权利要求：
Claims
1. A protective article comprising a sheet with a first surface and at least one adhesive portion arranged on the first surface, wherein the or each adhesive portion comprises a water-based adhesive that allows the sheet to be non-permanently adhered to an object.
2. A protective article according to claim 1 , wherein the water-based adhesive comprises a water-based acrylic adhesive.
3. A protective article according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the water-based 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. 4. A protective article according to claim 1 , claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the or each adhesive portion is sprayed on to the first surface of the sheet.
5. A protective article according to claim 1 , claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the or each adhesive portion is rolled on to the first surface of the sheet.
6. A protective article according to claim 1 , claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the or each adhesive portion is printed on to the first surface of the sheet.
7. A protective article according to claim 1 , claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the or each adhesive portion is stamped on to the first surface of the sheet.
8. A protective article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each adhesive portion has a polygonal shape or a curvilinear shape having one or more curved sides.
A protective article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the each adhesive portion has the form of an elongate strip.
10. A protective article according to claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the elongate strip is straight, zig-zagged, curved or wavy.
1 1. A protective article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the water-based adhesive is coloured by the addition of one or more colouring agents, dyes and/or pigments.
12. A protective article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet is flexible, semi-rigid or rigid.
13. A protective article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet is foldable.
14. A protective article according to claim 13, wherein, when the sheet is folded such that a first portion of the first surface faces a second portion of the first surface, a first adhesive portion and a second adhesive portion engage each other, the water- based adhesive being selected such that it is of a type that will allow the first and second adhesive portions to be separated when the sheet is unfolded, in use, and allow the sheet to be adhered to an object.
15. A protective article according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein, when the sheet is folded such that a first portion of the first surface faces a second portion of the first surface, at least one adhesive portion arranged on the first portion of the first surface is brought into engagement with the second portion of the first surface at a location absent an adhesive portion, the water-based adhesive being selected such that it is of a type that will allow the at least one adhesive portion arranged on the first portion of the first surface and the second portion of the first surface to be separated when the sheet is unfolded, in use, and allow the sheet to be adhered to an object.
16. A protective article according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the sheet is folded prior to application of adhesive.
17. A protective article according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the sheet is folded more than once.
18. A protective article according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein one or more adhesive portions are covered at least partially by a removable cover.
19. A protective article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more adhesive portions are arranged on a second surface of the sheet. 20. A protective article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet is made from card, cloth, woven fabric, non-woven fabric, plastic, or single or multiple plies of paper.
21. A protective article according to any one of the preceding claims, 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.
22. A method of manufacture of a protective article, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a sheet with a first surface; and
applying at least one adhesive portion on to the first surface;
wherein the or each adhesive portion comprises a water-based adhesive that allows the sheet of material to be non-permanently adhered to an object.
23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the adhesive portion(s) is/are applied on to the first surface from either side of the sheet.
24. A method according to claim 22 or claim 23, wherein applying the at least one adhesive portion on to the first surface comprises spraying the water-based adhesive.
25. A method according to claim 22 or claim 23, wherein applying the at least one adhesive portion on to the first surface comprises rolling the water-based adhesive onto the first surface.
26. A method according to claim 22 or claim 23, wherein applying the at least one adhesive portion on to the first surface comprises printing the water-based adhesive.
27. A method according to claim 22 or claim 23, wherein applying the at least one adhesive portion on to the first surface comprises stamping the water-based adhesive.
28. A method according to any one of claims 22 to 27, wherein the water-based adhesive comprises a water-based acrylic adhesive.
29. A method according to any one of claims 22 to 28, wherein the water-based adhesive comprises one or more colouring agents, dyes and/or pigments.
30. A method according to any one of claims 22 to 29, the method comprising the step of folding the sheet such that an adhesive portion is brought into engagement with an adhesive-free portion of the first surface, or such that a first adhesive portion is brought into engagement with a second adhesive portion.
31. A method according to any one of claims 22 to 30, the method comprising the step of initially folding the sheet before the application of the adhesive. 32. A method according to any one of claims 22 to 31 , wherein the adhesive portion(s) is/are applied to form a strip of adhesive extending a distance along the first surface.
33. A method according to any one of claims 22 to 32 comprising the step of drying the at least one adhesive portion.
34. A method according to claim 33, wherein drying the at least one adhesive portion comprises applying heat from a heat source. 35. A method according to claim 34, wherein the heat source comprises an infrared heat source.
