US2862676A

US2862676A - Tape dispenser

Info

Publication number: US2862676A
Application number: US497945A
Authority: US
Inventors: Castelli Charles
Original assignee: Johnson and Johnson
Current assignee: Johnson and Johnson
Priority date: 1955-03-30
Filing date: 1955-03-30
Publication date: 1958-12-02
Anticipated expiration: 1975-12-02
Also published as: ES227558A1

Description

C. CASTELLI Dec. 2, 1958 TAPE DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 30. 1955 Dec. 2, 1958 c. CASTELLI 6 TAPE DISPENSER Filed March 50. 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 INVENTOR (IV/{455 61: 7544/ ATT United States Patent C) i 2,8 2,676 TAPE DISPENSER 1 Charles Castelli, New Brunswick, 1., assignor to Johnson'& Johnson, a corporation of New Jersey Application March 30,1955, Serial No; 4 97,945 Claims. c1. z4z 55.s1)

This invention relates to a dispenser for normallytacky, pressure-sensitive "adhesive tape and more particularly to one having a knife moveable to sever a dispensed length oftape. g

A dispenset made according to the invention, maintains the tape, at all times, in'a sanitary condition, lengthens its medicine'cabinet shelf'time, andgreatly facilitates its dispensing preparatory to use.

In general, the dispenser is made in two sections fitted together facewise to define a housing in which a roll of tape is contained. Each section has a flat portion constituting a sidewall of the container. It has a central aperture'and a pair of integral flanges, formed one at the peripheral edge of the aperture and the other at the outer peripheral edge of the side wall. When the'sections are fitted together with their side walls parallel, the inner flanges form a hollow hub rotatably'to accommodate the roll of tape to be dispensed, while the outer flangesform the outer peripheral'wall of the dispenser.

There 'is an opening in the peripheral wall of the container giving access to its interior and through which the tape may be withdrawn radially in the act of dispensing it.

According to thepresent improvements, there is presented at a'position radially outwardly from the peripheral wall'of the dispenser, a platform in which there is located a silot extendingin a direction widthwise of the tape. When a desired length of tape has been drawn out 2,862,676 Patented Dec. 2*, 1

ice

from the 'following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front end view of a tape dispenser incorporating the present improvements;

through the aperture in the peripheral wall of the container, it-is laid upon the platform with the adhesive side do -V A sliding cover member, capable of easy finger manipulation when the dispenser is held in one hand, is moveable from one position wherein it serves to close the aperture through which the tape is dispensed to another position in which the aperture is opened to facilitate the tapedispensing operation. The coverslide has a portionolfset radially outwardly from the center of the tape dispenser,

andprovided at its outer end with a knife so arranged that when the cover slide is moved to aperture-closing position, theknife'jmoves with a shearing action through the'tape and into 'the slot. 7

After each tape-severing operation, the new outer end of theroll remainsadhered to the platform at the roll side of the knife sl'otx-"A space-or depression between this platform and the position wherethe'tape leaves the 'roll 'perr nits insertion of the finger beneath 'the' tape to liftit oil the pl'atforrn whenthe sliding cover is moved to its openposition to facilitate withdrawal of another lengthof tape from the' roll. When the coveris in its closed position, howevena pair of'sidemembers or ears carried by the cover out near its end where the knife is the dispenser, except whenbeing used, is closed up tightly to maintain the tape in a 'sanit'arycondition andprolong its life. Also when in closed condition, the knife is protected as by inean's'of a s'cabbard.

locatediact to close off thespace beneat hthe tape. "Thus,

- A better'understanding of the-invention may be had severing operation.

