Abstract:
Systems and films for protecting surfaces of various substrates, including electronic devices, such as portable electronic devices, include a liner with a strip liner and a main liner. The strip liner, which covers a small strip of adhesive on the back side of a protective film, is configured to be removed before the main liner. With the small strip of adhesive exposed, the protective film may be aligned with a substrate and, if necessary, removed from the substrates and repositioned thereon. Thereafter, the main liner may be removed to enable complete application of the protective film to the substrate. Methods for securing protective films to substrates are also disclosed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/750,370, filed on Jun. 25, 2015 and titled SYSTEMS FOR SECURING PROTECTIVE FILMS TO SURFACES OF SUBSTRATES (“the &#39;370 Application”), now U.S. Pat. No. 9,580,626, issued Feb. 28, 2017. The &#39;370 Application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/865,175, filed on Apr. 17, 2013 and titled DRY APPLY PROTECTIVE SYSTEMS AND METHODS (“the &#39;175 Application”). In the &#39;175 Application, a claim for the benefit of priority to the Apr. 17, 2012 filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/625,550, titled DRY APPLY PROTECTIVE SYSTEMS AND METHODS (“the &#39;550 Provisional Application”) as made pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e). The &#39;175 Application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/166,745, titled PROTECTIVE FILMS FOR DRY APPLICATION TO PROTECTED SURFACES, INSTALLATION ASSEMBLIES AND KITS INCLUDING THE FILMS, DEVICES PROTECTED WITH THE FILMS, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS, filed on Jun. 22, 2011 (“the &#39;745 Application”), in which claims were made for the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/357,972, titled PROTECTIVE FILMS FOR DRY APPLICATION TO PROTECTED SURFACES, INSTALLATION ASSEMBLIES AND KITS INCLUDING THE FILMS, DEVICES PROTECTED WITH THE FILMS, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS and filed on Jun. 23, 2010 (“the &#39;972 Provisional Application”) pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e) and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/357,427, titled PROTECTIVE FILMS FOR DRY APPLICATION TO PROTECTED SURFACES, INSTALLATION ASSEMBLIES AND KITS INCLUDING THE FILMS, DEVICES PROTECTED WITH THE FILMS, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS and filed on Jun. 22, 2010 (“the &#39;427 Provisional Application”) pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e). The entire disclosure of each of the &#39;370 Application, the &#39;175 Application, the &#39;427 Provisional Application, the &#39;972 Provisional Application, the &#39;745 Application and the &#39;550 Provisional Application is, by this reference, incorporated herein. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates generally systems and films for protecting surfaces of various substrates, including electronic devices, such as portable electronic devices. More specifically, this disclosure relates to systems and protective films that may be applied to a surface to be protected without the presence of contaminants or visible air bubbles between the film and the surface and without the use of a solution to eliminate the presence of visible air bubbles. This disclosure also relates to systems for ensuring that protective films are precisely aligned with the surfaces to which they are to be secured. In addition, this disclosure relates to methods for protecting the surfaces of substrates, such as portable electronic devices. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    In various aspects and embodiments, this disclosure relates to systems for protecting surfaces of electronic devices (e.g., portable electronic devices, etc.) and other substrates. Such a system enables the application of a protective film to a surface of an electronic device or another substrate. 
         [0004]    In one aspect, such a system includes a protective film with upper and lower surfaces, and a liner adhesively secured to the lower surface of the protective film. The liner, which may also be referred to as a “backing” (see, e.g., the &#39;175 Application), may include two separate or separable elements—a strip liner and a main liner. The strip liner of such a liner may be located over an end of lower surface of the protective film, while the main liner may cover a remainder of the lower surface of the protective film. In addition, such an embodiment of a system for protecting a surface of an electronic device or another substrate may include a cap shield, which is also referred to as an “application tape” (see, e.g., the &#39;175 Application) over the protective film. Optionally, a release layer may be located between the protective film and the cap shield. 
         [0005]    In embodiments where a system according to this disclosure includes a cap shield, tabs may be located at opposite ends of the cap shield. The tabs, which may protrude beyond opposite ends of a protective film of the system, may enable alignment of the protective film over the surface. 
