Fiberboard Surface Protection System

Abstract

A paperboard or fiberboard sheet is provided with at least one preapplied adhesive strip used to connect together and an adjacently positioned surface protector to form a dust-proof and/or liquid-proof seal between the two surface protectors.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A surface protector configured to protect selected portions of floor surfaces, the protector comprising:
 a sheet of bendable material having a perimeter, a top surface and a bottom surface;   a first adhesive strip positioned at or adjacent to said perimeter of said sheet, said first adhesive strip is a preapplied adhesive strip having a top adhesive surface; and,   wherein said top adhesive surface forms an adhesive bond capable of connecting together an adjacently positioned surface protector.   
     
     
         2 . The surface protector as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said first adhesive strip includes a removable top protective release liner that, when removed, exposes said top adhesive surface of said first adhesive strip. 
     
     
         3 . The surface protector as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said sheet is selected from the group consisting of fiberboard, paperboard, composite fabric and plastic. 
     
     
         4 . The surface protector as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said sheet is fiberboard. 
     
     
         5 . The surface protector as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first crease that is offset a distance inward from said perimeter of said sheet;   wherein said sheet is capable of being folded along said first crease without damaging said crease or said sheet thereby creating a first portion and a second portion; and,   wherein said first portion of said sheet is capable of protecting a first surface and said second portion of said sheet is capable of protecting a second surface when said sheet is folded along said first crease.   
     
     
         6 . The surface protector as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said first crease is water-resistant both prior to and after said sheet is fold along said first crease. 
     
     
         7 . The surface protector as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said first crease is spaced a greater distance from said perimeter than said first adhesive strip. 
     
     
         8 . The surface protector as defined in in  claim 1 , wherein said sheet has a longitudinal length of at least 10 feet and a width of at least 2 feet, and wherein said sheet is in a roll and is absent creases running between a width of said sheet when said sheet is rolled into said roll. 
     
     
         9 . The surface protector as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said first adhesive strip runs parallel to a side edge of said sheet and along the longitudinal length of said sheet. 
     
     
         10 . A surface protection system for protecting selected portions of floor surfaces, the system comprising:
 a first surface protector, said first surface protector is formed of a sheet of bendable material having a perimeter, a top surface and a bottom surface; a first adhesive strip positioned at or adjacent to said perimeter of said sheet, said first adhesive strip is a preapplied adhesive strip having a top adhesive surface; and said top adhesive surface forms an adhesive bond capable of connecting together an adjacently positioned surface protector; and,   a second surface protector having a top surface and a bottom surface;   wherein a portion of said second surface protector overlies a portion of said first surface protector and a bottom surface of said second surface protector is adhesively connected to said top adhesive surface of said first adhesive strip on said first surface protector to form a permanent connection between said first and second surface protector and to form a dust-proof connection between said first and second surface protector.   
     
     
         11 . The surface protection system as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said second surface protector is formed of a sheet of bendable material having a perimeter, a top surface and a bottom surface; a first adhesive strip positioned at or adjacent to said perimeter of said sheet, said first adhesive strip is a preapplied adhesive strip having a top adhesive surface; and said top adhesive surface forms an adhesive bond capable of connecting together an adjacently positioned surface protector. 
     
     
         12 . The surface protection system as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said adhesive connection between said first and second surface protectors is a liquid-proof. 
     
     
         13 . The surface protection system as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said second surface protector is different from said first surface protector, said second surface protector selected from the group comprising a plastic sheet, a cardboard sheet, a paperboard sheet, a fiberboard sheet, and a cloth sheet. 
     
     
         14 . The surface protection system as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said first adhesive strip on said first surface protector includes a removable top protective release liner that, when removed, exposes said top adhesive surface of said first adhesive strip. 
     
     
         15 . The surface protection system as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said sheet material of said first surface protector is selected from the group consisting of fiberboard, paperboard, composite fabric and plastic. 
     
     
         16 . The surface protection system as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said first surface protector includes a first crease that is offset a distance inward from said perimeter of said sheet, said sheet is capable of being folded along said first crease without damaging said crease or said sheet thereby creating a first portion and a second portion, said first portion of said sheet is capable of protecting a first surface and said second portion of said sheet is capable of protecting a second surface when said sheet is folded along said first crease. 
     
     
         17 . The surface protection system as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said first crease is water-resistant both prior to and after said sheet is fold along said first crease. 
     
