Detachable Adhesive Tape for Surface Panels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surface coverings are difficult to remove without damaging the underlying surface or the covering itself, leading to costly repairs and inability to reuse the coverings.

Innovation Solution

A surface covering system utilizing a detachable adhesive tape with a substrate-side adhesive component, a panel-side adhesive component, and a release component, allowing panels to be securely attached and easily removed without damaging the substrate or the panels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If surface coverings are permanently installed on the underlying surface, then the surface covering is securely attached and provides desired aesthetic coverage, but removal of the surface covering causes damage to the underlying surface and/or the surface covering itself

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment strengthVSAvoiddamage to underlying surface

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive system is segmented into multiple functional layers including a substrate-side adhesive component, a panel-side adhesive component, and a release component positioned between them. This segmentation allows the system to provide strong attachment during use while enabling clean separation during removal, as the release component acts as a predetermined failure plane that prevents damage to either the substrate or panel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The release component serves as an intermediary element between the substrate-side adhesive component and the panel-side adhesive component. This intermediary layer provides a controlled separation interface that allows the panel to be removed from the substrate without causing damage, as the adhesive bonds are designed to fail at the release component rather than at the substrate or panel surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If surface coverings are permanently installed using strong adhesive, then the surface covering remains securely in place, but the surface covering cannot be reused after removal due to damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure attachmentVSAvoidreusability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive system is designed with a predetermined failure plane at the release component before installation occurs. This preliminary design ensures that when removal is needed, the adhesive bonds will fail at the intended location (the release component) rather than damaging the panel, thereby preserving the panel for potential reuse while maintaining secure attachment during the service life of the installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system is designed to discard the adhesive tape (specifically the release component) while recovering and preserving the valuable panel for reuse. The substrate-side adhesive component remains on the substrate, the panel-side adhesive component remains on the panel, and only the release component is discarded, allowing the panel to be reused in future installations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Strength

If traditional adhesive systems are used to attach panels to the substrate, then the panels are securely fixed, but removal requires expensive repair of the underlying surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebond strengthVSAvoidrepair cost

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful element (the damage-prone adhesive bond) is extracted from the critical interfaces between the adhesive system and the substrate/panel surfaces. Instead of having a single strong adhesive layer that could damage surfaces upon removal, the system extracts the adhesive function into separate components with a controlled failure plane, ensuring that removal damage is confined to the disposable release component rather than the valuable substrate or panel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables the removal of surface coverings without damaging the underlying surface or the panels, allowing for reuse and reducing repair costs by using a detachable adhesive system.

Implementation Method 1

an adhesive tape configured to detachably couple the panels to the substrate, the adhesive tape comprising: a substrate-side adhesive component comprising at least one adhesive layer; a panel-side adhesive component comprising at least one adhesive layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentUS11845258B2Surface covering system and method and apparatus for covering a surface

Publication Date: 2023.12.19 AWI LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Described herein is a method of covering a surface using a surface covering system. The surface may be a floor, a wall, or a ceiling. In one embodiment, the surface covering system includes a plurality of panels and an adhesive tape that is configured to detachably couple the panels to the surface. The adhesive tape may include a substrate-side adhesive component, a panel-side adhesive component, and a release component between the substrate-side and panel-side adhesive components. The panels may be detachably coupled to the substrate by the adhesive tape such that at least one adhesive layer of the substrate-side adhesive component is adhered to the substrate, at least one adhesive layer of the panel-side adhesive component is adhered to the rear surfaces of the panels, and the release component is between the substrate-side adhesive component and the panel-side adhesive component.