         [0006]    Such a system may be used by removing the strip liner from the adhesive material-coated lower surface of a protective film to expose a strip of adhesive material, aligning the protective film with the surface to which it is to be secured and, with the protective film and the surface in alignment, securing the strip of adhesive material to the surface. Thereafter, an opposite end of the protective film may be lifted away from the surface. While the protective element is in such an orientation (i.e., an at least partially upright orientation), a linear force may be applied across a width of the portion of the protective film that has been secured to the surface, and then moved toward the end of the protective film that has been lifted. Once the protective film has been secured to the surface in a desired manner (e.g., when there are no or substantially no air bubbles between the protective film and the surface, etc.), a cap shield and a release layer, if any, may be removed from the upper surface of the protective film. 
         [0007]    In another aspect, a system may include a protective film and a release layer or another element over the upper surface of protective film, which release layer or other element may be configured to enable precise alignment of the protective film with the surface on which it is to be adhesively secured. Thus, the release layer or other element may also be referred to as an “alignment element.” In such a system, the liner and the cap shield, if any, may be transparent and colorless. As a result, the boundaries of a transparent, colorless protective film between the liner and the cap shield may be invisible, or they may be very difficult for an individual to see. By providing an alignment element, such as a release layer, that has the same configuration (e.g., shape, dimensions, etc.) as the protective film, over the protective film in complete superimposition therewith, and that contrasts with (e.g., is transparent and colored, translucent, etc.) and is visible through the liner and the cap shield, the alignment element may enable precise alignment between the protective film and the surface to which the protective film is to be adhesively secured. 
         [0008]    In use, at least a portion of a liner of such a system may be removed from an adhesive material-coated lower surface of the protective film and the surface to which the protective film is to be applied may be visualized through the alignment element, which may enable precise alignment of the alignment element and, thus, the protective film with the surface. With the alignment element and the protective film properly aligned, the protective film may be secured to the surface. The alignment element may then be removed from the upper surface of the protective film. 
         [0009]    Other aspects, as well as features and advantages of various aspects, of the disclosed subject matter will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art through consideration of the ensuing description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    In the drawings: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is an assembly view of an embodiment of a system according to this disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 1A  is an assembly view of another embodiment of a system according to this disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the embodiment of system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2A  is a top view of the embodiment of system shown in  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the embodiment of system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3A  is a bottom view of the embodiment of system shown in  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0017]    and 
           [0018]      FIGS. 4-9  depict an embodiment of a method for applying a protective film to a surface of a substrate, such as a surface of an electronic device; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  shows an embodiment of a substrate with a protective film applied to a surface thereof. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    With reference to  FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 , an embodiment of a system  10  for protecting a surface of a substrate, such as an electronic device (e.g., a consumer electronic device, such as a smart phone, a portable media player, a tablet computing device, a wearable electronic device, a laptop computer, etc.) is illustrated. The system  10  includes a protective film  20  and a liner  30 . Additionally, the system  10  may include a release layer  40 , which may also function as an alignment element, and a cap shield  50 . 
         [0021]    The protective film  20  of the system  10  is configured to be secured to the surface of a substrate (not shown in  FIG. 1, 2 , or  3 ) and to remain in place on the surface. A lower surface  22  of the protective film  20  may be coated with a suitable adhesive material  24 , which may adhesively secure the lower surface  22  of the protective film  20  to the surface of the substrate. When the protective film  20  has been installed on a surface of a substrate, an upper surface  26 , or an outer surface, of the protective film  20  will be exposed, and may comprise the surface with which a user interacts (e.g., by touching, with a stylus, etc.) when using the substrate or a feature thereof (e.g., a touch screen of a smart phone, tablet computing device, laptop computer, etc.). 
         [0022]    In some embodiments, the protective film  20  may be formed from a plastic material, such as a polyurethane. A number of polyurethanes may provide desirable protective properties. In embodiments where the protective film  20  is transparent, a polyurethane may impart the protective film  20  with desirable optical properties (e.g., a clarity through which information or images may be viewed with little or no visible (to the naked eye, without image enhancement, etc.) distortion, etc.). For the sake of simplicity, the term “polyurethane,” as used herein, includes polymers that include urethane, or “carbamate,” linkages. A polyurethane may also include urea linkages, as well as combinations of urethane and urea linkages (e.g., poly(urethane-urea)s, etc.). 