     
         18 . The surface protection system as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said first crease is spaced a greater distance from said perimeter than said first adhesive strip. 
     
     
         19 . The surface protection system as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said first surface protector has a longitudinal length of at least 10 feet and a width of at least 2 feet, and wherein said first surface protector is in a roll prior to being connected to said second surface protector, said first surface protector when in said roll is absent creases running between a width of said sheet when said sheet is rolled in said roll. 
     
     
         20 . The surface protection system as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said first adhesive strip on said first surface protector runs parallel to a side edge of said sheet and along the longitudinal length of said sheet. 
     
     
         21 . A method for protecting selected portions of a floor surface, the method including:
 providing a first surface protector, said first surface protector is formed of a sheet of bendable material having a perimeter, a top surface and a bottom surface; a first adhesive strip positioned at or adjacent to said perimeter of said sheet, said first adhesive strip is a preapplied adhesive strip having a top adhesive surface; and said top adhesive surface forms an adhesive bond capable of connecting together an adjacently positioned surface protector;   providing a second surface protector having a top surface and a bottom surface;   positioning said first surface protector on said floor surface;   positioning said second surface protector on said floor surface such that a portion of said bottom surface of said second surface protector overlies a portion of said first surface protector; and,   causing said first and second surface protectors to engage one another to cause said bottom surface of said second surface protector to adhesively connect to said top adhesive surface of said first adhesive strip on said first surface protector to form a permanent connection between said first and second surface protector and to form a dust-proof connection between said first and second surface protector.   
     
     
         22 . The method as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said first adhesive strip on said first surface protector includes a removable top protective release liner that when removed exposes said top adhesive surface of said first adhesive strip, and further includes the step of removing said removable top protective release liner from a portion of said first adhesive strip prior to said bottom surface of said second surface protector to engage said portion of said first adhesive strip. 
     
     
         23 . The method as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said step of causing said first and second surface protectors to engage one another includes applying pressure to said top surface of said second surface protector. 
     
     
         24 . The method as defined in  claim 23 , wherein said step of applying pressure includes one or more processes selected from the group consisting of a) a person walking on said top surface of said second surface protector, b) rolling a roller over said top surface of said second surface protector, and c) moving a heavy device over said top surface of said second surface protector. 
     
     
         25 . The method as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said second surface protector is formed of a sheet of bendable material having a perimeter, a top surface and a bottom surface; a first adhesive strip positioned at or adjacent to said perimeter of said sheet, said first adhesive strip is a preapplied adhesive strip having a top adhesive surface; and said top adhesive surface forms an adhesive bond capable of connecting together an adjacently positioned surface protector. 
     
     
         26 . The method as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said adhesive connection between said first and second surface protectors is a liquid-proof. 
     
     
         27 . The method as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said second surface protector is different from said first surface protector, said second surface protector selected from the group comprising a plastic sheet, a cardboard sheet, a paperboard sheet, a fiberboard sheet, and a cloth sheet. 
     
     
         28 . The method as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said first and second surface protectors are the same, said sheet material of said first and second surface protectors is selected from the group consisting of fiberboard, paperboard, composite fabric and plastic. 
     
     
         29 . The method as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said first surface protector includes a first crease that is offset a distance inward from said perimeter of said sheet, said sheet is capable of being folded along said first crease without damaging said crease or said sheet thereby creating a first portion and a second portion, said first portion of said sheet is capable of protecting a first surface and said second portion of said sheet is capable of protecting a second surface when said sheet is folded along said first crease. 
     
     
         30 . The method as defined in  claim 29 , further including the step of folding said first surface protector along said first crease such that said first floor protector protects both a portion of said floor surface and a portion of a wall positioned adjacent to said floor surface. 
     
     
         31 . The method as defined in  claim 30 , wherein said first crease is water-resistant both prior to and after said sheet is folded along said first crease. 
     
     
         32 . The method as defined in  claim 29 , wherein said first crease is spaced a greater distance from said perimeter than said first adhesive strip. 
     
     
         33 . The method as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said first surface protector has a longitudinal length of at least 10 feet and a width of at least 2 feet, and wherein said first surface protector is in a roll prior to being connected to said second surface protector, said first surface protector when in said roll is absent creases running between a width of said sheet when said sheet is rolled in said roll, and further includes the step of unrolling said first surface protector on said floor surface. 
     
     
         34 . The method as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said first adhesive strip on said first surface protector runs parallel to a side edge of said sheet and along the longitudinal length of said sheet.