Fig. 2 ista side elevation of the dispenser in Fig. 1; the

parts being shown in normal closed position;

Fig. 3 is a rear end view of the dispenser shown in Fig. 1;

. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig; 2, but with a side wall partly broken away and with the slideable cover member in 'open position;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the cover member in position with the knife about to sever the tape and enter the slot;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig; 5 but showing the cover member and knifein position'at the conclusion 'of a tapesevering operation;

Fig. 7-is a front end view of the cover slide and show' ing detail'ther'eoftogether with devices-of the knife-and side ears;'

Fig. 8 is a sideview of the sliding cover member, partly in'section to show details of the knife construction;

Fig. 9 is a 'transverse'sectional View on line'-9-9 of Fig; 10 is "a perspective view of the dispenser in Fig. 1,

illustrating the manner in which sliding'cover member is manipulated to open position to facilitate withdrawal of a length of tape; and

. Fig; '11 is' aperspe-ctive view similar 'to Fig; 10, illustrating the mannerin which the-sliding'covermember is manipulated 'to closed :position'to effect the tape- The improved'tapedispenser is adaptedto be held in one 'hand while with the other hand,"-'the tape may be grasped at the end and the desiredlength of tape pulled'out off the roll (Figs. 10, 11). The dispenser comprises a pair'of parallel side wall'members 10,?1'1, a central, cylindrical wall'member-lz defining a finger opening 13through the dispenser, and an outer, peripheral wall member 14 which with the other members define 'a container for a roll of adhesive tape 15 (Figs. 1-6).

The inner, cylindrical wall member 12 is formedone half by a flange 16 perpendicular to and integral with the side wall'memben'ld at the finger opening, and the other half by a corresponding flange 17 similarly associatedwith the other side wall member '11 (Fig, 9). Whenthe'side'walls 10, 11 are fitted together facewise with the

flanges

16,17 in axial alignment,'a hub is formed 'on which the roll'of tape '15 is rotatably mounted.

To hold the sections'ofthe dispenser together, one or the'inner, cylindricalflangemembers, i. e., the flange16, is formed at its end with a'cylindricalportion "1'8 'displaced radially inwardly and which is designed to telescope'within the-cylindrical flange 17 presented by theother section of the dispenser. The two-"sections of the dispenser are held together by connections comprising in-part a series of small bosses 19 spaced around the periphery of the'outer flange17 and a corresponding series of apertures 26 formed 'in'the inwardly displaced peripheral wall 14 of the dispenser is continuous and includes a pair of

flanges

22, 23 perpendicular to and formed integral, one flange with each side wall portion of the dispenser. These flanges abut together closely at their inner edges so that when the sections of the dispenser are locked together. in the manner previously described,

-a substantially dust-tight closure is efiected around the periphery so that tape contained within the dispenser is has been made, is in the semi-circular section 25 of the dispenser and extends from the front where the semi circular section begins to a position midway of the top.

From the latter position around to a position approximately'diametrically opposite the front end of the access opening, the outer peripheral wall has a portion 26 recessed a short distance inwardly from the outer edge of the side walls of the container (Figs. 5, 6).

The outer peripheral wall is recessed in the manner described to accommodate a sliding cover plate 27 for the access opening. The cover plate has a body portion concentric with the curved peripheral wall of the container, and is formed with tongues 28 in its opposite parallel edges adapted to slide in opposed grooves 29 formed in the inner faces of the side wall members adjacent the peripheries thereof. The grooves 29 extend from the front end of the access opening and around the top of the dispenser throughout the extent of the recessed wall portion 26, it being understood that the outer surface i is fitted into place with its lateral tongues 28 in engagement with the grooves 29 in the side walls. The tongue and groove connections are such as to permit the cover member to slide freely from one position where its body portion abuts at its front end, against a platform 30 defining the front end of the access opening 21 to another position where such body portion abuts at its rear end, against a platform 31 at the terminal of the recessed portion 26 of the peripheral wall. The length of the body portion 27 of the sliding cover member is such that when the member is in the first-mentioned position, the access opening in the dispenser is fully closed, whereas when the cover member is in the second-mentioned position, the access opening is fully exposed.

Movement of the cover member 27 to open position permits the desired length of tape to be Withdrawn from the dispenser (Fig. Movement of the cover member to closed position effects severance of the length that has been withdrawn (Fig. 11). The mechanism for severing the tape will now be described.

Spaced a short distance in advance of the platform 30 which is engaged by the cover member 27 in its closed position, there is located a platform 32 consisting of two

parts

33 and 33a, spaced in a fore and aft direction to define between them a slot 34 whose length in a direction widthwise of the tape is greater than the width of the tape per se (Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11).

