Removable wall decoration kits, systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9676142-B2
Application number	US-201514678290-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 3, 2015
Priority date	Jun 3, 2013
Publication date	Jun 13, 2017
Grant date	Jun 13, 2017

Abstract

Systems and kits for decorating walls include a plurality of décor assemblies and a plurality of complementary fastening structures. The décor assemblies include a décor element and a releasable fastening structure providing first fastening elements. The complementary fastening structure includes a base, a pressure sensitive adhesive disposed on the base, and second fastening elements. The first fastening elements are releasably mateable with the second fastening elements to define a releasable fastening system. During use, a complementary fastening structure is releasably applied to a wall, and is connected to and supports one of the décor assemblies via the releasable fastening system. The releasable fastening system can comprise low profile hooks and loops, exhibiting relatively low holding power.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for decorating a wall, the method comprising:
receiving a décor assembly and a complementary releasable fastening structure,
wherein the décor assembly includes:
a décor element,
a panel defining opposing, first and second major faces,
wherein the décor element is disposed over the first major face,
and further wherein the second major face defines an available surface area of at least 40 in 2
a releasable fastening structure secured to the second major face and providing a plurality of first fastening elements,
wherein the releasable fastening structure covers at least 10% of the available surface area,
and further wherein the complementary fastening structure includes a base defining opposing, first and second major surfaces, an adhesive layer disposed on the first major surface, and a plurality of second fastening elements on the second major surface,
wherein the first fastening elements are releasably mateable with the second fastening elements to define a releasable fastening system;
adhering the adhesive layer of the complementary fastening structure to a location along the wall;
wherein the décor assembly is secured relative to the wall by the complementary fastening structure via the releasable fastening system in a first spatial orientation relative to the complementary fastening structure;
removing décor assembly from the complementary fastening structure, including the complementary fastening structure remaining adhered to the wall;
manipulating the décor assembly to a second spatial orientation relative to complementary fastening structure, the second spatial orientation differing from the first spatial orientation; and
engaging the décor assembly to the complementary fastening structure in the second spatial orientation such that the décor assembly is secured relative to the wall in the second spatial orientation.

2. A system for decorating a wall surface, comprising:
a décor assembly including a décor element opposite a releasable fastening structure, the releasable fastening structure providing a plurality of first fastening elements;
a backer maintaining the décor element;
a base maintaining the releasable fastening structure; and
a complementary fastening structure including a pressure sensitive adhesive opposite a plurality of second fastening elements;
wherein the backer is releasably mounted to the base,
wherein the first fastening elements are releasably mateable with the second fastening elements to define a releasable fastening system; and

and further wherein the system is configured such that a Cleavage Strength established by the adhesive against a wall surface is greater than a Cleavage Strength established by the releasable fastening system and an omni-directional Dynamic Shear Strength of the releasable fastening system is at least 10 lbs.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein one of the backer and the base forms at least one foot and the other of the backer and the base forms at least one cavity configured to receive the foot.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the décor assembly further includes a releasable connector assembly releasably connecting the backer to the base, and further wherein a Cleavage Strength of the releasable connector assembly is less than a Cleavage Strength of the releasable fastening system, and a Tensile Strength of the releasable connector assembly is less than a Tensile Strength of the releasable fastening system.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein one of the backer and the base forms at least one foot and the other of the backer and the base forms at least one cavity configured to receive the foot, and further the foot is magnetically attracted to the cavity.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the releasable connector assembly includes a first magnet associated with the foot and a second, complementary magnet associated with the cavity.

7. The system of claim 2 , wherein a footprint of the backer is less than a footprint of the base.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the footprint of the backer is less than a footprint of the décor element.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the base defines a front side, a rear side and a central mounting region formed as a depression relative to the front side, and further wherein the central mounting region is configured to receive an outer frame of the backer.

10. The system of claim 2 , wherein the décor assembly further includes a spacer assembly, the spacer assembly configured to be releasably mounted to the base.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the spacer assembly is further configured to be releasably mounted to the backer.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the spacer assembly includes a spacer and a releasable fastening structure located at a rear face of the spacer and providing a plurality of the first fastening elements.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the system is configured such that a Cleavage Strength established between the spacer assembly and the backer is less than the Cleavage Strength established by the releasable fastening system.

14. The system of claim 2 , wherein the décor element is separably connected with the backer.

15. The system of claim 2 , wherein the décor element includes a backing and a cover, the backing and the cover combining to form a pocket for selectively receiving a photograph.

16. The system of claim 2 , wherein the omni-directional Dynamic Shear Strength of the releasable fastening system is at least 15 lbs.

17. The system of claim 2 , wherein the omni-directional Dynamic Shear Strength of the releasable fastening system is at least 25 lbs.

18. The system of claim 2 , wherein:
a Cleavage Strength of the releasable fastening system is not more than 6 lbs/inch width;
a Tensile Strength of the releasable fastening system is not more than 6.5 lbs/inch2;
a 180 Degree Peel Force of the complementary fastening structure is at least 10 oz/inch;
a 90 Degree Peel Force of the complementary fastening structure is at least 12 oz/inch;
a Peel Removal Strength of the complementary fastening structure is not more than 30 oz/inch; and
a Static Shear Strength of the complementary fastening structure is at least 20,000 minutes.

19. The system of claim 4 , wherein the releasable connector assembly includes a magnet.

20. The system of claim 2 , wherein one of the first and second fastening elements is mushroom-shaped, including a stem projecting from a backing and a circular-shaped head at an end of the stem opposite the backing.

21. A wall decorating system comprising:
a plurality of décor assemblies each including:
a décor element,
a panel defining opposing, first and second major faces,
wherein the décor element is disposed over the first major face,
and further wherein the second major face defines an available surface area of at least 40 in 2 ,
a releasable fastening structure secured to the second major face and providing a plurality of first fastening elements, wherein the releasable fastening structure covers at least 10% of the available surface area; and

a plurality of complementary fastening structures each comprising a base defining opposing, first and second major surfaces, an adhesive layer disposed on the first major surface, and a plurality of second fastening elements on the second major surface;
wherein the first fastening elements are releasably mateable with the second fastening elements to define a releasable fastening system;
and further wherein the system is

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Floyd Thomas W
• Vanderheyden Jacob P
• Echeverri Nicolas A
• Thompson Craig D
• Mcgreevy Sean C
• Olson Judd D
• Hoffman Joseph A
• Marks Nathan E
• Hawthorne Stephan A

Classifications

• Y10T428/24017

  Hook or barb · CPC title

• Y10T428/24008

  including fastener for attaching to external surface · CPC title

• Y10T29/4997

  At least one part nonmetallic · CPC title

• A47G1/17

  using adhesives, suction or magnetism {(A47G1/168 takes precedence; suction cups for attaching purposes, equivalent means using adhesives F16B47/00)} · CPC title

• A47G1/0638

  Frameless picture holders · CPC title