Multi-layered bulletin board

Abstract: A multi-layered bulletin board includes a stack of bulletin holding sheets 21, each of which has a first surface which is applied with a pressure-sensitive adhesive that forms an adhesive layer 211 adapted to permit removable and repositionable adhesion of a bulletin 3 thereon, and an opposite second surface applied with a release agent that forms a release layer 213 and that is adhered removably to the adhesive layer 211 of an adjacent one of the bulletin holding sheets 21.

Description: This invention relates to a multi-layered bulletin board, more particularly to a bulletin board having a stack of bulletin holding sheets to permit adhesion of a bulletin thereon. A conventional bulletin board, as shown in Figure 1, generally includes a bulletin body 12 and a frame 11 surrounding the bulletin body 11. The bulletin body 11 is typically made of a magnetically attractive metal, a wooden material or a cork material. In use, positioning members 13, such as magnets or thumb pins, are required for positioning a bulletin 14 on the bulletin body 12. The conventional bulletin board suffers from the following drawbacks: (1) Since the positioning members 13 are attached at selected points of the bulletin 14, the positioning effect thereof is not satisfactory. When a stack of bulletins is to be pinned on the bulletin board, use of two or four pins at two or four corners of the bulletins is not sufficient because the bulletins can be blown away from the bulletin board 1 together with the positioning members 13. (2) It is difficult to maintain a clean appearance for the bulletin board 1 after a period of use. In addition, the appearance of the bulletin board 1 is monotonous. EP-A-0871154 (cited under Art. 54 (3) EPC) discloses an adhesive mounting system for removably mounting objects on a support. Multiple composite layers are provided, each having an adhesive on one side and a releasing agent on the other. The item to be displayed is bonded to the release side of one layer using a permanent adhesive. The furthermost adhesive layer is used to mount the assembly onto the desired surface. The assembly may be repositioned by removing the outermost composite layer and reattaching the assembly to the surface using the next adhesive layer. However, using this system it is difficult to detach the display item from the mounting layers without causing it damage. Furthermore, the item cannot be repositioned on the mounting layer. JP10049088 discloses a bulletin board having an array of adhesive surfaces with alternating degrees of adhesive power. The width of the low adhesive power areas is set to be larger than that of the high adhesive power regions. Hence on application with a low pressure (e.g. with the palm of the hand), an object will be temporarily supported whereas if pressed using a fingertip (high pressure), the object will be supported for a long period of time. No provision is made, however, for the loss of adhesive power after many objects are affixed to the board. The object of the present invention is to provide a method of mounting a bulletin onto a multi-layered bulletin board that includes a stack of bulletin holding sheets to permit adhesion of a bulletin thereon. According to the present invention, a method of mounting a bulletin onto a multi-layered bulletin board, the multi-layered bulletin board comprising a stack of bulletin holding sheets, each of said bulletin holding sheets having a first surface which is applied with a pressure-sensitive adhesive that forms an adhesive layer, and an opposite second surface which is applied with a release agent that forms a release layer and that is adhered removably to said adhesive layer of an adjacent one of said bulletin holding sheets, the method characterised in that the bulletin is removably and repositionably adhered to the adhesive layer of an outermost one of said bulletin holding sheets. Preferably, the multi-layered bulletin board further comprises a cover sheet which is adhered removably to said adhesive layer of an outermost one of said bulletin holding sheets so as to cover said adhesive layer. This prevents dust from sticking to the adhesive surface, and maintains the adhesive nature of the layer. To aid separation of the layers, it is convenient that the bulletin holding sheets have aligned corners provided with means for preventing said corners of said bulletin holding sheets from adhering to one another. This may conveniently be achieved by said means comprising a plurality of caps fitted to said corners, respectively, to shield said adhesive layers of said bulletin holding sheets at said corners. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conventional bulletin board; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment the multi-layered bulletin board according to the present invention; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment; and Figure 4 illustrates how an outermost bulletin holding sheet is removed from an inner adjacent bulletin holding sheet of the multi-layered bulletin board of the present invention. Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the preferred embodiment of the multi-layered bulletin board 2 of the present invention is shown to include a stack of bulletin holding sheets 21 and a cover sheet 214. Each of the bulletin holding sheets 21 is made of a foamed material, paper or a plastic material, and has a first surface which is applied with a pressure sensitive adhesive that forms an adhesive layer 211 for posting a bulletin 3 thereon. The bulletin 3 has its inner surface entirely adhered to the adhesive layer 211 of an outermost one of the bulletin holding sheets 21. In addition, since the adhesive layer 211 is made from a pressure sensitive adhesive, the bulletin 3 can be adhered thereto removably and repositionably as desired. Each of the bulletin holding sheets 21 further has a second surface opposite to the first surface and applied with a release agent that forms a release layer 213 which is adhered removably to the adhesive layer 211 of an inner adjacent one of the bulletin holding sheets 21. The bulletin holding sheets 21 are further provided with a plurality of caps 212 of substantially triangular shape, which are fitted to the aligned corners of the bulletin holding sheets 21, respectively, to shield the adhesive layers 211 of the bulletin holding sheets 21 so as to prevent the bulletin holding sheets 21 from adhering to one another at the corners. As such, the bulletin holding sheet 21 can be easily separated from adjacent bulletin holding sheets 21. The cover sheet 214 (shown in phantom line in Figure 2) is adhered removably to the adhesive layer 211 of the outermost one of the bulletin holding sheets 21 before the multi-layered bulletin board 2 is used so as to protect the adhesive layer 211 of the outermost bulletin holding sheet 21 from being contaminated by dust and losing its tackiness. The bulletin board 1 may be fixed to a wall by means of a fastener, an adhesive, etc. When using the bulletin board 1, the cover sheet 214 is first removed from the outermost bulletin holding sheet 21. Then, a bulletin 3 is posted to the adhesive layer 211 of the outermost bulletin holding sheet 21 at a predetermined location. The bulletin 3 can be repeatedly adhered to and removed from the outermost bulletin holding sheet 21 as desired. When the adhesion property of the outermost bulletin holding sheet 21 diminishes owing to repeated use and presence of contaminants, the used outermost bulletin holding sheet 21 is removed to expose the adhesive layer 211 of an inner adjacent one of the bulletin holding sheets 21. Referring to Figure 4, the outer one of the bulletin holding sheets 21 may be removed by handling the cap 212 provided on the corner of the outer bulletin holding sheet 21. The caps 212 facilitate removal of the used bulletin holding sheets 21. In practice, the bulletin holding sheets 21 of the multi-layered bulletin board 2 of the present invention may be designed to have different patterns thereon so that a different visual effect is presented whenever the used bulletin holding sheet 21 is removed to expose an inner adjacent one of the bulletin holding sheets 21. Since each of the bulletin holding sheets 21 is provided with the adhesive layer 211 for removable and repositionable adhesion of the bulletin 3 thereto, positioning members for positioning the bulletin 3 on the bulletin board are not required. As each of the bulletin holding sheets 21 is removably adhered to an inner adjacent one of the bulletin holding sheets 21, the bulletin board 2 can always maintain a clean and fresh appearance even after a long period of use. With the provision of the caps 212 on the bulletin holding sheets 21 of the preferred embodiment, each of the bulletin holding sheets 21 can be easily removed from the inner adjacent one of the bulletin holding sheets 21.

