Trail marker dispenser and pouch

Abstract

A hunter's case adapted for holding and enclosing a roll of hunter's marking tape provides plural side panels, a top panel including a hinge enabled for moving the top panel between a closed case position and an open case position; and a bottom panel. A latch is adapted for securing the top panel in the closed case position. One of the side panels has a tape cutter for cutting and end of the marking tape to a selected length, a tape slot for receiving the end of the marking tape, and a tape retainer flap for securing the end of the tape. The case may also provide a shoulder strap, cartridge belt and pockets for hunter's supplies.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE: Applicant(s) hereby incorporate herein by reference, any and all U.S. patents, U.S. patent applications, and other documents and printed matter cited or referred to in this application.

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates generally to trail markers for hunting and more particularly to a trail tape case with accessories facilitation.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] The following art defines the present state of this field:

[0006] Kida, U.S. Des. No. 298,440 describes an adhesive tape dispenser design.

[0007] Jacobs, U.S. Des. No. 371,457 describes a shoulder bag design.

[0008] Stone, U.S. Pat. No. 2,255,456 describes a support on which a tape roll is rotatably disposed comprising a receptacle of folded sheet material and a center bearing for the roll forming part of the receptacle, said receptacle having side walls, and said bearing comprising a crosss-section extending from one wall to the other, and upward wing extending from one end of said section and an upward extension from said section to line and reinforce the other one of said walls.

[0009] Schaefer, U.S. Pat. No. 2,694,486 describes a container-dispenser for a roll of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape comprising a container having an opening through which a length of tape desired to be severed from the roll may be pulled, means in the container for supporting the roll of tape in a manner permitting its unwinding as the desired length of tape is dispensed through the opening, a platform disposed adjacent the container opening for supporting the unwound portion of the tape where it is to be severed, a cover for the container opening having a flange, a knife member secured to the cover adjacent its inner face and presenting a knife edge in close proximity to the cover flange and in position to overlie the platform when the cover is closed, and means operable from the exterior of the container when the cover is closed for pressing the knife edge in contact with tape supported on the platform so that the unwound portion of the tape extending beyond the platform can be severed by pulling it against the blade edge.

[0010] Main, U.S. Pat. No. 3,067,514 describes a tape cut-off device having a base with an opening therein, parallel side flanges depending from the base and adapted to embrace the sides of a container for tape, one end of said base being bent transversely of the flanges away from and then back parallel to itself, an anvil retained on the base by said bent end, upstanding spaced ears at the other end of said base, a cutting tool support extending over the base, means for pivotally mounting said support on the upstanding ears, a cutting tool secured to said support and adapted to be pressed against the anvil to cut tape or the like extending therebetween, and U-shaped resilient means acting upon the base and support for urging them apart, said resilient means having a solid leg bearing against said cutting tool support and a bifurcated leg bearing against said base, said bifurcated legs straddling the opening in the base.

[0011] Hayes, U.S. Pat. No. 4,108,390 describes a low cost container for paper tape or the like from which the contents may be manually dispensed but which prohibits reinsertion of a tape once removed. The internal structure includes a maze-like path or labyrinth through which the tape may be easily pulled for removal. Efforts to move the tape backwards forces the tape into one or more small cavities which are filled by a small quantity of tape, thereby prohibiting further reinsertion.

[0012] Urushizaki, U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,536 describes a tape cutter for holding a roll of adhesive tape or the like and cutting the tape pulled out of the roll. After cutting, the tape end is in condition for easy pick-up at the next use without adhering to the cutter or the tape roll. When pulling the tape out of the tape cutter, the tape guide roller is pressed down by the tape so that the cutter holder carrying the tape guide roller will be pivoted to put the cutter into its operative position. After cutting, the cutter support and thus the cutter will get back to their inoperative retracted position.

