Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~388Z7
The invention relates to a tape dispenser for dis-
pensing tape~from a conventional tape roll having an annular
core, a finger grip piece of crescent configuration, insertable
within the core of the tape roll, and having a first peripheral
portion conforming with a portion of the annular core and a
second peripheral portion adapted for finger contact.
Dispensing of tape conveniently and efficiently
has been difficult to accomplish because of the sticking qualities
of the tape itself. The free end of the tape often adheres to
the roll surface and requires much time and effort to unravel
the free end. Also, the unwinding of tape from a roll cannot be
metered easily because of the rotating action of the roll and, the
1~)38~Z7
movement of the sticky portion of the tape over surfaces in the dispenser.
The known art merely provides a serrated edge mounted away from
the roll to hold and sever the tape for usage.
The present invention solves the problems previously encountered ~;
by providing a cover piece havlng a top section with an underside contoured
in part to the outer periphery of a tape roll, and opposite side sections
covering in part the sides of ~he tape, the top section and side sections
forming a tapered extension having a cutting means at its extension, the
finger piece hingedly connected to the side sections of the cover piece,
a pair of tape guides oppositely facing one another on the side sections
substantially parallel to and proximately spaced from the underside of
top section at the tapered extension to form a slot on each of the opposed
side sections of the tapered extension and a channel through which tape
.is dispensed, the guides spaced apart less than the width of the tape
being dispensed.
The invention may be better understood by referring to the
accompanying drawings. The drawings show
_~ _
~3B8;Z~
Figure 1 a side elevational view of the tape
dispenser with separated constituent parts and a full tape
roll.
Figure 2 a side elevational view of the tape
dispenser of Figure 1 with engaged constituent parts and a
full tape roll.
Figure 3 a side elevational view of the tape
dispenser of Figure 2 and a partially exhausted tape roll.
Figure 4 a cross-sectional view of the tape
dispenser taken on the lines ~-4 in Figure 2.
Figure 5 a top view of the cover part of the
tape dispenser of Figure 1~
Figure 7 a bottom view of the cover part taken
on the lines 7-7 in Figure 6 showing an optional knife edge
insert.
Figure 8 a top view of the core part of the tape
dispenser of Figure 1.
Figure 9 a side elevational view of a modified
tape dispenser with separated constituent parts and a tape roli.
Figure 10 a cross-sectional view of a frag-
mentary portion of the modified tape dispenser showing the
manner of engagement of the constituent parts.
Figure 11 a side elevational view of a mod-
ified tape dispenser.
Figure 12 a cross-sectional view of the cover
piece of the tape dispenser of Figure 1.
Figure 13 a cross-sectional view of the finger
grip piece of the tape dispenser of Figure 1.
Figure 14 a cross-sectional view of a portion
of the cover piece taken on the lines 14-14 in Figure 12.
Figure 15 a enlarged bottom view of the exten-
sion portion of the cover piece of Figure 1.
~L038827
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
. _
Referring to Figure 1, the preferred embodi-
ment of the tape dispenser designated generally by the re~er-
ence numeral 10 is shown. The tape dispenser comprises prin-
cipally two separable parts, a cover piece 12 and a core orfinger grip piece 14. The finger grip piece 14 is crescent-
shaped having a partially circular peripheral section 16 con-
toured to fit snugly within an annular core 18 of a tape roll
20, shown in phantom in the figures. The core lB of the tape
roll 20 is customarily fabricated from cardboard and is gen-
erally of a standard size, such as three inches in diameter.
Qpposite the circular section 16 on the finger grip piece is
a peripheral concave section 22 against which the fingers of
a user of the dispenser are placed during operation. The
center of the finger grip piece 14 may be hollowed or, as
shown, may include a web 26 for strength.
The cover piece is contoured with two side sec-
tions 28 (one shown in Figure 1) and a connecting back or top
section 30, shown with greater clarity in Figure 5. The side
sections 28 and top section 30 taper to an extension 32 from
which tape is dispensed and severed, as described in greater
detail hereafter.
At one corner of the crescent-shaped grip piece
14 are oppositely disposed studs 34, as shown in Figures 1 and
8. The studs engage keyhole slots 36 on the two side sections
28 of the cover piece 12 to provide a pivotal hinge connectin~
the two pieces. To inhibit disengagement of the two pieces,
the studs are generally cylindrical with two oppositely beveled
sides 38. The beveled sides are arranged in alignment with a
slot section 40 of the keyhole 36 to enable the studs to pass
to a circular section 42 of the keyhole, as demonstrably ill-
ustrated by the pair of directional arrows in Figure 1. Once
_6
J~0;~ 27
the cover piece 12 is engaged and reoriented to the operable
position shown in ~igures 2 and 4, the two pieces are unable
to disengage at the point of pivot.
