US20180290854A1

US20180290854A1 - Tape dispensers

Info

Publication number: US20180290854A1
Application number: US15/480,326
Authority: US
Inventors: Marc Franklin Foreman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-04-05
Filing date: 2017-04-05
Publication date: 2018-10-11

Abstract

A dispenser including a receptacle and a cover together defining a tape roll storage volume in which the tape roll rotates about an axis of rotation, and an accommodation apparatus located within the tape roll storage volume and configured to bias the tape roll in an axial direction towards one of the receptacle and the cover.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present inventions relate generally to dispensers for that may, for example, be used to dispense tape stored in roll form.

2. Related Art

Tape, such as painter's tape, masking tape, adhesive tape, and packaging tape, is frequently stored in roll form and cut to length as it is consumed. The tape is typically rolled around a core, such as a cardboard core, to form a “roll.” The rolls of tape are available in a variety of widths and, in many instances, a user's project will require a number of different widths. Painters, for example, frequently require painter's tape of different widths. In many instances, tape from the roll is dispensed from a dispenser that includes a cutting surface. The present inventor has determined that conventional tape dispensers are susceptible to improvement.

SUMMARY

A tape dispenser in accordance with at least one of the present inventions includes a receptacle and a cover together defining a tape roll storage volume in which a tape roll may rotate about an axis of rotation, and an accommodation apparatus located within the tape roll storage volume and configured to bias the tape roll in an axial direction towards one of the receptacle and the cover.
A tape dispenser in accordance with at least one of the present inventions includes a front wall, a rear wall and an intermediate wall between the front and rear walls, the front, rear and intermediate walls together enclosing a tape roll storage volume, a tape outlet between the front and rear walls, a roller mount adjacent to the tape outlet, and at least one relatively soft roller mounted on the roller mount.
A tape dispenser in accordance with at least one of the present inventions includes a front wall, a rear wall and an intermediate wall located between the front wall and the rear wall and defining a width, the front, rear and intermediate walls together enclosing a tape roll storage volume, a tape outlet between the front and rear walls, a cutting element adjacent to the tape outlet, and a tape holder located between the tape outlet and the cutting element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the inventions will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispenser in accordance with one embodiment of a present invention in a closed state.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1 in an open state.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1 with the cover removed.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a portion of the dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the cover of the dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a portion of the cover illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 is a perspective, cutaway view of the dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1 with a roll of tape within the dispenser.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1 with a roll of tape within the dispenser and the cover removed.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a portion of the dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is an end view of a portion of the dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1 dispensing tape.

FIG. 13 is an end view of a portion of the dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1 dispensing tape.

FIG. 13A is a side view of a portion of the dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 13B is an end view of a portion of the dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1 dispensing tape.

FIG. 13C is an end view of a portion of the dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1 dispensing tape.

FIG. 14 is a side view of the dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1 dispensing tape.

