Screen protector film

Abstract

A multi-layer screen protector for digital display screens, such as LCD's, cell phones, tablets, laptops, and pad computer devices, that may be readily applied without the need for special tools and in dusty environments, the screen protector being designed and die-cut to match the shape of the digital display screen, including cut-outs for cameras, microphones and device buttons, where the top surface is a layer of polycaprolactone aliphatic urethane that is connected to a bottom layer made from plastic such as polystyrene, acrylic and/or polyethylene terephthalate, and a self-wetting adhesive layer provided on the bottom surface of the bottom polystyrene, acrylic and/or polyethylene terephthalate layer. The screen protector provides an optically clear view of the device and is constructed with the abrasion resistant layer being provided and supported on a plastic layer and may be removed and reinstalled.

1 . A protective film for an electronic display, the protective film comprising:
 a first layer having a top and a bottom, said top comprising a top surface that forms the top surface of said protective film;   said first layer being made from urethane,
 a second layer having a top and a bottom, said bottom comprising a bottom surface that forms the bottom surface of said protective film; 
   said second layer being made from an optically clear supporting plastic material,
 wherein said first layer and said second layer comprise a laminated film wherein said first layer and said second layer are laminated so that said bottom of said first layer and said top of said second layer are engaged, and wherein said first layer top comprises the top surface of said laminated film, and wherein said second layer bottom forms the bottom surface of said laminated film; and 
   a self-wetting adhesive provided on said bottom surface of said film.   
     
     
         2 . The protective film of  claim 1 , wherein said protective film is cut to a shape that matches the display surface which it is meant to protect. 
     
     
         3 . The protective film of  claim 1 , wherein said protective film is planar and is contoured to correspond with the surface profile of an electronic device or a screen of an electronic device. 
     
     
         4 . The protective film of  claim 1 , wherein said urethane consists essentially of polycaprolactone aliphatic polyurethane. 
     
     
         5 . The protective film of  claim 1 , wherein said plastic material is selected from the group consisting of acrylic, polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
         6 . The protective film of  claim 1  wherein said protective film has a peel adhesion of less than 1.0 oz/in. 
     
     
         7 . The protective film of  claim 1  wherein said screen protector has a peel adhesion of about 0.2 oz/in. 
     
     
         8 . The protective film of  claim 1 , wherein said self-wetting adhesive consists of a low tack adhesive, and wherein said adhesive provided on said bottom surface of said film provides for removal and reinstallation of said protective film on said electronic display. 
     
     
         9 . The protective film of  claim 1 , wherein said self-wetting adhesive comprises an adhesive that is capable of removably securing the protective film to a screen display surface with minimal or no external pressure. 
     
     
         10 . The protective film of  claim 1 , wherein said self-wetting adhesive comprises (a) a pre-polymerized cross-linkable non-water soluble acrylic based pressure sensitive adhesive, (b) a cross-linking agent selected from the group consisting of metal chelates, silanes, epoxy-functional compounds, aziridine compounds, multifunctional amines, alkyl halide compounds, multifunctional acids, multifunctional mercaptans, multifunctional epoxy compounds, polyols in the presence of a catalyst, and combinations thereof and (e) a polyol having a weight average molecular weight in the range from 1,000 g/mol to 10,000 g/mol. 
     
     
         11 . The protective film of  claim 7 , wherein said self-wetting adhesive comprises (a) a pre-polymerized cross-linkable non-water soluble acrylic based pressure sensitive adhesive, (b) a cross-linking agent selected from the group consisting of metal chelates, silanes, epoxy-functional compounds, aziridine compounds, multifunctional amines, alkyl halide compounds, multifunctional acids, multifunctional mercaptans, multifunctional epoxy compounds, polyols in the presence of a catalyst, and combinations thereof and (c) a polyol having a weight average molecular weight in the range from 1,000 g/mol to 10,000 g/mol. 
     
     
         12 . The protective film of  claim 1 , said first layer comprises a polycaprolactone aliphatic polyurethane and wherein said second layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of acrylic and polystyrene plastics and polyethylene terephthalate, and wherein said first layer bottom surface is attached to said second layer top surface and said self-wetting adhesive is provided on said second layer bottom surface. 
     
