Floor marking tape

Abstract

A floor marking tape has a structure that retains the adhesive under the tape to prevent the adhesive from being squeezed out from under the tape when the tape is in use on a floor. In one embodiment, the structure is a shoulder that defines a recess that holds the bulk of the adhesive. The shoulder prevents the adhesive from flowing out to the outer edge of the tape. The tape may have beveled edges that limit the unintentional lifting and delamination of the tape from the floor. The upper surface of the tape may be curved from edge-to-edge to limit dirt retention on the tape as well as allowing objects to slide over the tape.

1 . A floor marking tape that is adhesively securable to a floor to identify a boundary; the floor marking tape comprising:
 a body having an upper surface and a lower surface; the lower surface adapted to face the floor on which the floor tape is installed;   the body having a longitudinal direction;   the body having a pair of lateral edge portions disposed in the longitudinal direction;   the lower surface of each lateral edge portion being flat and adapted to be disposed parallel to the floor on which the tape is used;   the upper surface of each lateral edge portion being beveled to limit the unintentional lifting and delamination of the tape from the floor; and   an adhesive disposed adjacent the lower surface of the body; the adhesive adapted to secure the body to the floor such that the body functions to identify a boundary on the floor.   
     
     
         2 . The floor tape of  claim 1 , wherein the body defines a recess; the adhesive disposed in the recess; the adhesive adapted to secure the body to the floor. 
     
     
         3 . The floor tape of  claim 2 , wherein the recess has a depth; the thickness of the adhesive being substantially the same as the depth of the recess. 
     
     
         4 . The floor tape of  claim 2 , wherein the body has a maximum thickness and the recess has a maximum depth; the maximum thickness of the body being at least three times larger than the maximum depth of the recess. 
     
     
         5 . The floor tape of  claim 2 , wherein the recess is continuous in the longitudinal direction of the body. 
     
     
         6 . The floor tape of  claim 1 , wherein the body is fabricated from PVC. 
     
     
         7 . The floor tape of  claim 6 , wherein the body is extruded. 
     
     
         8 . The floor tape of  claim 6 , wherein the body is colored evenly throughout the body. 
     
     
         9 . The floor tape of  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface of the body is smoothly curved between the lateral edge portions. 
     
     
         10 . The floor tape of  claim 1 , wherein the body has a surface finish that reads over 45 on an ASTM D523 gloss test taken at a 60 degree angle. 
     
     
         11 . The floor tape of  claim 1 , wherein the body has a width and a height; the width of the body being substantially greater than the height. 
     
     
         12 . A floor marking tape adhered to a floor wherein the floor marking tape functions to identify a boundary; the combination comprising:
 a floor having an upper surface;   a tape having a body that has an upper surface and a lower surface;   the lower surface adapted to face the upper surface of the floor to which the floor tape is adhered;   the body having a longitudinal direction;   the body having a pair of lateral edge portions disposed in the longitudinal direction;   the lower surface of each lateral edge portion being flat and disposed against the upper surface of the floor to which the tape is adhered;   each lateral edge portion being tapered to limit the unintentional lifting and delamination of the tape from the floor; and   an adhesive securing the lower surface of the body to the floor such that the body functions to identify a boundary on the floor.   
     
     
         13 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein the body defines a recess; the adhesive being disposed in the recess. 
     
     
         14 . The combination of  claim 13 , wherein the recess has a depth; the thickness of the adhesive being substantially the same as the depth of the recess. 
     
     
         15 . The combination of  claim 13 , wherein the body has a maximum thickness and the recess has a maximum depth; the maximum thickness of the body being at least three times larger than the maximum depth of the recess. 
     
     
         16 . The combination of  claim 13 , wherein the recess is continuous in the longitudinal direction of the body. 
     
     
         17 . The combination of  claim 16 , wherein the body is fabricated from PVC. 
     
     
         18 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein the body has a surface finish that reads over 45 on an ASTM D523 gloss test taken at a 60 degree angle. 
     
     
         19 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein the body has a width and a height; the width of the body being substantially greater than the height. 
     
     
         20 . A floor marking tape adhered to a floor wherein the floor marking tape functions to identify a boundary; the combination comprising:
 a floor having an upper surface;   a tape having a body having an upper surface and a lower surface; the lower surface adapted to face the upper surface of the floor to which the floor tape is adhered;   the body having a width and a height; the width of the body being substantially greater than the height;   the body having a longitudinal direction;   the body having a pair of lateral edge portions disposed in the longitudinal direction;   each of the edge portions having a width substantially less than the width of the body;   the lower surface of each lateral edge portion being flat;   each lateral edge portion being tapered to limit the unintentional lifting and delamination of the tape from the floor; and   an adhesive securing the lower surface of the body to the floor such that the body functions to identify a boundary on the floor.