Patent Publication Number: US-2013251932-A1

Title: Adhesive Patch

Description:
The present invention relates to an adhesive patch, and more specifically, an adhesive patch that provides information in addition to a design on one side and information on a backing layer that is removed to attach the patch to an object. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, an adhesive patch having a substrate layer and a backing layer is provided. Adhesive can be provided on the second side of the substrate layer and covered with the backing layer. To use the adhesive patch, a user can remove the backing layer and stick the substrate layer to an object using the adhesive. 
     A design can be applied to the substrate layer along with first information. Second information can be provided on the backing layer so that the second information is visible when the backing layer is in place covering the adhesive on the substrate layer. 
     In another aspect, an adhesive patch is provided having a substrate layer and a backing layer. The substrate layer can be transparent and a design can be provided with first information so that the design and first information can be seen through the substrate layer when the substrate layer is applied to a transparent object, such as a window. Second information can be provided on the backing layer so that the second information is visible when the backing layer is used to cover the adhesive on the substrate layer. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of an adhesive patch; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear view of the adhesive patch shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side schematic illustration of the layers of the adhesive patch of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the adhesive patch shown in  FIG. 1  illustrating the separation of the adhesive layer of the first part from the substrate of the second part; 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of an adhesive patch; 
         FIG. 6  is a rear view of the adhesive patch shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a side schematic illustration of the layers of the adhesive patch of  FIG. 5 ; and 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of the adhesive patch with a backing layer removed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , an adhesive patch  10  is shown. This adhesive patch  10  comprises a substrate layer  20  and a backing layer  30 . 
     The substrate layer  20  can have a first side  22  where a design  50  is displayed on the first side  22  and a second side  24  wherein an adhesive  26  is applied to the second side  24  of the substrate layer  20 . The backing layer  30  is initially applied over top of the adhesive  26  on the second side  24  of the substrate layer  20  so that the patch  10  can be carried around and stored before it is used. To attach the adhesive patch  10  to an object, a user can remove the backing layer  30  from the second side  24  of the substrate layer  20  by peeling the backing layer  30  away from the substrate layer  20  and exposing the adhesive  26  on the second side  24  of the substrate layer  20 . With the adhesive  26  on the second side  24  of the substrate layer  20  exposed, the user can press the second side  24  of the substrate layer  20  against and object with a reasonably smooth surface, such as a bag, window, books, binders, luggage, mirrors, day timers, garbage cans, paper, clothing, windows, etc., causing the substrate layer  20  to adhere to the surface of the object with the design  50  facing outwards from the first side  22  of the substrate layer  20 . 
     The design  50  can be provided on the substrate layer  20  so that the design  50  is visible when the substrate layer  20  is stuck to an object. The design  50  could be a cartoon, logo or some other ornamental element. In one aspect, the design  50  can be a logo, photo, mascot, picture or other image that is related to a first entity. This first entity can be a company, business, sports team, school, etc and the design  50  will therefore by the logo, etc. of that company, business, sports team, school, etc. 
     In another embodiment, the design  50  could be related to an event. 
     In addition to the design  50 , first information  60  can be provided visible on the first side  22  of the substrate layer  20 . In one aspect, this first information  60  can be related to the first entity to which the design  50  is related. For example, the first information  60  could be the name and any other information regarding the first entity and the design  50  could be the logo of the first entity. 
     In another aspect, the first information  60  could be related to a second entity. This second entity could be a company, business, etc. that differs from the first entity. This second entity could be a sponsor of the first entity and the first information  60  could be used to inform a viewer of this fact. In this manner, the adhesive patch  10  can serve a dual marketing function informing a view of a first entity by the design  50  and a sponsorship of that first entity by a second entity with the first information  60 . 
     If the design  50  is related to a specific event, the first information  60  could be used to indicate an entity that is sponsoring the event. 
     In one aspect, the substrate layer  20  can be have a generally transparent portion  28  that surrounds the design  50  and the design  50  would typically be opaque. In this manner, when the substrate layer  20  is applied to an object, a person can see through the transparent portion  28  to the surface of the object and it may not be that apparent where the outer edges of the substrate layer  20  are. However, the edges of the design  50  will be clearly visible. 
