Glue Tab and a Tool/Tool Adaptor for Use with a Glue Tab

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority to GB Application No. 2418977.1, filed on Dec. 23, 2024.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a glue tab and a tool/tool adaptor for use with a glue tab, and in particular to a glue tab which may be retained by an associated tool or tool adaptor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Glue tabs are commonly utilised in vehicle body repair wherein they are adhered to areas of damage or areas around damage and manipulated, usually by associated pulling tools/tool adaptors, to at least partially repair said damaged areas. Once the repair is complete, the glue tab can be released, typically using a suitable release solution and/or being pulled from the vehicle bodywork. Such glue tabs typically comprise a gluing surface and a portion which engages with a tool or the like. However, where glue tabs are removed by pulling, the force often causes the glue tabs to become dislodged from the tool as known tabs merely comprise a portion which sits within the tool and engages with a lower surface of the tool in order that a user may apply the desired pulling force. The portion of these known tabs which engage with the tool are simply inserted through an opening in the side of the tool, but are not otherwise retained in the tool such that they may equally fall out of the tool opening depending on the orientation of the tool. Tabs which become dislodged from the tool, in particularly after a pulling action done with force, can often be difficult to locate in a busy workshop, and once found may often be damaged due to impact with other objects.

It is desirable to provide a glue tab and/or a tool or tool adaptor wherein the glue tab may be suitably retained by the tool or tool adaptor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a glue tab for temporary adhesive attachment to a portion of vehicle bodywork, the glue tab comprising: a vehicle attachment portion for adhesive attachment via an adhesive to a portion of vehicle bodywork; and a pullable portion configured to engage with a tool or tool adaptor such that the glue tab may be removed from an attached portion of vehicle bodywork via pulling or other such manipulation of the tool; wherein, the glue tab comprises mechanical retention means engagable between the glue tab and tool or tool adaptor to apply a retaining force to the tool or tool adaptor for retaining the pullable portion in engagement with the tool or tool adaptor when the glue tab is unattached to or has been removed from its adhesive attachment to a portion of vehicle bodywork.

Advantageously, when the glue tab is pulled form a portion of vehicle bodywork to which it was adhered, the glue tab does not freely travel in an unexpected or unintended manner but rather remains attached to the tool or tool adaptor such that it does not become lost or damaged.

Ideally, the mechanical retention means is located on the pullable portion of the glue tab.

Ideally, the mechanical retention means is a non-magnetic mechanical retention means.

Preferably, when the glue tab is engaged with a tool or tool adaptor, the mechanical retention means are disposed between the pullable portion of the glue tab and the tool or tool adaptor for retaining the pullable portion in engagement with the tool or tool adaptor when the glue tab is unattached to or has been removed from its adhesive attachment to a portion of vehicle bodywork.

Preferably, the mechanical retention means comprise an engagement portion which engages between the pullable portion of the glue tab and the tool or tool adaptor to retain the glue tab in engagement with the tool or tool adaptor.

Ideally, the engagement portion comprises at least one resiliently deformable member.

Preferably, the pullable portion is shaped and dimensioned for reception into a corresponding receiving portion of the tool or tool adaptor.

Ideally, the at least one resiliently deformable member has an undeformed state and a deformed state.

Preferaby, the at least one resiliently deformable member is sized and dimensioned such that it is forced from the undeformed state to the deformed state as the pullable portion of the glue tab is inserted into the receiving portion of the tool or tool adaptor.

Ideally, the at least one resiliently deformable member comprises at least one resiliently deformable appendage which projects from a main body of the pullable portion.

Preferably, when the pullable portion is located in the receiving portion of the tool or tool adaptor, the at least one resiliently deformable appendage engages with an internal wall of the receiving portion of the tool or tool adaptor.

Ideally, the at least one resiliently deformable member exerts a force on an internal wall of the receiving portion of the tool or tool adaptor such that the pullable portion of the glue tab is urged to remain within the receiving portion of the tool or tool adaptor.

Preferably, the at least one resiliently deformable appendage has a first end attachable or formed integrally with the main body portion.

Ideally, the at least one resiliently deformable appendage has a second end distal the first end thereof, the second end being spaced apart from the main body portion.

Preferably, the at least one resiliently deformable appendage is an arcuate appendage.

Ideally, the at least the at least one resiliently deformable appendage is formed from a resiliently deformable material such as a resiliently deformable plastic material.

Ideally, the glue tab comprises two resiliently deformable appendages.

Preferably, one resiliently deformable appendage is located on each side of the main body portion and projects beyond the main body portion.

Ideally, when the pullable portion is located in the receiving portion of the tool or tool adaptor, said resiliently deformable appendages exert a force on opposing internal wall portions of the receiving portion of the tool or tool adaptor.

Preferably, each of the two resiliently deformable appendages are arcuate appendages.

