US3700151A

US3700151A - Cellophane tape dispenser

Info

Publication number: US3700151A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clifford L Youngstrom
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-10-07
Filing date: 1970-10-07
Publication date: 1972-10-24
Anticipated expiration: 1989-10-24

Abstract

A dispenser for supporting and dispensing pressure-sensitive transparent tape from a roll wherein the tape has adhesive on its inner wound surface, said dispenser having means for supporting the roll for unwinding rotation about a horizontal axis, a cutter bar mounted on the dispenser in substantial horizontal alignment with said axis and having a longitudinal V-shape and a serrated forward edge allowing an appendage from the tape to be pulled forwardly under the bar with the dry side up, and a ledge spaced below the cutter bar and having a centrally recessed upper surface so as to contact only the edge portions of the appendage when it rests thereon.

Description

United States Patent Youngstrom I54] CELLOPIIANE TAPE DISPENSER [72] Inventor: Clifford L. Youngstrom, 304 Commonwealth Avenue, Duluth, Minn. 55808 [22] Filed: Oct. 7, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 78,821

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 790,765, Jan.

13, 1969, abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl. ..225/26, 225/88, 225/90 [51] Int. Cl. ..B26f 3/02 [58] Field of Search ..225/25, 26, 77, 80, 88, 47, 225/20 [56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,324,349 7/1943 Atkins ..225/25 X 2,424,486 7/1940 Miller ..225/25 51 Oct. 24, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,014,253 8/1957 Germany ..225/26 Primary ExaminerAndrew R. Juhasz Assistant Examiner-Leon Gilden Att0rney-Carlsen, Carlsen & Sturm 57 ABSTRACT A dispenser for supporting and dispensing pressuresensitive transparent tape from a roll wherein the tape has adhesive on its inner wound surface, said dispenser having means for supporting the roll for unwinding rotation about a horizontal axis, a cutter bar mounted on the dispenser in substantial horizontal alignment with said axis and having a longitudinal V- shape and a serrated forward edge allowing an appendage from the tape to be pulled forwardly under the bar with the dry side up, and a ledge spaced below the cutter bar and having a centrally recessed upper surface so as to contact only the edge portions of the appendage when it rests thereon.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures ATENTEDUBI 24 m2 P m flm fln l ///M/ v Q IN VEN TOR 3 9 w V0,. M I 0 F a 1 CELLOPHANE TAPE DISPENSER CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 790,765 filed Jan. I3, 1969 now abandoned.

BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION Rolled pressure sensitive cellophane tapes of the Scotch brand type are normally dispensed from the roll by pulling a section of the desired length outwardly over a cutter bar with tacky side down and then moving the section downwardly so that it is severed from the remainder of the roll by a serrated or sharpened edge of the cutter bar. Such dispensing devices make it necessary for the user to grasp the tape between the roll and the cutter bar, causing finger smudges over a considerable area of the strip being dispensed and making it very difficult to judge the proper length of the strip desired before cutting it off. Additionally by cutting from the tacky side of the tape the cutter bar becomes gummed up rendering it less and less effective as succeeding strips are cut.

The smudging of the tapeis particularly objectionable where it is to be used to cover printing which must be read through the tape. An example of this type of use is where the tape is applied over the label on a bottle containing a medicinal prescription.

It is accordingly desirable to provide a dispenser wherein the tape may be torn upwardly with its dry side against a cutter bar. An example of such a structure will be found in US. Pat. No. 2,324,349 to Atkins. However, prior art structures of this type, while providing a partial solution, have not eliminated the smudging problem as the sticky side of the roll appendage becomes smudged as it rests on a ledge below the cutter bar prior to being severed from the roll.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser for a cellophane tape roll which allows an unwound section or appendage to be grasped at the very end so as to limit smuding thereof and allow the user to view the entire length of the strip to be torn from the roll and leaving the remaining unsevered portion of the appendage in convenient position for grasping to tear the next section therefrom and having a rest or ledge for the unsevered portion that will support that portion without smudging it.

With this and other objects in mind, the invention broadly comprises a dispenser having means for supporting a roll of cellophane tape for unwinding about a horizontal axis, said dispenser carrying an elongated V- shaped cutter bar under which the tape appendage being unwound from the roll may be pulled to cause the appendage to curl upwardly and with the dispenser having a ledge spaced below the cutter bar which has an upwardly opening V-shape so as to engage only the side edges of the appendage when it descends against the ledge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the dispenser.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the dispenser taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and showing the tape roll with its unwound portion or appendage extending forwardly in an intermediate position between the cutter bar and ledge in raised cutting and lowered positions in broken lines.

FIG. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2 showing the tape appendage at rest against the ledge.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing reference characters will be used to denote like parts or structural features in the different views. The dispenser is denoted generally at 10 and may be formed of sheet metal, plastic, coated paper or any other rigid and relatively inexpensive material. A roll of conventional pressure sensitive cellophane tap is denoted at l1.The dispenser 10 has a channel shape with a base or bottom 12 and a pair of upright identical

parallel side walls

14 and 15.

