ELASTIC AND RESILIENT FILM HAVING A BARRIER LAYER

1 . An elastic and resilient film for application to an endless moving handrail comprising:

(a) a coextruded film having sufficient resilience to accommodate strains occurring on the surface of the endless moving handrail, said coextruded film comprising:

(i) a first layer comprised of printable elastomeric material; and

(ii) a second layer, beneath the first layer, comprised of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of Thermoplastic Olefin, Thermoplastic Elastomer, Thermoplastic Ionomer Resins, metallized Thermoplastic Polyurethane, Thermoplastic Vulcanizate, Polyvinylidene Fluoride, and Thermoplastic Polyurethane/Polyolefin blends; and

(b) an adhesive on a bottom surface of the second layer of the coextruded film; and

(c) a substantially transparent film layer overlying the top surface of the coextruded film.

2 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 1 , wherein the second layer of the coextruded film substantially retards transmission of materials blooming from an endless moving handrail, on which said film is applied.

3 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 1 , wherein print is applied to the top surface of the first layer of the coextruded film.

4 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 1 , wherein the substantially transparent film layer has an adhesive on a bottom surface thereof.

5 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 3 , wherein the coextruded film and the substantially transparent film layer are laminated together.

6 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 1 , wherein reverse print is applied to a bottom surface of the substantially transparent film layer.

7 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 6 , wherein the substantially transparent film layer has an adhesive on a bottom surface thereof covering the reverse print.

8 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 7 , wherein the adhesive is opaque.

9 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 7 , wherein the adhesive is clear.

10 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 7 , wherein the adhesive is tinted.

11 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 6 , wherein the coextruded film and the substantially transparent film layer are laminated together.

12 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 1 , wherein the coextruded film further comprises a tie-layer between the first layer and the second layer of the coextruded film, and wherein said tie-layer promotes bonding of the first layer and second layer.

13 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 12 , wherein the tie-layer comprises a material containing maleic anhydride.

14 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 1 , wherein the coextruded film has a width dimension which is substantially the same as a width dimension of the substantially transparent film layer.

15 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 1 , wherein the coextruded film has a width dimension which is less than a width dimension of the substantially transparent film layer.

16 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 1 , wherein the first layer of the coextruded film is provided with a substantially solid color and is substantially opaque.

17 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 1 , wherein the substantially transparent film layer is tinted, yet renders the print visible.

18 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 6 , wherein the substantially transparent film layer is tinted, yet renders the print visible.

19 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 1 , wherein the print comprises a pattern repeated at regular intervals along the first layer of the coextruded film.

20 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 6 , wherein the reverse print comprises a pattern repeated at regular intervals along the first layer of the coextruded film.

21 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 1 , wherein the first layer of the coextruded film is treated with a surface activation treatment prior to printing thereon to improve the adhesion of print applied thereto.

22 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 21 , wherein the surface activation technique is one or more of a print receptive coating, a primer, a flame treatment, and a corona discharge process.

23 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 1 , wherein said elastic and resilient film is applied to an endless moving handrail.

24 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 23 , wherein said endless moving handrail is comprised of one or more Styrene Butadiene Rubber, Natural Rubber, Chloro Sulfonated Polyethylene, and Thermoplastic Polyurethane.

25 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 23 , wherein the said elastic and resilient film has a width dimension corresponding to the handrail, is elongate and has a length to fit the handrail.

26 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 23 , wherein said elastic and resilient film has a width dimension enabling the elastic and resilient film to wrap at least partially around the handrail.

27 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 23 , wherein the elastic and resilient film has a thickness that does not substantially alter the dimensions of the handrail, to enable the handrail to be used with and without the film, and wherein the adhesive is selected to permit removal of a film.

28 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 1 , wherein the substantially transparent film layer is formed of a UV-curable clear coating.

29 . An elastic and resilient film for application to an endless moving handrail comprising:

(a) a first layer having a top surface and a bottom surface and comprising:

(i) one or more materials selected from the group consisting of Thermoplastic Olefin, Thermoplastic Elastomer, Thermoplastic Ionomer Resins, metallized Thermoplastic Polyurethane, Thermoplastic Vulcanizate, Polyvinylidene Fluoride, and Thermoplastic Polyurethane/Polyolefin blends; and

(ii) a first adhesive on a bottom surface of the first layer;

(b) a second layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, said second layer including a second adhesive on the bottom surface of the second film layer; and

(c) a substantially transparent film layer overlying the top surface of the second layer.

30 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 29 , further comprising print formed on a top surface of the second layer.