         [0023]    Other materials that may be suitable for use in forming the protective film  20  include polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polypropylene, polyester, poly(meth)acrylate, polyethylene, and rubbery resins (e.g., silicone elastomers, etc.). In other embodiments, the protective film  20  of a system  10  according to this disclosure may comprise glass. 
         [0024]    The adhesive material  24  may comprise a pressure-sensitive adhesive material that will semi-permanently secure the protective film  20  to the surface of a substrate. In addition, the adhesive material  24  may be optically transparent. Example of adhesive materials with these properties include, but are not limited to, (meth)acrylates (e.g., acrylates, methacrylate, etc.), as well as adhesive materials that include chemistries based on natural and synthetic rubbers, polybutadiene and copolymers thereof, polyisoprene and copolymers thereof, and silicones (e.g., polydimethylsiloxane, polymethylphenylsiloxane, etc.). In a particular embodiment, the adhesive material  24  may include 2-ethyl hexyl acrylate, vinyl acetate, and polymerized acrylic acid monomers. Such an adhesive material is available from entrochem, inc., of Columbus, Ohio, under trade name ENTROCHEM™-ECA 340. 
         [0025]    The embodiment of liner  30  depicted by  FIGS. 1-3  may also be transparent. Such a liner  30  is secured to the adhesive material  24  on the lower surface of the protective film  20 . A surface of the liner  30  that is positioned against the adhesive material  24  may have a smoothness that enables the liner  30  to be readily removed from the adhesive material  24  without pulling the adhesive material  24  from the lower surface  22  of the protective film  20 . In some embodiments, the liner  30  may be relatively rigid, when compared with the rigidity of the protective film  20 . Of course, the liner  30  may be flexible enough to enable it bend while being peeled from the adhesive material  24  on the lower surface  22  of the protective film  20 . Without limitation, the liner  30  may be formed from a biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BoPET) or a stretched polyester film (e.g., that marketed by du Pont de Nemours &amp; Co. under the MYLAR® trademark, etc.). 
         [0026]    As shown, the liner  30  may be divided into a strip liner  32  and a main liner  36 . Adjacent edges  33  and  37  of the strip liner  32  and the main liner  36 , respectively, may be completely separated from one another at a boundary  35 , which may comprise a cut line. The cut line may extend completely through the liner  30  without extending into the lower surface  22  of the protective film  20 . Alternatively, the boundary  35  may comprise a cut line that extends partially into the liner  30 , a series of perforations extending across the liner  30  or a weakened line across the liner  30 , or it may have any other suitable configuration. 
         [0027]    The strip liner  32  may cover a strip  25  of the adhesive material  24  on the lower surface  22  of the protective film  20  at a location adjacent to a first end  28  of the protective film  20 . The main liner  36  may cover a remainder of the adhesive material  24 , from a location adjacent to the strip  25  to a second end  29  of the protective film  20 . 
         [0028]    The system  10  may include a release layer  40  on the upper surface  26  of the protective film  20 . In some embodiments, a configuration of the release layer  40  (e.g., shape(s), dimensions, etc.) may be the same as, or identical to, a configuration of the protective film  20 . The release layer  40  may be completely superimposed over the protective film  20 . 
         [0029]    A lower surface  42  of the release layer  40  may be positioned against the upper surface  26  of the protective film  20  without being adhesively secured to the upper surface  26  of the protective film  20 . Rather, static electricity, by way of so-called “static cling,” may releasably secure the lower surface  42  of the release layer  40  to the upper surface  26  of the protective film  20 . The adhesive strength of the static cling between the release layer  40  and the protective film  20  may withstand (and even exceed) the strength with which the adhesive material  24  secures the liner  30  to the lower surface  22  of the protective film  20 . This difference in adhesive strengths may enable removal of the liner  30  from the lower surface  22  of the protective film  20  while the upper surface  26  of the protective film  20  remains in place against the lower surface  42  of the release layer  40 . The adhesive strength of the adhesive material  24  between the lower surface  22  of the protective film  20  and a surface of a substrate on which the protective film  20  is to be secured (e.g., a display of a portable electronic device, etc.) may, however, exceed the adhesive strength of static cling between the release layer  40  and the protective film  20 , which may enable the lower surface  22  of the protective film  20  to remain in place on the surface against which it has been positioned when the release layer  40  is removed from (e.g., pulled away from, etc.) the upper surface  26  of the protective film  20 . 