The slot 34 and the

spaced platform parts

33, 33a which define it are presented at the top of a portion 35 that extends forwardly from the main portion of the dispenser which for all practical purposes may be considered as being defined by the straight extension 25a of the peripheral curved portion 25 at the rear of'the extension 35. The front extension 35 has sides 36 extending forwardly from the periphery and whichmay be continuations of the sides of the container per se, a front wall 37 which may be continuations of the flanges constituting the outer peripheral wall of the dispenser, and a top portion or recess 38 which, likewise, may be continuations of the flanges constituting the outer peripheral wall of the dispenser. The top wall 38 of the front extension is in the form of a U or semi-circle for a reason which will shortly appear.

As part of the dispensing operation, the tape is grasped at its outer end, pulled the desired length off the roll outwardly through the access opening 21, and moved downwardly until the underside thereof, i. e. the adhesive side, comes in contact with the platform 32 defining the transverse slot 34. In the act of laying down the tape, the underside thereof automatically engages the platform 30 at the front end of the access opening. This automatic engagement results from the fact that the platform is located somewhat above a plane defined by the axis of the tape roll and the platforms at the front of the container. Since a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape, when pulled from a roll thereof, will almost invariably leave the roll in a radial direction, it follows that the tape always will engage the platform 30 when it is laid down on the platform 32, spaced forwardly thereof, preparatory to the tape-severing operation.

The tape is severed by a transverse knife 39 carried by the slideable cover member 27. To this end, the cover member is formed with an extension at the front comprising a flat top portion 40 from which the knife depends, and a pair of parallel side ears 41 formed integrally with and which likewise depends from the top portion. The transverse knife, for certain types of tape, may be formed integrally with the top member and extend downwardly from the underside thereof at a position between the lateral ears 41 to which reference has been made. For plastic tape, it is preferred that the knife have a piercing point 42 defined by two edges angled to meet each other in a fore and aft vertical plane located at about the longitudinal center line of the tape. Between the body portion 27 of the cover, which serves to close the access opening 21 and the top 40 of its forward extension, there is provided a raised portion 43 serving as a fingerpiece by which the cover may be manipulated between open and closed position, most readily 'by the thumb of the hand in which the dispenser is held.

Manipulation of the slide cover is facilitated by transversely serrating the outer top surface of the fingerpiece. When the cover is in closed position, the knife 39 extends into the transverse slot 34, where it is in a safe position out of the way.

To cut off a piece of tape, the dispenser preferably is held in one hand in a position permitting the fingerpiece on the cover member to be engaged by the thumb and slid to open position (Fig. 10). Assuming there has been a previous tape-cutting operation, the extreme front end of the tape by virtue of its adhesiveness will be anchored to the platform 32 at the rear of the knife slot 34 and from that platform the tape will stretch across the U-shaped recess 38 to the platform 30 defining the front end of the access opening. The U-shaped recess 38 permits a finger of the other hand to be inserted beneath the tape a distance sufficient to enable the tape to be grasped between such finger and the thumb. The tape is lifted off both the platform 32 in advance of the U-shaped recess and the platform 30 at the rear thereof and when free of both platforms, is pulled out a distance determined by the length of tape to be dispensed. Then, as previously stated, the tape is moved downwardly until the underside thereof engages the platform 32 containing the knife slot and the platform 30 at the rear of the U- shaped recess. The thumb of the hand in which the dispenser is held then is operated to push the cover member 27 to closing position. In the act of doing this, the

knife 39 at its point 42 first engages the tape at its center and then cuts down through the tape with great facility as the cover-closing operation is completed (Figs. 6 and 11). The arrangement and the dimensions of the parts are such that when the cover member is in closed position, it is still possible without difliculty to remove the severed length of tape from the platform at the front of the knife slot to which it continues to adhere after the tape-severing operation has been completed.

