Fabric (woven – knitted – or nonwoven textile or cloth – etc.) – Scrim – Woven scrim
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-08
2001-04-24
Pezzuto, Helen L. (Department: 1713)
Fabric (woven, knitted, or nonwoven textile or cloth, etc.)
Scrim
Woven scrim
C442S002000, C442S003000, C442S009000, C442S016000, C442S019000, C442S038000, C442S046000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06221796
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to sheet material usable by a consumer and more particularly to laminate sheet materials having a smooth upper surface and a foam body usable as drawer liners, shelf liners, appliance underlayments and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Consumers use a wide variety of sheet materials in and around the home as an underlayment and lining material. Decorative papers have been used for many years to line drawers and shelves. Some decorative papers are provided with an adhesive on one side to provide a more permanent lining. Plastic materials, such as polyvinyl chloride, have also been provided in sheet form for use by consumers as liners. Some of these plastic materials are provided as a simple sheet. Other plastic materials are provided with an adhesive on one side for a more permanent installation. For more than a year, consumers have also been provided with foam plastic materials for use as liners. These materials provide cushioning and are also less prone to slipping. One such material consists of a loosely woven fabric scrim with a foam polyvinyl chloride coating. This material is noncontinuous in that the openings between many of the adjacent scrim fibers remain open after the application of the foam. The foam has a nonslip characteristic but is not an adhesive. This material provides good cushioning and nonslip characteristics. It has been well received in the consumer marketplace and used widely as a lining material and underlayment. Such foam covered scrim sheet material is commercially available in various sizes. Companies such as Griptex Industries, Inc. of Alpharetta, Ga. and American Nonslip produce such materials commercially.
All of the above described materials have negative aspects. Paper or plastic nonadhesive shelf lining can slide around on the surface to which it is applied. In drawers in particular, such linings can become bunched up and pushed to the rear of the area sought to be protected. Such shelf linings do not provide cushioning or protection for things placed on a shelf or in a drawer. Adhesive paper or plastic shelf liners do not normally become bunched up or slide when first installed. However, thereafter, portion of the adhesive may dry out allowing the lining to slide and become bunched up. In other situations, the adhesive sticks to the surface under the lining paper even when the lining paper is removed. This can mar a surface and leave an objectionable, sticky, discolored area on a shelf or in a drawer.
On the other hand, foam plastic covered scrim shelf linings have their own problems. While they do not slide on a shelf or in a drawer and can be removed, they prevent objects placed on them from sliding. A homeowner cannot put a cup on a shelf and slide it along that shelf to a desired position. Rather, it must be picked up and moved. The scrim based shelf linings are also noncontinuous. They have numerous openings forming part of the product. The appearance is therefore often not as pleasing to consumers as what can be achieved on a continuous paper or plastic surface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the principle object of the invention to provide a shelf lining material overcoming the above referred to negative aspects which is nonslip, nonadhesive and provides a continuous top surface.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a lining material having an upper surface which is pleasing in appearance, colorful and smooth.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a shelf lining product which is easily cut with scissors, will maintain its shape and position, is not adhesive, and has a continuous smooth top surface.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a laminate product comprised of a scrim based plastic foam sheet layer and a thin continuous smooth surface layer bound thereto.
Further in accordance with the invention, the scrim based foam plastic layer is of the type commercially available providing nonslip characteristics.
Still further in accordance with the invention, the smooth surfaced thin continuous sheet material is bound to the foam scrim layer by means of adhesive or thermal binding.
Yet further in accordance with the invention, the smooth sheet layer is bound to the scrim-foam layer by means of an adhesive.
Still further in accordance with the invention, the thin sheet smooth surfaced layer is a continuous sheet of smooth plastic such as polyvinyl chloride.
Yet further in accordance with the invention, the thin sheet smooth material is a plastic material having a coating of pressure sensitive adhesive thereon which is applied to the scrim foam material providing a finished product.
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Gareau Roberta I.
Hawley James K.
Junnila Thomas S.
Manco Inc.
Pezzuto Helen L.
Vickers Daniels & Young
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