Removable adhesive tape

Abstract

A removable adhesive tape comprising a highly extensible and substantially inelastic backing and a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive. The backing has a high tensile strength, has a lengthwise elongation at break of at least about 150% with less than about 50% elastic recovery after stretching. The adhesive can be a normally tacky and pressure-sensitive adhesive and is coated on at least one surface of the film backing. The adhesive is preferably highly extensible, does not separate from the backing during stretching, and has higher cohesion than adhesion to any suitable substrate. After being applied to a substrate, the adhesive tape of the present invention becomes firmly bonded, but can be easily removed without damaging the substrate by simply stretching it in a direction substantially parallel, i.e., less than about 35°, to the surface of the substrate.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A tape comprising a highly extensible, substantially non-recoverable backing bearing on at least one major surface thereof a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive, said tape being capable of being firmly bonded to a substrate and further being capable of being removed therefrom after only being stretched at an angle no greater than about 35° from the surface of the substrate.  
     
     
         2 . The tape of  claim 1 , wherein said backing has a Young's modulus of at least about 2,500 psi and less than about 50,000 psi.  
     
     
         3 . The tape of  claim 1 , wherein said backing has an elastic recovery of less than about 50% after being stretched.  
     
     
         4 . The tape of  claim 1 , wherein said backing has a lengthwise elongation at break of at least about 150%.  
     
     
         5 . The tape of  claim 1 , wherein said pressure-sensitive adhesive having an adhesion value of from about 3 N/dm to about 200 N/dm at a peel angle of 180° at a peel rate of 12.7 cm/min.  
     
     
         6 . The tape of  claim 1 , wherein said backing is made from a material selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, vinyl copolymers, olefinic copolymers, acrylic polymers and copolymers, and combinations of the foregoing.  
     
     
         7 . An article suitable for adhering to a surface comprising a substrate bearing on one major surface thereof a tape according to  claim 1 , wherein said tape can be removed from the surface to which said article is adhered by causing said backing to elongate at least about 150% of its initial length.  
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 7 , wherein said substrate bears on one major surface thereof a means for hanging articles.  
     
     
         9 . A closure assembly for a container comprising a tape according to  claim 1 , wherein said tape can be removed from two surfaces by causing said backing to elongate to at least about 150% of its initial length.  
     
     
         10 . The closure assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said container is a box comprising a bottom panel, at least one side panel projecting upwardly from said bottom panel, at least two top panels projecting from said at least one side panel and joining to close said container.  
     
     
         11 . The closure assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said container has a gabled-top.  
     
     
         12 . Assembly comprising two coplanar surfaces, and a tape according to  claim 1 , wherein said coplanar surfaces are joined by means of said tape, wherein said tape can be removed from said coplanar surfaces by causing said backing to elongate at least about 150% of its initial length.  
     
     
         13 . A label comprising the tape of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         14 . The tape of  claim 1 , wherein both major surfaces of said backing bear a layer of pressure-sensitive adhesive.  
     
     
         15 . A closure assembly for a container comprising a tape according to  claim 14 , wherein said tape can be removed from two surfaces by causing said backing to elongate to at least about 150% of its initial length.  
     
     
         16 . The closure assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said container is a box comprising a bottom panel, at least one side panel projecting upwardly from said bottom panel, at least two top panels projecting from said at least one side panel and joining to close said container.  
     
     
         17 . The closure assembly of  claim 16 , wherein said container has a gabled-top.  
     
     
         18 . Assembly comprising two coplanar surfaces, and a tape according to  claim 14 , wherein said coplanar surfaces are joined by means of said tape, wherein said tape can be removed from said coplanar surfaces by causing said backing to elongate at least about 150% of its initial length.