Patent ID: 6572290
Filing Date: 2003-06-03
Classification: B26D,B41J,Y10T

Abstract:
A tape printer comprising:a tape receiving portion for receiving a supply of tape on which an image is to be printed; a printer for printing an image on said tape; a cutter assembly for cutting at least partially said tape; and an outer case defining a main body and substantially enclosing the tape receiving portion, the printer, and the cutter assembly, said case comprising a plurality of surfaces including at least one support surface adapted to support the tape printer on a flat surface during a printing and a tape cutting operation; wherein the cutter assembly comprises: a first cutting member; and a second cutting member, said second cutting member being movable toward the first cutting member and including a lever extending outward from the case, said lever being positioned and adapted to be manually movable between a cutting position and a non-cutting position, and said first and second cutting members are positioned and adapted to at least partially cut the tape when the lever is moved into the cutting position, wherein the user's movement of the lever from the non-cutting position to the cutting position provides the force to cut the tape; and wherein the case comprises a protruding portion positioned in an opposing relation to the lever, such that in use a user contacts both the lever and the protruding portion and moves the lever toward the protruding portion to move the lever into the cutting position.