TW201404705A - Textured tape dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure provides improved tape dispensers that include a tape roll housing featuring a sidewall and a surrounding, protective wall. At least a portion of the exterior surface of the surrounding wall includes at least one texture. The tape roll housing is coupled to a cutting edge support spaced from the roll housing. The dispensers can include a base defined by portions of the surrounding wall and the cutting edge support. In certain implementations, the base can include a concave portion.

Description

Textured tape dispenser

Conventional tape dispensers often have a tape roll support for holding the core of the roll of tape and a side wall extending from the roll roll support to the cutting blade. These types of dispensers leave one side of the tape roll uncovered. A double-sided tape dispenser can be used to further accommodate the tape roll. These types of conventional double-sided tape dispensers include a second side wall for covering the roll of tape, such as shown in U.S. Design Patent D510951. In order to open and access the tape roll support, the side walls are moved, twisted or pulled relative to each other.

In the case of known dispensers, the user may need to pinch the portion of the dispenser to balance the force of unwinding the tape roll with the friction of the dispenser. Known dispensers can also include surfaces that are not optimized for a secure grip. The inventors have created hand-held tape dispensers that are comfortable to hold and that reduce the force necessary to dispense and cut the tape.

The present invention provides a dispenser comprising: a tape roll housing including a side wall and a surrounding wall, wherein at least a portion of the surface surrounding the wall includes a first texture and a second texture; and a blade support spaced apart from the tape roll housing a tape core support extending in a direction generally orthogonal to the side wall; and a base comprising a portion surrounding the wall and the blade support.

The present invention also provides a tape dispensing assembly comprising: a tape roll housing including a side wall and a protective surrounding wall, wherein at least a portion of the surface surrounding the wall comprises a texture and a second texture; a blade support spaced apart from the tape roll outer casing; a tape core support extending in a direction generally orthogonal to the first major surface; and a base including the surrounding wall a portion; and a roll of tape coupled to the tape core support, wherein the surrounding wall at least partially covers the roll of tape.

As used herein, the terms "height," "pedestal," and "top" are used for illustrative purposes only and do not necessarily define the orientation or relationship between the surface and the structure defining the texture. For example, the "height" of the structure that projects into the surface of the tape dispenser can be considered to be the same depth as the resulting concave region, and the "top" of the structure is the bottom of the concave region. Therefore, the terms "height" and "depth" and "top" and "bottom" should be considered interchangeable.

When the term "comprises" and its variants appear in the specification and claims, these terms have no limiting meaning.

The words "preferred" and "preferably" refer to embodiments of the invention that may provide certain benefits in certain circumstances. However, other embodiments may be preferred in the same or other circumstances. In addition, the recitation of one or more preferred embodiments does not imply that other embodiments are not useful and are not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of the invention.

As used herein, all numbers are considered to be modified by the term "about."

As used herein, "a", "the", "sai" or "sai" or "an" or "an" Thus, for example, a dispenser surface containing a "one" texture can be interpreted as a system containing "one or more" textures.

Also as used herein, the recitation of the range of values of the endpoints includes all numbers that are included in the <RTIgt; </ RTI> <RTIgt; </ RTI> <RTIgt; (e.g., 1 to 5 includes 1, 1.5, 2, 2.75, 3, 3.80, 4, 5, etc.).

The above summary of the present invention is not intended to describe each embodiment or every embodiment of the invention. The following description more particularly exemplifies illustrative embodiments. Guidance is provided through a list of examples throughout the application, and the examples can be used in different combinations. In each case, the listed list serves only as a representative group and should not be interpreted as detailed A list of the best.

