US2647700A

US2647700A - Dispensing spool of adhesive tape and supporting enclosure therefor

Info

Publication number: US2647700A
Application number: US236354A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lathrop Harvey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1951-07-12
Filing date: 1951-07-12
Publication date: 1953-08-04
Anticipated expiration: 1970-08-04

Description

Aug. 4, 1953 2,647,700

H. LATHROP DISPENSING SPOOL OF ADHES TAPE AND SUPPORTI ENCLOSURE H REFOR Fi July 12, 1951 Ticz 5.

r INVENTOR.

. L I HARVEY LAT/{BOP Patented Aug. 4, 1953 DISPENSING SPOOL OF ADHESIVE TAPE AND SUPPORTING ENCLOSURE THEREFOR Harvey Lathrop, Forest Hills, N. Y. Application July 12, 1951, Serial No. 236,354

Claims.

My present invention relates generally to desk accessories, and has particular reference to an ornamental device for supporting one or more dispensing spools of adhesive tape.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide an enclosure for a dispensing spool of conventional construction, in which there is a hub upon which the tape is wound, and a tangential projection to support the free end of the tape. The present enclosure is so designed that it may be optionally rested on a desk or table in a position which completely conceals the spool of tape, or in an adjusted position in which the spool is exposed and accessible for use.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention herein chosen for illustration, the device is adapted to support two spools of tape in side by side aligned relationship. The spools are supported on a common horizontal axis, and are freely and independently rotatable about this axis. Tape may be withdrawn from either or both of these spools when the device is in tapedispensing position.

The supporting enclosure is. of such a nature that it lends itself readily to the employment of ornamental materials, such as attractive leathers or fabrics. It serves, therefore, in a uniquely attractive manner, to retain one or more tape spools in handy accessible condition, ready for use, while serving as a concealment for the spool or spools, and as an ornamental desk accessory, during those periods of time when the tape spools are not being used.

One way of achieving these general objects and advantages, and such other objects and advantages as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the present device in its normal desk-ornamenting position;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 2, showing the relationship of the parts when the enclosure is adjusted to a position which makes the tape dispenser accessible;

Figure 4 is an elevational view taken substantially in the direction 4-4 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is afragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Figure 4, with the tape spools omitted.

The type of dispensing spool which enters into the present assembly of parts consists essentially of a cylindrical hollow hub l0 upon which the tape H is wound. At its ends, the hub is usually provided with flanges [2 (Fig.4). These flanges may be extended in a tangential direction to provide the spaced ears l3. .At the free ends of the latter, a cross piece It serves to connect and rigidify the cars It, and serves also to support the free end i5 of the tape. It is customary to form the outer edge of the piece M. with serrations so that after any desiredlength of tape has been pulled off the spool, it may be severed along this serrated edge.

The ears I 3 and the piece M which connect them project in a substantially tangential direction with respect to the hub of the spool, and impart to the spool a weight eccentricity which is taken advantage of in a unique manner by the present invention.

The supporting enclosure of the present invention consists essentially of a pair of parallel vertical walls, and transverse walls extending between them. The two vertical walls are shown at it and I1. Supported by them is a means for mounting the tape spool or spools in a freely rotatable manner. This mounting means may consist of a simple wooden hub is adapted to fit loosely into the hub of each tape spool. This loose fit is shown in a somewhat exaggerated manner in Figures 2 and 3. The hub 18 itself is provided with a longitudinal bore adapted to receive a rod I9 (Fig. 5). To provide for a removability of the hub or spindle I 8, the rod is may be provided with a head 20 at one end, and threads 2| at the opposite end, adapted removably to receive a nut 22.

In the preferred embodiment herein illustrated there are two tape spools. These are designated generally by the

reference numerals

23 and 2 1 in Figure 4. The construction of each spool is the same as has been hereinbefore described, and the only diiference in the spools illustrated in Figure 4 is that the spool 23 supports a tape which is slightly wider than that which is supported by the spool 24. To accommodate two spools of this kind in side by side horizontally aligned relation, it is preferable to form the spindle is with the flange 25. The part of the spindle on one side of this flange fits into the hollow hub of one of the spools, and the part on the opposite side of the flange fits into the hub of the other spool. The flange 25 is larger in diameter than the hub of either spool, and thus serves to maintain spools in a desired spaced relationship.

The transverse walls which connect the parallel side walls It, i l comprise an end wall 23 which is substantially flat,"and a wall 21 which has a part that is parallel 'to the open side of the en closure and another part which is convexly curved downwardly into a position defining an opposite end wall. The transverse walls 36, El, along with the parallel side walls iii, if define an enclosure which is closed on all sides but one. The open side is shown downward in Figure 2 and in an upright position in Figures 3 and This open side lies substantially in a single plane, so that the enclosure may be rested thereon (as shown in Fig. 2). In this relationship of the parts, the spool or spools within the enclosure are completely concealed. The flatness of the transverse wall 25 adjacent to the open side of the enclosure permits the enclosure to be optionally rested on the fiat wall 25, as shown most clearly in Figure 3; and in this relationship of the parts the spool or spools are exposed and readily ac cessible.

It is an important feature of the invention'to support the spool with its tangential projection downward, and facing away from the flat end wall 25 when the enclosure is in the spool concealing position shown in Figure 2. As a result of this mode of mounting the spool, the eccentricity of weight automatically causes the spool to remain in substantially the same position regardless of the disposition of the supporting enclosure.