Walls

14 and 15 are provided with punched dimples 16 for supporting the center spool 17 of the roll 11 in such a manner as to permit rotation of the roll.

The tape'in roll 11' has an adhesive coating on its inner side relative to the winding and has its outermost end portion or appendage extending from the roll as at 18 in what may be referred to as a forwardly direction between

plates

14 and 15. At the front end of the dispenser, wall 19 extends upwardly from the base 12 and has a ledge 20,v to be shortly described in detail, formed at its upper end. A longitudinally extending cutting bar or plate 21 is mounted between

walls

14 and 15 in spaced relation above the ledge 20. Plate 21 has a broad V-shape in a fore and aft direction with the front and rear portions thereof angling upwardly as shown in FIG. 2 and at the front edge of the plateis serrated as at 22. It will be noted that the front portion of plate 21 extends forwardly a substantial distance beyond wall 19.

The cutter bar 21 has a downwardly facing apex 24 which projects below the rear edge 25 of the bar. Accordingly, when the appendage 18 is pulled forwardly along the underside of the bar 21 preliminary to tearing a strip therefrom, it will not contact edge 25 but will move only along the apex 24 in the position denoted in broken lines at A in FIG. 2. This movement along bar portion 24 causes the tape to take an upward curled set in the manner of a ribbon when a knife edge is pulled therealong.

When the tape has been pulled outwardly, the desired distance, unwinding from the roll 17, the strip to be removed is town upwardly from appendage 18 along edge 22. Because the tape is held only at the very end it will be easy for the user to accurately estimate the strip length before cutting it from the roll. Also, only the terminal portion of the section will be subject to any smudging by the operators fingers. Because the top surface of section 18 which is pulled against edge 22 is dry, the serrations thereon will remain free from becoming gummed up by the adhesive on the tape.

After the desired strip has been severed therefrom the appendage 18, having been curled by movement along bar 21 will normally take a set in the intermediate position denoted in full lines at B in FIG. 2. In this position it is conveniently located fore grasping above and below by the operator preliminary to tearing the next strip. Moreover, the tacky underside of appendage 18, remaining free of any contact with the dispenser will not become smudged.

In the event that the section 18 loses its set or is accidentally depressed, it may come to rest against ledge 20 asdenoted in broken lines at C in FIG. 2. However, this will not affect the tape because of the V-shape of the ledge. Only the side edges of the appendage 18 will contact the ledge at points 26 as shown in FIG. 3.

The shape and position of cutter bar 21 are important in providing a smooth guide surface for pulling tape from the roll without scratching the surface thereof along a sharp edge. The relationship between the cutter bar 21 and the front wall 19 is also significant. When appendage 18 is in either position B or C it projects forwardly beyond wall 19. This permits the user to move his forefinger upwardly along the front face of wall 19 until it engages section 18. The thumb can then be placed against the upper dry surface of the section for pulling the strip outwardly to be torn off against the cutter bar.

The device disclosed accordingly provides an economical and effective dispenser for rolled tape.

Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to pro- I tect by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A device for dispensing pressure sensitive transparent tape from a roll, said tape having its inner wound surface tacky and its outer surface dry, said device comprising:

a. a pair of rigidly interconnected upright fore and aft extending parallel side walls;

b. retainer means on said side walls for journalling (1. a cutter bar fixedly mounted between the side walls above the ledge in spaced relation thereto;

said cutter bar having a longitudinal fore-and-aft broad V-shape with the front and rear portions angling upwardly from the apex with the front portion having a serrated forward edge and the apex lying in substantial horizontal alignment with the roll axis whereby as the tape appendage is pulled horizontally forward from the roll it will be pulled under and along said apex without engaging the front or rear edges of the bar;

f. said cutter bar extending a substantial distance forward of said front wall and ledge whereby said appendage will always extend over the ledge, and

. said ledge having an upwardly opening V-shape in a transverse direction so that only the side edges of the appendage will contact the ledge when it comes to rest thereon.

Claims

1. A device for dispensing pressure sensitive transparent tape from a roll, said tape having its inner wound surface tacky and its outer surface dry, said device comprising: a. a pair of rigidly interconnected upright fore and aft extending parallel side walls; b. retainer means on said side walls for journalling the tape roll therebetween for rotational movement on a horizontal axis perpendicular to said walls whereby the tape may be pulled forwardly from the roll as it rotates by means of an appendage with the dry side up; c. an upright front wall connecting said side walls and having a ledge formed at its upper end disposed forward of the roll; d. a cutter bar fixedly mounted between the side walls above the ledge in spaced relation thereto; e. said cutter bar having a longitudinal fore-and-aft broad Vshape with the front and rear portions angling upwardly from the apex with the front portion having a serrated forward edge and the apex lying in substantial horizontal alignment with the roll axis whereby as the tape appendage is pulled horizontally forward from the roll it will be pulled under and along said apex without engaging the front or rear edges of the bar; f. said cutter bar extending a substantial distance forward of said front wall and ledge whereby said appendage will always extend over the ledge, and g. said ledge having an upwardly opening V-shape in a transverse direction so that only the side edges of the appendage will contact the ledge when it comes to rest thereon.