Adhesive roller construction

Abstract

An adhesive roller construction is disclosed having an elongated strip. The strip includes both a backing layer and an adhesive layer overlying one side of the backing layer. The strip has a first end, a second end and two spaced apart sides. The strip is wound from its first end to its second end into a tubular cylindrical roll in which multiple layers of the strip overlap each other. At least one elongated perforation is formed in the roll so that the perforation extends through the multiple layers of the strip. Furthermore, this perforation extends diagonally from a position spaced inwardly from one side of the strip to a position spaced inwardly from the opposite side of the strip. Optionally, the perforation extends to one or both sides of the strip.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] I. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to adhesive rollers and, more particularly, to such a roller used for detritus removal.

[0003] II. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Lint rollers have long been known and widely used for removing detritus, such as pet hair, dandruff, lint and the like from clothing, furniture, etc. These previously known lint rollers typically comprise a handle having a tubular and cylindrical tape roll rotatably mounted to the handle.

[0005] Many previously known adhesive rolls for detritus removal consist of a continuous strip having a backing and with an adhesive provided on one side of the backing. The strip is wound into a tubular cylindrical roll so that the strip overlaps itself to form multiple layers. As the adhesive becomes depleted from use, a portion of the strip is torn away from the roll to expose fresh adhesive. This process continues until the entire roll has been depleted at which time a new roll is mounted onto the handle.

[0006] One disadvantage of the previously known lint rollers having a continuous strip is that it is very difficult, if not altogether impossible, for the user to accurately remove a portion of the used strip equal to substantially one revolution of the adhesive roll. Removal of more than one revolution of the strip from the adhesive roll results in waste of the adhesive roll since the excess strip removed is never used. Conversely, the removal of a strip substantially less than one full revolution of the adhesive roll results in used adhesive being left on the roll after the portion of the strip has been removed. The used adhesive, if a significant portion of the exposed area of the roll, results in unsatisfactory detritus removal for the adhesive roll.

[0007] In order to provide a more uniform removal of a portion of the strip amounting to one revolution of the adhesive roll, it has been previously known to provide perforations extending laterally across the strip at spaced intervals along the adhesive strip corresponding substantially to one full revolution of the adhesive roll. In the previously known adhesive rolls, the perforations extend substantially perpendicularly outwardly from one side of the strip and to the opposite side of the strip.

[0008] These previously known adhesive rolls with laterally extending perforations extending perpendicularly from one side of the strip to the other strip have not proven wholly satisfactory in use. A primary disadvantage of this type of previously known adhesive roll is that the used sheet from the strip would oftentimes tear as the sheet was removed from the adhesive roll because a stress point would be imposed upon the sheet during removal. Furthermore, whenever the used sheet would tear during removal, it was necessary for the user to laboriously peel off shreds of the used sheet which remained on the adhesive roll. Even after peeling off the shreds of the used sheet from the adhesive roll, oftentimes debris from the torn used sheet would disadvantageously remain on the adhesive roll.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0009] The present invention provides an adhesive roll construction which overcomes all of the above-mentioned disadvantages of the previously known devices.

[0010] In brief, the adhesive roll construction of the present invention comprises an elongated strip having a backing layer and an adhesive layer overlying one side of the backing layer. The strip has a first end, a second end and two spaced apart and substantially parallel sides. Furthermore, the strip is wound from its first end and to its second end into a tubular cylindrical roll in which multiple layers of the strip overlap each other.

[0011] At least one elongated perforation, which may be a continuous slit, is formed in the roll so that the perforation extends through the multiple layers of the strip. Unlike the previously known adhesive roller constructions, however, this perforation extends diagonally from a position spaced inwardly from at least one side of the strip and to a position spaced inwardly from the opposite side of the strip. Optionally, the perforation extends entirely through to one or both sides of the strip. The diagonal perforation thus minimizes or altogether eliminates stress on the strip when a used sheet from the roll is torn from the roll to expose fresh adhesive.