31 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 30 , wherein the substantially transparent film layer has a third adhesive on a bottom surface thereof.

32 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 30 , wherein the substantially transparent film layer is tinted, yet renders the print on the second layer visible.

33 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 30 , wherein the print comprises a pattern repeated at regular intervals along the length of the second layer.

34 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 29 , further comprising reverse print formed on a bottom surface of the substantially transparent film layer.

35 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 34 , wherein the substantially transparent film layer has a third adhesive on a bottom surface thereof covering the reverse print.

36 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 35 , wherein the third adhesive is opaque.

37 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 35 , wherein the third adhesive is tinted.

38 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 35 , wherein the third adhesive is clear.

39 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 34 , wherein the substantially transparent film layer is tinted, yet renders the reverse print visible.

40 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 34 , wherein the reverse print comprises a pattern repeated at regular intervals along the length of the substantially transparent film.

41 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 29 , wherein the first layer, the second layer and the substantially transparent film layer are laminated together.

42 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 29 , wherein the first layer substantially retards transmission of materials blooming from an endless moving handrail, on which said elastic and resilient film is applied.

43 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 29 , wherein the first layer and second layer have a width dimension which is substantially the same as a width dimension of the substantially transparent film layer.

44 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 29 , wherein the first layer and second layer have a width dimension which is less than a width dimension of the substantially transparent film layer.

45 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 29 , wherein the second layer is provided with a substantially solid color and is substantially opaque.

46 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 29 , wherein the first layer is an elastomeric film comprising thermoplastic polyurethane.

47 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 29 , wherein the second layer is an elastomeric film comprising thermoplastic polyurethane.

48 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 29 , wherein the top surface of the second layer is treated with a surface activation technique prior to printing thereon to improve the adhesion of print applied thereto.

49 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 48 , wherein the surface activation technique is one or more of a print receptive coating, a primer, a flame treatment, and a corona discharge process.

50 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 29 , wherein said elastic and resilient film is applied to an endless moving handrail.

51 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 50 , wherein said endless moving handrail is comprised of one or more of Styrene Butadiene Rubber, Natural Rubber, Chloro Sulfonated Polyethylene, and Thermoplastic Polyurethane.

52 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 50 , wherein the said elastic and resilient film has a width dimension corresponding to the handrail, is elongate and has a length to fit the handrail.

53 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 50 , wherein said elastic and resilient film has a width dimension enabling the elastic and resilient film to wrap at least partially around the handrail.

54 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 50 , wherein the elastic and resilient film has a thickness that does not substantially alter the dimensions of the handrail, to enable the handrail to be used with and without the film, and wherein the adhesive is selected to permit removal of a film.

55 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 29 , wherein the substantially transparent film layer is formed of a UV-curable clear coating.

56 . An elastic and resilient film for application to a moving handrail comprising:

(a) a first layer having a top surface and a bottom surface and comprising:

(i) one or more materials selected from the group consisting of Thermoplastic Olefin, Thermoplastic Elastomer, Thermoplastic Ionomer Resins, metallized Thermoplastic Polyurethane, Thermoplastic Vulcanizate, Polyvinylidene Fluoride, and Thermoplastic Polyurethane/Polyolefin blends; and

(ii) an adhesive on the bottom surface of the first layer; and

(b) a substantially transparent film layer overlying the top surface of said first layer.

57 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 56 , further comprising print formed on a top surface of the first layer.

58 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 57 , wherein the substantially transparent film layer has an adhesive on a bottom surface thereof.

59 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 58 , wherein the substantially transparent film layer is tinted, yet renders the print on the first layer visible.

60 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 58 , wherein the print comprises a pattern repeated at regular intervals along the length of the first layer.

61 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 56 , further comprising reverse print formed on a bottom surface of the substantially transparent film layer.

62 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 61 , wherein the substantially transparent film layer has a second adhesive on a bottom surface thereof covering the reverse print.

63 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 62 , wherein the adhesive on the bottom surface of the transparent film layer is opaque.

64 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 62 , wherein the adhesive on the bottom surface of the transparent film layer is tinted.

65 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 62 , wherein the adhesive on the bottom surface of the transparent film layer is clear.

66 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 61 , wherein the substantially transparent film layer is tinted, yet renders the reverse print visible.

67 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 61 , wherein the reverse print comprises a pattern repeated at regular intervals along the length of the substantially transparent film layer.

68 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 56 , wherein the first layer substantially retards transmission of materials blooming from an endless moving handrail, on which said elastic and resilient film is applied, there through.

