AU1848299A - Tape dispenser - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT b.U.

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ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for service in Australia: Invention Title: Nino Soccio Nino Soccio CARTER SMITH BEADLE Level 10, 189 Kent St Sydney NSW 2000 Australia Tape dispenser The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to a tape dispenser for dispensing adhesive tapes mounted on rolls.

BACKGROUND

Previous dispensers have tended to be expensive, for example where a roll is mounted tightly on a cylindrical member which rotates as the tape is dispensed from an adjacent cutting blade. In such previous arrangements :the tape roll rotates on an inner fixed cylindrical piece, the tape being 10 dispensed from a cutting blade fixed to an extension from the cylindrical piece. These systems are effective but are expensive and tend to be large relative to the size of roll.

One relatively small and inexpensive tape dispenser is that shown in European Publication No 0227285 in the name of Watson. Whilst the tape o 15 dispenser disclosed in this document is relatively inexpensive and small in size it is difficult to use as a result of how the adhesive tape is removed and Scut from the roll ie. tape leaves the roll in a one direction and as it is being pulled through an opening in the tape dispenser, the tape must be doubled back to a cutting edge on the dispenser, which makes it difficult to cut and then place the tape.

The present invention seeks to ameliorate that which is shown in EP Publication No 0227285 and earlier tape dispensers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a first aspect the present invention consists in a tape dispenser for use with adhesive tape mounted on an annular roll, said tape dispenser comprising a bridging member arranged to span the outer surface of the roll, in use, said bridging member having a cutting edge at one end thereof, a #30574.PRV 26 February 1999 pressing member at the other end thereof, and an opening therein located between the cutting edge and the pressing member, said bridging member having two legs extending therefrom respectively positioned adjacent the side faces of the roll, each leg terminating in a projecting lug disposed to extend at least partly across the radially inner surface of the roll.

In a first embodiment each lug has an arm extending therefrom and engaging with the inner surface of the roll.

Preferably said tape dispenser is made of steel or spring steel.

Preferably a portion of the bridging member adjacent said opening is bent outwardly away from said roll.

Preferably a portion of the bridging member adjacent said opening is bent S' inwardly towards said roll.

In a second aspect the present invention consists in a tape dispenser for use with adhesive tape mounted on an annular roll, said tape dispenser 0 15 comprising a bridging member arranged to span the outer surface of the roll, S. in use, said bridging member having a cutting edge at or near one end S.thereof, and an opening therein, said bridging member having two legs extending therefrom respectively positioned adjacent the side faces of said roll and extending beyond the cutting edge, each leg terminating in a projecting lug disposed to engage with the radially inner surface of the roll.

Preferably said tape dispenser is made of steel or spring steel.

Preferably a portion of the bridging member adjacent said opening is bent outwardly away from said roll.

Preferably a portion of the bridging member adjacent said opening is bent inwardly towards said roll.

#30574.PRV 26 February 1999 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described by way of non-limiting examples with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tape roll with a first embodiment of the dispenser of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the dispenser shown in Figure 1, without the tape roll.

Figure 3 is an elevation view of the dispenser shown in Figure 1, without the tape roll.

10 Figure 4 is an end view of the dispenser shown in Figure 1, without the tape :roll.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the dispenser shown in Figure 1, with a partial view of the tape roll.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the dispenser through line B-B shown in 15 Figure Figure 7 is a sectional view of the dispenser through line A-A shown in Figure Figure 8 is an elevational view of a tape roll with a second embodiment of the dispenser of the present invention, with the free end of the tape pulled through the dispenser.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the dispenser and tape roll shown in Figure 8, with the free end of the tape omitted.

Figure 10 is an end view of the dispenser and tape roll shown in Figure 8, with the free end of the tape omitted.

Figure 11 is an enlarged plan view of the dispenser shown in Figure 9.

Figure 12 is a sectional view of the dispenser through line B-B shown in Figure 11.

#30574.PRV 26 February 1999 Figure 13 is a sectional view of the dispenser through line A-A shown in Figure 11.

Figure 14 is a perspective view of a tape roll with a third embodiment of the dispenser of the present invention.

Figure 15 is an enlarged plan view of the dispenser shown in Figure 14, with a partial view of the tape roll, with the free end of the tape shown.

Figure 16 is a sectional view of the dispenser shown in Figure 15 through line B-B, with the free end of the tape omitted.

Figure 17 is a sectional view of the dispenser shown in Figure 15 through line A-A, with the free end of the tape omitted.

MODE OF CARRYING OUT INVENTION Referring to Figures 1 to 7, a first embodiment of the dispenser 1 comprises a bridging member 2 which is attached to the outer surface of an annular roll of adhesive tape 3 by means of legs 4 which project from the bridging member 2 towards the central axis of the roll of tape. Each leg 4 has an inwardly projecting lug 6 extending therefrom, to prevent the dispenser 1 from easily being removed from the roll 3 by bearing on the inner surface 7 .of the roll 3.

The bridging member 2 has a cutting edge 8 (of serrated teeth) at one end thereof and a pressing member 9 at the opposite end thereof. An opening is located on the bridging member 2 between the cutting edge 8 and the pressing member 9. When dispensing, the free end of the tape (not shown) is pulled through opening 10 in a direction T as shown in Figure 6. The shape of the portions 15, 16 of the bridging member 2 adjacent to edges 11 and 12 of opening 10 are shaped to allow the tape to easily be threaded through the opening in direction T, and allow the tape to travel over the cutting edge 8. The portion 15 of bridging member 2 near the edge 11 is #30574.PRV 26 February 1999 6 bent outwardly with respect to the major portion of the bridging member 2, whilst the portion 16 of the bridging member 2 near edge 12 is bent inwardly towards the roll with respect to the major portion of bridging member 2.