         [0030]    In some embodiments, including those where the protective film  20 , the liner  30  and any cap shield  50  are transparent, and where the release layer  40  has the same configuration as the protective film  20 , the release layer  40  may be visible through the protective film  20 , the liner  30  and any cap shield  50 . Such visibility may be imparted by a combination of color and transparency, translucence, a visible border or in any other manner that will enable a surface of a substrate to be visualized through the release layer  40 . Visibility of the release layer  40  through the protective film  20 , the liner  30  and any cap shield  50  may enable use of the release layer  40  for precise alignment of the protective film  20  with the surface to which the protective film  20  is to be applied. 
         [0031]    As indicated previously herein, in embodiments where a system  10  according to this disclosure includes a cap shield  50 , the cap shield  50  may be transparent. The cap shield  50  may be configured to receive force and/or pressure applied to an upper surface  56  thereof and to distribute the same. The distribution of such force and/or pressure may protect (e.g., prevent denting of, prevent scuffing, scratching or other blemishing of, etc.) the protective film  20  before and during application of the protective film  20  to a surface of a substrate. 
         [0032]    The cap shield  50  includes a lower surface  52  that is coated with an adhesive material  54 . The adhesive material  54  may secure an upper surface  46  of the release layer  40  to the lower surface  52  of the cap shield  50 . A strength with which the adhesive material  54  on the lower surface  52  of the cap shield  50  secures the upper surface  46  of the release layer  40  to the lower surface  52  may exceed a strength with which the lower surface  42  of the release layer  40  is secured to the upper surface  26  of the protective film  20 , enabling removal of the release layer  40  from the protective film  20  when the cap shield  50  is pulled away from the protective film  20 . 
         [0033]    In some embodiments, cap shield  50  and the liner  30  may extend beyond an outer periphery  21  of the protective film  20 . In a more specific embodiment, such as that depicted by  FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 , the cap shield  50  and the liner  30  may include peripheral portions  51  and  31 , respectively, that extend beyond an entire outer periphery  21  of the protective film  20 . In such embodiments, the adhesive material  54  on the peripheral portion  51  of the lower surface  52  of the cap shield  50  may secure the peripheral portion  31  of the liner  30  to the peripheral portion  51  of the cap shield  50 . 
         [0034]    Further, the adhesive material  54  may secure the peripheral portion  51  at a first end  58  of the cap shield  50  to the peripheral portion  31  at a first end  38  of the liner  30  with greater strength than the adhesive material  54  secures the peripheral portion  51  at a second end  59  of the cap shield  50  to the peripheral portion  31  at a second end  39  of the liner  30 . This difference in adhesive strengths may be achieved in any of a number of different ways. Without limitation, such a differential adhesive strength may be achieved by adhering the peripheral portion  51  of the cap shield  50  to the peripheral portion  31  of the liner  30 , lifting the peripheral portion  51  at the second end  59  of the cap shield  50  away from peripheral portion  31  at the second end  39  of the liner while leaving the peripheral portions  31  and  51  at the first ends  39  and  59  of the liner  30  and cap shield  50  in an adhered relation and re-adhering the second end  59  of the cap shield  50  to the second end  39  of the liner  30 . As another example, differential adhesive strength may be achieved by use of different adhesive materials  54  or by use of different amounts of adhesive material  54  at the first end  58  and the second end  59  of the cap shield  50 . Such processes may result in a “bumped” adhesive material  54  at the second end  59  of the cap shield  50 . 
         [0035]    In addition, a system  10  according to this disclosure may include tabs  68   C  and  69   C  at opposite ends thereof. More specifically, the tabs  68   C  and  69   C  may comprise extensions from the opposite first end  58  and the second end  59 , respectively, of the cap shield  50 . In some embodiments, the system may also include tabs  68   L  and  69   L  that extend from the opposite first end  38  and second end  39 , respectively, of the liner  30 . Tabs  68   C  and  68   L  may be completely superimposed with respect to one another, and tabs  69   C  and  69   L  may be completely superimposed with respect to one another. The tabs  68   C  and  69   C  may enable a user to position the system  10  and the protective film  20  in a manner that provides an individual with more control over the application process than merely grasping the edges of the cap shield  50  and/or the protective film  20 . Additionally, the tabs  68   C  and  69   C  may reduce the likelihood that an individual&#39;s hands will contact and contaminate the adhesive material  24  on the lower surface  22  of the protective film  22  as the protective film  22  is being applied to the surface of a substrate. 