FIG. 15 is a side view of the dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1 dispensing tape.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a portion of the dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 17 is a front view of a portion of the dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The following is a detailed description of the best presently known modes of carrying out the inventions. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the inventions.
A dispenser in accordance with one embodiment of the present inventions is generally represented by reference numeral 100. Referring first to FIGS. 1-3, the exemplary dispenser 100 includes a receptacle 102 and a cover 104 that together define a storage volume 110 in which a roll of tape is stored in the manner described below with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. The receptacle 102 has a rear wall 106 and intermediate wall 108. Axle pins 112 are located on the inner surface of the rear wall 106, and a belt clip 114 may be located on the outer surface of the rear wall. The axle pins 112 together define an axis A (FIG. 10) about which the stored roll of tape rotates. The stored roll of tape is mounted on, and rotates around, the axle pins 112. There are three axle pins 112 in the exemplary embodiment. The cover 104, which includes a front wall 116, may be connected to the receptacle 102 by a hinge 118 (or other suitable instrumentality). The width of the tape storage volume 110 is essentially equal to the width of the intermediate wall 108. The hinge 118 includes portions 118 a and 118 b (FIGS. 4 and 5) on the receptacle 102 and cover 104. Tape level view windows 120 a and 120 b extend through the rear and front walls 106 and 116 and allow the user to visually determine how much tape remains on a stored roll without opening the cover 104.
The exemplary dispenser 100 also includes an opening 122 (FIG. 2) that extends through the receptacle 102 and the cover 104. A portion of the user's hand may be placed in the opening 122 during dispensing. The opening 122 is bordered by an elongate wall 122 a with a curved surface 124 a on the rear wall 106, and by an elongate wall 122 b with a curved surface 124 b on the front wall 116.
The exemplary cover 104 may be maintained in the closed position with any suitable instrumentality. In the illustrated example, and referring to FIGS. 4-5A, the dispenser 100 includes a lock apparatus with portions on both the receptacle 102 and the cover 104. In particular, a plurality of latches 126 are mounted on the inner surface of the front wall 116 and a corresponding plurality of apertures 128 are formed in the axle pins 112. Each of the latches 126 includes a pair of deflectable (or “pivotable”) latch members 130 that have a post 132 and a rounded head 134 (FIG. 5A). There is also a gap 136 between the latch members 130, which allows the latch members to deflect toward one another. In addition to the apertures 128, the axle pins 112 include beveled surfaces 138 (FIG. 4A) that guide the heads 134 into the apertures 128 as the cover 104 reaches the closed position. The shape of the heads 134 and the presence of the gaps 136 allow the heads to snap through the apertures 128 to hold the cover 104 in place, and to snap out of the apertures when the cover 104 is to be opened.
The rear 106, intermediate wall 108 (which is coextensive with a substantial majority of the perimeter of the rear wall 106), and the front wall 116 together define a tape outlet 140. A cutting element 142 is located adjacent to the tape outlet 140. The exemplary cutting element 142 is a metal structure (e.g., a serrated metal blade) that is molded into or otherwise secured to a blade mount 143 at one end of the intermediate wall 108. In other instances, the cutting element may be an integral part of the blade mount. The length of the blade mount 143 may also be increased, as compared to the illustrated embodiment, in order to decrease the amount of dispenser rotation (described below with reference to FIG. 15) that is required to bring the cutting element 142 into contact with the dispensed portion of the tape. The intermediate wall 108 also includes manual resistance apertures 144 and 146 that are sized and shaped such that a human finger can pass through the intermediate wall to press on a roll of tape within the storage volume 110. The manual resistance apertures 144 and 146 allow the user to regulate the rotation of the tape roll and/or to prevent tape from being pulled out of the dispenser 100 when the tape is be severed by the cutting element 142, as is described below with reference to FIG. 15.
The exemplary dispenser 100 includes a plurality of features that, individually and collectively, facilitate superior dispensing. Each of these features is discussed in greater detail below. Briefly, and referring to FIGS. 1-3, the exemplary dispenser 100 may be configured to accommodate tape rolls of different widths. To that end, the receptacle 102 includes an accommodation apparatus 148 (FIG. 3) with a movable plate 150 that presses the stored tape roll against the cover 104 to maintain consistent alignment of the tape and to prevent tape wobbling during dispensing. Alternatively, or in addition, the exemplary dispenser 100 may include a tape holder 152 (FIGS. 1-2) to which the tape may be adhered when the tape is being cut by the cutting element 142 and when tape is not being dispensed. Alternatively, or in addition, the exemplary dispenser 100 may include a roller system 154, with a plurality of relatively soft rollers 156 and an axle 157, which is carried on a tapered roller mount 158. The rollers 156 are supported on the axle 157, and the axle is rotatably mounted on the roller mount 158.
