GB1565045A - Tape holder - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO A TAPE HOLDER (71) We, OFREX GROUP LIMITED, a British Company of Ofrex House, Stephen Street, London W1A 1EA, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it iS to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a tape holder.

For many years transparent cellulose adhesive tape has been available, and such tape is widely used in offices and in homes.

The tape is normally available in the form of a reel of tape wound onto a central core or spool, and the transparent tape is wound onto the core or spool with the adhesive coated surface of the initial turn of tape in contact with the spool, subsequent layers of tape being in the same orientation so that the adhesive on one layer of tape is in contact with the exterior surface of the next inner layer of tape is in contact with the exterior surface of the next inner layer of the tape.

The exterior surface of the tape has a shiny or gloss finish to permit the tape readily to be un-reeled ready for use.

One disadvantage with such reels of tape is that if a piece of tape is cut from the reel and subsequently the free end of the tape on the reel is merely replaced in position, the free end of the tape becomes adhered to the next inner layer of tape and it is then very difficult to relocate the free end of the tape, and furthermore, the free end of the tape must be separated from the next innermost layer of tape by picking at the tape with a finger nail or the like. This can damage the tape, making it necessary to cut a portion of the tape away.

In order to overcome this difficulty, some persons who utilise such tape fold the free end of the tape so that the adhesive of the free end portion contacts the adhesive of the next adjacent portion of the tape, thus forming a tab which will not adher to the next innermost layer of the tape, facilitating subsequent use of the tape. However, before the tape can be used again the tab must be cut-off and this wastes the tape.

In one attempt to overcome this particular difficulty it has been proposed to provide a tape holder which comprises a housing defining means which rotatably support the reel of tape and also a cutting blade which may cut the tape when the blade is brought into contact with the tape. The cutting blade has a flat surface adjacent to the cutting edge and the arrangement is such that when the tape has been cut on the cutting blade the free end of the tape is adhered to the flat surface. Thus, the tape is ready for re-use. However, such tape holders or dispensers are relatively bulky and relatively expensive.

The present invention seeks to provide a tape holder which is cheap to manufacture but which can be used to prevent the free end of an adhesive tape from being adhered to the remainder of a reel of the tape.

According to this invention there is provided a tape holder for holding the end of an adhesive tape, said tape holder comprising an integral substantially planar body defining a finger grip and a tab protruding from the finger grip, said tab being of square or rectangular shape and having a single triangular projection at the free end thereof the tab being adapted to engage the free end of an adhesive tape.

Preferably said finger grip may comprise a circular portion of the tape holder, the tab protruding radially from said circular finger grip.

Advantageously at least one side edge of said square or rectangular tab is sufficiently sharp to cut an adhesive coated cellulose tape.

Preferably said finger grip may be provided with an aperture to enable the tape holder to be suspended from a hook or the like.

The invention also relates to a tape holder according to the invention in combination with a reel of adhesive tape.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tape holder in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 illustrates the tape holder being utilised to support a reel of tape and Figure 3 illustrates the tape holder in Figure 1 being utilised to cut a tape.

Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, a tape holder 1, in accordance with the present invention comprises a planar member which is integrally formed of a plastics material. Preferably the plastics material is provided with a gloss finish to enable the plastics material to be adhesively secured to an adhesive transparent cellulose tape and also subsequently to be separated from the tape without damaging the tape in any way.

The tape holder comprises a circular finger grip portion 2 which is provided with a central circular aperture 3, and a radially extending tab 4, the tab being a substantially square or rectangular shape and having a triangular projection 5 at the radially outer end thereof.

The member 1 may be formed in any suitable manner, for example, by moulding or by being stamped or cut from a sheet, and has an appropriate thickness, and the two opposed side edges 6, 7 of the tab are formed to have relatively sharp edges for a purpose which will be described hereinafter. It is envisaged that each straight 6, 7 of the tab will have a length substantially equal to the width of the tape with which the tape holder is to be utilised.

Referring now to Figure 2, in utilising the tape holder 1, when a length of transparent tape 3 has been cut from a reel 8 of transparent adhesive cellulose tape, the free end 9 of the tape is adhered to the tab 3 which forms part of the above described tape holder 1.

The free end of the tape is then wound back on to the reel of tape until the tab is adjacent the outermost turn of tape on the reel 8. The reel of tape may then be stored, for example in a drawer, until is it required again, or, alternatively, the tape may be suspended from a hook 10 (as shown) or the like, merely by passing the aperture 3 in the finger grip 2 over the hook. When it is desired to re-utilise the tape the free end of the tape is easily peeled away from the tab, the tab being grasped by the finger grip, and the tape is then ready for use.

Referring now to Figure 3, if it is desired to cut a length 11 from the tape, the tape may be caused to lie across the tab and the tape may subsequently be cut by pulling the length 11 against one of the sharp side edges 7 of the tab 4, as is indicated by arrow 12.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to one particular embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that many modifications may be made to the tape holder in accordance with the invention.