Ideally, each of the two arcuate appendages are located such that both together form a generally circular shape when viewed in plan view, at least a portion of said generally circular shape extending beyond the main body portion in said plan view.

Preferably, the main body portion comprises a neck portion and a head portion.

Ideally, the neck portion extends between the vehicle attachment portion and the head portion.

Preferably, the at least one resiliently deformable appendage is located on the head portion.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a tool or tool adaptor comprising: a receiving portion sized and dimensioned to receive at least a pullable portion of a vehicle body repair glue tab; wherein the receiving portion comprises mechanical retention means engagable between the tool or tool adaptor and the glue tab to apply a retaining force to the glue tab for retaining the pullable portion in the receiving portion when the glue tab is unattached to or has been removed from its adhesive attachment to a portion of vehicle bodywork.

Ideally, the mechanical retention means comprises at least one resiliently deformable member having an undeformed state and a deformed state and the at least one resiliently deformable member is sized and dimensioned such that it is forced from the undeformed state to the deformed state by a pullable portion of a vehicle body repair glue tab as the pullable portion is inserted into the receiving portion of the tool or tool adaptor.

Preferably, when a pullable portion of a vehicle body repair glue tab is inserted in the receiving portion, the at least one resiliently deformable member is positioned, sized and dimensioned to exert a force on an external surface of the pullable portion and as such acts to retain the pullable portion within the receiving portion.

Ideally, the at least one resiliently deformable member comprises at least one resiliently deformable appendage which projects from an inner wall of the receiving portion.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a mechanical retention means for retaining a glue tab in a tool or tool adaptor, wherein the mechanical retention means is disposed between the tool and tool adaptor and is configured to apply a retaining force to the glue tab for retaining the pullable portion in the receiving portion when the glue tab is unattached to or has been removed from its adhesive attachment to a portion of vehicle bodywork.

Ideally, the mechanical retention means is disposed on the glue tab and/or on the tool or tool adaptor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention is now described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a first isometric view of a glue tab;

FIG. 2 is a second isometric view of the glue tab of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the glue tab of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the glue tab of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the glue tab of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a rear view of a glue tab of FIG. 1 being inserted into a receiving portion of a tool adaptor and retained therein;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the glue tab and tool adaptor of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the glue tab and tool adaptor of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present teaching will now be described with reference to an exemplary glue tab and tool/tool adaptor. It will be understood that the exemplary glue tab and tool/tool adaptor is provided to assist in an understanding of the present teaching and are not to be construed as limiting in any fashion. Furthermore, elements or components that are described with reference to any one Figure may be interchanged with those of other Figures or other equivalent elements without departing from the spirit of the present teaching.

Referring now to the Figures there is illustrated a glue tab 10 for temporary adhesive attachment to a portion of vehicle bodywork. In use, the glue tab 10 may be utilised to repair vehicle bodywork defects, allowing a user to manipulate the bodywork via the glue tab. The glue tab 10 comprises an attachment portion 11 for adhesive attachment via an adhesive to a portion of vehicle bodywork. The attachment portion 11 has a lower surface 12 and adhesive is applied between the lower surface 12 of the attachment portion 11 and the vehicle bodywork to attach the glue tab 10 to said vehicle bodywork. The glue tab 10 further comprises a pullable portion 13 configured to engage with a tool or tool adaptor 14 such that the glue tab 10 may be removed from an attached portion of vehicle bodywork via pulling or other such manipulation of the tool. The tool may, for example, be a pulling bar as would be typically utilised for this purpose. The tool adaptor 14, as can for example be seen in FIG. 6, is an adaptor 14 which comprises a first portion 15 which engages with the tool and a second portion 16 which engages with the glue tab 10 such that the adaptor 14 permits attachment of the glue tab 10 to the tool. It should be understood that the glue tab 10 may also be attached directly to the tool without an adaptor 14, the tool having a portion suitably formed for receiving the pullable portion 13 of the glue tab 10. The glue tab 10 further comprises mechanical retention arrangement 17 engagable between the glue tab 10 and tool or tool adaptor 14 to apply a retaining force to the tool or tool adaptor 14 for retaining the pullable portion 13 in engagement with the tool or tool adaptor 14 when the glue tab 10 is unattached to or has been removed from its adhesive attachment to a portion of vehicle bodywork. Advantageously, when the glue tab 10 is pulled form a portion of vehicle bodywork to which it was adhered, the glue tab 10 does not freely travel in an unexpected or unintended manner but rather remains attached to the tool or tool adaptor 14 such that it does not become lost or damaged. By a retaining force, it is meant that an active force is applied by the mechanical retention arrangement 17 to a portion of the tool or tool adaptor 14. This force may create or increase the frictional force between the pullable portion 13 of the glue tab 10 and the tool or tool adaptor 14, or more specifically may increase the frictional force between a portion of the mechanical retention arrangement 17 and the tool or tool adaptor 14. This added or increased frictional force results in the glue tab 10 being retained in the tool or tool adaptor 14 even should the tool or tool adaptor 14 be moved or orientated in any direction. It should be appreciated that the drawings illustrate one implementation of a mechanical retention arrangement 17 which may apply or increase a frictional force between the glue tab 10 and tool or tool adaptor 14, however it should be appreciated that the skilled person may implement such a mechanical retaining arrangement in various ways and as such the implementation of the drawings should not be construed as limiting. The scope of protection afforded to the present invention should be considered to encompass any mechanical retaining arrangement which could be envisaged by the skilled person. For example, the mechanical retaining arrangement 17 could comprise simply sizing the pullable portion 13 of the glue tab 10 and/or the tool or tool adaptor 14 such that a frictional fit is achieved, or biased elements such as springs or the like may be employed between the pullable portion 13 and the tool or tool adaptor 14 to impart a frictional force therebetween. Moreover, the retaining force need not necessarily be frictional, a locking type arrangement pay be deployed wherein the pullable portion and tool or tool adaptor 14 comprises a click fit or other such locking fit therebetween, or corresponding male and female connection portions may be deployed on the pullable portion 13 and the tool or tool adaptor 14 which engage to temporarily secure the pullable porion 13 to the tool or tool adaptor 14. In summary, the term mechanical retaining arrangement should be construed broadly such that it encompasses any arrangement which permits an active mechanical retention of the glue tab 10 within the tool or tool adaptor 14.