Referring to FIG. 3, protrusions 160 (sometimes referred to as “standoffs”) may be provided on the inner surface of the cover 104 in some embodiments. The protrusions 160 engage the core 304 of a tape roll 300 (FIG. 10) within the storage volume 110 to prevent the side surfaces of the tape 302 from engaging the inner surface of the rear wall 116.
Turning to FIGS. 6-8, the exemplary accommodation apparatus 148 is configured to bias the movable plate 150 (and the tape roll 300) towards the cover 104. The movable plate 150 is parallel to the rear and front walls 106 and 116, and moves in a direction perpendicular to the front and rear walls (i.e., in the axial direction). In the illustrated implementation, the accommodation apparatus 148 employs a plurality of springs 162 or other biasing elements that are operably connected to the movable plate 150. To that end, the exemplary movable plate 150 includes a pair of single-spring brackets 164, with perpendicular (to the plate) walls 166 and parallel walls 168, and a dual-spring bracket 170, with a perpendicular wall 172 and a parallel wall 174. The movable plate 150 is slidably mounted on shoulder bolts 176 (i.e., bolts with relatively short threaded portions and smooth shoulders) that extend through apertures 178 and 180 (FIG. 11) in the parallel walls 168 and 174. The threaded ends of the shoulder bolts 176 are secured to anchors 182, while the bolt heads 184 each function as a stop that limits movement of the movable plate 150 by engaging the parallel walls 168 and 174. The springs 162 are positioned on the bolt shoulders 186 and are compressed between the rear wall 106 of the receptacle 102 and the parallel walls 168 and 174 of the brackets 164 and 170. The inner surface 188 of the movable plate 150 abuts, or is close to, the axle pins 112. Suitable materials for the movable plate 150 include, but are not limited to, metals and plastics.
The exemplary dispenser 100 generally, and the exemplary accommodation apparatus 148 in particular, are in an empty state in FIGS. 6-8 and a loaded state in FIGS. 9-11. In the empty state, the springs 162 press the parallel walls 168 and 174 of the movable plate 150 against the bolt heads 184. Although this aspect of the dispenser 100 may be varied as necessary from one exemplary dispenser to another, the illustrated dispenser is configured to hold tape rolls that are from about 1 inch (about 2.5 cm) wide to about 0.25 inch (about 0.63 inch) wide, and including intermediately sized rolls such as those that are about 0.5 inch (about 1.3 cm) wide and 0.75 inch (about 1.9 cm) wide. Put another way, the accommodation apparatus 148 will press tape rolls that range from 1 inch wide to 0.25 inch wide against the cover 104 and, in the illustrated implementation, against the protrusions 160 on the inner surface of the cover. The distance between the movable plate 150 and the protrusions 160 also varies from a maximum of about 1 inch to a minimum of about 0.25 inch in the illustrated embodiment. In those instances where the tape roll width is greater than 0.25 inch, the plate 150 will move toward rear wall 106 of the receptacle 102, thereby further compressing the springs 162. In those instances where the tape roll width is 1 inch, the plate 150 will contact protrusions 190 (or the rear wall 106 in those instances where the protrusions are not present). To that end, the tape roll 300 illustrated FIGS. 9 and 10 is 1 inch wide and, accordingly, the springs 162 are in their most compressed state in FIG. 11.
FIGS. 12 and 13 show the dispensed portions 306 and 306 a of the tape 302 and 302 a from rolls 300 and 300 a. Although the width of the tape roll 300 a is less than that of the tape roll 300, operation of the accommodation apparatus 148 results in the side edges 308 and 308 a of the dispensed portions 306 and 306 a being in the same location adjacent to the cover 104 and the right roller 156 (in the illustrated orientation). The accommodation apparatus 148 also prevents wobbling of that rolls that are at least 0.25 inch wide.
Referring to FIGS. 13-13C, the rollers 156 may be formed from a relatively soft material such as, for example, neoprene or other synthetic rubbers, thermoplastic elastomers and thermoptic polyurethane. As used herein, a “relatively soft” roller is a roller with a hardness of 60 to 75 Shore A. The outer surface 196 of the relatively soft rollers 156, i.e., the surface that engages the tape during dispensing, may be smooth (as shown) or rough. During dispensing, which is discussed below with reference to FIG. 14, force F may be applied to the tape 302 and underlying surface S by way of the relatively soft rollers 156. When sufficient force is applied in a direction perpendicular to the surface S (FIG. 13B), the rollers 156 will compress slightly in uniform fashion. Alternatively, in those instances where force is applied in a direction that is not perpendicular to the surface S (FIG. 13C), the rollers 156 will compress slightly in non-uniform fashion to accommodate the non-perpendicular orientation. The roller compression also facilitates a tighter turning radius when the tape is being applied in non-linear fashion.
In the illustrated implementation, the relatively soft rollers 156 are formed entirely from the relatively soft material. In other implementations, the rollers may include a relatively hard portion with a relatively soft over-mold. The rollers may be formed from rigid materials in still other implementations.
