Patent ID: 8530021

Claim:
A hand-tearable plastic tape, comprising; a backing comprising a longitudinal axis and a transverse width and axis, and comprising a first major side and an oppositely-facing second major side, wherein the first major side of the backing comprises a microstructured paint-retention pattern comprising microreceptacles that are at least partially defined by a multiplicity of first microstructured partitions and a multiplicity of second microstructured partitions at least some of which intersect with first microstructured partitions to define microreceptacles thereby, and wherein at least some of the first microstructured partitions comprise first elongate ribs with a long axis that is at least generally longitudinally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the backing; wherein the second major side of the backing comprises a microstructured hand-tear pattern comprising a multiplicity of lines of weakness at least some of which comprise a long axis that is oriented at least generally transversely to the backing; wherein a pressure-sensitive adhesive is disposed on the second major side of the backing; wherein the backing, the microstructured paint-retention pattern and the microstructured hand-tear pattern all constitute a monolithic plastic unit; and wherein the hand-tearable plastic tape is transversely curvable into an arcuate shape.