Referring to Figures 2 and 8, the finger grip
14 includes along one side edge 44 of the peripheral section
16 a series of detents or notches 46 which engage a pro~ect-
- ing lip 48 along the inside edge of one of the side sections
28 to the cover piece. This projecting lip 48 is shown in
the underside view of the cover piece 12 in Figure 7. With
reference to Figures 2 and 3, the cover piece is installed
over a portion of the tape roll 20 such that the underside 30a
of the top section 30 rests against the periphery of the tape
roll. In Figure 2, when the roll is full, the lip 48 engages
one of the notches 46a relatively close to the pivot studs
34. The cover piece 12 and hand grip piece 14 remain in this
position during periods of non-use or when transported. This
feature prevents inadvertant disengagement of the cover piece
and retentively keeps the dispenser in ready operating posi-
tion. As the tape roll depletes, for example, to the condi-
tion shown in Figure 3, the cover piece 12, when gripped with
the finger grip piece 14, gradually shifts to the positionshown. The projecting lip consecutively engages the series of
notches to the notch ~6b, shown in Figure 3. The pressure of
the grip during ~ ~ ~ of tape disengages the lip from one
` notch by flexure of the side section 28 on which the lip 49
is located and shifts to the next adjacent notch. The gradual
shift is limited by the contact of the underside 30a of the
top section 30 against the periphery of the tape roll. As-the
tape roll depletes, the projecting lip 48 systematically moves
to the last notch 46c on the finger grip piece shown in Fig-
ure 3.
Referring to Figure 2, the tape is drawn fromthe tape roll against the tapered extension 32. The extension
_7_
10388Z7
32 includes a contoured thumb seat 50 for the convenience
and comfort of the operator when gripping the cover piece 12
and finger grip piece 14. Oppositely mounted on the inside
of the side sections 28 of the extension 32 are two protruding
5 tape guides 52) shown more clearly in the cross-sectional view
and the underside view of the ~cover piece 12 in Figures 6 and
7, respectively. The tape guides 52 comprise oppositely fac-
ing protrusions on the side sections 28 of the extension,
spaced from the underside 30a of the top section 20, to pro-
10 vide a channel through which tape is dispensed. The tapeguides 52 are spaced sufficiently apart to permit a section
of tape 20a (shown in phantom) to be pulled up against the
underside 30a of the top section such that the edges of the
tape pass by and then are retained by the two guides 52. This
is accomplished by gripping the cover piece and fin~er grip
piece at the end of the tape is pulled to generate a tension
in the tape as it is dispensed. This manner of imparting a
tension can be used for other applications in the controlled
dispensing of tape.
To sever a section to tape 20a from the roll 20,
the tape is lifted against an integral serrated edge 54, shown
in Figure 5. However, when the serrated edge is inadequate
to sever certain kinds of tape, such as the fiber-laminated
type, a reversible knife blade 56 can be inserted in two op-
positely disposed grooves 57 ~shown in dotted line in Figure
7) at the end of the extension 32. The projecting first cutt-
ing edge 56a can be replaced with a second more pointed cutting
edge 56b by merely withdrawing the knife blade and reversing
the edges before replacement.
To reduce the chance of accidental injury from
the knife blade 56, the side section 28 of the extension 32
tapers to a point 58 beyond the end of the projecting cutting
edge~ as shown in Figure 7. In this manner, ~he cutting edge
7 _ _
8~7
is blunted on accidental contact with a foreign surface.
While the above described embodiment is pre-
ferred, it should be understood that certain modifacations can
be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the
5 invention. For example, referring to Figuxe 9 and 10, a
cover piece 60 similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 is
connected to a finger piece 62 arranged in a tape roll 20 by
oppositely projecting bosses 64 on the finger piece 62
which engage oppositely directed circular recesses 66 on the
10 inside of two side sections 68 of the cover piece, as shown in
Figure 10. To control the pivotal position of the cover piece
60 with repect to the finger grip piece 62, a ridge and groove
facing 70 on the finger grip piece 62 that radially projects
from the boss 64 engages a concomitant ridge and groove facing
72 on the inside of the side sections 68 of the cover piece.
As the cover piece adjusts to a diminishing tape roll, the
ridge and groove facing 72 on the cover piece shifts increment-
ally on the ridge and groove facing 70 on the finger grip,
thereby maintaining the relative position of the cover piece
20 60 with respect to the finger grip piece 62.