Thus, it will be observed, by comparing Figures 2 and 3, that the enclosure of Figure 3 is substantially at right angles to the position it pre viously assumed; nevertheless, the spool shown in these figures remains in substantially the same relationship. It follows that whereas the spool is completely concealed when the parts are in the relationship shown in Figure 2, the tangential projection of the spool automatically protrudes from the open side of the enclosure when the latter is adjusted into the upright position shown in Figure 3. Where there are two spools, as shown in the present drawings, the spools act in" dependently to project their respective tape ends automatically out of the open side of the en closure when the latter is tilted from the position of Figures 1 and to the position of Figures 3 and 4:.

The parts are preferably so proportioned, and the axis of the spools is so supported with respect to in the relationship shown in Figures 1 and 2, the bottom edges 28 of each spool lie substantially in the plane of the open side of the enclosure; and when the parts are in the relationship shown in Figure 3, the rear end 29 of the spool constitutes an abutment that abuts rearwardly against the transverse wall 21.

It will he understood that the curvature of the transverse wall 27, as shown in the present drawings, is not essential, and that the curvature illustrated is merely for ornamental effect. Similarly, while I have shown a simple nut 22 on the rod it, it will be obvious that this nut may be of ornamental configuration, if desired.

The device is obviously useful with one dispensing tape alone, or may readily be adapted to support more than the two tapes shown in the present drawing.

The enclosure may obviously be composed of any desired or suitable material, and I have found it eminently satisfactory to make the enclosure of wood or cardboard, covered with ornamental leather.

The replacement of the spool or spools, when the supply of tape is exhausted, is a relatively simple procedure and involves merely the removal of the spindle which supports the spool, and a replacement of the same after a fresh spool has been applied to it.

the enclosure, that when the parts are In general, it will be understood that those skilled in the art may readily modify many of the details herein described and illustrated without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination with a dispensing spool of adhesive tape comprising a hub and a tangential projection eccentric to the hub to support the free end of the tape, of a supporting enclosure comprising a pair of parallel vertical walls, means carried by said walls for engaging the spool hub to support the latter in a horizontal disposition and for transverse walls extending between said vertical walls to form an enclosure closed on all sides but one, the open side lying in a single plane so that the enclosure'may be rested thereon to conceal said spool, the transverse wall adjacent to said open side being fiat so that the enclosure may be optionally rested on said flat wall to bring the open side into upright position and thereby expose and afford access to said spool, said spool being supported with its tangential projection downward and facing away from said flat wall when the enclosure is in the spool concealing position, whereby the eccentricity of said projection automatically causes it to protrude out of said open side of the enclosure when the enclosure is rested on said flat wall.

2. The combination of elements set forth in claim 1, in which the spool hub is hollow and the support for it comprises a spindle removably supported between said vertical walls and adapted to pass through said hollow hub.

3. The combination with a pair of dispensing spools of adhesive tape each comprising a hub and a tangential projection eccentric to the hub to support the free end of the tape, of a supporting enclosure comprising a pair of parallel vertical walls, means carried by said walls for engaging the spool hubs to support the latter side by side in horizontal alignment and for free independent rotation about their axes, transverse walls extending between said vertical walls to form an enclosure closed on all sides but one, the open side lying in a single plane so that the enclosure may be rested thereon to conceal said spools, the transverse wall adjacent to said open side being flat so that the enclosure may be optionally rested on said flat wall to bring the open side into upright position and thereby expose and afford access to said spools, said spools being supported with their tangential projections downward and facing away from said flat wall when the enclosure is in the spool concealing position, whereby the eccentricity of said projections automatically causes them to protrude out of said open side of the enclosure when the enclosure is rested on said flat wall.

4. The combination of elements set forth in claim 3, in which the spool hubs are hollow and the support for them comprises a spindle removably supported between said vertical walls and having parts adapted to pass through said hollow hubs, the spindle being provided with a flange between said parts adapted to maintain the spool hubs in separated relation.

5. The combination with a dispensing spool of adhesive tape comprising a hub, a tangential projection eccentric to the hub to support the free end of the tape, and an abutment oppositely free rotation about its axis,

disposed with respect to said tangential projection, of a supporting enclosure comprising a pair of parallel vertical Walls, a spindle supported between said vertical walls and adapted to pass through said hub, said spindle being adapted to support said spool hub in a horizontal direction and for free rotation about its axis, transverse walls extending between said vertical walls to form an enclosure closed on all sides but one, the open side lying in a single plane so that the enclosure may be rested thereon to conceal said spool, the transverse wall adjacent to said open side being fiat so that the enclosure may be optionally rested on said fiat wall to bring the open side into upright position and thereby expose and afford access to said spool, said spool being supported with its tangential projection downward and facing away from said fiat wall when the enclosure is in the spool concealing position, whereby the eccentricity of said projection automatically causes it to turn about said spindle and to protrude out of said open side of the enclosure when the enclosure is rested on said flat wall, and said spindle being spaced from one of the other of said transverse walls a distance sufiicient to permit said abutment to engage thereagainst and to prevent a further turning of said tangential projection about said spindle.

HARVEY LATI-lROP.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,186,685 Rydquist June 13, 1916 2,275,408 Alliss Mar. 10, 1942 2,422,749 Rougas June 24, 1947