     The adhesive on the adhesive  26  applied to the second side  24  of the substrate layer  20  could be transparent. In this manner, when the substrate  20  is applied to an object, a person can see through the transparent portion  28  of the substrate layer  20 , through the transparent adhesive  26  on the second side  24  of the substrate layer  20  to the object below. 
     The backing layer  30  can have a first side  32  and a second side  34 . Typically, the backing layer  30  will have substantially the same area as the substrate layer  20  so that when the backing layer  30  is used to cover the adhesive  26  on the second side  24  of the substrate layer  20 , the backing layer  30  will substantially cover the second side  24  of the backing layer  30 . 
     Second information  70  can be provided on the second side  34  of the backing layer  30 . This second information  70  can be printed or otherwise and visible to a person when the backing layer  30  is in place over the adhesive  26  on the second side  24  of the substrate  20 . In this manner, the second information  70  is visible to a person before the backing layer  30  is removed from the substrate layer  20  and the substrate layer  20  is stuck to an object. 
     This second information  70  on the backing layer  30  could be related to either the first entity and the first design  50  or the second entity and the first information  60  on the substrate layer  20  of the adhesive patch  10 . In one aspect, the second information  70  on the backing layer  30  can be contextually related to the design  50  on the first side  22  of the substrate layer  20 . In a another aspect, the second information  70  can be related to the first information  60  on the first side  22  of the substrate layer  20 . The second information  70  could be information about the first entity if it is related to the design  50  or information about the second entity if it is related to the first information  60 . This second information  70  does not just have to take the form of information about the entity, the second information  70  could be a schedule, coupon, motto, map, etc. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 through 8 , a second embodiment of an adhesive patch  110  is shown. Like adhesive path  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4 , adhesive patch  110  comprises a substrate layer  120  and a backing layer  130 . However, with the adhesive patch  110  a design  150  is applied to a second side  124  of the substrate layer  120  and the backing layer  130  is applied over adhesive  126  on the first side  122  of the substrate layer  120 . In this manner, the backing layer  130  can be peeled off the first side  122  of the substrate layer  120  and the substrate layer  120  and the first side  122  of the substrate layer  120  applied to a transparent object such as a window, etc. The design  150  will show through the substrate layer  120  and the object, allowing a viewer on the other side of the object to see the design  150 . As can be seen in  FIG. 6 , the design  150  is backwards because it will be showing through the first side  122  of the substrate layer  120  when the substrate layer  120  is applied to a clear object, such as a window.  FIG. 8  shows the substrate layer  120  from the front when the backing layer  130  has been removed. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 5 through 8 , the design  150  can be applied to the second side  124  of the substrate layer  120 . The substrate layer  120  can be transparent with the design  150  facing the substrate layer  120 . In this manner, when the backing layer  130  is removed, the design  150  can be viewed through the transparent substrate layer  120 . First information  160 , similar to first information  60  used for the adhesive patch  10 , can also be provided on the second side  124  of the substrate layer  120 . 
     Adhesive  126  which is also transparent can be applied to the first side  122  of the substrate layer  120 . 
     The backing layer  130  can have a first side  132  and a second side  134 . Typically, the backing layer  130  will have substantially the same area as the substrate layer  120  so that when the backing layer  130  is used to cover the adhesive  126  on the first side  122  of the substrate layer  120 , the backing layer  130  will substantially cover the first side  122  of the backing layer  130 . 
     Second information  170 , similar to the second information  70  for the adhesive patch  10 , can be provided on the first side  132  of the backing layer  130 . 
     It is within the scope of this disclosure for the adhesive patch to have shapes other than rectangular, such as, for example, square, circular, triangular, oval, trapezoidal, as well as all other irregular shapes. 
     The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous changes and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all such suitable changes or modifications in structure or operation which may be resorted to are intended to fall within the scope of the claimed invention.