Wall covering product and method of using same

Abstract

The invention comprises a method of applying a wall covering to a vertical wall surface. The method comprises applying a wall covering having a back surface comprising a first polymer layer to a wall surface comprising a second polymer layer. The wall covering is applied to the wall surface such that the first and second polymer layers of the wall covering and the wall are in mutual contact whereby the wall covering is removably retained on the vertical wall without the use of an adhesive. A wall covering system is also disclosed.

1 . A wall covering system comprising:
 a substrate having a decorative face surface and a back surface;   a layer of a first polymer on said back surface of said substrate; and   a vertical wall having a surface, said wall surface having a second polymer layer thereon, such that when said first and second polymer layers are brought into contact, said first layer on said substrate and said second layer on said wall removably retain said substrate on said wall without the use of an adhesive.   
   
   
       2 . A method of applying a wall covering to a vertical wall having a surface to be covered, said method comprising:
 forming a layer of a second polymer on said surface of said vertical wall; and   applying to said wall surface a substrate having a back surface, said back surface comprising a layer of a first polymer, said substrate being applied to said wall surface such that said second polymer layer on said wall surface and said first polymer layer on said substrate contact each other and removably retain said substrate on said wall surface without the use of an adhesive.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said second polymer layer on said wall surface is selected from flexible thermoplastics, elastomers, rubbers and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said second polymer layer on said wall surface is selected from ethylene vinyl alcohols, polyamides (Nylon 6), Nylon 6/rubber modified, polybutylene, low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene/ethyl vinyl acetate copolymers, low density polyethylene/ethyl ethylene acetate copolymers, polypropylene, polyvinylidenechloride copolymer, thermoplastic polyurethanes, krayton, rubber modified polystyrene, silicone rubber, styrene-butadiene, acrylics and copolymers thereof, natural rubber, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said second polymer layer on said wall surface is an acrylic. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said first polymer layer on said substrate is selected from flexible thermoplastics, elastomers, rubbers and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said first polymer layer on said substrate is selected from ethylene vinyl alcohols, polyamides (Nylon 6), Nylon 6/rubber modified, polybutylene, low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene/ethyl vinyl acetate copolymers, low density polyethylene/ethyl ethylene acetate copolymers, polypropylene, polyvinylidenechloride copolymer, thermoplastic polyurethanes, krayton, rubber modified polystyrene, silicone rubber, styrene-butadiene, acrylics and copolymers thereof, natural rubber, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said first polymer layer on said substrate is an acrylic copolymer. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said first polymer layer on said substrate has a glass transition temperature of about −15 to about +20° C. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said first polymer layer on said substrate has a glass transition temperature of about −6° C. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said second polymer layer on said wall surface has a glass transition temperature of about +4 to about +37° C. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said second polymer layer on said wall surface has a glass transition temperature of about +10 to about +18° C. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said wall surface comprises gypsum board, fiber board, plywood, oriented strand board, hard wood, or plaster. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said second polymer layer is formed on said wall surface by spraying, painting, rolling or spreading. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising applying pressure to said substrate to press said first polymer layer on said substrate and said second polymer layer on said wall surface into contact. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said first polymer layer on said substrate is substantially smooth. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said second polymer layer on said wall surface is substantially smooth. 
   
   
       18 . A method of applying a decorative wall covering to a vertical wall comprising gypsum board and having a surface to be covered, said method comprising:
 applying a second layer of a polymer on said surface of said gypsum board;   allowing said second polymer layer on said surface of said gypsum board to dry;   applying to said gypsum board surface a wall covering material having a decorative face surface and a back surface, said back surface comprising a layer of a first polymer, said wall covering material being applied to said gypsum board surface such that said second polymer layer on said surface of said gypsum board and said first polymer layer on said wall covering contact each other and removably retain said wall covering material on said gypsum board surface without the use of an adhesive.   
   
   
       19 . A method comprising applying a wall covering having a back surface comprising a first polymer layer to a wall surface comprising a second polymer layer such that said first and second polymer layers are in mutual contact whereby said wall covering is removably retained on said vertical wall without the use of an adhesive, wherein said first polymer layer has a glass transition temperature of about −15 to about +20° C. and said second polymer layer has a glass transition temperature of about +4 to about +37° C. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said second polymer layer on said substrate has a glass transition temperature of about +10 to about +18° C.