100‧‧‧One-sided tape dispenser

105‧‧‧Maximum dispenser height

110‧‧‧ Tape roll housing

111‧‧‧ side wall

112‧‧‧ pores

114‧‧‧ tape core support

115‧‧‧ Round protrusions

116‧‧‧around

117‧‧‧ first chain finger

117a‧‧‧Flange

118a‧‧‧Flange

119‧‧‧Distributor opening

120‧‧‧Protection wall/surrounding wall

121‧‧‧First texture

122‧‧‧Second texture

123‧‧‧unit grid

130‧‧‧Base

132‧‧‧ recessed part

133‧‧‧ neck

136‧‧‧Base

140‧‧‧ cutting support

141‧‧‧External wall

142‧‧‧Place surface

144‧‧‧blade

145‧‧‧Base

146‧‧‧blade

147‧‧‧ Height

150‧‧‧ distance

200‧‧‧Two-piece dispenser/tape dispenser

210‧‧‧ Tape roll housing

211a‧‧‧first side wall

212‧‧‧ pores

214‧‧‧core support

220‧‧‧Protection wall

221‧‧‧Texture

222‧‧‧Texture

223‧‧‧Repeating pattern

230‧‧‧Base

232‧‧‧ recessed part

235‧‧‧ holding feet

240‧‧‧ cutting support

242‧‧‧Place surface

300‧‧‧ Tape Roll

The present invention will be further described with reference to the drawings, in which the corresponding reference 1 is a side view of a dispenser of another embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 4 is a side view of the dispenser of FIG.

Although the figures identified above represent several embodiments of the invention, other embodiments are contemplated, as mentioned in the discussion. In all cases, the present disclosure presents the invention in a representative manner and not in a limiting manner. It will be appreciated that many other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art, which are within the spirit and scope of the principles of the invention.

Turning to Figures 1 and 2, a first embodiment of a one-sided tape dispenser 100 includes a tape roll housing 110 having a side wall 111 and a protective wall 120 defining a perimeter 116 of the outer casing 110. The tape roll housing 110 is coupled to a cutting support 140 that includes a cutting blade 144. The tape roll 300 can be fastened to a core support 114 that extends along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the sidewall 111. Suitable materials for the dispenser body include, but are not limited to, plastics, metals, and ceramics. Suitable plastics include (unrestricted) polystyrene and polycarbonate.

Similar to the core support 114, the protective wall 120 extends in a direction generally perpendicular to the side walls 111. In some implementations, the protective surround wall 120 can extend at a slightly obtuse angle (eg, from about 90 degrees to about 95 degrees) from the plane defined by the sidewalls 111. As depicted, the protective wall 120 is generally circular to follow the contour of the circular tape roll 300. However, the shape of the protective wall 120 can be other shapes, sizes, or configurations. The protective wall 120 forms a periphery of the tape roll casing 116, which is the outermost extension from the central axis of the supported tape roll 300. In this embodiment, the tape roll outer casing perimeter 116 is circular. However, because the protective wall 120 can comprise a variety of shapes and sizes, the tape roll housing perimeter 116 can comprise a variety of shapes and sizes. As depicted in Figures 1 and 2, the protective wall 120 does not completely surround the core support 114, leaving a dispenser opening 119 for obtaining a length of tape for dispensing.

The outer surface of the protective wall 120 includes at least one texture 121 that is distinguishable from the flat surface by visual acuity and tactile feedback of a normal person. In the depicted implementation, the protective wall includes a first texture 121 and a second texture 122. In some embodiments, each texture may be defined by a series of repeating features or structures that are molded into or integral with the outer surface of the protective wall 120. In some aspects, one or more of the textures can be created by surface roughening techniques (eg, acid etching, sand blasting, etc.). A particular pattern or grouping can be created using a mask or other known process for achieving controlled surface processing. In FIG. 1, the first texture 122 includes rail-like features that protrude from the outer surface of the protective wall 120, while the second texture 121 includes hemispherical features. In other embodiments, it may be preferred to extend the features defining the first texture and the second texture into the outer surface to create a series of discrete or discrete recesses.

The textures 121, 122 can be disposed on the protective wall 120 according to any number of patterns. In some implementations, a single feature can be repeated over the entire surface. In some embodiments, the pattern can include a repeating unit grid of a particular configuration comprising one or more textures. The unit grid may include a plurality of pattern blocks, each pattern block being characterized by a single texture. The pattern blocks may be in a checkerboard pattern as depicted in FIG. The unit grid 123 includes a first texture pattern block in close proximity to the second texture pattern block. Other unit grids may include a portion of the protective wall that does not include a protruding texture (eg, a flat or polished surface of the protective wall 120).

