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 is constructed with the abrasion resistant layer being provided and supported on a plastic layer and may be removed and reinstalled. The screen protector provides an optically clear view of the device and entrain dust, dirt and fingerprints with the bottom surface of the plastic or acrylic layer and the adhesive that contacts the bottom surface of that bottom layer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective film for an electronic display, the protective film comprising:
 a first layer having a top and a bottom;   said first layer being optically clear and made from urethane,   a second layer having a top and a bottom surface;   said second layer being made from an optically clear supporting plastic material,   wherein said first layer and said second layer are laminated together by a high tack adhesive so that said bottom of said first layer and said top of said second layer are engaged, and wherein said first layer top forms the top surface of said protective film;   an adhesive provided on said bottom surface of said second layer; and   wherein the thickness of the protective film is from 1.5 mils to 16 mils.   
     
     
         2 . A removable and replaceable protective film for an electronic display, the protective film comprising:
 a first layer having a top and a bottom, wherein said top forms a protective outer surface layer of said protective film;   said first layer being a urethane layer with a thickness of from 1 to 8 mils,   a second layer having a top and a bottom, said bottom forming the bottom surface of the second layer;   said second layer being made from an optically clear supporting plastic material,   wherein said first layer and said second layer form a laminated film wherein said first layer and said second layer are laminated together to form said laminated film so that said bottom of said first layer and said top of said second layer are engaged, and wherein said first layer top forms the top surface of said laminated film, and wherein said second layer bottom surface forms the bottom surface of said laminated film; and   a self-wetting adhesive provided on said bottom surface of said laminated film.   
     
     
         3 . The protective film of  claim 2 , wherein said protective film is for an electronic display having a display surface, wherein said protective film is configured for placement on said display surface to protect said surface, wherein said protective film is cut to a shape that matches said display surface which it is meant to protect; and
 wherein said protective film is a three layer film consisting of said first urethane layer, said second plastic layer and a third layer consisting of said self-wetting adhesive.   
     
     
         4 . The protective film of  claim 2 , wherein said protective film is for an electronic display having a surface profile or a screen, and wherein said protective film is planar and has a profile that corresponds with the surface profile or the screen. 
     
     
         5 . The protective film of  claim 2 , wherein said urethane layer consists of polycaprolactone aliphatic polyurethane. 
     
     
         6 . The protective film of  claim 2 , wherein said plastic material is selected from the group consisting of acrylic, polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate. 
     
     
         7 . The protective film of  claim 2 , wherein said protective film has a peel adhesion of less than 1.0 oz/in as measured per ASTM D-3330. 
     
     
         8 . The protective film of  claim 2 , wherein said protective film has a peel adhesion of 0.2 oz/in as measured per ASTM D-3330. 
     
     
         9 . The protective film of  claim 2 , wherein said self-wetting adhesive consists of a low tack adhesive, and wherein said adhesive provided on said bottom surface of said optically clear plastic material provides for removal and reinstallation of said protective film on said electronic display; wherein said adhesive wets out over said electronic display when said protective film is placed on said display. 
     
     
         10 . The protective film of  claim 2 , wherein said self-wetting adhesive is capable of removably securing the protective film to a surface of the electronic display with minimal or no external pressure. 
     
     
         11 . The protective film of  claim 2 , 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 8 , 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.   
     
     
         13 . The protective film of  claim 2 , wherein said first urethane layer is a polycaprolactone aliphatic polyurethane layer and wherein said second layer is selected from the group consisting of acrylic, polystyrene plastics and polyethylene terephthalate, and wherein said first layer bottom surface is attached to said second layer top surface, and wherein said self-wetting adhesive is provided on said second layer bottom surface. 
     
     
         14 . The protective film of  claim 13 , wherein said polycaprolactone aliphatic polyurethane layer is an optically clear layer. 
     
     
         15 . The protective film of  claim 14 , wherein said protective film consists of said first layer, said second layer and said adhesive layer, and wherein said protective film is optically clear and said protective outer surface layer is resistant to abrasion. 
     