After completion of the tape-severing operation and assuming that no further length of tape at that time is desired, the dispenser is left in closed position. When closed, the lateral ears 41 on the cover member extend downwardly to close off from the atmosphere the U- shaped recess 38 beneath the tape and since otherwise the dispenser is closed throughout, the tape therein as well as the portion thereof extending forwardly across the U-shaped recess will be maintained in a sanitary condition and with less opportunity for oxidation than if the tape were exposed to the air.

Provision is also made for retaining the cover member against inadvertent opening. To this end, the inner opposed surfaces of the lateral ears 41 are formed each with a slightly-raised surface or boss 48. The widthwise dimension between the opposed faces of these bosses is somewhat less than the normal widthwise dimension between the outer lateral faces of the front extension of the dispenser. Consequently, during the cover-opening and the cover-closing operations the ears are sprung slightly outwardly by the engagement of the bosses with such lateral faces, but when the cover member is in its fullyclosed position, the bosses register with slight depressions 44 formed in the outer faces of the side wall extensions permitting the ears again to spring inwardly. With the bosses 48 thus engaged in the corresponding recesses ,44 the cover member is effectively held against inadvertent opening.

While any suitable material may be used in the construction of the dispenser, the parts all are relatively simple and have been designed primarily for plastic molding,

which will give a dispenser both economical to manufacture and pleasing in appearance.

A cover member molded of a plastic material with integral knife of the type described is eminently adapted for use with plastic tape. If, however, such a knife is not suitable for the tape desired to be used with the dispenser, one like that disclosed in my co-pending application, Ser. No. 391,317, which since has issued as Patent No. 2,802,527, may be used in its stead.

Ordinarily, the connections between the two lateral sections of the dispenser will prevent relative -rotation therebetween, but as a precautionary measure, there may be provided also for this purpose, up near the front end of the forward extension of the dispenser, transverse cylindrical bosses molded integral with the inner surface of the front Wall extension (Figs. 1 and 4). Such bosses are formed at their opposed inner adjacent ends one with a recess and the other with a complementary protrusion adapted to fit in the recess. These complementary and cooperating parts, in addition to preventing relative rotation between the sections, act during assembly to indicate the proper relative positions of the parts.

The invention has been described in connection with one embodiment thereof, but many modifications are included within its spirit. The invention, therefore is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

The claims are:

1. A dispenser for a roll of normally-tacky and pressure sensitive adhesive tape comprising a pair of opposed parallel side walls spaced to accommodate a roll of such tape and having dimensions such as to encompass the -IOll entirely within the periphery thereof, a hub for rotatably supporting the roll between the side walls and within the confines of said peripheries, a platform located more .radially remote from said hub than is the periphery and to which a dispensed length of tape pulled from the roll will adhere when the adhesive side thereof and the platform are brought into engagement, means associated with the platform to cooperate in severing a length of tape adhered thereto, and a'knife moveable along the dispenser in a path substantially concentric with the roll from one position permitting withdrawal of a length from the roll and its engagement with the platform to a second position, said knife, in its movement to said second position, acting in cooperation with said means on the platform to sever the tape adhered thereto.

2. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the means associated with the platform that cooperates in the severing ofa length of tape comprises a slot adapted to admit the knife as it passes through the tape in its movement to said second position.

3. A dispenser according to claim 2 wherein the slot in the platform is presented at the top of a housing which serves as a scabbardto guard the knife when the latter has passed through the slot into said second position.

4. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein space is provided beneath the tape in the region between the platform and the periphery of the walls to accommodate the finger beneath the tape and facilitate its removal from the platform.

5. A dispenser according to claim 4 wherein the knife in its movement is supported by means having in association with itself devices for closing off said space beneath the tape when the knife is in said second position.

6. A dispenser for a roll of normally tacky and pressure-sensitive adhesive tape comprising a pair of opposed parallel side walls spaced to accommodate a roll of such tape, a hub for rotatably supporting the roll between the side Walls, a platform located more radially remote from said hub than are the peripheries of said walls and said roll and to which a dispensed length of tape pulled from the roll will adhere when the adhesive side thereof and the platform are brought into engagement, means associated with the platform to cooperate in severing a length of tape adhered thereto, and a knife moveable along the dispenser in a path substantially concentric with the roll from one position permitting withdrawal of a length from the roll and its engagement with the platform to a second position, said knife, in its movement to said second posi tion, acting in cooperation with said means on the platform to sever the tape adhered thereto. I

7. A dispenser according to claim 6 wherein the means associated with the platform that cooperates in the severing of a length of tape comprises a slot adapted to admit the knife as it passes through the tape in its movement to said second position.

