] Measuring softness is an essential quality characteristic of textiles, leather, paper, and plastics with pliable properties. The F3 bending force test using the Softometer method is used to determine the softness or stiffness of sheet-like materials in a comparable manner under specified conditions.

[0222] To determine the bending force on a textile surface, a sample measuring 75 x 60 mm is punched out. A pivoting sample holder consisting of two parallel plates fixes the punched sample on a surface measuring 60 x 60 mm. The sample holder with the sample is pivoted against a force sensor so that the unclamped part of the sample, which is 15 mm long, is bent by 30°. The bending force required in this position is measured after a measurement time of 10 seconds as a bending force in mN.

[0223] To describe the textile properties, a sample can be punched out for measurement in the longitudinal and transverse directions, and, if required by the application, also in a diagonal direction. The expansion along the 75 mm long side of the sample also describes the bending direction to be assessed.

[0224] In addition to the described testing of single-layer specimens with the Softometer, a double layer of the specimen is measured. The bending test is performed analogously.

[0225] Longitudinal flexural rigidity: the longer side of the test specimen runs parallel to the production direction of the material or warp direction of the fabric.

[0226] In all cases, the bending direction of the test specimen corresponds to the later application.

[0227] Sketch of the examples

[0228] The adhesive tape according to the invention is described below in preferred embodiments using several

[0229] Examples are described without intending to limit the invention in any way. Furthermore, a comparative example is provided, which shows an adhesive tape that exhibits significantly poorer performance.

[0230] Materials for the example:

[0231] Adhesive tape PET fabric, plain weave, 130 g / m 2 Carrier surface weight, acrylic adhesive, applied on one side with 90 g / m 2

[0232] Width 19 mm (unless otherwise stated)

[0233] Total thickness 260 pm

[0234] Example product: tesa 51026

[0235] Cable single wire, 0.35mm 2 Cross section, insulation made of FEP,

[0236] Outer diameter 2.0 mm

[0237] PET film I PET, thickness 350 pm, basis weight 500 g / m 2 PET film II PET, thickness

[0238] 190 pm, basis weight 274 g / m 2

[0239] PE film PE, thickness 585 pm, 516 g / m 2

[0240] Blue paper: thickness 267 pm, basis weight 220 g / m 2

[0241] White paper: thickness 310 pm, basis weight 300 g / m 2

[0242] Cardboard: thickness 2150 pm, basis weight 1480 g / m 2 single-layer reinforced

[0243] For a flat cable harness, 15 individual wires are placed in parallel and bundled into a flat cable harness, approximately 25 cm long. The cable harness is 30 mm wide and its height corresponds to one layer of cable with the tested sheath.

[0244]

[0245] *: Since the resulting wiring harness section has a circular cross-section, F1 and F2 are identical.

[0246] The construct of the 15 cables arranged in parallel, with a 30 mm wide strip of the reinforcement element to be tested being placed on the top and bottom of the cables, the package formed being wrapped by a 80 mm wide strip of adhesive tape according to the method shown in Figure 4, so that the package is wrapped on all sides with adhesive tape, is called the test cable harness.

[0247] Examples 5 to 9 show the advantages of the reinforcing elements.

[0248] Example 10 shows that the chosen reinforcement element leads to a cable harness that is too stiff (F1 is too high).

[0249] The following are the results of measuring the flexural stiffness of different reinforcement elements.

[0250] The flat cable harnesses are easily bendable in one direction, even more so than a cable harness with the same number of cables in a round bundle. The sturdy film creates additional dimensional stability, but the flexibility is still less than that of a round cable bundle. Reinforcing both sides with PET film also allows for slight flexibility, despite the use of more material.

[0251] 1 adhesive tape 10 carriers

[0252] 11 , 12, 13 closure strips

[0253] 11a, 12a End of the closure strips

[0254] 21 , 22 Reinforcing elements

[0255] 23, 24, 25 Adhesive layer

[0256] 101 Flat cable harness area

[0257] 102 Round cable set, standard adhesive tape winding

[0258] 301 Flat cable set 302 Mounting clamp

[0259] F1 bending force 90° flat alignment

[0260] F2 bending force 90° wide alignment

Claims

Patent claims 1. Adhesive tape, in particular for the longitudinal sheathing of elongated goods such as cable harnesses in an automobile, comprising a carrier with a top side and a bottom side, wherein the carrier has a width BT in the transverse direction and at least one closure strip made of an adhesive is present on the underside of the carrier, wherein the at least one closure strip runs along one of the longitudinal edges of the carrier and has a width BK of at least 3 mm and of at most 50% inclusive of the width BT, wherein at least one reinforcing element extending in the longitudinal direction is present on the top side or on the underside of the carrier, which reinforcing element preferably has a width Bver of at least 10% inclusive of up to 50% of the width BT.