As can also be seen in FIGS. 9, 12 and 13, the blade mount 143 is slightly tapered, as compared to the width of the remainder of the receptacle 102, and has side walls 192. The roller mount 158 is also tapered as compared to the remainder of the receptacle 102, although much more so than the blade mount 143, and includes side walls 194. In particular, the roller mount 158 tapers down from a width W1 (FIG. 13) that is equal to the width of the intermediate wall 108, e.g., about 1.2 inches (about 3.1 cm) in the illustrated implementation) to a width W2, e.g., about 0.3 inch (about 0.8 cm) in the illustrated implementation, that is less than the width W3, e.g., about 1.15 inch (about 2.9 cm) in the illustrated implementation of the roller assembly 154. As such, the outer two rollers 156 extend laterally beyond the narrow free end 159 of the roller mount 158. The tapered blade and roller mounts 143 and 157 allows the tape 302 to be dispensed in close proximity to a structure that the rollers 156 are rolling along during the dispensing process. For example, the tape 302 may be dispensed onto a surface (such as a wall or glass surface) that is adjacent to a projection (such as a door frame or window frame). Additionally, the tape 302 may be dispensed onto a door frame or a window frame that is adjacent to a projection or a flat surface.
Referring to FIG. 14, the exemplary tape 302 has a backing 308 and a layer of adhesive (e.g., pressure sensitive adhesive) 310 on one side of the backing. Exemplary tapes include painter's tape, masking tape, adhesive tape, and packaging tape. The separated portion 312, which is the portion of the tape 302 that is no longer adhered to (but is connected to) the remainder of the roll 300, comes off the roll 300 and passes through the tape outlet 140. The rollers 156 engage the backing 308 and may be used to press the adhesive side of the tape 302 against a surface S. The dispenser 100 may be moved in direction D while the force F is maintained, which causes the tape 302 to be pulled out of the dispenser as the core 304 rotates on the pins 112 and about the axis A (FIG. 10). One of the user's thumbs may also be used to press the tape 302 against the surface S while following the dispenser 100 along the surface in the direction D. In other instances (e.g., in other dispenser and surface orientations), the rollers 156 will not engage the backing 308 of the tape 302 and the user (e.g., with a finger) will guide the tape and press the tape against the surface as the dispenser is moved. It should also be noted here that, as is illustrated in FIG. 14, the respective locations of the tape outlet 140, cutting element 142 and rollers 156 results in the separated portion 312 of the tape 302 passing between the cutting element and the rollers after it passes through the tape outlet.
The dispensed portion 306 may be separated from the remainder of the roll 300 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 15. The user may, for example, apply a force F to the roll 300 with a finger by way of the manual resistance aperture 144 (FIG. 9) to prevent rotation of the roll, and may also rotate the dispenser 100 from the orientation illustrated in FIG. 14 to the orientation illustrated in FIG. 15 to bring the cutting element 142 into contact with the dispensed portion 306. The location of the separated portion 312 relative to the cutting element 142 and the rollers 156 facilitates an easy transition from dispensing/application to cutting. Force may be applied to the dispensed portion 306 to sever the dispensed portion from the separated portion 312, which may then be stored on the tape holder 152. For example, a holding force H may be applied to the tape 302 with one hand (e.g., by pinching the tape between the thumb and index finger) while the other hand rotates the dispenser to bring the cutting element 142 into contact with the tape.
As best seen in FIGS. 16 and 17, the exemplary tape holder 152 includes a panel 200 and a projection 202. The exemplary panel 200 has top and bottom edges 204 and 206 (in the illustrated orientation), lateral edges 208 and 210, and a forward facing surface 212. The exemplary projection 202 consists of a generally U-shaped wall 214, with an edge 216, which extends from the forward facing surface 212. The respective shapes, sizes and relative positions of the panel 200 and projection 202 create lateral gaps 216 between the projection 202 and the panel lateral edges 208 and 210 as well as lower gap 218 between the projection and the bottom edge 206.
The panel 200 extends in a direction (or angle) that is transverse (and in some instances perpendicular) to the direction E that the tape exits the outlet. The direction (or angle) may differ in other implementations.
After the dispensed portion 306 is severed from separated portion 312, the separated portion may be adhered to the tape holder 152 with the adhesive 310 (FIG. 17). The separated portion 312 may, for example, adhere to the top edge 204 of the panel 200 and to the edge 216 of the projection 202 (as shown in solid lines) or only to the top edge 204 of the panel 200 (as shown in dashed lines). In either case, the gaps 216 and 218 provide space for the user's fingers, thereby facilitating disengagement of the separated portion 312 from the tape holder 152 at the time of the next dispensing. This aspect of the especially useful in those instances where the free end 314 of the separated portion 312 (and tape 302) is adhered to the projection 202.
Although the present inventions have been described in terms of the preferred embodiments above, numerous modifications and/or additions to the above-described preferred embodiments would be readily apparent to one skilled in the art. By way of example, but not limitation, the hinges may be omitted and separable cover may be provided that can be attached and detached as necessary. Alternatively, single-use disposable embodiments, where the cover is permanently attached to the receptacle, may be provided. The present inventions also include systems that combine any of the dispensers described above and/or claimed below with a roll of tape. It is intended that the scope of the present inventions extends to all such modifications and/or additions.