36. A method according to any one of claims 22 to 35, the method comprising varying the rate of application of the water-based adhesive.
37. A method according to any one of claims 22 to 36, the method comprising varying the properties, e.g. chemistry, composition and/or colour, of the water-based adhesive.
38. An apparatus for applying adhesive to a sheet comprising: an adhesive applying means operable to spray a water-based adhesive on to a first surface of the sheet, so as to provide at least one adhesive portion on the first surface of the sheet, the water-based adhesive allowing, in use, the sheet to be non-permanently adhered to an object.
39. An apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the adhesive applying means comprises one or more spray heads. 40. An apparatus according to claim 38 or claim 39, wherein the adhesive applying means is operable to vary, e.g. in accordance with a predetermined program or on demand from an operator, the rate of spraying of the water-based adhesive and/or the properties, e.g. chemistry, composition and/or colour, of the water-based adhesive. 41. An apparatus for applying adhesive to a sheet comprising an adhesive applying means operable to roll a water-based adhesive on to a first surface of the sheet, so as to provide at least one adhesive portion on the first surface of the sheet, the water- based adhesive allowing, in use, the sheet to be non-permanently adhered to an object. 42. An apparatus according to claim 41 , wherein the adhesive applying means comprises one or more rollers.
43. An apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the adhesive is held in a reservoir before being applied to a roller.
44. An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein adhesive is applied to the roller by dipping the roller into the reservoir.
45. An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein adhesive is pumped from the reservoir and applied to the surface of the roller.
46. An apparatus according to any of claims 42 to 45, further comprising an adhesive removing means operable to remove excess adhesive from the roller.
47. An apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the adhesive removing means is a scraper blade.
48. An apparatus according to claim 46, wherein the adhesive removing means is another roller.
49. An apparatus for applying adhesive to a sheet comprising: an adhesive applying means operable to print a water-based adhesive on to a first surface of the sheet, so as to provide at least one adhesive portion on the first surface of the sheet, the water-based adhesive allowing, in use, the sheet to be non-permanently adhered to an object.
50. An apparatus for applying adhesive to a sheet comprising: an adhesive applying means operable to stamp a water-based adhesive on to a first surface of the sheet, so as to provide at least one adhesive portion on the first surface of the sheet, the water-based adhesive allowing, in use, the sheet to be non-permanently adhered to an object.
51. An apparatus according to any of claims 41 to 50, wherein the adhesive applying means is operable to vary, e.g. in accordance with a predetermined program or on demand from an operator, the rate of applying of the water-based adhesive and/or the properties, e.g. chemistry, composition and/or colour, of the water-based adhesive. 52. An apparatus according to any of claims 38 to 51 , comprising a delivery means for delivering water-based adhesive to the adhesive applying means.
53. An apparatus according to any one of claims 38 to 52 comprising a storage container for the water-based adhesive.
54. An apparatus according to any one of claims 38 to 53 comprising a sheet delivery means configured to place the sheet so as to present the first surface of the sheet to the adhesive applying means.
55. An apparatus according to any one of claims 38 to 54 comprising one of more folding means for folding the sheet along a fold.
56. An apparatus according to any one of claims 38 to 55 comprising a drying means arranged to dry the adhesive portion(s) on the first surface.
57. An apparatus according to claim 56, wherein the drying means comprises a heat source. 58. An apparatus according to claim 57, wherein the heat source is controllable to vary the drying rate.
59. An apparatus according to any one of claims 38 to 58 comprising cutting means for cutting the sheet of material.
60. An apparatus according to any one of claims 38 to 59 comprising an embossing means, a printing means and/or a stamping means for imparting a surface texture or decoration to the sheet. 61. An apparatus for manufacturing a protective article comprising an apparatus according to any one of claims 38 to 60.
62. An apparatus according to claim 61 , wherein the apparatus is configured to produce a protective article according to any one of claims 1 to 21.
63. A manufacturing line comprising an apparatus according to any one of claims 38 to 62.
64. A protective article comprising: a sheet having a first surface; and an adhesive portion arranged on a first portion of the first surface; wherein the sheet is folded such that the first portion of the first surface faces a second portion of the first surface, thereby bringing the adhesive portion into engagement with an adhesive-free portion of the second portion of the first surface, the adhesive being of a type that will allow the adhesive portion to separate from the second portion of the first surface and allow the sheet to be adhered to an object.