IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,241,006
Granted Patent B2
US 12,241,006 · App. 17/261,063 · Granted Mar 4, 2025

High density post arrays

Inventors: Sara Hemmer Frisco (Blaine, MN); Guy M. Kallman (Woodbury, MN)
Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
C09J7/50C09D11/322C09J7/29C09J7/385C09J7/40C09J2301/162C09J2301/20Y10T428/28Y10T428/2843Y10T428/2848
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,241,006
App. No.
17/261,063
Granted
Mar 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A film-based article including a film layer having first and second major sides, an adhesive layer comprising a first surface adjacent to the second major side of the film and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the second surface of the adhesive layer comprises a structured surface comprising a plurality of outwardly extending protrusions, each having a base, wherein the bases of the plurality of protrusions comprise at least approximately 6 percent of a total surface area of the second surface of the adhesive layer, and an ink layer applied to the first major side of the film layer at an ink laydown of at least 100 percent.

Claims (28)

1. A film-based article comprising:

a film layer having first and second major sides;

an adhesive layer comprising a first surface adjacent to the second major side of the film and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the second surface of the adhesive layer comprises a structured surface comprising a plurality of outwardly extending protrusions, each having a base, wherein the bases of the plurality of protrusions comprise at least 6 percent up to 25% of a total surface area of the second surface of the adhesive layer, and wherein the second surface of the adhesive layer further comprises at least one channel;

an ink layer applied to the first major side of the film layer at an ink laydown of at least 100 percent, and

an overlaminate film over the ink layer.

2. The film-based article of claim 1 , wherein the ink layer comprises a solvent-based ink.

3. The film-based article of claim 1 , wherein the ink layer applied to the first major side of the film layer is constructed of at least two different pigments.

4. The film-based article of claim 1 , wherein the film layer is at least one of optically clear, transparent, translucent, opaque, and colored.

5. The film-based article of claim 1 , wherein the film layer comprises at least one of vinyl, polyvinyl chloride, plasticized polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane (PU), polyethylene, polypropylene, fluororesin, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

6. The film-based article of claim 1 , wherein the film layer further comprises at least one additional functional or decorative layer.

7. The film-based article of claim 6 , wherein the at least one functional or decorative layer comprises a primer layer located on the second major side of the film layer and is in contact with the adhesive layer.

8. The film-based article of claim 1 , wherein the bases of the plurality of protrusions comprise between 9 percent and 25 percent of the total surface area of the second surface of the adhesive layer.

9. The film-based article of claim 1 , wherein the at least one channel comprises an array of channels.

10. The film-based article of claim 1 , wherein the at least one channel comprises an irregular array of channels.

11. A film-based article comprising:

a film layer having first and second major sides;

an adhesive layer comprising a first surface adjacent to the second major side of the film and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the second surface of the adhesive layer comprises a structured surface comprising:

a plurality of outwardly extending protrusions, each having a base, wherein the bases of the plurality of protrusions comprise at least 6 percent up to 25% of a total surface area of the second surface of the adhesive layer; and an array of channels; and

a solvent-based ink coating applied to the first major side of the film layer, wherein the solvent-based ink coating has an ink laydown of at least 100 percent, and

an overlaminate film over the ink coating.

12. A method of applying a film-based article to a substrate, comprising the steps of:

positioning a film-based article adjacent to an outer surface of a substrate, wherein the film-based article comprises:

a film layer having first and second major sides;

an adhesive layer comprising a first surface adjacent to the second major side of the film and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the second surface of the adhesive layer comprises a structured surface comprising a plurality of outwardly extending protrusions, each having a base, wherein the bases of the plurality of protrusions comprise at least 6 percent up to 25% of a total surface area of the second surface of the adhesive layer, and wherein the second surface of the adhesive layer further comprises at least one channel;

a release liner adjacent to the second surface of the adhesive layer; and

an ink layer applied to the first major side of the film layer at an ink laydown of at least 100 percent, and an overlaminate film over the ink layer;

removing the release liner from the second surface of the adhesive layer; and

applying the second surface of the adhesive layer to the outer surface of the substrate.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 18, 2021
From: FRISCO, SARA HEMMER; KALLMAN, GUY M.
To: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
Reel/Frame 054943/0913 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62701107 · Jul 20, 2018
Related Publication 20210261828A1 · Aug 26, 2021
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