Claims

I claim:

1. A dispenser for use with a tape roll, the dispenser comprising:

a receptacle and a cover together defining a tape roll storage volume in which the tape roll rotates about an axis of rotation; and

an accommodation apparatus located within the tape roll storage volume and configured to bias the tape roll in an axial direction towards one of the receptacle and the cover.

2. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the accommodation apparatus is configured to bias the tape roll toward the cover.

3. A dispenser as claimed in claim 2, wherein

the accommodation apparatus includes a movable plate and at least one biasing element.

4. A dispenser as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

the at least one biasing element comprises a plurality of springs.

5. A dispenser as claimed in claim 3, wherein

the receptacle includes a plurality of axle pins configured to rotatably mount the tape roll; and

the movable plate includes an inner surface that is adjacent to the pins.

6. A dispenser as claimed in claim 5, wherein

the axle pins include apertures; and

the cover includes a plurality of latches that engage the axle pins by way of the apertures.

7. A dispenser as claimed in claim 3, wherein

the receptacle includes a wall that is parallel to the cover; and

the at least one biasing element is compressed as the movable plate moves away from the cover.

8. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the receptacle includes a wall with a manual resistance aperture that is sized and shaped such that a human finger can pass through the wall and into the storage volume.

9. A dispenser for use with a tape roll, the dispenser comprising:

a front wall, a rear wall and an intermediate wall between the front and rear walls, the front, rear and intermediate walls together enclosing a tape roll storage volume;

a tape outlet between the front and rear walls;

a roller mount adjacent to the tape outlet; and

at least one relatively soft roller mounted on the roller mount.

10. A dispenser as claimed in claim 9, wherein

the at least one relatively soft roller comprises a plurality of relatively soft rollers.

11. A dispenser as claimed in claim 9, wherein

the at least one relatively soft roller is carried by an axle that is rotatably mounted to the roller mount.

12. A dispenser as claimed in claim 9, wherein

the at least one relatively soft roller is formed from material having a hardness of 60 to 75 Shore A.

13. A dispenser as claimed in claim 9, wherein

the intermediate wall defines an intermediate wall width; and

the roller mount comprises a tapered roller mount that tapers from a first end adjacent to the roll storage volume to a second end on which the at least one roller is mounted and that has a width that is less than the intermediate wall width.

14. A dispenser as claimed in claim 13, wherein

the at least one relatively soft roller comprises a plurality of relatively soft rollers; and

at least two relatively soft rollers extend laterally beyond the second end of the roller mount.

15. A dispenser as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

a cutting element located adjacent to the tape outlet; and

wherein the tape outlet is located between the cutting element and the at least one relatively soft roller.

16. A dispenser for use with a tape roll, the dispenser comprising:

a front wall, a rear wall and an intermediate wall located between the front wall and the rear wall and defining a width, the front, rear and intermediate walls together enclosing a tape roll storage volume;

a tape outlet between the front and rear walls;

a cutting element adjacent to the tape outlet; and

a tape holder located adjacent to the tape outlet and between the tape outlet and the cutting element.

17. A dispenser as claimed in claim 16, wherein

tape exits through the tape outlet in a dispensing direction; and

the tape holder includes a panel that is oriented transverse to the dispensing direction.

18. A dispenser as claimed in claim 17, wherein

the tape holder includes a projection that extends from the panel in the dispensing direction.

19. A dispenser as claimed in claim 18, wherein

the panel defines lateral edges;

the panel and the projection define respective sizes and shapes; and

the respective shapes, sizes and relative positions of the panel and the projection create lateral gaps between the projection and the panel lateral edges.

20. A dispenser as claimed in claim 19, wherein

the panel defines a bottom edge; and

the respective shapes, sizes and relative positions of the panel and the projection create a lower gap between the projection and the bottom edge.

21. A dispenser as claimed in claim 16, wherein

the tape holder includes a panel and a projection that extends from the panel;

the panel defines lateral edges;

the panel and the projection define respective sizes and shapes; and

22. A dispenser as claimed in claim 21, wherein

the panel defines a bottom edge; and