초록 ▼

Applying and using a protective film on a portable electronic device includes provision and application of a protective film product to a surface of the portable electronic device. The protective film product includes at least a protective film, an adhesive layer on one surface of the protective fil

Applying and using a protective film on a portable electronic device includes provision and application of a protective film product to a surface of the portable electronic device. The protective film product includes at least a protective film, an adhesive layer on one surface of the protective film and a removable cap sheet on an opposite surface of the protective film. An adhesive area of the adhesive layer is applied to a surface of the electronic device, and pressure is applied to the cap sheet to remove air bubbles trapped between the adhesive layer and the electronic device. The cap sheet is removed, and remaining air bubbles are permitted to diffuse through the adhesive and protective film.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of applying a protective film to a portable electronic device, the method comprising: providing protective film product comprising: a protective film having a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface,an adhesive layer disposed on the first major sur

1. A method of applying a protective film to a portable electronic device, the method comprising: providing protective film product comprising: a protective film having a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface,an adhesive layer disposed on the first major surface of the protective film, anda removable cap sheet disposed on the second major surface of the protective film, wherein micro air pockets are formed in gaps between a surface of said cap sheet and said second major surface of said protective film;contacting an adhesive area of the adhesive layer to a surface portion of the portable electronic device;applying pressure to an outer surface of the removable cap sheet with a mechanical smoothing device to press the adhesive area of the adhesive layer against the surface portion of the portable electronic device, and continuing to apply pressure such that a given target area of the surface portion of the portable electronic device is covered by the protective film;forcing air bubbles larger than about 2-3 mm in diameter that are trapped between the adhesive layer and the surface portion of the portable electronic device to an edge of the protective film by applying pressure with the mechanical smoothing device to the outer surface of the removable cap sheet;removing the removable cap sheet from the protective film to expose the second major surface of the protective film, wherein removing the removable cap sheet from the protective film does not reduce optical clarity of the protective film; andallowing remaining air bubbles less than about 2-3 mm in diameter that are trapped between the adhesive layer and the surface portion of the portable electronic device to diffuse through the adhesive layer and the protective film. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the protective film is transparent. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the protective film product further includes a removable backing layer in contact with the adhesive layer, and wherein the method further comprises removing the removable backing layer to expose the adhesive area of the adhesive layer prior to contacting the exposed adhesive area of the adhesive layer to the surface portion of the portable electronic device. 4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, after the contacting of the exposed adhesive area to the surface portion of the portable electronic device, repositioning the protective film in relation to the surface portion of the portable electronic device. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein low molecular weight components are included in the adhesive layer, and wherein the low molecular weight components migrate into the protective film and modify characteristics of the protective film. 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the low molecular weight components migrate into the protective film and modify the characteristics of the protective film to make the protective film more impact resistant. 7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the low molecular weight components migrate into the protective film and modify the characteristics of the protective film to make the protective film more flexible. 8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the low molecular weight components comprise a tackifier. 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer comprises silicone. 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the silicone is unpolymerized. 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the protective film has a thickness from about 75 microns up to about 400 microns. 12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the protective film has a thickness being one of about 75 microns, about 100 microns, about 150 microns, about 175 microns, about 200 microns, about 250 microns, about 300 microns, and about 350 microns. 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the protective film comprises a urethane sheet. 14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the protective film comprises a polyurethane sheet. 15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the protective film comprises a polycaprolactone-based aliphatic thermoplastic urethane sheet. 16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer comprises a dry pressure sensitive adhesive. 17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer consists essentially of a copolymer of an acrylate polymer and silicone macromer side chains. 