         [0036]    One or more of the tabs  68   C ,  68   L ,  69   C ,  69   L  may include indicia  70 . In the specific embodiment depicted by  FIGS. 1-3 , tab  68   L  may include indicia  70  in the embodiment of the number “1”, indicating that tab  68   L  is the first tab to be pulled in the process of applying a protective film  20  to a surface of a substrate. When tab  68   L  of the depicted embodiment is pulled, the strip liner  32  will be removed from the lower surface  22  of the protective film  20 , which will expose the strip of  25  the adhesive material  24  on the lower surface  22  of the protective film  20 . 
         [0037]    Tab  69   C  may include indicia  70  in the form of the number “2”, which may indicate that tab  69   C  is to be pulled at some point in time after tab  68   L  to remove the cap shield  50  (and the release layer  40 ) from the upper surface  26  of the protective film  20 . In some embodiments, the orientation of the indicia  70  on tab  69   C  may be combined with bumping of the adhesive material  54  at the second end  59  of the cap shield  50  to prevent tab  68   C  and the first end  58  of the cap shield  50  from being pulled and the cap shield  50  (and, optionally, the release layer  40 ) from being removed from the protective film  20  prematurely; i.e., before the protective film  20  has been secured to a surface of a substrate. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 1A, 2A and 3A  depict a system  10 ′ with another embodiment of liner  30 ′, in which the strip liner  32 ′ includes a tab  68   L ′ that is oriented toward, and may overlap, the main liner  36 ′. By orienting the tab  68   L ′ in this manner, a user may grasp tabs  69   C  and  69   L  while pulling tab  68   L ′ away from tabs  69   C  and  69   L  to remove the strip liner  32 ′ from the main liner  36 ′, as will be described in further detail hereinafter, with reference to  FIG. 4 . All of the other elements and features of the liner  30 ′ may be the same as the corresponding elements and features of the liner  30  described in reference to  FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 . As such, the remaining reference numerals that are used in  FIGS. 1-3  have been duplicated in  FIGS. 1A, 2A and 3A , respectively. 
         [0039]    Turning now to  FIGS. 4-9 , and with continued reference to  FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 , an embodiment of a method for applying a protective film  20  to a surface  102  of a substrate  100  is depicted. 
         [0040]      FIG. 4  shows tab  68 L and the strip liner  32  portion of the liner  30  being pulled away from the adhesive material  24  on the lower surface  22  of a protective film  20 . This exposes a strip  25  of the adhesive material  24  on the lower surface  22  of the protective film  20 . 
         [0041]    Once the strip  25  of adhesive material  24  has been exposed, the protective film  20  may be aligned with the surface  102  to which the protective film  20  is to be applied, as shown in  FIG. 5 . Specifically,  FIG. 5  shows alignment of the release layer  40 , which is visible through the cap shield  50  and the liner  30  ( FIGS. 1-3 ), which has the same configuration as the protective film  20  and which is completely superimposed with the protective film  20 , with the surface  102  of a display of a portable electronic device, such as a smart phone, a portable media player, a wearable electronic device or a tablet computing device. More specifically, an individual may grasp the tabs  68 C and  69 C/ 69 L to align the release layer  40  and, thus, the protective film  20  with the surface  102  of the substrate  100 . 
         [0042]    With the protective film  20  in alignment with the surface  102  to which the protective film  20  is to be adhered, the strip  25  of adhesive material  24  may be applied to the surface  102 , as illustrated by  FIG. 6 , which will secure the first end  28  of the protective film  20  to the surface  102 . The act of securing the first end  28  of the protective film  20  to the surface  102  may include applying the strip  25  ( FIG. 4 ) of adhesive material  24  ( FIG. 4 ) on the first end  28  to the surface  102  and pressing the first end  28  against the surface  102 . Such pressure may be applied manually (e.g., with one or more fingers, etc.) and/or with a pressure application tool  110 , such as a plastic card, a squeegee or the like. 
