TAPE DISPENSERS
A dispenser including a receptacle and a cover together defining a tape roll storage volume in which the tape roll rotates about an axis of rotation, and an accommodation apparatus located within the tape roll storage volume and configured to bias the tape roll in an axial direction towards one of the receptacle and the cover.
The present inventions relate generally to dispensers for that may, for example, be used to dispense tape stored in roll form.
2. Related ArtTape, such as painter's tape, masking tape, adhesive tape, and packaging tape, is frequently stored in roll form and cut to length as it is consumed. The tape is typically rolled around a core, such as a cardboard core, to form a “roll.” The rolls of tape are available in a variety of widths and, in many instances, a user's project will require a number of different widths. Painters, for example, frequently require painter's tape of different widths. In many instances, tape from the roll is dispensed from a dispenser that includes a cutting surface. The present inventor has determined that conventional tape dispensers are susceptible to improvement.
SUMMARYA tape dispenser in accordance with at least one of the present inventions includes a receptacle and a cover together defining a tape roll storage volume in which a tape roll may rotate about an axis of rotation, and an accommodation apparatus located within the tape roll storage volume and configured to bias the tape roll in an axial direction towards one of the receptacle and the cover.
A tape dispenser in accordance with at least one of the present inventions includes a front wall, a rear wall and an intermediate wall between the front and rear walls, the front, rear and intermediate walls together enclosing a tape roll storage volume, a tape outlet between the front and rear walls, a roller mount adjacent to the tape outlet, and at least one relatively soft roller mounted on the roller mount.
A tape dispenser in accordance with at least one of the present inventions includes a front wall, a rear wall and an intermediate wall located between the front wall and the rear wall and defining a width, the front, rear and intermediate walls together enclosing a tape roll storage volume, a tape outlet between the front and rear walls, a cutting element adjacent to the tape outlet, and a tape holder located between the tape outlet and the cutting element.
Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the inventions will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The following is a detailed description of the best presently known modes of carrying out the inventions. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the inventions.
A dispenser in accordance with one embodiment of the present inventions is generally represented by reference numeral 100. Referring first to
The exemplary dispenser 100 also includes an opening 122 (
The exemplary cover 104 may be maintained in the closed position with any suitable instrumentality. In the illustrated example, and referring to
The rear 106, intermediate wall 108 (which is coextensive with a substantial majority of the perimeter of the rear wall 106), and the front wall 116 together define a tape outlet 140. A cutting element 142 is located adjacent to the tape outlet 140. The exemplary cutting element 142 is a metal structure (e.g., a serrated metal blade) that is molded into or otherwise secured to a blade mount 143 at one end of the intermediate wall 108. In other instances, the cutting element may be an integral part of the blade mount. The length of the blade mount 143 may also be increased, as compared to the illustrated embodiment, in order to decrease the amount of dispenser rotation (described below with reference to
The exemplary dispenser 100 includes a plurality of features that, individually and collectively, facilitate superior dispensing. Each of these features is discussed in greater detail below. Briefly, and referring to
Referring to
Turning to
The exemplary dispenser 100 generally, and the exemplary accommodation apparatus 148 in particular, are in an empty state in
Referring to
In the illustrated implementation, the relatively soft rollers 156 are formed entirely from the relatively soft material. In other implementations, the rollers may include a relatively hard portion with a relatively soft over-mold. The rollers may be formed from rigid materials in still other implementations.
As can also be seen in
Referring to
The dispensed portion 306 may be separated from the remainder of the roll 300 in the manner illustrated in
As best seen in
The panel 200 extends in a direction (or angle) that is transverse (and in some instances perpendicular) to the direction E that the tape exits the outlet. The direction (or angle) may differ in other implementations.
After the dispensed portion 306 is severed from separated portion 312, the separated portion may be adhered to the tape holder 152 with the adhesive 310 (
Although the present inventions have been described in terms of the preferred embodiments above, numerous modifications and/or additions to the above-described preferred embodiments would be readily apparent to one skilled in the art. By way of example, but not limitation, the hinges may be omitted and separable cover may be provided that can be attached and detached as necessary. Alternatively, single-use disposable embodiments, where the cover is permanently attached to the receptacle, may be provided. The present inventions also include systems that combine any of the dispensers described above and/or claimed below with a roll of tape. It is intended that the scope of the present inventions extends to all such modifications and/or additions.