18. A method of protecting a portable electronic device, the method comprising: providing a protective film product comprising: a protective film having a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface, the first major surface and the second major surface being defined by a perimeter, the protective film being air permeable to permit diffusion of gases, the protective film having at least one opening formed to correspond with at least one element of the portable electronic device, the at least one element being at least one of a button, a port, a connector, a jack, and an entry point for access to internal components of the portable electronic device;an adhesive layer disposed on the first major surface of the protective film; anda removable cap sheet disposed on the second major surface of the protective film; wherein micro air pockets are formed in gaps between a textured surface of said cap sheet and said second major surface of said protective film;contacting, by an adhesive area of the adhesive layer, the protective film to a surface portion of the portable electronic device;applying pressure on the removable cap sheet of the protective film when contacting the surface portion of the portable electronic device by the adhesive area of the adhesive layer, such that the adhesive area of the protective film is adhered to the surface portion of the portable electronic device; andremoving air bubbles trapped between the adhesive layer and the surface portion of the portable electronic device, in which air bubbles exceeding approximately 2 mm are removed by pressure applied on the removable cap sheet from a central surface area of the removable cap sheet toward the perimeter of the protective film, wherein the remaining air bubbles are diffused through the protective film within a predetermined time. 19. The method according to claim 18, wherein: the protective film product further comprises a mechanical smoothing device having a smoothing surface for smoothing the protective film;the applying pressure on the removable cap sheet includes applying the smoothing surface of the mechanical smoothing device against the removable cap sheet of the protective film; andthe removing air bubbles trapped between the adhesive layer and the surface portion of the portable electronic device includes applying lateral movement of the mechanical smoothing device on the removable cap sheet toward the perimeter of the protective film. 20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the protective film product further includes a first tab and a second tab each disposed at respective edges of the protective film product and removably attached to the protective film product by respective first and second sets of perforations, the method further comprising: removing the first tab and the second tab from the protective film product by tearing the first tab at the first set of perforations and tearing the second tab at the second set of perforations, wherein prior to the removing, the first tab extends outward at a first of the edges of the protective film product and the second tab extends outward at a second of the edges of the protective film product opposite the first edge, the first tab and the second tab each being sized to form a grab handle to allow a user to position the first major surface of the protective film during installation of the protective film onto the surface portion of the portable electronic device, the first tab and the second tab being removable from the protective film product;wherein the first set of perforations removably attaches the first tab from at least one of the protective film and the cap sheet, and the second set of perforations removably attaches the second tab from at least one of the protective film and the removable cap sheet, the first set of perforations allowing removal of the first tab after positioning and installation of the protective film onto the surface portion of the portable electronic device, and the second set of perforations allowing removal of the second tab after positioning and installation of the protective film onto the surface portion of the portable electronic device. 21. The method according to claim 18, wherein the method is performed without the application of any liquid to at least one of the surface portion of the portable electronic device and the protective film. 22. The method according to claim 18, further comprising, after the contacting of the exposed adhesive area to the surface portion of the portable electronic device, repositioning the protective film in relation to the surface portion of the portable electronic device via manipulation of at least one of the first and second tabs to re-align the protective film to the surface portion of the portable electronic device. 23. The method according to claim 18, wherein low molecular weight components are included in the adhesive layer, and wherein the low molecular weight components migrate into the protective film and modify the characteristics of the protective film. 24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the low molecular weight components migrate into the protective film and modify the characteristics of the protective film to make the protective film at least one of more impact resistant and more flexible. 25. The method according to claim 23, wherein the low molecular weight components comprise a tackifier. 26. The method according to claim 18, wherein the protective film comprises a urethane sheet. 27. The method according to claim 18, wherein the adhesive layer comprises a dry pressure sensitive adhesive. 28. A method of applying a protective film to a portable electronic device, the method comprising: providing a protective film product comprising: a protective film having a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface and at least one opening configured to permit access to one or more of a button, port, connector, jack, and entry point of the portable electronic device when the protective film is installed on the portable electronic device, the at least one opening positioned, relative to edges of the protective film, to align with said one or more of button, port, connector, jack, and entry point when the edges of the protective film are substantially aligned with a touchscreen portion of the portable electronic device,an adhesive layer disposed on the first major surface of the protective film, the adhesive layer comprising an adhesive that provides tack sufficient to securely adhere the protective film to the touchscreen portion of the portable electronic device without the necessity of a liquid during installation of the protective film and further allows one or more of positioning and repositioning during said installation, anda removable cap sheet formed from a rigid material and disposed on the second major surface of the protective film, wherein micro air pockets are formed in gaps between a surface of said cap sheet and said second major surface of said protective film,performing one or more of positioning and repositioning