69 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 56 , wherein the first layer and the substantially transparent film layer are laminated together.

70 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 56 , wherein the first layer has a substantially solid color and is substantially opaque.

71 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 56 , wherein the first layer has a width dimension which is substantially the same as a width dimension of the substantially transparent film layer.

72 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 56 , wherein the first layer has a width dimension which is less than a width dimension of the substantially transparent film layer.

73 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 56 , wherein the top surface of the first layer is treated with a surface activation treatment prior to printing thereon.

74 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 73 , wherein the surface activation technique is one or more of a print receptive coating, a primer, a flame treatment and a corona discharge process.

75 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 56 , wherein said elastic and resilient film is applied to an endless moving handrail.

76 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 75 , wherein said endless moving handrail is comprised of one or more of Styrene Butadiene Rubber, Natural Rubber, Chloro Sulfonated Polyethylene, and Thermoplastic Polyurethane.

77 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 75 , wherein the said elastic and resilient film has a width dimension corresponding to the handrail, is elongate and has a length to fit the handrail.

78 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 75 , wherein said elastic and resilient film has a width dimension enabling the elastic and resilient film to wrap at least partially around the handrail.

79 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 75 , wherein the elastic and resilient film has a thickness that does not substantially alter the dimensions of the handrail, to enable the handrail to be used with and without the film, and wherein the adhesive is selected to permit removal of a film.

80 . The elastic and resilient film of claim 56 , wherein the substantially transparent film layer is formed of a UV-curable clear coating.

81 . A method of manufacturing a flexible and resilient film to be applied to an endless moving handrail comprising the steps of:

providing a first layer having sufficient resilience to accommodate strains occurring on the surfaces of the endless moving handrail, an adhesive on a bottom surface of the first layer, the first layer comprising one or more of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of Thermoplastic Olefin, Thermoplastic Elastomer, Thermoplastic Ionomer Resins, metallized Thermoplastic Polyurethane, Thermoplastic Vulcanizate, Polyvinylidene Fluoride, and Thermoplastic Polyurethane/Polyolefin blends;

providing a second layer having sufficient resilience to accommodate strains occurring on the surfaces of the endless moving handrail and an adhesive on a bottom surface of the second layer;

providing a substantially transparent film layer having an adhesive on a bottom surface thereof; and

laminating the first layer, second layer, and substantially transparent film layer together, with the second layer between the first and transparent film layers.

82 . The method of claim 81 , further comprising a step of applying print to the top surface of the second layer.

83 . The method of claim 81 , further comprising a step of applying a reverse print to an underside of the substantially transparent film layer.

84 . A method of manufacturing a flexible and resilient film to be applied to an endless moving handrail comprising the steps of:

providing a first layer having sufficient resilience to accommodate strains occurring on the surfaces of the endless moving handrail, an adhesive on a bottom surface of the first layer, the first layer comprising one or more of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of Thermoplastic Olefin, Thermoplastic Elastomer, Thermoplastic Ionomer Resins, metallized Thermoplastic Polyurethane, Thermoplastic Vulcanizate, Polyvinylidene Fluoride, and Thermoplastic Polyurethane/Polyolefin blends;

providing a substantially transparent film layer having an adhesive on a bottom surface thereof; and

laminating the first layer and substantially transparent film layer together.

85 . The method of claim 84 , further comprising a step of applying print to the top surface of the first layer.

86 . The method of claim 84 , further comprising a step of applying a reverse print to an underside of the substantially transparent film layer.

87 . A method of manufacturing a flexible and resilient film to be applied to an endless moving handrail comprising the steps of:

coextruding a first film having at least first and second layers and sufficient resilience to accommodate strains occurring on the surfaces of the endless moving handrail, and providing an adhesive on a bottom surface of the first layer,

the first layer of the first film comprising one or more of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of Thermoplastic Olefin, Thermoplastic Elastomer, Thermoplastic Ionomer Resins, metallized Thermoplastic Polyurethane, Thermoplastic Vulcanizate, Polyvinylidene Fluoride, and Thermoplastic Polyurethane/Polyolefin blends,

the second layer of the first film having sufficient resilience to accommodate strains occurring on the surfaces of the endless moving handrail and;

providing a substantially transparent film layer having an adhesive on a bottom surface thereof; and

laminating the first film and substantially transparent film layer together.

88 . The method of claim 87 , further comprising a step of applying print to the top surface of the first layer.

89 . The method of claim 87 , further comprising a step of applying a reverse print to an underside of the substantially transparent film layer.