US3787271A

US3787271A - Tape and apron dispensing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3787271A
Application number: US00280562A
Authority: US
Inventors: S Wahlquist
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-08-14
Filing date: 1972-08-14
Publication date: 1974-01-22
Anticipated expiration: 1991-01-22

Abstract

A tape and apron dispensing apparatus in which the apron roll and tape roll are mounted for rotation about spaced, relatively parallel axes at one side of an elongated body member and the portion of the body member intermediate the tape and apron rolls is shaped to provide a handgrip paralleling the path of withdrawal of the taped apron and adapted to be grasped in one hand to enable hand manipulation of the tape and apron dispensing apparatus when applying the taped apron to a surface to be masked.

Description

11:1 ited States Patent 1 1 Wahlquist TAPE AND APRON DISPENSING APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Stanley L. Wahlquist, 3203 S. Main St., Rockford, 111. 61102 22 Filed: Aug. 14, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 280,562

[52] US. Cl 156/554, 156/577, 156/579 [51] Int. Cl B321) 31/08 [58] Field of Search 156/577, 579, 554

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,963,666 6/1934 McCarthy et a1 156/554 2,522,773 9/1950 Bihary 156/554 3,120,461 2/1964 Harbour 156/554 3,152,032 10/1964 Waltz 156/554 Jan. 22, 1974 3,463,694 8/1969 De Roshia 156/577 Primary Examiner-Douglas J. Drummond Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Morsbach, Pillote & Muir [5 7] ABSTRACT A tape and apron dispensing apparatus in which the apron roll and tape roll are mounted for rotation about spaced, relatively parallel axes at one side of an elongated body member and the portion of the body member intermediate the tape and apron rolls is shaped to provide a handgrip paralleling the path of withdrawal of the taped apron and adapted to be grasped in one hand to enable hand manipulation of the tape and apron dispensing apparatus when applying the taped apron to a surface to be masked.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1 TAPE AND APRON DISPENSING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION of taped apron must be withdrawn and severed from the rolls on the apron taping apparatus before the severed strip can be applied to the surface to be masked. Portable tape and apron dispensing apparatus have been proposed. However, a portable tape' and apron dispensing apparatus must not only be capable of applying tape to the apron and dispensing the taped apron, but it must also be readily and easily manipulated to position and guide the taped apron during the masking operation. The prior tape and apron dispensing apparatus and the handle arrangements for manipulating the apparatus during a masking operation have not been entirely satisfactory for this purpose. One such portable apparatus utilized a pair of spacedhandles on the tape and apron dispensing apparatus in an arrangement which required both hands to support and manipulate the apparatus during a masking operation. Another protable tape and apron dispensing apparatus utilizes a handle arrangement which extends crosswise of the direction of movement of the apparatus during a masking operation so that positioning and manipulation of the apparatus during a masking operation would be awkward.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a portable tape and apron dispensing apparatus having an improved arrangement for mounting the tape and apron rolls and for providing a handle for manipulating the apparatus during application of the taped apron to the surface to be masked. The tape and apron dispensing apparatus includes a body member in the form'of an elongated relatively thin panel having a shaft attached to a forward portion thereof and extending laterally from one side face of the panel in cantilever fashion for rotatably supporting a roll of apron material, and a tape roll support adjacent the rear end of the panel for supporting a roll of pressure sensitive tape for rotation about an axis normal to the side face of the panel. The body has an intermediate portion between the tape roll and the apron roll of a length to receive a hand therebetween and shaped to provide a handgrip which is adapted to be grasped in one hand with the thumb portion of the hand overlying the upper edge and the fingers of the hand grasping the lower edge of the panel. With this arrangement, the handgrip portion for the apparatus is located intermediate the tape and apron rolls and generally parallels the direction of withdrawal of the taped apron from the apparatus to facilitate manipulation of the apparatus during application of the taped apron to the surface to be masked. The wide thin handgrip portion enables the apparatus to be comfortably held while yet counteracting the overhanging weight of the cantilever supported apron roll. The apron roll is laterally guided by a guide face on the body member shaped to engage the end of the apron roll below the path of movement of the tape as it passes from the tape roll over the apron roll and a pressure applying disk is yieldably biased into engagement with the outer end of the apron roll to not only maintain the same in engagement with a guide face on the body but to also axially confine the apron roll to inhibit loosening of the apron material on the apron roll.