of the protective film to align with the touchscreen portion of the portable electronic device;contacting an adhesive area of the adhesive layer to the touchscreen portion of the portable electronic device;applying pressure to the removable cap sheet to press the adhesive area of the adhesive layer against the touchscreen portion of the portable electronic device, and temporarily continuing to apply pressure such that a given target area of the touchscreen portion of the portable electronic device is covered by the protective film;forcing air bubbles that are trapped between the adhesive layer and the touchscreen portion of the portable electronic device to at least one of the edges of the protective film by applying pressure to the removable cap sheet from a central surface area of the removable cap sheet toward any of the edges of the protective film;removing the removable cap sheet from the protective film to expose the second major surface of the protective film, wherein removing the removable cap sheet from the protective film does not reduce the optical clarity of the protective film; andallowing any remaining air bubbles that are trapped between the adhesive layer and the touchscreen portion of the portable electronic device to diffuse through the adhesive layer and the protective film. 29. The method according to claim 28, further comprising: providing a second protective film product, including: a second protective film having a third major surface and a fourth major surface opposite the third major surface, the third and fourth major surfaces each being bounded by edges,a second adhesive layer disposed on the third major surface of the second protective film, the second adhesive layer comprising a second adhesive that provides tack sufficient to securely adhere the second protective film to a surface portion of the portable electronic device, distinct from the touchscreen portion, without the necessity of a liquid during installation of the second protective film, the second adhesive permitting one or more of positioning and repositioning of the second protective film during installation of the second protective film, anda second removable cap sheet formed from the rigid material and disposed on the third major surface of the protective film;performing one or more of positioning and repositioning of the second protective film to align with the surface portion of the portable electronic device distinct from the touchscreen portion;applying pressure to the second removable cap sheet to press the second adhesive against the surface portion of the portable electronic device, and temporarily continuing to apply pressure such that a given target area of the surface portion of the portable electronic device is covered by the second protective film;forcing air bubbles that are trapped between the second adhesive layer and the surface portion of the portable electronic device to one or more of the edges of the second protective film by applying pressure from a central area of the second removable cap sheet toward an edge of the second removable cap sheet;removing the second removable cap sheet from the second protective film to expose the fourth major surface of the second protective film, wherein removing the second removable cap sheet from the second protective film does not reduce the optical clarity of the second protective film; andallowing any remaining air bubbles that are trapped between the second adhesive layer and the surface portion of the portable electronic device to diffuse through the second adhesive layer and the second protective film. 30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the surface of the portable electronic device includes at least one of a bezel, back surface, one or more corners, a side surface, a top end surface, and a bottom end surface. 31. The method according to claim 29, wherein said second protective film is flexible and the surface of the portable electronic device is curved, the method further comprising: applying said second protective film onto the curved surface of the portable electronic device, andremoving wrinkles and air bubbles trapped between the second protective film and the curved surface by applying pressure from a central area of the second removable cap sheet, prior to removal of the second removable cap sheet, toward an edge of the second removable cap sheet. 32. The method according to claim 28, further comprising: removing a first tab and a second tab each extending from respective edges of the protective film product by tearing the first tab at a first set of perforations and tearing the second tab at a second sets of perforations,wherein the first set of perforations removably attach the first tab to at least one of the protective film and the cap sheet, and the second set of perforations removably attach the second tab to at least one of the protective film and the removable cap sheet, the first set of perforations allowing removal of the first tab after positioning and installation of the protective film onto the touchscreen portion of the portable electronic device, and the second set of perforations allowing removal of the second tab after positioning and installation of the protective film onto the touchscreen portion of the portable electronic device. 33. The method according to claim 32, further comprising, after the contacting of the adhesive area to the touchscreen portion of the portable electronic device, repositioning the protective film in relation to the touchscreen portion of the portable electronic device via manipulation of at least one of the first and second tabs to re-align the protective film to the touchscreen portion of the portable electronic device. 34. The method according to claim 28, wherein low molecular weight components are included in the adhesive layer, and wherein the low molecular weight components migrate into the protective film and modify the characteristics of the protective film. 35. The method according to claim 34, the modified characteristics of the protective film include at least one of increased impact resistance and increased flexibility. 36. The method according to claim 34, wherein the low molecular weight components comprise a tackifier. 37. The method according to claim 28, wherein the protective film comprises a urethane sheet. 38. The method according to claim 28, wherein the adhesive layer comprises a dry pressure sensitive adhesive.