Further examples of suitable feature shapes can include, but are not limited to, various polyhedral shapes, parallelepipeds, pseudo cylinders, frustum pyramids, and the like, and combinations thereof. For example, the features can be polyhedrons, cones, frustocones, pyramids, truncated pyramids, Spherical, partially spherical, hemispherical, elliptical, dome-shaped, cylindrical, and combinations thereof.

Typically, each of the plurality of features has a height/depth of at least 0.0005 。. In some embodiments, each feature has a height of at least 0.001 angstroms, and in other embodiments has a height of at least 0.00125 angstroms. In certain embodiments, the feature height is no greater than 0.004 inches, in some embodiments no greater than 0.003 inches, and in certain preferred embodiments no greater than 0.0015 inches. A particularly suitable range includes a characteristic height between 0.001 吋 and 0.003 。. Features having a height of less than 0.001 可能 may not have a significant effect on the grip of the user, while features having a height greater than 0.004 可 may detract from the dispensing and/or manufacturing experience.

In certain implementations, including patterned textures and other textures may reduce or prevent movement of the tape dispenser 100 when grasped by a user prior to dispensing the tape or during dispensing of the tape. Improvements in grip reliability can further reduce the force necessary to secure the dispenser during cutting, thereby allowing the user to concentrate on engaging the tape with the blade.

The tape roll housing 110 further includes a tape core support 114. The tape core support 114 is configured to engage and support the core of the tape roll 300. The tape core support 114 can include a circular protrusion 115 extending from a second major surface of the tape roll housing 110. The circular protrusion 115 can further include a first interlocking finger 117 and a second interlocking finger 118 that terminate in the flanges 117a, 118a. The flanges 117a, 118a are typically configured to engage a portion of the tape roll 300. In some embodiments, the first interlocking fingers 117 and the second interlocking fingers 118 can flex slightly to allow the tape roll 300 to be inserted into the tape roll housing 110 and thereafter engaged by the flanges Prevent the tape roll from being released. In other embodiments, the tape core support 114 may include only a circular protrusion or only a plurality of interlocking fingers. Other configurations are also possible depending on the shape and size of the tape core intended to be supported. In any event, the tape core support 114 helps confine the tape roll within the tape roll housing 110.

The tape dispenser 100 can rest on a base 130 defined by portions of the protective wall 120 and the cutting support 140. The base includes a core support member 114 and a cutting support member 140 The recessed portion 132 between the surfaces 142 is placed. In some implementations, the concave portion includes a radius of curvature of at least 0.25 ;; in some embodiments, a radius of curvature of at least 0.5 ;; and in still other embodiments, a radius of curvature of at least 1.0 。. In some implementations, the recessed portion 132 includes a radius of curvature of no more than 2.0 angstroms, and in other embodiments a radius of curvature of no more than 1.5 angstroms. The recessed portion 132 may allow the user to more comfortable grip the exterior of the tape dispenser 110 during use to apply a stable pressure. This stabilizing pressure both eases the tearing of the tape from the tape roll 300 and makes it easier to dispense the tape from the tape roll 300.

A distance 150 from the end of the protective wall 120 proximate the end of the dispenser opening 119 to the apex of the recessed portion 132 can be selected to enhance the grip of the user. In some implementations, the ratio of the maximum dispenser height 105 to the distance 150 can be no greater than 1:0.9, in some embodiments no greater than 1:0.85, in some embodiments no greater than 1:0.75, and in yet other embodiments Medium is not greater than 1:0.70. In the depicted embodiment, the height 105 of the dispenser is substantially the diameter of the circle that mathematically best fits the curve produced by the configuration of the tape roll housing 110.

The sidewall 111 extends from the tape roll housing to the cutting support 140 and is generally perpendicular to the protective wall 120. Although not shown, the sidewall 111 can also include one or more textures as described above with respect to the protective wall 120. The side wall 111 includes an aperture 112 that is adjacent to the tape core support 114. While other shapes and configurations are possible, the apertures 112 as depicted generally reflect the shape of the core support 114 and the perimeter 116. The portion of the sidewall 111 that surrounds the aperture may be flat or may be chamfered (as shown in Figure 1). The aperture 112 may allow a user to grasp the tape dispenser 100 by inserting a finger into the aperture 112. This provides additional stabilizing pressure to dispense and cut a length of tape.