Claims: A method of mounting a bulletin onto a multi-layered bulletin board, the multi-layered bulletin board comprising a stack of bulletin holding sheets (21), each of said bulletin holding sheets (21) having a first surface which is applied with a pressure-sensitive adhesive that forms an adhesive layer (211), and an opposite second surface which is applied with a release agent that forms a release layer (213) and that is adhered removably to said adhesive layer (211) of an adjacent one of said bulletin holding sheets (21), the method characterised in that the bulletin is removably and repositionably adhered to the adhesive layer (211) of an outermost one of said bulletin holding sheets (21). The method according to claim 1, wherein the multi-layered bulletin board further comprises a cover sheet (214) which is adhered removably to said adhesive layer (211) of an outermost one of said bulletin holding sheets (21) so as to cover said adhesive layer (211). The method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the bulletin holding sheets (21) have aligned corners provided with means (212) for preventing said corners of said bulletin holding sheets (21) from adhering to one another. The method according to claim 3, wherein said means comprises a plurality of caps (212) fitted to said corners, respectively, to shield said adhesive layers (211) of said bulletin holding sheets (21) at said corners.

Inventors: KUO TSUNG-TIEN, LIN BIN-TZER, LIN HO-TSAI, LIU JEN-RONG, KUO, TSUNG-TIEN, LIN, BIN-TZER, LIN, HO-TSAI, LIU, JEN-RONG
Applicants: TAIWAN HOPAX CHEMICALS MFG CO, TAIWAN HOPAX CHEMICALS MFG., CO., LTD
Application year: 1998
Main classification: G09F7
IPC codes: G09F7