[0012] Optionally, the adhesive roller construction includes a tubular cylindrical roller support around which the strip is wound. Preferably, this roller support is made of cardboard.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0013] A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon reference to the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

[0014] FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

[0016] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a portion of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

[0017] FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0018] With reference first to FIGS. 1-3, a preferred embodiment of the adhesive roll construction 10 is there shown and comprises an elongated strip 12 having a first end 14 (FIG. 2), a second end 16 (FIG. 2) and a pair of spaced and substantially parallel sides 18. The strip is wound from the first end 14 and to the second end 16 into a tubular cylindrical roll 20 in which multiple layers of the strip 12 overlap each other.

[0019] As best shown in FIG. 3, the strip 12 comprises a backing layer 22 and an adhesive layer 24 on one side 26 of the backing layer 22. Preferably, the adhesive layer 24 overlies the entire side 26 of the backing layer 22 so that, when the strip 22 is wound into the cylindrical roll 20, the adhesive layers 24 adhesively, but detachably, engage the opposite side 28 of the backing layer 22 of the next outer layer of the strip 22 on the adhesive roll 20.

[0020] With reference now particularly to FIG. 2, the adhesive roller construction 10 preferably includes a tubular and cylindrical roller support 30 around which the strip 22 is wound into the adhesive roll 20. Preferably, the roller support 30 is made of cardboard although other materials, such as plastic, may alternatively be used.

[0021] With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 2, at least one elongated perforation 34, which may be a continuous slit, is formed through the adhesive roll 20 so that the perforation 34 extends through multiple layers of the strip 22. As best shown in FIG. 2, the perforation 34 is preferably linear and each end 36 of the perforation 34 is spaced inwardly from its adjacent side 18 of the strip 22.

[0022] Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, unlike the previously known adhesive roller constructions, the perforation 34 extends diagonally between the sides 18 of the strip 22 such that the longitudinal axis of the perforation 34 intersects the side 18 of the strip 22 at an acute angle &thgr; (FIG. 1). Preferably, the perforation 34 terminates short of each side 18 of the strip 22, but optionally extends to one or both sides 18 of the strip 22.

[0023] In operation, the adhesive roll 20 is typically rotatably mounted to a handle (not shown) and rolled across clothing, furniture or the like to remove detritus from the object. After extended use, the outwardly exposed adhesive layer 24 on the adhesive roll 20 becomes “used” so that its adhesiveness diminishes. When this occurs, a single sheet, corresponding to one revolution of the adhesive roll 20, is removed by tearing the sheet 40 along the perforation 34 thereby exposing a new adhesive sheet, also corresponding to one circumference of the adhesive roll 20. When the sheet 40 is removed until it again meets the perforation 34, the used sheet 40 is then torn from the adhesive roll 20 thus exposing fresh adhesive around the entire circumfery of the adhesive roll 20.

[0024] Since the perforation 34 is diagonally formed through the adhesive roll 20, stress and the possibility of tearing the used sheet 40 during the removal of the used sheet 40 from the adhesive roll 20 is minimized. Instead, in practice, the used sheet 40 cleanly separates from the adhesive roll at the perforation 34.

[0025] From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention provides an adhesive roller construction which not only ensures that, upon removal of a single sheet 40 from the adhesive roll 20, fresh adhesive is exposed on the adhesive roll 20 around the entire circumference of the adhesive roll 20, but also minimizes or altogether eliminates any possible tearing of the sheet 40 during the removal process. Having described my invention, however, many modifications thereto will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains without deviation from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An adhesive roller construction comprising:

an elongated strip, said strip having a backing layer and an adhesive layer overlying one side of said backing layer, said strip having a first end, a second end and two spaced apart sides, said strip being wound from said first end to said second end into a tubular cylindrical roll in which multiple layers of said strip overlap each other,

at least one elongated perforation formed in said roll so that said perforation extends through said multiple layers of said strip, said perforation extending diagonally from one side of said strip and to the other side of said strip.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one end of said perforation is spaced inwardly from at least one side of said strip adjacent said at least one perforation end.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said perforation extends entirely radially through said roll.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 and comprising a tubular cylindrical roller support, said strip being wound around said roller support.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said roller support is constructed of cardboard.

6. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said perforation is linear along its entire length.

7. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein each end of said perforation is spaced inwardly from said side of said strip adjacent said perforation ends.

8. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said perforation comprises a continuous slit.