In order to dispense the tape, a user having threaded the end of the tape through the opening 10, holds the roll 3 and dispenser 1 in one hand, whilst pulling the tape off the roll 3 in another. When the desired amount of tape has been removed from the roll 3, the user depresses the pressing member 9 by the thumb of the hand supporting the roll 3, to hold the dispenser 1 stationary with respect to roll 3. The tape may now be cut utilising the cutting 1 0 edge 8. The use of the pressing member 9 is to ensure that the cutting action occurs regardless of the reducing size of the roll 3.

Whilst the dispenser 1 may preferably be made of any suitable material, it is preferably made of thin metal sheet, and in particular steel sheet. Where such thin metal sheet is used, the dispenser 1 may be manufactured with 15 the legs 4 and fingers 6 initially in substantially the same plane as the bridging member 2, for ease of storage and packaging. The legs 4 and lugs 6 are preferably folded into position prior to use. In order to assist in the folding of legs 4 and lugs 6 the dispenser 1 may be provided with score or weakness lines (not shown) thereon.

20 It is also preferable that the legs 4 and lugs 6 be thin enough to allow for them to be folded where necessary as the tape roll reduces in size, and particularly where the tape is almost completely dispensed.

Referring to Figures 8-13, a second embodiment of the dispenser 1 is shown similar to that of the first embodiment and contains components marked with like reference numerals. However, in this embodiment the dispenser 1 also comprises arms 13, each of which extend from a respective lug 6 and engage with the inner surface 7 of roll 3. In Figure 12 only one of the arms 13 is shown extending from lug 6. In this second embodiment the dispenser is preferably made of spring steel and the arms 13 are adapted to biasedly engage with the inner surface 7 of the roll 3, #30574.PRV 26 February 1999 thereby holding the dispenser stationary with respect to the roll 3 when the dispenser is not in use. In this embodiment the free end of the tape 14 is shown in Figure 8, but omitted from Figures 9-13 for the purposes of clarity.

Referring to Figures 14-17 a third embodiment of a dispenser 101 comprises a bridging member 102 which is attached to the outer surface of a roll of tape 3 by means of legs 104 which extend therefrom on opposed sides of the roll 3. Each leg 104 has an inwardly projecting lug 106 and guide member 107, to prevent the dispenser 101 from easily being removed from the roll 3 by bearing on the inner surface 7 of the roll 3.

S. 10 The bridging member 102 has a cutting edge 108 at one end thereof, and :"an opening 110 therein. The legs 104 in addition to extending beyond the roll 3 also extend beyond the cutting edge 108.

Preferably the dispenser 101 of the third embodiment is made of spring steel. When the dispenser 101 is not in use the legs 104 are generally in the 1: 5 same plane as the main body of the bridging member 102. However, in use the legs 104 are bent by the user such that they can be hooked onto the radial inner surface 7 of the roll 3. In use the free end of the tape 14, shown in Figure 15 is pulled through opening 110 in a direction R as shown in :2 Figure 16. The shape of the portions of the bridging member 102 adjacent 20 to edges 111 and 112 of opening 110 are shaped to allow the adhesive tape to easily be threaded through opening 110 in direction R, which allows for the tape to travel over the cutting edge 108, in a like manner to the earlier embodiments.

It should be readily understood that in other not shown embodiments the shape and size of the components of the dispenser may vary without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

#30574.PRV 26 February 1999

Claims (13)

1. A tape dispenser for use with adhesive tape mounted on an annular roll, said tape dispenser comprising a bridging member arranged to span the outer surface of the roll, in use, said bridging member having a cutting edge at one end thereof, a pressing member at the other end thereof, and an opening therein located between the cutting edge and the pressing member, said bridging member having two legs extending therefrom respectively positioned adjacent the side faces of the roll, each leg terminating in a projecting lug disposed to extend at 10 least partly across the radially inner surface of the roll.

2. A tape dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein each lug has an arm S:'o extending therefrom and engaging with the inner surface of the roll. 15

3. A tape dispenser as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein said legs are adapted to be folded when said roll is almost fully dispensed. go

4. A tape dispenser as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said dispenser is made of steel.

A tape dispenser as claimed in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said dispenser is made of spring steel.

6. A tape dispenser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein a portion of the bridging member adjacent said opening is bent outwardly away from the roll. #30574.PRV 26 February 1999

7. A tape dispenser as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein a portion of the bridging member adjacent said opening is bent inwardly towards the roll.

8. A tape dispenser for use with adhesive tape mounted on an annular roll, said tape dispenser comprising a bridging member arranged to span the outer surface of the roll, in use, said bridging member having a cutting edge at or near one end thereof, and an opening therein, said bridging member having two legs extending therefrom 10 respectively positioned adjacent the side faces of said roll and extending beyond the cutting edge, said legs each leg terminating in a projecting lug disposed to engage with the radially inner surface of the roll. 15

9. A tape dispenser as claimed in claim 8 wherein said dispenser is made of steel. .l A tape dispenser as claimed in claims 8 wherein said dispenser is made of spring steel.

I

11. A tape dispenser as claimed in claim 8 wherein a portion of the bridging member adjacent said opening is bent outwardly away from the roll.

12. A tape dispenser as claimed in claim 8 wherein a portion of the bridging member adjacent said opening is bent inwardly towards the roll. #30574.PRV 26 February 1999

13. A tape dispenser for use with adhesive tape mounted on a roll as substantially hereinbefore described and with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings. Dated 26 February 1999 Nino Soccio By his Patent Attorneys CARTER SMITH BEADLE *e e* *e o* o o *o* #30574.PRV 26 February 1999