A further embodiment of the invention is dis-
closed in Figures 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. Referring to Fig-
ure 11, the tape dispenser 80 is again comprised of two
separable parts, a cover piece 82 and a core or finger grip
piece 84. The finger grip piece 84 is crescent-shaped hav-
ing a partially circular peripheral section 86 contoured to
fit snugly within an annular core 88 in a roll of tape 90,
shown in phantom, and a finger rest section 92 contoured to
provide a comfortable finger grip.
The cover piece is contoured with two side sec-
tions 94 and a connecting back or top section 96 shown in
Figure 12. The side sections 94 and top section taper to an
_ 9 _
~0388Z7
extension 98 from which tape is dispensed and severed. As
in the primary embodiment the cover piece 82 and finger grip
piece 84 are interconnected, by keyhole slots 100 on the
cover piece and oppositely directed beveled studs 102 on one
end of the finger grip piece. This manner of interconnection
prevents disengagement of the two separable parts when oriented
substantially in their operating position.
In order to retain the two separable parts in
their operating position and to compensate for a depleting
roll of tape~ a modified retention arrangement has been devised
which allows the cover piece to be fabricated in a single
piece utilizing a simple die arrangement. Referring to the
cross-sectional ~iew showing the inside o~ the ~ront co~er
piece 82, the inside sur~ace 104 in the area of the ke~hole
slot 100 includes a parallel series of regular g~ooves 106.
This arrangement facilitates extraction of a molding die from
the cover piece when it is withdrawn~directionally along the
line of the parallel grooves.
The parallel grooves are engaged by one or both of
two protuberances 108 and 110 on the finger grip piece 84
depending on the state of depletion of the tape roll. The
protuberances are located on one side of the circular peri-
pheral section 86 of the finger grip piece 84, proximate to
one of the beveled studs 102, as shown in the cro~ss-sectional
view of Figure 1~
As the tape roll depletes~ the innermost prs-
tuberance 110 successively engages the parallel grooves 106.
The other protuberance similarly engages the parallel grooves
at a greater radial distance from the point of pivot at the
studs, to pro~ide additional latching actionO While one
protuberance will adequately provide the desired result, the
-- 10 --
1()388Z7
location must necessarily be close to the point of pivot to
allow for continuous engagement of the elements. A second
protuberance 110 is desired to provide the added leverage to
maintain the relative position of the finger grip piece 84
and the cover piece 82. Even though the second protuberance
11~ does not initially engage the grooves as shown in Figure
1, it nevertheless engages the grooves during most of the life
of the tape roll providing some relief to the first protuber-
ance 1~8. This second protuberance 110 may be omitted without
affecting the operation of the successive latching betweenthe finger grip piece 84 and the cover piece 82.
For smooth action between the protuberance and
grooves, the end of the protuberance is rounded as shown in
the cross-sectional view of the finger grip piece 84 in Fig-
ure 13, and the grooves 106 are curved as shown in the
cross sectional view of a portion of the cover piece 86 in
Figure 14. The curved configuration of the grooves 106 also
reduces any possibility of fracturing or splitting the cover
piece as would be more likely were the grooves V-shaped.
In the embodiment of the tape dispenser shown
generally in Figure 11, the cover piece 82 can be fabricated
by a die molding process in one piece. As shown in the cross
sectional view of Figure 12 a cutting edge 112 is integrally
formed on the extension 98 of the top section 96. This cut-
ting edge is V-shaped as illustrated in the partial underside
~;~ view in Figure 15 and is protected by the tapered points
of the side sections 94 at the end of the extension 98.
As in the other embodiments, the extension 98
includes a pair of protruding tape guides 116 which are oppositely
mounted to the inside of the cover sections 94. These guides
comprise a self loading feature to the tape dispenser. Essen-
tially, tape extracted from the tape roll need not be threaded
O ~
1(038~Z7
through a guide means. Rather, the tape is pulled tautly
from the roll, utilizing the finger grip piece and cover as
a brake to maintain the tautness of the extracted segment of
tape, and the tape is simultaneously lifted up against the ~;
knife edge without severing the tape. The tape deforms in
shape by bowing sufficiently to slip between the guides 116
and the edges of the tape become retained in the slot li8
formed between the guides 116 and the extension end 98a desig-
nated in Figure 12. The tape is further extracted after
severing by utilizing a finger pressed against the underside
of the tape between the guides and sliding the tape beyond the
knife edge 112 until the tape is grasped between the fingers.
The tape extracted is severed by gripping the finger grip
piece to brake the roll of tape between the grip piece and
cover piece and lifting the extracted segment against the
knife edge.
The general size of the tape dispenser is, of
course, constructed to the size of the tape roll. For a
wider tape roll than shown in the drawings, the cover piece
and finger grip piece must, of course, necessarily be con-
structed with a conformingly wider width.