8. A dispenser according to claim 6 wherein there are provided means which support the platform and means which carry the knife, and devices located on each of said means respectively adapted to interlock and hold the knife against inadvertent movement when said knife is in its second position.

9. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the side walls are closed all around their periphery to encase the roll except for an aperture through which tape is withdrawn during a dispensing operation, and a slidable cover for opening and closing said aperture.

10. A dispenser according to claim 1 wherein the side walls are closed all around their periphery to encase the roll except for an aperture through'which tape is Withdrawn during a dispensing operation, and the knife is carried by a slide adapted in the first position of the knife to expose the aperture and in the second position of the knife to close the aperture.

11. A dispenser according to claim 9 wherein the slideable cover is equipped with a finger piece to facilitate onehand manipulation of the cover between aperture opening and closing plositions.

12. A dispenser according to claim 6 wherein the moveable knife is supported by means equipped With a finger piece to facilitate one-hand manipulation of the knife between its first and second positions.

13. A dispenser according to'claim 6 wherein the hub is hollow and open at both ends to facilitate one-hand grasping of the dispenser and wherein the moveable knife is supported by means equipped with a finger piece within ready reach of a finger on the hand grasping the dispenser to facilitate one-hand manipulation of the knife between its first and second positions.

14. A dispenser for a roll of normally-tacky and pressure-sensitive adhesive tape comprising a pair of opposed parallel side walls spaced to accommodate a roll of such tape, a hollow hub member for rotatably supporting the roll between the sidewalls and an outer peripheral wall member provided with an access aperture, said peripheral wall member, when the access aperture is closed, together with the hub and the side wall members forming a housing in which the roll of tape is entirely enclosed in a sanitary condition, said housing being formed with an-extension adjacent said access aperture presenting exteriorly of'and in spaced relation with said aperture, a platform to which a dispensed length of'tapepulled from the roll through the aperture will adhere when the adhesive side thereof and the platform are brought into engagement, a slot in said platform, a cover member for the-access aperture slideable along the dispenser adjacent the peripheral wall thereof between one position whereinthe access aperture is open permitting withdrawal of a length of tape from the dispenser and a second position wherein said access aperture is closed, a knife carried by the slideable cover member acting, as the cover member is moved to closed position, to cut through that portion of the tape adhered to the platform and enter the slot therein, means in the extension below the platform to guard the knife when it has entered the slot, a recess adjacent the platform and beneath the tape when adhered thereto to facilitate removal of the tape from the platform when the cover member is in opened position, and means on the cover member for closing off the recess beneath the tape when the cover member is in closed position. i

15. A dispenser for a roll of normally tacky and pressure-sensitive adhesive tape comprisi'nga pair of opposed parallel side walls spaced to accommodate a roll of such tape, a hollow hub member for ro-tatably supporting the roll between the side walls, an outer peripheral wall member provided with an access aperture, said peripheral wall member, when the access" aperture is closed, together with the hub and the side wall members forming a housing in which the roll of tape is entirely enclosed in a sanitary condition, a platform to which a dispensed length oftape pulled from the roll through the aperture will adhere when the adhesive side thereof and the platformare brought into engagement, said platformbeing spaced radially remote from said roll, a slot in said platform, a cover member for the access aperture slideable along the dispenser adjacent the peripheral wall thereof is adhered thereto and in a location betweenthe slot and cover member for closing off the recess between the tape the roll and below the access aperture, said recess serving to facilitate removal of tape from the platform when the cover member is in open position by providing room for insertion of the finger beneath the tape, and means on the when the cover member is in closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,484,673 Becker Oct. 11, 1949 2,600,904 Morgan June 17, 1952 2,704,640 Metzler Mar. 22, 1955 2,710,152 Jones June 7,