Composite material releasably sealable to a target surface when pressed thereagainst and method of making

A method for making a flexible film having pressure sensitive adhesive protected from inadvertent adherence, said flexible film being stickable to a target surface only when pressed thereagainst, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) coating a forming screen with a pressure sensitive adhesive, said forming screen having a top surface, said top surface having a plurality of recesses therein, said coating step applying said pressure sensitive adhesive to said top surface without bridging said recesses;
• b) placing a piece of flexible film in contact with said pressure sensitive adhesive on said top surface of said forming screen, said pressure sensitive adhesive preferentially adhering to said piece of flexible film;
• c) forming said piece of flexible film to create a plurality of protrusions extending into said recesses of said forming screen, said plurality of protrusions having a closely spaced pattern which provides sufficient collapse resistance while permitting minimal film thickness for compact roll winding, said plurality of protrusions being registered with said pressure sensitive adhesive, wherein each of said plurality of protrusions is formed in said piece of flexible film to have a domed shape having a height less than a diameter of said protrusion, so that when pressed, said plurality of protrusions will collapse in a direction substantially perpendicular to said piece of flexible film to avoid blocking said pressure sensitive adhesive from contact with said target surface;
• and
• d) removing said piece of flexible film together with said pressure sensitive adhesive from said forming screen.

A method for making a flexible film having pressure sensitive adhesive protected from inadvertent adherence, said flexible film being stickable to a target surface only when pressed thereagainst, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) coating a forming screen with a pressure sensitive adhesive, said forming screen having a top surface, said top surface having a plurality of recesses therein, said coating step applying said pressure sensitive adhesive to said top surface without bridging said recesses;
• b) placing a piece of flexible film in contact with said pressure sensitive adhesive on said top surface of said forming screen, said pressure sensitive adhesive preferentially adhering to said piece of flexible film;
• c) forming said piece of flexible film to create a plurality of protrusions extending into said recesses of said forming screen, said plurality of protrusions being registered with said pressure sensitive adhesive, wherein said pressure sensitive adhesive forms an interconnected layer in valleys between said plurality of protrusions and said piece of flexible film is continuously sealable to said target surface in a leak resistant manner by virtue of said pressure sensitive adhesive being an interconnected layer;
• and
• d) removing said piece of flexible film together with said pressure sensitive adhesive from said forming screen.