Peel ply masking device for an adhesive bonded attachment

Abstract

A peel ply conformable masking device for protectively overlying a pre-cleaned bonding surface of an adhesive attachment adapted for bonded affixation to a selected substrate, such as an adhesive attachment of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,013,391 and 6,773,780 having a bonding surface circumscribing a temporary attachment member for holding the attachment against the substrate for the duration of a bonding agent cure time. The bonding surface of the adhesive attachment is pre-cleaned as by sand blasting and/or etching, and the masking device comprising a peel-off film carrying a thin layer of a peel-off adhesive is placed thereover to prevent contamination thereof. The masking device includes at least one aperture surrounding the temporary attachment member, and further includes at least one outwardly protruding and easily grasped pull tab for facilitated peel-off separation from bonding surface immediately prior to bonded affixation to the selected substrate.

1 . In an adhesive attachment having a bonding surface for adhesive attachment to a substrate, a peel ply masking device, comprising: 
 a conformable film ply formed from a substantially fluid impervious material, and having a body segment with a size and shape for substantially overlying the attachment bonding surface; and    a peel-off adhesive material carried by said film ply body segment for removably mounting said body segment onto the attachment bonding surface in intimate, substantially overlying fit relation therewith to prevent contamination thereof;    said film ply and said peel-off adhesive material being removable substantially as a unit from the attachment bonding surface.    
   
   
       2 . The peel ply masking device of  claim 1  wherein said film ply further includes at least one pull tab projecting outwardly from said body segment.  
   
   
       3 . The peel ply masking device of  claim 2  wherein said at least one pull tab projects outwardly beyond said peel-off adhesive material.  
   
   
       4 . The peel ply masking device of  claim 1  wherein said film ply comprises a material selected from the group consisting essentially of polyimide and polyester film material.  
   
   
       5 . The peel ply masking device of  claim 4  wherein said film ply has a thickness of about 0.001 inch.  
   
   
       6 . The peel ply masking device of  claim 1  wherein said peel-off adhesive material comprises a highly cross-linked pressure sensitive adhesive material.  
   
   
       7 . The peel ply masking device of  claim 1  wherein said peel-off adhesive material is selected from the group consisting essentially of acrylic and silicone adhesives.  
   
   
       8 . The peel ply masking device of  claim 1  further including a curable bonding agent for adhesively bonding the attachment bonding surface to a substrate, and further wherein said peel-off adhesive material comprises an adhesive material compatible with the curable bonding agent.  
   
   
       9 . The peel ply masking device of  claim 1  wherein the adhesive bonding surface substantially circumscribes a temporary attachment device, and further wherein said film ply has a central aperture formed therein.  
   
   
       10 . An adhesive attachment assembly, comprising: 
 an adhesive attachment device defining a bonding surface for adhesive attachment to a substrate; and    a peel ply masking device including a conformable film ply formed from a substantially fluid impervious material, and having a body segment with a size and shape for substantially overlying said bonding surface;    said peel ply masking device further including a peel-off adhesive material carried by said film ply body segment for removably mounting said body segment onto the attachment bonding surface in intimate, substantially overlying fit relation therewith to prevent contamination thereof;    said film ply and said peel-off adhesive material being removable substantially as a unit from the attachment bonding surface.    
   
   
       11 . The adhesive attachment assembly of  claim 10  wherein said film ply further includes at least one pull tab projecting outwardly from said body segment.  
   
   
       12 . The adhesive attachment assembly of  claim 11  wherein said at least one pull tab projects outwardly beyond said peel-off adhesive material.  
   
   
       13 . The adhesive attachment assembly of  claim 10  wherein said film ply comprises a material selected from the group consisting essentially of polyimide and polyester film material.  
   
   
       14 . The adhesive attachment assembly of  claim 13  wherein said film ply has a thickness of about 0.001 inch.  
   
   
       15 . The adhesive attachment assembly of  claim 10  wherein said peel-off adhesive material comprises a highly cross-linked pressure sensitive adhesive material.  
   
   
       16 . The adhesive attachment assembly of  claim 10  wherein said peel-off adhesive material is selected from the group consisting essentially of acrylic and silicone adhesives.  
   
   
       17 . The adhesive attachment assembly of  claim 10  further including a curable bonding agent for adhesively bonding the attachment bonding surface to a substrate, and further wherein said peel-off adhesive material comprises an adhesive material compatible with the curable bonding agent.  
   
   
       18 . The adhesive attachment assembly of  claim 10  wherein the adhesive bonding surface substantially circumscribes a temporary attachment device, and further wherein said film ply has a central aperture formed therein.  
   
   
       19 . A peel ply masking device assembly, comprising: 
 an elongated carrier tape; and    a succession of individual peel ply masking devices on said carrier tape, each of said peel ply masking devices comprising a film ply including a body segment, and a peel-off adhesive material interposed between said body segment and said carrier tape;    said peel ply masking devices being individually separable from said carrier tape for removable mounting of said body segment thereof in intimate, substantially overlying fit onto a bonding surface of an adhesive attachment to prevent contamination of said bonding surface.    
   
   
       20 . The peel ply masking device assembly of  claim 19  wherein said film ply further includes at least one pull tab projecting outwardly from said body segment.