| Hand-tearable non-elastic tape -> Monitor Keywords |
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  Hand-tearable non-elastic tapeRelated Patent Categories: Fabric (woven, Knitted, Or Nonwoven Textile Or Cloth, Etc.), Nonwoven Fabric (i.e., Nonwoven Strand Or Fiber Material)Hand-tearable non-elastic tape description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060063455, Hand-tearable non-elastic tape. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a hand-tearable non-elastic tape and, more particularly, to a hand-tearable non-elastic tape that includes a non-elastic layer of material to facilitate hand tearing of the tape and a nonwoven layer of material laminated thereto. [0002] Tapes and bandages are widely used in athletic applications to promote the protection and safety of athletes. In such applications, for example, the tensile strength of the tape or bandage is often an important factor in providing adequate protection for the athlete. However, because such tapes are often elastic in nature, the tapes may not possess the desired tensile strength. Furthermore, such tapes also often utilize adhesive formulations that stick to hair and skin and thereby complicate removal. Still further, many of the tapes and bandages that do possess the requisite tensile strength for sports medicine applications are inconvenient to apply because they must be cut to size using a blade. Or, if the tape can be torn by hand, the increased strength often makes doing so difficult and can result in an unclean tear in the longitudinal and transverse directions. [0003] Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a tape that is both hand-tearable and non-elastic including a non-elastic layer of material to facilitate hand tearing of the tape and a nonwoven layer of material laminated thereto. Furthermore, it would also be desirable to provide such a hand-tearable and non-elastic tape that utilizes a cohesive formulation, rather than an adhesive formulation, so that the tape sticks securely to itself but can be easily removed without sticking to skin or hair. Such a non-elastic, hand-tearable tape would be useful in multiple applications, including sports medicine, athletic training and orthopedic medicine. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] In accordance with the present invention, a hand-tearable non-elastic tape is provided that includes a non-elastic layer of material to facilitate hand tearing of the tape and a nonwoven layer of material laminated thereto. The non-elastic, hand-tearable tapes of the invention are characterized by having less than 10% longitudinal stretch, generally not more than about 4% longitudinal stretch, and, most usefully, not more than about 1% longitudinal stretch (e.g., 0.5% longitudinal stretch or less). Furthermore the non-elastic, hand-tearable tapes of the invention are characterized by a lack of elastomeric material in the tape fabrics (although cohesive agents that are optionally used as a binder and/or to coat the tapes of the invention, may include an elastomer compound as described further below). While many possible types and combinations of non-elastic and nonwoven materials are possible as described in further detail below, the skilled artisan will appreciate the hand-tearable character of the various resulting non-elastic tapes included within the scope of the invention. [0005] In one aspect the invention provides a laminated non-elastic tape that includes two layers of material, each layer having warp yarns extending longitudinally of the tape and weft yarns extending transversely of the tape. The warp yarns may be non-elastic. The tape may include a layer of nonwoven material positioned between the two layers of material. In certain embodiments, one or both of the two layers of material that include warp yarns and weft yarns may be a warp-knitted weft-insertion fabric. The warp yarns of the layer or layers of warp-knitted weft-insertion fabric may include, for example, a plurality of longitudinally-spaced knitted loops through which the weft yarns extend transversely of the tape. In certain embodiments, one or both of the two layers of material that include warp yarns and weft yarns may be a scrim woven fabric. Adjacent warp yarns of the layer or layers of scrim woven fabric may extend longitudinally of the tape on opposing sides of a plane defined by the weft yarns. In certain embodiments, one of the two layers of material that include warp yarns and weft yarns may be a warp-knitted weft-insertion fabric, and the other-of the two layers of material that includes warp yarns and weft yarns may be a scrim woven fabric. [0006] In certain embodiments, one or both of the warp yarns and weft yarns may be yarns of polyolefin, polyester, polycotton, cotton or any other suitable material. In certain embodiments, the weft yarns of one or both of the layers of material that include warp yarns and weft yarns may be texturized filament yarns. [0007] In certain embodiments, at least one of the two layers of material that include warp yarns and weft yarns may have warp yarns spaced at a density in the range of 12 to 24 yarns per inch measured transversely of the tape. In one example, the warp yarns may be spaced at a density of about 18 yarns per inch measured transversely of the tape. In certain embodiments, at least one of the two layers of material that include warp yarns and weft yarns may have warp yarns with a denier in the range of 30 to 80. In one example, the warp yarns may have a denier of about 50. In another example, the warp yarns may have a denier of about 40. [0008] In certain embodiments, at least one of the two layers of material that include warp yarns and weft yarns may have weft yarns spaced at a density in the range of 9 to 18 yarns per inch measured longitudinally of the tape. In one example, the weft yarns may be spaced at a density of about 12 yarns per inch measured longitudinally of the tape. In certain embodiments, at least one of the two layers of material that include warp yarns and weft yarns may have weft yarns with a denier in the range of 50 to 200. In one example, the weft yarns may have a denier of about 150. In another example, the weft yarns may have a denier of about 70. [0009] In certain embodiments, each layer of the two layers of material that include warp yarns and weft yarns may have a weight of not more than about 1.5 ounces per square yard. In one example, each layer may have a weight in the range of 0.3 to 0.8 ounces per square yard. In another embodiment, each layer may have a weight in the range of 0.3 to 0.5 ounces per square yard. [0010] In certain embodiments, the warp yarns of at least one of the two layers of material may include a plurality of longitudinally-spaced