权利要求：
. . CLAIMS: 1. A protective article comprising a sheet (100; 300; 400; 600) with a first surface (101; 301;
4.1; 601) and a first adhesive portion and a second adhesive portion (102;
3.2a, 302b) arranged on the first surface (101; 301; 401; 601), wherein each adhesive portion (102; 302a, 302b) comprises a water-based acrylic adhesive that allows the sheet (100; 300; 400;
6.0) to be non- permanently adhered to an object, wherein the sheet (100; 300; 400; 600) is folded such that a first portion of the first surface (101; 301; 401; 601) faces a second portion of the first surface (101; 301; 401; 601), the first adhesive portion (102; 302a, 302b; 404; 604) and the second adhesive portion (102; 302a, 302b; 404; 604) engage each other, the water-based acrylic adhesive being selected such that it is of a type that will allow the first and second adhesive portions (102; 302a, 302b; 404; 604) to be separated when the sheet (100; 300; 400; 600) is unfolded, in use, and allow the sheet (100; 300; 400; 600) to be adhered to an object, wherein none of the adhesive portions are covered at least partially by a removable cover or backing strip.
2. A protective article comprising a sheet (200) with a first surface (201) and a single adhesive portion (202) arranged on the first surface (201), wherein the sheet (200) is made from card, cloth, woven fabric, non-woven fabric, plastic, or single or multiple plies of paper, wherein the adhesive portion (202) comprises a water-based acrylic adhesive that allows the sheet (200) to be non- permanently adhered to an object, wherein the sheet (200) is folded such that a first portion of the first surface (201) faces a second portion of the first surface (201), the adhesive portion (202) arranged on the first portion of the first surface (201) is brought into engagement with the second portion of the first surface (201) at a location comprising only the card, cloth, woven fabric, non- woven fabric, plastic, or single or multiple plies of paper from which the sheet (200) is made and absent the adhesive portion (202), the water-based adhesive being selected such that it is of a type that will allow the adhesive portion (202) arranged on the first portion of the first surface (201) and the second portion of the first surface (201) to be separated when the sheet (200) is unfolded, in use, and allow the sheet (200) to be adhered to an object, wherein none of the adhesive portion is covered at least partially by a removable cover or backing strip. CA 2970963 2021-08-16 = . 3. A protective article according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the water- based acrylic adhesive comprises at least 40 parts by weight of a water-based acrylic emulsion and/or up to 90 parts by weight of a water-based acrylic emulsion, and/or wherein the water- based acrylic adhesive is coloured by the addition of one or more colouring agents, dyes and/or pigments. 4. A protective article according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the or each adhesive portion (102; 202; 302a, 302b; 404; 504; 604) has a polygonal shape or a curvilinear shape having one or more curved sides, and/or wherein the or each adhesive portion (404;
5.4; 604) has the form of an elongate strip, optionally wherein at least a portion of the elongate strip is straight, zig- zagged, curved, or wavy. 5. A protective article according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the sheet (100; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) is folded prior to application of adhesive, optionally wherein the sheet (100; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) is folded more than once, and/or wherein one or more adhesive portions (604) are arranged on a second surface of the sheet (100; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600). 6. A protective article according to claim 1 or any of claims 3 to 5 when dependent on claim 1, wherein the sheet (100; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) is made from card, cloth, woven fabric, non- woven fabric, plastic, or single or multiple plies of paper.
7. A protective article according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein the protective article comprises a napkin, a dental napkin, a napkin for medical use, a surgical napkin, an apron, a bib, a table cloth, a coaster, a place mat, a furniture cover for indoor or outdoor use or a windscreen cover for a vehicle.
8. A method of manufacture of a protective article according to claim 1, the method comprising the steps of: providing a sheet (100; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) with a first surface (101; 201; 301; 401; 501; 601); and CA 2970963 2021-08-16 = = . applying a first adhesive portion (102; 202; 302a, 302b; 404; 504; 604) and a second adhesive portion (102; 202; 302a, 302b; 404; 504; 604) on to the first surface (101; 201; 301; 401; 501; 601); folding the sheet (100; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) such that the first adhesive portion (102; 202; 302a, 302b; 404; 504; 604) is brought into engagement with the second adhesive portion (102; 202; 302a, 302b; 404; 504; 604); wherein the first and second adhesive portions (102; 202; 302a, 302b; 404; 504; 604) each comprise a water-based acrylic adhesive that allows the sheet (100; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) of material to be non-permanently adhered to an object and none of the adhesive portions are covered at least partially by a removable cover or backing strip.
9. A method of manufacture of a protective article according to claim 2, the method comprising the steps of: providing a sheet (200) with a first surface (201), wherein the sheet (200) is made from card, cloth, woven fabric, non-woven fabric, plastic, or single or multiple plies of paper; and applying an adhesive portion (202) on to the first surface (201); folding the sheet (200) such that the adhesive portion (202) is brought into engagement with an adhesive-free portion of the first surface (201) comprising only the card, cloth, woven fabric, non-woven fabric, plastic, or single or multiple plies of paper from which the sheet (200) is made; wherein the adhesive portion (202) comprises a water-based acrylic adhesive that allows the sheet (200) of material to be non-permanently adhered to an object and none of the adhesive portion is covered at least partially by a removable cover or backing strip.
10. A method according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the adhesive portion(s) (102; 202; 302a, 302b; 404; 504; 604) is/are applied on to the first surface (101; 201; 301; 401; 501; 601) from either side of the sheet (100; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600), and/or wherein applying the at least one adhesive portion (102; 202; 302a, 302b; 404; 504; 604) on to the first surface (101; 201; 301; 401; 501; 601) comprises spraying, rolling, printing, or stamping the water-based adhesive. CA 2970963 2021-08-16 28
11. A method according to claim 8, claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the water- based acrylic adhesive comprises at least 40 parts by weight of a water-based acrylic emulsion and/or up to 90 parts by weight of a water-based acrylic emulsion, and/or wherein the water- based acrylic adhesive comprises one or more colouring agents, dyes and/or pigments.
12. A method according to any one of claims 8 to 11, the method comprising the step of initially folding the sheet (100; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) before the application of the adhesive.
13. A method according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the adhesive portion(s) (404; 504; 604) is/are applied to form a strip of adhesive extending a distance along the first surface (401; 501; 601).
14. A method according to any one of claims 8 to 13 comprising the step of drying the at least one adhesive portion (102; 202; 302a, 302b; 404; 504; 604), optionally wherein drying the at least one adhesive portion (102; 202; 302a, 302b; 404; 504; 604) comprises applying heat from a heat source, optionally wherein the heat source comprises an infrared heat source.
15. A method according to any one of claims 8 to 14, the method comprising varying the rate of application of the water-based adhesive and/or varying the properties of the water-based adhesive.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein varying the properties comprises varying the chemistry, the composition and/or the colour of the water-based adhesive. CA 2970963 2021-08-16