         [0043]    Since only a relatively small strip  25  ( FIG. 4 ) of adhesive material  24  ( FIG. 4 ) is exposed and secured to the surface  102  of the substrate  100 , if any misalignment has occurred (e.g., while securing the first end  28  of the protective film  20  to the surface, etc.), the first end  28  may be removed from the surface  102 , the protective film  20  may be realigned with the surface  102  and the first end  28  of the protective film  20  may be re-secured to the surface  102  (e.g., with the strip  25  ( FIG. 4 ) of the adhesive material  24  ( FIG. 4 ), etc.). If such repositioning of the protective film  20  is desired or necessary, the first end  28  of the protective film  20  may be removed from the surface  102  by pulling tab  68   C  and/or tabs  69   C  and  69   L  away from the surface  102 . 
         [0044]    As an alternative, the entire liner  30  may be removed from the lower surface  22  of the protective film  20  before any portion of the adhesive material  24  on the lower surface  22  contacts the surface  102 . Such a technique may be employed in embodiments where the protective film  20  is rigid (e.g., formed from a glass, etc.) and/or when so-called “wet apply” processes are used. When such a technique is employed, the process steps shown and described in reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8  may be omitted. 
         [0045]    In some embodiments, including those where the protective film  20  comprises a flexible film, after the first end  28  of the protective film  20  has been adhesively secured to the surface  102  of the substrate  100 , the second ends  29 ,  39  and  59  of the protective film  20 , the liner  30  (i.e., the main liner  36 ) and the cap shield  50 , respectively, may be lifted away from the surface  102 , as depicted by  FIG. 7 . As these portions of the assembled elements of the system  10  are lifted away from the surface  102  and back over the first ends  58  and  28  of the cap shield  50  and the protective film  20 , respectively, an edge  37  of the main liner  36  may peel away from the adhesive material  24  ( FIG. 1 ) on the lower surface  22  ( FIG. 1 ) of the protective film  20 , and may rest against the surface  102  of the substrate  100 . 
         [0046]    With the system  10  in the arrangement depicted by  FIG. 7 , as illustrated by  FIG. 8 , a force (e.g., a linear pressure front, etc.) may be applied across the cap shield  50  at a location adjacent to the first end  58  of the cap shield  50 , and moved along the cap shield  50  over a length (or height) of the cap shield  50  toward its second end  59 . Such force may be applied with a suitable application tool  110 , such as a plastic card, a squeegee or the like. As force is applied in the direction illustrated by  FIG. 8 , the main liner  36  is removed from the adhesive material  24  on the lower surface  22  of the protective film  20  and the edge  37  of the main liner  36  moves along the surface  102  of the substrate  100  until the main liner  36  has been completely removed from the lower surface  22  of the protective film  20  and the protective film  20  has been fully secured to the surface  102 . 
         [0047]    Once the protective film  20  has been properly secured to the surface  102  of the substrate  100 , the cap shield  50  and the release layer  40  may be removed from the upper surface  26  of the protective film  20 . Removal of the cap shield  50  and the release layer  40  may be effected by pulling tab  69   C  away from the surface  102 . As illustrated, tab  69 C and the second end  59  of the cap shield  50  may be pulled back across the protective film  20  and the surface  102  on which the protective film  20  resides. 
         [0048]    With reference now turned to  FIG. 10 , an embodiment of a substrate  100  is shown with a surface  102  to which a protective film  20  has been applied. The substrate  100  may, without limitation, comprise a portable electronic device or a consumer electronic device, such as a smart phone, a portable media player, a tablet computing device, a wearable electronic device, a laptop computer or the like. The surface  102  of such a substrate  100  may comprise a display or any other feature that may be subjected to conditions that may, without the presence of a protective film  20  thereon, detrimentally affect the appearance of the surface  102 . 
         [0049]    Although the preceding disclosure provides many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of any of the ensuing claims. Other embodiments may be devised which do not depart from the scopes of the claims. Features from different embodiments may be employed in combination. The scope of each claim is, therefore, indicated and limited only by its plain language and the full scope of available legal equivalents to its elements.