The neck 133 of the sidewall 111 can be created adjacent the recessed portion 132 of the base 130, and the neck 133 serves to transition the tape roll housing 110 to the cutting support 140. The neck 133 includes a raised portion such that the base 136 of the neck is disposed below the uppermost cutting support 140 and opening 119.

The cutting support 140 is spaced apart from the dispenser opening 119 and includes an outer wall 141, a mounting surface 142, and a blade 144. The seating surface 142 acts as a surface to attach the dispensed end of the tape such that the dispensed end is available and ready for further use. The mounting surface 142 further provides a support surface for easily tearing the tape across the blade 144. The blade 144 can be serrated (as depicted) or can include any other known blade configuration. As depicted, the outer wall 141 includes a texture that includes repeating features arranged in the unit grid 123. In other implementations, the outer wall 140 does not include a discernible non-flat texture.

For reference purposes, a second Cartesian coordinate system is presented in Figure 1, wherein the intersecting axes x and z define a plane and the axis y is orthogonal to the x-axis and the z-axis. The origin O defines the intersection of the three axes. When the origin coincides with the trailing edge of the cutting support 140 (where the xz plane is substantially coplanar with the seating surface 142), the base 145 of the cutting blade 144 is in the negative y (-y) direction, which is illustrated as Located below the xz plane. The blade 146 of the blade 144 is generally and below the x-z plane in the slightly negative y-direction as depicted in Figures 1-2. In other embodiments, the seating surface and the cutting edge may be zero relative to each other (so that the cutting edge 146 is coplanar with the seating surface 142 in the x-z plane) to an angle of 60 degrees. Although less preferred in some cases, the blade 146 may also be located in the positive y-direction relative to the mounting surface. The blade 146 located below the seating surface 142 (i.e., in the negative y-direction relative to the mounting surface 142) can improve the user's cutting/tearing section by facilitating and supporting the use of a downward or slightly downward force relative to the blade 144. The ability of the tape.

The cutting support has a height 147 measured from the base 130 that is less than the height 118 of the tape roll housing 110. This height is typically selected such that the tape dispensed from the roll of tape 300 engages the seating surface above the x-z plane or in a slightly positive y-direction. Accordingly, the cutting support height 147 can be selected such that the seating surface 142 is substantially coplanar with the center of the tape roll 300 and the apertures 112. In some implementations, the ratio of the dispenser height 105 to the cutting support height can be at least 1.1:1, in some embodiments at least 1.25:1, in some embodiments at least 1.4:1, in some embodiments Medium at least 1.5:1, and in still other embodiments at least 1.7:1, in still other embodiments, is at least 1.85:1, and in still other embodiments at least 2:1. In some implementations, the ratio of the dispenser height 105 to the cutting support height 147 can be no greater than 3:1, in some embodiments no greater than 2.5:1, and in some embodiments no greater than 2:1, in some Not more than 1.9:1 in the examples, and no more than 1.7:1 in still other embodiments.

Turning now to Figures 3 and 4, a two-piece dispenser 200 is depicted that features many of the same components as the tape dispenser 100. The tape dispenser 200 includes a tape roll housing 210 that is coupled to a cutting support 240 via a base 230. The tape roll housing 210 includes a tape core support 214 and apertures 212. The base 230 further includes a recessed portion 232 between the core support 214 and the mounting surface 242. The protective wall 220 includes a repeating pattern 223 of tiled textures 221, 222. The components of the tape dispenser 200 can have the same size and dimensional relationship as the associated components in the tape dispenser 100.

Unlike the tape dispenser 100, the tape dispenser 200 includes a first side wall 211a and a second side wall 211b. The tape dispenser 200 can be provided as two adjacent separate sections. For example, the section defining the first side wall can include a connecting peg that engages a connection opening on a section defining the second side wall. This friction fit can secure the first and second sections together during tape dispensing and allows the user to open the dispenser 200 to retrieve the roll of tape. As another example, the tape core support 214 can extend from a section defining the first side wall and can engage a mating aperture. It should be understood that other attachment mechanisms can be used to connect the sections of the dispenser 200.