An important object of this invention is to provide a tape and apron dispensing apparatus which can be readily manipulated by one hand to accurately position and guide the apparatus during application of the taped apron to the surface to be masked.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tape and apron dispensing apparatus which is of simple and economical construction.

These, together with other objects and advantages of this invention will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: I 1

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the apparatus in use in applying a taped apron to a surface to be masked;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the portable tape and apron dispensing apparatus; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the portable tape and apron dispensing apparatus with parts broken away and shown in section to illustrate details of construction.

The tape and apron dispensing apparatus of the present invention is arranged to apply a pressure sensitive tape from a roll 10 of pressure sensitive tape to an edge portion of a roll 11 of apron material to form a taped apron A with the strip of pressure sensitive tape A adhered to and extending beyond the edge of the apron for attachment to the surface to be masked. The pressure sensitive tape 10 is of the type commonly used for masking and, as shown, the tape is wound on a tubular core 10b. The roll 11 of apron material is preferably similarly wound on a tubular core 11b.

The tape and apron dispensing apparatus is constructed and arranged so that it can be manipulated with one hand to dispense and guide the taped apron while the taped apron is being applied to the surface to be masked. The tape and apron dispensing apparatus includes an elongated body member 15 in the form of a generally flat panel having opposed relatively wide inner and

outer sides

16 and 17 and upper and

lower edges

18 and 19. The body member may, for example, be formed of a lightweight material such as wood, preferably plywood, fiberboard or the like, having a thickness of the order of about 5/16 inch or may, alternatively, be molded of plastic in the general configuration illustrated. If it is desired to reduce the overall weight of the body, particularly if the body member is molded of a relatively heavy material such as plastic, the body member can be formed with recesses or even openings inwardly of the margins of the body member to pro duce the desired shape while yet reducing the amount of material in the body member. For example, one face such as the outer face of the body member can be formed with recesses or cavities in areas inwardly of the upper and lower edges to reduce the amount of plastic material required and hence the weight of the tool and the expense of producing the same. As used herein, the term generally flat panel is intended to refer not only to the solid flat construction illustrated in the drawings,

but also to a panel having weight reducing recesses or openings inwardly of its margin as described above.

The rol of pressure sensitive tape is supported adjacent the rear end of the body member for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the inner face 10 and, as best shown in FIG. 3,the body member has a circular boss 21 on its inner face 16 which extends into the tubular core 10b of the roll of pressure sensitive tape to rotatably support the same. The roll of pressure sensitive tape is axially retained in position on the body member by a disk 22 that engages the outer end of the tape roll. The disk is mounted on the body member by a stub shaft 23 and a releasable fastener such as a cotter pin 24 to maintain one end face of the roll of tape in close adjacency to the side face 16 of the body member.