     
         13 . The protective film of  claim 1 , wherein said first layer of polycaprolactone aliphatic polyurethane comprises an optically clear layer. 
     
     
         14 . The protective film of  claim 13 , wherein said optically clear first layer together with said second layer and said adhesive layer comprise a three-layer screen protector that is optically clear and has a top surface that is resistant to abrasion. 
     
     
         15 . The protective film of  claim 12 , wherein said polycaprolactone aliphatic polyurethane first layer comprises a layer having uniform thickness and having a top surface which is substantially smooth and a bottom surface which is substantially smooth, and wherein said second layer has a uniform thickness. 
     
     
         16 . The protective film of  claim 15 , wherein said screen protector has a zone of coverage comprising the screen protector area that covers the viewing area of said electronic display, and wherein said zone of coverage comprises said first layer having a uniform thickness and said second layer having a uniform thickness and having a substantially smooth bottom surface, said adhesive being provided on said substantially smooth bottom surface. 
     
     
         17 . The protective film of  claim 14 , wherein the first layer has a thickness of from about 1 mil to 8 mils. 
     
     
         18 . The protective film of  claim 17 , wherein the second layer has a thickness of from about 0.5 mil to 8 mils. 
     
     
         19 . The protective film of  claim 19 , wherein the thickness of the screen protector is from about 1.5 mils to about 16 mils plus the thickness of said self-wetting adhesive provided on said bottom surface of said film, 
     
     
         20 . A protective film for an electronic display, the protective film comprising:
 a first layer having a top and a bottom, said top comprising a top surface that forms the top surface of said protective film;   said first layer being made from urethane, wherein said urethane consists essentially of polycaprolactone aliphatic polyurethane;   a second layer having a top and a bottom, said bottom comprising a bottom surface that forms the bottom surface of said protective film, said second layer being made from an optically clear supporting plastic material, wherein said plastic material is selected from the group consisting of acrylic, polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate;   wherein said first layer and said second layer comprise a laminated film wherein said first layer and said second layer are laminated so that said bottom of said first layer and said top of said second layer secured together;   wherein said first layer top comprises the top surface of said laminated film;   wherein said second layer bottom forms the bottom surface of said laminated film; and   a self-wetting adhesive provided on said bottom surface of said film;   wherein said protective film is cut to a shape that matches the display surface which it is meant to protect;   wherein said protective film is planar and is contoured to correspond with the surface profile of an electronic device or a screen of an electronic device;   wherein said protective film has a peel adhesion of about 0.2 oz/in;   wherein said self-wetting adhesive consists of a low tack adhesive, and wherein said adhesive provided on said bottom surface of said film provides for removal and reinstallation of said protective film on said electronic display;   wherein said self-wetting adhesive comprises an adhesive that is capable of removably securing the protective film to a screen display surface with minimal or no external pressure;   wherein said self-wetting adhesive comprises (a) a pre-polymerized cross-linkable non-water soluble acrylic based pressure sensitive adhesive, (b) a cross-linking agent selected from the group consisting of metal chelates, silanes, epoxy-functional compounds, aziridine compounds, multifunctional amines, alkyl halide compounds, multifunctional acids, multifunctional mereaptans, multifunctional epoxy compounds, polyols in the presence of a catalyst, and combinations thereof and (c) a polyol having a weight average molecular weight in the range from 1,000 g/mol to 10,000 g/mol;   wherein said first layer bottom surface is attached to said second layer top surface and said self-wetting adhesive is provided on said second layer bottom surface;   wherein said first layer of polycaprolactone aliphatic polyurethane comprises an optically clear layer;   wherein said polycaprolactone aliphatic polyurethane first layer comprises a layer having uniform thickness and having a top surface which is substantially smooth and a bottom surface which is substantially smooth, and wherein said second layer has a uniform thickness;   wherein said protective film has a zone of coverage comprising the screen protector area that covers the viewing area of said electronic display, and wherein said zone of coverage comprises said first layer having a uniform thickness and said second layer having a uniform thickness and having a substantially smooth bottom surface, said adhesive being provided on said substantially smooth bottom surface;   wherein the first layer has a thickness of from about 1 mil to 8 mils; and   wherein the second layer has a thickness of from about 0.5 mil to 8 mils.