2. Adhesive tape according to claim 1, characterized in that a second closure strip made of an adhesive is present on the underside of the carrier, the second closure strip running along the other longitudinal edge of the carrier and having a width BK of at least 3 mm and of at most 50% of the width BT, the two closure strips preferably having the same width.

3. Adhesive tape according to claim 2, characterized in that the first and the second closure strip each run along one of the longitudinal edges of the carrier and have a width BK of 50% of the width BT, so that the two closure strips touch each other with their inner edges, wherein preferably the two closure strips consist of a single homogeneous adhesive layer.

4. Adhesive tape according to claim 3, characterized in that both closure strips are applied in the form of a single homogeneous layer, so that the carrier has a full-surface adhesive coating.

5. Adhesive tape according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that on the same side of the carrier there is a second reinforcing element extending in the longitudinal direction, which has a width Bver of at least 30% up to 48% of the width BT, the two reinforcing elements being arranged next to one another at a distance D, which is preferably at least 5 mm.

6. Adhesive tape according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier is widened on a longitudinal edge in the form of a flag, the flag having a width Bpahne of at least 50% up to 150% of the width BT inclusive, a third closure strip made of an adhesive being present on the underside of the free edge of the flag, the third closure strip having a width BK of at least 3 mm and of at most inclusive of the width Bpahne.

7. Adhesive tape according to claim 6, characterized in that the third closure strip has a width such that the entire surface on the underside of the flag is provided with adhesive, wherein preferably the three closure strips cover the entire underside of the carrier and consist of a single homogeneous adhesive layer.

8. Adhesive tape according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one longitudinally extending reinforcing element is present on the underside of the carrier, preferably two longitudinally extending reinforcing elements are present on the underside of the carrier.

9. Adhesive tape according to claim 8, characterized in that the at least one, preferably the two reinforcing elements are fixed to the underside of the carrier by means of an additional adhesive coating which is located between the reinforcing element and the carrier.

10. Adhesive tape according to claim 8, characterized in that the at least one, preferably the two reinforcing elements are fixed on the underside of the carrier via the adhesive of the closure strips on the underside of the carrier. 1 1. Adhesive tape according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one longitudinally extending reinforcing element is present on the upper side of the carrier, preferably two longitudinally extending reinforcing elements are present on the upper side of the carrier.

12. Adhesive tape according to claim 1 1, characterized in that the at least one, preferably the two reinforcing elements are fixed on the upper side of the carrier by means of an additional adhesive coating which is located between the reinforcing element and the carrier.

13. Adhesive tape according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one longitudinally extending reinforcing element is present on the upper side of the carrier and at least one longitudinally extending reinforcing element is present on the underside of the carrier.

14. Adhesive tape according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier is a textile carrier with a basis weight of 30 g / m 2 up to 300 g / m 2 is formed, preferably selected from the group woven, nonwoven or knitted.

15. Adhesive tape according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reinforcing element consists of plastics such as polyetherimide (PEI), polysulfone (PSU), polyethersulfone (PES), polyamideimide (PAI), polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

16. Adhesive tape according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reinforcing element is bent in the transverse direction, preferably in the form of a circular arc with a central angle between 5° and 90°.

17. Adhesive tape according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that pressure-sensitive adhesives, preferably acrylate-based pressure-sensitive adhesives, are used for all adhesives.

18. Use of an adhesive tape according to at least one of the preceding claims for sheathing elongated material such as cables in an automobile, wherein the elongated material is enveloped in the axial direction by the adhesive tape, wherein the adhesive tape is fixed to the elongated material with a closure strip and the other closure strip is fixed to one side of the carrier (3) to form a fold.

19. Use of an adhesive tape according to claim 18 for wrapping elongated material, wherein the outline of the wrapper has an oval shape, characterized in that the ratio of the greatest extent of the outline in the horizontal direction to the greatest extent in the vertical direction is 1:2 to 1:

10.

20. Elongated article, such as in particular a cable harness, covered with an adhesive tape according to at least one of the preceding claims.

21. A vehicle comprising a sheathed elongated article according to claim 20.

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