The roll of apron material 11 is rotatably supported on a shaft 26 which is attached to the body member 15 adjacent its forward end and which extends from the inner side face 16 in cantilever fashion. The shaft 26 can be formed of a solid rod of a lightweight material such as wood or a tubular rod of a relatively heavier material such as plastic or metal, and one end of the shaft is rigidly anchored in the body member as by extending into an opening 150. An apron guide face 27 is formed on the body member to engage the inner end of the apron roll and to space the same laterally from the inner face 16 of the body member a distance less than the width of the tape and preferably about half the tape width. For reasons pointed out hereinafter, the apron guide face is arranged to extend to the outer periphery of the apron roll, but the upper edge 27a of the apron guide face is offset below the upper edge 18 of the body member to lie below the tape strip as it passes from the tape roll over the apron roll and from the apron roll to the point of application of the apron strip to the surface to be masked. In order to inhibit loosening of the apron material on the roll 11, a pressure applying disk 31 is provided at the outer end of the apron roll with an outer diameter at least as large as the apron roll, and the disk is yieldably pressed against the end of the apron roll as by a spring means 32. In the form shown, the spring comprisesa resilient sponge which is pressed against disk 31 by an outer disk 33 retained on the shaft as by a fastener such as a cotter pin 34. Other arrangements for applying a light, yieldable pressure against the end of the apron roll to axially confine the apron roll and inhibit unloosening of the apron material can be utilized, if desired.

A tape guide 36 is mounted on the inner face of the body member to engage the tape strip as it passes from the tape roll over the apron roll to maintain at least a partial wrap of the tape strip around the apron roll during dispensing of the taped apron. The tape guide 36 can be a small diameter rod or a roller located at a level substantially below a line tangent to the tops of the apron and tape rolls and, as shown, is disposed along a line adjacent the plane through the axes of the tape and apron rolls.

The mounts for the tape and apron rolls on the body member are arranged so that the peripheries of the tape and apron rolls are spaced apart a distance sufficient to receive a hand therebetween, and the portion of the body member intermediate the tape and apron rolls is shaped to provide a handgrip for one hand support and manipulation of the tape and apron dispensing apparatus. The intermediate portion of the body member provides a handgrip which extends lengthwise of the body member and hence generally parallel to the direction in which the taped apron'is withdrawn from the apparatus, so that the apparatus can be comfortably supported and manipulated by one hand, with the thumb portion of the hand overlying the upper edge and the fingers of the hand grasping the lower edge, as shown in FIG. 1. Fingerreceiving notches 19a are preferably provided in the lower edge 19 of the body member to facilitate holding of the body member. The intermediate handgrip portion of the body member is made relatively wide and such that the upper and

lower edges

18 and 19 of the intermediate handgrip portion of the body member are spaced respectively above and below the path of travel of the tape portion 10a as it passes from the tape roll 10 over the apron roll so as to avoid interference between the tape and a hand on the handgrip portion.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction and operation of thetool will be readily understood. The tape roll is rotatably supported adjacent the rear end of the body member with one end at the plane of the inner face 16 and the apron roll is rotatably supported at the forward end of the body member with one end offset from the inner face 16 a distance less than the width of the tape so that the tape, as it passes from the tape roll over the apron roll, partially overlaps the edge of the apron roll to form a taped apron. The guide 36 guides the tape as it passes from the tape roll over the apron roll to assure a partial wrap of the tape around the apron roll and proper adherence of the tape to the apron. The roll of apron material is axially confined between the apron guide face 27 on the body member and the disk 31 to not only maintain the apron roll in proper position against the guide face, but to also inhibit loosening of the apron material on the apron roll when the apparatus is not in use.