Thus, the finger grip may be of any appropriate shape and, in some embodiments, may be solid, that is to say may not have the central aperture. The tab may be of any appropriate shape and dimension. Also it is to be understood that the tape holder may be made of materials other than plastics, e.g., metals.

It is envisaged that reels of tape may be sold with tape holders as described above, attached to them.

The invention has been described above with reference to one embodiment in which the cutting edges comprise the straight sides of the tab and the sides of the triangular projection 5. It is to be understood that the sides of the tab and the projection may be serrated, or may be chamfered to form a very sharp edge.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A tape holder for holding the end of an adhesive tape, said tape holder comprising an integral substantially planar body defining a finger grip and a tab protruding from the finger grip, said tab being of a square or rectangular shape and having a single triangular projection at the free end thereof and being adapted to engage the free end of the adhesive tape.

2. A tape holder according to claim 1 wherein said finger grip comprises a circular portion of the tape holder, the tab protruding radially from said circular finger grip.

3. A tape holder according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one side edge of said square or rectangular tab is sufficiently sharp to cut an adhesive coated cellulose tape.

4. A tape holder according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said finger grip is provided with an aperture to enable the tape holder to be suspended from a hook or the like.

5. A tape holder substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

6. A tape holder according to any one of the preceding claims in combination with a reel of adhesive tape.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. The invention also relates to a tape holder according to the invention in combination with a reel of adhesive tape. In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tape holder in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 illustrates the tape holder being utilised to support a reel of tape and Figure 3 illustrates the tape holder in Figure 1 being utilised to cut a tape. Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, a tape holder 1, in accordance with the present invention comprises a planar member which is integrally formed of a plastics material. Preferably the plastics material is provided with a gloss finish to enable the plastics material to be adhesively secured to an adhesive transparent cellulose tape and also subsequently to be separated from the tape without damaging the tape in any way. The tape holder comprises a circular finger grip portion 2 which is provided with a central circular aperture 3, and a radially extending tab 4, the tab being a substantially square or rectangular shape and having a triangular projection 5 at the radially outer end thereof. The member 1 may be formed in any suitable manner, for example, by moulding or by being stamped or cut from a sheet, and has an appropriate thickness, and the two opposed side edges 6, 7 of the tab are formed to have relatively sharp edges for a purpose which will be described hereinafter. It is envisaged that each straight 6, 7 of the tab will have a length substantially equal to the width of the tape with which the tape holder is to be utilised. Referring now to Figure 2, in utilising the tape holder 1, when a length of transparent tape 3 has been cut from a reel 8 of transparent adhesive cellulose tape, the free end 9 of the tape is adhered to the tab 3 which forms part of the above described tape holder 1. The free end of the tape is then wound back on to the reel of tape until the tab is adjacent the outermost turn of tape on the reel 8. The reel of tape may then be stored, for example in a drawer, until is it required again, or, alternatively, the tape may be suspended from a hook 10 (as shown) or the like, merely by passing the aperture 3 in the finger grip 2 over the hook. When it is desired to re-utilise the tape the free end of the tape is easily peeled away from the tab, the tab being grasped by the finger grip, and the tape is then ready for use. Referring now to Figure 3, if it is desired to cut a length 11 from the tape, the tape may be caused to lie across the tab and the tape may subsequently be cut by pulling the length 11 against one of the sharp side edges 7 of the tab 4, as is indicated by arrow 12. Whilst the invention has been described with reference to one particular embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that many modifications may be made to the tape holder in accordance with the invention. Thus, the finger grip may be of any appropriate shape and, in some embodiments, may be solid, that is to say may not have the central aperture. The tab may be of any appropriate shape and dimension. Also it is to be understood that the tape holder may be made of materials other than plastics, e.g., metals. It is envisaged that reels of tape may be sold with tape holders as described above, attached to them. The invention has been described above with reference to one embodiment in which the cutting edges comprise the straight sides of the tab and the sides of the triangular projection 5. It is to be understood that the sides of the tab and the projection may be serrated, or may be chamfered to form a very sharp edge. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A tape holder for holding the end of an adhesive tape, said tape holder comprising an integral substantially planar body defining a finger grip and a tab protruding from the finger grip, said tab being of a square or rectangular shape and having a single triangular projection at the free end thereof and being adapted to engage the free end of the adhesive tape.

2. A tape holder according to claim 1 wherein said finger grip comprises a circular portion of the tape holder, the tab protruding radially from said circular finger grip.

3. A tape holder according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one side edge of said square or rectangular tab is sufficiently sharp to cut an adhesive coated cellulose tape.

4. A tape holder according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said finger grip is provided with an aperture to enable the tape holder to be suspended from a hook or the like.

5. A tape holder substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

6. A tape holder according to any one of the preceding claims in combination with a reel of adhesive tape.