As can be seen in the drawings, in a preferred embodiment, the mechanical retention arrangement 17 is located on the pullable portion 13 of the glue tab 10 such that when the glue tab 10 is engaged with a tool or tool adaptor 14, the mechanical retention means are disposed between the pullable portion 13 of the glue tab 10 and the tool or tool adaptor 14 for retaining the pullable portion 13 in engagement with the tool or tool adaptor 14 when the glue tab 10 is unattached to or has been removed from its adhesive attachment to a portion of vehicle bodywork. Again, this means that, when the glue tab 10 is pulled from the bodywork, the glue tab 10 is not free to disengage with the tool or tool adaptor 14 and therefore travel independently and become lost or damaged. This is even more important given that the pull to release the glue tab 10 from the bodywork can often be forceful in order to release the adhesive bond, and as such it is extremely common for glue tabs 10 to be ejected from the tool or tool adaptor and travel significant distances and/or strike other surfaces or objects with significant force.

In the embodiment of the drawings, the mechanical retention arrangement 17 comprises a resiliently deformable member 17 comprising two resiliently deformable appendages 18, 18a which engage between the pullable portion 13 of the glue tab 10 and the tool or tool adaptor 14 to retain the glue tab 10 in engagement with the tool or tool adaptor 14. It should be understood that only one resiliently deformable appendage may be present, or more than two may be utilised. The pullable portion 13 is shaped and dimensioned for reception into a corresponding receiving portion 19 of the tool or tool adaptor 14. The resiliently deformable appendages 18, 18a have an undeformed state and a deformed state and are sized and dimensioned such that they are forced from the undeformed state to the deformed state as the pullable portion 13 of the glue tab 10 is inserted into the receiving portion 19 of the tool or tool adaptor 14. Therefore, when inserted into the receiving portion 19 of the tool or tool adaptor 14 the resiliently deformable appendages 18, 18a are compressed into their deformed state by the internal walls 20 of the receiving portion 19 and as such apply a force to said walls which acts to retain the pullable portion 13 in the tool or tool adaptor 14.

The resiliently deformable appendages 18, 18a project from a main body 21 of the pullable portion 13 and each has a first end 22, 22a attachable or formed integrally with the main body portion 21, and a second end 23, 23a distal the first end 22, 22a. The second end 22, 22a of each resiliently deformable appendage 18, 18a being spaced apart from the main body portion 21. The resiliently deformable appendages 18, 18a are formed from a resiliently deformable material such as a resiliently deformable plastic material. However, it should be understood that any suitable material may be utilised including but not limited to metallic material, elastic material, or rubber material. It should also be understood that the structure and/or geometry of the resiliently deformable appendages 18, 18a may itself provide the resilient deformable nature rather than the material thereof. As can be best viewed in FIG. 3, a space 24, 24a is present between the second ends 23, 23a of each appendage 18, 18a and the main body 21. Resultantly, as the resiliently deformable appendages 18, 18a are compressed by insertion into the receiving portion 19 of the tool or tool adaptor 14, the second ends 23, 23a may be forced towards the main body portion 21. It should be appreciated that embodiments are envisaged wherein the space 24, 24a is not present and in such embodiments the resiliently deformable appendages 18, 18a are connected to the main body portion 21 at both ends and when compressed by insertion into the receiving portion 19 of the tool or tool adaptor 14 the resiliently deformable appendages simply flex inwardly towards the main body portion 21.