The handgrip for manipulating the tape and apron dispensing apparatus is formed by the intermediate portion of the body member and extends longitudinally of the body member parallel to the direction of withdrawal of the taped apron so that the apparatus can be comfortably held in one hand, and the handgrip portion is made relatively deep to prevent interference between the tape and the users hand and to also provide leverage to counteract the weight of the cantilever supported apron roll. As shown in FIG. 1, the taped apron can be affixed to the surface as it is withdrawn from the apparatus and the apparatus can be accurately positioned and guided along the line to be masked while the operators other hand is free to press the taped apron against the surface.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A hand manipulable tape-apron dispensing apparatus for applying a strip of pressure sensitive tape to an edge of an apron strip and for dispensing the tapeapron during application of the tape-apron to a surface to be masked comprising, an elongated body member having wide inner and outer sides and relatively narrow upper and lower edges, tape roll support means on said body member adjacent one end for supporting a roll of pressure sensitive tape for rotation about an axis perpendicular to said inner side and with one end of the tape roll in a first plane adjacent said inner side of the body member, means extending laterally in cantilever fashion from said inner side of the body member adjacent the other end thereof for supporting a roll 'of apron material for rotation about a second axis parallel to the axis of the tape roll and with the periphery of the apron roll spaced a substantial distance from the periphery of the tape roll, apron roll guide means engaging one end of said apron roll for guidably maintaining the same offset from said first plane a distance less than the width of the tape roll whereby a longitudinal portion of the tape strip from the tape roll will overlap and adhere to an edge portion of the. apron strip on the apron roll when an end of thetape is withdrawn from its roll and passed over the apron roll, said elongated body member having-the portion thereof intermediate the tape roll and the apron roll shaped to form a handgrip extending lengthwise of the body member and adapted to be grasped in one hand with the'thumb portion of the hand overlying the upper edge and the fingers of the hand engaging the lower edge of the body member to enable one hand positioning and movement of the apparatus during application of the taped apron to a surface being masked.

2. A hand manipulable tape-apron dispensing apparatus according to claim 1 including tape guide means extending laterally from said inner face of the body member intermediate said tape roll and said apron roll at a location below the upper peripheries of said rolls, said upper and lower edges of said body member along said intermediate portion thereof being respectively spaced above and below the tape strip as it passes from the tape roll under the tape guide and over. the apron roll.

3. A hand manipulable tape-apron dispensing apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said means for supporting said roll of apron material includes a shaft extending laterally from said inner side of the body member, said apron roll guide means comprising a guide face on the body member offset from said inner face and engageable with the end of said apron roll, said apron guide face being arranged to engage the end of the apron roll adjacent the lower portion thereof and having its upper edge disposed below the tape strip as it passes from the tape guide over the apron roll.

4. A hand manipulable tape-apron dispensing apparatus according to claim 3 including a second apron roll guide member on said shaft engaging the other end of the apron roll, and means yieldably urging said second apron guide member into engagement with the other end of the apron roll and toward said guide face on the body member to axially confine the apron roll therebetween and inhibit loosening of the apron strip on the apron roll.

5. A hand manipulable tape-apron dispensing apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said second apron of an elongated thin panel, having inner and outer side faces, said panel having a shaft attached to a forward portion thereof and extending laterally from the inner side face of the panel in cantilever fashion for rotatably supporting a roll of apron'material, an apron roll guide face on said panel offset from said inner side face a distance less than the width of the tape to be applied and engageable with the end of an apron roll to space the same from the inner side face. of the panel means adjacent the rear end of the panel for supporting a roll of pressure sensitive tape for rotation about an axis normal to said inner side face of the panel and with the end of the tape roll adjacent said inner side face, a tape guide extending laterally from said inner side face of said body member at a location intermediate said tape roll and said apron roll adapted to overlie the tape as it passes from the tape roll and over the apron roll, said elongated panel having an intermediate portion thereof spanning the space between said tape roll and said apron roll of a length to receive a hand therebetween, and the upper and lower edges of said intermediate portion of the body member being respectively spaced above and below the tape strip as it passes from tape roll under the-tape guide and over the apron roll to provide a handgrip portion adapted to be grasped in one hand with the thumb portion of the hand overlying the upper edge and the fingers of the hand grasping the lower edge to enable one hand manipulation of the apparatus during application of the tape apron.

7. A hand manipulable tape-apron dispensing apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said apron roll guide face is arranged to engage the end of the apron roll adjacent the lower portion thereof and has its upper edge 1 disposed below the tape strip as it passes from the tape guide over the apron roll, said panel extending above the upper edge of said apron roll guide face to a level adjacent the outer periphery of the apron roll to laterally guide the tape as it passes around the apron roll.