[0013] Higuchi, U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,528 describes a waist bag usable as a baby holder including a waist bag body capable of supporting the weight of a baby seated thereon and a waist belt secured to the waist bag body for fixing the waist bag body to a user's waist. A shoulder strap is capable of being suspended from the user's shoulder or neck when the user holds a baby seated on the waist bag body. Both ends of the shoulder strap are connected to the waist bag body. An auxiliary strap is bridged across the shoulder strap for holding an upper part of a baby. A distance between the auxiliary strap and the waist bag body can be adjusted at both ends of the auxiliary strap, independently. Therefore, a baby can always be held by the auxiliary strap despite the baby holding position, the physique of the user or the physique of the baby.

[0014] The prior art teaches adhesive tape dispensers, shoulder strap bags, tape roll holder/dispensers, paper tape canisters, tape cutters, and baby holding bags, but does not teach a belt mounted tape dispenser and accessories holder for hunters. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages as described in the following summary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The present invention teaches certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the objectives described below.

[0016] A hunter's case is adapted for holding and enclosing a roll of hunter's marking tape and is made up of plural side panels, a top panel including a hinge enabled for moving the top panel between a closed case position and an open case position; and a bottom panel. A latch is adapted for securing the top panel in the closed case position. One of the side panels has a tape cutter for cutting and end of the marking tape to a selected length, a tape slot for receiving the end of the marking tape, and a tape retainer flap for securing the end of the tape. The case may also provide a shoulder strap, cartridge belt and pockets for hunter's supplies.

[0017] A primary objective of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and method of use of such apparatus that provides advantages not taught by the prior art.

[0018] Another objective is to provide such an invention capable of conveniently dispensing hunter's tape.

[0019] A further objective is to provide such an invention capable of clamping the free end of the hunter's tape exteriorly to a case holding a roll thereof.

[0020] A still further objective is to provide such an invention capable of easily cutting the end of the tape to length.

[0021] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In such drawings:

[0023] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in a closed state;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view thereof, in an open state; and

[0025] FIG. 3 is a sectiion view thereof taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 to disclose interior details.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The above described drawing figures illustrate the invention in at least one of its preferred embodiments, which is further defined in detail in the following description.

[0027] The present invention is an apparatus comprising a case 10 adapted for holding and enclosing a roll of hunter's marking tape 20, mounted on a spindle 25 for free rotation; such tape products being well known in the art. The case 10 provides plural side panels 30, 40, 50, 60, a top panel 70 and a bottom panel 90 which completes the case structure and fully encloses the tape 20. Such panels may be made of any structural material such as wood, metal or plastic, etc. A hinge 80, such as a piano hinge enables moving the side panel 60 between a closed case position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and an open case position, as shown in FIG. 2 and therefore provides access to the interior of the case for replacing the tape roll 20. A latching means 100 is adapted for securing the top panel 70 in the closed case position, and such a latch may be of any well known type, but is preferably push-button operated for convenience. Mounted exteriorly on one of the side panels, panel 50 in the illustration, is a tape cutter 52 for cutting an end 22 of the marking tape 20 to a selected length. A tape slot 54 receives the end 22, and the tape cutter 52 performs the function of retaining the end 22 of the tape 20 as well. Such a tape cutter and retainer 52 is well known in the art. The invention is fully novel, but the key novelty feature is the exteriorly mounted tape cutter-retainer 52, or a cutter and separate retainer which act in relation to slot 54 for improving convenience of cutting and using hunter's tape as a hunter moves through a hunting grounds, forest, etc.

[0028] The apparatus preferably further comprises a detachable shoulder strap 110, handle 110′, pockets for rifle cartridges 120 and further pockets for miscellaneous hunting supplies 130, 140.

[0029] While the invention has been described with reference to at least one preferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising: a case adapted for holding and enclosing a roll of hunter's marking tape; the case providing plural panels enclosing the tape roll and providing a slot for extending an end of the tape roll for exterior access; a tape cutter and retainer is mounted exteriorly on the case adjacent the slot for cutting an end of the marking tape to a selected length, the retainer adapted for securing the end of the tape whereby, the end of the tape is accessible.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a detachable shoulder strap.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a means, mounted externally on one of the panels, for storing plural rifle cartridges.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one pocket, mounted externally on one of the panels, for storing miscellaneous hunting supplies.