knitted loops that each include three yarn portions. The weft yarns of the layer or layers of material may extend transversely of the tape through the loops of the warp yarns. [0011] In certain embodiments, the laminated tape may include a binder bonding the layers together. The binder may be, for example, a cohesive or adhesive agent. In embodiments in which the binder is a cohesive agent, the binder may be a latex-based cohesive agent such as a natural rubber latex-based cohesive agent. Alternatively, in embodiments in which the binder is a cohesive agent, the binder may be a synthetic water-based cohesive agent. The synthetic water-based cohesive agent may include, for example, an elastomer having an inherently crystalline structure (e.g., polychloroprene, polyester polyurethane, polycaprolactone polyurethane, etc.). The water-based agent may include at least one tackifying agent in an amount effective to disrupt the crystalline structure of the elastomer in a partial polycrystalline state such that the elastomer possesses a cohesive property. In certain embodiments, the binder may impregnate each of the layers of the laminated tape. [0012] In certain embodiments, the laminated tape may include a cohesive agent. In one example, the cohesive agent may be a latex-based cohesive agent. In another example, the cohesive agent may be a synthetic water-based cohesive agent. [0013] In certain embodiments, the nonwoven material of the laminated tape may be a synthetic spunbonded nonwoven material. The nonwoven material may have a weight of no more than about 1.0 ounce per square yard. In one example, the nonwoven material may have a weight in the range of 0.3 to 0.5 ounces per square yard. In certain embodiments, the nonwoven material may be a synthetic spunbonded nonwoven material such as, for example, nylon, polyester, polypropylene, rayon, or any other suitable material, and may have a weight of not more than about 0.3 ounces per square yard. [0014] In certain embodiments, the laminated layers of material may yield a longitudinal tensile strength in the range of 30 to 60 pounds per inch. In one example, the laminated layers of material may yield a longitudinal tensile strength of about 40 pounds per inch. In such an example, the two layers of material that include warp yarns and weft yarns may each have a longitudinal tensile strength of about 20 pounds per inch. Alternatively, one of the two layers of material that include warp yarns and weft yarns may have a longitudinal tensile strength of about 18 pounds per inch, and the other of the two layers of material that include warp yarns and weft yarns may have a longitudinal tensile strength of about 22 pounds per inch. [0015] In certain embodiments, the two layers of material that include warp yarns and weft yarns may facilitate transverse and longitudinal hand tearing of the tape. [0016] In certain embodiments, the laminated tape may include a pressure-sensitive adhesive coated on the outer side of one of the two layers of material that include warp yarns and weft yarns. [0017] In another aspect of the invention, a laminated non-elastic tape may be provided that includes a first layer of material having warp yarns extending longitudinally of the tape and weft yarns extending transversely of the tape. The warp yarns may be non-elastic. The tape may include a second layer of nonwoven material positioned adjacent to the first layer. In certain embodiments, the laminated tape may include a third layer of material having non-elastic warp yarns extending longitudinally of the tape and weft yarns extending transversely of the tape. In one example, the second layer of material may be positioned between the first and third layers of material. In another example, the first layer of material may be positioned between the second and third layers of material. [0018] In a further aspect of the present invention, a laminated non-elastic tape may be provided that includes first and second layers of warp-knitted weft-insertion material to facilitate transverse and longitudinal hand tearing of the tape. The first and second layers of warp-knitted weft-insertion material may include polyester non-elastic warp yarns extending longitudinally of the tape and texturized polyester filament weft yarns extending transversely of the tape. The warp yarns may include a plurality of longitudinally-spaced knitted loops through which the weft yarns extend. The warp yarns may be spaced at a density of about 18 yarns per inch measured transversely of the tape, and the weft yarns may be spaced at a density of about 12 yarns per inch measured longitudinally of the tape. The first layer of warp-knitted weft-insertion material may have a weight of about 0.7 ounces per square yard. The warp yarns of the first layer may have a denier of about 50, and the weft yarns of the first layer may have a denier of about 150. The second layer of warp-knitted weft-insertion material may have a weight of about 0.4 ounces per square yard. The warp yarns of the second layer may have a denier of about 40, and the weft yarns of the second layer may have a denier of about 70. A layer of polypropylene spunbonded nonwoven material may be positioned between the first and second layers of warp-knitted weft-insertion material. The layer of spunbonded nonwoven material may be composed of, in addition to polypropylene, any other suitable fiber, such as, for example, nylon. The nonwoven material may have a weight in the range of 0.3 to 0.5 ounces per square yard. The tape may include a binder that impregnates each of the layers to bond the layers together. The binder may be a natural rubber latex-based cohesive agent. The first layer of the warp-knitted weft-insertion material may have a longitudinal tensile strength of about 22 pounds per inch, and the second layer of warp-knitted weft-insertion material may have a longitudinal tensile strength of about 18 pounds per inch. This combination of tensile strengths may yield a longitudinal tensile strength of about 40 pounds per inch for the laminated layers of warp-knitted weft-insertion material and nonwoven material. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0019] FIG. 1 is a top view of an illustrative hand-tearable non-elastic tape in accordance with the present invention. [0020] FIG. 2 is a top view, partially broken away, of the tape of FIG. 1. [0021] FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the tape of FIG. 1. Continue reading about Hand-tearable non-elastic tape... Full patent description for Hand-tearable non-elastic tape Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Hand-tearable non-elastic tape patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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