8. A hand manipulable tape-apron dispensing apparatus according to claim 6 including a disk slidable on the outer end of the shaft and engaging the outer end of the apron roll, and means yieldably urging said disk against the end of the apron roll to axially confine the apron roll and inhibit loosening of the apron strip thereon.

Claims

1. A hand manipulable tape-apron dispensing apparatus for applying a strip of pressure sensitive tape to an edge of an apron strip and for dispensing the tape-apron during application of the tape-apron to a surface to be masked comprising, an elongated body member having wide inner and outer sides and relatively narrow upper and lower edges, tape roll support means on said body member adjacent one end for supporting a roll of pressure sensitive tape for rotation about an axis perpendicular to said inner side and with one end of the tape roll in a first plane adjacent said inner side of the body member, means extending laterally in cantilever fashion from said inner side of the body member adjacent the other end thereof for supporting a roll of apron material for rotation about a second axis parallel to the axis of the tape roll and with the periphery of the apron roll spaced a substantial distance from the periphery of the tape roll, apron roll guide means engaging one end of said apron roll for guidably maintaining the same offset from said first plane a distance less than the width of the tape roll whereby a longitudinal portion of the tape strip from the tape roll will overlap and adhere to an edge portion of the apron strip on the apron roll when an end of the tape is withdrawn from its roll and passed over the apron roll, said elongated body member having the portion thereof intermediate the tape roll and the apron roll shaped to form a handgrip extending lengthwise of the body member and adapted to be grasped in one hand with the thumb portion of the hand overlying the upper edge and the fingers of the hand engaging the lower edge of the body member to enable one hand positioning and movement of the apparatus during application of the taped apron to a surface being masked.

2. A hand manipulable tape-Apron dispensing apparatus according to claim 1 including tape guide means extending laterally from said inner face of the body member intermediate said tape roll and said apron roll at a location below the upper peripheries of said rolls, said upper and lower edges of said body member along said intermediate portion thereof being respectively spaced above and below the tape strip as it passes from the tape roll under the tape guide and over the apron roll.

5. A hand manipulable tape-apron dispensing apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said second apron guide member comprises a disk having an outer diameter to at least extend to the outer periphery of the apron roll.

6. A hand manipulable tape-apron dispensing apparatus for applying a strip of pressure sensitive tape to an edge of an apron strip and for dispensing the tape-apron during application of the tape-apron to a surface to be masked comprising, a body member in the form of an elongated thin panel, having inner and outer side faces, said panel having a shaft attached to a forward portion thereof and extending laterally from the inner side face of the panel in cantilever fashion for rotatably supporting a roll of apron material, an apron roll guide face on said panel offset from said inner side face a distance less than the width of the tape to be applied and engageable with the end of an apron roll to space the same from the inner side face of the panel means adjacent the rear end of the panel for supporting a roll of pressure sensitive tape for rotation about an axis normal to said inner side face of the panel and with the end of the tape roll adjacent said inner side face, a tape guide extending laterally from said inner side face of said body member at a location intermediate said tape roll and said apron roll adapted to overlie the tape as it passes from the tape roll and over the apron roll, said elongated panel having an intermediate portion thereof spanning the space between said tape roll and said apron roll of a length to receive a hand therebetween, and the upper and lower edges of said intermediate portion of the body member being respectively spaced above and below the tape strip as it passes from tape roll under the tape guide and over the apron roll to provide a handgrip portion adapted to be grasped in one hand with the thumb portion of the hand overlying the upper edge and the fingers of the hand grasping the lower edge to enable one hand manipulation of the apparatus during application of the tape apron.

7. A hand manipulable tape-apron dispensing apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said apron roll guide face is arranged to engage the end of the apron roll adjacent the lower portion thereof and has its upper edge disposed below the tape strip as it passes from the tape guide over the apron roll, said panel extending above the upper edge of said apron roll guide face to a level adjacent the outer periphery of the apron roll to laterally guide the tape as it passes around the apron roll.