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US-12624778-B1 - Polyurethane pipe thread tape assembly

US12624778B1US 12624778 B1US12624778 B1US 12624778B1US-12624778-B1

Abstract

Some embodiments include a polyurethane pipe thread tape and a pipe thread tape assembly including the pipe thread tape and a paper liner, and in some instances a casting layer. The pipe thread tape can include a polyurethane film and an adhesive. The pipe thread tape can be wrapped around external threads at an end region of a first piping component. The wrapped end region of the first piping component can be attached to an internally threaded end region of the second piping component. The pipe thread tape can be separated from a paper liner by stretching a pipe thread tape assembly lengthwise, the paper liner initially being coupled with the pipe thread tape via the adhesive, and the pipe thread tape having greater stretchiness than the paper liner. The pipe thread tape can be provided in and dispensed from packaging, in some instances.

Inventors

  • Gregg Gerald Reick

Assignees

  • Fluoramics Inc.

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20250917

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A method of installing pipe thread tape between a first piping component and a second piping component, the method comprising: wrapping the pipe thread tape around external threads at an end region of the first piping component, resulting in a wrapped end region of the first piping component, wherein: the pipe thread tape comprises a polyurethane film and an adhesive, such that the adhesive is at a first side of pipe thread tape, and the wrapped end region of the first piping component has the first side of the pipe thread tape against the end region of the first piping component such that the adhesive contacts the external threads, the polyurethane film having an elongation upon breaking between 5 inches and 24 inches, wherein the elongation upon breaking is measured as a difference between an original length of the polyurethane film and a final length of the polyurethane film at break, in combination with the adhesive having a peel strength between 125 g/25 mm and 225 g/25 mm; and attaching the wrapped end region of the first piping component to an internally threaded end region of the second piping component.
  2. 2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pipe thread tape is devoid of a base layer that comprises fabric, felt and/or nonwoven web.
  3. 3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is acrylic adhesive, and the peel strength is between 150 g/25 mm and 200 g/25 mm.
  4. 4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the polyurethane film has a thickness between 20 microns and 75 microns.
  5. 5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pipe thread tape has a thickness between 0.03 mm and 0.10 mm.
  6. 6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein wrapping the pipe thread tape around the external threads comprises stretching the pipe thread tape into grooves of the external threads at the end region of the first piping component.
  7. 7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein once the wrapped end region of the first piping component is attached to the internally threaded end region of the second piping component, the pipe thread tape creates a seal between the external threads at the end region of the first piping component and the internally threaded end region of the second piping component.
  8. 8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein prior to wrapping the pipe thread tape around the external threads at the end region of the first piping component, the adhesive of the pipe thread tape is adhered removably to a paper liner, and the method further includes, prior to wrapping the pipe thread tape around the external threads at the end region of the first piping component, separating the pipe thread tape from the paper liner.
  9. 9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the pipe thread tape has greater stretchiness than the paper liner.
  10. 10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein separating the length of the pipe thread tape from the paper liner includes stretching the pipe thread tape lengthwise such that an entire width of the paper liner tears without tearing the polyurethane film.
  11. 11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the paper liner comprises a siliconized paper liner.
  12. 12 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the pipe thread tape has a single coat of the acrylic adhesive on the polyurethane film.
  13. 13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the pipe thread tape has a width between 0.25 inch and 1.0 inch.
  14. 14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the elongation upon breaking for the polyurethane film is between 10 inches and 24 inches.
  15. 15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the polyurethane film has a breaking force of between 50 grams/millimeter width and 150 grams/millimeter width.
  16. 16 . A method of using pipe thread tape, the method comprising: separating pipe thread tape from a paper liner, the pipe thread tape comprising a polyurethane film and an adhesive, such that the adhesive is at a first side of pipe thread tape, the paper liner initially being coupled with the pipe thread tape via the adhesive, such that the coupled paper liner and pipe thread tape together form a pipe thread tape assembly, the pipe thread tape having greater stretchiness than the paper liner, wherein separating the pipe thread tape from the paper liner comprises: stretching the pipe thread tape assembly to elongate it lengthwise such that an entire width of the paper liner tears without tearing the polyurethane film, thereby creating a loose torn end of the paper liner, and grabbing the loose torn end of the paper liner and pulling it away from the pipe thread tape to separate the paper liner from the pipe thread tape; and wrapping the pipe thread tape around external threads at an end region of a piping component, such that the first side of the pipe thread tape is against the end region of the piping component with the adhesive contacting the external threads.
  17. 17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the adhesive has a peel strength between 125 g/25 mm and 225 g/25 mm.
  18. 18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the adhesive is acrylic adhesive, and the peel strength is between 150 g/25 mm and 200 g/25 mm.
  19. 19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the polyurethane film has an elongation upon breaking between 5 inches and 24 inches, wherein the elongation upon breaking is measured as a difference between an original length of the polyurethane film and a final length of the polyurethane film at break.
  20. 20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the paper liner is a siliconized paper liner.