Claims
1. A dispenser for use with a tape roll, the dispenser comprising:
- a receptacle and a cover together defining a tape roll storage volume in which the tape roll rotates about an axis of rotation; and
- an accommodation apparatus located within the tape roll storage volume and configured to bias the tape roll in an axial direction towards one of the receptacle and the cover.
2. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein
- the accommodation apparatus is configured to bias the tape roll toward the cover.
3. A dispenser as claimed in claim 2, wherein
- the accommodation apparatus includes a movable plate and at least one biasing element.
4. A dispenser as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:
- the at least one biasing element comprises a plurality of springs.
5. A dispenser as claimed in claim 3, wherein
- the receptacle includes a plurality of axle pins configured to rotatably mount the tape roll; and
- the movable plate includes an inner surface that is adjacent to the pins.
6. A dispenser as claimed in claim 5, wherein
- the axle pins include apertures; and
- the cover includes a plurality of latches that engage the axle pins by way of the apertures.
7. A dispenser as claimed in claim 3, wherein
- the receptacle includes a wall that is parallel to the cover; and
- the at least one biasing element is compressed as the movable plate moves away from the cover.
8. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein
- the receptacle includes a wall with a manual resistance aperture that is sized and shaped such that a human finger can pass through the wall and into the storage volume.
9. A dispenser for use with a tape roll, the dispenser comprising:
- a front wall, a rear wall and an intermediate wall between the front and rear walls, the front, rear and intermediate walls together enclosing a tape roll storage volume;
- a tape outlet between the front and rear walls;
- a roller mount adjacent to the tape outlet; and
- at least one relatively soft roller mounted on the roller mount.
10. A dispenser as claimed in claim 9, wherein
- the at least one relatively soft roller comprises a plurality of relatively soft rollers.
11. A dispenser as claimed in claim 9, wherein
- the at least one relatively soft roller is carried by an axle that is rotatably mounted to the roller mount.
12. A dispenser as claimed in claim 9, wherein
- the at least one relatively soft roller is formed from material having a hardness of 60 to 75 Shore A.
13. A dispenser as claimed in claim 9, wherein
- the intermediate wall defines an intermediate wall width; and
- the roller mount comprises a tapered roller mount that tapers from a first end adjacent to the roll storage volume to a second end on which the at least one roller is mounted and that has a width that is less than the intermediate wall width.
14. A dispenser as claimed in claim 13, wherein
- the at least one relatively soft roller comprises a plurality of relatively soft rollers; and
- at least two relatively soft rollers extend laterally beyond the second end of the roller mount.
15. A dispenser as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:
- a cutting element located adjacent to the tape outlet; and
- wherein the tape outlet is located between the cutting element and the at least one relatively soft roller.
16. A dispenser for use with a tape roll, the dispenser comprising:
- a front wall, a rear wall and an intermediate wall located between the front wall and the rear wall and defining a width, the front, rear and intermediate walls together enclosing a tape roll storage volume;
- a tape outlet between the front and rear walls;
- a cutting element adjacent to the tape outlet; and
- a tape holder located adjacent to the tape outlet and between the tape outlet and the cutting element.
17. A dispenser as claimed in claim 16, wherein
- tape exits through the tape outlet in a dispensing direction; and
- the tape holder includes a panel that is oriented transverse to the dispensing direction.
18. A dispenser as claimed in claim 17, wherein
- the tape holder includes a projection that extends from the panel in the dispensing direction.
19. A dispenser as claimed in claim 18, wherein
- the panel defines lateral edges;
- the panel and the projection define respective sizes and shapes; and
- the respective shapes, sizes and relative positions of the panel and the projection create lateral gaps between the projection and the panel lateral edges.
20. A dispenser as claimed in claim 19, wherein
- the panel defines a bottom edge; and
- the respective shapes, sizes and relative positions of the panel and the projection create a lower gap between the projection and the bottom edge.
21. A dispenser as claimed in claim 16, wherein
- the tape holder includes a panel and a projection that extends from the panel;
- the panel defines lateral edges;
- the panel and the projection define respective sizes and shapes; and
- the respective shapes, sizes and relative positions of the panel and the projection create lateral gaps between the projection and the panel lateral edges.
22. A dispenser as claimed in claim 21, wherein
- the panel defines a bottom edge; and
- the respective shapes, sizes and relative positions of the panel and the projection create a lower gap between the projection and the bottom edge.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 5, 2017
Publication Date: Oct 11, 2018
Inventor: Marc Franklin Foreman (Woodland Hills, CA)
Application Number: 15/480,326