     
         16 . The protective film of  claim 13 , wherein said polycaprolactone aliphatic polyurethane layer is a layer having uniform thickness and having a top surface which is smooth and a bottom surface which is smooth, and wherein said second layer has a uniform thickness. 
     
     
         17 . The protective film of  claim 16 , wherein said protective film has a zone of coverage comprising the protective film 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 a top surface which is smooth and said second layer having a uniform thickness and having a smooth bottom surface, said adhesive being provided on said smooth second layer bottom surface. 
     
     
         18 . The protective film of  claim 2 , wherein the second layer has a thickness of from 0.5 mil to 8 mils. 
     
     
         19 . The protective film of  claim 2 , wherein said first layer and said second layer are permanently laminated together by pressure, a bonding agent or high tack aggressive adhesive. 
     
     
         20 . A protective film for an electronic display, the protective film comprising:
 a first layer having a top and a bottom, wherein said top forms a protective outer surface layer of said protective film;   said first layer being made from urethane layer,   a second layer having a top and a bottom, said bottom forming the bottom surface of the second layer;   said second layer being made from an optically clear supporting plastic material,   wherein said first layer and said second layer form a laminated film wherein said first layer and said second layer are permanently connected together by pressure, a bonding agent, or a high tack adhesive to form said laminated film so that said bottom of said first layer and said top of said second layer are engaged, and wherein said first layer top forms the top surface of said laminated film, and wherein said second layer bottom surface forms the bottom surface of said laminated film; and   a self-wetting adhesive provided on said bottom surface of said laminated film;   wherein said first urethane layer is made from a polycaprolactone aliphatic polyurethane and wherein said second layer is a material selected from the group consisting of acrylic, polystyrene 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;   wherein said first layer of polycaprolactone aliphatic polyurethane is an optically clear layer;   wherein said optically clear first layer together with said second layer and said adhesive layer comprise a three-layer protective film that is optically clear and has the protective outer surface layer that is resistant to abrasion; and   wherein the thickness of the protective film is from 1.5 mils to 16 mils.   
     
     
         21 . A protective film for an electronic display having a viewing area, the protective film comprising:
 a first layer having' a top and a bottom, wherein said top forms a protective outer surface   
       layer 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 forming the bottom surface of the second layer, 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 form a laminated film wherein said first layer and said second layer are permanently connected together by pressure, a bonding agent, or a high tack adhesive to form said laminated film so that said bottom of said first layer and said top of said second layer are secured together; 
 wherein said first layer top forms a top surface of said laminated film; 
 wherein said second layer bottom surface forms a bottom surface of said laminated film; and 
 a self-wetting adhesive provided on said bottom surface of said laminated 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 has a profile that corresponds with the surface profile of an electronic device or a screen of an electronic device; 
 wherein said protective film has a peel adhesion of 0.2 oz/in as measured per ASTM D-3330; 
 wherein said self-wetting adhesive consists of a low tack adhesive, and wherein said adhesive provided on said bottom surface of said laminated film provides for removal and reinstallation of said protective film on said electronic display; 
 wherein said low tack adhesive is capable of removably securing the protective film to a surface of a screen display surface with minimal or no external pressure; 
 wherein said low tack 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; 
 wherein said first layer bottom surface is attached to said second layer top surface and said self-wetting low tack adhesive is provided on said second layer bottom surface; 
 wherein said first layer of polycaprolactone aliphatic polyurethane is an optically clear 
 
       layer;
 wherein said polycaprolactone aliphatic polyurethane first layer is a layer having uniform thickness and having a top surface which is smooth and a bottom surface which is smooth, and wherein said second layer has a uniform thickness; 
 wherein said protective film has an area that covers said electronic display and wherein the protective film bas a zone of coverage comprising the protective film 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 smooth bottom surface, said adhesive being provided on said smooth second layer bottom surface; 
 wherein the first layer has a thickness of from 1 mil to 8 mils; and 
 wherein the second layer has a thickness of from 0.5 mils to 8 mils.