One resiliently deformable appendage 18, 18a is located on each side of the main body portion 21 such that said resiliently deformable appendages 18, 18a may exert a force on opposing internal wall portions 20 of the receiving portion 19 of the tool or tool adaptor 14 when inserted thereinto. In the preferred embodiment of the drawings, the resiliently deformable appendages 18, 18a are arcuate appendages 18, 18a. As can be best viewed in FIG. 3, the two arcuate appendages 18, 18a are located such that both together form a generally circular shape when viewed in plan view, at least a portion of said generally circular shape extending beyond the main body portion in said plan view. However, this is only one possible implementation and should not be construed as limiting in any fashion. The main body portion 21 comprises a neck portion 25 and a head portion 26, and the resiliently deformable appendages 18, 18a are preferably located on the head portion 26. The neck portion 26 extends between the vehicle attachment portion 11 and the head portion 25. The neck portion 25 is narrower than the head portion 26. Resultantly, as can be seen in FIG. 6, the head portion 26 may be inserted into the receiving portion 19 of a tool or tool adaptor 14, the receiving portion comprising an opening 27 which permits passage of the neck portion 25 therethrough such that at least the head portion 26 of the glue tab 10 is located within the receiving portion of the tool or tool adaptor 14 whilst the vehicle attachment portion 11 is exposed externally of the tool or tool adaptor 14 so that it may be adhered to a portion of vehicle bodywork. The glue tab is manufactured by any reasonable means such as moulding, and can be manufactured as a one piece component. Therefore, this reduces cost and complexity of manufacture when compared to other means of retaining a glue tab which may require magnetic components or other such secondary components attached to or formed into the glue tab.

It should also be appreciated that, whist the embodiment of the drawings shows the glue tab comprising the mechanical retaining arrangement 17, the mechanical retaining arrangement 17 may equally be disposed on the tool or tool adaptor and thus the present invention also claims a tool or tool adaptor 14 comprising a receiving portion 19 sized and dimensioned to receive at least a pullable portion 13 of a vehicle body repair glue tab 10 and where the receiving portion 19 comprises the mechanical retention arrangement 17 which is engagable between the tool or tool adaptor 14 and the glue tab 10 to apply the retaining force to the glue tab 10 for retaining the pullable portion 13 in the receiving portion 19 when the glue tab 10 is unattached to or has been removed from its adhesive attachment to a portion of vehicle bodywork. The mechanical retention arrangement 17 may be implemented in the same manner in that one or more resiliently deformable appendage may be disposed on and project from an inner wall of the receiving portion 19 of the tool or tool adaptor 14 and be positioned, sized and dimensioned to exert a force on an external surface of the pullable portion 13 and as such act to retain the pullable portion 13 within the receiving portion 19. However, as noted above in regard to the description of the glue tab 10 having the mechanical retaining arrangement 17, the mechanical retaining arrangement 17 may take any reasonable form and the skilled person would be aware of various options for implementing a mechanical retaining arrangement disposed on the tool or tool adaptor 14 which may act to retain a glue tab 10. Moreover, it should also be noted that the present disclosure is intended to encompass a yet further possibility where the mechanical retaining arrangement 17 may be disposed on both the glue tab 10 and the tool or tool adaptor 14. In this case the mechanical retaining arrangement 17 may have corresponding retaining elements located on the glue tab 10 and tool or tool adaptor 14 which cooperate to retain the glue tab 10 in the tool or tool adaptor 14. The skilled person would be well aware of various ways in which to implement such corresponding retaining elements, such as using male and female type elements. Alternatively, the glue tab 10 and tool or tool adaptor 14 may each comprise independent mechanical retaining arrangements, an example of this being that each comprises one or more resiliently deformable appendage. In summary, the mechanical retention arrangement mat be disposed on the glue tab 10 and/or on the tool or tool adaptor 14 and may take any reasonable form of mechanical retaining arrangement which would be within the knowledge of the skilled person. Therefore, the location of the mechanical retaining arrangement 17 and specific nature thereof as shown in the embodiment of the drawings should not be construed as limiting.

It is noted that the terminology “glue tab” as is generally utilised in the field of bodywork repair is used herein. However, this should not be construed as limiting in any way and should be considered to encompass any bodywork repair tabs which adhere to vehicle bodywork and permit manipulation of the bodywork for repair, this can include any tabs with attach by adhesive or otherwise, including but not limited to magnetic attachment or welded attachment. The invention described herein which retains the “glue tab” after being pulled from the bodywork would work equally as well when used with any tab with in some manner is adhered to or attaches to vehicle bodywork but is then pulled therefrom.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment(s) described herein but can be amended or modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.