Abstract: A tape dispenser of the type having a cutting blade mounted on the upper end of a cutting bar with a cutting bar face below and generally parallel to the blade and a blade guard slidably mounted on the cutting bar face for movement between blade-covering and blade-exposing positions. A spring tension element is positioned on the blade guard so that it tends to push a lower end of the blade guard away from the cutting bar face and to push an upper blade-covering end of the blade guard toward the cutting bar face when the blade guard is in the blade covering position.

Abstract: A shipping and packing tape type dispenser having a handle and a dispenser body for mounting a roll of tape for one-handed application to work surfaces. The dispenser includes a retractable press plate, tape retainer, spool anti-reverse and rotation-tensioning mechanism and exterior rails. A storage bracket has supports for mounting the dispenser through the exterior rails for a one-handed dispensing mode, a quick storage mode, and a more-secure quick storage mode. The handle has storage for pens, box-cutters, replacement cutting blades, a retractable tape measure and/or a retractable weigh scale. A cutting blade is frictionally mounted in an open-ended slot through a sidewall portion of the dispenser.

Abstract: A shipping and packing tape type dispenser having a generally vertical handle and a dispenser body rotationally mounting a roll of tape for one-handed application to packages, boxes and the like. The dispenser has an improved tape guiding and applying path, an improved spool and anti-reverse and rotation-tensioning features, and a complementary storage bracket for quickly securing the dispenser on a wall or under a shelf or cabinet in one of three modes: a one-handed dispensing mode, a quick storage mode, and a more-secure quick storage mode, depending on which way and at what angle the dispenser is inserted in the bracket. The dispenser also has storage provision in the handle for shipping accessories such as pens and box-cutters and replacement cutting blades, and further includes a retractable tape measure and/or a retractable weigh scale, both easily accessible near the handle region.

Abstract: A tape dispenser, useful for storing, dispensing, and cutting a roll of duct tape, or similar wide, heavy, hard-to-tear tape. The dispenser is formed in two axially-registered and rotationally-mated halves. The dispenser can also include a mating wall-mounted or shelf-mounted receptacle that releasably mounts the dispenser on a convenient surface, and that allows tape to be dispensed and torn with one hand from the receptacle-mounted dispenser.

Abstract: A tape dispenser, useful for storing, dispensing, and cutting a roll of duct tape, or similar wide, heavy, hard-to-tear tape. The dispenser has a unique roll-surrounding structure with two sidewalls, a top wall axially extending between the sidewalls above the roll of tape, a spool support extending axially between the sidewalls and through the roll's spool, a retainer bar extending axially between the sidewalls, and an elevated cutting bar located above the top wall and the retainer bar and extending axially between the sidewalls. The dispenser is formed in two axially separable halves. The retainer and cutting bars help connect and strengthen the sidewalls, and are in turn reinforced by the sidewalls and the rest of the dispenser in their tape-retaining and cutting functions. The rigid, axially separable halves of the dispenser are preferably held together with a magnetic connection.

Abstract: A device is provided for sensing the magnitude and direction of angular departures of a towing vehicle from a path which will bring a hitch mounted thereon into engageable relationship with a hitch mounted on a trailer, for registering the changing distance between such hitches, and for indicating the angular values and direction of such departures and the distance between hitches to an operator of the towing vehicle. The construction permits approach of the towing vehicle toward the trailer from any access angle without requiring adjustment of the device for different angles of approach and without introducing error. Automatic scale expansion of the distance indication occurs as the distance between the vehicles shortens.

Abstract: A device is provided for sensing the magnitude and direction of angular departures of a towing vehicle from a path which will bring a hitch mounted thereon into engageable relationship with a hitch mounted on a trailer, for registering the changing distance between such hitches, and for indicating the angular values and direction of such departures and the distance between hitches to an operator of the towing vehicle. The construction permits approach of the towing vehicle toward the trailer from any access angle without requiring adjustment of the device for different angles of approach and without introducing error. Automatic scale expansion of the distance indication occurs as the distance between the vehicles shortens.