Description

FIELD This disclosure generally relates to pipe thread tape and, more specifically, to pipe thread tape that can be wound around pipe threads to help seal connecting pipes and/or pipe joints. BACKGROUND Pipes are frequently used to move and transport fluids (such as liquids and/or gases). When setting up piping systems, pipelines, etc., numerous piping components may be joined together. Piping components can include components such as pipes, fittings, valves, flanges, gaskets, supports, bellows, and/or any other components used in piping systems. One example way to connect various piping components is through threads. The various piping components can include threads (such as screw threads, as an example) on their end(s), and corresponding threads (male threads and female threads, external threads and internal threads, etc.) can be connected together through the threads. For example, the corresponding ends of the piping components can be twisted together in order to wind together the threads. This can help seal the piping components together. However, due to the threads, there may be instances where the piping components are not fully sealed together. For example, while the threads align with corresponding threads of another piping component, there can still be small amounts of space between the threads, which can prevent a full seal between the piping components. Pipe thread tape (also referred to as plumber's tape) can help fully seal the connection (e.g., the joint) between piping components. For instance, the pipe thread tape can help make a watertight and/or airtight seal between piping components. As chemistry has advanced, more has become known about certain chemicals, such as forever chemicals. Forever chemicals (such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)) can pose health and environmental risk. To reduce and/or prevent these risks, it would be desirable to provide pipe thread tape that does not include any forever chemicals (i.e., a PFAS-free pipe thread tape), as many existing pipe thread tape materials (such as Teflon and/or other PFAS containing materials) do contain forever chemicals. SUMMARY In general, this disclosure is directed to pipe thread tape and, more specifically, to pipe thread tape that can be wound around pipe threads to help seal connecting pipes and/or pipe joints. In one example, the present disclosure includes a method of installing pipe thread tape between a first piping component (such as a first pipe) and a second piping component (such as a second pipe). The method can include wrapping the pipe thread tape around external threads at an end region of the first piping component, resulting in a wrapped end region of the first piping component. The pipe thread tape can include a polyurethane film and an adhesive, such that the adhesive is at a first side of the pipe thread tape, and the wrapped end region of the first piping component has the first side of the pipe thread tape against the end region of the first piping component such that the adhesive contacts the external threads. The polyurethane film can have an elongation upon breaking between 5 inches and 24 inches. Additionally or alternatively, the adhesive can have a peel strength between 125 g/25 mm and 225 g/25 mm. The method can also include attaching the wrapped end region of the first piping component to an internally threaded end region of the second piping component. In another example, the present disclosure includes a method of using pipe thread tape. The method can include separating pipe thread tape from a paper liner. In the present method, the pipe thread tape includes a polyurethane film and an adhesive, such that the adhesive is at a first side of pipe thread tape. The paper liner is initially coupled with the pipe thread tape via the adhesive, such that the coupled paper liner and pipe thread tape together form a pipe thread tape assembly. The pipe thread tape has greater stretchiness than the paper liner. Separating the pipe thread tape from the paper liner can include stretching the pipe thread tape assembly to elongate it lengthwise such that an entire width of the paper liner tears without tearing the polyurethane film, thereby creating a loose torn end (or “tail”) of the paper liner. Separating the pipe thread tape from the paper liner can also include grabbing the loose torn end of the paper liner and pulling it away from the pipe thread tape to separate the paper liner from the pipe thread tape. The method can also include (optionally after separating the paper liner) wrapping the pipe thread tape around external threads at an end region of a piping component, such that the first side of the pipe thread tape is against the end region of the piping component with the adhesive contacting the external threads. In another example, the present disclosure includes a method of using pipe thread tape. The method can include providing a pipe thread tape assembly in packaging. The pipe thread tape