The retaining foot 235 is further illustrated in this embodiment. The retaining foot 235 is shown as a protrusion that extends outwardly along the base 230. The retaining foot 235 provides a stabilizing surface that allows the tape dispenser 200 to be positioned upright (as shown in Figure 3) without tumbling over the surface. It should be understood that such positioning feet can be included in a variety of sizes and numbers and that the positioning feet can be protrusions from the tape roll housing 200. It should be understood that this feature can be provided in the previously described embodiments.

The entire disclosures of the patents, patent documents, and publications cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety in their entirety in the same extent Various modifications and variations of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the illustrative embodiments and examples set forth herein, and such examples and embodiments are presented by way of example only, and the scope of the invention is intended to be limited only The scope of the patent application set forth below is set forth herein.

100‧‧‧One-sided tape dispenser

110‧‧‧ Tape roll housing

111‧‧‧ side wall

112‧‧‧ pores

114‧‧‧ tape core support

115‧‧‧ Round protrusions

117‧‧‧ first chain finger

117a‧‧‧Flange

120‧‧‧Protection wall/surrounding wall

121‧‧‧First texture

122‧‧‧Second texture

123‧‧‧unit grid

130‧‧‧Base

132‧‧‧ recessed part

136‧‧‧Base

140‧‧‧ cutting support

141‧‧‧External wall

142‧‧‧Place surface

144‧‧‧blade

145‧‧‧Base

146‧‧‧blade

300‧‧‧ Tape Roll

Claims (22)

A dispenser comprising: a tape roll outer casing comprising a side wall and a surrounding wall, wherein at least a portion of the surface of the surrounding wall comprises a first texture and a second texture; and a blade spaced apart from the tape roll outer casing a support member; a tape core support member extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the side wall; and a base including a portion of the surrounding wall and a portion of the blade support member. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the first texture and the second texture are arranged in a unit grid, and wherein the unit grid is repeated on at least a portion of the surrounding wall surface. The dispenser of claim 1 or 2, further comprising a third texture. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the first texture and the second texture comprise a depth of no more than 0.003 。. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the first texture or the second texture comprises a depth of no more than 0.0015 。. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the base includes a recessed portion proximate the blade support. The dispenser of claim 6 wherein the recessed portion comprises a radius of curvature of at least 0.5 吋 and no greater than 1.5 。. The dispenser of claim 7, wherein the recessed portion is located between the blade support and the tape core support. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the side wall includes an aperture proximate to the tape core support. The dispenser of claim 8 wherein the pores are at least partially surrounded by a recessed portion of the first major surface. The dispenser of claim 9, wherein the sidewall defines a plane, and wherein the recessed portion is at an angle to the plane. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the blade support comprises a mounting surface and a blade. The dispenser of claim 11, wherein the blade comprises a blade and a base, and wherein the base of the blade is located below the seating surface. The dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a second side wall coupled to the first side wall via the tape core support. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the tape dispenser comprises a first height, wherein the cutting support comprises a second height, and wherein the first height is at least 25% greater than the second height. The dispenser of claim 15 wherein the ratio of the first height to the second height is at least 1.4:1. A tape dispensing assembly comprising: a tape roll housing including a first major surface and a protective surrounding wall, wherein at least a portion of the surface of the surrounding wall comprises a first texture and a second texture; a tape roll housing spaced apart blade support; a tape core support extending in a direction generally orthogonal to the first major surface; and a base including a portion of the surrounding wall; and a coupling A roll of tape attached to the tape core support, wherein the surrounding wall partially covers the roll of tape. The tape dispensing assembly of claim 17, wherein the base includes a recessed portion proximate the blade support, and wherein the recessed portion includes a radius of curvature of at least 0.5 吋 and no greater than 1.5 。. The tape dispensing assembly of claim 17 or 18, further comprising a third texture on a surface of one of the surrounding walls. The tape dispensing assembly of claim 17, wherein the first texture or the second texture comprises a depth of no greater than 0.0015 inches. The tape dispensing assembly of claim 17, wherein the first texture and the second texture are arranged in a checkerboard pattern on at least a portion of the surrounding wall. A dispenser comprising: a tape roll housing including a side wall and a surrounding wall, wherein at least a portion of the surface of the surrounding wall includes a first texture; a blade support member spaced apart from the tape roll housing and coupled Attached to the tape roll housing; a tape core support extending in a direction generally orthogonal to the side wall; and a base including a portion of the surrounding wall and a portion of the blade support.